cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic analysis of active pulmonary tuberculosis among employees in food trades and public places in Changping district of Beijing

[Objective]To study the epidemic status of pulmonary tuberculosis among employees in food trades and public places in Changping district of Beijing,provide a scientific basis for making decisions.[Methods]The health examination data of employees in food trades and public places in Changping district from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed statistically(χ2 test).[Results]During 2006-2010,the detection rate of active pulmonary tuberculosis of employees in food trades and public places in Changping district increased year by year(0.002%,0.042%,0.153%,0.124% and 0.228%),and the difference was significant(χ2=210.64,P0.01).The detection rate of active pulmonary tuberculosis among local employees(0.000%,0.044%,0.155%,0.048% and 0.265%) and migrant employees(0.002%,0.041%,0.152%,0.149% and 0.216%) increased year by year,and the differences were significant(local employees χ2=82.08,P0.01;migrant employees χ2=145.99,P0.01).[Conclusion]In order to ensure the public health security in Changping district,the annual health examination among employees in food trades and public places should be strengthened,the education of pulmonary tuberculosis should be improved among migrant employees,so as to early detect the tuberculosis patients and control the spread of tuberculosis.
Analysis on drug-resistant tuberculosis in Yuxi,Yunnan Province

Objective To obtain the data on drug resistance(DR) of Mycoba tuberculosis complexes(MTBC) strains of Yuxi in 2007.Method All new registered MTBC positive patients in 2007 were sampled to do species identification and drug susceptibility testing of isoniazid(H),rifampicin(R),streptomycin(SM) and ethambutol(E) by one percent proportion method according to Guidelines for surveillance of drug resistance in tubeyculosis of WHO/IUATLD.Results 59 patients were chosen in the study,58(98.3%) M.tuberculosis and 1(1.7%) non-tuberculosis mycobacterium were identified.The total DR rate was 62.1% and total multi-drug resistance(MDR) was 5.2%.The initial DR rate was 61.1% and initial MDR rate was 1.8%.The acquired DR rate was 75% acquired MDR rate was 50%.Conclusion The prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis was a high level inYuxi and the TB control program should be strengthened.
Ovarian tumors in pregnancy: A private hospital ten year survey

Abstract This survey encompasses a 10 year (1961 to 1970) experience at the St. Mary's Long Beach Hospital, during which 37 patients underwent operation for ovarian tumors in pregnancy. There were 35,461 live births during this period, for an incidence of ovarian tumors complicating pregnancy in this study of one in 958. The cases are analyzed with particular emphasis on the length of gestation at the time of operation, the operative and pathology findings, and the outcome of the pregnancy. Thirty-two per cent of the cases were from the author's private practice. There were 3 ovarian carcinomas in the study group, a somewhat higher incidence than usually reported.
The influence of sex offender registration and notification laws on fostering collective identity among offenders

AbstractA collective identity has been ascribed to sex offenders by law, in which everyone on the registry are presumed to be dangerous, at equal risk for reoffending, and deserve extra scrutiny and prohibitions beyond what other types of convicted offenders experience. As a result, sex offenders often experience harassment, social isolation, stigmatization, loss of employment, and homelessness. Such negative experiences may affect their identities or how they come to view themselves. It is then important to determine if sex offenders accept the structurally and culturally collective identity placed upon them and what, if any, methods have been found to mitigate social effects on their identity. This study explored if and how the consequences of registration and notification (RN) laws affected notions of person and perhaps created a collective identity among sex offenders. We conducted interviews with 112 sex offenders and found that they did see themselves part of a collective group, one that was formed ...
Library based x-ray scatter correction for dedicated cone beam breast CT

Purpose: The image quality of dedicated cone beam breast CT (CBBCT) is limited by substantial scatter contamination, resulting in cupping artifacts and contrast-loss in reconstructed images. Such effects obscure the visibility of soft-tissue lesions and calcifications, which hinders breast cancer detection and diagnosis. In this work, we propose a library-based software approach to suppress scatter on CBBCT images with high efficiency, accuracy, and reliability. Methods: The authors precompute a scatter library on simplified breast models with different sizes using the geant4-based Monte Carlo (MC) toolkit. The breast is approximated as a semiellipsoid with homogeneous glandular/adipose tissue mixture. For scatter correction on real clinical data, the authors estimate the breast size from a first-pass breast CT reconstruction and then select the corresponding scatter distribution from the library. The selected scatter distribution from simplified breast models is spatially translated to match the projection data from the clinical scan and is subtracted from the measured projection for effective scatter correction. The method performance was evaluated using 15 sets of patient data, with a wide range of breast sizes representing about 95% of general population. Spatial nonuniformity (SNU) and contrast to signal deviation ratio (CDR) were used as metrics for evaluation. Results: Since the time-consuming MC simulation for library generation is precomputed, the authors’ method efficiently corrects for scatter with minimal processing time. Furthermore, the authors find that a scatter library on a simple breast model with only one input parameter, i.e., the breast diameter, sufficiently guarantees improvements in SNU and CDR. For the 15 clinical datasets, the authors’ method reduces the average SNU from 7.14% to 2.47% in coronal views and from 10.14% to 3.02% in sagittal views. On average, the CDR is improved by a factor of 1.49 in coronal views and 2.12 in sagittal views. Conclusions: The library-based scatter correction does not require increase in radiation dose or hardware modifications, and it improves over the existing methods on implementation simplicity and computational efficiency. As demonstrated through patient studies, the authors’ approach is effective and stable, and is therefore clinically attractive for CBBCT imaging.
The Long Search for a Viable Method of C-terminal Sequencing

The history of C-terminal protein sequencing dates back at least to 1926 when the thiocyanate degradation was introduced by Schlack and Kumpf (see reviews by Loudon et al 1977; Ward 1986; Rangarajan 1988 for citations of original literature). Many chemical methods have been introduced since then, touted by their inventors and by the few who later improved them. But these methods have rarely contributed essential - or even useful - sequence information and none have demonstrated the capacity for extended degradations with all common residues. But recent improvements in a few of the half-dozen or so currently active methods have convinced many that the grail of C-terminal sequencing is at last within reach. When I began to prepare for this Conference, I had hoped to be able to compare the performance of these methods with small test substrates, but unfortunately, time and resources did not permit.
Working memory in children with neurocognitive effects from sickle cell disease: Contributions of the central executive and processing efficiency

ABSTRACTChildren with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for working memory deficits due to multiple disease processes. We assessed working memory abilities and related functions in 32 school-age children with SCD and 85 matched comparison children using Baddeley’s working memory model as a framework. Children with SCD performed worse than controls for working memory, central executive function, and processing/rehearsal speed. Central executive function was found to mediate the relationship between SCD status and working memory, but processing speed did not. Cognitive remediation strategies that focus on central executive processes may be important for remediating working memory deficits in SCD.
Die physikalischen Grenzen des Wachstums — Überwindungsmöglichkeiten durch unerschöpfliche Energiequellen

Die grosse Debatte uber die Zukunft der westlichen technologischen Gesellschaft wird von den Entropologen beherrscht. Es sind dies Neo-Malthusianer und Schuler des Okonomen Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, der in seinem bemerkenswerten Werk «The Entropy Law and the Economic Process» (Das Gesetz der Entropie und der Wirtschaftsprozess) zum Schluss kommt, dass die Wirtschaftstransaktionen des Menschen zu einer Erhohung der Entropie fuhren mussen. Georgescu-Roegen legte den Begriff «Entropie» im weitesten Sinne aus: Verschmutzung, Verzettelung der Ressourcen, soziale Desorganisation. Darin folgt er dem Denken John von Neumanns, der Claude Shannon den Rat gegeben haben soll, den Begriff «Entropie» fur den Informationsgehalt einer Botschaft zu verwenden, und zwar nicht nur, weil seine Formel der Entropie in der statistischen Thermodynamik ahnlich war, sondern auch, wie es von Neumann ausdruckte, weil «niemand die Entropie versteht und Sie deshalb in einer Diskussion immer im Vorteil sein werden». Diese unvermeidliche Verzettelung unserer Ressourcen wurde von Kenneth Boulding als die «Entropie-Falle» bezeichnet.
Composition and structure of porcine digital flexor tendon-bone insertion tissues.

Tendon-bone insertion is a functionally graded tissue, transitioning from 200MPa tensile modulus at the tendon end to 20GPa tensile modulus at the bone, across just a few hundred micrometers. In this study, we examine the porcine digital flexor tendon insertion tissue to provide a quantitative description of its collagen orientation and mineral concentration by using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) based image analysis and mass spectrometry, respectively. Histological results revealed uniformity in global collagen orientation at all depths, indicative of mechanical anisotropy, although at mid-depth, the highest fiber density, least amount of dispersion, and least cellular circularity were evident. Collagen orientation distribution obtained through two-dimensional FFT of histological imaging data from fluorescent microscopy agreed with past measurements based on polarized light microscopy. Results revealed global fiber orientation across the tendon-bone insertion to be preserved along direction of physiologic tension. Gradation in the fiber distribution orientation index across the insertion was reflective of a decrease in anisotropy from the tendon to the bone. We provided elemental maps across the fibrocartilage for its organic and inorganic constituents through time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The apatite intensity distribution from the tendon to bone was shown to follow a linear trend, supporting past results based on Raman microprobe analysis. The merit of this study lies in the image-based simplified approach to fiber distribution quantification and in the high spatial resolution of the compositional analysis. In conjunction with the mechanical properties of the insertion tissue, fiber and mineral distribution results for the insertion from the current study may potentially be incorporated into the development of a structural constitutive approach toward computational modeling. Characterizing the properties of the native insertion tissue would provide the microstructural basis for developing biomimetic scaffolds to recreate the graded morphology of a fibrocartilaginous insertion. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Player aggregation in the travelling inspector model

We consider a model of a dynamic inspection/ surveillance process of a number of facilities in different geographical locations. The inspector in this process travels from one facility to another and performs an inspection at each facility he visits. His aim is to devise an inspection/travel schedule which minimizes the losses to society (or to his employer) resulting both from undetected violations of the regulations and from the costs of the policing operation. This model is formulated as a non-cooperative, single-controller, stochastic game. The existence of stationary Nash Equilibria is established as a consequence of aggregating all the inspectees into a single "aggregated inspectee". It is shown that such player aggregation causes no loss of generality under very mild assumptions. A notion of an "optimal Nash equilibrium" for the inspector is introduced and proven to be well-defined in this context. The issue of the inspector's power to "enforce" such an equilibrium is also discussed.
Phosphoantigen-induced conformational change of butyrophilin 3A1 (BTN3A1) and its implication on Vγ9Vδ2 T cell activation

Human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells respond to microbial infections as well as certain types of tumors. The key initiators of Vγ9Vδ2 activation are small, pyrophosphate-containing molecules called phosphoantigens (pAgs) that are present in infected cells or accumulate intracellularly in certain tumor cells. Recent studies demonstrate that initiation of the Vγ9Vδ2 T cell response begins with sensing of pAg via the intracellular domain of the butyrophilin 3A1 (BTN3A1) molecule. However, it is unknown how downstream events can ultimately lead to T cell activation. Here, using NMR spectrometry and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we characterize a global conformational change in the B30.2 intracellular domain of BTN3A1 induced by pAg binding. We also reveal by crystallography two distinct dimer interfaces in the BTN3A1 full-length intracellular domain, which are stable in MD simulations. These interfaces lie in close proximity to the pAg-binding pocket and contain clusters of residues that experience major changes of chemical environment upon pAg binding. This suggests that pAg binding disrupts a preexisting conformation of the BTN3A1 intracellular domain. Using a combination of biochemical, structural, and cellular approaches we demonstrate that the extracellular domains of BTN3A1 adopt a V-shaped conformation at rest, and that locking them in this resting conformation without perturbing their membrane reorganization properties diminishes pAg-induced T cell activation. Based on these results, we propose a model in which a conformational change in BTN3A1 is a key event of pAg sensing that ultimately leads to T cell activation.
Out of Africa: Insights from a prospective pediatric surgery database

In this year's Robert E. Gross lecture, I describe how experiences early in my career at a government referral hospital in Banjul, The Gambia, influenced my research. Collecting prospective data on all children presenting to the hospital with surgical problems allowed me to gain an understanding of the epidemiology of childhood surgical conditions in sub-Saharan Africa and an appreciation for the inherent challenges of delivering surgical care in settings of limited resources. Based on findings from this database, my research over the past 20years has focused on developing strategies for improving surgical care in low-income countries and better understanding the geographical variations that occur in some of the most common surgical conditions in high-income countries (e.g., appendicitis). Although this research continues to be a work-in-progress, it has the potential to improve the surgical care of children in both high- and low-income countries. Much of this research would not have been possible had I not ventured off the usual path for an academic surgeon.
Relation of Ectopic Fat with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score in South Asians Living in the United States (from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America [MASALA] Study).

Few studies have investigated the association between ectopic fat from different depots and cardiovascular risk scores and their components in the same population, and none have investigated these relations in South Asians. In a cross-sectional analysis of 796 participants in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study who had measurements of visceral, subcutaneous, pericardial, hepatic, and intermuscular fat from abdominal and cardiac computed tomography scans, we used linear regression to determine the associations of 1 standard deviation difference in each ectopic fat depot with pooled cohort risk score and its components. Pericardial and visceral fat were more strongly associated with the pooled cohort risk score (3.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5 to 3.7, and 2.7%, 95% CI 2.1 to 3.3, respectively) and components than intermuscular fat (2.3%, 95% CI 1.7 to 3.0); subcutaneous fat was inversely associated with the pooled cohort risk score (−2.6%, 95% CI −3.2 to 1.9) and hepatic fat attenuation was not linearly associated with the pooled cohort risk score when mutually adjusted (−0.3%, 95% CI −0.9 to 0.4). Associations for risk factor components differed by fat depot. In conclusion, subcutaneous and hepatic fat may have different functions than fat stored in other depots in South Asians. Determining whether these relations are heterogeneous by race may help elucidate the mechanisms underlying CVD disparities.
Inequalities for operators

The purpose of this chapter is to present a series of the local and global estimates for some operators, including the homotopy operator T, the Laplace–Beltrami operator Δ = d d * + d * d, Green’s operator G, the gradient operator ∇, the Hardy–Littlewood maximal operator, and the differential operator, which act on the space of harmonic forms defined in a domain in R n , and the compositions of some of these operators. We introduce the Hardy–Littlewood maximal operator M s and the sharp maximal operator \({\rm M}_s^\#\) applied to differential forms in Section 7.1. We develop some basic estimates for Green’s operator ∇ ◦ T and d◦ T in Section 7.2. We establish some L s -estimates and imbedding inequalities for the compositions of homotopy operator T and Green’s operator G in Section 7.3. In Section 7.4, we prove some Poincare-type inequalities for T◦ G and G◦ T. In Section 7.5, we obtain Poincare-type inequalities for the homotopy operator T. In Section 7.6, we study various estimates for the composition T◦ H. In Section 7.7, we provide the estimates for the compositions of three operators. Finally, in Section 7.8, we offer some norm comparison theorems for the maximal operators.
An 8-generation family with X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Confirmation Of the pathogenicity Of a 3' untranslated region mutation in GJB1 and its clinical features

Introduction Mutations in gap junction protein beta 1 (GJB1) on the X chromosome represent one of the most common causes of hereditary neuropathy. We assessed manifestations associated with a rare 3' untranslated region mutation (UTR) of GJB1 in a large family with X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTX). Methods Clinical, electrophysiological, and molecular genetic analyses were performed on an 8-generation family with CMTX. Results There were 22 affected males and 19 symptomatic females, including an 83-year-old woman followed for 40 years. Electrophysiological studies showed a primarily axonal neuropathy. The c.*15C>T mutation in the GJB1 3' UTR was identified in 4 branches of the family with a log of odds (LOD) of 4.91. This created a BstE II enzyme recognition site that enabled detection by restriction digestion. Discussion The c.*15C>T mutation in the GJB1 3' UTR segregates with CMTX1 in 8 generations. Penetrance in males and females is essentially complete. A straightforward genetic method to detect this mutation is described. Muscle Nerve 57: 859-862, 2018.
Investigation of the role of writing-to-learn in promoting student understanding of light–matter interactions

Fundamental quantum chemistry concepts—quantization of energy, electronic structure, and light–matter interaction—are essential for understanding chemistry and spectroscopy, an important tool for studying molecules. However, very few studies have investigated how students learn and understand these concepts or how their learning can be supported. Drawing on the capacity of writing to support learning of difficult concepts, we designed an intervention that targeted quantum concepts in the context of the use of spectroscopy for identifying chemical composition of the Orion Nebula. A quasi-experimental design with a pre-post assessment on a control and treatment group was used to identify the gains associated with completing the WTL activity. Results from a three-tiered assessment show that WTL students significantly improved in their explanations of the concept of spectroscopic transitions and their overall confidence in their understanding. Analysis of their writing, follow-up interviews, and feedback served to explain the changes observed on the pre-post assessment.
Contact Urticaria and Protein Contact Dermatitis—a Frequently Hidden Diagnosis

We hope that this review can assist in the classification, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of a contact urticaria syndrome (CUS), a syndrome in which the understanding of such is still evolving. CUS and protein contact dermatitis (PCD) can be defined as an immediate inflammatory reaction of the skin following contact with an external substance. Erythema, wheals, and eczema, as well as other manifestations can occur as a result of this inflammatory reaction. Many low molecular weight substances and proteins are known to produce these immediate skin contact reactions. These reactions affect many occupations such as health care workers, bakers and cooks, and farmers. Nonetheless, as a subset of contact dermatitis, CUS is often misdiagnosed in part due to a lack of understanding and mild severity of its clinical manifestations. A detailed history that elicits environmental and occupational contacts, duration of contacts as well as a detailed understanding of CUS is fundamental to its proper diagnosis.
Development of Potent Pyrazolopyrimidinone‐Based WEE1 Inhibitors with Limited Single‐Agent Cytotoxicity for Cancer Therapy

WEE1 kinase regulates the G2 /M cell-cycle checkpoint, a critical mechanism for DNA repair in cancer cells that can confer resistance to DNA-damaging agents. We previously reported a series of pyrazolopyrimidinones based on AZD1775, a known WEE1 inhibitor, as an initial investigation into the structural requirements for WEE1 inhibition. Our lead inhibitor demonstrated WEE1 inhibition in the same nanomolar range as AZD1775, and potentiated the effects of cisplatin in medulloblastoma cells, but had reduced single-agent cytotoxicity. These results prompted the development of a more comprehensive series of WEE1 inhibitors. Herein we report a series of pyrazolopyrimidinones and identify a more potent WEE1 inhibitor than AZD1775 and additional compounds that demonstrate that WEE1 inhibition can be achieved with reduced single-agent cytotoxicity. These studies support that WEE1 inhibition can be uncoupled from the potent cytotoxic effects observed with AZD1775, and this may have important ramifications in the clinical setting where WEE1 inhibitors are used as chemosensitizers for DNA-targeted chemotherapy.
Who’s Getting the Best Sex? A Comparison by Sexual Orientation

This study examined the difference in sexual satisfaction between sexual minority and heterosexual college students testing the mediation effects of institutional affiliations and interpersonal relationships. A convenience sample of 280 college sociology students completed a 47-item Internet questionnaire, including self-reports on sexual satisfaction and sexual behaviors/activities. Data on 193 heterosexuals and 87 sexual minority respondents were analyzed using regression to test for differences in reported levels of sexual satisfaction by sexual orientation. Results revealed that sexual minority undergraduates reported lower sexual satisfaction than heterosexual undergraduates. This difference persisted when controlling for sex, race, education, and SES. Mediation analyses found support for the hypothesis that institutional affiliations and interpersonal relationships have an effect on this association. Previous researchers have suggested that sexual minority relationships exist in a context of heterosexism, suppression, stigmatization, prejudice, discrimination and violence which results in lower relationship quality. Such an impact on minority couples’ satisfaction may spill over into lower sexual satisfaction.
Appendix IV ESTIMATION OF THE DISTORTION OF THE GEOMETRY OF NUCLEIC-ACID BASES IN THE EXCITED ELECTRONIC STATE FROM THE ULTRA-VIOLET RESONANCE RAMAN ENHANCEMENT OF CERTAIN NORMAL MODES.*

The resonance Raman intensity of the totally symmetric (i.e. in plane) modes of the nucleic acid bases is derived from shifts of the excited state potential energy along the various 3N-6 normal modes, Qj.1–6 If the shift is large the dependence of the Raman intensity on the displacement is rather complicated.5–6 However if the shift is small the dependence is simply proportional to the square of the displacement, Δj, along the various normal modes.3,6
Observations and Interpretation of Changes in Stratospheric Ozone Following the Pinatubo Eruption

Following the eruption ofMt. Pinatubo, substantial decreases were observed both in ozonesonde and total column ozone observations. These decreases are illustrated with data from mid-latitudes and polar regions, and are interpreted in terms of heterogeneous chemical processes, both involving hydrolysis of dinitrogen pentoxide and reactions involving chlorine species such as ClONO2 HOCl, and HCl on sulfate aerosols. In addition, this paper shows in detail for the first time how the ozone budget varies with altitude in response to sulfate aerosol perturbations, revealing the reasons for observed increases in ozone above about 25 km following the eruption.
The sex distribution of suicides by age in nations of the world.

The ratio of the male suicide rate to the female suicide rate for each age group in 31 nations of the world was found to be associated with the wealth of the nations. The male/female suicide rate ratio was lower in wealthier nations for older adults and higher in wealthier nations for youths. The male-female suicide rate ratio was associated over the nations among the younger age groups and also among the older age groups. These results suggest that the sex ratio may be differently determined in youths and in older adults.
Glacial quarrying: a simple theoretical model

Glacial quarrying remains enigmatic despite being long recognized as a primary, perhaps the dominant, process by which glaciers erode bedrock. The rate-limiting process appears to be subglacial rock fracture due to ice-induced mechanical stresses. To study this erosional process, a simple model of quarrying is developed for a glacier sliding over a periodic series of bedrock steps. Consideration of the balance of forces at the ice/rock interface and of the rate of cavity closure permits evaluation of ice-induced stresses on bedrock surfaces. The resulting stress distribution where ice loads are most concentrated near the corner of bedrock steps is evaluated using a simple elastic solution for the state of stress in a loaded quarter-plane. It is then used to determine whether fractures in the rock will grow, and to estimate the rate of progressive crack growth. Based on these crack-growth rates, an index of the quarrying rate is then calculated as a function of glaciological variables effective pressure and sliding velocity—and various bed parameteres. Considerable incentive exists for further analysis of quarrying, and for seeking field data to test the model.
Stability of Supercritical Convection-Wave Number Selection Through Stability

In this chapter we are going to study the stability of cellular convection in a layer of porous material filled with fluid and heated from below. This type of cellular convection could be described as Benard convection in a DOB fluid. As in the Benard problem R1=0, R2>0 and the bifurcation of conduction into convection is supercritical rather than two-sided. The analysis of Schluter, Lortz and Busse (1965) for the stability of Benard convection in an OB fluid applies to the DOB fluid. Their analysis shows that the common three-dimensional plan forms which are included in (76.6) are all unstable and only two-dimensional plan forms can be stable. This result is consistent with the stability picture for two-sided bifurcation into cellular convection which is shown in Fig. 77.1 (iii) in the limit p1 → p0, p2→ p0, e* → 0.
Quisiera que me explicara el subjuntivo. Actitudes y percepciones de hablantes de herencia de español en el contexto de estudios en el extranjero

This study analizes the perceptions of heritage speakers of Spanish regarding their own language variety and their attitudes and perceptions about studying abroad in Spanish-speaking countries. The perceptions of heritage speakers that participate in a program in Spain for three months, versus heritage speakers that participate in a program in Costa Rica for one month, are analyzed and compared. The goal of this study is to determine if after having participated in study abroad programs focused on Spanish language in these countries, the experience impacts and modifies the perception and understanding on their own heritage speaker variety. If different, the study try to determine in which parameter. The students that participated in the survey are all heritage speakers of Spanish from the USA´s Midwest region (particularly from Illinois), born in the US and mostly of Mexican descent. Data were gathered via survey applied virtually via Qualtrics or personally, with twenty-four questions about the background of the students before going abroad, perceptions and reactions while taking written and oral placement tests, and their own perception after the program. The questions are focused on the academic experiences in each country of immersion. Key Words: study abroad, heritage speakers, Spanish, attitudes, perceptions.
Programming Languages, Network Simulators, and Tools

Wireless sensor networks offer many advantages in different application areas with its ease of deployment, low-cost, low-power capabilities. With the increased interest to the wireless sensor networks, the research community have started to carry out network simulations to better analyze the network’s behavior and performance since they provide significant reduction in cost and simulate the different types of sceneries in tolerable time intervals. This chapter introduces the network simulators, i.e., NS-2, OMNET++, J-Sim, OPNET and TOSSIM, respectively with some of the major network programming languages, e.g., nesC and Mate.
Drug sellers' neutralizations of guiltless drug sales and avoidance of "drug dealer" identities

Abstract Background Despite a wealth of empirical exploration on neutralization theory, several aspects of the theory remain underexplored. For instance, one task of neutralization research is to investigate whether and how neutralizations vary with offender characteristics. A second underexplored area is whether the neutralizations offenders present when directly asked about feelings of guilt are similar or dissimilar to those they have incorporated into their narrative identities described during interviews. A third underexplored issue is whether offenders that exhibit little guilt for committing mala prohibita crimes use neutralizations in a similar manner as those who do not express guilt for committing mala in se crimes. Methods The present study examines these questions by drawing from data collected from interviews with 33 active drug sellers from St. Louis, Missouri, USA and 30 active drug sellers from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Results We find that these offenders’ neutralizations vary by drug type and by differential access to resources. We also find that, in addition to the neutralizations they give when asked about guilt, these offenders also preemptively neutralize feelings of guilt by constructing identities counter to bad “drug dealers” throughout their storied identities. Conclusion We conclude by suggesting that neutralizations vary by offender characteristics due to the differing background expectancies of offenders’ social groups. We also suggest that neutralizing the repercussions of immoral actions is not always a static, monothematic technique. It is instead an active, complex, and interactional process that occurs as persons make sense of who they are and what they are doing. Finally, we argue that studies of neutralization theory relying on direct, standardized questions or the presentation of abstract vignettes may fail to capture a sizable part of the neutralization process among offenders.
Physics-based III-Nitride device modeling

Abstract This chapter gives an overview of physical compact models that describe the terminal electro-thermal behavior of III-Nitride devices. Device models are important since they act as a link between device-design stage and circuit/system-level design stage. Using equations that are grounded in physics, they are able to accurately capture device behavioral nuances and their impact on III-Nitride-based systems. Furthermore, they employ compact analytical expressions that distill the right amount of physics to achieve numerical and convergence robustness in large-scale circuit simulations: a key distinguishing factor from Technology-Computer Aided Design (TCAD) approach. This chapter highlights some of the tradeoffs involved in finding the right balance between physical accuracy and numerical robustness of compact models. Descriptions of common modeling practices to primarily describe lateral devices along with a brief overview of vertical III-Nitride devices are presented in the chapter. A survey of existing state-of-art physical models that are either charge-based or surface-potential-based are provided. Development of a compact model from fundamental transport and electrostatic theories is illustrated using the MIT-virtual source GaN-HEMT (MVSG) model for lateral GaN-high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) as an example case study. Demonstration of the capability of compact models to accurately predict device-characteristics such as DC- and pulsed-currents, charges, small-signal S-parameters, large-signal load-/source-pull and power sweeps, and inter-modulation distortion are presented. These device-level calibration tests are combined with numerical benchmark techniques in this chapter. The chapter also aims to tie device-physics of III-Nitride devices to circuit design through circuit-level evaluation. Benchmarking is conducted against switching characteristics of GaN-HEMT-converters in the HV-application regime to understand the impact of device capacitances, field plates, temperature and charge-trapping on switching slew rates. In the RF-application regime, validation is performed against output-power, efficiency, gain-compression and linearity characteristics of GaN-power amplifiers. Noise-figures of low-noise amplifiers are tested to estimate contributions of device-level noise sources.
Trust, Regulation, and Contracting Institutions

This paper demonstrates that trust directly influences contracting efficiency. We document that trust reduces demand for contract regulation and positively relates to a high‐quality contracting environment, supporting a substitution hypothesis. Furthermore, contract regulation no longer leads to poor contracting outcomes. These findings suggest that lack of trust significantly explains inefficient contracting institutions. Based on interaction effects, we note that trust could complement formal enforcement in countries with weak regulation. As regulation increases, trust substitutes for contract regulation. Overall, trust positively promotes efficient contracting by reducing burdensome regulation and providing an alternative to formal contract enforcement.
Augmentation of endothelium-dependent vasodilatory signalling improves functional sympatholysis in contracting muscle of older adults.

KEY POINTS The ability of contracting skeletal muscle to attenuate sympathetic vasoconstriction (functional sympatholysis) is critical for maintaining blood flow during exercise-mediated sympathoexcitation. Functional sympatholysis and endothelial function are impaired with ageing, resulting in compromised blood flow and oxygen delivery to contracting skeletal muscle during exercise. In the present study, intra-arterial infusion of ACh or ATP to augment endothelium-dependent signalling during exercise attenuated α1 -adrenergic vasoconstriction in the contracting muscle of older adults. The vascular signalling mechanisms capable of functional sympatholysis are preserved in healthy ageing, and thus the age-related impairment in functional sympatholysis probably results from the loss of a functional signal (e.g. plasma [ATP]) as opposed to an intrinsic endothelial dysfunction. ABSTRACT The ability of contracting skeletal muscle to attenuate sympathetic α-adrenergic vasoconstriction ('functional sympatholysis') is impaired with age. In young adults, increasing endothelium-dependent vasodilatory signalling during mild exercise augments sympatholysis. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that increasing endothelium-dependent signalling during exercise in older adults can improve sympatholysis. In 16 older individuals (Protocol 1, n = 8; Protocol 2, n = 8), we measured forearm blood flow (Doppler ultrasound) and calculated changes in vascular conductance (FVC) to local intra-arterial infusion of phenylephrine (PE; α1 -agonist) during (i) infusion of an endothelium-dependent vasodilator alone (Protocol 1: ACh or Protocol 2: low dose ATP); (ii) mild handgrip exercise (5% maximum voluntary contraction; MVC); (iii) moderate handgrip exercise (15% MVC); and (iv) mild or moderate handgrip exercise + infusion of ACh or ATP to augment endothelium-dependent signalling. PE caused robust vasoconstriction in resting skeletal muscle during control vasodilator infusions (ΔFVC: ACh: -31 ± 3 and ATP: -30 ± 4%). PE-mediated vasoconstriction was not attenuated by mild or moderate intensity exercise (ΔFVC: 5% MVC: -30 ± 9; 15% MVC: -33 ± 8%; P > 0.05 vs. control ACh and ATP), indicative of impaired sympatholysis, and ACh or ATP infusion during mild exercise did not impact this response. However, augmentation of endothelium-dependent signalling via infusion of ACh or ATP during moderate intensity exercise attenuated PE-mediated vasoconstriction (ΔFVC: -13 ± 1 and -19 ± 5%, respectively; P < 0.05 vs. all conditions). Our findings demonstrate that, given a sufficient stimulus, endothelium-dependent sympatholysis remains intact in older adults. Strategies aimed at activating such pathways represent a viable approach for improving sympatholysis and thus tissue blood flow and oxygen delivery in older adults.
Applied-force oscillations in avalanche dynamics.

Until now most studies of discrete plasticity have focused on systems that are assumed to be driven by a monotonically increasing force; in many real systems, however, the driving force includes damped oscillations or oscillations induced by the propagation of discrete events or ``slip avalanches.'' In both cases, these oscillations may obscure the true dynamics. Here we effectively consider both cases by investigating the effects of damped oscillations in the external driving force on avalanche dynamics. We compare model simulations of slip avalanches under mean-field dynamics with observations in slip-avalanche experiments on slowly compressed micrometer-sized Au specimens using open-loop force control. The studies show very good agreement between simulations and experiments. We find that an oscillatory external driving force changes the average avalanche shapes only for avalanches with durations close to the period of oscillation of the external force. This effect on the avalanche shapes can be addressed in experiments by choosing suitable specimen dimensions so that the mechanical resonance does not interact with the avalanche dynamics. These results are important for the interpretation of avalanche experiments with built-in oscillators, and for the prediction and analysis of avalanche dynamics in systems with resonant vibrations.
Evolutionary history of ATP-binding cassette proteins

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins are found in every sequenced genome and evolved deep in the phylogenetic tree of life. ABC proteins form one of the largest homologous protein families, with most being involved in substrate transport across biological membranes, and a few cytoplasmic members regulating in essential processes like translation. The predominant ABC protein classification scheme is derived from human members, but the increasing number of fully sequenced genomes permits to reevaluate this paradigm in the light of the evolutionary history the ABC-protein superfamily. As we study the diversity of substrates, mechanisms, and physiological roles of ABC proteins, knowledge of the evolutionary relationships highlights similarities and differences that can be attributed to specific branches in protein divergence. While alignments and trees built on natural sequence variation account for the evolutionary divergence of ABC proteins, high-throughput experiments and next-generation sequencing creating experimental sequence variation are instrumental in identifying functional constraints. The combination of natural and experimentally produced sequence variation allows a broader and more rational study of the function and physiological roles of ABC proteins.
The attitude of patients with HIV about telehealth for their HIV care

Background The world is facing a pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 that disrupted our healthcare system and the way we deliver healthcare For people with HIV (PWH), the ability to be retained in care plays a critical role in improving health outcomes and in preventing HIV transmission Several definitions exist for retention in care, but they are centered around outpatient clinic visits It is now more important than ever to understand PWH's attitudes about using telemedicine for HIV care instead of face-to face clinic visits Methods We administered a one-time survey to PWH presenting to an outpatient HIV center in Houston, Texas, from February-June 2018 The survey items were used to assess PWH's attitudes towards and concerns for telehealth and explanatory variables Results 371 participants completed the survey;median age was 51, 36% were female, and 63% African-American Overall, 57% of respondents were more likely to use telehealth for their HIV care if available, as compared to one-on-one in-person care, and 37% would use telehealth frequently or always as an alternative to clinic visits Participants reported many benefits including ability to fit better their schedule, decreasing travel time, and privacy but expressed concerns about the ability to effective communication and examination and the safety of personal information Factors associated with likelihood of using telehealth include personal factors (US-born, men who have sex with men, higher educational attainment, higher HIV-related stigma perception), HIV-related factors (long standing HIV), and structural factors (having difficulty attending clinic visits, not knowing about or not having the necessary technology) There was no association between participants with uncontrolled HIV, medication adherence, and likelihood of using telehealth Conclusion Telehealth programs for PWH can improve retention in care A modification of the definition for retention in care, incorporating telehealth, should be considered Availability and confidence using various telehealth technologies need to be addressed to increase acceptability and usage of telehealth among PWH
Understanding Plant Behavior: A Student Perspective

Biology students need special incentive to learn plant physiology. Framing plant function as 'behavior' analogous to animal neurobiology and behavior and integrating active learning methods is a successful way to generate an inclusive space for a wide range of learning styles, cultural backgrounds, and scientific contributions.
Institutionalizing Bold Humility via Collaboratives

A collaborative is the open sharing of experience and judgment to improve practices of care, in an area about which there is uncertainty. This is done by providing an institutional social structure to bring forward voices of different backgrounds and experiences.
Conan Doyle for the Defense: The True Story of a Sensational British Murder, a Quest for Justice, and the World’s Most Famous Detective Writer by Margalit Fox

Let us be clear up front: You will enjoy and appreciate Margalit Fox’s Conan Doyle for the Defense. It is an intellectually engaging, historically enlightening, thought-provoking page-turner in which Fox (the long-time, just-retired Obituaries editor of the New York Times) weaves together two enthralling stories. Both spring from the brutal death-by-blunt-instrument of Marion Gilchrist in her Glasgow, Scotland, apartment on December 21, 1908. The first story chronicles an appalling 20-year run of incompetence and dishonesty by officers of the law — police, prosecutors, and judges. And they were not alone. They had the help of mendacious witnesses and biased experts. This travesty of justice began in the winter of 1908-09 with the Glasgow police force’s hurried, ad hoc framing of Oscar Slater for the murder of Gilchrist. Next it zipped speedily into the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh for a kangaroo-court prosecution of Slater in early May 1909. Then it slowed to a crawl as it ground through his long imprisonment from 1909 to 1927, during which high government officials repeatedly exerted themselves to ignore or even cover up the failures and evil-doing that ran through the investigation, prosecution, and imprisonment from beginning to end. The second story — a tale of inspiring intelligence, integrity, and courage — is about the long struggle to undo the first story. Its highlights include a noble but unsuccessful attempt by an honest cop to expose the frame-up, a brilliant debunking of the case against Slater by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and, finally, the successful campaign by Doyle and others to free Slater from prison.
Lung phosphatidylcholine transfer in six vertebrate species: Correlations with surfactant parameters

We have examined phosphatidylcholine transfer activity in lung-soluble fractions from six vertebrate species. There is a significant correlation between the amount of phosphatidylcholine transfer activity and both the alveolar surface area and surface active material. This suggested that phosphatidylcholine exchange proteins have a role in the lung surfactant system.
Lambs Form Preferences for Nonnutritive Flavors Paired with Glucose

We studied lambs' preferences for nonnutritive flavors that were paired with a glucose solution. On the 1st d of the experiment, lambs were offered a saccharin solution flavored with either orange or grape. The following day lambs received a glucose solution containing either orange or grape flavor. Lambs that had received grape and saccharin on d 1 received orange and glucose on d 2, and the reverse was true for the remaining lambs. Conditioning lasted 10 d; odd days were like the first and even days like the second. After conditioning, when lambs were offered a choice between orange- or grape-flavored water without sweeteners, lambs chose the flavor that had been paired with glucose. We also tested the initial hedonic response of naive lambs to the flavor of glucose and saccharin solutions. Lambs exhibited no initial preference. Our results indicate that lambs preferred the flavor that was paired with glucose (calories). Furthermore, results of this study suggest that ruminants may not innately recognize specific chemical constituents in foods or select diets based on initial hedonic value. Rather, learning plays a key role in the formation of dietary preference.