cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imaging Catalytic Activation of CO2 on Cu2O (110): A First-Principles Study.

Balancing global energy needs against increasing greenhouse gas emissions requires new methods for efficient CO2 reduction. While photoreduction of CO2 is a viable approach for fuel generation, the rational design of photocatalysts hinges on precise characterization of the surface catalytic reactions. Cu2O is a promising next-generation photocatalyst, but the atomic-scale description of the interaction between CO2 and the Cu2O surface is largely unknown, and detailed experimental measurements are lacking. In this study, density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to identify the Cu2O (110) surface stoichiometry that favors CO2 reduction. To facilitate interpretation of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray absorption near-edge structures (XANES) measurements, which are useful for characterizing catalytic reactions, we present simulations based on DFT-derived surface morphologies with various adsorbate types. STM and XANES simulations were performed using the Tersoff–Hamann ap...
Thermal to optical energy conversion: A multi megawatt carbon dioxide laser driven by an extremely high temperature gas cooled reactor

Abstract In the conversion of ionizing radiation into energy, the production of heat is the most common first step in energy conversion systems, but it is also possible to use ions and excited states as the first step. The difference being that nearly all of the energy content of ionizing radiation is converted to heat but only 40–50% of the energy content of ionizing radiation is converted into ions and excited states. Conversion of the energy contained in ionizing radiation into ions and excited states starts out at a considerable disadvantage. Nuclear-pumped lasers have typically depended on the conversion of ionizing radiation into ions and excited states as a first step. Among the reasons that nuclear-pumped lasers have had low system efficiencies (1–2.5%) is the considerable inefficiencies in producing ions and excited states from ionizing radiation. A nuclear-pumped laser system which uses heat produced from the energy content of ionizing radiation as the driver for the laser system is described in this paper. The conversion of heat into vibrational states in molecular nitrogen allows energy to be stored in a long lived molecular state which can then be transported spatially where its energy is collisionally conveyed to carbon dioxide molecules in a resonance transfer process to produce the carbon dioxide upper laser level. The carbon dioxide laser emits a laser beam with a wavelength centered at 10.4 μm. The nitrogen vibrational state and its resonance conversion into the carbon dioxide upper laser level is one of nature's most efficient processes in laser physics (with laser efficiencies approaching ∼20% primarily being driven by the resonance process-extremely high for a laser). The laser system described here takes advantage of this highly efficient mechanism for conversion of thermal energy to optical energy. The feasibility of using nuclear rocket core technology for the generation of high temperature gas flows to power this thermal to optical conversion process is described. This study indicates that the thermal to optical conversion process can lead to a carbon dioxide laser with efficiencies on the order of 7% or perhaps better. Such a system would have potential applications in power beaming, space propulsion, asteroid mining, asteroid deflection and potential military applications.
Factors contributing to development of fatty liver and ketosis in lactating dairy cows

Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to one of three groups during d 14 to 42 postpartum: 1) control (fed ad libitum throughout), 2) 20% feed restriction, or 3) ad libitum plus dietary 1,3butanediol (5.5% of diet dry matter). From d 43 to 56 postpartum, cows assigned to both the feed-restricted and butanediol treatments received a combination of feed restriction and dietary butanediol. One cow quickly developed clinical ketosis but not fatty liver after only 4 d of feed restriction. No other cows subjected to the separate treatments of either feed restriction or dietary butanediol developed fatty liver or ketosis, nor did any cows subjected to the combination treatment from d 43 to 56 postpartum. Treatments decreased milk production. Concentrations of fihydroxybutyrate and insulin in plasma were increased by dietary 1,3butanediol. Feed restriction caused transient increases in concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, acetate, and fi-hydroxybutyrate in plasma. Concentration of glycogen in liver was less in feed-restricted cows, whereas glycogen and total lipid in liver were greater from cows given dietary 1,3-butanediol separately. Gluconeogenic capacity of liver slices was not different among groups. Addition of L-carnitine to in vitro incubation media decreased conversion of propionate to glucose, whereas addition of either L-carnitine or 1,3-butanediol decreased oxidation of propionate to COg. Neither feed restriction nor dietary 1,3-butanediol as separate treatments during the early-postpartum period induced the fatty liver and ketosis seen in earlier experiments where the two treatments were given in combination starting at d 14 postpartum.
THE TORSION ANGLES ψ AND ϕ

This chapter discusses the polypeptide model construction of torsion angles. As the repeating unit of the polypeptide backbone is a three-atom unit, the torsion angles of the two connecting bonds determine the secondary structure. The peptide linkage is virtually planar in most polypeptides and thus, only two torsion angles, called psi (ψ) and phi (φ), are needed to define the secondary structure of polypeptides. Psi is the torsion angle between the α-carbon and the carbon atom of one of the peptide units. Phi is the torsion angle between the α-carbon and the nitrogen atom of the other peptide unit. A simple mnemonic is helpful in remembering which angle applies to which bond: psi is the angle for the bond between the same atoms C α –C. Phi is the angle for the bond between the two hetero atoms C α –N.
The Space of Tempered Distributions

The action of the Fourier transform is extended to the setting of tempered distributions and several distinguished subclasses of tempered distributions are introduced and studied, including homogeneous and principal value distributions. Significant applications to harmonic analysis and partial differential equations are singled out. For example, a general, higher-dimensional jump-formula is deduced in this chapter for a certain class of tempered distributions, that includes the classical harmonic Poisson kernel, which is latter used as the main tool in deriving information about the boundary behavior of layer potential operators associated with various partial differential operators and systems. Also, one witnesses here how singular integral operators of central importance to harmonic analysis, such as the Riesz transforms, naturally arise as an extension to the space of square-integrable functions, of the convolution product of tempered distributions of principal value type with Schwartz functions.
Schizophrenia and obesity: Impact of antipsychotic medications

Obesity is an epidemic in this country and much of the rest of the developed world. It is a major contributor to a range of metabolic disorders responsible for much of the medical morbidity and mortality that burden our society. The combination of the costs to society of the chronic illness of schizophrenia with the costs of obesity and the chronic illnesses associated with it, e.g., metabolic disorders, diabetes, dyslipidemias, and cardiovascular disease, represents a major public health problem. Obesity in schizophrenia is accentuated even further largely through illness-related factors, like poor dietary conditions and more sedentary lifestyles, and particularly because many of the psychiatric medications (antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants) used to combat this devastating illness themselves result in weight gain that, if untreated, may result in the usual obesity-associated morbidity and mortality. This article is intended to review some of the physiology of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders, the risks to schizophrenia patients engendered by obesity, the evidence for weight gain associated with the antipsychotic drugs, and the possible mechanisms involved in antipsychotic medication-associated weight gain.
Outlook: Prospects for alcoholism treatment

Treating alcoholism reduces many alcohol-related social, economic, and medical problems. A historical lack of support for alcoholism treatment and for alcoholism treatment research is disappearing, and significant progress is being made toward developing new and improved treatments. Current research findings are the basis of this “Outlook” which is divided into three levels of confidence: clear extrapolations from present research, extrapolations that are reasonable but uncertain, and predictions that attempt to guess the unguessable. It concludes that the future looks promising for new and improved alcoholism treatments.
Quantum Monte Carlo and the Equation of State of Liquid 3He

The accurate and efficient calculation from microscopic interactions of the macroscopic properties of bulk liquid 3He at zero temperature has been a perennial goal of condensed matter theorists. Seen as a proving ground for many-fermion theories and methods, 3He continues to occupy the attention of many of the participants in this Workshop.1 Significant progress has been realized over the past several years in refining interatomic potentials, wave functions, and calculational schema employed to attack the many-body problem.
Triple Scissor Extender Robot Arm: A Solution to the Last One Foot Problem of Manipulation

Final assembly, inspection, and maintenance of aircrafts, automobiles, and industrial equipment often requires a robot to reach confined areas that are difficult to access. While a robot can move freely in open space, the last one foot to a target site in a manufacturing environment is typically cluttered with complex obstacles. Here, we present a novel solution to the last one foot problem. Inspired by plant stem growth, a new design concept for an expandable arm, the triple scissor extender robot arm (TSERA), is developed to access a confined area through a narrow channel. The robot consists of a series of expandable segments each of which is able to extend and tilt. Thus, the robot can elongate its structure along a narrow, winding space. The novel design concept is accompanied by a new algorithm for path planning, the sequential expansion algorithm. Unlike traditional algorithms for articulated robot path planning, TSERA's sequential expansion algorithm reduces the otherwise computationally expensive multibody path planning problem to a single rigid body kinematics problem. Exploiting the serial nature of expandable structure, we can compute arm motion by sequentially solving a simple inverse kinematics problem for each segment.
Measuring Ion-Pairing in Buffer Solutions with Microwave Microfluidics

Microwave microfluidics is an emergent technique for characterizing conductivity and permittivity of fluids and has wide-ranging applications in the materials science and biomedical fields. The electrical properties of fluids as a function of frequency can be leveraged to characterize interface effects such as electrical double layers (EDL), solvent-mediated ion interactions, and bound water molecules. However, extraction of quantitative electrical properties over a wide range of frequencies (100 kHz-67 GHz) is nontrivial, and calibrations are required. Here, we utilize a microfluidics device with incorporated coplanar waveguides to characterize buffer solutions in situ and non-destructively. With a two-step fitting procedure, we fit relaxations associated with the EDL, water molecules, and ion-pairing in solution. We compare the three-Debye relaxation (water loss, ion-pairing and EDL relaxations fit to a Cole-Cole/Debye (water loss Cole-Cole and EDL Debye relaxations) model which does not include the ion-pairing relaxation, and find improved goodness of fit. This technique is broadly applicable to ionic solutions, and provides critical information about solvated ions in biological systems.
The SccoB Process: An Integration of the Exploitory and Exploratory Processes Through a Self-Sustaining Process of Knowledge Creation

Based on qualities of the four-stroke engine and the medical diagnostic process, five characteristics of knowledge were identified and serve as the basis of a self-sustaining knowledge creation process. The SccoB process forms a complementary relation with the firm's existing processes and provides a counterweight to its existing mode of thought. This is done through an internal, counter-culture research institute and the creation of stress and profound insights through the identification and analysis of operational anomalies. SccoB is also a mapping process which moves the organization to greater quality and agility and to more advanced forms of mapping, such as the mapping of technical skills, complex diagnostic problem spaces, business process knowledge requirements, and cognitive force.
Chapter XII – THEOREM PROVING1

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses theorem proving. In mechanical problem solving, there must be a formalism by which the elements of the problem are represented in the machine and a set of merchandisable operations for acting on the formal representation. The state-space approach provides a formalism that is often natural; at least, it is easily understood by people. Unfortunately, the mechanical manipulation problem may become formidable, because of the problem of choosing among different possible inference rules. An alternative approach is to use a formalism that is less easily understood by people, but has a more straightforward machine representation and leads to simpler symbol manipulations. A solution that has proven unusually powerful is to represent all problems, in the loose sense, as theorems to be proven within the first-order predicate calculus. A great deal of progress has been made in the automatic theorem proving field. Despite this, resolution-based theorem proving programs tend to generate too many clauses and to try too many fruitless paths. It is easy to find problems that exhaust both computer memory and the time available on the currently conceivable machines.
Reflexiones críticas sobre los abordajes teórico-metodológicos en la Arqueología de Buques de Guerra y Campos de Batalla Acuáticos

Este articulo tiene por objetivo la revision critica de los abordajes teorico-metodologicos en la arqueologia de navios de guerra y campos de batalla acuaticos. A traves de ejemplos de investigaciones llevadas a cabo desde sus tres principales corrientes (particularismo historico-cultural, procesualismo y postprocesualismo), se analizan las posibilidades, limites y desafios que cada una presenta. Se propone que el camino mas productivo consiste en efectuar una sintesis que tome elementos de cada una de las posturas que se exploran.
A hierarchical approach for causal modeling of process systems

Abstract Cause-and-effect reasoning is at the core of fault diagnosis and hazards analysis in process systems, thereby requiring the development and use of causal models for automated approaches. Furthermore, causal models are also required to explain the decisions and recommendations of artificial intelligence-based systems, lack of which is a serious drawback of purely data-driven approaches. Here, we demonstrate an approach for building multi-level causal models. A hierarchical approach is proposed to capture both cyclic and non-cyclic features of a process plant. Decoupling these features of the plant by constructing two tiers of digraphs, one tier representing overall plant and the other representing individual subsystems, helps in better inference of causal relations present in the system. An algorithm that subsides the effects of indirect causal interactions using reachability matrix and adjacency matrix ideas is also proposed. The algorithm is tested on the Tennessee Eastman benchmark process and the resulting causal model is found to represent the true causal interactions present in the system.
Metals and Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis

Metal exposure is pervasive and not limited to sporadic poisoning events or toxic waste sites. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are affected by chronic metal exposure, which is associated with serious health concerns, including cancer, as demonstrated in a variety of studies at the molecular, systemic, and epidemiologic levels. Metal-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity are sophisticated and complex in nature. This review provides a broad context and holistic view of currently available studies on the mechanisms of metal-induced carcinogenesis. Specifically, we focus on the five most prevalent carcinogenic metals, arsenic, nickel, cadmium, chromium, and beryllium, and their potential to drive carcinogenesis in humans. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind the development of metal-induced cancer can provide valuable insights for therapeutic intervention involving molecular targets in metal-induced carcinogenesis.
Waiting impulsivity during reward seeking increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice

Abstract Impulsivity is defined as a predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions in response to internal or external stimuli, often yielding negative consequences. Accordingly, impulsivity is considered a significant risk factor for developing addictive behaviors. The hippocampus is involved in regulating behavioral adaptability and learned behaviors. Consequently, abnormal hippocampal function has been demonstrated to contribute to impulsive and addictive behaviors. Furthermore, differential reinforcement of low rates of behavior (DRL) has shown that the hippocampus is implicated in reward acquisition and impulsivity in humans and rodent models. We have previously shown that impulsive behavior potentiates hippocampal neuroblast proliferation. However, the fate of these precursor cells produced during impulsive reward seeking remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that DRL-mediated impulsive reward seeking with the 2-choice reaction time task (2-CRTT) increases the number of BrdU labeled cells in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus. Importantly, our results also show a significant increase in BrdU+ and NeuN+ colocalized mature newborn neurons in mice exhibiting impulsivity compared to non-impulsive control mice. These results suggest that operant reward seeking during unpredictable schedules of reinforcement contributes to adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
Methacrylated Hyaluronic Acid–Based Hydrogels Maintain Stemness in Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells

2-Aminoethyl methacrylate (AEMA)–modified hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels with tunable swelling, degradation, and rheological properties were developed to maintain the native spherical and stemness of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Two molecular weights (MW) of HA, 18 and 270 kDa, and 25% degree of AEMA substitution were used to synthesize the HA macromers and hydrogels. The HA macromers were characterized by 1H NMR, and the AEMA-HA hydrogels were synthesized by UV polymerization. The swelling, hydrolytic degradation, and rheological properties of the hydrogels strongly depended on the MW of HA. The degradation rate decreased and the storage modulus increased with the increase in the MW of HA. The storage modulus of the hydrogels decreased with degradation of the hydrogels. The hydrogels were not cytotoxic to DPSCs evidenced by MTT assay, Hoechst 33342 live cell staining, and propidium iodide dead cell staining. The hydrogels maintained the native spherical morphology and stemness of DPSCs when the hydrogels’ storage moduli were in the ranges of 486–681 Pa. In contrast, DPSCs grown on 2D cell culture substrates showed a flat and elongated shape and could not maintain their native spherical shape. The hydrogels increased the expression of the stemness including NANOG and SOX2 of DPSCs (3 and 24 folds, respectively) when their storage modulus was 681.41 ± 92.81 Pa in comparison with DPSCs grown on 2D cell culture plates. The designed AEMA-HA hydrogels mimic the in vivo 3D environment to grow DPSCs. Thus, they appear to have great potential for clinical applications in regenerative medicine and other therapeutic remedies after further optimization in the future. Regenerative medicine is a translational approach that offers the possibility to replace or heal the diseased or damaged tissues caused by trauma, age, infection, cancer, or inherited defects. Such reinstatement of the functionality or healing of the damaged cells or tissues often includes the combination of numerous strategies including the use of biomaterials/scaffolds, stem cells, growth factors, and small molecules. In this study, we used hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring polysaccharide biopolymer commonly found in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues, to synthesize 3D hydrogel scaffolds for growing human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). We evaluated the effects of the molecular weight of HA, and the swelling, degradation, and rheological properties of the hydrogels on maintaining the native spherical and stemness of DPSCs for future therapeutic applications including regenerative medicine.
Regional environmental variation and local species interactions influence biogeographic structure on oyster reefs.

Although species interactions are often assumed to be strongest at small spatial scales, they can interact with regional environmental factors to modify food web dynamics across biogeographic scales. The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is a widespread foundational species of both ecological and economic importance. The oyster and its associated assemblage of fish and macroinvertebrates is an ideal system to investigate how regional differences in environmental variables influence trophic interactions and food web structure. We quantified multiple environmental factors, oyster reef properties, associated species, and trophic guilds on intertidal oyster reefs within 10 estuaries along 900 km of the southeastern United States. Geographical gradients in fall water temperature and mean water depth likely influenced regional (i.e., the northern, central and southern sections of the SAB) variation in oyster reef food web structure. Variation in the biomass of mud crabs, an intermediate predator, was mostly (84.1%) explained by reefs within each site, and did not differ substantially among regions; however, regional variation in the biomass of top predators and of juvenile oysters also contributed to biogeographic variation in food web structure. In particular, region explained almost half (40.2%) of the variation in biomass of predators of blue crab, a top predator that was prevalent only in the central region where water depth was greater. Field experiments revealed that oyster mortality due to predation was greatest in the central region, suggesting spatial variation in the importance of trophic cascades. However, high oyster recruitment in the middle region probably compensates for this enhanced predation, potentially explaining why relatively less variation (17.9%) in oyster cluster biomass was explained by region. Region also explained over half of the variation in biomass of mud crab predators (55.2%), with the southern region containing almost an order of magnitude more biomass than the other two regions. In this region, higher water temperatures in the fall corresponded with higher biomass of fish that consume mud crabs and of fish that consume juvenile and forage fish, whereas biomas of their prey (mud crabs and juvenile and forage fish, respectively) was generally low in the southern region. Collectively, these results show how environmental gradients interact with trophic cascades to structure food webs associated with foundation species across biogeographic regions.
Dysphagia of aberrant right subclavian artery treated by endoscopic dilation: An alternative to surgical treatment in select cases-A case report.

Abstract Introduction The aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is a rare cause of dysphagia. Surgical intervention has remained the mainstem of therapy, accompanied with certain morbidities and mortalities. Although rarely reported in literature, endoscopic dilation may be considered a suitable treatment alternative in patients who are not a surgical candidate or do not consent for surgery. We report a case suffering from dysphagia and diagnosed with ARSA treated by endoscopic dilation. Presentation of case A 52-year-old male presented to our clinic in 2015 with dysphagia. Chest Computed Tomography scan confirmed the diagnosis of ARSA. He first underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with staged dilation of the stricture, making him free of his symptoms for an approximate 2.5 years. Upon recurrence of symptoms in 2018, he underwent repeat endoscopic dilation, which again completely resolved the symptom with an excellent peri-operative and post-operative course. Conclusion Endoscopic dilation of the esophageal stricture in patients with ARSA is a safe alternative to surgery in patients who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery. It provides relief for a relatively long time and can be safely repeated multiple times upon recurrence.
Modeling Competence in the Light of Nature of Science

Nature of science encapsulates characteristics of scientific knowledge that make it “science,” as opposed to other types of knowledge or ways of understanding the world. Scientific knowledge is generated through practices that are grounded in empirical observations of the natural world. Considering the epistemic nature and functions of models as both products of scientific inquiry, as well as essential to the practices of scientific inquiry, there is a clear connection between the nature of models and the nature of scientific knowledge [NOS]. Modeling competence necessitates an understanding of epistemic practices and epistemic knowledge. This chapter details relationships between NOS principles and modeling competence. For example, the utility of models within scientific research relates to their representation of phenomena or systems. System features are selected based on subjective decisions stemming from scientific questions under study. A requisite for understanding NOS and exhibiting modeling competence is acknowledging both the ontological and epistemological features of models and modeling. That is, a scientific model is not an exact replica of reality, but a representation that serves to explain features and relationships that scientists find curious and significant to their questions. Models also enable prediction and testing; thus, generating new knowledge. Acts of model construction and utility are inherently inferential, creative, and tentative; yet robust due to the empirical basis, and explanatory and predictive power. The chapter also presents examples of models from the scientific community with clear connections to NOS; thus providing insights into the epistemic nature of models and modeling and how scientists are pushing the boundaries of what constitutes “science” through modeling efforts.
Recall Elections in the US: Its Long Past and Uncertain Future

Thanks to the recall of California Governor Gray Davis in 2003, and his replacement by international movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, the recall gained a spotlight. While this may be part of an expansion of the recall throughout the globe, a look back at US history shows that it has been popular before, only to crash back into disuse. The recall is currently in a boom phase, as jurisdictions in the US have adopted the recall over the last decade, and it may be growing in use. There are technological reasons to believe that the recall will not effectively disappear in the future and may continue to grow. However, there are also practical hurdles that will prevent the recall from becoming a major player in US politics, even in many of the states that possess what this part of what the Los Angeles Times once called “freak legislation.”
Actually, natural is neutral.

Most people in the Western, developed world prefer natural things, especially foods. We posit that there is neither theoretical nor empirical support for the widespread beliefs about the superiority of natural entities with respect to human welfare. Nature is not particularly benevolent.
Clinical Reasoning: An 11-year-old girl with focal seizures, fevers, and unilateral, enhancing cortical lesions.

An 11-year-old girl with no relevant medical history experienced acute-onset confusion and speech arrest without loss of consciousness, eye deviation, tonic stiffening, or convulsion. At an outside emergency department, her examination included expressive aphasia, right lower facial droop, and right-sided hemiparesis. Noncontrast head CT was negative for acute intracranial pathology, CT angiogram showed patent vasculature, and CT perfusion showed no areas of perfusion mismatch. The patient was transferred to our institution for further management.
196. Reducing bioburden in the operating room: manual cleaning and pulsed-xenon ultraviolet light disinfection produces significant reduction in colony forming units

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Though techniques for sterilizing surgical tools and supplies have steadily improved, current standards for operating room (OR) disinfection have become antiquated – providing continued convenience for pathogenic organisms and surgical site infections. Pulsed-xenon ultraviolet (PX-UV) disinfection is an opportunity for standardized, touch-free disinfection that may serve as a supplement to manual terminal cleaning. The combination of manual and PX-UV disinfection may provide the greatest reduction in OR bioburden, as measured by colony-forming units (CFUs), and frequency of site contamination. Here, the bioburden and site contamination of ORs following manual cleaning and PX-UV disinfection are explored. PURPOSE Determine impact of manual vs manual and PX-UV disinfection on CFUs in spine operating suites. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING N/A PATIENT SAMPLE N/A OUTCOME MEASURES N/A METHODS Fifteen ORs were sampled at three different time points – before terminal manual cleaning, after terminal manual cleaning, and after PX-UV. For each OR, at each time point, five high-touch surfaces were cultured using a Tryptone Soy Agar touch plate. A total of 225 samples were acquired. Samples were incubated for 24 hours and the number of colony-forming units reported. Distinct colonies were identified. Descriptive statistics and Rank Sum Testing with a Bonferroni correction were used to analyze results. RESULTS There was a 26.8% reduction of CFUs after manual cleaning (p>0.8014) and an 81.0% reduction of CFUs after PX-UV (p = 0.0086). Overall, the combination of manual and PX-UV disinfection resulted in an 86.10% reduction in CFUs (p = 0.004). The frequency of sites with CFUs prior to cleaning was 26.7%. There was no change in frequency of sites with CFUs after manual cleaning. Following PX-UV cleaning, the frequency of sites with CFUs reduced to 8.0%, which is a 70.0% reduction in sites with CFUs. Interestingly, the frequency of sites with an increase in CFUs after manual cleaning was 20.0%. There was no occurrence of an increase in CFUs after PX-UV disinfection. CONCLUSIONS The combination of PX-UV with manual cleaning yields the greatest reduction in OR bioburden as measured by CFUs. Manual cleaning alone resulted in a low reduction of CFUs and no change in the frequency of site contamination. Though some individual sites demonstrated elimination of CFUs following manual cleaning, there were a number of sites that had an increase in CFUs. This may represent cross contamination due to the inconsistent nature of manual terminal cleaning. The use of PX-UV disinfection resulted in a significant reduction in CFUs when compared to both the pre- and postmanual cleaning time points. PX-UV disinfection also yielded a reduction in the frequency of site contamination. This reduction in both bioburden and contaminated sites may contribute to a decreased risk of surgical site infection. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Teacher Support of Co- and Socially-Shared Regulation of Learning in Middle School Mathematics Classrooms

Social influences on classroom learning have a long research tradition (e.g., Bandura, 1977; Vygotsky, 1978) and are critical components of self-regulated learning theories (Zimmerman, 2008). More recently, researchers have explored the social influences of self-regulated learning in cooperative learning contexts. In these settings, co-regulation of learning and socially-shared regulation of learning strategies have been aligned with self-regulated learning theory (Hadwin et al., 2018; Khosa & Volet, 2014; Molenar et al., 2014). However, without specific training or structure, teachers are not likely to explicitly integrate SRL strategies into their teaching (Spruce & Bol, 2014). We use case studies to better understand how Zimmerman’s theory of self-regulated learning (2008) and Hadwin’s conceptual framework of socially-shared regulation of learning (2018) emerge from teachers’ support of student-centered instruction. We purposely selected two proficient teachers for more extensive observations focused on student behaviors in teams. The observation instruments afford us a means of advancing research and practice with respect to how teamwork may elicit self- and socially-shared regulation of learning strategies. Consistent with previous findings (Spruce & Bol, 2014), the teachers we observed seem to have made many pedagogical moves to explicitly prompt self- and team monitoring of learning during engagement with course content yet provided fewer opportunities for students to think through the planning and evaluation processes. These findings suggest the cooperative learning model implemented in these classrooms provides support for students’ co- and socially-shared regulation of learning.
Implementation and evaluation of an adaptive online summer preparatory course for general chemistry: Whom does it benefit?

General chemistry courses are key gateways for many Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors. Here, we report on the implementation and evaluation of an adaptive, ALEKS-based online preparatory module (PM) for general chemistry. The module was made available in Summer 2018 at no cost to all students entering any section of general chemistry that fall. Of the 827 students who registered into the PM, 44% fully completed the module, 48% completed part of the module, and 8% did not complete any of the module. Considering students enrolled in first-term general chemistry, we find a marked increase in ACS final exam percentile for students who completed more than 50% of the module. This is suggested to reflect the self-selection of users who were highly motivated and/or likely to succeed in the course, a hypothesis supported by an analysis using an internal diagnostic metric, the predicted first-year quality point average (PQPA). To examine longer term impacts of the PM, we examined performance in subsequent chemistry courses, through second-semester organic, and found that students completing more than 50% of the module outperformed their counterparts across all courses, with the gap largest in first semester general chemistry and narrowing across subsequent courses. Finally, we surveyed students in summer 2020, two years after the PM offering. The survey indicated overall satisfaction with the PM. For students who did not complete the module, primary reasons given were difficulty (29% of respondents) and insufficient time (46%). As the module did not proportionally benefit the target group of underprepared or at-risk students, we suggest tweaks for future implementations.
Tuna robotics: hydrodynamics of rapid linear accelerations

Fish routinely accelerate during locomotor manoeuvres, yet little is known about the dynamics of acceleration performance. Thunniform fish use their lunate caudal fin to generate lift-based thrust ...
Long-term Well-being Among Survivors of the Rwandan and Cambodian Genocides

This paper adds to the thin empirical literature estimating the long-term effects of exposure to conflict from in utero to adolescence on adult well-being. The effects through adolescence of the tw...
Estrogen Signaling Dictates Musculoskeletal Stem Cell Behavior: Sex Differences in Tissue Repair.

Sexual dimorphisms in humans and other species exist in visually evident features such as body size and less apparent characteristics including disease prevalence. Current research is adding to a growing understanding of sex differences in stem cell function and response to external stimuli, including sex hormones such as estrogens. These differences are proving significant and directly impact both the understanding of stem cell processes in tissue repair and the clinical implementation of stem cell therapies. Adult stem cells of the musculoskeletal system, including those used for development and repair of muscle, bone, cartilage, fibrocartilage, ligaments, and tendons, are no exception. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have found differences in stem cell number, proliferative and differentiation capabilities, and response to estrogen treatment between males and females of many species. Maintaining the stemness and reducing senescence of adult stem cells is an important topic with implications in regenerative therapy and aging. As such, this review discusses the effect of estrogens on musculoskeletal system stem cell response in multiple species and highlights the research gaps that still need to be addressed. The following evidence from investigations of sex-related phenotypes in adult progenitor and stem cells are pieces to the big puzzle of sex-related effects on aging and disease and critical information for both fundamental tissue repair and regeneration studies and safe and effective clinical use of stem cells.
An efficient nonlinear solver and convergence analysis for a viscoplastic flow model

This paper studies a finite element discretization of the regularized Bingham equations that describe viscoplastic flow. Convergence analysis is provided, as we prove optimal convergence with respect to the spatial mesh width but depending inversely on the regularization parameter $\varepsilon$, and also suboptimal (by one order) convergence that is independent of the regularization parameter. An efficient nonlinear solver for the discrete model is then proposed and analyzed. The solver is based on Anderson acceleration (AA) applied to a Picard iteration, and we prove accelerated convergence of the method by applying AA theory (recently developed by authors) to the iteration, after showing sufficient smoothness properties of the associated fixed point operator. Numerical tests of spatial convergence are provided, as are results of the model for 2D and 3D driven cavity simulations. For each numerical test, the proposed nonlinear solver is also tested and shown to be very effective and robust with respect to the regularization parameter as it goes to zero.
Simulator evaluation of manually flown curved MLS approaches

Pilot performance in flying horizontally curved instrument approaches was analyzed by having nine test subjects fly curved approaches in a fixed-base simulator. Approaches were flown without an autopilot and without a flight director. Evaluations were based on deviation measurements made at a number of points along the curved approach path and on subject questionnaires. Results indicate that pilots can fly curved approaches, though less accurately than streight-in approaches; that a moderate wind does not seriously affect curve flying performance; and that there is no major performance difference between 60 and 90 deg turns.
Metabolic and Energetic Regulation of Stem Cells

Adult stem cells represent a unique cell population endowed with the capacity for both self-renewal and asymmetric cellular division. It has become increasingly apparent that the metabolism of stem cells is intricately connected to their functional capacity. Here, we review the growing number of studies that have explored the metabolism and energy-dependent pathways that govern stem cell behavior. These studies not only give us insight into how stem cells function, but also potential clues as to how to manipulate the life span and functional capacity of these important cells.
Three-Dimensional Initiation of Thermohaline Fingering

This study involves a series of three-dimensional numerical simulations of the unstable fingering regime of thermohaline convection. We present two cases which demonstrate how the salt finger flow field development is dependent upon the density ratioR p In both density ratio cases, the initial stages of the flow field are wave dominated. In the lower density ratio caseR p =1.2, interfaces with jumps in salinity and temperature develop within the first period of the initial wave stage. Salt fingers form at these interfaces, while large scale convective motion in regions surrounding the interfaces contribute to the development of “staircase” temperature and salt profiles as observed in the ocean. The combined interaction between shear and fingering believed to generate persistent fingering is not observed and eventually the staircase pattern breaks down. For higher values of the density ratio(R P =2), sharp jumps in salinity develop with the formation of some fingers. However, the fingers ultimately begin to fill the computational domain and the wave behavior initially observed continues to dominate with no formation of staircase profiles. The behavior of the solution in both cases was found to be dependent upon the initial conditions and mesh resolution. In particular, the form of the initial conditions played a key role in producing the interfaces and the staircase salt and temperature profiles observed in the lower density ratio case.
Modeling of low-frequency noise in single- and double-gate MOSFETs using quantum mechanical approach

This paper reports a model to calculate low frequency noise in single- and double-gate MOSFETs using a quantum mechanical approach. The cross-sections of the single- and double-gate FETs are shown in the paper
Analyzing Commercial Component Models

Our goal is this paper was to clarify what commercial component models provide to support component-based systems. One of the key motivations was the evident confusion about what a component is, even within a single component model. In this paper we first make a distinction between the functionality of a component model and the mechanisms it uses to support that functionality. We define three kinds of invocation mechanisms for component model services: explicit, implied, and declarative. We describe the elements of a component, show how they support the different invocation mechanisms, and show the role of packaging standards for well-defined components. The component models we examined fall into three distinct groups, with JavaBeans at the weak end, CORBA 2.3, COM/DCOM, and COM+ in the middle, and EJB and.NET at the strong end. The strong component models have configurable execution semantics for operation invocation, declarative service usage, and, most importantly, a well-defined component concept. They also have the properties of the middle group of component models, which use the implied service usage mechanism to support transparent remote communication, and allow an application to use multiple implementations of a component at a time. COM+ falls between the strong and middle groups.
Flexible infrastructure for near-real-time acoustic monitoring of right whales and other marine species

The Bioacoustics Research Program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has developed a modular hardware and software system for near-real-time acoustic monitoring of marine animals. The system provides a framework for deploying acoustic detection algorithms and for processing and distributing detection output, allowing shore-side clients to assess the presence and track the movements of these animals at sea. Near-real-time event reporting makes the system useful in noise pollution mitigation and ship strike reduction applications.
Novel Drug Delivery System (NDDS): Niosomes.

Different carriers like liposomes, niosomes, microspheres, resealed erythrocytes, dendrimers, aquasomes, trasfersomes, ethosomes, phytosomes, nanoparticles etc. are used in novel drug delivery system. Vesicular systems are a novel means of drug delivery that can enhance bioavailability of encapsulated drug and provide therapeutic activity in a controlled manner for a prolonged period of time. Liposomes were the first such system but they suffer from a number of drawbacks including high cost and lack of stability at various pHs. Niosomes are non-ionic surfactant vesicles obtained on hydration of synthetic nonionic surfactants, with or without incorporation of cholesterol or other lipids. Niosomes are one of the best carriers for drug targeting. The basic method of preparation is the same as liposomes i.e. hydration of the lipid phase by aqueous phase which may be either a pure surfactant or a mixture of surfactant with cholesterol. Niosomes are promising vehicle for drug delivery and being non-ionic; it is less toxic and improves the therapeutic index of drug by restricting its action to target cells. Niosomal drug delivery is potentially applicable to many pharmacological agents for their action against various diseases. This review article deals with advantages, preparation, separation of unentrapped drug, factors affecting vesicles size, entrapment efficiency and release characteristics of niosomes, evaluation, applications and Marketed formulations of niosomes. KEYWORDS: Niosomes, NDDS, Surfactant, Ether injection, Entrapment, Dialysis.
Mammalian Biodiversity Conservation at Two Biological Stations in Nicaragua and Costa Rica

Central America is home to some of the world’s most diverse landscapes including at least 20 life zones, 22 ecoregions, and five major tropical forest types. As a constricted, natural corridor between North and South America, Central America hosts a variety of mammalian species from both continents and is also home to several endemic species. At least 17.8 % of the world’s known mammal species can be found only in Central America. The region’s complex mosaic of ecosystems, populations of endemics, and its unique mixture of species from North and South America make Central America one of the world’s most important mammalian biodiversity hot spots.
Role of Sphingolipids in Non-melanoma Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in the world and its incidence continues to rise. NMSC includes two main types, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), both of which arise from malignant keratinocytes, the major cell type in the epidermis of the skin. Most cases of NMSC can be cured by existing new surgical techniques and chemo- or radiotherapy. However, NMSC remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and worldwide likely due to its extremely high incidence and recurrence rate, and limited availability of effective therapies for advanced cases. Therefore, we still need a better understanding of its pathogenesis and the development of novel and effective approaches to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Like many other cancers, NMSC results from dysregulation of the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of cells that it originates from. Emerging evidence suggests that sphingolipids play an important role in regulating these cellular responses of keratinocytes and the homeostasis of the epidermis. In this review, we will discuss the role for sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes in regulating the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of epidermal keratinocytes and the potential role of sphingolipids in NMSC prevention and/or therapy.