cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rules versus discretion at the Federal Reserve System: On to the second century

Abstract Much of the experience of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, during the institution’s first hundred years, has revolved around controversies that fit squarely within the classical debate over rules versus discretion in economic policymaking. This paper looks back at the major episodes in this history since World War II, including the initial freeing of monetary policy from war-related interest-pegging, the Federal Reserve’s delayed but ultimately successful response to the inflation of the 1970s and early 1980s, the brief experiment with monetary aggregate targets, the extraordinary actions prompted by the 2007-9 financial crisis, and the current tentative exploration of inflation targeting. The paper concludes that the tension between the desire for rule-based policymaking and the practicalities that lead central bankers to preserve discretion in actual policy decisions does not admit of any easy, straightforward solution, and therefore that this tension is likely to persist into the Federal Reserve’s next century too.
A Reviews of: “Towards a Sustainable Information Society: Deconstructing WSIS”

In 2001, The United Nations General Assembly agreed to hold a two-phase World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) whose focus was on “establishing the foundations for an Information society fo...
List Memory in Young Adults with Language Learning Disability.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize the verbal memory limitations of young adults with language learning disability (LLD). Method Sixteen young adults with LLD and 34 age- and education-matched controls with typical language participated in a Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM; Deese, 1959; Roediger & McDermott, 1995) list recall experiment. Participants listened to 12-item word lists that converged on a nonpresented critical item (e.g., rain) semantically (umbrella, drench, weather, hail), phonologically (train, main, ran, wren), or dually in a hybrid list (umbrella, train, drench, main) and recalled words in no particular order. Group comparisons were made on veridical recall (i.e., words that were presented) and false recall of nonpresented critical items. Recall performance was analyzed by list type and list position to examine potential differences in the quality of memorial processes. Results The LLD group produced fewer veridical recalls than the controls. Both groups demonstrated list...
Hope in adults, ages 20-59, with advanced stage cancer.

Objectives:The diagnosis of terminal cancer begins one of the most complex and challenging individual experiences of human life that requires multiple coping responses, one of those being hope. There are few studies that provide descriptions of hope over time for adults, ages 20–59, with advanced stage cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe hope as defined and experienced by young and middle age adults with advanced stage cancer.Methods:This descriptive, longitudinal qualitative research study interviewed 12 hopeful adults with advanced stage cancer once a month for 3 months.Results:By definition, this population exhibited high levels of hope at study entry. Hope scores did not change overtime. Four qualities associated with high levels of hope included: reliance on strong spiritual beliefs, maintenance of positive attitudes, accommodation of cancer symptoms, and the presence of supportive resource people. The emphasis or importance of each quality and specific hope related goals were determined and defined individually. Hope goals varied in degree of expectancy and concreteness and require reassessment as conditions change.Significances of results:By identifying an individual's hope goals, palliative care clinicians can then plan and implement interventions to move toward that hope goal.
Development of uncoupling between D1- and D2-mediated motor behavior in rats depleted of dopamine as neonates

The D1-and D2-mediation of stimulated motor behavior was studied in pups (Days 10–11) and weanlings (Days 20–21) that had been depleted of dopamine (DA) on postnatal Day 3. Administration of the D1-like agonist SKF 38393 (30.0 mg/kg) or the D2-like agonist quinpirole (3.0 mg/kg) increased the incidence of sniffing and locomotion in intact and DA-depleted animals tested at either age. However, the ability of selective DA antagonists to reduce these stimulated responses interacted with both the depletion and the age at the time of testing. When tested as pups, both the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 (0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg) and the D2 antagonist clebopride (10.0 mg/kg) suppresed the behaviors induced by either class of DA agonist. When tested as weanlings, intact animals exhibited the profile of pups (i.e., either class antagonist blocked each agonist). In DA-depleted weanlings, however, only the D1 antagonist blocked the D1 agonist-induced responses and only the D2 antagonist blocked the D2 agonist-induced responses. These data demonstrate that the interactions between D1 and D2 receptors in the expression of stimulated motor behaviors are altered following DA depletions in neonates. Moreover, this change in receptor function occurs sometime between 7 and 13 days after the DA depletion.©1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
IV threshold cointegration tests and the Taylor rule

The usual cointegration tests often entail nuisance parameters that hinder precise inference. This problem is even more pronounced in a nonlinear threshold framework when stationary covariates are included. In this paper, we propose new threshold cointegration tests based on instrumental variables estimation. The newly suggested IV threshold cointegration tests have standard distributions that do not depend on any stationary covariates. These desirable properties allow us to formally test for threshold cointegration in a nonlinear Taylor rule. We perform this analysis using real-time U.S. data for several sample periods from 1970 to 2005. In contrast to the linear model, we find strong evidence of cointegration in a nonlinear Taylor rule with threshold effects. Overall, we find that the Federal Reserve is far more policy active when inflation is high than when inflation is low. In addition, we reaffirm the notion that the response to counteract high inflation was weakest in the 1970s and strongest in the Greenspan era.
Space-time-frequency coded OFDM over frequency-selective fading channels

This paper proposes novel space-time-frequency (STF) coding for multi-antenna orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) transmissions over frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels. Incorporating subchannel grouping and choosing appropriate system parameters, we first convert our system into a set of group STF (GSTF) systems. This enables simplification of STF coding within each GSTF system. We derive design criteria for STF coding and exploit existing ST coding techniques to construct both STF block and trellis codes. The resulting codes are shown to be capable of achieving maximum diversity and coding gains, while affording low-complexity decoding. The performance merits of our design are confirmed by corroborating simulations and compared with existing alternatives.
Environmental estrogens impact primate brain

In the early 1990s, a series of papers from Bruce McEwen's laboratory demonstrating that estrogen (i.e., estradiol) increased spine and axospinous synapse number in hippocampus profoundly altered our view of both synaptic plasticity and estrogen's role in nonreproductive brain functions such as learning and memory (1). “Axospinous synapses” are excitatory synapses on the spines of cortical pyramidal cells mediated by glutamate. These synapses represent the major site of excitatory transmission in cortical circuits and are modified in the context of learning and memory (2).
Total sequence decomposition distinguishes functional modules, "molegos" in apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases

Total sequence decomposition, using the web-based MASIA tool, identifies areas of conservation in aligned protein sequences. By structurally annotating these motifs, the sequence can be parsed into individual building blocks, molecular legos ("molegos"), that can eventually be related to function. Here, the approach is applied to the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE) DNA repair proteins, essential enzymes that have been highly conserved throughout evolution. The APEs, DNase-1 and inositol 5'-polyphosphate phosphatases (IPP) form a superfamily that catalyze metal ion based phosphorolysis, but recognize different substrates. MASIA decomposition of APE yielded 12 sequence motifs, 10 of which are also structurally conserved within the family and are designated as molegos. The 12 motifs include all the residues known to be essential for DNA cleavage by APE. Five of these molegos are sequentially and structurally conserved in DNase-1 and the IPP family. Correcting the sequence alignment to match the residues at the ends of two of the molegos that are absolutely conserved in each of the three families greatly improved the local structural alignment of APEs, DNase-1 and synaptojanin. Comparing substrate/product binding of molegos common to DNase-1 showed that those distinctive for APEs are not directly involved in cleavage, but establish protein-DNA interactions 3' to the abasic site. These additional bonds enhance both specific binding to damaged DNA and the processivity of APE1. A modular approach can improve structurally predictive alignments of homologous proteins with low sequence identity and reveal residues peripheral to the traditional "active site" that control the specificity of enzymatic activity.
Roles of Ca2+, inositol trisphosphate and cyclic ADP-ribose in mediating intercellular Ca2+ signaling in sheep lens cells

To further characterize how gap junction-dependent Ca2+ waves propagate between sheep lens cells, we examined the possible roles of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), Ca2+ and cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) in mediating intercellular Ca2+ waves. Second messengers were microinjected into a single cell in a monolayer of sheep lens cells while monitoring cytosolic Ca2+ with fura-2 and fluorescence microscopy. All three compounds initiated intercellular Ca2+ waves, but more cells responded following the injection of either IP3 or cADPR than responded following the injection of Ca2+. When either IP3 or cADPR was co-injected with the Ca2+ chelator EGTA, cytosolic Ca2+ in the injected cell decreased but cytosolic Ca2+ in the adjacent cells increased, indicating that the intercellular messenger was IP3 or cADPR, rather than Ca2+. The phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 eliminated mechanically initiated intercellular Ca2+ waves, indicating that mechanical initiation probably requires IP3 production. In U73122-treated cells, injected IP3 initiated an intercellular Ca2+ wave in which the number of cells responding increased as the amount of IP3 injected increased, indicating that the distance traveled by the Ca2+ wave was dependent on cell-to-cell diffusion of IP3. In contrast, the ability of cADPR both to increase cytosolic Ca2+ in the injected cell and to initiate intercellular Ca2+ waves was greatly attenuated by U73122. In conclusion, Ca2+, IP3 and cADPR can all mediate intercellular Ca2+ waves by passing through gap junction channels, but both IP3 and cADPR are more effective intercellular messengers than Ca2+.
De territorios, límites, bordes y fronteras: una conceptualización para abordar conflictos sociales

Entender el territorio y las dinamicas de territorialidad es un aspecto fundamental para la actividad social. El territorio, despues de todo, es un elemento primordial para nuestra organizacion espacial y social, asi como la politica, economica y cultural. A escala social, senala Smith (1986), la territorialidad es instrumental para la integracion. Esto quiere decir que el territorio es fundamental para definir relaciones sociales. De la forma mas simple, el territorio se refiere a una porcio...
The flipped classroom stimulates greater learning and is a modern 21st century approach to teaching today's undergraduates

Many classrooms in higher education still rely on a transformative approach to teaching where students attend lectures and earn course grades through examination. In the modern age, traditional lectures are argued by some as obsolete and do not address the learning needs of today’s students. An emerging pedagogical approach is the concept of the flipped classroom. The flipped classroom can simply be described as students viewing asynchronous video lectures on their own and then engaging in active learning during scheduled class times. In this study, we examined the flipped classroom teaching environment on student learning gains in an Introduction to Equine Science course. Students (n = 130) were asked to view 7.5 h of recorded lectures divided into 8 learning modules, take online quizzes to enforce lecture viewing, take 3 in-class exams, and prepare to participate in active learning during scheduled class times. Active learning approaches included individual activities, paired activities, informal small groups, and large group activities. When compared to students in the traditional lecture format in earlier years, students in the flipped format scored higher on all 3 exams (P < 0.05), with both formats taught by the same instructor. Analysis of ACT scores demonstrated no intellectual capacity differences between the student populations. To evaluate any gains in critical thinking, flipped format students were asked to take the Cornell Critical Thinking Exam (version X). Scores improved from the pretest (50.8 ± 0.57) to the posttest (54.4 ± 0.58; P < 0.01). In the flipped course, no correlations were found with student performance and interactions with online content. Students were asked in class to evaluate their experiences based on a 5-point Likert scale: 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The flipped classroom was ranked as an enjoyable learning experience with a mean of 4.4 ± 0.10, while students responded positively to other pointed questions. In formal course evaluations, flipped format students ranked the following higher (P < 0.05): instructor availability to assist students; encouragement of independent, creative, and critical thinking; and amount learned. Overall, the flipped classroom proved to be a positive learning experience for students. As the classroom continues to modernize, pedagogical approaches such as the flipped classroom should be considered for many lecture-style courses taught in the animal sciences.
Sugar alcohols. XXIX. Sorbitan polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters and polyoxyethylene monostearate and respiration of kidney.

SummaryIn kidney slices the addition of Myrj 52, and Tweens 20, 60, 80 and 81, do not significantly interfere with the oxygen uptake of kidney tissue as determined by the Warburg technic.
Managing Water in the Tennessee Valley in the Post-War Period

World War II brought many changes to the Tennessee Valley region, including the rapid transformation of the Tennessee River into a series of slack water lakes.3 That transformation had a profound effect on the region in general and TVA's water management programs in particular. On the one hand, the dams and the electricity they generated made the region more attractive to industry. On the other hand, the physical changes to the river system (created by the dams and reservoirs) caused the agency to become increasingly concerned about pollution problems associated with slackwater lakes.
Some Thoughts on Toilets, Transgenders, and the LGBT 'Community'

The North Carolina legislature passed a law that prohibits transgender individuals from using certain public toilets. The legislation has been controversial. Some entertainers have stated they will not hold concerts in North Carolina until the law is repealed. Some corporations have been critical of the law, and at least one corporation has decided not to open a facility in North Carolina because of the law. This article examines the issue of the use of public toilets by transgenders and applies logic and ethical theory to arrive at a resolution of the problem that does not involve the violation of anyone’s rights.
Empirical evaluation of J-turn intersection performance: analysis of conflict measures and crashes

Most crashes on high-speed rural expressways occur at intersections with minor roads. Through and left-turn movements on minor roads are especially susceptible. One low-cost alternative for improving safety of at-grade intersections on such expressways is the J-turn. This study evaluated the effectiveness of unsignalized J-turn intersection design in Missouri with field studies, crash analysis, and traffic conflict analysis. Field studies used detailed video-derived data at a J-turn site and a control site. Crash analysis included an empirical Bayes before–after safety evaluation of five J-turn sites. The empirical Bayes analysis found that the J-turn produced a 31.2% reduction in crash frequency for all crashes and a 63.8% reduction in crash frequency for injury and fatal crashes. Annual disabling injury crashes decreased by 91.6%, and minor injury crashes decreased by 67.9%. Annual right-angle crashes decreased from 8.6 to 0.8, a 90.2% reduction. No left-turn, right-angle crashes were reported after ins...
Survey on HIV/AIDS-related Knowledge,Behavior,Infection and Influencing Factors Among Myanmese Wives Married with Chinese Men,Longling County,2011

Objective To understand the knowledge,behaviors,the prevalence of HIV infection among wives who are married with Chinese men and related risk factors in Longling county,Yunnan.province,so as to provide the basis for the targeted prevention and treatment strategies. Methods Cross-sectional surveys and blood test were conducted among Myanmese wives in Longling county,2011. Results A total of 845subjects were surveyed,and the overall awareness of AIDS Knowledge was 59.05%,90.77% of them had sex behaviors with husbands last year,5.87% used condom in the last sex,1.04%always used condom during the last year;0.59%of them had commercial sex and 0.00%used condom in the last commercial sex.A total of 845subjects were tested,the infection rate of HIV and syphilis was 0.70%and0.00%.Univariate analysis of the risk of HIV infection showed that the previous marriage was risk factor,HIV infection of who were married and widowed was higher than others. Conclusion The awareness of AIDS knowledge is low.The infection rate of HIV and syphilis is low.The wives who are married with Chinese men have a high percentage of unsafe sexual behaviors.
Neutrophil Dysfunction Associated with States of Chronic and Recurrent Infection

Infants, children, and young adults who suffer chronic and recurrent bacterial or fungal infection despite adequate numbers of circulating granulocytes and normal or elevated levels of immunoglobulins should be suspected of having fundamental defects in granulocyte functioning. This article considers clinical disorders for which there is evidence for associated defects of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Teaching World Religions Through Their Scriptures

Textbooks on world religions offer a vast amount of factual information that often overwhelms undergraduate students. Because they get lost in detail, the students find it difficult to appropriate the religious traditions into their own experience. Is there a different approach to the religions—one that does not get too bogged down in historical dates or various philosophical movements, yet still remains academically respectable—that might better help them to appreciate the religious traditions? I want to suggest that one possible method might be to study selected key passages from the scriptures of the various religions, in particular their stories (rather than other literary forms). Such stories, whether narratives or parables, exist in the scriptures of all the major world religions. Carefully selected for their transformative and paradigmatic power, these stories easily lead into discussions of doctrines, rituals, ethics, and the other phenomenological dimensions of religion. More importantly, certain basic themes in these stories—desire for the direct experience of God, forgiveness, martyrdom, duty, balance of self-nature-society, and self-forgetfulness, for example—transcend their formulation in any one specific world religion. Student awareness of these and other archetypal themes is a healthy step in appropriating the cultural and spiritual life of their own religious traditions.
Abstract 5262: Specific mtDNA variants and colorectal adenopolyps

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA The clinical frequency of colorectal cancer occurrence increase in adenomas with a predominant villous histopathology: tubular (5%), tubulovillous (22%) and villous (40%). Adenoma may develop throughout the gastrointerestinal tract with coarse lobulations formed by branching tubular glands whose lumens open on the surface which are rare in most patient gastrointerestinal tract areas other than the colorectum. The adenoma-carcinoma sequence is clinically associated in patients with polyposis and ulcerative colitis since their predilection for developing carcinoma in adenomatous epithelium is greatly increased. This study focused on COX, ATPase, rRNA, Cytb and ND genes of the mitochondrial genome that have been associated as modifying risks of cancer. Using PCR-based sequence and High resolution restriction endonuclease, we investigated the potential role of mtDNA alterations in colorectal adenopolyps (Tubular, Tubulovillous, and Villous) and carcinoma. Fifty-eight primary tissues of colorectal adenopolyps, carcinoma and their matched normal controls were used in this study. Twenty-two variants were observed and most of these variants were germline and homoplasmic transitions. Unreported germline variants Cytb-A14782T (90%) and MT-ATPase 8 A9169C (75%) were associated with tubular adenomas. Also, MT-ATPase 6- variant T8994A (85%) was associated with tubulovillous adenomas. Moreover, in the highly conservative region of rRNA, variant T1738C was found in colorectal carcinoma only. Results suggest that some specific mtDNA variants may exert their effects on colorectal adenopolyps to gain a proliferative advantage in patients bearing CRC. Citation Format: LaShanale M. Wallace, Sharifeh Mehrabi, Xuebiao Yao, Felix O. Aikhionbare. Specific mtDNA variants and colorectal adenopolyps. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5262. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5262
A call for a standardized definition of perforated appendicitis

Abstract Background Abscess rates have been reported to be as low as 1% and as high as 50% following perforated appendicitis (PA). This range may be because of lack of universal definition for PA. An evidence-based definition (EBD) is crucial for accurate wound classification, risk-stratification, and subsequent process optimization. ACS NSQIP-Pediatric guidelines do not specify a definition of PA. We hypothesize that reported postoperative abscess rates underrepresent true incidence, as they may include low-risk cases in final calculations. Methods Local institutional records of PA patients were reviewed to calculate the postoperative abscess rate. The ACS NSQIP-Pediatric participant use file (PUF) was used to determine cross-institutional postoperative abscess rates. A PubMed literature review was performed to identify trials reporting PA abscess rates, and definitions and rates were recorded. Results 20.9% of our patients with PA developed a postoperative abscess. The ACS NSQIP-Pediatric abscess rate was significantly lower (7.61%, p Conclusions A standard EBD of perforation leads to lower variability in reported postoperative abscess rates following PA. Nonstandard definitions may be significantly altering the aggregate rate of postoperative abscess formation. We advocate for adoption of a standard definition by all institutions participating in ACS NSQIP-Pediatric data submission. Level of evidence III.
Behind closed doors

AbstractThis Personal View about feedback culture is based on our personal experiences as internal medicine chief residents with attendings, residents, and interns who came into our office to discuss concerns about team members. Our unique perspective as chief residents revealed a tendency amongst physicians at all levels of training to first raise these concerns behind closed doors, instead of with the learner directly. We highlight the need to shift feedback culture in medical training away from this practice towards a clinical “micro-coaching” approach.
Occurrence of 3-monochloropropanediol esters and glycidyl esters in commercial infant formulas in the United States

ABSTRACTThis work presents occurrence data for fatty acid esters of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) and glycidol in 98 infant formula samples purchased in the United States. These contaminants are considered potentially carcinogenic and/or genotoxic, making their presence in refined oils and foods a potential health risk. Recently, attention has focused on methodology to quantify MCPD and glycidyl esters in infant formula for risk-assessment purposes. Occurrence data for 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters were produced using a procedure for extracting fat from infant formula and an LC-MS/MS method for analysing fat extracts for intact esters. Infant formulas were produced by seven manufacturers, five of which use palm oil and/or palm olein in their formulations. In formulas containing palm/palm olein, concentrations for bound 3-MCPD and glycidol ranged from 0.021 to 0.92 mg kg–1 (ppm) and from < LOQ to 0.40 mg kg–1 (ppm), respectively. Formulas not containing palm/palm olein, bound 3-MCPD and glycidol concentra...
Internet-Based Teleoperation of Carts Considering Effects of Time Delay via Continuous Pole Placement

A new control design for teleoperation considering time delay is presented. Unlike existing methods for communication delays, the design presented here identifies and continuously moves the rightmost eigenvalues to desired positions. Signal transmission through the Internet using protocols (e.g., UDP) introduces time delays into the system. The time delays cause instability as the system is forced to make use of past information rather than the present in determining the output one agent sends to another agent. The proposed method controls rightmost eigenvalue in infinite spectrum such that the command signal to the cart ensures a sustained stabilized system. Experimental results are presented to validate the design method.
Gas Turbine Design, Preliminary Considerations

The objective of this chapter is to introduce novice engineers and students of turbomachinery design course to the fundamentals of gas turbine design.
Anti-logic or common sense that can hinder machine’s energy performance: Energy and comfort control models based on artificial intelligence responding to abnormal indoor environments

Abstract In spite of the remarkable development of technology, most studies for building energy controls to evaluate or estimate the energy performance have not accurately reflected actual building’s energy consumption patterns. For this issue, several techniques, such as simulation and calibration, comprehensive survey system, smart metering, and commissioning, have been attempted. However, in most studies, some factors in thermal systems derived from occupant behavior were perceived as fixed objects, and the factors were converted into simple numbers as parts of inputs into simulation templates. There was lack of studies on considerations that unpredictable responses derived from human anti-logic or common sense could deteriorate energy efficiency in theoretical analyses even though the systems were properly operated. This research proposes integrated energy supply models based on artificial intelligence responding to anti-logic or common sense that can reduce machine’s energy saving effects. By use of design scenarios assuming some unusual situations, a decision making model determines the extent to which the cause of the abnormal situations are associated with the occupant behavior. After the five-step phases in the decision making model, the actual outputs of the energy supply model for the buildings are determined, and the reciprocal communication between the thermal and decision making models mitigates thermal dissatisfaction and energy inefficiency. Comparative analysis describes the decision making model’s effectiveness that it improves thermal comfort levels by about 2.5% for an office building and about 10.2% for residential buildings, and that it reduces annual energy consumption by about 17.4% for an office building and about 25.7% for residential buildings. As a consequence, the integrated energy control model has advantages that it noticeably improves thermal comfort and energy efficiency, and that it properly respond to abnormal and abrupt indoor situations derived from human anti-logic or common sense.
Gendered Representations of Apartheid: The Women’s Jail Museum at Constitution Hill

This article examines the ways in which women are represented and remembered at The Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill museum, a former women’s jail that was used to incarcerate women during apartheid in Johannesburg, South Africa. Based on fieldwork at the museum, this study examines how the memory of the former prisoners and of the apartheid regime is shaped and narrated at this site. Situating our analysis within the context of the collective memory of apartheid, we examine how the museum uses artifacts and objects to depict both the specific forms of gendered dehumanization that women experienced at the jail, as well as their journeys to incarceration as a result of discriminatory apartheid laws. We also examine the absence of torture memory and references to hierarchical structures and interactions within the jail itself, noting that these were important dynamics of prison life that are not represented in the museum. This research presents a content and visual analysis of how the use of images and artifacts may illuminate and/or silence specific memories of degradation and humiliation in a museum space. Key Words: Collective Memory, Museums, Representation, South Africa, Apartheid Memorialization, Gender and Memorialization
Triple-Mode, Hybrid-Storage, Energy Harvesting Power Management Unit: Achieving High Efficiency Against Harvesting and Load Power Variabilities

This paper presents a triple-mode, hybrid storage, energy-harvesting power management unit (EH PMU) that interfaces a photovoltaic cell, a regulated load, and a rechargeable battery. The objective is to maximize the end-to-end conversion efficiency of the EH PMU against temporal mismatch and variabilities of harvesting and load power. To minimize the involvement (charging or discharging) of a battery in the voltage conversion process, the proposed hybrid energy storage employs both battery and capacitor, which increases transient energy buffering capability and reduces the overall power conversion loss. Measurement results with 65-nm test chips show that the proposed EH PMU can achieve up to 2.2 $\times $ higher end-to-end conversion efficiency than the conventional dual-mode architectures under testing cases emulating realistic load and harvesting power variabilities. We also devised a framework for the system design to guide capacitor sizing, buffering voltage range selection, and end-to-end efficiency tradeoffs.
Reconstruction of a skull base defect after endoscopic endonasal resection of a pituitary adenoma: Sphenoid mucosal flaps.

Abstract This report describes a bilateral sphenoid sinus mucosal flap for the repair of a sellar floor defect and CSF leak following endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. The key advantage of this technique is enabling the sphenoid mucosal flaps to remain vascularized, which reduces postoperative complications including CSF leakage, recurrent sinusitis, meningitis, encephalitis and pneumocephalus. The use of this technique is a viable and possibly favorable alternative to free grafts in the reconstruction of small to medium sized sellar defects with low flow or absent CSF leaks base surgery.
Glutamine Metabolism in Cancer

Metabolism is the fundamental process for all cellular functions. For decades, there has been growing evidence with regard to the relationship between metabolism and malignant cell proliferation. Unlike normal differentiated cells, however, cancer cells have reprogrammed metabolisms in order to fulfill their energy requirements. These cells display crucial modifications in many metabolic pathways, including glucose transport, glutaminolysis which includes the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, the electron transport chain (ETC), and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) [1]. Since the discovery of the Warburg effect, it has been shown that the metabolism of cancer cells plays a critical role in cancer survival and growth. More recent research suggests that the involvement of glutamine in cancer metabolism is more significant than previously thought. Glutamine, a non essential amino acid with an amine functional group, is the most abundant amino acid circulating in the bloodstream [2]. This chapter will discuss the characteristic features of glutamine metabolism in cancers.
Professional Issues in Cognitive and Behavioral Practice for School Psychologists

Much has been written about the practice of child CBT in private practice and other clinical settings, yet important distinctions become apparent when looking toward the implementation of these techniques in school settings. For example, the school psychologist must incorporate into treatment planning systemic factors such as the involvement of multiple personnel (e.g., classroom and special area teachers), scheduling restrictions, and the specific details of service delivery (e.g., who will provide the treatment and in what capacity). Further, consideration must be given to deciding which individuals will provide the service (e.g., a service planned by a school psychologist might be implemented by an appropriately trained classroom teacher). It is also important to balance the relationships among the individuals involved in the child’s progress (see Mychailyszyn, Chap. 14, this volume, for a discussion). Balancing relationships involves meeting children’s needs while working within the constraints of the instructional program and working collaboratively with teachers and the other school personnel involved in delivering the intervention. This all takes place while working to ensure that treatment integrity is maintained. This chapter will examine professional issues that the psychologist must be mindful of when implementing these practices in schools, including the need for appropriate supervision, gaining entry and bringing a program of cognitive and behavioral therapies/interventions into schools, and special issues in the implementation of school-based CBT group therapy, a commonly utilized treatment modality.
Screening for Peripheral Artery Disease and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment with the Ankle-Brachial Index.

Case study: A 65-year-old man presents to your office for a pre-employment physical examination. He has no concerning symptoms; his medical history reveals type 2 diabetes mellitus, which he controls through diet. He works in an office and rides his bicycle to work. He is single, an occasional smoker, and drinks alcohol socially. His family history is positive for type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Nanoliter Fluid Handling for Microbiology Via Levitated Magnetic Microrobots

Microbiological environments are a clear application area for microscale robotics, but targeted delivery of biochemical cues to particular cells or tissues remains a significant challenge. This challenge is compounded by the sheer number of cells that compose tissues. Multirobot system development has been limited due to challenges in discrete operation of several robots in a confined space. Here, we demonstrate the use of multiple diamagnetically levitated robots for delivering biochemicals dissolved in liquid in a manner compatible with light microscopy. Specifically, we show loading, transport, and diffusive release of fluorescent molecules in hydrogels with microscale precision, as well as induction of synthetically engineered bacterial cells with signaling molecules. This platform holds potential for impact and utility in fields, such as developmental biology, tissue engineering, and synthetic biology.
Endocrine and metabolic response to muscarinic stimulation and inhibition in the ruminant: effects of slaframine.

The influence of slaframine (SF), a parasympathomimetic compound isolated from the fungus Rizoctonia leguminicola, on circulating metabolic hormone concentrations was investigated in goats. In Exp. 1, SF was administered i.v. at 0 (CONT), 50 (LSF), 100 (MSF), or 150 (HSF) microgram/kg.75 BW in four mature Spanish-cross does (average BW 36 +/- 7 kg) fitted with indwelling jugular vein catheters in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Plasma glucose peaked (P .10) by SF. In Exp. 2, four mature Spanish-cross wethers (average BW 27 +/- 2 kg) fitted with jugular vein catheters were administered SF (0 and 114 micrograms/kg.75 BW) and 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4DAMP; 0 and 258 micrograms/kg.75 BW), a M3-muscarinic receptor antagonist, i.v. in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. With SF, glucose peaked (P < .06) at 60 min and insulin peaked (P < .05) at 180 min. Plasma triiodothyronine levels were maintained (P < .05) with SF but declined with other treatments. Plasma NEFA and thyroxine concentrations remained unchanged regardless of treatment. Slaframine administration induced hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in goats; however, these changes were blocked by preadministration of isomolar quantities of the M3-muscarinic receptor antagonist, 4DAMP.
Detection of Labile Conformations of Elastin's Prolines by Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier Transform Infrared Techniques.

Samples of native elastin are prepared with high levels of enrichment at its prolines, which are believed to play a major role in the elasticity of elastin. Major and minor populations of trans and...
Racism, Mental Health, Healthcare Provider Trust, and Medication Adherence Among Black Patients in Safety-Net Primary Care

There has been a growing research focus on social determinants to health disparities in general and medication adherence more specifically in low-income Black populations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether prior experiences of racism among Black patients in safety-net primary care indirectly predicts poor medication adherence through increased mental health symptoms and low healthcare provider trust. Two competing models were run whereby mental health leads to provider trust or provider trust leads to mental health in this multiple mediational chain. A group of 134 Black patients (76 men, average age 45.39 years) in a safety-net primary care clinic completed measures of these constructs. Results revealed that in the first model, mental health mediated the relationship between racism and provider trust, and provider trust mediated the relationship between mental health and medication adherence. All paths within this model were statistically significant, except the path between provider trust and medication adherence which approached significance. In the second model, provider trust and mental health significantly mediated the relationship between racism and medication adherence, and all direct and indirect paths were statistically significant, though the path between provider trust and medication adherence was omitted. These results may serve as catalysts to assess and attempt to mitigate specific minority-based stressors and associated outcomes within safety-net primary care settings.
Predictors of response to upfront bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) in multiple myeloma.

e20507Background: Achievement of response to less than very good partial response (VGPR) after initial induction is an adverse prognostic factor for progression free survival (PFS) in multiple myel...
Redox-controlled chalcogen-bonding at tellurium: impact on Lewis acidity and chloride anion transport properties.

Our interests in the chemistry of atypical main group Lewis acids have led us to devise strategies that augment the affinity of chalcogen-bond donors for anionic guests. In this study, we describe the oxidative methylation of diaryltellurides as one such strategy along with its application to the synthesis of [Mes(C6F5)TeMe]+ and [(C6F5)2TeMe]+ starting from Mes(C6F5)Te and (C6F5)2Te, respectively. These new telluronium cations have been evaluated for their ability to complex and transport chloride anions across phospholipid bilayers. These studies show that, when compared to their neutral Te(II) precursors, these Te(IV) cations display both higher Lewis acidity and transport activity. The positive attributes of these telluronium cations, which originate from a lowering of the tellurium-centered σ* orbitals and a deepening of the associated σ-holes, demonstrate that the redox state of the main group element provides a convenient handle over its chalcogen-bonding properties.
Fatigue life estimation with censored data

Abstract Estimation of fatigue life data which includes right censoring is challenging. The primary purpose of this paper is to incorporate right censoring into a phenomenological cumulative distribution function for fatigue life that includes a kernel that incorporates time dependent loading, mechanical breakdown, and statistical behavior. Because of its generality, the model is applicable for a variety of loading conditions. Specifically, it is a combination of traditional stress–life methods with a Weibull distribution function. The proposed distribution incorporates stress dependencies in the distribution parameters. The proposed methodology is validated using fatigue data for welded butt–joints.
Primary Stroke and Failure-to-Rescue Following Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Objective To characterize the impact, on failure to rescue, of cerebrovascular accident as a first postoperative complication after thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (TEVAR). Design A retrospective cohort study using of National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participants User File. Setting United States hospitals taking part in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Participants Patients >18 years, who underwent TEVAR for nonruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm between 2005 and 2018, and developed one or more major postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Out of 3,937 patients who underwent TEVAR for nonruptured thoracic aneurysm, 1,256 (31.9%) developed major postoperative complications (stroke incidence: 11.4% [143/1256]). In adults Conclusion Younger patients who developed stroke were up to ten times more likely to die, relative to patients who developed other major complications. Survival was substantially reduced when stroke was the primary complication. The authors’ findings imply that to maximize the survival of patients undergoing TEVAR, efforts may be needed to predict and prevent stroke occurrence as a primary postoperative morbidity event.
Adverse Effect of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors on Gonadal Development of Prepubertal Male Rats and Therapeutic Effect of Bushen Tianjing Recipe on It

Objective To verify the antagonistic effect of Bushen Tianjing Recipe( BTR) on environmental endocrine disruptors( EEDs) induced gonadal dysgenesis( GD) Sprague-Dawley( SD) male rat model. Methods Totally 70 3-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups,i. e.,the control group( fed with corn oil),the model A group [di-2-ethylhexylphthalate( DEHP) 500 mg / kg],the CM A group( fed with DEHP 500 mg / kg + BTR 40 mL / kg),the exposed group B( fed with CYP 80 mg / kg),the CM B group( fed with CYP 80 mg / kg + BTR 40 mL / kg),the model C group [fed with DEHP 500 mg / kg + CYP 80 mL / kg],the CM C group( DEHP 500 mg / kg + CYP 80 mg / kg + BTR40 mL / kg),respectively,10 in each group. All were administered with corresponding medication by gastrogavage,once daily,for total 30 days. Rats were killed 24 h after the last administration,and their body weight and wet testis weight were weighed. The coefficient of testis was calculated. The serum testosterone( T) level was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The histopathologic tissue was prepared. The ultrastructural changes of genital cells were observed by electron microscope. Results Compared with the control group,there was no statistical difference in the body weight increase amongall groups(P 0. 05). The time of testicular descent and preputial separation were significantly delayed in each exposed group(P 0. 01). In the exposed group A and the exposed group C,the wet weight of the testes was reduced and serum T level decreased(P 0. 01). The coefficient of testis significantly decreased in the exposed group A(P 0. 01). Compared with corresponding model group,the time of testicular descent and preputial separation were significantly fore-laid in each corresponding CM group(P 0. 01). The weight of the testes,the coefficient of testis,and the serum T level increased in the CM A group(P 0. 01). The serum T level obviously increased in the CM B group(P 0. 05). Conclusions The GD rat model was successfully duplicated by using DEHP. EEDs were proved to have significant anti-androgen activities. BTR was verified to have significant antagonistic to its anti-androgen effect.
Role of Social Identity in Shaping Online Review Behavior: Evidence from Natural Experiment

Our study examines how social identification (i.e., identity-based group attachment) can affect the valence and helpfulness of online reviews in the context of credence services. Rooting our hypotheses in social identity theory we compare online review behavior across three groups of intrinsically motivated reviewers. To do so, we consider a natural experiment setting across two leading review platforms (Google and Facebook). Constructing a unique panel data set of online reviews for a matched set of service providers across two platforms, we estimate a difference-in-difference (DID) model to assess the impact of identity-based group attachment induced by non-monetary status incentives. Implementing socially-oriented incentives is a double-edged sword. Our findings indicate that while strong identity-based attachment is pivotal for member participation and retention in knowledge generation communities, when it comes to product reviews in particular, a more general identity-based approach driven by affect generalization may result in more objective and helpful reviews.
Gray Markets, A Product of Demand Uncertainty and Excess Inventory.

Author(s): Ahmadi, R.; Carr, S. M.; Dasu, S. | Abstract: Diverting large quantities of goods from authorized distribution channels to unauthorized or â��gray marketâ�� channels, albeit legal, significantly affects both firms and consumers due to effects on price, revenue, service and warranty availability, and product availability. In this paper we consider mechanisms by which the uncertainty surrounding inventory ordering decisions drives gray markets. We start with a minimal stochastic supply chain model composed of a producer and a retailer; then we restructure the model to add a distributor whereby the distributor and authorized retailer have the option of diverting inventory to a gray market. Our analysis sheds light on three issues: impacts of diversion on the various supply chain participants, strategies producers could use to combat or exploit gray markets, and important considerations for authorized retailers trying to set optimal order quantities in the presence of a gray market. Our analysis yields new insights into the behavior and impact of gray markets, which can inform management strategies and policies for confronting them.