cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control-compatible state reduction for Boolean networks

Reduction of gene regulatory networks is a key problem for genomic signal processing, in particular, to overcome the computational limitations to the design of optimal intervention policies for large networks. This paper proposes a greedy procedure to reduce the state space of a Boolean network with perturbation based on the basins of attraction in the network. We study the effects of the reduction on the steady-state mass for attractors and on the intervention performance of a greedy stationary control policy that is also dependent on the basins of attraction.
Characterization of MarR, the repressor of the multiple antibiotic resistance (mar) operon in Escherichia coli.

The marRAB operon is one of two operons in the mar locus of Escherichia coli that are divergently transcribed from a central regulatory region, marO. The marRAB operon, transcribed from marOII, controls intrinsic resistance or susceptibility to multiple antibiotics and is inducible by structurally unrelated compounds such as tetracycline and chloramphenicol (S. P. Cohen, H. Hachler, and S. B. Levy, J. Bacteriol. 175:1484-1492, 1993). To clarify the role of the operon in response to environmental signals, its transcription was studied under different conditions, using a marOII-lacZ transcriptional fusion introduced into the chromosome of wild-type or mar-deleted cells. In wild-type cells, uncoupling agents (such as carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone) and different redox-cycling compounds (e.g., menadione and plumbagin) induced expression from the marOII-lacZ fusion two- to sevenfold. In the mar-deleted strain, LacZ expression from the fusion was 10-fold higher than in wild-type cells. This activity was temperature sensitive (3-fold lower at 42 than at 30 degrees C) and decreased 20-fold with the introduction of the gene for MarR. Structurally different compounds which induce the mar operon in wild-type cells reversed the MarR repression of marOII-lacZ expression. To determine the size of MarR, it was fused to MalE as a MarR fusion protein of 144 amino acids [MarR(144)] or of 125 amino acids (deleted of 19 amino acids at the N terminus) [MarR(125)]. Only the MarR(144) fusion showed repressor ability. The purified MarR(144) fusion, but not the MarR(125) fusion, bound specifically to marO in vitro, as revealed by gel retardation, with an apparent dissociation constant of 5 x 10(-9) M. MarR, therefore, controls expression of the marRAB operon presumably by binding to marO. MarR repression in cells can be reversed by different compounds, facilitating the response of bacteria to multiple environmental stress conditions.
Opposing Wnt pathways orient cell polarity during organogenesis

The orientation of asymmetric cell division contributes to the organization of cells within a tissue or organ. For example, mirror-image symmetry of the C. elegans vulva is achieved by the opposite division orientation of the vulval precursor cells (VPCs) flanking the axis of symmetry. We characterized the molecular mechanisms contributing to this division pattern. Wnts MOM-2 and LIN-44 are expressed at the axis of symmetry and orient the VPCs toward the center. These Wnts act via Fz/LIN-17 and Ryk/LIN-18, which control beta-catenin localization and activate gene transcription. In addition, VPCs on both sides of the axis of symmetry possess a uniform underlying "ground" polarity, established by the instructive activity of Wnt/EGL-20. EGL-20 establishes ground polarity via a novel type of signaling involving the Ror receptor tyrosine kinase CAM-1 and the planar cell polarity component Van Gogh/VANG-1. Thus, tissue polarity is determined by the integration of multiple Wnt pathways.
Task/technology fit and the effectiveness of group support systems: evidence in the context of tasks requiring domain specific knowledge

Research on the effectiveness of group support systems (GSS) technology has begun to explore the "task/technology" fit hypothesis, which suggests and interaction between task type and communication mode. Some limited research employing generic tasks and ad hoc groups has found that GSS-mediated groups perform about the same as their face-to-face counterparts on creative tasks but significantly worse on intellective tasks. This research extends prior work by investigating the task/technology fit hypothesis using groups with a shared history and business oriented idea generation and problem solving tasks. Consistent with the prediction of task technology fit theory, the results revealed a significant disordinal interaction-subjects performed significantly better when communicating face-to-face for the problem solving task and when communicating via the GSS for the idea generation task. Echoing the findings of much prior research, subjects tended to prefer face-to-face communication over GSS mediated communication.
Promoting Special Educator Teacher Retention: A Critical Review of the Literature

This article is a critical review of the literature on special education teacher attrition and retention. The research focused on journal articles from 2004 to present. The results of the study helped define special educator attrition and retention. The major themes present in the findings were job satisfaction, administrative support, induction programs, and mentoring. The literature shows a clear need for comprehensive administrative support to improve job satisfaction and the likelihood a special educator will remain in their job.
Climate and topography control the size and flux of sediment produced on steep mountain slopes

Weathering on mountain slopes converts rock to sediment that erodes into channels and thus provides streams with tools for incision into bedrock. Both the size and flux of sediment from slopes can influence channel incision, making sediment production and erosion central to the interplay of climate and tectonics in landscape evolution. Although erosion rates are commonly measured using cosmogenic nuclides, there has been no complementary way to quantify how sediment size varies across slopes where the sediment is produced. Here we show how this limitation can be overcome using a combination of apatite helium ages and cosmogenic nuclides measured in multiple sizes of stream sediment. We applied the approach to a catchment underlain by granodiorite bedrock on the eastern flanks of the High Sierra, in California. Our results show that higher-elevation slopes, which are steeper, colder, and less vegetated, are producing coarser sediment that erodes faster into the channel network. This suggests that both the size and flux of sediment from slopes to channels are governed by altitudinal variations in climate, vegetation, and topography across the catchment. By quantifying spatial variations in the sizes of sediment produced by weathering, this analysis enables new understanding of sediment supply in feedbacks between climate, tectonics, and mountain landscape evolution.
The Effects of Managements' Incentives and Auditor Characteristics on Financial Statement Users' Earnings Correction Beliefs

This paper reports the results of an experiment examining financial statement users' earnings correction beliefs about the discovery of a quantitatively immaterial earnings misstatement by the auditor. The SEC contends that companies are reluctant to correct such misstatements when the correction would cause earnings to fall below analysts' forecasts. We examine the extent to which financial statement users' earnings correction beliefs are consistent with SEC concerns over two different time periods - before and after the disclosure of the Enron financial scandal. In the Pre Enron sample, we find that users' materiality beliefs exert the strongest influence on their earnings correction beliefs. In contrast, among the Post Enron sample we find that whether the correction will cause the company to miss meeting analysts' forecast has the strongest influence on financial statement users' earnings correction beliefs. Audit firm size and level of non-audit services had little influence on users' earnings correction beliefs.
Immunoreactivities of IL-1β and IL-1R in oviduct of Chinese brown frog (Rana dybowskii) during pre-hibernation and the breeding period

The Chinese brown frog (Rana dybowskii) has one special physiological phenomenon, which is that its oviduct goes through expansion prior to hibernation instead of during the breeding period. In this study, we investigated the localization and expression level of interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and its functional membrane receptor type I (IL1R1) proteins in the oviduct of R. dybowskii during pre-hibernation and the breeding period. There were significant differences in both oviductal weight and pipe diameter, with values markedly higher in pre-hibernation than in the breeding period. Histologically, epithelium cells, glandular cells and tubule lumen were identified in the oviduct during pre-hibernation and the breeding period, while sizes of both cell types are larger in the pre-hibernation than those of the breeding period. IL-1β was immunolocalized in the cytoplasm of epithelial and glandular cells in both periods, whereas IL-1R1 was observed in the membrane of epithelial and glandular cells in the breeding period, whereas only in epithelial cells during pre-hibernation. Consistently, the protein levels of IL-1β and IL-1R1 were higher in pre-hibernation as compared to the breeding period. These results suggested that IL-1β may play an important autocrine or paracrine role in oviductal cell proliferation and differentiation of R. dybowskii.
The Social Security Surplus, the Trust Fund, and the Federal Budget

This report clarifies the economic effects of the social security surplus and the trust fund and addresses misconceptions that have appeared in the public debate. The social security surplus reduces the overall government's debt to the public, thereby providing a fiscal gain to future taxpayers and spending recipients. This effect is diminished to the extent that the social security surplus triggers an offsetting response in the remainder of the budget. The trust fund is an accounting device; it neither amplifies nor negates the fiscal gain provided by the surplus, but merely allocates it within the government. Despite the fiscal gain provided by the surplus, future generations continue to face a severe fiscal burden under the current-law baseline. A larger social security surplus would alleviate this problem by providing a larger fiscal gain.
Cumulative Advantage in the Skill Development of STEM Graduate Students A Mixed-Methods Study

Studies of skill development often describe a process of cumulative advantage, in which small differences in initial skill compound over time, leading to increasing skill gaps between those with an initial advantage and those without. We offer evidence of a similar phenomenon accounting for differential patterns of research skill development in graduate students over an academic year and explore differences in socialization that accompany diverging developmental trajectories. As predicted, quantitative analysis indicated large effect sizes for skill gains after controlling for initial performance levels. Qualitative analyses indicated that students with initial advantages were more likely to report greater demands of independence by their advisors and see more extensive value in research tasks comparable to those assigned their less skilled peers.
Protestant Ethic and Status-Attainment

In the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Max Weber (1958) traced the roots of the modern work ethic to Protestantism. Calvinists, Pietists, and Methodists, he argued, systematized their labor in order to demonstrate true faith through works and thus prove to themselves with certainty that they were among the saved. And like the Calvinists' salvation anxiety, religious discipline intensified the inner-worldly asceticism of Baptists, Mennonites, Quakers, and other sect members (Weber, 1958; see also Weber, 1946). The systematization of their labor in a calling, Weber stated, brought many Protestants occupational success, and economic ascendancy over others. Gerhard Lenski (1961) applied Weber's thesis to contemporary North America. Here too, he reasoned, Protestants' religious teachings and religious community life help to inculcate the work ethic, which contributes to later economic success. Lenski's thesis has fared poorly in empirical tests. Reviews of past research by Greeley (1964) and Bouma (1973) reveal little evidence that Protestants exceed non-Protestants in occupational status, income, educational attainment, or social mobility. Despite many tests, Greeley (1964) has labelled Lenski's thesis "not proven," and this judgement still holds true. Perhaps the lack of proof stems from the incorrectness of the thesis, but from the inadequate research designs employed to test it (see Bouma, 1973). If so, better designed studies would be called for, not the moratorium on Protestant ethic research that Greeley (1964) has suggested. One design problem with the comparisons of Protestant and Catholic status-attainment used in past research is the near impossibility of controlling all the relevant non-religious determinants of the economic position of these socio-religious groups. Glenn and Hyland (1967), for example, have reported that the predicted Protestant-Catholic differences in socioeconomic position existed in North America as recently as the mid-1940's, but the Protestants' advantage was overcome by Catholics because of their more favorable distribution by region and community size. In short, Protestants' religion may well provide them with a socioeconomic advantage, but that advantage is neutralized by other non-religious factors.
An Overview of the Impacts of Eutrophication and Chemical Pollutants on Copepods of the Coastal Zone

During the last three decades, coastal zones around the globe have shown increasing evidence of degradation, primarily due to human activities. Eutrophication resulting from increased nutrient input and chemical pollution (e.g., heavy metals, organochlorine compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) from point and non-point sources are among the most serious threats to the health of coastal marine communities. This article summarizes our understanding of the impacts of eutrophication and chemical pollution on copepods with specific attention to those species that reside in the water column as nauplii, copepodites, and adults. Consideration is also given to the impact of these stressors on copepod resting eggs and the resulting population dynamics of the species. Based on the information available to date, future studies must address the sublethal effects that occur in response to chronic, low-dosage stressors and the impacts of multiple stressors working in concert. While every effort should be made to reduce degradation of marine environments, some evidence exists which suggests that copepods are capable of acclimating/adapting to some stressors, and that population levels may eventually return to prestress levels.
Poly(amido amine) dendrimers in oral delivery

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers have been extensively investigated for oral delivery applications due to their ability to translocate across the gastrointestinal epithelium. In this Review, we highlight recent advances in the evaluation of PAMAM dendrimers as oral drug delivery carriers. Specifically, toxicity, mechanisms of transepithelial transport, models of the intestinal epithelial barrier including isolated human intestinal tissue model, detection of dendrimers, and surface modification are discussed. We also highlight evaluation of various PAMAM dendrimer-drug conjugates for their ability to transport across gastrointestinal epithelium for improved oral bioavailability. In addition, current challenges and future trends for clinical translation of PAMAM dendrimers as carriers for oral delivery are discussed.
The Evidence for Fortune's Conjecture

Euclid's proof that there are infinitely many primes is based on the observation that if En = Pn + 1 is not itself prime (where Pn =P1P2 p Pn is the product of the first n primes), it must still contain a prime factor larger than pn. Little is known about the values of n for which En is prime. In fact, the only known prime values of En occur for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11. When asked by a student whether E,, is prime for infinitely many values of n, George P6lya is reported to have replied, "There are many questions which fools can ask that wise men cannot answer." The anthropologist Reo Fortune (once married to Margaret Mead) conjectured that if Qn is the smallest prime number strictly greater than En, then the difference Fn = QnP is always prime. (This conjecture first appeared in print [2] in 1980, and is discussed further in [3].) To illustrate, E = (2 X 3 X5X .** X 17) + 1= 51051 1, and the next larger prime is Q7= 510529. Sure enough, the difference is F7 = Q7P7 = 510529 510510 = 19, a prime. The sequence (Fn} of "fortunate numbers" begins: 3, 5, 7, 13, 23 ,17, 19, 23, 37, 61, 67, 61,71,47,107,59,61,109,89,103,79,..., and indeed, all the listed numbers are prime. Is this merely a remarkable coincidence? At first glance, most mathematicians are tempted to dismiss this conjecture as "almost certainly false." However, a closer inspection reveals that it is quite likely to be true. Since Q,1 is known to be prime, Fn = Pn cannot be divisible by p 1, p2,. . .,pn. Thus Fn ,> p + I for all n, with equality observed at n= 1,2,3,6,7,8,14,16,17,.... On the other hand, so long as F,<pn2+ Fn must be prime, since the smallest composite number coprime to Pn is pn2+ 1. It is quite unlikely that F,, is ever as large as Pn2+ 1, as we shall now see. Each of the following facts is a consequence of the Prime Number Theorem: (1) pt, nln n as n-oo. n
Unmasking Title IX on its 40th birthday: The operation of women’s voices, women’s spaces, and sporting mythnarratives in the commemorative coverage of Title IX

As society’s storytellers, journalists often draw upon a standard set of archetypal forms to convey all of the day’s news to their readers. This study considers the practice of commemorative sports...
Studies on Variability of B. diphtheriae

Typical cultures of virulent diphtheria bacilli grown in broth containing 10% specific antibacterial serum gave origin to distinct and rather stable variant types differing markedly from the parent strain in colony form, lacking in fermentative properties and in virulence and toxigenicity. Likewise, continued cultivation of typical cultures (at 37°C.) in broth containing 0.1% phenol, of 0.5% lithium chloride or 2.5% pancreatin as well as cultivation in K-medium (Kendall) diluted 1 :3 with physiologic salt solution and cultivation in plain broth at 45°C., gave rise to the development of similar variant types.In some instances transformation from the original characteristic colony type to the variant type occurred suddenly while in other instances certain variations or intermediate changes in colony form with loss of virulence were noted before the appearance of the extreme variant type. The intermediate types probably corresponded to those noted by other observers of bacterial dissociation in B. diphtheria...
Piloting Team Training at Duke University Health System

Good team communication and coordination are critical to the safe delivery of health care. Efforts at training students, clinicians, and support staff in team coordination skills are beginning to be implemented across the country. However, there is limited data validating the effectiveness of such programs or highlighting the features that make one program more effective than another. In this paper we present the results of a pilot project to evaluate a team training program at the Ambulatory Surgery Center in the Duke University Health System. Our experiences suggest that (1) initial data collection regarding team coordination attitudes and skills and (2) close follow-up coordination with the clinical organization to implement applicable practice changes are essential components to a teamwork coordination program.
Microbodies (peroxisomes) in the toad, Bufo marinus. A cytochemical study.

Microbodies (peroxisomes), a group of cytoplasmic organelles enriched in catalase, are demonstrated in the toad, Bufo marinus, by light and electron microscopy by means of a cytochemical staining procedure that demonstrates the peroxidatic activity of catalase with diaminobenzidine (DAB). Amphibian microbodies are similar to those of other classes in their fine structure and localization in hepatocytes and kidney, where they are prominent in the proximal tubular cells. Nucleoids are present only in renal microbodies. In the proximal renal tubule an unusual group of large brown granules are identified as lysosomes by their acid phosphatase, β-glucosaminidase and β-glucuronidase activities.
Hollow Core–Shell Mesoporous TiO2 Spheres for Lithium Ion Storage

Hollow core–shell mesoporous TiO2 spheres have been synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction without surfactant, followed by firing at 500 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) data reveal a mesoporous and nanosize building-block morphology with large surface area. The samples have an average pore size, surface area, and total pore volume of 8 nm, 131 m2/g, and 0.2 cm3/g, respectively. The hollow core–shell mesoporous TiO2 spheres exhibit a high capacity of >200 mAh/g with good cyclability and high rate capability as the mesoporous, nanosize building-block morphology of TiO2 spheres provides good electrical contact, accommodates the strain smoothly, and facilitates facile lithium-ion diffusion.
Generating Strategies for Success: Understanding the Lived Experiences of Native American Adult Learners

Abstract Native Americans are the least likely minority to enroll in public 4-year US institutions and the least likely to graduate from those institutions. Furthermore, being an adult learner, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, presents a unique set of challenges, as adults are often the most time-limited group of the college population. Thus, the confluence of being both a Native American and an adult learner at the university are not yet fully understood. The findings of a qualitative study undertaken by the author which investigated the lived experience of nine Native American adult students, are discussed in this chapter. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight and explicate the tensions, challenges, and barriers that these students faced on their pathway to success in higher education.
A system for change detection and human recognition in voxel space using the Microsoft Kinect sensor

Previously, we put forth a new computer vision system for indoor well-being monitoring of elderly populations based on the use of multiple stereo camera pairs. That approach involves combining the strengths of image space with three dimensional volume element (voxel) space techniques. However, that system is fundamentally limited because it is based on color imagery from visible light cameras. In this article, we extend our prior research and consider a new, inexpensive infrared depth camera device, the Microsoft Kinect. Advantages, such as the ability to operate 24–7 in low-to-no light conditions, and shortcomings are detailed. In addition, we discuss necessary algorithmic extensions to our mixed image and voxel space framework for the Kinect sensor. Experiments are performed in a laboratory designed to resemble an elders living quarter. Vision findings are evaluated using our prior high-level linguistic summarization of human activity work. Preliminary results indicate that the Kinect sensor does indeed work in a wider range of operating conditions and it can produce activity descriptions that match that of a human.
Quantum Monte Carlo with variable spins: Fixed-phase and fixed-node approximations

We study several aspects of the recently introduced fixed-phase spinor diffusion Monte Carlo method, in particular, its relation to the fixed-node method and its potential use as a general approach for electronic structure calculations. We illustrate constructions of spinor-based wave functions with the full space-spin symmetry without assigning up or down spin labels to particular electrons, effectively "complexifying" even ordinary real-valued wave functions for Hamiltonians without spin terms. Interestingly, with proper choice of the simulation parameters and spin variables, such fixed-phase calculations enable one to reach also the fixed-node limit. The fixed-phase approximation has several desirable properties when compared to the fixed-node approximation. The fixed-phase solution provides a straightforward interpretation as the lowest bosonic state in a given effective potential generated by the many-body approximate phase, whereas nodal boundary conditions are defined through less intuitive and complicated hypersurfaces with one dimension less than the original configuration space. In addition, the divergences of the local energy and drift at real wave function nodes are smoothed out to lower dimensionality when the wave function is complexified, thus decreasing the variation of sampled quantities and eliminating artificial nodal domain issues that can occur in the fixed-node formalism. We illustrate some of these properties on calculations of selected first-row systems that recover the fixed-node results with quantitatively similar levels of the corresponding biases. At the same time, the fixed-phase approach opens new possibilities for more general trial wave functions with further opportunities for increasing accuracy in practical calculations.
An Objective Structured Clinical Examination to Assess Pharmacy Resident Performance

Objective: The objective was to utilize an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for assessment of pharmacy residents. Innovation: Post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) and post-graduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residents completing multiple, local residency programs were invited to participate in an OSCE. A total of eight PGY1 residents and one PGY2 resident completed the OSCE. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) residency program goals were aligned for each case, which were originally developed for a fourth-year pharmacy student OSCE. Station design included outpatient and inpatient settings with patient and physician interactions. Median communication and clinical skills scores were evaluated. Critical Analysis: The OSCE allows for assessment of all residents on common scenarios. Pharmacy residents met competency requirements and demonstrated excellent communication skills. The OSCE was able to evaluate both physician-pharmacist communication and patient-pharmacist communication. Baseline performance related to the ASHP goals and objectives was not completed; however, the OSCE could highlight resident strengths and weaknesses in communication and clinical skills. The OSCE could simulate independent practice, may reduce bias, and could provide an evaluation of the resident by a patient. However, the OSCE incurs higher resource utilization, specifically monetary and time, than other assessment methods. Next Steps: The pilot study results provide a beginning for further study of OSCEs for pharmacy residents. Further study should include surveying the residency directors about use of the OSCE, a comparison of performance between the OSCE and preceptor evaluations of residents on ASHP goals and objectives, and an evaluation of OSCE implementation at different time points within the residency. Conflict of Interest We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties Type: Note
High Drinking in the Dark (HDID) mice are sensitive to the effects of some clinically relevant drugs to reduce binge-like drinking

Abstract Background There is a serious public health need for better understanding of alcohol use disorder disease mechanisms and for improved treatments. At this writing, only three drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration as medications to treat alcohol use disorders – disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate. Binge drinking is a form of abusive alcohol drinking defined by the NIAAA as a drinking to blood alcohol levels (BALs) > 0.08% during a period of approximately 2 h. To model genetic risk for binge-like drinking, we have used selective breeding to create a unique animal model, High Drinking in the Dark (HDID) mice. Behavioral characterization of HDID mice has revealed that HDID mice exhibit behavioral impairment after drinking, withdrawal after a single binge-drinking session, and escalate their intake in response to induction of successive cycles of dependence. Notably, HDID mice do not exhibit altered tastant preference or alcohol clearance rates. We therefore asked whether drugs of known clinical relevance could modulate binge-like ethanol drinking in HDID mice, reasoning that this characterization of HDID responses should inform future use of this genetic animal model for screening and development of novel potential therapeutics. Methods We tested the efficacy of acamprosate and naltrexone to reduce binge-like drinking in HDID mice. Additionally, we tested the GABA B receptor agonist, baclofen, based on recent pre-clinical and clinical studies demonstrating that it reduces alcohol drinking. We elected not to include disulfiram due to its more limited clinical usage. Mice were tested after acute doses of drugs in the limited-access Drinking in the Dark (DID) paradigm. Results HDID mice were sensitive to the effects of acamprosate and baclofen, but not naltrexone. Both drugs reduced binge-like drinking. However, naltrexone failed to reduce drinking in HDID mice. Thus, HDID mice may represent a useful model for screening novel compounds.
Participatory action research: working beyond disaster toward prevention

Drawing on qualitative analyses of post-disaster effects on vulnerable rural communities in Pakistan, this paper puts forward a participatory action research stance as a next step or approach toward prevention. This approach stands in contrast to the current post-disaster relief model commonly practiced by many non-government organizations (NGOs). The participatory action research perspective was used to examine the qualitative evidence and provide a framework to effectively work with rural vulnerable communities. Qualitative analyses documented community wisdom and ideas toward prevention which, when potentially partnered with resources offered by NGOs, could dramatically reduce their vulnerability to natural disasters.
Modeling the evolution of microtextured regions during α/β processing using the crystal plasticity finite element method

Abstract Titanium alloy Ti-6242 (Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo) is frequently used in the high-pressure compressor of aero engines. While exhibiting high strength at elevated temperatures, it is susceptible to dwell fatigue at temperatures below ∼473 K due in part to the presence of microtextured regions (MTRs), also known as macrozones. This work investigates the role of forging direction on the mesoscale mechanical response of MTRs. The crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) method was used to simulate large strain compression of MTRs with different initial crystallographic and morphological orientation with respect to the axial direction of the extruded billet. These simulations included cases where the c-axis of neighboring MTRs were (i) both perpendicular, (ii) one at 45° and one perpendicular, and (iii) one parallel and one perpendicular, to the compression direction. The effectiveness of each processing direction on the breakdown of MTRs is inferred through the extent of lattice rotation and the development of internal misorientations within the MTRs. The calculations reveal that case (i) leads to the most effective MTR breakdown but the c-axis remains similarly aligned; the c-axis is more scattered in case (iii) but the extent is limited by the high critical resolved shear stress of the pyramidal slip systems. Under uniaxial compression, competitive slip system activity correlates with positive divergence of reorientation velocity field in Rodrigues’ space as well as efficient breakdown of MTR.
Economic and Regulatory Factors That Affect the Phytoremediation of Groundwater

Many of our natural resources, such as air and water, are considered common goods and, therefore, privately-controlled processes that affect these common goods, such as their extraction, production, and disposal, require state and federal regulation. Many common resources or goods are economically considered to be nonexclusive resources because of the general inability for one entity to claim the resource as being private property that can be excluded from use by other entities. Conversely, those commodities that are exclusive infer property rights, such that a price can be collected for an economic gain from the use of these goods by others.
U.s. military women in world war II

Abstract During World War II, the U.S. military faced a shortage of personnel that forced the services to enlist women. All branches of the armed forces eventually created women's corps, and more than 275,000 women served in these organizations. This article offers an annotated bibliography of U.S. government publications relating to these pioneering women. It serves as a documentary history of World War II's military women as well as a resource for further study. A wide range of print and electronic materials is covered, from official and commemorative histories, to primary source materials such as congressional hearings and recruiting brochures and posters.
Signal Transduction in Microorganisms

In addition to the flow of metabolites and energy that drives the distribution of populations of a wide variety of micro-organisms. These cells respond to specific signals from their environment and from other organisms. The responses allow them to adapt to changing conditions and to generate stable ecological interactions. The stimuli vary enormously and include changes in light, temperature, osmolality, nutrient availability and changes in the presence of adherable surfaces. The organisms generally respond to these changes by modulating their metabolic potential and gene expression. They have mechanisms that allow them to sense the density of members of their own species or in the case of parasites and symbionts of appropriate host organisms. They can adapt by inducing the expression of previously repressed genes and gaining new catalytic capacity, eg the adaptation to anaerobiosis and nitrate utilization (Stewart et al., 1989). In addition, micro-organisms can undergo extensive morphological and physiological change, eg sporulation or lateral flagella formation and they can modify their own environment, for example, by growing in microbial mats to allow for efficient nutrient utilization. How do micro-organisms detect environmental change? How do they integrate environmental information to generate an appropriate response? And how do these mechanisms evolve so that they can be adapted to the ecological strategy of specific organisms?
Advocate as a doctor or advocate as a citizen

If one presents oneself as a physician in the context of activism, one's remarks can be taken not just as the views of a thoughtful citizen but as those of someone who has expertise relevant to the situation.
Suppression of Gi alpha 2 enhances phospholipase C signalling.

G-proteins mediate transmembrane signalling from a populous group of cell-surface receptors to a smaller group of effectors that includes adenylate cyclase, various ion channels and phospholipase C. Stem cells (F9 teratocarcinoma) or rat osteosarcoma 17/2.8 cells in which Gi alpha 2 expression is abolished by antisense RNA display markedly elevated basal inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate accumulation and a potentiated phospholipase C response to stimulatory hormones. Expression of the Q205L mutant of Gi alpha 2, which is constitutively active, was found to block persistently hormonally stimulated phospholipase C activity, implicating Gi alpha 2 as an inhibitory regulator of phospholipase C signalling. Analysis using Gi alpha 2-deficient adipocytes of transgenic mice provided further evidence for a role for Gi alpha 2 in phospholipase C regulation, demonstrating in vivo that loss of Gi alpha 2 elevates basal, and markedly potentiates hormonally stimulated, phospholipase C activity. This report demonstrates for the first time that a single G-protein, G12, can regulate two distinct signalling pathways, i.e. adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C.
Expressing Fuzzy Measure by a Model of Modal Logic: A Discrete Case

It is argued by Resconi et al. (1992, 1993) that propositional modal logic is a convenient and sufficiently broad framework within which various theories of uncertainty can be studied in a unified way. The argument is based upon a demonstration that fuzzy sets and various well-established types of fuzzy measures (or semicontinuous fuzzy measures), such as probability measures, belief measures, plausibility measures, and λ-fuzzy measure (Wang and Klir, 1992), can be constructed within the framework of modal logic.
Rediscovering a German Creole

„Unserdeutsch”, a creole spoken in a former German South Pacific colony, and what is now Papua New Guinea, is being extensively documented and studied by linguists for the first time. There is no time to lose, because after a chequered history the world's only German‐based creole – long ignored – is facing extinction.
Chapter 5 – Phage Display

Phage display is a powerful technique for studying protein–ligand interactions most frequently applied to protein–protein, protein–peptide, and protein–nucleic acids interactions. The genetic code for the protein/peptide of interest is inserted in the genome of a phage and subsequently “displayed” on the surface of the viral particle as a fusion to natural coat protein. Libraries of protein/peptide variants are tested against ligand(s) of interest. Proteins/peptides binding to the specific target are selected by 3–5 rounds of affinity-driven biopanning and subsequently identified by sequencing the genome of the phages displaying them. Phage display is widely used for a selection of proteins/peptides with desired binding properties for the purpose of a broad array of therapeutic, research, and nanotechnology-related applications.
A Possible Role for Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) in Antidepressant Treatment

TRH is a tripeptide which was discovered in the context of hypothalamic-thyroid function but which is now known to be widely distributed throughout the CNS (Jackson, 1982). The majority of TRH in the CNS is extrahypothalamic and its regional concentrations are highly variant (Kubek et al., 1977).
Designing Conservative Sensor Detection Systems With the Scan Statistic Under Emitter Location Uncertainty

When designing a sensor system to detect a target emitter in a region of interest, a fusion rule based on the scan statistic can provide improved detection performance when the emitter is uniformly distributed in the region; however, in many applications, the distribution of the emitter location is unknown. In these cases, a possible approach is to design the system considering a least favorable distribution for the emitter location. It is however difficult to find such a distribution because of the difficulty in computing the probabilities of false alarm $({P_{FA}})$ and detection $({P_D})$ of the scan statistic. To circumvent this difficulty, this paper proposes both lower and upper bounds for ${P_D}$ , and presents a procedure to obtain a tight lower bound. With these bounds and procedure, systems that ensure a minimum ${P_D}$ under a ${P_{FA}}$ constraint can be designed.
Thiazolidinediones: the Forgotten Diabetes Medications.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are the only pharmacologic agents that specifically treat insulin resistance. The beneficial effects of TZDs on the cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance have been well documented. TZD use has been limited because of concern about safety issues and side effects. Recent studies indicate that cardiovascular toxicity with rosiglitazone and increase in bladder cancer with pioglitazone are no longer significant issues. There are new data which show that pioglitazone treatment reduces myocardial infarctions and ischemic strokes. New data concerning TZD-mediated edema, congestive heart failure, and bone fractures improves the clinician’s ability to select patients that will have minimal significant side effects. Thiazolidinediones are now generic and less costly than pharmaceutical company–promoted therapies. Better understanding of the side effects coupled with clear benefits on the components of the insulin resistance syndrome should promote TZD use in treating patients with type 2 diabetes.
The Challenge of Regulatory Excellence

Regulation is a high-stakes enterprise marked by tremendous challenges and relentless public pressure. Regulators are expected to protect the public from harms associated with economic activity and technological change without unduly impeding economic growth or efficiency. Regulators today also face new demands, such as adapting to rapidly changing and complex financial instruments, the emergence of the sharing economy, and the potential hazards of synthetic biology and other innovations. Faced with these challenges, regulators need a lodestar for what constitutes high-quality regulation and guidance on how to improve their organizations’ performance. In the book Achieving Regulatory Excellence, leading regulatory experts across various disciplines seek to provide the guidance regulators so often lack, and to elucidate what it means to be an excellent regulator. This introductory chapter sets the stage for defining regulatory excellence by clarifying regulators’ primary challenges, functions, and ultimate goals. The chapter also emphasizes that even though regulation is widely associated with technical expertise, excellent regulators must also focus on “people excellence” by building an internal culture that fosters and reinforces humility, openness, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to public service.
Mitigation of nivalenol using alcoholic fermentation and magnetic field application.

Abstract This study aimed at evaluating mitigation of nivalenol (NIV) in alcoholic fermentation with magnetic field application (MF). Mitigation was related to both the glutathione (GSH) redox molecule and the enzyme peroxidase (PO), which were synthesized by Saccharomyces cerevisiae US-05. Conditions under evaluation were NIV (0.2 µg mL−1), MF application (35 mT) and simultaneous use of mycotoxin and MF. The GSH content and the PO activity were increased when the culture contained NIV and the alcohol profile was altered after 48 h of fermentation. At the end of the alcoholic fermentation, NIV was mitigated by 56.5%. Therefore, this process is a promising method to reduce contamination by NIV, although the mycotoxin affects the chemical characteristics of the final product.
Pandemics, Protests, and Feminist Politics of Resistance

The article explores the journal's publication of inquiries into social work settings and the role of anticarceral feminisms in enacting and preserving a carceral system in the U S as of 2021 Topics covered include exposing the divides of social work, and strengthening a critical feminist politics of resistance and liberation Also noted is the journal's aim to continuously provide critical feminist scholarship amid the coronavirus pandemic
Contraceptive counseling following in-clinic pregnancy test among women not expecting pregnancy in the next two years: Disparities by service delivery setting and sociodemographic characteristics

Abstract Objective To compare the frequency of the provision of contraceptive counseling at the time of clinical pregnancy test at family planning clinics to other clinical settings among women who wish to avoid pregnancy for the next 2 years or longer. Study design This was a secondary data analysis of the 2011–2017 National Survey of Family Growth. It used logistic regression to estimate the relationship between receiving contraceptive counseling with source of care, age, educational attainment, race/ethnicity, poverty status, marital status, insurance status, and pregnancy history among 1790 women aged 15–44 who received in-clinic pregnancy tests and sought to avoid pregnancy for the next two years or longer. Results Most clinical pregnancy tests were performed by private practices (52%), community health clinics (20%), and other clinical settings (19%); 8% were performed by family planning clinics. Family planning clinics more frequently provided contraceptive counseling with pregnancy tests than other clinical settings (78% at family planning clinics versus 62% at private doctor's offices and 49% at other settings; aOR = 0.45 [0.25, 0.82], and aOR = 0.26 [0.13, 0.52]). Regardless of clinical setting, age, marital status, income, and pregnancy history, women were more likely to receive contraceptive counseling along with in-clinic pregnancy testing if they were Black (aOR = 1.84 [1.17, 2.90]); they were less likely to receive contraceptive counseling following in-clinic pregnancy test if they had educational attainment higher than a high school education (aOR = 0.53 [0.34, 0.82] and aOR = 0.57 [0.33, 0.99]). Conclusion Contraceptive counseling at the time of clinical pregnancy testing for women who wish to avoid pregnancy is more common at family planning clinics, but it varies by education and race. Implications Efforts are needed to ensure that women who wish to avoid pregnancy consistently receive contraceptive counseling when seeking clinical pregnancy testing.
Emergency Department and Ambulatory Care Visits in the First Twelve Months of Coverage Under Medicaid Expansion: A Group-Based Trajectory Analysis.

Study objective More than 17 million people have gained health insurance coverage through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. Few studies have examined heterogeneity within the Medicaid expansion population. We do so based on time-varying patterns of emergency department (ED) and ambulatory care use, and characterize diagnoses associated with ED and ambulatory care visits to evaluate whether certain diagnoses predominate in individual trajectories. Method We used group-based multitrajectory modeling to jointly estimate trajectories of ambulatory care and ED utilization in the first 12 months of enrollment among Pennsylvania Medicaid expansion enrollees from 2015 to 2017. Results Among 601,877 expansion enrollees, we identified 6 distinct groups based on joint trajectories of ED and ambulatory care use. Mean ED use varied across groups from 3.4 to 48.7 visits per 100 enrollees in the first month and between 2.8 and 44.0 visits per 100 enrollees in month 12. Mean ambulatory visit rates varied from 0.0 to 179 visits per 100 enrollees in the first month and from 0.0 to 274 visits in month 12. Rates of ED visits did not change over time, but rates of ambulatory care visits increased by at least 50% among 4 groups during the study period. Groups varied on chronic condition diagnoses, including mental health and substance use disorders, as well as diagnoses associated with ambulatory care visits. Conclusion We found substantial variation in rates of ED and ambulatory care use across empirically defined subgroups of Medicaid expansion enrollees. We also identified heterogeneity among the diagnoses associated with these visits. This data-driven approach may be used to target resources to encourage efficient use of ED services and support engagement with ambulatory care clinicians.
Striving for Improvement in Dialogic Teaching: A Self-Study of the Dialogic Practices in an English Methods Classroom

Five years after an initial self-study on my dialogic teaching practices in a teacher preparation course, I conducted a follow up study to see if I grew as a dialogic teacher in the same class. Thi...