cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tribological Characterization of Plasma-Sprayed CoNiCrAlY-BN Abradable Coatings

The processing conditions, microstructural and tribological characterizations of plasma-sprayed CoNiCrAlY-BN high temperature abradable coatings are reported in this manuscript. Plasma spray torch parameters were varied to produce a set of abradable coatings exhibiting a broad range of porosity levels (34-62%) and superficial Rockwell hardness values (0-78 HR15Y). Abradability tests have been performed using an abradable-seal test rig, capable of simulating operational wear at different rotor speeds and seal incursion rates (SIRs). These tests allowed determining the rubbing forces and quantifying the blade and seal wear characteristics for slow and fast SIRs. Erosion wear performance and ASTM C633 coating adhesion strength test results are also reported. For optimal abradability performance, it is shown that coating hardness needs to be lower than 70 and 50 HR15Y for slow and fast blade incursion rate conditions, respectively. It is shown that the erosion wear performance, as well as, the coating cohesive strength is a function of the coating hardness. The current results allow defining the coating specifications in terms of hardness and porosity for targeted applications.
CO2 Snow Deposition in Antarctica to Curtail Anthropogenic Global Warming

AbstractA scientific plan is presented that proposes the construction of carbon dioxide (CO2) deposition plants in the Antarctic for removing CO2 gas from Earth’s atmosphere. The Antarctic continent offers the best environment on Earth for CO2 deposition at 1 bar of pressure and temperatures closest to that required for terrestrial air CO2 “snow” deposition—133 K. This plan consists of several components, including 1) air chemistry and CO2 snow deposition, 2) the deposition plant and a closed-loop liquid nitrogen refrigeration cycle, 3) the mass storage landfill, 4) power plant requirements, 5) prevention of dry ice sublimation, and 6) disposal (or use) of thermal waste. Calculations demonstrate that this project is worthy of consideration, whereby 446 deposition plants supported by sixteen 1200-MW wind farms can remove 1 billion tons (1012 kg) of carbon (1 GtC) annually (a reduction of 0.5 ppmv), which can be stored in an equivalent “landfill” volume of 2 km × 2 km × 160 m (insulated to prevent dry ice s...
Decreased time constant in hippocampal dentate granule cells in pilocarpine-treated rats with progressive seizure frequencies.

Abstract Glutamate-mediated excitotoxic cell damage has been implicated in epilepsy. Although evidence accumulates for prolonged acute seizures resulting in unequivocal cell damage, whether excitotoxicity is involved in spontaneous seizures in chronic epilepsy is poorly understood. In the present study, a frequency of spontaneous seizures, independent of exogenously applied stimulus, was studied in relation to hippocampal hyperexcitability in the pilocarpine model. A long-term observation (12 h/day for 120 or 280 days) of spontaneous seizures identified an average basic seizure frequency of 0.11 seizures/day ± 0.03 S.E.M. in 30 animals. However, in 1/3 of these animals ( n = 9 ), a seizure frequency significantly increased to 2.57 seizures/day ± 0.25 S.E.M. (ranging from 2–13 seizures/day) in 40–165 days, and this period of high frequency of seizures lasted for 20–95 days. Hippocampal slices were prepared at the end of the observation period for extracellular field responses and whole-cell patch clamp recordings. In slices that were prepared from rats that showed progressive frequencies of seizures, glutamate-mediated excitatory postsynaptic responses were prolonged in hippocampal dentate granule cells (DGCs) from which multiple spikes were generated in higher probability. Average time constant was shorter in these cells (14.2 ms ± 2.1 S.E.M., P ) compared with normal DGCs in control animals (21.2 ms ± 3.7 S.E.M.), suggesting that cell structural diminution possibly occurred during the recurrence of spontaneous seizures. It is suggested that on-going seizure activities could progress in frequency during the recurrence of spontaneous seizures, and neuronal degeneration might be accompanied with increasing frequencies of spontaneous seizures that were mediated by the increased activation of glutamate receptors.
'If you had been with us': mainstream press and citizen journalists jockey for authority over the collective memory of Hurricane Katrina

Using the anniversary coverage of Hurricane Katrina, this textual analysis explores how reporters and citizen journalists considered themselves and each other in their different versions of a specific news narrative. This research indicates that online citizen writers undermined the mainstream news story by offering an often contrary version of Hurricane Katrina. Their collective memory focused on personal experience, asserting their right to tell this societal story. By inserting themselves into the news production process of collective memory formation, these citizens renegotiated their relationships with journalists and with journalism. In some cases, this resulted in complete role reversals. The findings suggest that new patterns for information flow are being created, renovating the existing institutional power structure involving the press and society. The conclusion of this article suggests that theorists evaluate citizen journalism alongside mainstream journalists' work, for they are now part of t...
Immunoblotting PKC-δ: a cautionary note from the bench

Antibodies that specifically recognize signaling proteins (or individual phosphorylation events at specific residues in proteins of interest) have become important tools in the study of signaling pathways. However, the recognition properties of many commercially available antibodies have not been fully characterized. In the course of studies exploring PKC-δ phosphorylation mechanisms in cardiomyocytes, we have demonstrated that a BD Transduction Laboratories anti-PKC-δ MAb (generally viewed as an anti-PKC-δ protein antibody) recognizes PKC-δ in resting, but not in PMA-treated, cardiomyocytes. The observations that PKC-δ immunoreactivity is preserved when cultures are treated with PMA in the presence of a the PKC inhibitor GF-109203X and that PKC-δ immunoreactivity is restored by in vitro acid phosphatase treatment indicate that the epitope recognized by the BD Transduction Laboratories anti-PKC-δ MAb is masked by phosphorylation. The BD Transduction Laboratories MAb is poorly suited for studies that compa...
Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Pocket Infection Due to a Previously Undescribed Cupriavidus Species

The genus Cupriavidus consists of Gram-negative, nonfermenting bacteria most of which are environmental organisms, though some species have been associated with human disease. We report the recovery and identification of an isolate that represents a previously undescribed species of Cupriavidus from an implantable cardiac defibrillator pocket infection.
Integrating security in a large distributed system

Andrew is a distributed computing environment that is a synthesis of the personal computing and timesharing paradigms. When mature, it is expected to encompass over 5,000 workstations spanning the Carnegie Mellon University campus. This paper examines the security issues that arise in such an environment and describes the mechanisms that have been developed to address them. These mechanisms include the logical and physical separation of servers and clients, support for secure communication at the remote procedure call level, a distributed authentication service, a file-protection scheme that combines access lists with UNIX mode bits, and the use of encryption as a basic building block. The paper also discusses the assumptions underlying security in Andrew and analyzes the vulnerability of the system. Usage experience reveals that resource control, particularly of workstation CPU cycles, is more important than originally anticipated and that the mechanisms available to address this issue are rudimentary.
Nanodiamond macro- and microelectrode array bio-sensor

A thin-film nanodiamond macro-electrode and a microelectrode array (MEA) with SiO 2 film as the insulator, both on a highly doped Silicon substrate were fabricated for biosensing applications. Fe(CN)3−/4− 6 redox couple is used for electrochemical characterization of the MEA using cyclic voltammetry, which gives a sigmoidal response consistent with hemispherical diffusion limited mass transport mechanism. Using the nanodiamond MEA, we were also able to detect different concentrations of Dopamine in Phosphate Buffered Saline (pH 7.4) without any surface functionalization. The cyclic voltammograms show a steady state response and a linear relationship between the limiting current and Dopamine concentration. In contrast, the nanodiamond macro-electrode shows a peak shaped response due to semi-infinite linear diffusion of the analytes. Overall, the nanodiamond MEA has a larger analyte flux and thereby larger current density by virtue of its small area as compared to the macro-electrode making it more sensitive for detection of dopamine and other bio-analytes.
NPTX2 is associated with neoadjuvant therapy response in rectal cancer.

Abstract Background Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) is recommended for locally advanced rectal cancer. Tumor response varies from pathologic complete response (pCR) to no tumor regression. The mechanisms behind CRT resistance remain undefined. In our previously generated complementary DNA microarrays of pretreatment biopsies from rectal cancer patients, neuronal pentraxin 2 ( NPTX2 ) expression discriminated patients with pCR from those with residual tumor. As tumor response is prognostic for survival, we sought to evaluate the clinical relevance of NPTX2 in rectal cancer. Materials and methods Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate NPTX2 messenger RNA expression in individual rectal cancers before CRT. Tumors with NPTX2 expression 50% were defined as NPTX2-high. NPTX2 levels were compared to response to therapy and oncologic outcomes using Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, chi-square, and Mantel–Cox (log-rank) tests, as appropriate. Results Rectal cancers from 40 patients were included. The mean patient age was 56.8 years, and 30% were female. pCR was achieved in eight of 40 patients (20%). In these patients, messenger RNA NPTX2 levels were significantly decreased compared to those with residual cancer (fold change 30.4, P = 0.017). Patients with NPTX2-low tumors ( n = 13) achieved improved response to treatment ( P = 0.012 versus NPXT2-high tumors), with 38.5% and 46.1% of patients achieving complete or moderate response, respectively. Of patients with NPTX2-high tumors ( n = 27), 11.1% and 18.5% achieved complete or moderate response, respectively. No recurrence or death was recorded in patients with NPTX2-low tumors, reflecting more favorable disease-free survival ( P = 0.045). Conclusions Decreased NPTX2 expression in rectal adenocarcinomas is associated with improved response to CRT and improved prognosis. Further studies to validate these results and elucidate the biological role of NPTX2 in rectal cancer are needed.
Money Matters: Currency Relations and Power Politics

Twenty-five years ago, in Sterling and British Policy, Susan Strange (1971) set forth a taxonomy of the essential types of international currencies. By distinguishing among currency types, Strange hoped to get at two important issues: the political (as opposed to economic) circumstances under which people start to use a currency controlled by another state, and the political (again as opposed to economic) consequences of such usage. Her approach was innovative and thoughtful. Her book helped open a new era of scholarship on the relationship between power and wealth in international affairs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Chronic Depression

A significant percentage of patients diagnosed with depression will go on to suffer a chronic form of the illness. Chronic depression is associated with greater symptom severity, psychosocial impairment, health-care utilization costs, incidence of suicide, and inpatient hospitalization treatments. Evidence-based treatments for depression, both psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic, have demonstrated limited effectiveness in individuals with chronic forms of depression. Thus there is a great need for the development and empirical testing of novel treatment strategies. This chapter provides in-depth coverage of two newer forms of psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). For each of these exciting new treatments, a thorough review of the following elements is provided: conceptualization of depression, core principles and techniques, and representative outcome studies. Finally, a case example of a chronically depressed patient is provided in which ACT is used as a psychotherapeutic treatment.
Densities, Viscosities, Refractive Indexes, and Surface Tensions for Mixtures of Ethanol, Benzyl Acetate, and Benzyl Alcohol

Densities, viscosities, refractive indexes, and surface tensions of the ternary system (ethanol + benzyl acetate + benzyl alcohol) at T = 303.15 K and its constituent binary systems (ethanol + benzyl acetate, ethanol + benzyl alcohol, and benzyl acetate + benzyl alcohol) at T = (293.15, 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15) K were measured under atmospheric pressure. Densities were determined using a vibrating-tube densimeter. Viscosities were measured with an automatic microviscometer based on the rolling-ball principle. Refractive indexes were measured using a digital Abbe-type refractometer. Surface tensions were determined by the Wilhelmy-plate method. From these data, excess molar volumes, deviations in viscosity, deviations in refractive index, and deviations in surface tension were derived. The results for the binary and ternary systems were fitted to the Redlich–Kister equation and the Cilbuka equation, respectively. The excess molar volumes and deviations in viscosity are used to study the nature of mixing...
Abstract A39: Dosage-dependent regulation of caspase 8 activation in LNCaP and DU-145 human prostate cancer cell lines by the Chinese medicinal herb scutellaria barbata.

A39 Scutellaria barbata (SB) (known in traditional Chinese medicine as Ban-Zhi-Lian) is a perennial herb. It has been used to treat appendicitis, hepatitis, pulmonary abscess, and several cancers. LNCaP cells are derived from a human prostate cancer cell line with mutated androgen receptors (AR) while DU-145 is a classical human prostate cell line without androgen receptors. Our previous data indicated that SB activated apoptosis in LNCaP cells via caspases 3, 8, and 9. Histopathological data revealed that the herb had the ability to delay tumor progression and development in TRAMP mice. Recent Western blot data from LNCaP cells undergoing treatment with SB showed increased expression of Akt protein while decreased phosphorylation of Akt in the cells. In this study, we compared the effect of AR-dependence on the herb9s apoptosis activation through caspase 8 on these two different cell lines. The two cell lines were incubated with distilled water as a control group and 100 µL and 200µL of SB as experimental groups for 2 and 8 hours separately. A specific carboxyfluorescein (FAM) labeled peptide fluoromethyl ketone (FMK) caspase inhibitor (FAM-Peptide-FMK) was used to label caspase 8- activated cells. Caspase positive (+) cells appeared green whereas necrotic cells were stained red with propidium iodide and observed under a fluorescent microscope. Pictures were taken and the activation/necrosis ratio (A/N ratio) was analyzed using ImageJ software (developed by the National Institutes of Health). Significant induction of caspase 8 by SB was observed in androgen receptor positive LNCaP cells. In both 2 and 8 hour incubation, SB activated more caspase 8 in LNCaP cells than in DU-145 cells treated at 100 µL and 200 µL concentrations ( A/NLNCaP > A/NDU-145 ). In addition, DU-145 exhibited significant dosage-dependent induction of caspase 8 by SB, while dosage-dependence was not observed in LNCaP cells (A/N100µL = A/N200µL). These data indicate that SB might activate apoptosis through an up-stream androgen receptor pathway, thus suggesting a plausible mechanism for this herb’s activation of the apoptotic pathway in prostate cancer cells. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):A39.
INCIDENCE AND ONE YEAR OUTCOME OF PERIOPERATIVE ATRIAL ARRHYTHMIA IN THE ELDERLY FOLLOWING HIP FRACTURE SURGERY

Perioperative atrial arrhythmia (PAA) following hip fracture surgery in the elderly is known to have worse short-term cardiovascular outcomes. However, Its long-term impact has not been studied in similar population. In a retrospective cohort study, 1088 consecutive elderly patients undergoing hip
A new parameter for vortices near interfaces - The vortex persistence

When a turbulent vortex is near an interface such as a solid wall, the fluxes at the interface depend on conventional parameters such as the Reynolds, Schmidt and Prandtl numbers. A new theory asserts that another parameter is equally important. The vortex persistence is a measure of the stationarity of the vortex with respect to the surface. It is defined as the number of rotations the vortex completes while in one place. The persistence is proportional to the ratio of rotational to translational speeds of the vortex, the eddy velocity ratio. If it is small, then the smallest scale turbulence controls the wall fluxes, the Kolmogorov microscale. On the other hand, if the persistence is large, the largest scale vortices control the fluxes. The theory compares favorably with laboratory experiments of stratified entrainment, wall heat transfer, and starting vortices in the human heart. (Author)
Epitaxial Growth of Cu2O on Ag Allows for Fine Control Over Particle Geometries and Optical Properties of Ag–Cu2O Core–Shell Nanoparticles

We demonstrate that Ag–Cu2O core–shell nanoparticles exhibit geometry-dependent optical properties that are highly tunable across the visible and near-infrared spectral regions. We have developed a robust wet chemistry approach to the geometry control of Ag–Cu2O core–shell nanoparticles through epitaxial growth of Cu2O nanoshells on the surfaces of various Ag nanostructures, such as quasi-spherical nanoparticles, nanocubes, and nanocuboids. Precise control over the core and the shell geometries enables us to develop detailed, quantitative understanding of how the Cu2O nanoshells introduce interesting modifications to the resonance frequencies and the extinction spectral line shapes of multiple plasmon modes of the Ag cores. Finite-difference time-domain calculations provide further insights into the physical origin and the geometry-dependence of the various plasmon modes observed in the Ag–Cu2O core–shell nanoparticles.
A Generalization of n-Scale Number Representation

(1965). A Generalization of n-Scale Number Representation. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 72, No. 8, pp. 851-855.
Pharmit: Interactive Exploration of Chemical Space

Pharmit (http://pharmit.csb.pitt.edu) provides an online, interactive environment for the virtual screening of large compound databases using pharmacophores, molecular shape and energy minimization. Users can import, create and edit virtual screening queries in an interactive browser-based interface. Queries are specified in terms of a pharmacophore, a spatial arrangement of the essential features of an interaction, and molecular shape. Search results can be further ranked and filtered using energy minimization. In addition to a number of pre-built databases of popular compound libraries, users may submit their own compound libraries for screening. Pharmit uses state-of-the-art sub-linear algorithms to provide interactive screening of millions of compounds. Queries typically take a few seconds to a few minutes depending on their complexity. This allows users to iteratively refine their search during a single session. The easy access to large chemical datasets provided by Pharmit simplifies and accelerates structure-based drug design. Pharmit is available under a dual BSD/GPL open-source license.
The effect of hospital volume on resection margins in rectal cancer surgery

Abstract Background We hypothesized that after controlling for case-mix differences, the rates of positive resection margin after rectal cancer surgery vary substantially in the United States and that high-volume hospitals have lower margin positivity rates. Materials and methods Patients treated with oncologic resection for stage I-III rectal cancer were selected from the 1998-2010 National Cancer Data Base. Hierarchical regression models were used to calculate risk- and reliability-adjusted positive margin rates and hospital level variability in positive margin rates using Empirical Bayes techniques. Results A total of 113,113 patients were treated at 1446 hospitals. The mean overall risk- and reliability-adjusted positive margin rate was 7.3%. High-volume hospitals did not have a lower rate of adjusted margin positivity (7.4%, P = 0.75). When both case mix and hospital volume differences were factored into the model, variability in margin positivity rates increased by 9.8%, implying that referral to high-volume hospitals alone would not improve margin positivity rates. Conclusions Rectal cancer margin positivity rates vary substantially in the United States, despite adjusting for differences in case mix. These results support standardization of surgical technique and pathologic assessment as part of a broader initiative that identifies and refers patients to higher performing hospitals rather than simply to higher volume hospitals.
Optical Shaping of X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers

In this Letter we report the experimental demonstration of a new temporal shaping technique for x-ray free-electron lasers (FELs). This technique is based on the use of a spectrally shaped infrared (IR) laser and allows optical control of the x-ray generation process. By accurately manipulating the spectral amplitude and phase of the IR laser, we can selectively modify the electron bunch longitudinal emittance thus controlling the duration of the resulting x-ray pulse down to the femtosecond time scale. Unlike other methods currently in use, optical shaping is directly applicable to the next generation of high-average power x-ray FELs such as the Linac Coherent Light Source-II or the European X-FEL, and it enables pulse shaping of FELs at the highest repetition rates. Furthermore, this laser-shaping technique paves the way for flexible tailoring of complex multicolor FEL pulse patterns required for nonlinear multidimensional x-ray spectroscopy as well as novel multicolor diffraction imaging schemes.
Abstract LB-195: The intronic DPYD variant rs75017182 correlates with a modest reduction in DPD enzyme activity

Nearly one-third of cancer patients that receive the commonly prescribed chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) experience severe (grade 3+) adverse toxicity related to treatment. Approximately 1,300 deaths are directly attributed to 5-FU toxicity annually in the U.S. While three deleterious genetic variations in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) gene (DPYD) are well-established predictors of severe toxicity (i.e., *2A, p.I560S, p.D949V), they only explain 30-35% of adverse cases of 5-FU toxicity. Recently, an intronic variant (rs75017182) has been suggested to contribute to 5-FU toxicity risk by promoting the alternative splicing of DPYD. However, recent clinical studies are conflicting as to the degree to which rs75017182 affects DPD enzyme function, and it remains unclear as to the extent to which DPYD splicing is affected in carriers. The primary aim of this study was to directly determine correlations between rs75017182, DPD enzyme function, and DPYD splicing. Genotyping for rs75017182, *2A, p.I560S, and p.D949V was performed on DNA obtained from 3950 healthy participants in the Mayo Clinic Biobank. Individuals carrying one or more of the genotyped variants, as well as matched non-carriers, were asked to provide an additional blood sample that was used to measure DPYD expression, DPYD splicing relevant to rs75017182, and DPD enzyme activity (n = 204). A moderate, but significant, reduction was noted in the expression of canonically spliced DPYD in rs75017182 carriers compared to non-carriers. DPD enzyme activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was similarly reduced in rs75017182 carriers. The degree to which DPD activity was reduced in rs75017182 carriers was not as severe as was noted for carriers of the toxicity-associated variants *2A, p.I560S, or p.D949V. Collectively, our data support a model in which rs75017182 leads to alternative splicing of a fraction of primary transcripts that harbor the variant, which in turn causes a modest reduction in the levels of functional DPD enzyme. The modest phenotypes noted may partially explain some of the discrepant results noted between various clinical studies that have attempted to evaluate the variant. Citation Format: Shikshya Shrestha, Steven M. Offer, Robert B. Diasio. The intronic DPYD variant rs75017182 correlates with a modest reduction in DPD enzyme activity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-195.
Mentoring: A Path to Prosocial Behavior

Public accounting firms can build integrity within their organizations through early detection of fraud. One way to reduce and detect fraud is to encourage whistleblowing as a prosocial behavior. We explore the impact of mentoring on intention to report fraud. A survey with 120 responses from the US public accountants suggests that quality mentoring relationships, a common feature in the profession, and caring ethical climate positively relate to internal reporting of fraud. Two intermediate variables, trust and affective commitment, mediate these effects. Mentor-relationship quality also increases perceptions of caring ethical climate. The study contributes to two bodies of research by (1) finding extended benefits from mentoring, beyond those typically discussed in academic literature; and (2) identifying a previously unexplored firm intervention capable of positively influencing prosocial behavior and combating fraud.
Analogues of methionine as substrates and inhibitors of the methionine adenosyltransferase reaction. Deductions concerning the conformation of methionine.

Steric, electronic, and conformational requirements are described for analogues of L-methionine essential to their function as substrates or inhibitors of the methionine adenosyltransferase reaction (ATP: L-methionine S -adenosyltransferase, EC [2.4.2.13][1]). With the aid of partially purified transferase preparations from Escherichia coli , bakers' yeast, and rat liver, a systematic study of substrate analogues has been undertaken. Inhibitors of the enzyme fall into three categories: (a) straight carbon chain amino acids, such as L-2-amino-4-hexenoic acid ( trans but not the cis isomer) and L-2-amino-4-hexynoic acid, which are the most potent inhibitors; (b) cyclic amino acids, among which 1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylicacid and one of the four isomers of 1-amino-3-methylcyclopentanecarboxylic acid (either the 1R, 3R or the 1S, 3R isomer) are the most powerful; and (c) O -acetyl-L-serine- O -carbamyl-L-serine, and S -carbamyl-L-cysteine. Since inhibitors belonging to groups (a) and (b) possess considerable conformational rigidity by virtue of the presence of unsaturations or cyclic structures, it has been possible to draw conclusions with respect to the conformation of L-methionine at the active site of the adenosyltransferase reaction. A number of the inhibitors of the methionine adenosyltransferase reaction, such as 1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid and S -carbamyl-L-cysteine, are known to be inhibitors of the growth of certain microorganisms and tumors. The possibility is suggested that these inhibitory activities may be mediated at least in part through the inhibition of the synthesis of S -adenosyl-L-methionine. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors are deeply grateful to Drs. E. Bueding and C. H. Robinson for advice, and to Mrs. Mary Karen Burch for technical assistance. [1]: pending:yes
Involving Latina/o parents in patient-centered outcomes research: Contributions to research study design, implementation and outcomes

Background: Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is supported by policymakers as a way to provide service providers and patients with evidence-based information to make better health-care decisions and ultimately improve services for patients. However, Latina/o patients are rarely involved as study advisors, and there is a lack of documentation on how their voices contribute to the research process when they are included as collaborators. Objectives: The purpose of this article was to contribute to the literature by presenting concrete contributions of Latina/o parent involvement to study design, implementation and outcomes in the context of a CER study called Padres Efectivos (Parent Activation). Methods: Researchers facilitated a collaborative relationship with parents by establishing a mentor parent group. The contributions of parent involvement in the following stages of the research process are described: (i) proposal development, (ii) implementation of protocols, (iii) analysis plan and (iv) dissemination of results. Results: Mentor parents’ contributions helped tailor the content of the intervention to their needs during proposal, increased recruitment, validated the main outcome measure and added two important outcome measures, emphasized the importance of controlling for novice treatment status and developed innovative dissemination strategies. Conclusions: Mentor parents’ guidance to the researchers has contributed to reaching recruitment goals, strengthened the study protocol, expanded findings, supported broad ownership of study implications and enriched the overall study data collection efforts. These findings can inform future research efforts seeking an active Latino parent collaboration and the timely incorporation of parent voices in each phase of the research process.
A Different Kind of Brown: Arabs and Middle Easterners as Anti-American Muslims:

The growth of nonwhite/nonblack ethnoracial minority groups, especially Latina/os, Asians, and Arab/Middle Easterners, is redefining the United States racial landscape. These groups, which defy str...
Publish, Perish, or Salami Slice? Authorship Ethics in an Emerging Field

Researchers in several academic fields have indicated an increase in academic authorship disputes and the utilization of unethical authorship practices over the past few decades. This trend has been attributed to a variety of factors such as vague authorship guidelines, power disparities between researchers, dissimilar disciplinary and/or journal practices, and a lack of guidance for emerging scholars. As a rapidly emerging academic field, sport management (and its connected sub-fields) maintains the propensity for unclear procedures due to the various departments, schools, and colleges the field calls home (e.g., kinesiology, sport science, education, business), as well as the wide variety of journals that the field’s scholarship resides in. This situation is similar to many emerging or expanding fields as they navigate the university landscape of more established disciplines and fields. Utilizing a three-round Delphi survey method, the current research examined expert opinion on authorship practices in sport management scholarship. Through a combination of open-ended, response, and Likert-type questions, the expert survey attempted to identify areas of consensus and non-consensus in an effort to determine the current status of publication practices in the field, as well as ascertain areas of need for future study and improvement.
Post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse.

Abstract Post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse (PHVP) is a recognised although rare complication following both abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy and the risk is increased in women following vaginal surgery for urogenital prolapse. The management of PHVP remains challenging and whilst many women will initially benefit from conservative measures, the majority will ultimately require surgery. The purpose of this paper is to review the prevalence and risk factors associated with PHVP as well to give an overview of the clinical management of this often complicated problem. The role of prophylactic primary prevention procedures at the time of hysterectomy will be discussed as well as initial conservative management. Surgery, however, remains integral in managing these complex patients and the vaginal and abdominal approach to managing PHVP will be reviewed in detail, in addition to both laparoscopic and robotic approaches.
Neozygites fresenii (Entomophthorales: Neozygitaceae) Prevalence in Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Three South Central Georgia Cotton Fields

The presence of cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glover, and the incidence of its fungal pathogen, Neozygites fresenii (Nowakowski) Batko, were monitored with pan traps, plant sampling, and sticky traps in three south central Georgia cotton fields in the early part of the 2002 growing season. Aphids were trapped in low numbers ( 60/trap/sampling date. A similar increase was observed in field 3 after 21 June. Differences observed in the three fields were attributed to differences in planting date. Aphids in sticky traps were counted but not examined for pathogenic fungi. Aphids were detected in pan traps as early as 4 May, but all were negative for N. fresenii until 10 June, after which the mean incidence of the fungus increased rapidly to a peak of >60% by 27 June. The aphid population as determined by plant sampling increased logarithmically between 3 June and 8 July, whereas the increase in incidence of N. fresen...
Use of ultrasound in diagnosing postoperative small-bowel intussusception in pediatric surgical oncology patients: a single-center retrospective review

Postoperative intussusception can be a complication of abdominal surgery and often poses a diagnostic dilemma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of intussusception in children who had recently undergone resection of a primary solid tumor. We performed a retrospective review of all pediatric surgical oncology patients undergoing laparotomy for excision of an abdominal tumor at our institution from 1995 to 2015. We reviewed those with documented postoperative intussusception. In addition we searched the radiology database for all ultrasound examinations requested to rule out postoperative intussusception during our study interval. We analyzed demographics, primary diagnosis, surgical procedure, presentation, diagnostic investigations and definitive treatment. At our institution 852 laparotomies for abdominal tumor resection were performed during the study period, resulting in 10 postoperative intussusceptions (1.2% of cases), of which half were following neuroblastoma resection and the other half following nephrectomy for Wilms tumor. Postoperative intussusception was suspected if the patient had increasing nasogastric output, abdominal distension or feeding intolerance. Ultrasound was used to diagnose intussusception in 9/10 cases, on postoperative day 6 (standard deviation [SD] 5.6 days) on average, with a sensitivity of 89% (8/9; one false negative; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52, 1.00) and a specificity of 100% (no false positives; 95% CI 0.96, 1.00). Ultrasound was highly accurate in diagnosing postoperative intussusception in children who underwent resection of retroperitoneal tumors.
Nanometer-scale characteristics of polycrystalline YAG ceramic polishing

Abstract Polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramics used as laser gain media require nanometer-scale surface geometries to minimize light scattering. Generally, uneven material removal between grains and excessive material removal at the grain boundaries retards smoothing of the ceramic surfaces. This paper describes the effects of the mechanical properties and polishing tool structures on the tool contact against the target surface during polishing. This, in addition to the abrasive type and size, influences the polishing characteristics, especially the material removal at the grain boundaries, the grain enhancement, the grain dislodgement, and the resulting nanometer-scale geometries of the polished surfaces.
Properties of lipoproteins responsible for high affinity binding to cell surface receptors of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells.

Our studies of cholesterol-induced hyperlipoproteinemia in various animal models have led to the identification of several unique lipoproteins. This discovery has provided an opportunity to explore the properties responsible for the binding of certain lipoproteins to cell surface receptors of cultured fibroblasts and arterial smooth muscle cells. After a brief description of the types of plasma lipoproteins used in these studies, we will present data to support the following conclusions: a) that specificity for lipoprotein binding to the high affinity receptor sites resides with the apoproteins; b) that either the B or the arginine-rich apoprotein (ARP) is responsible for this binding; c) that a similar stereospecific charged region or recognition site may be shared in common by the B and ARP; and d) that theARP-containing lipoproteins are more avidly bound to the receptor than are the apo-B-containing lipoproteins.
Cable Failure Modes and Effects Risk Analysis Perspectives

A March 1975 cable fire at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant in the United States provided new insights into the impact of fire-induced cable damage on electrical circuits. New fire protection requirements promulgated by the USNRC following this fire require that licensee to conduct a post-fire safe shutdown analysis that includes consideration of fire-induced circuit effects. Cable failure modes and effects circuit analysis is an ongoing area of technical challenge and regulatory focus. Effort are underway to develop risk-informed approaches to resolution of the remaining challenges.
Health Services Utilization Among Chinese American Older Adults: Moderation of Social Support With Functional Limitation

In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship of social support with hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits among older Chinese adults in the United States and its possible mechanism. This was a secondary analysis of data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (July 2011-June 2013; N = 3,157). After adjusting for demographic, clinical, and functional covariates in logistic regression analyses, significant interaction between social support from spouse and the number of functional limitations in (instrumental) activities of daily living was related to lower odds of hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97 [0.95-0.99]) and ED visits (OR = 0.98 [0.96-0.99]). This finding suggests that among older Chinese American adults with functional limitations, more spousal support was related to lower odds of hospitalizations and ED visits. Future studies should comprehensively measure social support (e.g., content, amount) from other sources and investigate how unnecessary acute health service utilization in this population may be reduced by social support interventions.
Preparation and Characterization of Grafoil/Ni and Polyaniline/Ni Composites from the Controlled Electrochemical Reduction of NiCl42

Abstract The controlled reduction of a nickel metal anion, NiCl42−, at a carbon (Grafoil) and Polyaniline (PANI) electrode is explored. The incremental increase of Ni deposits is achieved from the reduction of the metal precursor at both electrodes. The normal oxidation/reduction was used to facilitate the uptake and dispersion of the precursor using electrostatic interactions with the positively charged PANI. The controlled in-situ reduction of the dispersed Ni precursor in the polymer was utilized to produce PANI/Ni composites with variable metal content. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy of both substrates confirm the reduction of the Ni metal precursor at both electrodes. The chemical reactivity of the Ni metal deposited was also confirmed for both substrates using surface specific electrochemical reactions including the formation/reduction of oxidized nickel species and the catalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline solutions (pH ≈ 14). The electrochemistry associated with NiOOH/Ni(OH)2 and the catalytic oxidation of methanol is resolved in alkaline solution for both electrodes. Furthermore, the electrochemical activity of PANI/Ni composite materials is maintained without acid doping the polymer. Finally, an alternative pathway for the inclusion of anionic transition metal species in PANI that eliminates the competitive uptake of proton and metal cation precursors commonly used in traditional acidic environments is demonstrated.
Weaving governance narratives: discourses of climate change, cooperatives, and small-scale fisheries in Mexico

In the coming decades, accelerating processes of climate change are expected to impact the world’s fisheries. These changes will likely exacerbate ongoing challenges in the governance of small-scale fisheries, which play a significant role in supporting livelihoods and food security throughout the world. Among fishers in Mexico, the perceived impacts of climate change on coastal fisheries are increasingly salient. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the realities of climate change and other socio-environmental phenomena are discursively co-produced by fishers and government actors in a distinct type of political arena: the general assemblies of federated fishing cooperatives. Fishing cooperatives in Mexico organize into regional-level federations, which in turn form national-level confederations. Confederations are therefore multi-level, nested organizations for collective action and political representation. Here, we examine the interactions between fishers and federal government officials in the 2016 general assembly of one confederation, which represents 25 federations with 338 cooperatives. The general assembly of the confederation serves as a political space for open democratic participation among members and, in this case, discussions between fishers and government representatives. The discourses employed by fishers and government actors reveal tensions about the role of the state, the purpose of scientific knowledge in resource management, and the nature of the cooperative small-scale fishing sector. Insights from this case are used to advance discussions about the value of examining discursive practices to gain insights about fisheries policy, through a critical discussion of the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework. We theorize discursive practices as part of politicized performances that coalitions of actors use to express policy preferences and weave together governance narratives, which are useful for understanding positions and broader debates at the national level.
Shear Force Fiber Spinning: Process Parameter and Polymer Solution Property Considerations

For application of polymer nanofibers (e.g., sensors, and scaffolds to study cell behavior) it is important to control the spatial orientation of the fibers. We compare the ability to align and pattern fibers using shear force fiber spinning, i.e. contacting a drop of polymer solution with a rotating collector to mechanically draw a fiber, with electrospinning onto a rotating drum. Using polystyrene as a model system, we observe that the fiber spacing using shear force fiber spinning was more uniform than electrospinning with the rotating drum with relative standard deviations of 18% and 39%, respectively. Importantly, the approaches are complementary as the fiber spacing achieved using electrospinning with the rotating drum was ~10 microns while fiber spacing achieved using shear force fiber spinning was ~250 microns. To expand to additional polymer systems, we use polymer entanglement and capillary number. Solution properties that favor large capillary numbers (>50) prevent droplet breakup to facilitate fiber formation. Draw-down ratio was useful for determining appropriate process conditions (flow rate, rotational speed of the collector) to achieve continuous formation of fibers. These rules of thumb for considering the polymer solution properties and process parameters are expected to expand use of this platform for creating hierarchical structures of multiple fiber layers for cell scaffolds and additional applications.
Women’s Assessments of Gender Equality:

Women’s assessments of gender equality do not consistently match global indices of gender inequality. In surveys covering 150 countries, women in societies rated gender-unequal according to global ...
Shipboard PEBB Cooling Strategies

We discuss herein several cooling strategies applicable to shipboard Power Electronics Building Blocks (PEBBs), namely the PEBB 1000 and a notional PEBB 6000 currently under development, subject to the following design goals and constraints: (1) small and lightweight package (i.e., high power density); (2) easy swapability achieved by minimizing any connections requiring sailor intervention for connecting or disconnecting; and (3) any thermal solution must be able to cool not only a single PEBB unit, but also multiple units placed in close proximity to one another when combined to make up a converter. For the PEBB 1000 application, air cooling is most likely sufficient to meet the needs, and several arrangements of fin structures were investigated. On the other hand, air cooling, water cooling, and water cooling with a dry interface all have potential for meeting the cooling demand of an envisioned PEBB 6000 and warrant further investigation. In any case, the localized heat generated within the PEBB will require significant spreading to a larger surface area for subsequent transfer out of the PEBB.
“The King shall live without an heir if that which is lost be not found”: Child Loss, Grief, and Recovery in Shakespeare’s Late Romances

From Lady Macbeth’s “I have given suck, and know/ how tender ‘tis to love the babe this milks me” (1.7.54–5) and Macbeth’s realization of the significance of his “fruitless crown” (3.1.60) and “barren sceptre” (3.1.61), to King Lear’s loss of his daughter Cordelia, to the missing princes in Cymbeline and lost infant daughters Pericles and The Winter’s Tale, the importance of children and the pain of child loss pervades the plays of Shakespeare, as it did the lives of early modern parents. Kathryn Moncrief explores the significance (socially, economically, and personally) of child loss and grief in early modern England, particularly as recorded in diaries and poetry, in relation to the fantasy of recovery and restoration in Shakespeare’s late romances. The chapter suggests that the stage both rehearses mourning and, in staging grief, functions powerfully as place of recovery.
Effect of Mechanical Cycling on the Magnetic Properties of Permalloy Films Electroplated on Stretchable Substrates

This work describes the fabrication of electroplated permalloy films on screen-printed silver ink patterns on thermoplastic polyurethane, and the effect of mechanical cycling on their magnetic properties. It was observed that cycling causes cracks in the permalloy film, which in turn results in decrease of the initial permeability of the material. This change was observed while the magnetic saturation, coercivity, and remanence remained relatively unchanged. However, permeability values saturate at about 90% of their original values between 1 and 5 cycles. This allowed for the potential use of these materials in stretchable magnetic devices such as stretchable inductors.