cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Escape Room as a Simulation Teaching Strategy

Abstract Background This teaching project describes the process of creating, implementing, and appraising the use of escape room concepts within a urosepsis high-fidelity simulation scenario. Method Instead of a locked room, Breakout EDU locked boxes were incorporated into a clinical simulation. Nursing students applied concepts learned in class and analyzed patient data to obtain clues. These clues helped determine the combination to four locks and progress through the simulation within 60 minutes. After completing the escape room simulation, each group had an opportunity to gather for a team photo, which they posted on social media. Results Students reported the escape game contributed to their learning and improved their ability to delegate tasks and work as a team. Preliminary observations reveal that "time" may be a significant factor associated with this teaching strategy. Conclusion The concept of an escape room or serious game-based learning was found to be an engaging teaching strategy by faculty and students.
The Influence of the Construction of Time on the Major North American Sports: Will Soccer Infiltrate the American Sports Space?

The role of time is crucial in virtually all sports. As part of a larger presentation on the concept of time in sports, including topics such as schedules, durations and endings, this paper examines the relationship between the official time allotted to the playing of a game from the very beginning to the very end (“wall-time”), and the amount of time spent in actual play (“play-time”). After analyzing this relationship in the big four American team sports of baseball, football, basketball and ice hockey (hockey), the paper focuses on these two temporal phenomena in Association Football (soccer). It concludes that the auspiciousness of this temporal relationship in soccer bodes well for the game’s increased presence in the American sports space.
Frontiers in Theory-Predicated Research in Youth Development: A Commentary

The field of youth development sits at the frontier of new opportunities for research and practice. These opportunities are enabled by innovations in theory and in theory-inspired research methods. Framed by relational developmental systems metatheory, dynamic systems models of youth development emphasize that every young person has the potential to change positively by aligning specific individual strengths and contextual resources that, together, can optimize the life paths of a young person. The methods linked to these theoretical models combine to help identify the specific links between an individual and his or her context that may maximize thriving across the adolescent decade. The evidence derived from theory-predicated use of these methods may be used to create innovations in youth development programs and policies that promote lives of personal thriving and social contribution among the diverse young people of our world.
Cross Cultural Analysis of Direct Employee Participation: Dealing With Gender and Cultural Values.

The goal of this study is analyse the influence of perceived supervisor support (PSS) by employees at a micro level and the role of the cultural values of “power distance” and “masculinity” at a macro level on direct employee participation in decision making (PDM). Furthermore, the influence of the gender of managers and employees is taken into account. The analysis is based upon the Sixth European Working Conditions Survey carried out by Eurofound in 2016. The results of a Hierarchical linear model indicate that all predictors significantly influenced PDM and PSS positively and cultural values negatively. When the gender of managers and employees is considered, the findings suggest that PSS has a larger impact on PDM when male managers address female employees. Regarding the moderating effect of PSS on cultural values, it is shown that masculinity and power distance lose importance when employees have the support of their supervisors.
Culture Always Matters: Some Thoughts on Rosenberg and Schwartz

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to and highlight some particularly enlightening arguments described by Rosenberg and Schwartz (2019). First, I emphasize the importance of the role of culture in ethical analysis and describe how the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts (2014; hereafter referred to as the BACB Code) unintentionally underplays the importance of culture. Second, I express support for the model of ethical analysis proposed by Rosenberg and Schwartz and explain how their model provides an excellent and much-needed framework for the observation (and subsequent study) of ethical decision-making in behavior-analytic practice. Finally, I go all in and join Rosenberg and Schwartz in their call for scholars to critically analyze and discuss the BACB Code and to challenge the status quo (or call into question those who do). Such a discussion is healthy for our science and understanding of ethics and behavior analysis.
P141 A Mixed Methods Analysis Examining Differential Patterns of Long-Term Distress From Weight Stigma

Background As many as 40% of adults have experienced weight stigma, yet little is known about why some individuals are more distressed by weight stigma than others. Qualitative research is limited in this field but may help inform this understudied question. Objective Using a mixed method design, we compared individuals who described lasting impacts from prior experiences of weight stigma to individuals who expressed no longer being distressed by these experiences. We assessed how these groups differ in weight bias internalization and other health indices. Study Design, Settings, Participants Participants (n = 425) were part of a larger study of adults enrolled in a commercial weight management program. Participants completed online self-report questionnaires and an open-ended question asking them to share their experiences with weight stigma. Study analyses focused on participants whose open-ended responses were coded as having either a lasting impact from weight stigma (n = 247) or no longer feeling distressed by weight stigma (n = 178). Measurable Outcome/Analysis Linear regressions examined the associations between group membership (i.e. belonging to the ‘lasting impact’ group in reference to the ‘no longer distressed’ group) and internalized weight bias, perceived stress, and mental as well as physical health. Results Belonging to the ‘lasting impact’ group was associated with greater internalized weight bias (P Conclusion Weight bias internalization may play a contributing role to the lasting impact that people experience from weight stigma. Longitudinal research is needed to examine these relationships over time. Funding Weight Watchers.
Do Baseline Asthma and Allergic Sensitization Characteristics Predict Responsiveness to Mouse Allergen Reduction

Background Mouse allergen reduction is associated with improvements in asthma among sensitized and exposed children, but whether clinical characteristics predict responsiveness to allergen reduction is unclear. Objective To examine the effects of clinical characteristics on relationships between mouse allergen reduction and asthma outcomes. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial of a mouse allergen intervention, examining the effects of atopy, demographic characteristics, lung function, asthma control, and asthma severity on relationships between mouse allergen reduction and asthma outcomes. Results Participants were predominantly low-income and minority (78% black, 22% Hispanic), and had persistent asthma. Among less atopic participants ( .05). The interactions between atopic status and mouse allergen reduction were statistically significant for all symptom outcomes; however, there was no evidence that atopic status influenced the effect of mouse allergen reduction on exacerbation-related outcomes. Older children (≥9 years) tended to experience greater improvement in some asthma outcomes with reduction in mouse allergen exposure than younger children. There was no evidence that either mouse-specific IgE or lung function influenced the effect of mouse allergen reduction on any asthma outcomes. Conclusions Although there may be variability in the clinical response to mouse allergen reduction among low-income, minority children with asthma, there were no clinical characteristics that clearly identified a subgroup at which the intervention should be targeted.
Anti-predator behavior along elevational and latitudinal gradients in dark-eyed juncos

Flight-initiation distance (FID), the distance between an individual and experimenter when it begins to flee, can be used to quantify risk-assessment. Among other factors, prior studies have shown that latitude explains significant variation in avian FID: at lower latitudes, individuals and species have longer FIDs than those living at higher latitudes. No prior studies have focused on the effect of elevation on FID. Given the similar patterns of seasonality, climate, and potentially predator density, that covary between latitude and elevation, birds at higher elevations might tolerate closer approaches. We asked whether elevation or latitude would explain more variation in the FID of a common passerine bird species, dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). Juncos live in a variety of habitats along both latitudinal and elevational gradients. We found that statistical models containing elevation as a variable explained more of the variation in FID than did models containing latitude. We also found, unexpectedly, that birds at higher elevation fled at greater distances. While more predators were sighted per hour at higher elevations than at lower elevations, the frequency of predator sightings did not explain a significant amount of variation in FID. This result questions whether predator density is the main driver of risk perception along elevational gradients. Nonetheless, because elevation explains more variation in FID than latitude in at least one species, these findings have direct implications on how human impacts on birds are managed. Specifically, those designing set-back zones to reduce human impact on birds may consider modifying them based on both latitude and elevation.
Why Do Households Lack Emergency Savings? The Role of Financial Capability.

Many U.S. households have insufficient savings to cope with income losses, expenditure shocks, and other financial emergencies, yet little research evidence explains why. Guided by Sherraden (2013) model of financial capability, we expand on prior research that examines the role of financial knowledge by incorporating additional factors and testing income interactions to explain a greater proportion of variance concerning whether or not households have money set aside for emergencies. We analyzed data from the 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018 National Financial Capability Surveys and found that subjective financial knowledge, financial confidence, and savings account ownership, but not objective financial knowledge, were significant and consistent predictors of having an emergency fund. Savings account ownership was the strongest predictor, accounting for an increase in the probability of having an emergency fund of 25% to 29% across study years. Adding homeownership and ability to cover expenses to the models increased the proportion of variance explained by an average of 29%. Strategies to promote emergency savings should be multifaceted and include help from financial educators and counselors to create greater financial slack as well as programs and policies to increase access to short-term savings opportunities and incentives.
New Perspectives on Antimicrobial Agents: Remdesivir Treatment for COVID-19.

Remdesivir was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Remdesivir is the prodrug of an adenosine analogue that inhibits viral replication of several RNA virus families including Coronaviridae Preclinical data in animal models of coronavirus diseases, including COVID-19, have demonstrated that early treatment with remdesivir leads to improved survival, decreased lung injury and decreased quantification of viral RNA. Recent clinical data have demonstrated the clinical activity of remdesivir in terms faster time to recovery in patients with severe COVID-19 and higher odds of improved clinical status in patients with moderate COVID-19. Clinical trials published to date are presented and appraised. Remdesivir's potential benefits and its favorable adverse event profile make it an option for the treatment of COVID-19. This article examines the available literature describing remdesivir's pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and preclinical and clinical data.
Scattering of light ions by /sup 6/Li

The scattering of light ions (n, d, /sup 3/He, and ..cap alpha..) by /sup 6/Li is considered with the single-channel resonating-group method. The cluster internal functions used are translationally invariant shell-model functions of the lowest configurations in harmonic-oscillator wells having different width parameters. The result shows that the essential features of the cross-section angular distributions in all these systems can be reasonably well explained. The use of different width parameters is found to be necessary in the low-energy region where sharp resonance levels exist, but is not essential at higher energies greater than about 10 MeV/nucleon. Effects of nucleon exchanges have also been carefully examined. Here one finds that, even in the present case where a non-closed-shell nucleus is involved, the importance of the core-exchange terms still depends predominantly on the nucleon-number difference of the interacting nuclei. In addition, this investigation shows that the phenomenon of blocking has also a profound influence; it gives rise to a channel-spin dependence for the odd-even phase-shift behavior and may cause a substantial reduction in the effects of core-exchange contributions.
The Technical Debt Density Over Multiple Releases and the Refactoring Story

Do developers postpone fixing Technical Debt (TD) in software systems? TD is a metaphor that refers to short-term decisions in software development that may affect the cost of the software developm...
Successful treatment of post-infectious pneumatocele via percutaneous drainage in a premature infant

Abstract Pneumatoceles are air-filled cysts within the lung parenchyma that can have a connection to the bronchial tree. These are often seen following severe lung infections mainly with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Currently there is no consensus on management of these lesions. We present the case of a premature 28 weeks gestational age male infant, born at an outside hospital, requiring intubation shortly after birth for respiratory distress, who during the first week of life developed a S. aureus pneumonia. He was treated with a three-week course of Nafcillin but on day of life (DOL) 13, chest radiographs (CXR) demonstrated the presence of a right upper lobe pneumatocele. Despite treatment of the pneumonia, the pneumatocele persisted. It steadily enlarged and progressed to an acute tension physiology presentation. Despite supportive care with maximal ventilatory support, the clinical condition deteriorated which led to a decision for surgical intervention. Because of the extremely high mortality risk associated with a formal lung resection in this premature infant, a percutaneous drain was placed at the bedside on DOL76. The drain remained in place until DOL106 when complete resolution of the pneumatocele prompted removal of the tube. During the prolonged course that the drain was in place, there were intermittent air leaks as well as pneumatocele expansion episodes that prompted intermittent suction. Based on our limited experience, single percutaneous chest tube drainage is a viable option for treatment of large post-infectious pneumatocele in preterm infants.
How Chaotic Is Genome Chaos

Cancer genomes evolve in a punctuated manner during tumor evolution. Abrupt genome restructuring at key steps in this evolution has been called "genome chaos." To answer whether widespread genome change is truly chaotic, this review (i) summarizes the limited number of cell and molecular systems that execute genome restructuring, (ii) describes the characteristic signatures of DNA changes that result from activity of those systems, and (iii) examines two cases where genome restructuring is determined to a significant degree by cell type or viral infection. The conclusion is that many restructured cancer genomes display sufficiently unchaotic signatures to identify the cellular systems responsible for major oncogenic transitions, thereby identifying possible targets for therapies to inhibit tumor progression to greater aggressiveness.
Digestion and assimilation of benthic biofilm by the Sábalo, Prochilodus lineatus.

The Sabalo, Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837), is one of 270 fish species in the Rio Parana system, and it comprises >50% of the fish biomass. Its diet is flocculant benthic biofilm comprised of algae, bacteria and non-living organic matter: a food resource apparently of little value to other fishes. Digestion and assimilation of key nutrients from its biofilm diet by P. lineatus were described and quantified in an attempt to discover how this species is so successful. The fish begin a feeding period with empty digestive tracts, accumulate food during the feeding period and then void the gut content at the end of the feeding period. Early in a feeding period, sand accumulates in the gizzard-like pyloric stomach where it serves as both a grinding medium and a sieve. After sufficient sand has been acquired, food particles passed from the pyloric stomach to the intestine are dramatically reduced in size to <20 μ maximum dimension, whereas larger particles including mineral matter and plant fibres are retained. Total ash, hydrolysis-resistant-ash and hydrolysis-resistant-organic-matter were tested as reference materials against which to measure assimilation and hydrolysis-resistant-organic matter best met the assumptions of the technique. Comparison of the first food ingested to food ingested later in the feeding period shows that grinding of food and selective retention of larger particles results in a three-fold increase in the assimilation of ash-free-dry-mass (to 56%) and hydrolysis-labile-organic-matter (to 67%), and a six-fold increase in the assimilation of amino acids (AAs; to 74%). When food quality is assessed in terms of g AA assimilated · kJ-1 energy assimilated, the quality of food ingested by P. lineatus ranges from a maintenance level of 5 to 12 mg AA · kJ-1 , a level expected to produce near maximum growth. Thus, the processing of food in the pyloric stomach is integral to the success of P. lineatus in establishing large populations on a diet of flocculent benthic biofilm.
Immediate postpartum insertion of a new intrauterine contraceptive device.

Abstract Early puerperal insertion of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) has been impractical because of the high expulsion rate. The petal IUCD was designed to be retained by the uterus during the immediate postpartum period and also after involution. For 125 immediate postpartum insertions, there were 5 expulsions (4 per cent), 7 removals (5.6 per cent), and 1 pregnancy (0.8 per cent) in up to 21 months of observation.
Understanding Interference and Inhibition Processes from a Motivational and Self-Regulated Learning Perspective: Comments on Dempster and Corkill

Interference and inhibition processes as discussed by Dempster and Corkill (1999) are useful on two levels: first, metaphorically in terms of general themes for educational psychology, and, second, in terms of psychological mechanisms for understanding learning. At the same time, there are a number of issues that must be addressed in future theory and research before interference and inhibition processes can be accorded a primary explanatory role in models of learning, including the operation and sequencing of interference and inhibition processes in relation to other cognitive, motivational, and self-regulation processes; the definition and construction of the relevant–irrelevant information dimension; the role of interference and inhibition in the active selection of goals, strategies, and behavior; the stability and trait-like nature of interference and inhibition; the range of generality and applicability of interference and inhibition in relation to all other aspects of learning and behavior; and the utility and power of interference and inhibition as explanatory constructs.
In vitro characterization of the immunotoxic potential of pH-sensitive microspheres on macrophage Raw 264.7 (LB639)

The objective of this study is to design pH-sensitive microspheres (MS) for vagina delivery of microbicides to prevent HIV transmission. The MS were prepared by spray-drying technique using pH-sens...
Optical Spectra of Extragalactic Radio Sources

Extragalactic radio sources can be grouped spectroscopically into those that show absorption lines produced by a stellar population (e.g. the nearer radio galaxies, and some more distant ones, usually of D or E type) and those that show only lines (usually in emission) produced by low-density gas (e.g. QSO’s and many N-type galaxies). If absorption lines from stars are present, one can estimate a minimum age from the stellar population, and perhaps a mass for the system from the stellar velocity dispersion. If no spectroscopic evidence on the stellar population is available (and this includes evidence from narrow-band filter photometry), then we have much less hold on the problems of age and evolutionary state. Absence of stellar absorption lines does not necessarily mean that stars are absent, but simply that their light, if present, does not contribute appreciably to the overall optical spectrum.
Antigen Receptor-Induced Signal Transduction Imbalances Associated with the Negative Selection of Immature B Cells

Signals transduced through the B cell Ag receptor (BCR) drive B cell development. However, BCR-induced responses are developmentally regulated; immature B cells are tolerized following antigenic exposure while mature B cells are triggered to proliferate and differentiate. This differential responsiveness allows for the negative selection of self-reactive immature B cells while simultaneously allowing for clonal expansion of mature B cells in response to foreign Ags. Intrinsic differences in BCR-induced signal transduction at various stages of development may account for this functional dichotomy. We had previously demonstrated that the BCR-induced proliferation of mature B cells is accompanied by an increase in intracellular calcium levels and polyphosphoinositide bis phosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis. In contrast, immature B cells that undergo BCR-induced apoptosis increase intracellular calcium in the relative absence of PIP2 hydrolysis. Since PIP2 hydrolysis leads to the generation of diacylglycerol, a cofactor for protein kinase C (PKC) activation, these data suggested that an "imbalance" in BCR-induced signal transduction resulting from a relative inability to activate PKC may play a role in the susceptibility of immature B cells to BCR-induced apoptosis. In support of this hypothesis, we demonstrate that PKC activation can rescue immature B cells from BCR-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the susceptibility of immature B cells to BCR-induced apoptosis is recapitulated in mature B cells that are either PKC depleted or are stimulated in the presence of PKC inhibitors, suggesting that an uncoupling of PKC activation from BCR-induced signaling is responsible for the apoptotic response of immature B cells.
Laminar and turbulent flows over a spherically blunted cone with massive surface blowing

Numerical solutions are presented for the flow over a spherically blunted cone with massive surface blowing. Time-dependent viscous shock layer equations are used to describe the flowfield. The boundary conditions on the body surface include a prescribed blowing rate distribution. The governing equations are solved by a time-asymptotic finite-difference method. Results presented here are only for a perfect gas-type flow at zero angle of attack. Both laminar and turbulent flow solutions are obtained. It is found that the surface blowing smooths out the effect of the curvature discontinuity at the sphere-cone juncture point on the laminar flowfield and results in a negative pressure gradient over the body. The shock slope increases on the downstream portion of the body as the surface blowing rate is increased. The turbulent flow with surface blowing is found to redevelop a boundary-layer-like region near the surface. The effects of this boundary-layer-like region on the flowfield and heating rates are discussed.
Gene expression profiling analysis of CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene-induced transcriptional program in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) arises from multiple organs and accounts for the most common types of salivary gland malignancies. Currently, patients with unresectable and metastatic MEC have poor long-term clinical outcomes and no targeted therapies are available. The majority of MEC tumors contain a t(11;19) chromosomal translocation that fuses two genes, CRTC1 and MAML2, to generate the chimeric protein CRTC1-MAML2. CRTC1-MAML2 displays transforming activity in vitro and is required for human MEC cell growth and survival, partially due to its ability to constitutively activate CREB-mediated transcription. Consequently, CRTC1-MAML2 is implicated as a major etiologic molecular event and a therapeutic target for MEC. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying CRTC1-MAML2 oncogenic action in MEC have not yet been systematically analyzed. Elucidation of the CRTC1-MAML2-regulated transcriptional program and its underlying mechanisms will provide important insights into MEC pathogenesis that are essential for the development of targeted therapeutics. Transcriptional profiling was performed on human MEC cells with the depletion of endogenous CRTC1-MAML2 fusion or its interacting partner CREB via shRNA-mediated gene knockdown. A subset of target genes was validated via real-time RT-PCR assays. CRTC1-MAML2-perturbed molecular pathways in MEC were identified through pathway analyses. Finally, comparative analysis of CRTC1-MAML2-regulated and CREB-regulated transcriptional profiles was carried out to assess the contribution of CREB in mediating CRTC1-MAML2-induced transcription. A total of 808 differentially expressed genes were identified in human MEC cells after CRTC1-MAML2 knockdown and a subset of known and novel fusion target genes was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. Pathway Analysis revealed that CRTC1-MAML2-regulated genes were associated with network functions that are important for cell growth, proliferation, survival, migration, and metabolism. Comparison of CRTC1-MAML2-regulated and CREB-regulated transcriptional profiles revealed common and distinct genes regulated by CRTC1-MAML2 and CREB, respectively. This study identified a specific CRTC1-MAML2-induced transcriptional program in human MEC cells and demonstrated that CRTC1-MAML2 regulates gene expression in CREB-dependent and independent manners. Our data provide the molecular basis underlying CRTC1-MAML2 oncogenic functions and lay a foundation for further functional investigation of CRTC1-MAML2-induced signaling in MEC initiation and maintenance.
Some inequalities for polynomials and transcendental entire functions of exponential type

Let $p$ be a polynomial of degree $n$ such that $|p(z)|\leq M$ ($|z|=1$). The Bernstein's inequality for polynomials states that $|p^\prime(z)|\leq Mn $ ($|z|=1$). A polynomial $p$ of degree $n$ that satisfies the condition $p(z)\equiv z^n p(1/z)$ is called a self-reciprocal polynomial. If $p$ is a self-reciprocal polynomial, then $f(z)=p({\rm e}^{\rm i z})$ is an entire function of exponential type $n$ such that $f(z)={\rm e}^{\rm i n z} f(-z)$. Thus the class of entire functions of exponential type $\tau$ whose elements satisfy the condition $f(z)={\rm e}^{\rm i \tau z} f(-z)$ is a natural generalization of the class of self-reciprocal polynomials. In this paper we present some Bernstein's type inequalities for self-reciprocal polynomials and related entire functions of exponential type under certain restrictions on the location of their zeros.
Assessment of four tissue models on knot tensile strength.

Objective To determine whether the tissue model onto which a knot is tied influences the knot's tensile strength. Study Design Zero-gauge, nonexpired, silk, polyglactin 910, polydioxanone, and polypropylene sutures were tied on 4 different mock tissue models. The tissue models were standard metal hex head screw, uncooked chicken breast, a tube of packaged “string” cheese, and a cylinder of bubble wrap. The knots were tied without a surgeon's knot and with 4 additional square knots (1 = 1 = 1 = 1 = 1). The knots were tied by a single obstetrician/gynecologist investigator (J.M.D.) over the period of 1 week to minimize fatigue. We compared the knots when subjected to a tensiometer until the suture broke or untied. A minimum of 20 knots per group were needed to detect a moderate effect size with a power of 85% and a type I error rate of 5%. Results A total of 407 knots were tied with 4 types of material (silk, polyglactin 910, polydioxanone, and polypropylene), using 4 different models (chicken, bubble wrap, cheese, and metal). Among the knot failures, 113 of 407 untied rather than broke (28%). No differences in the likelihood of knots coming untied between the different models (p = 0.34) or tension at failure (p = 0.81) were noted. A 4 × 4 factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine the effects of the suture material and model type on tension at failure and whether there was any interaction between the 2 factors. No significant difference was observed in the interaction between suture material and model type (p = 0.35), and no effect for model type was found (p = 0.22). Conclusions Tissue models that use materials more similar to human tissue do not seem to influence knot strength when compared with standard metal models. We propose that it is possible to have an accurate understanding of how knots withstand force and to simulate an in vivo environment by using low-cost, easily accessible natural and synthetic materials for the mechanism onto which the knot is tied.
The reaction of 1,1-diphenylhydrazine with dichlorocarbene

Abstract The reaction of 1,1-diphenylhydrazine with chloroform in the presence of potassium hydroxide gives diphenylamine as the major product and not benzophenone as originally reported. This seems to be the favored path regardless of the source of dichlorocarbene. Diphenylcyanamide (but not the isomeric isonitrile) was identified in trace amounts. The reaction of phenylhydrazine under similar conditions has been also reinvestigated and gave N,N′-diphenylformazan; aniline and phenyl isonitrile have also been identified. A mechanism for the rationalization of these results is presented.
Analytical electron microscopy of Nafion ion exchange membranes

Abstract Ion exchange membranes, widely used in many electrochemical techniques, have become of major interest in water purification as part of new environmental technologies and in the highest purification of water for industrial purposes. Nafion 117, a product of the Du Pont Company showing high ionic conductivity and good mechanical properties, is a promising candidate for future applications. The principles of analytical electron microscopy were used to study the ion exchange membrane. Imaging showed ionic percolation in the polymer. No staining method was applied, to ensure artefact-free images of the membrane. Electron diffraction gives additional information about the cross-linked structure while EDS and EELS data provide information on chemical composition and ion exchange efficiency. Results were obtained using two independent methods of specimen preparation.
Mechanobiology of soft skeletal tissue differentiation—a computational approach of a fiber-reinforced poroelastic model based on homogeneous and isotropic simplifications

The material properties of multipotent mesenchymal tissue change dramatically during the differentiation process associated with skeletal regeneration. Using a mechanobiological tissue differentiation concept, and homogeneous and isotropic simplifications of a fiber-reinforced poroelastic model of soft skeletal tissues, we have developed a mathematical approach for describing time-dependent material property changes during the formation of cartilage, fibrocartilage, and fibrous tissue under various loading histories. In this approach, intermittently imposed fluid pressure and tensile strain regulate proteoglycan synthesis and collagen fibrillogenesis, assembly, cross-linking, and alignment to cause changes in tissue permeability (k), compressive aggregate modulus (HA), and tensile elastic modulus (E). In our isotropic model, k represents the permeability in the least permeable direction (perpendicular to the fibers) and E represents the tensile elastic modulus in the stiffest direction (parallel to the fibers). Cyclic fluid pressure causes an increase in proteoglycan synthesis, resulting in a decrease in k and increase in HA caused by the hydrophilic nature and large size of the aggregating proteoglycans. It further causes a slight increase in E owing to the stiffness added by newly synthesized type II collagen. Tensile strain increases the density, size, alignment, and cross-linking of collagen fibers thereby increasing E while also decreasing k as a result of an increased flow path length. The Poisson's ratio of the solid matrix, νs, is assumed to remain constant (near zero) for all soft tissues. Implementing a computer algorithm based on these concepts, we simulate progressive changes in material properties for differentiating tissues. Beginning with initial values of E=0.05 MPa, HA=0 MPa, and k=1×10–13 m4/Ns for multipotent mesenchymal tissue, we predict final values of E=11 MPa, HA=1 MPa, and k=4.8×10–15 m4/Ns for articular cartilage, E=339 MPa, HA=1 MPa, and k=9.5×10–16 m4/Ns for fibrocartilage, and E=1,000 MPa, HA=0 MPa, and k=7.5×10–16 m4/Ns for fibrous tissue. These final values are consistent with the values reported by other investigators and the time-dependent acquisition of these values is consistent with current knowledge of the differentiation process.
“You Go ‘Cause You Have to”: The Bridal Shower as a Ritual of Obligation

Getting married is one of the most celebrated and revered transitions in a woman’ s life. Therefore, many rituals and events exist to prepare a woman to become a wife. The bridal shower is one of those that is most steeped in tradition. It may be viewed as an event in which women friends and family members must participate. Women often attend bridal showers out of “ duty.” Interestingly, many women e nd them boring, socially awkward, or otherwise uncomfortable. In this article, I identify the primary stressors of bridal showers for the three major participants: brides-to-be, hostesses, and guests. Finally, I explore the persistence of this ritual, despite its apparent lack of appeal for participants. This study draws on interviews with e fty-one women who are recent brides or who have recently hosted or attended bridal showers, as well as participant observation at e ve bridal showers. I discuss the bridal shower as a ritual of obligation, one that is grounded in tradition and gives women the opportunity to express care and support for other women as members of a gender community.
Babesia divergens: Protection of intact calves against heterologous challenge by the injection of irradiated

Abstract Blood from a spelenectomized calf infected with Babesia divergens was divided into 20 ml aliquots which were γ-irradiated to doses of 0, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 krad and then inoculated into groups of three intact calves. Animals receiving non-irradiated blood had typical mild B. divergens reactions, but those receiving irradiated blood had either very mild reactions or no overt reaction. When the calves were challenged with a similar number (7.5 × 10 9 ) of heterologous parasites of a recently-isolated field strain, those which had received blood irradiated at 0, 24, 28 and 32 krad were all immune whereas four of the five surviving animals of which had received blood irradiated at 36 or 40 krad were susceptible. The immune status of individual cattle was reflected accurately in the results of the micro-ELISA test, which detected a significant rise in serum antibody titre of the four susceptible animals by day 21 after challenge.
The effectiveness of reward and punishment contingencies on response inhibition

Abstract The relative effectiveness of reward and punishment on the development of response inhibition was evaluated developmentally. Forty kindergarten and forty second-graders received response inhibition training with half of each group rewarded for inhibiting and half punished for not inhibiting. Reward involved the presentation of positive reinforcers, whereas punishment involved their removal. Punishment produced more inhibition at both age levels than did reward. Transfer of inhibition training was evaluated in two tasks. Transfer effects were observed only on one of the two tasks. Reinforcement contingencies and age did not differentially influence the magnitude of transfer.
Desecularization of the Palestinian Imagination? Reflections on Nation-Ness and Fragmentation

The main process that gives meaning to belonging to the Palestinian nation concerns the everyday encounters with Israeli policies that dictate Palestinian lives. The escalating fragmentation of the occupied territories since the mid-1990s and the control of the most basic right, the right of freedom of movement, continue to shape Palestinian nation-ness in the context of a struggle to end the Israeli occupation.
Macroplastique outcome in women with stress urinary incontinence secondary to intrinsic sphincteric deficiency

Abstract Objectives To evaluate short-term outcomes of Macroplastique (MPQ) in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) using patient reported outcome and three-dimensional vaginal ultrasound (3DUS). Materials and methods After obtaining institutional review board approval, a chart review of non-neurogenic women that received MPQ for intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) was extracted from a prospective database. Patients were divided into three groups: naive (Group I), prior incontinence surgery (Group II), and both prior incontinence surgery and bulking agent (Group III). Women with urethral hypermobility were excluded. Baseline evaluation included a history, physical examination to confirm SUI, and questionnaires [Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), 1 quality of life (QOL) global score based on visual analog scale], and in select patients urodynamic studies and/or standing voiding cystogram. Patient follow up included repeat questionnaires scores and 3DUS to objectively assess MPQ volume. Success was defined as sufficient improvement after one injection so that a subsequent reinjection/different SUI operation was not requested at the last follow-up visit. It was hypothesized that Group I would fare best. Results Fifty-nine women met the inclusion criteria. Success rate was 83% for Group I, 70% for Group II, and 69% for Group III ( p = 0.54) at 9 months mean follow up. Fifteen patients underwent a second 3DUS during follow up with a stable volume, compared to the first study (4.5 ± 1.5 vs. 4.4 ± 1.5, p = 0.70), which confirmed stable volumes over time. Among the failures ( N = 15), nine patients proceeded with reinjection; four patients had fascial slings, and two patients had artificial sphincters. Conclusion As confirmed by 3DUS, Macroplastique appears efficacious as a primary treatment and as a salvage treatment for SUI due to ISD in the short-term.
A modified close-coupling approach to multichannel positron-hydrogen scattering

Abstract To incorporate polarization effects, a non-variational close coupling method is described and applied to low energy positron-hydrogen scattering for energies below the second excitation threshold. S, p and d wave elastic phase shifts and inelastic cross sections are calculated.
MEASUREMENT OF THE RELATIVE TASTE INTENSITY OF SOME L‐α‐AMINO ACIDS AND 5′‐NUCLEOTIDES

SUMMARY— Intensity of glutamate-like and/or inosinate-like taste (umami in Japanese) of various flavor amino acids and flavor nucleotides was studied using sensory analysis and always found proportional to that of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and disodium 5′-inosinate (IMP), respectively. By application of this fact to a previously obtained equation expressing the relationship between the taste intensity of MSG-IMP mixture and that of MSG alone, the intensity of umami of the mixture of any flavor amino acids and nucleotides could be expressed as an elementary equation: y = u +γ uv, where u and v are the concentrations of amino acids and nucleotides in terms of the concentrations of MSG and IMP, respectively, in the mixture; y is the equivalent concentration of MSG alone; and γ is a positive constant. Interrelationships within each group of substances were additive.
Targeted chelation therapy with EDTA-loaded albumin nanoparticles regresses arterial calcification without causing systemic side effects.

Abstract Background and aims Elastin-specific medial arterial calcification (MAC) is an arterial disease commonly referred as Monckeberg's sclerosis. It causes significant arterial stiffness, and as yet, no clinical therapy exists to prevent or reverse it. We developed albumin nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with disodium ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) that were designed to target calcified elastic lamina when administrated by intravenous injection. Methods and results We optimized NP size, charge, and EDTA-loading efficiency (150–200 nm, zeta potential of − 22.89 – − 31.72 mV, loading efficiency for EDTA ~ 20%) for in vivo targeting in rats. These NPs released EDTA slowly for up to 5 days. In both ex-vivo study and in vivo study with injury-induced local abdominal aortic calcification, we showed that elastin antibody-coated and EDTA-loaded albumin NPs targeted the damaged elastic lamina while sparing healthy artery. Intravenous NP injections reversed elastin-specific MAC in rats after four injections over a 2-week period. EDTA-loaded albumin NPs did not cause the side effects observed in EDTA injection alone, such as decrease in serum calcium (Ca), increase in urine Ca, or toxicity to kidney. There was no bone loss in any treated groups. Conclusion We demonstrate that elastin antibody-coated and EDTA-loaded albumin NPs might be a promising nanoparticle therapy to reverse elastin-specific MAC and circumvent side effects associated with systemic EDTA chelation therapy.
Local Derivations on Operator Algebras

Abstract When attempting to find sufficient conditions for a linear mapping to be a derivation, an obvious candidate is the concept of a local derivation. Local derivations on operator algebras have been investigated in recent papers of Kadison (J. Algebra130(1990), 494–509) and Larson and Sourour (Proc. Symp. Pure Math.51(1990), 187–194). A local derivationηis a (norm continuous) linear map from an operator algebra A into an A -bimodule M which agrees with some derivation at each point in the algebra. We show that if A is the direct limit of finite dimensional CSL algebras via *-extendable embeddings (e.g., a triangular AF algebra), then a local derivation on A must be a derivation. Further, we show that for many finite dimensional operator algebras, any inner local derivation must be an inner derivation.
Agglomeration during wet milling of LAST (lead–antimony–silver–tellurium) powders

Abstract LAST (lead–antimony–silver–tellurium) compounds comprise a family of semiconducting materials with good thermoelectric properties. However, the as-cast form of LAST exhibits large grain size and hence low mechanical strength. Powder processing can produce a fine powder particle size that enhances fracture strength, however the powders tend to agglomerate if the individual powder diameters are less than a few microns across. Dry milling or wet milling (hexane additions of 0 cm3 and 10 cm3) produced hard agglomerates roughly 40 μm in diameter while wet milling with hexane additions of 25 cm3, 30 cm3 or 50 cm3 resulted in small, porous agglomerates roughly 20 μm in diameter. Thus, by adjusting the amount of milling liquid used while milling LAST powders, one can shift from hard to soft agglomerates, where the literature shows that soft agglomerates are less harmful to the final, sintered product. Also, in agreement with the results from the literature on other materials, wet milling of LAST powders produced smaller particle sizes but required longer times to reach the grindability limit.
Starting point and direction of replication in P2 DNA.

Abstract Intracellular phage DNA has been isolated shortly after infection of Escherichia coli with P2 bacteriophage. In addition to simple circular molecules, the intracellular DNA was found to contain single-branch circles (circular molecules containing an extra tail segment). On the basis of denaturation map studies, the position from which replication originates and the direction in which it proceeds has been determined for the initial round of DNA synthesis.
A metabolic activation mechanism of 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole via o-quinone. Part 2: covalent adducts of 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole-3,4-dione with nucleic acid bases and nucleosides.

7H-Dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (DBC) is a potent multispecies, multisite carcinogen present in the environment. The metabolic activation pathways of DBC are not completely known. It is hypothesized that ...
FLEXOELECTRIC COMPOSITE — A NEW PROSPECT FOR LEAD-FREE PIEZOELECTRICS

Flexoelectricity describes the physical phenomenon of the generation of electric polarization from mechanical strain gradient in solid insulators. In common dielectric materials, the flexoelectric coefficient is trivially small ~10-10 C/m. In Ba(Sr,Ti)O3 (BST) ceramics, flexoelectric coefficient up to 10-4 C/m was observed. Such high coefficient makes it possible to design high piezoelectric response flexoelectric composites. In this letter, we will demonstrate that the newly designed flexoelectric composites could have piezoelectric properties better than conventional piezoelectric materials.
State and parameter estimations and their applications in process control

Abstract The increasingly more aggressive global competition for the production of higher-quality products at lower costs, along with a general trend away from new capital investments in the U.S., has placed considerable pressure on the process engineers to operate the existing plants more efficiently and to use the same plant for the production of many different products. The more efficient operation has been realized by better process control and monitoring while available product-quality and composition sensors have been inadequate. In many processes, although product quality cannot be measured readily, it can be estimated/inferred in real time from the readily available measurements, allowing for inferential control of the product quality. This paper presents a survey of several contemporary methods of state and parameter estimation and their applications in inferential control and adaptive control. The limits and abilities of the methods, the present status of the technological applications, and the need for future advances in the theory, hardware, software, and knowledge transfer will be discussed. Throughout the paper, several examples will be given to illustrate some of the methods surveyed.