cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability of preamplifier in 84-116 GHz receiver

The stability of InP HEMTs preamplifiers has been investigated in time and frequency domains at various cryogenic temperatures. It achieved a gain fluctuation of 5/spl times/10/sup -6///spl radic/ Hz and an Allan time of 9 seconds at 4 GHz bandwidth. The stability of a sideband separating (2SB) mixer receiver is tested with the IF (4-8 GHz) preamplifier at 4 K.
Linear stability of delayed reactiondiffusion systems

A common feature of pattern formation in both space and time is the destabilization of a stable equilibrium solution of an ordinary differential equation by adding diffusion or delay, or both. Here we study linear stability of general reactiondiffusion systems with off-diagonal time delays. We show that a delay-stable system cannot be destabilized by diffusion, and that a diffusion stable system is also stable with respect to delay, if the diffusion is sufficiently fast. A system with direct negative feedback which is strongly stable with respect to diffusion can be destabilized by off-diagonal delay.
Kinship as Ethical Relation: A Critique of the Spiritual Kinship Paradigm

This chapter contends that while anthropological kinship theory has historically been rooted in church institutional practices that distinguish between consanguineal, affinal, and spiritual kinship, this division has proved inadequate to analytic and comparative purposes. The idea of spiritual kinship encodes not just an anti-Jewish polemic, for example, but a deep structural opposition between spirit and flesh that simply cannot be presumed in other settings. As an alternative, I suggest that spiritual kinship is just one variation on a much broader attempt by the Abrahamic communities to reconcile genealogical and non-genealogical grounds of relatedness. Readings in contemporary ethnography as well as Aristotle and Maimonides are marshaled to support the idea of kinship as an ethical relation.
Understanding Immune Resistance to Infectious Bronchitis Using Major Histocompatibility Complex Chicken Lines

SUMMARY Genetic resistance or susceptibility to infectious diseases has been largely associated with the avian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. Our goal was to determine resistance and susceptibility of MHC B haplotype in congenic and inbred chicken lines in order to establish a resistant–susceptible model. Eight congenic lines (253/B18, 254/B15, 330/B21, 312/B24, 331/B2, 335/B19, 336/B21, and 342/BO), two inbred lines (003/B17 and 077/B19), and three commercial lines (white leghorn, brown layers, and broilers) were used in two experiments. We analyzed and compared immunologic responses and the effect of challenge by measuring viral load, IgG and IgA humoral responses, histopathology and histomorphometry, clinical signs, and immune cell populations in the different MHC B haplotype lines. We found that respiratory signs, tracheal deciliation and inflammation, airsacculitis, viral shedding in tears, and local humoral responses were good parameters to determine resistance or susceptibility. Base...
Pathways to sports leadership for Latinas in U.S. higher education

This paper investigates how U.S. Latina college students can attain leadership roles in college athletics. The theoretical framework used in this paper is Cultural Identity Theory (CIT). CIT posits...
An investigation of the association between seizures, autism symptomology, and developmental functioning in young children.

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of the present study was to explore whether a history of seizures was associated with autism symptom severity and developmental functioning in young children.Methods: Autism symptom severity and developmental functioning were compared between children with and without a history or seizures who either had atypical development or met criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on review of records by a licensed clinical psychologist.Results: Parents of children who met criteria for ASD reported lower levels of autism symptomology when the child had a history of seizures, while the opposite trend was found for children with atypical development. Participants without ASD or seizures had greater developmental functioning than the other groups.Conclusion: The present study emphasizes the need for early identification and diagnosis of both ASD and seizure disorders, as timely intervention for these two conditions may be related to improved outcomes for young children.
IBM's Journey Towards a Market-Driven Process-Managed Business Model

in 1994, the IBM Corporation undertook several massivereengineering projects with the objective of dramatically changingthe way we do business around the world. One of these initiatives,the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) reengineering project,was intended to support our evolution to a market-oriented customer-focusedorganization. It was clear that we had lost touch with our customers,and had become an inward-focused organization mired in our owninternal policies, procedures and systems—radical changewas required. The driving force behind the reengineering of ourCustomer Relationship processes was a clear set of customer prioritieswhich formed the basis for the major design principles guidingthe project. This article provides a glimpse into this reengineeringeffort, with a focus on the business drivers as well as somekey issues and obstacles to both the design and deployment ofCRM.
Supernovae and γ-Ray Bursters

Since 1997 when the first counterparts to γ-ray bursts were discovered, evidence for a connection with supernovae has accumulated. I review the status of this possible connection between γ-ray bursts and supernovae, from a mostly observational perspective. In particular I will focus on the indirect evidence provided by the energies of γ-ray bursts, the duration of the events, the event rate, the locations and environments surrounding the bursts, the discovery of X-ray lines, the signatures of circumstellar winds and, finally, the association of SN1998bw with GRB980425 and the discovery of supernova-like features in the afterglows of some γ-ray bursts.
Stellate Ganglion Blockade

Physicians first began performing blocks of the sympathetic nervous system almost 100 years ago. In 1920, the cervicothoracic block was described and performed for the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. Subsequently, sympathetic blocks, including stellate blocks, were used for the treatment of several pain syndromes. After World War I, a fair amount of research was done to elucidate the anatomy and function of the stellate ganglion, and soon after, the early techniques and indications for sympathetic blockade were developed. After World War II, these blocks became popular for the management of causalgia and reflex sympathetic dystrophies.
Optical Emission from Irradiated Foils. I

The present work is concerned with the emission of optical radiation from foils irradiated with charged particles. A generalization of the Ginsburg-Frank treatment is presented in which the wave properties of normally incident charged particles are accounted for in the Born approximation. The foil is assumed to be of finite thickness and to possess a dielectric constant of the form $\ensuremath{\epsilon}(\ensuremath{\omega})={\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{1}(\ensuremath{\omega})+i{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}(\ensuremath{\omega})$. Detailed prediction of the energy and angle distribution of emitted photons is made. The present result is shown to reduce to that obtained by Ferrell if $\ensuremath{\epsilon}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ appropriate to a free electron gas is assumed and if one takes $\frac{{v}_{i}}{c}\ensuremath{\ll}1$, where ${v}_{i}$ is the speed of the incident particle. Numerical results have been obtained for foils of Ag and Al.
Measuring immune responses to pneumococcal vaccines

Quantitative assays that measure immune response to pneumococcal vaccines are not only important for the evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy, but are also utilized in the clinical diagnosis of immune deficiency syndromes. Analytical methods have progressed in order to meet changing demands in both of these areas, from early methods to ELISA, and most recently multiplex bead array assays and opsonophagocytosis assays (OPA). It is necessary to understand the evolution of such techniques and the criteria for their interpretation in order to better inform the application of currently available methods, and to guide future investigation into assay development.
Intergenerational housing asset transfer and the reproduction of housing inequality in urban China

After the massive commodification of urban housing in the 1990s, housing inequality is now a major source of wealth inequality in urban China. Previous studies of housing inequality have rarely exp...
Brain and bone cancer targeting by a ferrofluid composed of superparamagnetic iron-oxide/silica/carbon nanoparticles (earthicles).

Abstract Despite the advances in molecularly targeted therapies, delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the targeting of brain tumors remains a challenge. Like brain, bone is a common site of metastasis and requires therapies capable of discerning the tumor from its healthy cellular milieu. To tackle these challenges, we made a variation on the previously proposed concept of the earthicle and fabricated an aqueous, surfactant-free ferrofluid containing superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated with silicate mesolayers and carbon shells, having 13 nm in size on average. Nanoparticles were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized using a range of spectroscopic, diffractometric, hydrodynamic and electron microscopy techniques. The double coating on SPIONs affected a number of physicochemical and biological properties, including colloidal stability and cancer targeting efficacy. Nanoparticles decreased the viability of glioblastoma and osteosarcoma cells and tumors more than that of their primary and non-transformed analogues. They showed a greater preference for cancer cells because of a higher rate of uptake by these cells and a pronounced adherence to cancer cell membrane. Even in an ultralow alternate magnetic field, nanoparticles generated sufficient heat to cause tumor death. Nanoparticles in MDCK-MDR1 BBB model caused mislocalization of claudin-1 at the tight junctions, underexpression of ZO-1 and no effect on occludin-1 and transepithelial resistance. Nanoparticles were detected in the basolateral compartments and examination of LAMP1 demonstrated that nanoparticles escaped the lysosome, traversed the BBB transcellularly and localized to the optic lobes of the third instar larval brains of Drosophila melanogaster. The passage was noninvasive and caused no adverse systemic effects to the animals. In conclusion, these nanoparticulate ferrofluids preferentially bind to cancer cells and, hence, exhibit a greater toxicity in these cells compared to the primary cells. They are also effective against solid tumors in vitro, can cross the BBB in Drosophila, and are nontoxic based on the developmental studies of flies raised in ferrofluid-infused media. Statement of Significance We demonstrate that a novel, hydrothermally synthesized composite nanoparticle-based ferrofluid is effective in reducing the viability of osteosarcoma and glioblastoma cells in vitro, while having minimal effects on primary cell lines. In 3D tumor spheroids, nanoparticles greatly reduced the metastatic migration of cancer cells, while the tumor viability was reduced compared to the control group by applying magnetic hyperthermia to nanoparticle-treated spheroids. Both in vitro and in vivo models of the blood-brain barrier evidence the ability of nanoparticles to cross the barrier and localize to the brain tissue. These composite nanoparticles show great promise as an anticancer biomaterial for the treatment of different types of cancer and may serve as an alternative or addendum to traditional chemotherapies.
Health-Care Providers' Perspectives on Decision-Making Among Seriously Ill Patients of South Asian Origin in the United States.

Background:Persons of South Asian origin (SAs) are the fastest growing minority group in the United States. Culturally competent care for patients and families of SA origin necessitates an understa...
Emotional Impact on Health Behavior Adherence After Bariatric Surgery: What About Positive Psychological Constructs?

Health behaviors are critical for weight loss maintenance after weight loss surgery (WLS), and emotional factors often play a role in adherence. Positive psychological constructs (e.g., optimism, positive affect) have predicted health outcomes in other medical populations but have been infrequently examined in post-WLS patients. This study measured optimism and positive affect in post-WLS patients recruited from online support groups. A hierarchical linear regression analysis tested their association with health behavior adherence, physical activity, and weight loss, controlling for demographic and weight-related covariates. It also tested depression and anxiety symptoms as moderators. In 95 participants, positive affect was associated with better adherence (b = 0.41, p < 0.01) and greater moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (b = 0.20, p < 0.001) controlling for demographic/weight-related covariates, and independently with more weight loss (b = 0.24, p < 0.05). Optimism was independently associated with better adherence (b = 0.32, p < 0.05) and with greater moderate-to-vigorous physical activity controlling for demographic/weight-related covariates (b = 0.16, p < 0.05). These associations no longer reached statistical significance controlling for depression and anxiety symptoms. Anxiety symptoms moderated the relationship between positive affect and adherence (b = 0.06, p < 0.01), and depression (b = 0.15, p < 0.01) and anxiety (b = 0.02, p < 0.05) symptoms each moderated the relationship between optimism and walking, such that there was a stronger relationship between positive psychological constructs and health behaviors for those with higher anxiety or depression scores. Positive psychological states should be included when assessing emotional factors related to health behaviors in post-WLS patients. Interventions targeting health behaviors may be improved with inclusion of skills to boost positive psychological states.
Modeling Study of the Series Arrangement of Thermomagnetic Generator

In this paper, we study the performance of a new thermomagnetic generator (TMEG) and present the results using COMSOL Multiphysics. The TMEG works by utilizing a magnetic field that varies based upon change in temperature. Specifically, the function of the system focuses on the changing magnetic susceptibility of materials with respect to temperature. A ferromagnetic material (FM) is the moving part in this system, where it moves in opposite direction under the influence of a permanent magnet and a spring between two unequal temperatures zones. Two ferromagnetic materials having different magnetic and thermal properties were chosen based on temperatures of two separate zones. The first serves as a heat conveyer from the heat source to a central area while the second zone transfers the stored heat to the heat sink. The central area is a non-magnetic material that is considered to be as a heat sink for the first but as a heat source for the second. This system is able to transfer the heat far away from the source through a series of TMEG units. Theoretical results are presented using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2a. This system can be used as a co-generation energy device, but it must have a temperature excess of 400 C at the hot side.
Structural requirements for mutagenic activity of 2-acylaminofluorenes in the Salmonella test system

Abstract Twenty-nine 2-acylaminofluorenes were compared in the Salmonella typhymurium TA-1538 test system to determine the effect of structural changes on mutagenic activity. All the 2-acylaminofluorenes require the S-9 liver fraction for mutagenic activity. Mutagenic activity was highest in carbamate esters, ureas, α-haloacetylamides, and straight chain acylamides. Branching on the α-carbon, or addition of unsaturation reduced mutagenic activity. Pretreatment of C57BL 6 N mice with 3-methylcholanthrene increased (6–20 fold) the mutagenic activity of all the analogs in the S-9 liver fraction. No increase in mutagenic activity is observed in S-9 liver fraction from 3-methylcholanthrene treated DBA 2 N mice, indicating that mutagenic activity correlates with inducible aromatic hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase activity and N-hydroxylase activity. α-Naphthoflavone, an inhibitor of N-hydroxylation of 2-acetylaminofluorene in vitro , inhibits mutagenic activity of these analogs indicating that N-hydroxylation is the first step in activation of N-acylaminofluorenes into mutagens.
UDG is a major DNA glycosylase having activity on F:T mispairs: identifying a new target of fludarabine

2337 We have observed that the cytotoxic effect of fludarabine is enhanced by methoxyamine in vitro and in xenograft settings. Methoxyamine specifically binds to an abasic site (AP), an intermediate produced during the process of base excision repair (BER), and turns the repairable DNA damage into a lethal lesion, leading to cell death. It acts as an inhibitor of BER. Thus the potentiation of fludarabine by methoxyamine suggests that the incorporation of F-ara-adenosine as an abnormal base initiates the sequential repair cascade to produce the AP sites through a DNA glycosylase, the first step in BER. However, the molecular mechanismof BER to process incorporated fludarabine is not known. In this study, using oligonucleotide substrates containing F-ara-adenosine: thymidine mispairs (F:T), we examined the cleavage activity of several purified DNA glycosylases (including UDG, Aag, OGG1, Mut Y and TDG), based on the fact that most of them are highly specific for a certain type of altered base, but some have more relaxed specificity. Our results show that only uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) has enzymatic activity to recognize F:T mispairs and to excise 2-fluoroadenine from DNA, displaying a time- and concentration-dependent cleavage. The reactants of purified UDG and oligonucleotide were collected and analyzed using HPLC-ESI-mass spectrometer and 2-fluoroadenine was identified as the cleaved product after reaction. Similarly, cleaved products were seen when the F-ara-A oligonucleotide substrates were incubated with cell extracts from HL60 or Jurkat cells. To evaluate the relative substrate specificity of UDG, the kinetics of excision of F-ara-A was compared with Uracil in a double-stranded oligonucleotide. The results show that F-ara-A is substrate for UDG, but the specificity of UDG for F-ara-A residues is 20 times lower compared to uracil that is the specific substrates of UDG. Moreover, the cleavage activity of UDG in purified form or in cell extracts can be abolished or reduced by UDG specific antibody (at a concentration of 10 μg/ml) or uracil glycosylase inhibitor (UGI, 2 Units), respectively. Our results indicate for the first time that in cell BER can process incorporated fludarabine through the recognition and removal of 2-fluoroadenine in DNA by UDG. The finding identifies a new target of fludarabine and reveals a new therapeutic strategy by targeting BER for the treatment of hematological malignancies.
Quantity, Quality, and Timing of Carbohydrate Intake and Blood Pressure

This review discusses recent evidence on the association of dietary carbohydrates (quantity, quality, and timing of intake) with hypertension (HTN) risk and out-of-clinic blood pressure (BP) measures. Studies on carbohydrate quantity are inconclusive, but low carbohydrate diets may be associated with lower BP. Plant-based carbohydrate-containing foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may lower HTN risk and 24-h BP. Excessive sugar intakes from sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with higher BP levels and HTN risk, with evidence of a dose-response relationship. Preliminary data suggest that timing of carbohydrate intake may influence HTN risk and 24-h BP. The role of carbohydrate nutrition in HTN’s etiology warrants further investigation. Additional studies are needed to investigate the influence of dietary carbohydrates on HTN risk and the circadian pattern of BP, evaluate potential sex and racial/ethnic differences in these associations, and elucidate underlying mechanisms.
Abstract 1956: ICG pHLIP: A novel agent for fluorescence-guided surgery

Introduction: Fluorescence imaging has applications in medicine for many image-guided procedures such as mapping and visualization of lymph nodes, targeting and marking cancerous lesions and assessment of tumor margins. Several fluorescent molecules are approved for clinical use including the ICG (indocyanine green) near infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye. We conjugated ICG to a pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP®), which senses and targets the acidity at the surfaces of cancer cells, and evaluated ICG pHLIP® as a targeted imaging agent for tumor visualization. Our construct is progressing toward clinical trials. Experimental Procedures: ICG pHLIP® was manufactured for proof-of-concept tumor-targeting imaging studies in mice, and toxicity evaluation in mice, dogs and rats. Tumor targeting was assessed in various human and murine tumor models. Biodistribution was evaluated at different time points from 5 min to 48 hours after a single intravenous administration of 0.5 mg/kg of ICG pHLIP®. The distribution of the agent within tumors was evaluated in tumor sections. Results: The fluorescence of ICG is enhanced about 15 times when pHLIP® tethers it to a cell membrane, significantly improving the contrast index. No toxicity is seen at 25-30x of the proposed human dose, evaluated in mice and dogs. ICG pHLIP® demonstrates excellent tumor targeting, including targeting of 1-3 mm sized tumors in breast. About 10-15% ID/g was observed within tumors at 4 hours p.i., and the signal persists for up to 24 hours with a slight decline at 48 hours. The background signal in major organs decayed after agent administration. The highest uptake, of about 50% ID/g, was observed in liver at 4 hrs p.i. and decayed after that. An excellent correlation was established between ICG pHLIP® NIRF imaging and HE 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1956.
Determining the Volume Expansion at Grain Boundaries Using Extended Energy-Loss Fine Structure Analysis

Grain boundaries (GBs) play an important role in material behavior, so considerable effort has gone into determining their structure and properties. Studies of GBs have revealed a correlation between the GB energy and expansion of the planes normal to the GB, or the so-called normal volume expansion. In this investigation, the volume expansion at several GBs was experimentally determined using extended energy-loss fine structure (EXELFS) analysis in a scanning/transmission electron microscope, allowing changes in the nearest-neighbor (n.n.) distances to be determined with nanometer spatial resolution. EXELFS performed on three-model GBs showed that the average n.n. distances at the GBs increased with increasing GB energy. Additionally, the total volume expansion at the GBs, calculated using complementary plasmon energy profiles, showed excellent agreement with volume expansions measured using other experimental techniques. Hence, this study demonstrates that EXELFS is a useful technique to measure the normal volume expansion at GBs. When combined with the results from complementary studies on the same GBs using valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy, this work further shows that the GB energy increases in relation to both the decrease in electron density at the GB and an accompanying increase in specific volume expansion at the GB.
A practical synthesis of a novel DPAGT1 inhibitor, aminouridyl phenoxypiperidinbenzyl butanamide (APPB) for in vivo studies.

Abstract Immunotherapy that targets N-linked glycans has not yet been developed due in large part to the lack of specificity of N-linked glycans between normal and malignant cells. N-Glycan chains are synthesized by the sequential action of glycosyl transferases in the Golgi apparatus. It is an overwhelming task to discover drug-like inhibitors of glycosyl transferases that block the synthesis of specific branching processes in cancer cells, killing tumor cells selectively. It has long been known that N-glycan biosynthesis can be inhibited by disruption of the first committed enzyme, dolichyl-phosphate N-acetylglucosaminephosphotransferase 1 (DPAGT1). Selective DPAGT1 inhibitors have the promising therapeutic potential for certain solid cancers that require increased branching of N-linked glycans in their growth progressions. Recently, we discovered that an anti-Clostridium difficile molecule, aminouridyl phenoxypiperidinbenzyl butanamide (APPB) showed DPAGT1 inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 0.25 μM. It was confirmed that APPB inhibits N-glycosylation of β-catenin at 2.5 nM concentration. A sharp difference between APPB and tunicamycin was that the hemolytic activity of APPB is significantly attenuated (IC50 > 200 μM RBC). Water solubility of APPB is >350-times greater than that of tunicamycin (78.8 mg/mL for APPB, 60 min) for in vivo studies (PK/PD, safety profiles, and in vivo efficacy) using animal models. We have refined all steps in the previously reported synthesis for APPB for larger-scale. This article summarizes protocols of gram-scale synthesis of APPB and its physicochemical data, and a convenient DPAGT1 assay. • Remember that the abstract is what readers see first in electronic abstracting & indexing services. • This is the advertisement of your article. Make it interesting, and easy to be understood. • Be accurate and specific, keep it as brief as possible.
A Woman with Pancreatitis and Hypertriglyceridemia

A woman presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. On examination, she had abdominal tenderness and a medical history of diabetes mellitus type 1, hypertension, end-stage renal disease, liver disease (hepatic steatosis), hypothyroidism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and congestive heart failure. The patient denied alcohol use or abuse. Lipase was 680 U/L (reference interval, 13–60 U/L) and triglycerides were >4425 mg/dL [reference interval, <150 mg/dL (50 mmol/L)]. These results, along with clinical and radiologic findings, suggested a diagnosis of hypertriglyceridemia-mediated pancreatitis. The patient was treated with insulin and heparin, but triglycerides remained >4425 mg/dL. Consequently, plasmapheresis was used to reduce the serum triglyceride concentrations on day 3 posthospital presentation, but triglycerides persisted at >4425 mg/dL (Table 1). The transfusion medicine team noticed the appearance of clear plasma during the next plasmapheresis course and called the laboratory to investigate. View this table: Table 1. Triglycerides and glycerol measurements. Triglyceride testing in a reference laboratory followed (Table 1). The CDC method also revealed markedly increased triglycerides at 6620 mg/dL (74.8 mmol/L). However, triglycerides were 151 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) in a glycerol-corrected triglyceride assay (Roche Triglyceride/Glycerol Blanked Reagent, Roche Diagnostics). Glycerol concentrations were calculated (triglycerides, CDC − triglycerides, glycerol corrected) to be 6469 mg/dL (73.1 mmol/L) [reference interval, 3.5–32.7 mg/dL (0.04–0.37 mmol/L)]. In other words, 6469 mg/dL (73.1 mmol/L) of the 6620 mg/dL (74.8 mmol/L) in this sample represented free glycerol and not triglyceride-derived glycerol. ### QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER 1. What is measured in blanked and nonblanked triglyceride tests? 2. What conditions could lead to these findings? 3. How can the laboratory identify falsely increased triglycerides? Most triglyceride tests used in clinical laboratories do not measure triglyceride itself but the glycerol hydrolyzed …
Biofilms and wound infection research in the US military

Recent US military conflicts have involved severe extremity injuries frequently requiring implantation of orthopedic stabilizing devices. Simultaneously, bacterial wound contamination, including by multidrug-resistant organisms, has presented a significant clinical challenge due to reduced antimicrobial treatment options, with an unclear but likely contribution from biofilm formation on implanted devices. In this chapter, we detail investigations conducted by the US military medical research community into wound infections occurring in casualties from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Behavioral Analytics for Distributed Practices in Programming Problem-Solving

This Research Full Paper aims to investigate the learning analytics of students’ problem solving when working on distributed programming practices. Typical programming practice activities (i.e. assignments) in a lecture-dominant course may violate the principles of distributed retrieval practice. However, there are tradeoffs between managing depth and breadth of the content and classroom disruptions with the modern platforms and technologies. In this work, we investigate students’ behavioral analytics in distributed programming practices. A classroom study was conducted in an introductory programming course and the learners’ patterns were observed. Results showed that there were three distinct patterns found: affirmative, experimental, and surrendering. Better-performing students demonstrated more affirmative behaviors and fewer surrendering acts; Below-average students showed a lack of persistence in distributed practices. Additionally, the study reconfirmed the value of spacing effects on learning, which is the importance of spending time and to spreading the working sessions to solve diverse quizzes. Ineffective trial-and-error strategy and neglect the power of practices can be two alarming behaviors in distributed programming practices. Finally, predictive models of performance were presented based on the behavioral patterns.
Sheath-run artificial muscles and their use for robotics and comfort adjusting textiles (Conference Presentation)

While previous guest-filled carbon nanotube yarn muscles provide remarkable performance, whose actuation is driven by the volume change of a guest. They also have problems. For instance (a) carbon nanotube yarns are expensive and (b) input energy is provided to the entire muscle, but the central region of the muscle contributes little to muscle contraction. Here, we eliminated this problem by driving the muscle using a sheath, which can be on an inexpensive coiled yarn or fiber core. This configuration change dramatically increases muscle power and enables cheap commercialized yarns to replace expensive carbon nanotube yarns. For different application purposes, we coated different types of polymer or other materials to optimized the actuation performance under different trigger conditions. For instance, the electrochemical SRAM which using the CNT as the sheath and Nylon 6 yarn as the core can generate 1.98 W/g of average contractile power - 40 times that for human muscle and 9.0 times that of the highest power alternative electrochemical muscle. The electrothermal PEO-SO3@CNT SRAMs (PEO-SO3 as the sheath and CNT as the core) operated in air and in room-temperature water to produce 2.6 W/g (at 9 Hz) and 9.0 W/g (at 12 Hz) of full-cycle contractile power, respectively, compared with the 0.05 W/g typical of human muscle. Additionally, coating vapors or moisture response material on the twisted core material, we can obtain a muscle which operates torsional and tensile actuation under different vapor concentration or humidity. Because sheath-run muscles can be made so cheaply without using carbon nanotubes, and are easily upscaled, we fabricated a comfort adjusting textiles that respond to temperature, humidity and the presence or absence of perspiration by opening and closing pores(1). Reference (1) Mu, Jiuke, et al. "Sheath-run artificial muscles." Science 365.6449 (2019): 150-155.
Head and neck paragangliomas: 30-year experience

Background We aimed to review our experience and the changing trends in the management of head and neck paragangliomas (HNPG) over the last three decades. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 103 patients with HNPG treated at our center (1986-2017). We included patients treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and patients maintained under active surveillance. Results Of the surgically treated patients (n = 79), 20% (12/59) of the carotid body tumors (CBT) had a cranial nerve deficit as sequela compared to 95% (19/20) of the non-CBT. Radiotherapy controlled growth in all tumors treated with this modality (n = 10). Of the initially observed patients, 70% (14/20) remained stable and did not require additional treatment. Stratifying by decades, there was a progressive increase in patients initially attempted to be observed and a decrease in upfront surgery. No deaths attributable to the HNPG were encountered. Conclusions Surgery is an effective treatment for CBT. Nonsurgical treatment should be considered for non-CBT.
The optimal living and wellness program: Piloting a novel survivorship care model.

e14003Background: Multiple national agencies define cancer survivorship as beginning at the time of cancer diagnosis. However, traditional care models deliver “survivorship care” months or years af...
Local failure after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for intracranial metastasis: analysis from a cooperative, prospective national registry

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been increasingly employed to treat patients with intracranial metastasis, both as a salvage treatment after failed whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and as an initial treatment. “Several studies have shown that SRS may be as effective as WBRT with the added benefit of preserving neuro-cognition”. However, some patients may have local failure following SRS for intracranial metastasis, defined as increase in total lesion volume by 25% after at least 3 months of follow up. The SRS registry, established by the Neuro point alliance (NPA) under the auspices of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), was queried for patients with intracranial metastasis receiving SRS at the participating sites. Demographic, clinical symptoms, tumor, and treatment characteristics as well as follow up status were summarized for the cohort. A multivariable explanatory cox- regression was performed to evaluate the impact of each of the factors on time to local failure.at last follow-up. A total of 441 patients with 1255 intracranial metastatic lesions undergoing SRS were identified. The most common primary cancer histology was non-small cell lung cancer (43.8%, n = 193). More than half of the cohort had more than 1 metastatic lesion (2–3 lesions: 29.5%, n = 130; more than 3 lesions: 25.2% (n = 111). The average duration of follow-up for the cohort was found to be 8.4 months (SD = 7.61). The mean clinical treatment volume (CTV), after adding together the volume of each lesion for each patient was 5.39 cc (SD = 7.6) at baseline. A total of 20.2% (n = 89) had local failure (increase in volume by > 25%) with a mean time to progression of 7.719 months (SD = 6.09). The progression free survival (PFS) for the cohort at 3, 6 and 12 months were found to be 94.9%, 84.3%, and 69.4%, respectively. On multivariable cox regression analysis, factors associated with increased hazard of local failure included male gender (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.03–2.66, p = 0.037), chemotherapy at or before SRS (HR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.41–4.05, p = 0.001), WBRT at or before SRS (HR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.16- 4.22, p = 0.017), while surgical resection (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21–0. 97, p = 0.04) and immunotherapy (0.34, 95% CI 0.16–0.50, p = 0.014) were associated with lower hazard of local failure. Factors found to be predictive of local failure included higher RPA score and those receiving chemotherapy, while patients undergoing surgical resection and those with occipital lobe lesions were less likely to experience local failure. Our analyses not only corroborate those previously reported but also demonstrate the utility of a multi-institutional registry to advance real-world SRS research for patients with intracranial metastatic lesions.
Moving from Fundamental Knowledge of Kinetics and Mechanisms on Surfaces to Prediction of Catalyst Performance in Reactors

Catalysis is defined by kinetics, but after over a century of catalyst development our kinetic and mechanistic knowledge governing real-world catalysis is still severely lacking. This Perspective c...
Improving Translational Paradigms in Drug Discovery and Development

Despite improved knowledge regarding disease causality, new drug targets, and enabling technologies, the attrition rate for compounds entering clinical trials has remained consistently high for several decades, with an average 90% failure rate. These failures are manifested in an inability to reproduce efficacy findings from animal models in humans and/or the occurrence of unexpected safety issues, and reflect failures in T1 translation. Similarly, an inability to sequentially demonstrate compound efficacy and safety in Phase IIa, IIb, and III clinical trials represents failures in T2 translation. Accordingly, T1 and T2 translation are colloquially termed 'valleys of death'. Since T2 translation dealt almost exclusively with clinical trials, T3 and T4 translational steps were added, with the former focused on facilitating interactions between laboratory- and population-based research and the latter on 'real world' health outcomes. Factors that potentially lead to T1/T2 compound attrition include: the absence of biomarkers to allow compound effects to be consistently tracked through development; a lack of integration/'de-siloing' of the diverse discipline-based and technical skill sets involved in drug discovery; the industrialization of drug discovery, which via volume-based goals often results in quantity being prioritized over quality; inadequate project governance and strategic oversight; and flawed decision making based on unreliable/irreproducible or incomplete data. A variety of initiatives have addressed this problem, including the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), which has focused on bringing an unbiased academic perspective to translation, to potentially revitalize the process. This commentary provides an overview of the basic concepts involved in translation, along with suggested changes in the conduct of biomedical research to avoid valleys of death, including the use of Translational Scoring as a tool to avoid translational attrition and the impact of the FDA Accelerated Approval Pathway in lowering the hurdle for drug approval. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Oleic acid allows more apoprotein A-1 to bind with higher affinity to large emulsion particles saturated with cholesterol.

Apoprotein (apo) A-1 binding to large triolein-rich emulsion particles saturated with cholesterol has been examined as a function of the oleic acid content. Six emulsion systems were formed containing 0.3–1.0% (by weight) oleic acid, 82.9–86.3% triolein, 10.6–7.2% egg yolk phosphatidylcholine, and 6.7–5.5% cholesterol. The average emulsion particle diameters calculated from these lipid compositions ranged between 84 and 116 nm. Negative stain electron microscopy of an emulsion containing 1% oleic acid showed a polydisperse population of only large spherical particles with a mean diameter of 116 ± 54 nm. The calculated cholesterol concentrations of the particles surface and core for the six emulsions were 43.3 ± 1.1 and 5.6 ± 0.2 mol%, respectively, and were rather constant. Therefore, when the surface oleic acid concentrations increased from 2.6 to 10.1 mol%, the phospholipid concentration decreased from 55.1 to 45.9 mol%. In the core, oleic acid increased at the expense of triolein. In the range studied a nearly 4-fold increase in the surface oleic acid content produces a similar increase in the binding capacity (N) and reduces the dissociation constant (Kd). The changes in the Kd and N values were linearly dependent on the surface oleic acid concentration. These data show that oleic acid allows more apoA-1 to bind with higher affinity to large emulsion particles saturated with cholesterol.
Magnesium Production by Vacuum Aluminothermic Reduction of a Mixture of Calcined Dolomite and Calcined Magnesite

A new method of magnesium production was proposed that using a mixture of calcined dolomite and calcined magnesite as raw materials with the molar ratio of MgO to CaO was 6:1 by vacuum aluminothermic reduction. The reduction process was studied by thermodynamic analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis of reduction residue. The reaction of reduction process was CaO+6MgO+4Al=CaO·2Al2O3+6Mg. The effect of briquetting pressure, reduction temperature, time and CaF2 (MgF2) on reduction ratio of MgO was investigated. And the reduction residue that the main phase of CaO·2Al2O3 was leached in alkaline solution for producing sodium aluminate-the raw material for special alumina. The results show that the reduction ratio is increased with increasing of the temperature, time, briquetting pressure in range from 40 to 100 MPa and addition of CaF2 or MgF2 in range from 0 to 3%. The alumina leaching ratio of reduction residue reached 88% at the conditions of leaching temperature 95 °C and the concentration ratio of Na2CO3 to NaOH was 100:75 in leaching solution.
Contamination control program for the Cosmic Background Explorer: An overview

Each of the three state of the art instruments flown aboard NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) were designed, fabricated, and integrated using unique contamination control procedures to ensure accurate characterization of the diffuse radiation in the universe. The most stringent surface level cleanliness specifications ever attempted by NASA were required by the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DRIBE) which is located inside a liquid helium cooled dewar along with the Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS). The DRIBE instrument required complex stray radiation suppression that defined a cold primary optical baffle system surface cleanliness level of 100A. The cleanliness levels of the cryogenic FIRAS instrument and the Differential Microwave Radiometer (DMR) which were positioned symmetrically around the dewar were less stringent ranging from 300 to 500A. To achieve these instrument cleanliness levels, the entire flight spacecraft was maintained at level 500A throughout each phase of development. The COBE contamination control program is described along with the difficulties experienced in maintaining the cleanliness quality of personnel and flight hardware throughout instrument assembly.
Does salt have a permissive role in the induction of puberty

Puberty is starting earlier than ever before and there are serious physiological and sociological implications as a result of this development. Current research has focused on the potential role of high caloric, and commensurate high adiposity, contributions to early puberty. However, girls with normal BMI also appear to be initiating puberty earlier. Westernized diets, in addition to being high in fat and sugar, are also high in salt. To date, no research has investigated a link between elevated salt and the reproductive axis. We hypothesize that a high salt diet can result in an earlier onset of puberty through three mechanisms that are not mutually exclusive. (1) High salt activates neurokinin B, a hormone that is involved in both the reproductive axis and salt regulation, and this induces kisspeptin release and ultimate activation of the reproductive axis. (2) Vasopressin released in response to high salt acts on vasopressin receptors expressed on kisspeptin neurons in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus, thereby stimulating gonadotropin releasing hormone and subsequently luteinizing hormone secretion. (3) Salt induces metabolic changes that affect the reproductive axis. Specifically, salt acts indirectly to modulate adiposity, ties in with the obesity epidemic, and further compounds the pathologic effects of obesity. Our overall hypothesis offers an additional cause behind the induction of puberty and provides testable postulates to determine the mechanism of potential salt-mediated affects on puberty.
The Standardization of Alpha-Particle Sources

The calibration of alpha-particle sources at the National Bureau of Standards began about 1950 with the measurement of 2..pi.. alpha-particle-emission rates using a hemispherical gas-flow proportional counter. Today activities are also determined using defined-geometry counters with scintillation detectors and 4..pi cap alpha..-..gamma.. coincidence counters. As the measurement techniques have evolved, the overall uncertainty associated with the determination of the activity of an alpha-particle source has decreased by about an order of magnitude, from several percent to several tenths of one percent. The factors contributing to the overall uncertainty fall into two general categories: those associated with the detection system and those associated with the source. These factors are discussed, along with suggestions for minimizng the overall uncertainty.
Voltage-gated potassium currents in acutely dissociated rat cortical neurons

1. We describe three outward K+ current components in acutely dissociated neurons from rat sensorimotor cortex on the basis of inactivation kinetics and voltage dependence. 2. The fast A current (IAf) was completely inactivated at -40 mV and half-inactivated at -52 mV. It activated [time to peak (TTP) 8 ms at -10 mV] and was inactivated (tau inact = 12 ms at -10 mV) rapidly. Recovery from inactivation had a time constant of approximately 80 ms at -100 mV. It was insensitive to tetraethyl ammonium (TEA) and dendrotoxin but was blocked by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, IC50 = 1 mM). 3. The slowly inactivating current (IKS) was the largest current seen in acutely dissociated adult neurons. It was completely inactivated at -40 mV, half-inactivated at -98 mV, and was kinetically slower (TTP = 130 ms at -10 mV; tau inact = 293 ms at -10 mV) than the fast A current. Deactivation tails were fit with the sum of two exponentials with time constants of 2-10 and 15-40 ms. IKS recovered from inactivation with a time constant of approximately 1,200 ms at -100 mV. 4. There were two components that inactivated with even slower kinetics. The very slowly inactivating current (IKSS) was operationally defined as the current remaining after a 5-s hold at -40 mV. One component inactivated with a time constant of 1,927 ms at -10 mV. The other component showed no inactivation over a 5-s test command, but in 40- to 50-s steps to -10 mV, inactivated with a tau of approximately 20 s. The very slowly inactivating current activated with similar kinetics to IKS (TTP = 121 ms at -10 mV), and two deactivation tails, with kinetics similar to those after the -100 mV prepulse, were observed after holding at -40 mV. 5. Both IKS and IKSS were sensitive to TEA. Seventy-six percent (76%) of IKSS was blocked by 30 mM TEA. Two components to the TEA block were present for IKSS, with IC50s of 88 microM (67% of blockable current) and 7 mM (33%). Seventy percent (70%) of IKS was blocked by 30 mM TEA. For the IKS current, there were also two effective concentrations, with IC50s of 8 microM (21% of blockade current) and 3 mM (79%). 6. IKS and IKSS were also sensitive to 4-AP. Seventy-six percent (76%) of IKSS was blocked by 3-5 mM 4-AP. IKSS exhibited two components of 4-AP block.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)