cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The activation of porcine pancreatic lipase by cis-unsaturated fatty acids

In the presence of taurodeoxycholate, cis-unsaturated fatty acids increase porcine pancreatic lipase activity 15-fold at pH 7.5. This effect is saturable with a low proportion of fatty acid to substrate. The overall angle of the fatty acid, the position of its double bond and the presence of a carboxyl group were critical factors in whether the fatty acid effectively increased lipase activity. When the substrate is emulsified by taurodeoxycholate, the pH optimum for lipase ranges from 6.2 to 7.0. In the presence of cis-unsaturated fatty acids, the overall activity of lipase increases, the pH optimum shifts, and the pH-activity curve becomes biphasic, with one optimum around pH 7.7, and the other around pH 8.8. Fluorescence studies indicate that fatty acids bind near aromatic residues in lipase, particularly tryptophan. Using the fluorescent fatty acid cis-parinaric acid, it was determined that multiple binding sites are present with Kd values of approx. 10(-6) M. Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) studies indicate that in addition to a high affinity fatty acid binding site with a Kd of approx. 10(-6) M, there is also a low affinity binding site with a Kd of approx. 10(-4) M. The far-UV CD data also show that cis-unsaturated fatty acids change the conformation of lipase. It is calculated that the percentage of alpha helix decreases, and the amount of beta sheet and beta turn structure increases. Because the three-dimensional crystal structure of lipase is known, a model is proposed to describe how cis-unsaturated fatty acids increase lipase activity.
Modern perspectives on factors predisposing to the development of gallbladder cancer

Background Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare malignancy, yet certain groups are at higher risk. Knowledge of predisposing factors may facilitate earlier diagnosis by enabling targeted investigations into otherwise non-specific presenting signs and symptoms. Detecting GBC in its initial stages offers patients their best chance of cure.
A Peer-to-Peer Architecture to Enable Versatile Lookup System Design

The resource lookup requirements in applications such as web caching, web content search, content distribution, resource sharing, network monitoring and management, and e-commerce have caught the attention of peer-to-peer (P2P) distributed systems researchers. Over the past few years, several decentralized P2P lookup system designs have been proposed for addressing these requirements. Most of these early designs are targeted at specific applications. Unfortunately, the variations in the operating environments and lookup characteristics across applications restricts the applicability of such specialized designs. In this paper, we present an architecture for P2P systems that identifies the functions necessary for designing resource lookup systems with wide applicability. We demonstrate the usefulness of the functions included in the architecture by illustrating their use in developing diverse lookup techniques.
Developing microsatellites when they are rare: trinucleotide repeat loci in the northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos.

The great value of microsatellite loci to population studies spurs their development. However, finding loci is difficult when microsatellites are uncommon in the genome. Because trinucleotide-repeat loci are rare in northern mockingbirds Mimus polyglottos, we sought a new method for developing a suite of loci. Here we show that a bacteriophage cloning vector, Lambda Zap Express (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA, USA) has several features which make it suitable for this purpose. Using this vector, we made a library of 150 000 size-selected clones and screened with an AAT10 probe; 97 positives were identified. From these, 12 pairs of PCR primers were developed, nine of which amplify polymorphic loci. Certain combinations of these primer pairs enable simultaneous amplification of up to three loci.
Flow cytometric evaluation of canine bone marrow differential cell counts

Three flow cytometric techniques were evaluated for determination of differential cell counts on canine clinical bone marrow specimens. Techniques included staining bone marrow specimens with 2'7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) or 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6) and evaluation of forward-angle light scatter vs. side-angle light scatter plots. Flow cytometric evaluation of bone marrow cells stained with DCF failed to separate bone marrow cells into distinct cell populations. Staining with DiOC6 resulted in separation of bone marrow cells into populations of mature and immature erythroid cells, mature and immature myeloid cells, and lymphocytes. The scatter plot method resulted in identification of mature and immature erythroid cells, immature myeloid cells, metamyelocytes, and bands and segmenters. Lymphocytes could not be differentiated from mature erythroid cells by the scatter plot method. When the results of the DiOC6 method and the scatter plot method were compared with manual bone marrow differential cell counts, the scatter plot method had more similar mean values and higher correlation coefficients. The scatter plot method has the potential of providing rapid semiquantitative assessment of bone marrow differential cell counts in dogs for specimens that contain low numbers of lymphocytes.
Assessing and improving research participants' understanding of risk: potential lessons from the literature on physician-patient risk communication.

Evidence that lay people frequently misinterpret risk raises concerns for the ethical conduct of human research, which requires adequate disclosure, understanding, and appreciation of risk information. Review of the risk communication research literature suggests new directions for empirical research on human research ethics: Investigation is needed on how to best assess and improve potential and enrolled subjects' understanding of risk information. Preferences regarding the presentation of risk information and the effects of alternative presentation formats and decision aids on knowledge, trust, satisfaction, risk/benefit analysis, and perceptions of respectful treatment should be studied. Research is also needed on the effects of payment for research participation, the order in which study information is presented, and having one's own physician present risk information.
Understanding and Treating Social Phobia

Social phobia, a relatively obscure disorder, is receiving increased attention due to evidence suggesting that it is more prevalent and debilitative than once thought. The purpose of this article is to help counselors better understand the nature of and treatments for this disorder. Effective behavioral and pharmacological approaches are reviewed, and counseling implications are discussed to increase counselors' confidence in providing treatment to people with social phobia.
Oxytocin in the medial preoptic area facilitates male sexual behavior in the rat

Oxytocin (OT) is a versatile neuropeptide that is involved in a variety of mammalian behaviors, and its role in reproductive function and behavior has been well established. The majority of pharmacological studies of the effects of OT on male sexual behavior have focused on the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), ventral tegmental area (VTA), hippocampus, and amygdala. Less attention has been given to the medial preoptic area (MPOA), a major integrative site for male sexual behavior. The present study investigated the effects of intra-MPOA administration of OT and (d(CH2)51, Tyr(Me)2, Thr4, Orn8, Tyr-NH29)-vasotocin, an OT antagonist (OTA), on copulation in the male rat. The relationship between OT receptor (OTR) binding levels in the MPOA and sexual efficiency was also explored. Microinjection of OT into the MPOA facilitated copulation in sexually experienced male rats, whereas similar injections of an OTA inhibited certain aspects of copulation but had no significant effect on locomotor activity in an open field. Contrary to expectation, sexually efficient males had lower levels of OTR binding in the rostral MPOA compared to inefficient animals. The present data suggest that OT activity in the MPOA is not necessary for the expression of male sexual behavior but is sufficient to facilitate copulatory behaviors and improve sexual efficiency in sexually experienced male rats. These data also suggest that OTR activity in the MPOA stimulates anogenital investigation, facilitates the initiation of copulation, and plays a role in the sensitization effect of the first ejaculation on subsequent ejaculations.
Do medical devices have enhanced placebo effects

Although the placebo in a clinical trial is often considered simply a baseline against which to evaluate the efficacy of a clinical intervention, there is evidence that the magnitude of placebo effect may be a critical factor in determining the results of a trial. This article examines the question of whether devices have enhanced placebo effects and, if so, what the implications may be. While the evidence of an enhanced placebo effect remains rudimentary, it is provocative and therefore worthy of further study. Suggestions are made, therefore, for how such an effect can be investigated without violating the principles of informed consent.
Improved implementation of the silicon cochlea

The original 'Analog electronic cochlea' of R.F. Lyon and C.A. Mead (Trans. Acoust., Speech, Signal Processing, vol.36, no.7, p.1119-34, 1988) used a cascade of second-order filter sections in subthreshold analog VLSI to implement a low-power, real-time model of early auditory processing. Experience with many silicon-cochlea chips has allowed the identification of a number of important design issues, namely dynamic range, stability, device mismatch, and compactness. In this, paper, the original design is discussed in light of these issues, and circuit and layout techniques are described which significantly improve its performance, robustness, and efficiency. Measurements from test chips verify the improved performance. >
Imazaquin mobility and persistence in a Sharkey clay soil as influenced by tillage systems

Abstract Field studies were conducted at Delta Research and Extension Center, Stoneville, MS, in 1996, 1997, and 1998 to assess the effect of tillage systems (conventional tillage and subsoiling) on the environmental fate of imazaquin in a Sharkey clay soil. Imazaquin was applied preemergence at 140 g ai ha−1. Subsoiling in the fall did not affect imazaquin dissipation, total volume of runoff, imazaquin concentration in runoff, or imazaquin concentration in soil, as determined by chemical extraction. A corn root bioassay revealed no differences due to tillage systems in plant-available imazaquin in soil. Imazaquin concentration measured by chemical extraction or bioassay diminished over time, with a half-life ranging from 8 to 25 d. A field bioassay utilizing cotton and corn was conducted in 1997 and 1998 using plots that had received imazaquin the previous year. In 1997, 2 wk after planting, cotton and corn injury ranged from 3 to 15%, whereas no injury was observed in 1998. Injury symptoms declined over...
Evaluation of a culturally-adapted lifestyle intervention to treat elevated cardiometabolic risk of Latino adults in primary care (Vida Sana): A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Latinos bear a disproportionate burden of the dual pandemic of obesity and diabetes. However, successful interventions addressing this disparity through primary care are lacking. To address this gap, the 5-year Vida Sana (Healthy Life) study tests a culturally adapted and technology-enhanced group-based Diabetes Prevention Program intervention in a randomized controlled trial with overweight/obese Latino adults who have metabolic syndrome and/or pre-diabetes. Eligible, consenting patients (n = 186) from a large community-based multispecialty group practice in Northern California will be randomly assigned to receive the culturally-adapted intervention or usual care. The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework guided the planned evaluations. The primary aim is to determine the effectiveness of the intervention (the “E” in RE-AIM). We hypothesize that the intervention will lead to a greater mean reduction in weight at 24 months (primary endpoint) vs. usual care. Secondary outcomes will include measures of cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g., blood pressure), psychosocial well-being (e.g., health-related quality of life), and behavior change (e.g., physical activity). The secondary aim is to evaluate the other RE-AIM dimensions using mixed methods: reach (e.g., participation rate of the target population), adoption (e.g., participating clinic and provider characteristics), implementation (e.g., intervention fidelity), and maintenance (e.g., sustainability in the practice setting). These findings have real word applicability with value to clinicians, patients, and other decision makers considering effective diabetes prevention programs for primary care that would support the millions of Latino adults who experience a disproportionate burden of diabetes. Trial registration: NCT02459691.
Detrital zircon provenance of the Late Cretaceous–Eocene California forearc: Influence of Laramide low-angle subduction on sediment dispersal and paleogeography

Upper Cretaceous–Eocene forearc strata deposited along the California continental margin record a complex history of plate convergence that shaped the tectonic development of the U.S. Cordillera. Synthesis of new and published detrital zircon U-Pb ages over a 2000 km length of the southern Oregon–California–northern Baja forearc clearly demonstrates spatial and temporal changes in sandstone provenance that reflect evolving sediment dispersal patterns associated with the extinction of continental margin arc magmatism and transfer of deformation to the continental interior during latest Cretaceous–early Cenozoic Laramide low-angle subduction. Measured age distributions from Cenomanian to Campanian forearc strata indicate the existence of a drainage divide formed by a high-standing mid-Cretaceous Cordilleran arc that crosscut older, Late Permian–Jurassic arc segments. Progressive influx of 125–85 Ma detrital zircon in the Great Valley forearc reflects ongoing denudation of the Sierra Nevada batholith throughout Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene time. In contrast, age distributions in the Peninsular Ranges forearc indicate early denudation of the Peninsular Ranges batholith that is hypothesized to have resulted from the initial collision of an oceanic plateau with the southern California margin; as a result, these age distributions exhibit little change over time until delivery of extraregional detritus to the margin in Eocene time. Maastrichtian through middle Eocene strata preserved south of the Sierra Nevada record a pronounced shift from local to extraregional provenance caused by the development of drainages that extended across the breached mid-Cretaceous continental margin batholith to tap the continental interior. This geomorphic breaching of the mid-Cretaceous arc, and associated inland drainage migration, represents the culminating influence of Laramide low-angle subduction on the continental margin and likely occurred following subduction of the Shatsky conjugate plateau beneath the western United States.
Combined Flame and Electrodeposition Synthesis of Energetic Coaxial Tungsten-Oxide/Aluminum Nanowire Arrays

A nanostructured thermite composite comprising an array of tungsten-oxide (WO2.9) nanowires (diameters of 20–50 nm and lengths of >10 μm) coated with single-crystal aluminum (thickness of ∼16 nm) has been fabricated. The method involves combined flame synthesis of tungsten-oxide nanowires and ionic-liquid electrodeposition of aluminum. The geometry not only presents an avenue to tailor heat-release characteristics due to anisotropic arrangement of fuel and oxidizer but also eliminates or minimizes the presence of an interfacial Al2O3 passivation layer. Upon ignition, the energetic nanocomposite exhibits strong exothermicity, thereby being useful for fundamental study of aluminothermic reactions as well as enhancing combustion characteristics.
[Poster] A reconstructive see-through display

The two most common display technologies used in augmented reality head-mounted displays are optical see-through and video see-through. In this paper I demonstrate a third alternative: reconstructive see-through. By using a commodity depth camera to construct a dense 3D model of the world and rendering this to the user, distracting latency and position discrepancies between real and virtual objects can be reduced.
Center-Surround Interactions in the Middle Temporal Visual Area of the Owl Monkey

Microelectrode recording and 2-deoxyglucose (2dg) labeling were used to investigate center-surround interactions in the middle temporal visual area (MT) of the owl monkey. These techniques revealed...
Authorship Trends in 30 Years of the Journal of Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background While various studies have investigated trends in characteristics of authors in other medical literature, no study has examined these characteristics in the field of arthroplasty. Methods A database was created of all articles published in The Journal of Arthroplasty in 1986, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. Degree(s) of authors, number of authors, number of references, and region of institution were recorded. Results A total of 1343 original articles were assessed over the study period. There was a significant increase in the number of authors per publication from 3.45 in 1986 to 4.98 in 2015 ( P P P = .001), MD/PhD ( P P = .016), with a significant decrease in first authors with an MD degree only ( P P = .001) and MD/MBA ( P = .003). There has been a significant growth in papers from outside North America ( P = .007), with a decrease in articles from the UK/Ireland ( P = .003) and an increase in contributions from the Far East ( P Conclusion Trends of authorship characteristics in the arthroplasty literature largely mirror those seen in other medical literature including increased number of authors per article over time, changes in author qualifications, and increased contributions from international author groups.
Cellular Elements, Tissue Organization, Organogenesis

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses the development, structure and functions of neurons and microglia and discusses the intricate associations that these cells maintain to ensure proper neural function. Anatomically, the vertebrate nervous system consists of two divisions: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). At the cellular level, the CNS is composed of cell types the can be categorized as either neurons, macroglia, microglia or ependymal cells and the development of each of these major cell types have been discussed independently. The cell type responsible for capturing, transforming and conveying neural information within the organism is the nerve cell or neuron. In general, neurons are comprised of three cellular domains known as the cell body, the axon and dendrites. Each subcellular region can be distinguished both by its structural and functional specializations that are essential for maintaining the function of the nerve cell. Microglia are ubiquitously, but not uniformly, distributed throughout the CNS and are often found clustered near blood vessels. Although the morphology of microglia is highly variable, these cells have been categorized into three groups. Regardless of their morphological categorization, the inactivated form of these cells is known as ramified microglia. With the onset of CNS injury or infection, the ramified microglia undergoes a rounding and enlarging of their cell bodies and an up-regulation of complement receptors.
Icosahedral carboranes: 1,7-C2B10H12 and 1,12-C2B10H12

The thermal isomerization of 1,2-C 2 B 10 H 12 (o-carborane) to 1,7-and 1,12-C 2 B 10 H 12 ( m - and p -carborane, respectively) is described, and possible cage rearrangement mechanisms are examined in light of supporting evidence. Reductive cage-opening to form nido-C 2 B 10 H 10 2− anions and their subsequent oxidation to generate neutral 1,2-C 2 B 10 H 12 via “reverse isomerization” is discussed. Methods for introducing substituents on boron and carbon vertexes in m - and p -carborane are outlined, and the chemistry of their B- and C-substituted derivatives is discussed and contrasted with their o-carboranyl analogues.
Family History, Gender, and Eating and Body Image Concerns in University Students Seeking Counseling Services

ABSTRACTFamily history events have been shown to be reliable predictors of eating and body image concerns; however, little is known regarding how family history events compare in a clinical sample, or if these events differ by gender. The current study addresses this paucity, focusing on 3,129 university students seeking clinical services. Having a family member with an eating problem was the most consistent family history predictor across all severity levels. Men and women demonstrated different family history predictors, indicating possible separate pathways to eating or body image concerns based on gender.
Spatiotemporal multiresolution modeling to infill missing areal data and enhance the temporal frequency of infrared satellite images

High-resolution environmental observations from satellite remote sensing are useful for gaining insight into climate variability over large regions of the earth. However, data products derived from infrared remote sensing can have large amounts of missing data due to periodic cloud cover obscuring the earth's surface. In addition, these products are commonly derived from instruments aboard polar-orbiting satellites, which make relatively infrequent passes over each region of the planet, leaving large blocks of data that are missing in time. The goal of this research is to overcome these issues by spatially and temporally infilling temperature data using satellite observations. To accomplish this, we propose novel statistical modeling techniques to account for dissonance between the areal spatial support of the data and the continuous temporal domain. In addition, we develop a novel multiresolution approach that accommodates the large spatial dimensionality of high-resolution satellite images. The result of our work is a computationally efficient methodology that provides the means to infill satellite data products both spatially and temporally. The methodology is demonstrated using land surface temperature fields from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, over Harris County, Texas, USA.
The Human Brain: Evolution and Distinctive Features

Abstract The human brain enlarged enormously in evolution, especially after our genus, Homo, diverged from the australopithecines. With the development of noninvasive neuroimaging and molecular biological techniques we can for the first time compare the internal organization of human brains to those of other primates, including our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. These studies reveal that most of the enlargement of the human brain was due to the expansion of the association cortex, the critical substrate for higher-order cognition. Association cortex enlargement was accompanied by extensive modification of the connections linking cortical areas into functional networks, as shown in investigations of the language and tool-manipulation systems. Surprisingly, there is no clear evidence to support the popular view that the human brain contains a large number of new cortical areas. Perhaps even more surprising is the evidence that humans possess extensive specializations at finer levels of brain organization, including cell morphology, biochemistry, and physiology.
Distinct Trophic Specializations Affect How Phytophthora ramorum and Clade 6 Phytophthora spp. Colonize and Persist on Umbellularia californica Leaves in Streams

Phytophthora spp. are regularly recovered from streams but their ecology in aquatic environments is not well understood. Phytophthora ramorum, invasive in California forests, persists in streams at...
Admissibility Conditions for Weak Solutions of Nonstrictly Hyperbolic Systems

We discuss questions related to the choice of a proper class of waves and initial conditions for the well-posedness of the Riemann problem for nonstrictly hyperbolic systems of conservation laws. Since multiple eigenvalues represent strong or resonant wave interaction we propose to derive a relatively simple and universal set of model equations which describe qualitatively the underlying processes, like Burgers’ equation does in a strictly hyperbolic case. Finally, we discuss numerical schemes utilizing various Riemann solvers to the above class of problems.
Correction for collimator-detector response (CDR) in quantitative SPECT using point spread function (PSF) template approach

2365 Objectives With medium/high energy isotopes, septal penetration in CDR cannot be ignored for accurate SPECT quantification. We propose a novel nearly non-parametric approach to modeling the CDR by estimating PSF template to fit to measured PSFs at different distances. Methods An I-131 point source was measured at 6 distances from the detector. Three models (Gaussian, Gaussian+Exponential (GauExp), and our Gaussian+Bspline PSF template), which were parameterized with amplitude and width, were fitted to each measurement. For PSF template, symmetric and non-negative constraints were applied. Then, each amplitude and width were fitted over distance with exponential / linear functions that are parameterized with distance. The models were evaluated on SPECT measurements of a ‘hot-sphere’ phantom and patient data with body-contouring. PSF at each distance was generated using fitted functions, and then OSEM reconstructions (6 subsets, 100 iterations) were performed with FFT-based correction for CDR by the 3 different models. A Monte Carlo simulation study with XCAT phantom and SIMIND was also performed for evaluation of the proposed approach. Results Our proposed method yielded PSF fits that better matched the measured PSFs than the typical Gaussian or GauExp models. The ‘star-shaped’ penetration tails were well fitted with PSF template. In reconstruction, our method achieved better recovery coefficients (RCs) on VOIs (5 - 100 cc spheres) than other methods. In the phantom measurements our method yielded up to 18.6% (8.6%) higher RCs than with the Gaussian (GauExp) method. In XCAT simulation with spherical lesions our method yielded up to 12.9% better RCs than Gaussian method. Lastly, in the patient study, our proposed method increased relative lesion counts (counts in VOI to counts in FOV) by 15.8% (8.6%) compared to the Gaussian (GauExp) method. Conclusions Our PSF template approach for modeling the CDR substantially improves the quantitative accuracy in I-131 SPECT. Research Support NIH 2RO1 EB00199
Incorporating uncertainty in vehicle miles traveled projections of the National Energy Modeling System

The National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) is a computational model that forecasts the production, consumption, and prices of energy in the United States. Although NEMS is a complex and detailed model, it does not currently represent the multitude of uncertainties associated with the US energy system. These uncertainties need to be communicated to policy makers in order for them to develop better-informed decisions regarding energy policy. In this study, uncertainty is added to the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) equation of NEMS to demonstrate the importance and benefit of uncertainty in the model. The VMT model is derived and its uncertain parameters are estimated using maximum likelihood estimation. A Monte Carlo simulation is performed to model the uncertain VMT equation and demonstrate the range of possible VMT forecasts when these uncertainties are included. This simulation shows that the deterministic forecast does not adequately reflect all of the possible futures of VMT, which could lead policy makers to be unintentionally misinformed about the impacts of proposed policies. Finally, it is shown how the uncertain VMT equation could be used to help policy makers decide on the best policy to reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions. A target is set for VMT for each of the projected years, and four decision-making techniques are used to calculate the fuel tax required to reduce VMT to this specified goal. These methods could guide policy makers to better-informed energy policy decisions, but they are only possible if some amount of uncertainty is incorporated into the model.
Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Describe Pain Pathways in the 'Oldest Old': A Case Study of a Healthy 97-year-old Female.

The prevalence of painful medical conditions increases with age. Pain differences in older adulthood are of special concern because we do not know how brain changes in healthy aging may alter the sensory and affective response to pain. Over the last two decades, neuroimaging studies have described interconnected brain regions that mediate pain processing. In particular, imaging techniques have been used to describe brain activation in networks of structures comprising the lateral and medial pain systems. The lateral and medial pain networks are generally associated with the sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational dimensions of pain respectively. Key structures that are associated with the lateral pain network include specific nuclei in the thalamus and primary (S1) and secondary somatosensory (S2) cortex while different but specific nuclei in the thalamus, as well as regions in the insular and cingulate cortices are associated with the medial pain network
Twenty-five years of K-Cl cotransport: from stimulation by a thiol reaction to cloning of the full-length KCCs.

This chapter combines a review of research on a chemical intervention that, over a period of 15 years, preceded the molecular identification of the mechanism of K-Cl cotransport (potassium chloride cotransporter, KCC) and new data that reveals the caveats of an approach successfully used to unravel kinetic, thermodynamic and regulatory properties of this transporter. A recent comprehensive review from our laboratory on K-Cl cotransport, function, pathology and molecular properties as well as several excellent earlier reviews should be consulted for further details.
An Aggregative Model of a Simple City

This chapter discusses an aggregative model of a city and the findings of its analysis. The purpose of developing an aggregative model is to solve for the city's total demand for population, factor incomes, and equilibrium city size and to show how various economic characteristics of the city vary with city size. Using this analysis, an equilibrium city size can be ascertained by postulating a supply function of people to the city and then analyzing the behavior of economic agents in limiting city sizes. In addition to being used to solve for equilibrium city size, the model that is developed can be used to do comparative static analyses of the long-run effect on city size and other economic characteristics of changes in commuting costs, property taxes, and other variables. In solving for city size, it is essential to identify economic actors in the model and their sources of income. Solving the issue of city size requires a differentiation of the equations of the model and investigate how wages, city spatial area, the K/N ratio (or the ratio of a city's total capital usage to business employment of labor), and utility levels vary as city size increases, given the parameters of the model. Thereafter, capital employment rises with city population but the K/N ratio varies as the city grows; a rising K/N indicates the possibility of payment of higher wages with rising population levels is determined by the intersection of demand and supply curves. One primary solution for solving city size issues is employing the competitive solution which is the traditional one, where equilibrium size.
Student Perceived Value of Intensive Experiential Learning

Experiential learning has become a common part of many engineering students undergraduate experience and is frequently accomplished using the service learning model. Intensive service learning for engineers is typically characterized by the type of “high risk” projects associated with developing world, humanitarian based service programs. In this research an expectancy-value theory model is used to evaluate student perceived value of service learning experiences. The model is applied to a case study where both engineering and non-engineering student participated in more than 25 projects over a 12 year period. Seventy-six percent of the respondents indicated that they most highly valued either the importance of the humanitarian mission or the impact of the experience on their perspective on life. Cost (monetary, time and effort) was ranked the least important factor. In all eight categories students rated the value (quality) of the experience higher than their expectation. Evidence suggests that, for engineering students, the value of the experience relative to their career should receive more emphasis and that professional role confidence may be an issue for female students. The results aid in assessing program efficacy and identifying areas where improvements can be achieved.
Analysis of agglutinants elicited by antiserum of channel catfish immunized with extracellular proteins of virulent Aeromonas hydrophila.

Abstract Motile Aeromonas septicemia (MAS), caused by new virulent Aeromonas hydrophila (vAh) strains, has been one of the major diseases in channel catfish in recent years. Previous studies showed that channel catfish developed immunity against vAh infection after immunization with the pathogen's extracellular proteins (ECP). To understand the mechanisms associated with the immunity, anti-ECP fish serum (antiserum) was analyzed in this study. Our results revealed that the antiserum elicited agglutination of both ECP and cells of vAh. Five fish proteins were identified in ECP agglutinants, including two innate immunity associated proteins (serotransferrin and rhamnose-binding lectin), two immunoglobulin M (IgM) molecules (IgM heavy chain and light chain) and a constitutively-produced protein (warm temperature acclimation protein). More than 68 vAh proteins in ECP were recognized and caused to aggregate by IgM in the antiserum. IgM was isolated from vAh cell agglutinants and the native IgM was shown to form a tetramer that was responsible for bacterial agglutination. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that the isolated native IgM was able to recognize some proteins in ECP, such as aerolysin and hemolysin (in the form of a high molecular weight heterologous polymer). Gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR showed that fish immunized with vAh ECP had more transcripts of genes coding for IgM, serotransferrin and rhamnose binding lectin than mock-immunized fish. Both innate and antibody-mediated immune responses in serum and expressed genes contributed to fish immunity upon immunization with ECP. Results of this study shed light on the versatility of vAh antigens and catfish IgM, which would help identify specific antigens for vaccine development and antigen specific antibodies in catfish.
Bone changes after short-term whole body vibration are confined to cancellous bone

Author(s): Runge, William O; Ruppert, David S; Marcellin-Little, Denis J; Dahners, Laurence E; Harrysson, Ola LA; Weinhold, Paul S | Abstract: ObjectiveThis study assessed femur properties in 80 adult female rats exposed to a range of whole body vibration amplitudes at 45 Hz over five weeks. Our hypothesis was that an optimal amplitude for whole body vibration would be apparent and would result in increased bone strength.MethodsAnimals were treated in five amplitude groups (0 g, 0.15 g, 0.3 g, 0.6 g, and 1.2 g peak), for 15 minutes per day, five days per week, for five weeks. Femur strength was assessed via: (1) three-point bending of the shaft, (2) cantilever bending of the neck, and (3) indentation of distal cancellous bone. Femoral bone mineral density, plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations, cartilage thickness, and histopathologic properties were measured.ResultsVibration doubled (P=0.039) cancellous bone stiffness in the 0.6 g and 1.2 g groups and induced a 74% increase in PGE2 concentrations (P=0.007). However, femoral densitometry and strength of the neck and shaft were unchanged and the cancellous bone indentation strength did not differ statistically (P=0.084). Cartilage thickness of vibrated groups at the medial condyle did not increase significantly (P=0.142) and the histopathologic grade did not change. There was no definitive optimal vibration amplitude.ConclusionThe benefits of vibration therapy over five weeks were confined to cancellous bone.
Some Recent and Possible New Applications of Polarized Beams

In this talk I would like to discuss some fairly recent uses of polarized beams and to speculate a little on some future uses. In the first part of the talk I will describe the production of polarized nuclei by means of polarized beams and the use of these nuclei in hyperfine studies to measure nuclear moments and solid state phenomena. I would then like to suggest some future applications of polarized nuclei produced in this manner. In the second part of the talk I will discuss the present and future work on polarized targets which make possible the study of reactions involving both polarized beams and polarized targets. This discussion will be divided into a description of the use of solid (cryogenic) targets and a look at the possibility of using polarized beams as targets.
Opto-electro-mechanical percolative composites from 2D layered materials: Properties and applications in strain sensing

Abstract The fragmentation rate (FR) of two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) MoS2, WS2, and graphene in N-methyl-pyrrolidinone (NMP) was computed, where FR is a measure of the particle size reduction with ultrasonication time. For the 2DLMs, the highest FR generally occurred for sonication times tsonic = 30 min, with FRGraphite ∼ −1176.4 μm-hr−1, FRWS2 ∼ −32.4 μm-hr−1and FRMoS2 ∼ −3.8 μm-hr−1. This is in contrast to a non-layered material, Al nanoparticles, where FRAl ∼0 μm-hr−1 for tsonic = 30 min. Knowledge of the particle size as a function of tsonic has not been reported previously for 2DLMs, and is extremely important as these materials are integrated into additively manufactured platforms, such as ink-jet printing and three-dimensional (3D) printing. The treated materials were then infused with two types of polymers, flexible and stretchable polyisoprene, and an optically transparent acrylic, poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) for opto-electro-mechanical strain-based sensing device applications. In particular, the hybrid composites of graphene with optically transparent and bendable PMMA revealed the potential of forming opto-mechanical filters, where optical filtering can be engineered through the graphene loading. The polyisoprene-graphene composites were piezoresistive with potential for wearable electronics, where mechanical strain, as induced at joint movements on a finger for example, modulates the current with joint displacement. Strain levels of up to 200% were observed and the gauge factor of these devices was measured to be ∼75 which is > 10X higher compared to conventional metal-foil based strain sensors. This work sheds fundamental insights into the role of sonication on the materials properties of 2DLMs in solution dispersions and shows their potential in hybrid composites for opto-electro-mechanical strain based sensing applications and in wearable electronics.
Development and characterization of a “store and create” microfluidic device to determine the heterogeneous freezing properties of ice nucleating particles

AbstractUnderstanding heterogeneous ice nucleation induced by ice nucleating particles (INPs) is hindered by analytical challenges in accurately determining the freezing temperature spectrum, abund...
Efficient dose-finding for drug combination studies involving a shift in study populations

This paper describes the design of an early phase, prospective trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of the combination of the histone deacetylase inhibitor, entinostat, in combination with capecitabine. The study consists of two parts; an initial phase evaluating the safety of the combination in participants with metastatic breast cancer, followed by a second phase assessing the safety of the combination in participants with residual disease after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. We describe the adaptation of a model-based design for identifying the maximum tolerated dose combination that efficiently moves from the initial phase in an advanced disease population to the second phase in the target population. Operating characteristics demonstrate the ability of the method to accurately predict true maximum tolerated dose combinations in a high percentage of trials with reasonable sample sizes, while treating participants at and around desirable combinations. The proposed design is a practical, early-phase, adaptive method for use with drug combination dose finding in the presence of shifting patient populations. More challenging research questions are being investigated in early-phase trials, which has created the need to implement more flexible designs that can meet the objectives of current studies, such as those exploring drug combinations while addressing patient heterogeneity. Our goal is to facilitate acceptance and application of more novel designs in contemporary early-phase studies.
Supporting Graduate Students of Color in German Studies: A Syllabus

This chapter reviews research on the psychological effects, such as marginalization, racial microaggressions, and stereotype threat, that impede success for graduate students of color. These effects are compounded in predominantly white fields, like German Studies, and can prevent graduate students of color from thriving in these fields. By explaining and identifying key factors that can contribute to either an inclusive or hostile learning environment, this chapter offers concrete suggestions on how best to support minoritized graduate students as they navigate the complex waters of academia.
Essential elements at play in local environmental policy change: A guide for the perplexed

Abstract Rapidly evolving environmental problems in urban areas require new policy directions. However, the policy change process can be hard to comprehend, making it difficult to foster needed change. In this paper, a systematic review of international empirical research on sustainable urban water policy is used to identify key factors shaping local policy innovation. Those factors are then compared to leading theories of the policy process or technology change in order to place the results within a broader theoretical context. This article is meant to aid policy actors seeking to manage change, as well as students and scholars seeking an overview of this complex field. Thirty drivers of policy change are described and organized into a categorical framework under governance, environment or innovation design. Some drivers of change, such as household income or political orientation, are less easily altered by change agents than others, such as convening collaborations, exercising leadership and expanding organizational capacity. The comparison to policy theories suggests a convergence of theoretical and empirical literatures. Some drivers, like change agency and social context, are “theoretically ubiquitous,” by occurring in every theory, while others, like power, organizational capacity and natural conditions, are “theoretically prevalent,” by occurring in most. The Advocacy Coalition Framework and the Multilevel Perspective are theories which incorporate the most factors at play. They also share an interest in change being driven by social networks coalescing around shared beliefs in what is possible or desirable.
Low-Frequency Noise in III–V, Ge, and 2D Transistors

Novel channel materials such as III–V, Ge, and 2D materials have long been considered as replacement channel materials for post-Si CMOS applications. Low-frequency noise characterization can be used as alternate probes to quantitatively analyze performance, variability, and reliability of such devices with novel materials and architectures. In this chapter, low-frequency noise characteristics of MOSFETs with novel channel materials are presented and analyzed. The impact of device scaling and ballistic transport on low-frequency noise is discussed.
The effect of nail diameter on proximal femoral shortening after internal fixation of pertrochanteric hip fractures with short cephalomedullary nails.

Abstract Objective Investigate the effect of distal nail diameter on proximal femoral shortening (PFS) after cephalomedullary nailing of hip fractures. Methods A retrospective cohort study of 80 patients aged 50 years and older with pertrochanteric hip fractures treated with a 10 or 11 mm short cephalomedullary nail (CMN) was performed. We measured abductor lever arm shortening, femoral height shortening, and PFS. Results There was no difference in abductor lever arm shortening (p = 0.09), femoral height shortening (p = 0.86), and PFS (p = 0.34) between the 10 and 11 mm groups. Conclusions Our results suggest that distal nail diameter does not affect PFS. Level of evidence III.
Family Caregiving and Place of Death: Insights From Cross-national Analysis of the Harmonized End-of-Life Data.

Objectives Family is largely overlooked in research on factors associated with place of death among older adults. We determine if family caregiving at the end of life is associated with place of death in the United States and Europe. Methods We use the Harmonized End of Life data sets developed by the Gateway to Global Aging Data for the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We conducted multinomial logistic regression on 7,113 decedents from 18 European countries and 3,031 decedents from the United States to determine if family caregiving, defined based on assistance with activities of daily living, was associated with death at home versus at a hospital or nursing home. Results Family caregiving was associated with reduced odds of dying in a hospital and nursing home, relative to dying at home in both the United States and Europe. Care from a spouse/partner or child/grandchild was both more common and more strongly associated with place of death than care from other relatives. Associations between family caregiving and place of death were generally consistent across European welfare regimes. Discussion This cross-national examination of family caregiving indicates that family-based support is universally important in determining where older adults die. In both the United States and in Europe, most care provided during a long-term illness or disability is provided by family caregivers, and it is clear families exert tremendous influence on place of death.