cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genotyping ofClostridium perfringensby Polymerase Chain Reaction is a Useful Adjunct to Diagnosis of Clostridial Enteric Disease in Animals

Abstract Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were developed for detection of the genes for α toxin (cpa), β toxin (cpb), ϵ toxin (etx), ι toxin (iA), and enterotoxin (cpe) inClostridium perfringens, allowing classification into genotypes A (positive forcpa), B (positive forcpa, cpb, andetx), C (positive forcpaandcpb), D (positivecpaandetx), or E (positive forcpaandiA). The genotype in isolates of known toxigenic phenotype (n= 131) was identical in 99·2% of cases. Field isolates (n= 616) were assigned to genotype A (n= 570, 92·7%), genotype B (n= 1, 0·1%), genotype C (n= 28, 4·5%), genotype D (n= 13, 2·1%), and genotype E (n= 4, 0·6%). About 8% (n= 50) of the total were PCR-positive forcpe, with genotype A strains predominant among these. Our results suggest that PCR genotyping may be an acceptable substitute forin vivotyping ofC. perfringensin establishing enteric disease etiology.
Enteral Nutrition and Drug Administration, Interactions, and Complications

The enteral route has become the standard of care to deliver nutrition support for hospitalized acute care and ambulatory care patients. The same access device is increasingly being used to deliver medications, which provides cost savings but also creates new challenges. Cost savings can be negated if the concomitant administration of nutrition elicits a decrease in bioavailability due to incompatibilities that alter drug or nutrition therapy. Feeding tubes can deliver nutrients and drugs to the stomach, small bowel, or both, with optimal efficacy of medications depending on delivery to the appropriate segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Liquid preparations are often the preferred formulation for enteral administration. Obstruction of the enteral access device may occur when specialized medication formulations are altered inappropriately. Occasionally, the enteral formula should be changed to modify the content of free water, fiber, electrolytes, or vitamins that may interfere with the drug therapy. Intolerance to enteral nutrition such as abdominal distention and diarrhea may be the result of the medication, and the causative agent should be identified to improve patient comfort. This article will address optimal drug delivery via enteral access devices and possible complications associated with therapy.
Dynamic modeling and control of doubly fed induction generators driven by wind turbines

Two different models are presented and developed in PSCAD/EMTDC to represent a variable-speed wind turbine equipped with a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). One is the most detailed switching-level (SL) model. The other is a simplified fundamental-frequency (FF) model. The effect of different shaft system representations on the dynamic behavior of the wind turbine generator (WTG) system and the issue of damping low-frequency torsional oscillations are investigated. Dynamic and transient simulation studies are carried out to compare two models with different shaft system representations. Results show that the FF model is sufficient while the lumped-mass shaft model is insufficient to represent the dynamic behavior of the WTG. The FF model with the two-mass shaft representation is therefore recommended to represent the DFIG wind turbines for power system dynamic and transient studies. Doubly fed induction generator
Assessing Counseling Students' Attitudes Regarding Substance Abuse and Treatment

Undergraduate counselors-in-training completed the Substance Abuse Attitude Survey, which measures treatment intervention, treatment optimism, and nonstereotypical attitudes. Treatment optimism was positively correlated with nonstereotypical attitudes and treatment intervention. Results indicated that treatment intervention and nonstereotypical attitudes must be addressed in addiction counseling courses.
Molecular geometries and heats of formation of C60 and C70 as computed by MM2‐87

MM2-87 calculations have been performed on C60 (buckminsterfullerence; footballene) and C70 with full energy minimization. The steric energies for C60 and C70 were computed to be 179.9 and 177.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The heats of formation for C60 is found to be more stable than C60. The two bond lengths for C60 were computed to be 1.393 and 1.444 A. Eight different bond lengths were found for C70 ranging from 1.386 to 1.452 A. Bond angles, dihedral angles, and moments of inertia are also reported for the compounds.
Meanings of Intimacy in Cross- and Same-Sex Friendships

The purpose of this study was to investigate how individuals in cross- and same-sex friendships define and express intimacy. In a self-report questionnaire 164 college students were asked what they meant by the term `intimacy' in the context of cross- and same-sex friendships. Individuals assigned an average number of two meanings to the term `intimacy', though the number of meanings ranged from one to five. Results revealed substantial similarities in the meanings of intimacy in both types of friendship, as well as some gender differences. For instance, five of the seven most frequently mentioned definitions of intimacy were specified by both cross- and same-sex friends: self-disclosures, emotional expressiveness, unconditional support, physical contact and trust. One of the remaining two meanings of intimacy, i.e. sexual contact, was mentioned by cross- but not same-sex friends. Sharing activities was given as a definition of intimacy by 9 percent of the males in same-sex friendships, and 4 percent of t...
Comparative Analysis of Sweat Patches for Cocaine (and Metabolites) by Radioimmunoassay and Gas Chromatography-Positive Ion Chemical Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

Immunoassays are commonly used to screen samples prior to confirmation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This serves two purposes: it provides a second method for positive samples, and it allows exclusion of negative samples from further confirmatory testing. In addition, immunoassay results can be used in some cases to determine if dilution of the sample will be required during the confirmatory assay. We used 878 sweat patches worn by 38 subjects receiving treatment for cocaine dependence to compare analysis of the extracts of the patches for cocaine immuno-equivalents by radioimmunoassay (RIA) with determination of cocaine, benzoylecgonine (BE), and ecgonine methyl ester (EME) by GC-MS. Preliminary validation experiments demonstrate that the GC-MS method using positive ion chemical ionization had sufficient specificity and recovery to support a lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 4 ng/patch and was precise and accurate across a linear range up to 500 ng/patch. Cocaine ranging from the LLOQ to 31,900 ng/patch was found in 660 of the samples; BE ranging from the LLOQ to 3470 ng/patch was found in 530 of the samples; and EME ranging from the LLOQ to 2280 ng/patch was found in 476 of the samples. In a subset of 238 samples semiquantitative use of the RIA gave results that agreed with GC-MS with a correlation coefficient of 0.986, but averaged approximately 23% lower. Although this accuracy of the RIA supported its use as a sole quantitative assay, the limited linear range of the RIA (4-200 ng/patch) proved impractical for this purpose. Receiver operator characteristic analysis of the cutoffs of the RIA and GC-MS suggested optimal cutoffs of 5 and 4 ng/patch, respectively. At these cutoffs, the RIA had sensitivity of 90.0% and specificity of 92.2%. For samples that had RIA results greater than the high calibrator (N = 228), various dilution schemes were assessed for their ability to predict retention of either cocaine alone or cocaine and both metabolites within the linear range of the GC-MS. When cocaine was the only analyte of interest, a single 20-fold dilution retained 200 (87.7%) of the samples. This compared to an optimal scheme where a different dilution was selected for each one-tenth ratio (< 0.1, 0.1-0.2, etc.) where 211 (92.5%) of the samples were retained. When trying to retain cocaine and both metabolites, dilution schemes were less successful as BE and EME would often fall below the LLOQ of the GC-MS. A single fivefold dilution of all samples retained 115 (50.4%) compared to an optimum of 143 (62.7%). The optimum could be approached with four dilution sets retaining 142 of the samples. Time expended on performing RIA analysis of all the samples was cost-effective when the results were used to exclude negatives from and predict dilutions required for GC-MS analysis. RIA offers a cost-effective, sensitive, and specific alternative initial test for cocaine determination in extracts of sweat patches.
An Implementation of Decentralized Consensus Building in Sensor Networks

In cognitive sensor networks, achieving consensus among the sensor nodes without requiring centralized control is an important attribute that can enable quick and reliable network decisions. Decentralized consensus building can be achieved through iterative information exchange among sensor nodes. While much of the literature has concentrated on developing theory, minimizing the number of iterations is necessary in practice to reduce energy consumption. In this work, we present an approach aimed at solving this practical problem. Specifically, the contributions of this work are fourfold. First, existing theoretical, continuous-time results are reformulated so that they can be implemented in physical, discrete-time hardware. Second, we show that the number of iterations needed to achieve consensus can be minimized a priori for a given network topology. Third, we illustrate our results through numerical analysis and network simulation. Finally, we present results from a hardware implementation.
Unsteady convectively driven flow along a vertical plate immersed in a stably stratified fluid

This paper revisits the classical problem of convectively driven one-dimensional (parallel) flow along an infinite vertical plate. We consider flows induced by an impulsive (step) change in plate temperature, a sudden application of a plate heat flux, and arbitrary temporal variations in plate temperature or plate heat flux. Provision is made for pressure work and vertical temperature advection in the thermodynamic energy equation, processes that are generally neglected in previous one-dimensional studies of this problem. The pressure work term by itself provides a relatively minor refinement of the Boussinesq model, but can be conveniently combined with the vertical temperature advection term to form a single term for potential temperature advection. Vertical motion of air in a statically stable environment (stable potential temperature stratification) is associated with a simple negative feedback mechanism: warm air rises, expands and cools relative to the environment, whereas cool air subsides, compresses and warms relative to the environment. Exact solutions of the viscous equations of motion are obtained by the method of Laplace transforms for the case where the Prandtl number is unity. Pressure work and vertical temperature advection are found to have a significant impact on the structure of the solutions at later times.
Fundraising and Philanthropy in College Unions

This chapter addresses ways college union professionals can establish partnerships and strategies for establishing fundraising and philanthropy initiatives within their organizations.
GYRFALCON DIET IN CENTRAL WEST GREENLAND DURING THE NESTING PERIOD

Abstract We studied food habits of Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) nesting in central west Greenland in 2000 and 2001 using three sources of data: time-lapse video (3 nests), prey remains (22 nests), and regurgitated pellets (19 nests). These sources provided different information describing the diet during the nesting period. Gyrfalcons relied heavily on Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) and arctic hares (Lepus arcticus). Combined, these species contributed 79–91% of the total diet, depending on the data used. Passerines were the third most important group. Prey less common in the diet included waterfowl, arctic fox pups (Alopex lagopus), shorebirds, gulls, alcids, and falcons. All Rock Ptarmigan were adults, and all but one arctic hare were young of the year. Most passerines were fledglings. We observed two diet shifts, first from a preponderance of ptarmigan to hares in mid-June, and second to passerines in late June. The video-monitored Gyrfalcons consumed 94–110 kg of food per nest during the nestling per...
Effects of selfing on offspring survival and reproduction in a colonial simultaneous hermaphrodite (Bugula stolonifera, Bryozoa).

Understanding the consequences of selfing in simultaneous hermaphrodites requires investigating potential deleterious effects on fitness at all stages of life. In this study, I examined the effects of selfing throughout the life cycle of the marine bryozoan Bugula stolonifera, a colonial simultaneous hermaphrodite. In 2008, larvae from field-collected colonies were cultured through metamorphosis to reproductively mature colonies either in the presence of one other colony, the paired treatment, or alone, the solitary treatment. Results demonstrated that selfing in this species is possible, in that colonies in the solitary treatment produced viable larvae that successfully completed metamorphosis. On average, however, these colonies released significantly fewer larvae, which experienced reduced rates of metamorphic initiation and completion compared to the paired treatment. These experiments were extended in 2009, when metamorphs from colonies reared in the solitary (n = 58) and paired (n = 61) treatments w...
Unilaterally Nephrectomized Rat with Aortic Ligation: A Uremic Model of Severe Hypertension

The purpose of this study was to characterize a new animal model of severe hypertension with azotemia. Hypertension was induced in rats by complete ligation of the aorta between the origin of the renal arteries. One month later chronic renal failure was induced by removing the right kidney. The serum creatinine concentration, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma angiotensin II levels were monitored over the next two weeks. One month after aortic ligation, but before removal of the right kidney, the MABP, PRA, and plasma angiotensin II levels were significantly greater than in controls (P < 0.05). Following nephrectomy serum creatinine concentration rose from 0.65 ± 0.03 mg/100ml (X ± SEM) to 2.75 ± 0.40 mg/100 ml and 1.78 ± 0.22 mg/100 ml (P < 0.05), 3 and 14 days after the right nephrectomy, respectively. Although the elevated MABP remained unchanged, the PRA and plasma angiotensin II concentrations significantly declined to levels indistinguishable from normotensiv...
The Long Road toward a More Perfect Union: Majority Rule and Minority Rights at the Constitutional Convention

AbstractOn the eve of the Constitutional Convention, James Madison developed a new theory of republicanism, one that would allow union on a scale previously thought impossible. The extended republic, buttressed by constitutional safeguards republican in nature, would, he argued, protect the rights of minorities without compromising the majority’s right to rule. But Convention delegates, unimpressed with Madison’s new theory, gravitated toward constitutional safeguards more mixed-regime in nature and so produced a constitution incompletely republican. This article examines the three minority interests that most occupied the delegates’ attention: small states, all states, and southern states; further, it employs three criteria for determining the presence of republican or mixed-regime protections: strength of constitutional barrier, cohesion of defenders, and duration of defense. The article’s conclusion reflects on the consequences of a constitution partly republican and partly mixed-regime.
Blunted striatal response to monetary reward anticipation during smoking abstinence predicts lapse during a contingency-managed quit attempt

Tobacco smoking is associated with dysregulated reward processing within the striatum, characterized by hypersensitivity to smoking rewards and hyposensitivity to non-smoking rewards. This bias toward smoking reward at the expense of alternative rewards is further exacerbated by deprivation from smoking, which may contribute to difficulty maintaining abstinence during a quit attempt. We examined whether abstinence-induced changes in striatal processing of rewards predicted lapse likelihood during a quit attempt supported by contingency management (CM), in which abstinence from smoking was reinforced with money. Thirty-six non-treatment-seeking smokers participated in two functional MRI (fMRI) sessions, one following 24-h abstinence and one following smoking as usual. During each scan, participants completed a rewarded guessing task designed to elicit striatal activation in which they could earn smoking and monetary rewards delivered after the scan. Participants then engaged in a 3-week CM-supported quit attempt. As previously reported, 24-h abstinence was associated with increased striatal activation in anticipation of smoking reward and decreased activation in anticipation of monetary reward. Individuals exhibiting greater decrements in right striatal activation to monetary reward during abstinence (controlling for activation during non-abstinence) were more likely to lapse during CM (p < 0.025), even when controlling for other predictors of lapse outcome (e.g., craving); no association was seen for smoking reward. These results are consistent with a growing number of studies indicating the specific importance of disrupted striatal processing of non-drug reward in nicotine dependence and highlight the importance of individual differences in abstinence-induced deficits in striatal function for smoking cessation.
Cognitive remediation versus active computer control in bipolar disorder with psychosis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Cognitive dysfunction is a major feature of bipolar disorder with psychosis and is strongly associated with functional outcomes. Computer-based cognitive remediation has shown promise in improving cognition in patients with schizophrenia. However, despite similar neurocognitive deficits between patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, few studies have extended neuroscience-based cognitive remediation programs to this population. The Treatment to Enhance Cognition in Bipolar Disorder study is an investigator-initiated, parallel group, randomized, blinded clinical trial of an Internet-based cognitive remediation protocol for patients with bipolar disorder I with psychosis (n = 100). We also describe the development of our dose-matched active control paradigm. Both conditions involve 70 sessions of computer-based activities over 24 weeks. The control intervention was developed to mirror the treatment condition in dose and format but without the neuroplasticity-based task design and structure. All participants undergo neuropsychological and clinical assessment at baseline, after approximately 25 hours of study activities, post treatment, and after 6 months of no study contact to assess durability. Neuroimaging at baseline and post treatment are offered in an “opt-in” format. The primary outcomes are scores on the MATRICS battery; secondary and exploratory outcomes include measures of clinical symptoms, community functioning, and neuroimaging changes. Associations between change in cognitive measures and change in community functioning will be assessed. Baseline predictors of treatment response will be examined. The present study is the first we are aware of to implement an Internet-based cognitive remediation program in patients with bipolar disorder with psychosis and to develop a comparable web-based control paradigm. The mixed online and study-site format allows accessible treatment while providing weekly staff contact and bridging. Based on user-provided feedback, participant blinding is feasible. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01470781 ; 11 July 2011.
The Use of Trimethylsilylphosphine as an End-Capping Reagent in RP-HPLC

Un schema de synthese typique de phase inverse implique la reaction de groupe silanol sur une surface de silice, avec des hydrocarbures chlores ou alkoxysiles. Mais, cette reaction etant incomplete, la phase est ensuite traitee avec des trimethylsilants
Flexible, All-Organic Chemiresistor for Detecting Chemically Aggressive Vapors

Chemiresistors made of thin films of single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles on cellulosics (paper and cloth) can detect aggressive oxidizing vapors such as nitrogen dioxide and chlorine at 250 and 500 ppb, respectively, at room temperature in ambient air without the aid of a vapor concentrator. Inkjet-printed films of CNTs on 100% acid-free paper are significantly more robust than dip-coated films on plastic substrates. Performance attributes include low sensor-to-sensor variation, spontaneous signal recovery, negligible baseline drift, and the ability to bend the sensors to a crease without loss of sensor performance.
Safety and Security Management with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract We describe a mathematical model for UAV aided security operations in the oil and gas industry. Operating UAVs can provide seamless awareness on possible emergency situations such as oil spills, shipping incidents, industrial accidents, acts of terrorism, and so on. The primary goal of this model is to generate an optimal UAV operational schedule to meet surveillance needs in the areas of interest in each time period. The performance of these UAVs depends on the risk assessment on spatio-and-temporal characteristics of threats, specifications of available UAVs, and decision makers’ critical information requirements. The models are designed to provide insights into issues associated with designing and operating UAVs for strengthened maritime and port security.
Use of Orally Administered Desiccated Thyroid in Production of Traumatic Shock

SummaryThe authors found that prolonged manipulation of the intestines of normal anesthetized dogs, does not produce shock. However, when dogs are fed .4 g of desiccated thyroid per kg of body weight per day for 1 week, these animals on manipulation of the intestines from 15 to 20 minutes, go into shock quite readily.We wish to thank Dr. Carlson for his interest and advice during the course of these experiments.
Revisiting the Relationship between Adolescent Drug Use and High School Dropout

Compared to youth who stay in high school and graduate, those who drop out are more likely to be involved in drug use. However, the exact reason these two behaviors are connected is uncertain. Wher...
Generalized Bell inequalities with parametric down-conversion

We analize the suitability of states generated by stimulated parametric downconversion for the testing of high dimensional Bell-type inequalities. Two families of bipartite inequalities are considered. For both it is found that the states are good candidates for the tests and some experimental results for one spin-1 inequality are given. The influence of noise and the possibility of supurious results are discussed.
Drivers and Impacts of Renewable Portfolio Standards

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPSs) are a key policy measure used by states in the United States to increase their production of renewable electricity. Economic theory shows that RPSs are not first-best policy measures for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions or solving other environmental problems. Nevertheless, they have been politically popular, in part because states hope they will help create new jobs in what the states expect will be a growth industry. Research suggests that RPSs are supported by Democratic legislatures in states with good solar and wind potential, are more likely in states with restructured electricity markets, and are less likely in states heavily dependent on natural gas for electricity generation. Research also suggests that RPSs have been successful at increasing renewable generation capacity, have increased the cost of electricity modestly where they have been implemented, and reduce carbon emissions at a cost roughly consistent with estimates of the social cost of carbon.
The Effects of Homeownership on Civic Participation among Immigrant Farmworkers in Washington State

Homeownership is generally considered to have positive benefits for families and communities. However, the collapse of the housing market in 2009 led to questions about this assumption, especially for low-skilled workers whose employment is volatile. This question is particularly relevant to the farmworker population in rural communities for whom homeownership might function as the first step in the path toward social integration. In this study I ask whether homeownership impacts immigrant adaptation among farmworkers in Washington State. To answer this question researchers analyzed 2,845 responses from the Washington State Farm Worker Survey. I divided the sample into renters and homeowners and evaluated behaviors and attitudes along three dimensions: perceptions of community efficacy, civic engagement, and motivations for civic engagement. I found that when compared with those who rent, farmworkers who are homeowners tend to have a greater sense of community efficacy, are more engaged in their communities, and are more motivated to get involved in local affairs. These findings suggest that homeownership can function as a vehicle for immigrant adaptation among Washington State farmworkers. This bodes well for the future of the state's rural areas, where Latinos are increasingly becoming the majority in many agricultural communities.
Quantification of neural reflex and muscular intrinsic contributions to parkinsonian rigidity.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by rigidity, bradykinesia, resting tremor, and postural instability. Rigidity, defined as an increased resistance to passive movement of a joint, progresses faster than other motor signs in PD. Rigidity is attributable to both exaggerated neural reflex and altered muscle mechanical properties. However, little is known about the contributions of individual components to rigidity. Further, there is no evidence regarding the effects of dopaminergic medication on individual components. Objectives of this study were to quantify the contributions of neural reflexes and intrinsic muscle properties to rigidity and investigate the effects of medication on each contributing component. Joint torque and muscle activities of the wrist in 14 patients and 14 controls were measured during externally induced movements. Each subject with PD was tested in Off- and On-medication states. A system identification technique was applied to differentiate and quantify the neural reflex and intrinsic mechanical components. A mixed model of ANOVA was performed to compare the differences between the two components of rigidity for both groups, and to compare between the Off- and On-medication states for patients. The results showed that reflex and intrinsic components are comparable (p > 0.05), and both are enhanced in subjects with PD than in the controls (p < 0.05). Medication decreased the reflex component of rigidity (p < 0.01). It is concluded that both reflex and intrinsic factors are responsible for rigidity. Present findings are clinically significant as they may provide guidance in development of effective therapeutic interventions.
Teaching Social Justice AIN’T Easy: the unique challenges and opportunities of teaching social justice at an HBCU

In this article, the idea of teaching social justice at an HBCU in the southern part of the United States is discussed. The landscape off the HBCU is reviewed, with careful attention given to the importance of the HBCU's uniqueness as an institution that encourages strong levels of social connectedness and mentoring between faculty and students. The three authors, all HBCU faculty, share their stories through autoethnography. This methodology is defined as a research and writing approach that works to describe and analyze personal experience in order to better understand cultural experience. Through the authors' autoethnographies, they share their journeys of coming into being social justice activist educators and describe how said journeys impact their daily walk in their classrooms as they work to teach social justice to their students. They also share practical activities used to help students develop social justice dispositions.
Organizational Structures for Global Brands

A strong brand can tumble not because its customer proposition and marketing program are weak but because the organization fails to implement the strategy. While global brands benefit the multinational corporation, their complexity increases costs. That’s the global brand paradox. Multinational corporations (MNCs) have to achieve four goals: maintain brand consistency and capture economies of scale and scope across borders; differentiate goods and services where necessary to suit the needs of local customers; leverage learnings and share knowledge among all parts of the company; and at the same time prevent complexity from hindering speed and agility. Of course, there are tensions and tradeoffs among these goals. The MNC must act like the elephant, the chameleon, the owl, and the flea all at once. It needs the size, the range, and the power of an elephant, the adaptability to local environments of the chameleon, the learning capabilities and the wisdom of an owl, and the speed and agility of a flea—by design. If it can combine these anatomies and physiologies, the MNC creates a tiger brand—strong, fast, smart, and flexible. If combined poorly, the MNC creates a snail brand—slow, cautious, imperceptible. This chapter discusses the structural solutions to the global brand paradox, summarizes insights, and provides actionable recommendations.
Participatory Graffiti as Invitational Rhetoric: The Case of O Machismo

This article engages the Brazilian O Machismo graffiti project as an example of invitational visual rhetoric. Although most understandings of graffiti as communication consider it to be a persuasive artistic form, O Machismo invites viewers to respond to its invitation to help complete the art project and collectively share in co-creating its message. Through an examination of the responses to the invitation that emerge to resist machismo and promote non-patriarchal understandings, the article offers some ideas about how an invitational visual rhetoric expands our previous understandings of graffiti.
Sisters together: co-sensitization of near-infrared emission of ytterbium(iii) by BODIPY and porphyrin dyes.

A ytterbium(III) acetate complex with a BODIPY and a porphyrin as co-sensitizers emits strongly at 978 nm over a broader excitation window between 450–560 nm.
Spin Echo Spectroscopy—Spin Refocusing

As is shown in the previous chapter the spin ensemble can be partially excited and saturated by applying a strong microwave driving field.
Lens-Specific Transcription Factors and Their Roles in Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Congenital Cataract

Specific DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) are critical components of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that govern lens growth and differentiation. Lens placode formation is controlled by Pax6, Six3, and Sox2. Lens vesicle formation and its separation from the surface ectoderm are regulated by AP-2α, Foxe3, and retinoic acid/retinoid-activated nuclear receptors. The lens precursor cells exit cell cycle via a coordinated action of Gata3, Pitx3, and Prox1. Lens fiber cell differentiation is controlled by ATF4/CREB2, c-Maf, Gata3, Hsf4, Pax6, Pitx3, Prox1, and Sox1. Lens morphogenesis requires intricate temporal and spatial control of gene expression that is executed through multiple links between TFs and extracellular signaling, including BMP, FGF, Notch, and Wnt pathways. Disrupted function of lens-preferred TFs results in multiple lens developmental abnormalities that range from the lack of lens formation, lost of primordial lens (aphakia), incomplete separation of the lens vesicle from the surface ectoderm (corneal-lenticular stalk), disrupted lens fiber cell differentiation, and retention of subcellular organelles including the nuclei. These developmental abnormalities are not compatible with lens transparency and result in congenital cataracts. These cataracts affect 1:2,500 individuals and are difficult to manage due to the age of the child and eye growth considerations, possible associated microcornea or microphthalmia, and risks of glaucoma and amblyopia. For example, up to ~40 % of children with bilateral cataracts develop glaucoma following surgery, particularly when cataracts are removed early in life. This review describes normal and abnormal lens formation through the perspective of TFs preferentially expressed in the lens, their contributions to the human pediatric cataracts, and current strategies in human genetic and clinical studies to identify novel cataract-associated genes to better understand molecular basis of these defects and its treatments.
Noise Exposure May Diminish the Musician Advantage for Perceiving Speech in Noise.

Objective Although numerous studies have shown that musicians have better speech perception in noise (SPIN) compared to nonmusicians, other studies have not replicated the "musician advantage for SPIN." One factor that has not been adequately addressed in previous studies is how musicians' SPIN is affected by routine exposure to high levels of sound. We hypothesized that such exposure diminishes the musician advantage for SPIN. Design Environmental sound levels were measured continuously for 1 week via body-worn noise dosimeters in 56 college students with diverse musical backgrounds and clinically normal pure-tone audiometric averages. SPIN was measured using the Quick Speech in Noise Test (QuickSIN). Multiple linear regression modeling was used to examine how music practice (years of playing a musical instrument) and routine noise exposure predict QuickSIN scores. Results Noise exposure and music practice were both significant predictors of QuickSIN, but they had opposing influences, with more years of music practice predicting better QuickSIN scores and greater routine noise exposure predicting worse QuickSIN scores. Moreover, mediation analysis suggests that noise exposure suppresses the relationship between music practice and QuickSIN scores. Conclusions Our findings suggest a beneficial relationship between music practice and SPIN that is suppressed by noise exposure.
Effects of classroom ``flipping'' on content mastery and student confidence in an introductory physical geology course

AbstractIncorporating active learning strategies into introductory STEM courses has been shown to improve student outcomes, however, these activities take class time to execute. The question of how...
Sweat-Based in Vitro Diagnostics (IVD): From Sample Collection to Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)

Sweat-based diagnostics offer an exciting avenue to noninvasively monitor analytes which had previously only been available through painful blood draws. Sweat is enriched with physiologically valuable information, and recent proteomic studies have identified numerous critical analytes which have highly correlated levels in blood, interstitial fluid and sweat. However, usage of sweat for health monitoring has not been studied extensively due to the substantial challenge of assembling a composite clinic-ready device. Recent advances in soft electronics have made this goal realizable, as these devices can perform electronic or optical monitoring on a flexible substrate using small volumes of liquid. While this field is still in its infancy, this review examines the physiological composition of sweat, various improvements in material science that improve sensor design, existing FDA approvals, methods of extracting sweat and comparisons to blood-based tests. Furthermore, this review assesses the critical challenges which must be overcome for this type of technology to make it out of research laboratories and into continuous clinical use. We believe that once properly harnessed, sweat-based diagnostics can provide patients a painless monitoring tool which can be customized to track a wide variety of medical conditions from the comfort of a patient’s own home.
Effect of Static Cold Storage on Skeletal Muscle after Vascularized Composite Tissue Allotransplantation.

Background Prolonged cold ischemia associated with static cold storage (SCS) results in higher incidence of acute and chronic allograft rejection in solid organ transplantations. Deleterious effects of SCS on vascularized composite tissue allograft were studied with limited data on muscle structure and function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term impact of SCS on muscle metabolism, structure, and force generation using a syngeneic rat hindlimb transplantation model. Methods Sixty-five male Lewis rats (250 ± 25 g) were distributed into five groups, including naive control, sciatic nerve denervation/repair, immediate transplantation, transplantation following static warm storage for 6 hours at room temperature, and transplantation following SCS for 6 hours at 4°C. Sciatic nerves were repaired in all transplantations. Muscle samples were taken for histology and metabolomics analysis following electromyography and muscle force measurements at 12 weeks after transplantation. Results All cold-preserved limbs remained viable at 12 weeks, whereas animals receiving limbs preserved in room temperature had no survivors. The SCS transplantation group showed a 73% injury score, significantly higher than groups receiving immediate transplants without cold preservation (50%, p Conclusion SCS extends allograft survival but fails to preserve muscle structure and force.
Endovascular Ultraviolet Laser-Facilitated Reversal of Vasospasm Induced by Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Canines.

Background: Because treatments for cerebral arterial spasm—a delayed consequence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)—are clinically inconsistent, we describe here a new method for reversal of arterial spasm, possibly extensible to nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive microvasculature.
The Death Penalty and Democracy

Many people in Japan argue that for abolition or significant death penalty reform to occur, public discussion (giron) must first change public opinion. This belief is misleading, because public opinion about capital punishment in Japan is rooted in moral intuitions about retribution and atonement that are largely impervious to rational discussion, and because death penalty abolitions and moratoria are invariably caused by political leadership from the front, not by changes in public perception. Claims that capital punishment reflects “democracy-at-work” are similarly simplistic because “democracy” means more than majority rule. If the abolition of capital punishment does occur in Japan, it will probably have several positive consequences for Japanese criminal justice and society.
Botulinum Toxin and Neuronal Regeneration after Traumatic Injury of Central and Peripheral Nervous System.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are toxins produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, the causing agent for botulism, in different serotypes, seven of which (A–G) are well characterized, while others, such as H or FA, are still debated. BoNTs exert their action by blocking SNARE (soluble N-ethylmale-imide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptors) complex formation and vesicle release from the neuronal terminal through the specific cleavage of SNARE proteins. The action of BoNTs at the neuromuscular junction has been extensively investigated and knowledge gained in this field has set the foundation for the use of these toxins in a variety of human pathologies characterized by excessive muscle contractions. In parallel, BoNTs became a cosmetic drug due to its power to ward off facial wrinkles following the activity of the mimic muscles. Successively, BoNTs became therapeutic agents that have proven to be successful in the treatment of different neurological disorders, with new indications emerging or being approved each year. In particular, BoNT/A became the treatment of excellence not only for muscle hyperactivity conditions, such as dystonia and spasticity, but also to reduce pain in a series of painful states, such as neuropathic pain, lumbar and myofascial pain, and to treat various dysfunctions of the urinary bladder. This review summarizes recent experimental findings on the potential efficacy of BoNTs in favoring nerve regeneration after traumatic injury in the peripheral nervous system, such as the injury of peripheral nerves, like sciatic nerve, and in the central nervous system, such as spinal cord injury.
Characterizing Accuracy-Aware Resilience of GPGPU Applications

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have rapidly evolved to enable energy-efficient data-parallel computing. In addition to achieving exascale performance at a stringent power budget, it is imperative for GPUs to provide reliable computing guarantees to the end user. In current commodity systems, such guarantees are often achieved by incurring high protection cost in terms of performance, power, and hardware resources. However, we argue that these strict guarantees are often not required (and that the associated protected overheads can be significantly reduced) because several GPGPU applications are either fault-tolerant or can accept a quantifiable loss in output quality. To this end, this paper characterizes in a hierarchical manner the accuracy-aware resilience of GPGPU applications consisting of thousands of threads. This characterization study shows that accuracy-aware error resilience exhibits several interesting patterns across threads at different hierarchies (i.e., kernel/thread-block/warp). The insights from this characterization study can be used to reduce the overheads of expensive protection or recovery mechanisms that are typically used by GPUs to ensure application reliability.
Developing a fidelity measure of early intervention programs for children with neuromotor disorders

Aim To describe the development of an intervention-specific fidelity measure and its utilization and to determine whether the newly developed Sitting Together and Reaching to Play (START-Play) intervention was implemented as intended. Also, to quantify differences between START-Play and usual early intervention (uEI) services. Method A fidelity measure for the START-Play intervention was developed for children with neuromotor disorders by: (1) identifying key intervention components, (2) establishing a measurement coding system, and (3) testing the reliability of instrument scores. After establishing acceptable interrater reliability, 103 intervention videos from the START-Play randomized controlled trial were coded and compared between the START-Play and uEI groups to measure five dimensions of START-Play fidelity, including adherence, dosage, quality of intervention, participant responsiveness, and program differentiation. Results Fifteen fidelity variables out of 17 had good to excellent interrater reliability evidence with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranging from 0.77 to 0.95. The START-Play therapists met the criteria for acceptable fidelity of the intervention (rates of START-Play key component use ≥0.8; quality ratings ≥3 [on a scale of 1-4]). The START-Play and uEI groups differed significantly in rates of START-Play key component use and quality ratings. Interpretation The START-Play fidelity measure successfully quantified key components of the START-Play intervention, serving to differentiate START-Play from uEI.
A Road Map for Closing the Gender Pay Gap in Medicine: How Organizations Can Begin the Journey

The gender pay gap in medicine represents the convergence of multiple forces that reward the way men physicians have typically worked and lived for decades. This traditional paradigm is not inherently better than a more equitable one that accounts for the unique contributions of women physicians as well as the demands and biases facing them. A more inclusive approach has the potential to generate superior outcomes within our industry, incentivize the right types of care, and engage the full talents of a considerable portion of the workforce. Closing the gender pay gap is achievable with organizational commitment and openness to culture and process change. It also requires funding, especially up front. Our road map emphasizes the importance of robust salary studies and efforts to clarify how the cost of equity will be forecasted, managed, and monitored. Closing the gender pay gap is a business proposition and, by treating it with the same attention to detail and rigor as they do other operating expenses, organizations can assess progress and cost and also normalize it as an ongoing enterprise effort.
Aero-Hydrodynamic Analysis of an Offshore Floating Multi-Wind-Turbine Platform – Part II

The recent developments in technology have enabled the placing of multiple wind turbines on a single large floating platform that can enhance the renewable energy generation from offshore wind resources. This paper and the corresponding hydrodynamic analysis paper– Part II (also in these proceedings) describes the intermediate results of ongoing research at designing a semi-submersible offshore floating platform for the multiple wind turbine arrangement. The key issues that have been addressed in this paper include modeling the aerodynamic loads due to wind speed on the wind turbines. The configuration of the offshore floating platform to install five 8MW wind turbines modeled in previous work is reviewed. The aerodynamic simulation of the offshore floating multi-wind-turbine platform (OFMWTP) is carried out using the Ansys software. The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the k-o) shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model are used for CFD calculations in Ansys Fluent. A multiple moving reference frame with a sliding mesh technique is used to simulate the rotation of the rotors of the five wind turbines installed on the platform. The pressure, velocity, and turbulence intensity contours of the OFMWTP are evaluated with a focus on the downstream wind turbine as it is in partial wake of the upstream wind turbines. The aerodynamic force of the wind turbines is evaluated to study the aerodynamic performance of the wind turbines. The aerodynamic power is calculated from the simulation and compared with the reference wind turbine value which showed a good agreement. The power deficit at the downstream wind turbine is evaluated and compared with experimental data of a reference which showed that power deficit in the present work is greatly reduced because of the wind turbine size and increased separation between wind turbines.
Sequência didática: o gênero oral argumentativo e o debate regrado

O presente artigo versa o relato de experiencia da pratica docente realizada na Escola Estadual de Ensino Fundamental Domingos Perim, na turma de Ensino Fundamental 9o V01, localizada no municipio Venda Nova do Imigrante, estado do Espirito Santo. As aulas, no total de quatro, foram realizadas sequencialmente duas a duas. O tema abordado nas aulas foi o genero oral argumentativo na modalidade debate regrado, que teve por ponto de reflexao a gravidez na adolescencia. Os principais resultados encontrados indicaram que os professores devem apropriar-se das teorias referentes a aprendizagem, das normativas constantes nas politicas governamentais e dos livros didaticos que estao disponiveis para os auxiliar no dia a dia na sala de aula, para a elaboracao de uma aula participativa e interativa. Constatou-se tambem que e imprescindivel que o professor trabalhe em sala de aula interdisciplinarmente questoes sociais relevantes, como a gravidez na adolescencia, uma vez que se espera que a formacao da sala de aula extrapole os muros escolares e signifique melhoria na qualidade de vida dos alunos e alunas, como tambem de toda a sociedade. As principais bases teoricas para tais conclusoes foram Schneuwly & Dolz (2011), Cereja & Cochar (2018), como tambem as normativas da BNCC (2017).