cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of the Operational Condition and Core Particle Size on the Powder Composite Process by a Mechanical Method

In this paper, a mechanical processing method called MECHANOFUSION was used to investigate the effect of the chamber revolution and core particle size on the composite process. Glass beads were used as core particles, and titanium dioxide was selected as fine particles. The weight fraction of the fine particles fixed onto the core particles surface was measured to characterize the composite process.As a result, the composite process was described by the following two patterns related to the chamber revolution: Under a critical revolution, fine particles gradually adhered to core particles during the processing time, and at a higher revolution, some portions of the fine particles were detached from the core particles surface after a certain time. Furthermore, the critical revolution was inversely proportional to the core particle size.These results were explained qualitatively from the analysis of the BET surface area and the SEM pictures of the processed particles.
Inhibition of Growth of Candida albicans by Iron-Unsaturated Lactoferrin: Relation to Host-Defense Mechanisms in Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis

Since iron-binding proteins in serum and external secretions inhibit growth of certain microorganisms, the effect of lactoferrin on growth of Candida albicans was determined. The iron-unsaturated protein markedly impaired replication of the yeast, and the growth-inhibitory property was lost when lactoferrin was saturated with iron. The content of lactoferrin in parotid fluids and leukocytes from patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis was measured and compared to that of normal subjects. By immunofluorescence, lactoferrin was localized in the nuclei of band forms and mature polymorphonuclear neutrophiles. There were no differences in the distribution of lactoferrin in leukocytes from patients or controls, and the mean concentrations of lactoferrin in parotid fluids from the two groups were not different.
Toward Objective, Morphology-Based Taxonomy: A Case Study on the Malagasy Nesomyrmex sikorai Species Group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Madagascar is one of the world’s greatest biodiversity hotspots, meriting special attention from biodiversity scientists. It is an excellent testing ground for novel techniques in taxonomy that aim to increase classification objectivity and yield greater taxonomic resolving power. Here we reveal the diversity of a unique and largely unexplored fragment of the Malagasy ant fauna using an advanced combination of exploratory analyses on quantitative morphological data allowing for increased objectivity in taxonomic workflow. The diversity of the Nesomyrmex sikorai species-group was assessed via hypothesis-free nest-centroid-clustering combined with recursive partitioning to estimate the number of morphological clusters and determine the most probable boundaries between them. This combination of methods provides a highly automated and objective species delineation protocol based on continuous morphometric data. Delimitations of clusters recognized by these exploratory analyses were tested via confirmatory Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Multivariate Ratio Analysis (MRA). The final species hypotheses are corroborated by many qualitative characters, and the recognized species exhibit different spatial distributions and occupy different ecological regions. We describe and redescribe eight morphologically distinct species including six new species: Nesomyrmex excelsior sp. n., N. modestus sp. n., N. reticulatus sp. n., N. retusispinosus (Forel, 1892), N. rugosus sp. n., N. sikorai (Emery, 1896), N. striatus sp. n., and N. tamatavensis sp. n. An identification key for their worker castes using morphometric data is provided.
Incremental Role of Mammography in the Evaluation of Gynecomastia in Men Who Have Undergone Chest CT

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine whether additional breast imaging is clinically valuable in the evaluation of patients with gynecomastia incidentally observed on CT of the chest. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In a retrospective analysis, 62 men were identified who had a mammographic diagnosis of gynecomastia and had also undergone CT within 8 months (median, 2 months). We compared the imaging findings of both modalities and correlated them with the clinical outcome. RESULTS. Gynecomastia was statistically significantly larger on mammograms than on CT images; however, there was a high level of concordance in morphologic features and distribution of gynecomastia between mammography and CT. In only one case was gynecomastia evident on mammographic but not CT images, owing to cachexia. Two of the 62 men had ductal carcinoma, which was obscured by gynecomastia. Both of these patients had symptoms suggesting malignancy. CONCLUSION. The appearance of gynecomastia on CT scans and mammograms was hig...
Community Attitudes Towards' School Closings in Chicago: A Policy Feedback Approach

My paper seeks to address the question of how educational policies, specifically school closings, influence patterns of political opinion. Generally, when political scientists are interested in examining attitudes towards a particular policy, they defer to the literature on public opinion. Yet, public opinion scholars primarily examine attitudes as shaping policies, thereby excluding the ways in which policies themselves are shaping attitudes. Recognizing this, an emerging literature within political science, policy feedback, has sought to address this gap in the current way opinion is studied. Broadly speaking, proponents of policy feedback identify the ways in which the design, framing, and discourse around policies can structure individuals’ experience with the political process. These experiences then shape citizen’s interpretation of their life circumstances, the state and world around them. Using this approach, my research seeks to demonstrate how experiences with policies feedback to attitudes. As it relates to the specific case of school closings, I argue that community members’ encounters with the various and multiple manifestations of education policy over the past decade (as implemented by Chicago Public Schools) contribute to general suspicion of the real objectives behind the current school closing policy. These negative interpretations, thus directly shape parents’ oppositional attitudes towards the policy and it's implementors. These findings have serious implications for understanding how encounters with public policies can have consequences for how citizens think about their local government apparatus and democracy, at large.
Study on the technique of newnatal eye-disease screening modle in primary-level hospitals

Objective:To research the modle of neonatal eye screening in the primary-level hospitals and explore the technology and requirements with simple equipments for neonatal eye screening.Methods:Using random sampling method, usimg flashlights,direct ophthalmoscope and other simple equipments to conduct eye screening of newborns in the primary-level hospitals in Zhongshan City,towns,districts and other primary-level hospitals from 2008.06 to 2009.5 The newborns were divided into high-risk group and normal group.Review the suspicious cases.Results:1483 neonates accepted eye-disease screening:452 people in high-risk infant group;the normal people of neonatal group 1031.9 newborns must be transferred for professional ophthalmic treatment,accounting for 0.61%of the total.No case was missed.Conclusion:That primary-level hospitals use simple equipment in accordance with normal procedures for neonatal eye screening is feasible, especially for children in remote areas.
The flora of Great Basin mountain ranges: diversity, sources, and dispersal ecology

The high elevation floras of 9 mountainous "mainlands" (3 in the Sierra-Cascade system and 6 in the High Plateau-Wasatch-Teton system) and 15 isolated mountain "islands" in the Intermountain Region have been analyzed. Mainland floras support more species per unit area and show a smaller increase in diversity as area is increased than islands (never exceeding 5 percent of any flora), however; and the island floras are overwhelmingly dominated by species with no apparent modifications for long-range dispersal. Furthermore, the eastern mainland has exerted a far greater influence on the flora and the vegetation of the islands than has the western mainland, despite the fact that the former is downwind of the islands. Thus, evidence from endemics, dispersal ecology, and sources of the floras suggests that the isolated mountains have not acquired there full floras by long-range dispersal. We conlude that although the floras of this lands have many insular chaacteristics, they were less isolated in the relatively recent past than at the present. The island floras do not appear to be in equilibrium in the sense that immigrations equal extinctions.
Thermal efficiency of a dual-mode turbulent jet ignition engine under lean and near-stoichiometric operation

Turbulent jet ignition is a combustion technology that can offer higher thermal efficiency compared to the homogeneous spark ignition engines. A potential combustion-related challenge with turbulen...
Cost Effectiveness of Pre– vs Post–Liver Transplant Hepatitis C Treatment With Direct-Acting Antivirals

Background & Aims Oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment offer new hope to both pre– and post–liver transplant (LT) patients. However, whether to treat HCV patients before vs after LT is not clear because treatment can improve liver function but could reduce the chance of receiving an LT while on the waiting list. Our objective was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of pre-LT vs post-LT HCV treatment with oral DAAs in decompensated cirrhotic patients on the LT waiting list. Methods We used a validated mathematical model that simulated a virtual trial comparing long-term clinical and cost outcomes of pre-LT vs post-LT HCV treatment with oral DAAs. Model parameters were estimated from United Network for Organ Sharing data, SOLAR-1 and 2 trials, and published studies. For each strategy, we estimated the quality-adjusted life-year, life expectancy, cost, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Results For lower MELD scores, quality-adjusted life-years were higher with pre-LT HCV treatment compared with post-LT treatment. Pre-LT HCV treatment was cost saving in patients with MELD scores of 15 or less, and cost effective in patients with MELD scores of 16 to 21. In contrast, post-LT HCV treatment was cost effective in patients with MELD scores of 22 to 29 and cost saving if MELD scores were 30 or higher. Results varied by drug prices and by United Network for Organ Sharing regions. Conclusions For cirrhotic patients awaiting LT, pre-LT HCV treatment with DAAs is cost effective/saving in patients with MELD scores of 21 or lower, whereas post-LT HCV treatment is cost effective/saving in patients with MELD scores of 22 or higher.
Low-temperature and pressure response of InAlN/GaN ring-shaped high electron mobility transistors

A ring-shaped InAlN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is leveraged as the sensing element of a micro-pressure sensor. The microfabrication process, which uses an InAlN/GaN-on-Si substrate, enables monolithic integration with other electronic devices, as well as operation within harsh environments. The micro-pressure sensor was characterized from 0 to 14 psig at room temperature (RT) and −3°C. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements under applied pressures exhibited a decrease in percent change in current (sensitivity) at −3°C, compared to RT. At RT and −3°C (Vg S = — 4 V), the maximum current sensitivity is 0.61%/psig (at V DS = 3.4 V) and 0.39%/psig (at V DS = 4 V), respectively. These results suggest that the InAlN/GaN platform can extend sensing capabilities to cold harsh environments (e.g., space and Arctic exploration).
Extended abstract: Scaling collaboration and communication of a growing consulting firm

As a firm transforms from a small enterprise towards 50 or more individuals, organizational structure is essential to its sustainability. It is important as the firm grows to develop a firm that can transform from the small survival, often chaotic, staged firm of the individual entrepreneur and staff to one that can scale up to maintain the original reasons for the firm's initial success. This will require the development of a platform of multiple leaders, staff hierarchy, a culture development program, and consistent management policies in order to ensure success for the long term, no matter how large the firm grows.
The THIK and Thin of Microglia Dynamics.

Madry et al. (2018) show that the two-pore potassium channel THIK-1 is tonically active in microglia and promotes microglial ramification and surveillance of the brain parenchyma. Interestingly, THIK-1 is not essential to damage-induced outgrowth of microglial processes but is critical to microglial IL-1β release.
Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP) is defined by either continuous or intermittent symptoms of bowel obstruction in the absence of fixed lumen excluding lesion. CIP includes a heterogeneous group of disorders which result either from diseases affecting the enteric neurons and smooth muscle lining or those involving the autonomic innervation of the bowel. Symptoms associated with CIP are nonspecific, which can sometimes contribute to the delay in recognizing the condition and making the correct diagnosis. The diagnostic workup should include imaging and manometry studies and, occasionally, full-thickness bowel biopsies for histopathological examination may be required. Multidisciplinary team approach for the management of these patients is recommended, and the team members should include a gastroenterologist, surgeon, chronic pain specialist, clinical nutritionist, and a psychologist. The treatment goals should include optimizing the nutritional status and preventing or delaying the development of intestinal failure. The majority of the patients require enteral or parenteral nutrition support, and chronic pain is a common and distressing symptom. Small bowel transplantation may be required if patients develop liver complications due to parenteral nutrition, have difficult central line access, or have poor quality of life and worsening pain despite aggressive medical management.
Five recommendations for software evolvability

Abstract Evolvability of software lies in intersection of 3 factors: evolving system properties, human factors present in the developer team, and evolution demands. The paper presents 5 recommendat...
Private sector tuberculosis prevention in the US: Characteristics associated with interferon-gamma release assay or tuberculin skin testing.

Objective To determine whether latent tuberculosis infection risk factors are associated with an increased likelihood of latent tuberculosis infection testing in the US private healthcare sector. Data source A national sample of medical and pharmacy claims representing services rendered January 2011 through December 2013 for 3,997,986 commercially insured individuals in the US who were 0 to 64 years of age. Study design We used multivariable logistic regression models to determine whether TB/LTBI risk factors were associated with an increased likelihood of Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) or Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) testing in the private sector. Principal findings 4.31% (4.27–4.34%) received at least one TST/IGRA test between 2011 and 2013 while 1.69% (1.67–1.72%) received a TST/IGRA test in 2013. Clinical risk factors associated with a significantly increased likelihood of testing included HIV, immunosuppressive therapy, exposure to tuberculosis, a history of tuberculosis, diabetes, tobacco use, end stage renal disease, and alcohol use disorder. Other significant variables included gender, age, asthma, the state tuberculosis rate, population density, and percent of foreign-born persons in a county. Conclusions Private sector TST/IGRA testing is not uncommon and testing varies with clinical risk indicators. Thus, the private sector can be a powerful resource in the fight against tuberculosis. Analyses of administrative data can inform how best to leverage private sector healthcare toward tuberculosis prevention activities.
Extracardiac Findings on Cardiac Computed Tomography: A Radiologist's Perspective

There has been debate in the cardiology literature as to how to handle unexpected noncardiac findings on cardiac computed tomography examinations. From the perspective of a radiologist, all structures on the presented images should be assessed. The interpreter needs to carefully winnow the findings down to potentially important ones. Then the question becomes what to do next. Cardiologists who take primary responsibility for cardiac computed tomography examinations must be able to recognize noncardiac findings that require immediate action. Although infrequent, their clinical impact can be substantial. False-positive results will occur; minimizing these depends on knowledge of common trivial findings, normal variants, and customary workup and follow-up recommendations. This implies experience in interpreting structures outside the heart. Therefore, help from an experienced and decisive radiologist should maximize sensitivity for significant lesions while minimizing the number of false-positive diagnoses.
Vector Spaces and Linear Maps

We introduce the concept of a vector space by using the plane R2 as a model. R2 is the set of all ordered pairs (a, b) of real numbers. (The fact that we take ordered pairs means, for example, that (1,2) ≠ (2,1).) We define an operation + of addition on R2 by $$ (a,b) + (c,d) = (a + c,b + d). $$ (1)
Endocytosis and the Regulation of Cell Signaling, Cell Adhesion, and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer

Endosomes play key roles in the control and execution of such diverse and spatially restricted processes as cell signaling, epithelial to mesenchymal transitions as well as cell adhesion and migration. The endocytosis of growth factor receptors and adhesion molecules, such as cadherins and integrins, is coming into focus as a major mechanism in the regulation of cellular processes that govern cell growth, differentiation, survival, and motility. Subversion of these pathways accompanies disease progression, especially cancer. We suggest that endosomes are multifunctional dynamic platforms on which unique sets of molecular components are assembled and sorted to adapt to different environmental and cellular cues. A better understanding of how endosomes can function as conduits for the acquisition of oncogenic phenotypes will lead to more specific therapeutic approaches to combat cancer progression.
Adult Survivorship of Pediatric Cancers

Advances in therapies over the past four decades have improved overall survival for children and adolescents with cancer. Currently, 80 % of patients diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20 years will survive beyond 5 years from diagnosis. Improved outcomes have resulted in a growing population of adult survivors of childhood cancer. Survival of childhood cancer comes at the price of lifelong chronic health issues in at least 62 % of survivors. Radiation therapy, especially at a young age, carries the highest risk of late adverse outcomes. Radiation therapy has been associated with an increased risk for late premature mortality, subsequent neoplasms, obesity, and pulmonary, cardiac, and thyroid dysfunction, as well as an increased overall risk for chronic health conditions. Surgery and chemotherapy also increase the risk for chronic health conditions such as cardiomyopathy, osteoporosis, renal dysfunction, hearing loss, pulmonary dysfunction, and liver dysfunction. Although many survivors are satisfied with their quality of life, long-term follow-up for all adult survivors of childhood cancer is recommended to screen for second malignancies and late effects of therapy, make appropriate referrals for care of treatment-related health conditions, and provide psychosocial support and advice. This chapter will discuss the practices and recommendations for care of adult survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Clinic at MD Anderson.
Data-driven discovery of dynamics for control

The ability to discover physical laws and governing equations from data is one of humankind’s greatest intellectual achievements. A quantitative understanding of dynamic constraints and balances in nature has facilitated rapid development of knowledge and enabled advanced technology, including aircraft, combustion engines, satellites, and electrical power. There are many more critical data-driven problems, such as understanding cognition from neural recordings, inferring patterns in climate, determining stability of financial markets, predicting and suppressing the spread of disease, and controlling turbulence for greener transportation and energy. With abundant data and elusive laws, data-driven discovery of dynamics will continue to play an increasingly important role in these efforts. This work develops a general framework to discover the governing equations underlying a dynamical system simply from data measurements, leveraging advances in sparsity-promoting techniques and machine learning. The result...
A Procedure to Standardize Puff Topography During Evaluations of Acute Tobacco or Electronic Cigarette Exposure.

INTRODUCTION Documenting factors that influence differential sensitivity to acutely inhaled nicotine products requires carefully controlling the amount of exposure (dose), and thus a procedure by which to control such exposure. METHODS We evaluated consistency of puff volume from intermittent acute exposures to smoked tobacco cigarettes (study 1, n = 45, plus a comparison study of uninstructed use with n = 59) and to vaped electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes; study 2, n = 27 naive to e-cigarettes) in adult-dependent smokers. All in primary studies 1 and 2 participated in research administering different nicotine levels in each product under blind conditions, one per session using within-subject designs. In both studies, participants followed an automated instructional procedure on a computer monitor standardizing the timing and amount of exposure to each product during a given trial, with four trials per session, each separated by 20 minutes. Puff volume per trial via Clinical Research Support System (CReSS) was the primary dependent measure to determine consistency across trials via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS Control over topography with both inhaled products was demonstrated by highly significant ICCs for puff volume across trials. Instructed control with own brand was generally better in study 1 than with uninstructed smoking in the comparison sample, as expected. As intended, reliability of puff volume generally did not differ by menthol preference or sex in either study, but ICCs in study 2 tended to be lower for some men using the placebo e-cigarette. CONCLUSIONS This instructional procedure may substantially improve control over amounts of acute exposure to tobacco or e-cigarette use. IMPLICATIONS Control over topography in studies of acute exposure to these inhaled products can potentially aid validity of research into differential sensitivity to use, so findings can be attributed to factors of interest and not to variable exposure. Our procedure minimized variability in exposure to the same product and between moderate nicotine products, but remaining differences suggest that compensation for very low or no nicotine commercial products may be difficult to totally eliminate with these instructions alone. Further study is needed to determine this procedure's utility with other inhaled products among experienced users and when comparing different products in between-groups analyses.
Early Vaccination of Chickens Induces Suboptimal Immunity Against Infectious Bronchitis Virus

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is highly prevalent in broiler chickens despite extensive vaccination commonly conducted early after hatch. The effects of early vaccination on immune responses were further investigated in chickens primed at increasing ages, followed by booster vaccination with an attenuated Arkansas (Ark) Delmarva Poultry Industry-type vaccine. Results show that vaccination on day 1 of age elicits significantly lower systemic and mucosal antibody responses compared with vaccination at later time points in the life of the chicken. The increase of IBV antibodies in serum from secondary responses after booster vaccination was more dramatic and significantly higher when measured by an Ark spike subunit 1 protein ELISA compared with measuring by non-Ark serotype whole-virus ELISA, which underlines the immunogenic importance of the virus spike at inducing antibodies. However, the levels achieved following boosting did not differ significantly between ages of priming. Thus, it seems that the booster vaccination mitigated the differences detected after prime immunization. In contrast to the continued rise of systemic antibodies after booster vaccination, the levels of mucosal IBV-specific immunoglobulin A decreased after booster vaccination. The recruitment or expansion of cluster of differentiation (CD)4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell populations in different immune effector sites was increased with age, but remained unaltered by IBV vaccination. In contrast, peripheral blood CD4+ cells showed a significant increase in IBV-vaccinated chickens compared with nonvaccinated age-matched controls both after primary and booster immunization. The results of the current study confirm that IBV vaccination on the day of hatch induces suboptimal IBV immune responses both in the systemic and mucosal compartments. This routine practice may be contributing to the immunologic escape of the virus and increased persistence of vaccine virus in vaccinated chickens. However, booster vaccination seems to overcome poor initial responses.
Reversible Magnesium Intercalation into a Layered Oxyfluoride Cathode.

MoO2.8F0.2 is prepared by solvothermal reaction of a 33:1.25 molar mixture of α-MoO3 and Mo in aq.
Suppression of Multiphoton Ionization of Aniline in Large Superfluid Helium Droplets.

Abstract We report suppression of multiphoton ionization (MPI) of aniline doped large superfluid helium droplets containing over 5 × 106 atoms. In contrast, surface-bound sodium atoms and dimers are readily desorbed and ionized. Adequacy of the experimental conditions is also confirmed from ejection of embedded aniline cations from smaller droplets containing multiple cations, and MPI of gaseous aniline. The photoelectrons have a mean-free-path of less than 1 nm and a thermalization distance of 10 nm. In a droplet with a diameter of over 70 nm, effective charge recombination within the droplet is expected.
Surgical Management of Vestibular Schwannoma: Practice Pattern Analysis via NSQIP.

Objective:Characterize current perspectives in the surgical management of vestibular schwannoma (VS) to guide otolaryngologists in understanding United States practice patterns.Methods:A retrospect...
Virgin Galactic: Promoters and Prizes

McCurdy describes the events that led to the creation of Virgin Galactic, notably the evolution of the Ansari X Prize and the investments it attracted. Upon completing the first task necessary to receive the $10 million award, the pilot of the winning entry hoisted a sign with the name of his spacecraft SpaceShipOne followed by the words “Government Zero.” Competitors could not seek government help to win the prize.
Positionality and Power: The Individual’s Role in Directing Community College Men of Color Initiatives

Community College Men of Color Initiatives (CCMCIs) are increasingly popular strategies utilized to promote retention and completion among Men of Color (MOC). CCMCI directors offer a unique positio...
Social health needs and promotive health factors scale for college students: Scale development and initial validation.

Objective: The psychometric properties of a measure of social determinants of health for college students entitled, The LIFESCREEN-C was developed. Participants: A sample of 226 college students completing an online survey during the 2018-2019 academic year. Methods: Tetrachoric correlations were used to confirm a three factor model. Results: Results found model fit; convergent validity with a measure of general health; and adequate internal reliability. Conclusions: The three model fit included: general social health needs, college student social health needs, and promotive social health factors. Implications for health professionals in college settings concludes.
CORONARY DISEASE RISK ASSESSMENT IN ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS.

GOAL OF THE STUDY - to assess the risk of coronary disease in patients with asymptomatic ischemia. The work was based on the results of 185 patients' investigation, aged 35-55, among them 159 men and 26 women. All of them underwent selective coronarography. The patients were distributed according to the coronarography data - the first group consisted of individuals who had any coronary stenosis. The second group consisted of patients with intact coronaries. Statistical analysis was performed using the program packet SPSS v. 22. Our investigation showed that patients' median age did not credibly differ in the group of stenosis - 47.18 ± 5.14 and the group of intact coronaries 46.14 ± 5.06. More than 50% of any coronary stenosis shows convincing positive correlation with LV moderate dilatation - r=0.531; p=0.000 and 30 to 50% stenosis - r=0.531; p=0.000. Dyslipidemia, EF<53.8 p=0.000, obesity, ventricular extrasystoles, ST ↓ or ST ↑, positive treadmill test, low tolerance to treadmill test, arterial hypertension, cardiac insufficiency (heart failure), occupational dust, occupational hazards, stressful job, heavy physical load or professional sport; ischemic disease in 1st degree relatives, hereditary heart diseases, frequent alcohol consumption, urban living place, diabetes mellitus, smoking, male gender show convincingly positive correlation with coronary artery stenosis. Negative correlation is shown by the nondiagnostic treadmill test and the sinus rhythm. In patients with silent ischemia, the coronary disease predictors are: left ventricular moderate dilatation, male gender, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, smoking, positive treadmill test, ischemic disease in 1st degree relatives, low tolerance to treadmill test.
Safety and Predictors of Sexual Minority Youth Carrying Weapons.

Prior research has revealed sexual minority youth are more likely to carry weapons both outside of and within school. However, to date, no study has examined the degree to which bullying and harass...
Shielding Calculations for the Hard X-Rays Generated by LCLS MEC Laser System

AbstractThe Linac Coherent Light Source Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) Instrument is an X-ray instrument that will be able to create and diagnose high-energy-density matter. The MEC laser system can generate hard X-rays due to the interaction of the laser and the plasma. This paper summarizes results of the shielding calculations performed to evaluate the radiation hazards induced by this hard-X-ray source with the Monte Carlo code FLUKA. The dose rates and photon spectra due to this X-ray source are calculated at different locations with different shielding. The influence of the electron temperature on the source terms and the shielding effectiveness was also investigated.
Identification of Listeria monocytogenes genes contributing to oxidative stress resistance under conditions relevant to host infection

The Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes survives in environments ranging from the soil to the cytosol of infected host cells. Key to L. monocytogenes intracellular survival is the activation of PrfA, a transcriptional regulator that is required for the expression of multiple bacterial virulence factors. Mutations that constitutively activate prfA (prfA* mutations) result in high-level expression of multiple bacterial virulence factors as well as the physiological adaptation of L. monocytogenes for optimal replication within host cells. Here we demonstrate that L. monocytogenes prfA* mutants exhibit significantly enhanced resistance to oxidative stress in comparison to wild type strains. Transposon mutagenesis of L. monocytogenes prfA* strains resulted in the identification of three novel gene targets required for full oxidative stress resistance only in the context of PrfA activation. One gene, lmo0779, predicted to encode an uncharacterized protein, and two additional genes known as cbpA and ygbB, encoding a cyclic-di-AMP binding protein and a 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase respectively, contribute to the enhanced oxidative stress resistance of prfA* strains while exhibiting no significant contribution in wild type L. monocytogenes Transposon inactivation of cbpA and lmo0779 in a prfA* background led to reduced virulence in the liver of infected mice. These results indicate that L. monocytogenes calls upon specific bacterial factors for stress resistance in the context of PrfA activation and thus under conditions favorable for bacterial replication within infected mammalian cells.
The Investigation of Competition in Digital Markets: Looking in the Wrong Forest?

The majority staff of the House Judiciary Committee recently released its Report and Recommendations (“MSRR”) following an investigation of competition in digital markets. It claims that the leading digital technology firms (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook) have acquired and maintained monopoly power by exclusionary conduct, and blames this on alleged narrow vision and weak enforcement efforts of the U.S. antitrust agencies and courts. The MSRR proposes a near-total revision of U.S. antitrust, restoring the enforcement approaches of fifty years ago when per se rules and structural presumptions were predominant. Considering that the U.S. is the unquestioned leader in digital technology, and that the EU has far fewer leading digital technology firms but does have antitrust rules very much like those proposed by the MSRR, it seems that both the MSRR’s view of the evidence and the logic of its proposals are questionable.
What Makes A Good Reference Manager? A Quantitative Analysis of Bibliography Management Applications

Many researchers and students use reference managers to collect, manage, and format references and citations. While prior work has assessed these tools qualitatively, it is still unclear how to quantitatively evaluate reference managers. This paper starts to quantify the user effort required to use reference managers. We first collected surveys from 69 graduate students to understand their experience with reference managers, and then conducted user studies with 12 participants. In our study, each participant was asked to perform a standardized task using four popular reference managers: Mendeley, Zotero, EndNote, and RefWorks. We used RUI, a keystroke and mouse-move logger, to record the participants’ activities and approximate their physical and mental effort. We also used pre- and post-study surveys to collect users’ feedback and self-reported task load (as expressed by the NASA TLX Index.) The results showed that different reference managers require different levels of effort, and users generally prefer the tools that involve less effort. We also found that although reference managers share similar features, differences in presentation and organization matter. We conclude this work by providing a set of guidelines for both users and developers of reference managers.
Risk of Enteric Infection in Patients with Gastric Acid Supressive Drugs: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Long-term use of gastric-acid-suppressive drugs is known to be associated with several adverse effects. However, the association between enteric infection and acid suppression therapy is still uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the association between gastric acid suppression and the risk of enteric infection. Materials and Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study using the data from Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD) in Taiwan. Between January 2008 and December 2017, a total of 154,590 adult inpatients (age > 18) were identified. A pool of potential eligible controls according to four propensity scores matching by sex, age, and index year were extracted (n = 89,925). Subjects with missing data or who received less than 7 days of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and/or H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) were excluded. Finally, 17,186 cases and 69,708 corresponding controls were selected for analysis. The use of PPIs and H2RAs, the result of microbiological samples, and co-morbidity conditions have been analyzed. Confounders were controlled by conditional logistic regression. Results: 32.84% of patients in the case group used PPIs, compared with 7.48% in the control group. Of patients in the case group, 9.9% used H2RAs, compared with 6.9% in the control group. Of patients in the case group, 8.3% used a combination of PPIs and H2RAs, compared with 2.7% in the control group. The most common etiological pathogens were Enterococcus (44.8%), Clostridioides difficile (34.5%), and Salmonella spp. (10.2%). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for PPI use with enteric infection was 5.526 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.274–5.791). For H2RAs, the adjusted odds ratio was 1.339 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.261–1.424). Compared to the control group, persons with enteric infection had more frequent acid-suppressive agent usage. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that gastric-acid-suppressive drug use is associated with an increased risk of enteric infection after adjusting for potential biases and confounders.
Selectivity tuning of serially connected open-tubular (capillary) columns in gas chromatography. Part I: Fundamental relationships

The evolution of the use of mixed phases or serial column combinations is outlined, leading to systems with fixed-length columns to be used in selectivity tuning (“multi-chromatography”). The difference between multi-chromatography and multi-dimensional gas chromatography is outlined.
Displaying the Conics: Three Alternatives to Computer Graphics.

ABSTRACT Despite the allure of computer graphics, demonstration devices retain a place in the mathematics classroom. As examples, we describe the construction and use of three simple devices for displaying the conic sections.
The decay of 194Au to levels in 194Pt

Abstract High-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements of the energies and intensities of the γ rays emitted in the decay of 194Au (produced following the decay of 447-y 194Hg) have been made with increased precision relative to previous studies, leading to correspondingly improved values for β-decay branching intensities and energy levels in the daughter 194Pt. Numerous newly observed transitions are reported, and two possible new levels in 194Pt are suggested.
The Association Between Diabetes Mellitus Among American Indian/Alaska Native Populations with Preterm Birth in Eight US States from 2004–2011

Assess risk of preterm birth associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) among American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), a population with increased risk of DM and preterm birth, and examine whether this association differed by state of residence. We used surveillance data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System from 12,400 AI/AN respondents with singleton births in Alaska, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Washington from 2004–2011. We conducted multivariable logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratio adjusted for maternal age and prepregnancy BMI with all observations and then stratified by state. DM was reported in 5.92 % of the study population and preterm birth occurred in 8.95 % of births. Women with DM had 1.92 times higher odds of having a preterm birth than women without DM [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.21–2.78]. After stratifying on state, women with DM in Nebraska had the greatest odds of preterm birth [aOR 6.63, (95 % CI 3.80–11.6)] while women in Alaska saw a protective effect from DM [aOR 0.17, (95 % CI 0.07–0.42)] compared to women without DM. Overall, AI/AN women with DM had significantly greater odds of preterm birth compared to AI/AN women without DM across states. Substantial differences in this association between states calls for increased public health efforts in high-risk areas as well as further research to assess whether differences are attributable to diagnosis, reporting, tribal, healthcare or lifestyle factors.
Computer Simulations and Experiment on the Quasi-Static Mechanics and Transport Properties of Granular Materials

This article provides a brief review of the quasi-static mechanics of granular media, together with a summary of recent progess on the development of a quasi-static algorithm for the computer simulation of the mechanics and scalar-transport properties of random sphere assemblages. The algorithm involves several new techniques, including: a shuffling algorithm for rapidly generating random loose-packed assemblages; a microcell-adjacency method to further accelerate particle-contact search; a relaxation method to overcome the singularity in the quasi-linear system of equilibrium equations; and a simulated mechanical compression to generate random initial states of arbitrary packing density. The resulting program is versatile enough to simulate arbitrary deformation histories, for which both the mechanical and the scalar transport properties of sphere assemblages can be computed. An outline is given of the salient details of the mechanics algorithm together with a brief description of the analogous scalar transport computation for (electrical or thermal) conductivity. A brief summary is also given of the yield-stress and conductivity computations and their comparison against recent triaxial experimental tests on steel ball-bearing assemblages.
Planning for Software Engineering Education Within a Computer Science Framework at Marshall University

This paper presents an overview of the planning process undertaken at Marshall University, to update and strengthen the undergraduate computer science program, and to introduce a strong emphasis in software engineering. An Advisory Panel of senior computing managers from the region was formed, and has provided valuable input to the “requirements determination” phase of the planning process. Based on the Panel's input, and guided by current curriculum design recommendations and accreditation standards, the computer science faculty—with the participation of other colleagues—has undertaken a total revision of the curriculum, addressing other issues as well, such as laboratories and staffing. Summaries are provided of the Panel's input, and of the current draft status of the evolving curriculum.
Statistical Approaches Applied to Fatigue Test Data Analysis

The use of statistics is an important aspect in the analysis of fatigue test results. This paper describes the use of the Maximum Likelihood Estimate to analyze the fatigue results of staircase tests and Life-Regression Models (S-N curve). Two life-regression models are analyzed: a modified Basquin model and the Random Fatigue Limit (RFL) model.
Arithmetic functions in programmable logic

As engineers begin to embed complex system functions within programmable logic, the need often arises to perform arithmetic functions. Altera's FLEX 8000 family addresses this need with the features of the Arithmetic LE Mode. In this mode, dedicated logic and routing generates and propagates a fast carry-forward function in less than 1 ns. This high speed carry generation can be used to build arithmetic functions that will meet the most demanding system requirements. >
Hierarchical Cluster Analysis

Hierarchical cluster analysis refers to a collection of methods that seek to construct a hierarchically arranged sequence of partitions for some given object set. Typically, the methods produce a hierarchy based on some proximity measure defined for every pair of objects. The common agglomerative methods for producing partition hierarchies are discussed along with the characterizing notion of an ultrametric. The hierarchical clustering task is then redefined as one of finding a least-squares approximation to the proximity measure by an ultrametric structure. A generalization of the ultrametric condition, and thus of hierarchical clustering, is to an additive tree; again, a least-squares approximation to the proximity measure is sought but now by a structure that satisfies the more general additive tree inequality. Finally, a discussion is given as to how an additive tree explicitly generalizes an ultrametric by being nonuniquely decomposable by an ultrametric plus what might be called a centroid metric. Keywords: ultrametric; additive tree; agglomerative method; divisive method; least-squares ultrametric; least-squares additive tree
Glutathione S-transferase in adult Dirofilaria immitis and Brugia pahangi.

Glutathione S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) was detected in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions of adult Dirofilaria immitis females at respective levels of 30 nmol and 3 nmol min−1 (mg protein)−1 activity with the substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). The transferase activity in the cytosolic fraction of adult Brugia pahangi females was 10 nmol min−1 mg−1 with CDNB; determination of its activity in the microsomal fraction of this filariid was not attempted. These filarial glutathione S-transferases were further characterized after their purification by glutathione-affinity chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cytosolic transferase from D. immitis, molecular weight 47 000, yielded a single subunit of around 28 kDa. The cytosolic and microsomal transferases from D. immitis differed in their activity with CDNB, 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene, 4-benzylchloride and ethacrynic acid. The cytosolic transferase from B. pahangi was distinguished by its high activity with ethacrynic acid. Both glutathione S-transferases from D. immitis also functioned as a glutathione peroxidase, strongly preferring cumene hydroperoxide as a substrate over hydrogen peroxide. Both were equiactive inhibitors of malonaldehyde formation in the NADPH-microsomal lipid peroxidation system. Thus, in addition to the ability of filarial glutathione S-transferases to detoxify electrophilic xenobiotics, at least those from D. immitis also exhibited selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase activity. Their glutathione S-transferase function suggests a potential role for these enzymes in the leukotriene synthetic pathway, if filariae can form such eicosanoids from arachidonate. Functioning as a glutathione peroxidase, they could serve to protect filarial membrane lipids from peroxidation.