cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-domain WLAN load balancing in WLAN/WPAN interference environments

The proliferation of wireless local area network (WLAN) deployments in enterprises, public areas, and homes will likely cause frequent geographical coverage overlap among multiple networks. A recent growing interest is the coordination among WLAN providers for efficient network management over a large coverage area. While radio resource management for a single WLAN has been studied extensively, little research work addresses resource management over multiple domains. When multiple WLANs co-locate in a small geographic vicinity, the lack of cooperative multi-domain resource management can cause significant performance degradation due to inter-domain interference. Unbalanced loads among multiple networks can incur congestion in a few WLANs while foregoing unused excess resources in others. Moreover, since WLANs often operate in unlicensed frequency bands shared by various public and private networks, they must cope with the dynamic RF environment involving a diverse set of interference sources. This paper introduces a new cooperative load balancing framework for multi-domain WLANs operating in an interference environment. A third-party-based architecture is proposed to facilitate fair radio resource allocation among multiple networks. The proposed third-party agent collects observed network state information from different WLANs and optimizes resource usage. Under the proposed scheme, resource utilization and co-channel interference can be adaptively balanced across the entire integrated system. The impact of other co-located interference sources in the operational environment are taken into account in the optimization process. The proposed load balancing framework for interference environments is a complement to the interference mitigation mechanisms operated at the PHY/MAC layer. Simulation results show that the proposed multi-domain load balancing scheme outperforms other schemes which do not consider interdomain interference or environmental interference.
CHANGES TO THE NATURAL GAS, CORN, AND FERTILIZER PRICE RELATIONSHIPS FROM THE BIOFUELS ERA

The biofuels era brought about changes to the energy and agricultural sectors. For example, the decrease in natural gas prices has led to a weakening of the relationship between fertilizer and gas prices. The other change has been an increase in the demand for fertilizers, which has strengthened the price relationship between these two products. Econometric evidence from this work indicates that after 2008 the relationship between fertilizers and corn prices increased. In addition, results from our work indicate the presence of market power in the ammonia fertilizer sector.
Simple benchmark for complex dose finding studies.

Summary While a general goal of early phase clinical studies is to identify an acceptable dose for further investigation, modern dose finding studies and designs are highly specific to individual clinical settings. In addition, as outcome-adaptive dose finding methods often involve complex algorithms, it is crucial to have diagnostic tools to evaluate the plausibility of a method's simulated performance and the adequacy of the algorithm. In this article, we propose a simple technique that provides an upper limit, or a benchmark, of accuracy for dose finding methods for a given design objective. The proposed benchmark is nonparametric optimal in the sense of O'Quigley et al. (2002, Biostatistics 3, 51–56), and is demonstrated by examples to be a practical accuracy upper bound for model-based dose finding methods. We illustrate the implementation of the technique in the context of phase I trials that consider multiple toxicities and phase I/II trials where dosing decisions are based on both toxicity and efficacy, and apply the benchmark to several clinical examples considered in the literature. By comparing the operating characteristics of a dose finding method to that of the benchmark, we can form quick initial assessments of whether the method is adequately calibrated and evaluate its sensitivity to the dose–outcome relationships.
Closed-form estimators for high-dimensional generalized linear models

We propose a class of closed-form estimators for GLMs under high-dimensional sampling regimes. Our class of estimators is based on deriving closed-form variants of the vanilla unregularized MLE but which are (a) well-defined even under high-dimensional settings, and (b) available in closed-form. We then perform thresholding operations on this MLE variant to obtain our class of estimators. We derive a unified statistical analysis of our class of estimators, and show that it enjoys strong statistical guarantees in both parameter error as well as variable selection, that surprisingly match those of the more complex regularized GLM MLEs, even while our closed-form estimators are computationally much simpler. We derive instantiations of our class of closed-form estimators, as well as corollaries of our general theorem, for the special cases of logistic, exponential and Poisson regression models. We corroborate the surprising statistical and computational performance of our class of estimators via extensive simulations.
Effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on sympathetic nerve activity to interscapular brown adipose tissue

The effects on firing rate of sympathetic nerves to interscapular brown adipose tissue were measured after induction of intracellular glycopenia by peripheral or central administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). Injection of 2-DG (250 mg/kg body wt) into the jugular vein rapidly suppressed the sympathetic activity, which declined 84% within 10 min after the injection. This suppression persisted for at least 40 min. Hyperglycemia did not affect the sympathetic activity but partially inhibited the suppressive effect of 2-DG injection. Acute vagotomy failed to block the suppressive effect of 2-DG. Injection of 2-DG (2.5 mg/rat) into the third cerebral ventricle suppressed the sympathetic activity. This suppression was followed by gradual recovery. Saline injection did not affect the sympathetic activity. We conclude that cellular glycopenia induced by injecting 2-DG peripherally or into the third cerebral ventricle suppresses the sympathetic activity to brown adipose tissue. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that an acute energy shortage decreases the thermogenesis in interscapular brown adipose tissue by suppressing sympathetic neural activation of this tissue.
From resident to peer: practicing where you trained.

The practice of pharmacy continues to evolve, as do job opportunities for pharmacists completing postgraduate residencies. The process of seeking employment in a challenging job market is complicated and competitive. Potential career paths include academia, clinical coordinator positions,
Variable Projection Method for Power System Modal Identification

Common power system disturbances are characterized by oscillations that either damp out, sustain or grow. This oscillatory response can be measured and analyzed to extract modal information of the system. In this paper we apply a nonlinear least-squares optimization method known as the variable projection method to power system models and data. The variable projection method is compared against several linear methods such as Prony analysis, Matrix-Pencil and ERA, and the results suggest the nonlinear least-squares approach is superior.
Low-barrier-to-entry data tools: creating and sharing humanities data

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine whether TAMS Analyzer and Viewshare are viable free and open source software data sharing and creation tools for those with limited funding and technological skills. Design/methodology/approach – The participant observer method was used to collect experiential evidence while applying the tools to a collection of text-, image-, and video-based digital cultural records. Findings – TAMS Analyzer was found to be a low barrier to entry tool for those with coding and qualitative data analysis experience. Those with general experience will be able to create datasets with the support of manuals and tutorials, while those with limited experience may find it difficult to use. Viewshare was found to be a low barrier to entry tool for sharing data online, and accessible for all skill levels. Research limitations/implications – TAMS Analyzer supports Mac and Linux platforms only, so a low-cost software recommendation was made for those in Windows environments. Practi...
A Study on Dimension Synthesis for the Peaucellier Mechanism

Straight-line motion, albeit simple, manifest itself in numerous applications, from running steam engines and oil wells to manufacturing parts with straight edges and sides. The drive to maximize production creates a need for continuously running assembly-line manufacturing comprised of precise, individually optimized components. While there are many so-called straight-line generating mechanisms, few actually produce a true straight-line, most generate only approximate straight-line. Featured an eight-link rhomboidal system with length constraints, the Peaucellier mechanism is one that actually produces a true straight line intrinsically. This paper presents a study on the dimension synthesis of the Peaucellier mechanism, namely by identifying the correct ratio of linkage lengths to produce the longest straight line stroke. In addition to designing for stroke, another objective of interest is to attain a desired velocity profile along the path. Kinematic analysis of the velocity profile on the mechanism will render the creation of input angular velocity standards based on desired stroke speed. Given the stroke and velocity specifications, specific steps to size the dimensions of the mechanism developed as result of this study will be presented.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Event DAS-444Ø6-6 soybean grown in Brazil is compositionally equivalent to non-transgenic soybean.

Soybean event DAS-444O6-6 is tolerant to the herbicides 2,4-D, glyphosate, and glufosinate. An investigation of potential unintended adverse compositional changes in a genetically modified crop is required to meet government regulatory requirements in various geographies. A study to meet these requirements in Brazil was completed demonstrating compositional equivalency between DAS-444O6-6 and non-transgenic soybean. This study supplements the extensive literature supporting transgenesis as less disruptive of crop composition compared with traditional breeding methods.
Salivary CA130 with and without unilateral autonomic parotid denervation of rats fed different diets.

BACKGROUND Tumor markers such as CA130 can be determined in human whole saliva. Saliva represents an attractive body fluid for longitudinal studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS CA130 was determined in parotid saliva from 8 rats fed different diets, with or without autonomic denervation. RESULTS CA130 could be determined in parotid saliva of rats, irrespective of diet and/or autonomic denervation. Whether the numerical decrease in CA130 observed after autonomic denervation is statistically significant requires further work. CONCLUSIONS Since salivary CA130 has been shown to decrease following treatment with anti-cancer drugs in humans, the ability to determine this tumor marker in rat saliva opens new opportunities for optimizing cancer chronotherapy in the experimental laboratory.
Should Students Assessed as Needing Remedial Mathematics Take College-Level Quantitative Courses Instead? A Randomized Controlled Trial:

Many college students never take, or do not pass, required remedial mathematics courses theorized to increase college-level performance. Some colleges and states are therefore instituting policies allowing students to take college-level courses without first taking remedial courses. However, no experiments have compared the effectiveness of these approaches, and other data are mixed. We randomly assigned 907 students to (a) remedial elementary algebra, (b) that course with workshops, or (c) college-level statistics with workshops (corequisite remediation). Students assigned to statistics passed at a rate 16 percentage points higher than those assigned to algebra (p < .001), and subsequently accumulated more credits. A majority of enrolled statistics students passed. Policies allowing students to take college-level instead of remedial quantitative courses can increase student success.
Delirium frequency among advanced cancer patients presenting to an emergency department: A prospective, randomized, observational study.

BACKGROUND The frequency of delirium among patients with cancer presenting to the emergency department (ED) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine delirium frequency and recognition by ED physicians among patients with advanced cancer presenting to the ED of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. METHODS The study population was a random sample of English-speaking patients with advanced cancer who presented to the ED and met the study criteria. All patients were assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) to screen for delirium and with the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) to measure delirium severity (mild, ≤15; moderate, 16-22; and severe, ≥23). ED physicians were also asked whether their patients were delirious. RESULTS Twenty-two of the 243 enrolled patients (9%) had CAM-positive delirium, and their median MDAS score was 14 (range, 9-21 [30-point scale]). The median age of the enrolled patients was 62 years (range, 19-89 years). Patients with delirium had a poorer performance status than patients without delirium (P < .001); however, the 2 groups did not differ in other characteristics. Ten of the 99 patients who were 65 years old or older (10%) had CAM-positive delirium, whereas 12 of the 144 patients younger than 65 years (8%) did (P = .6). According to the MDAS scores, delirium was mild in 18 patients (82%) and moderate in 4 patients (18%). Physicians correctly identified delirium in 13 of the CAM-positive delirious patients (59%). CONCLUSIONS Delirium is relatively frequent and is underdiagnosed by physicians in patients with advanced cancer who are visiting the ED. Further research is needed to identify the optimal screening tool for delirium in ED. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society. Cancer 2016;122:2918–2924. © 2016 American Cancer Society
Behavior Identification in Two-Stage Games for Incentivizing Citizen Science Exploration

We consider two-stage games in which a leader seeks to direct the activities of independent agents by offering incentives. A good leader’s strategy requires an understanding of the agents’ utilities and the ability to predict agent behavior. Moreover, the optimization of outcomes requires an agent behavior model that can be efficiently incorporated into the leader’s model. Here we address the agent behavior modeling problem and show how it can be used to reduce bias in a challenging citizen science application. Adapting ideas from Discrete Choice Modeling in behavioral economics, we develop a probabilistic behavioral model that takes into account variable patterns of human behavior and suboptimal actions. By modeling deviations from baseline behavior we are able to accurately predict future behavior based on limited, sparse data. We provide a novel scheme to fold the agent model into a bi-level optimization as a single Mixed Integer Program, and scale up our approach by adding redundant constraints, based on novel insights of an easy-hard-easy phase transition phenomenon. We apply our methodology to a game called Avicaching, in collaboration with eBird, a well-established citizen science program that collects bird observations for conservation. Field results show that our behavioral model performs well and that the incentives are remarkably effective at steering citizen scientists’ efforts to reduce bias by exploring under-sampled areas. Moreover, the data collected from Avicaching improves the performance of species distribution models.
Using High-Risk Adolescents′ Voices to Develop a Comprehensible Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–Based Text-Message Program

At-risk adolescents' comprehension of, and preferences for, the content of a text-message (SMS) delivered, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based depression prevention intervention was investigated using two qualitative studies. Adolescents with depressive symptoms and a history of peer violence were recruited from an urban emergency department. Forty-one participants completed semi-structured qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis using deductive and inductive codes were used to capture a priori and emerging themes. Five major themes were identified: CBT-based messages resonated with at-risk adolescents; high levels of peer violence, comorbid symptoms, and prior exposure to the mental health system were variables affecting preferred content; participants endorsed emotional regulation messages, but found mindfulness content difficult to understand via SMS; cognitive awareness and restructuring content was most acceptable when framed by self-efficacy content; adolescent participants generated applicable CBT content in their own voices. Overall, CBT-informed content was able to be distilled into 160-character text messages without losing its comprehensibility.
Preliminary study on electrotactile sensitivity of the lips

The sensitivity and discriminating ability of the lower lip have been evaluated In this preliminary study. Past psychophysical studies show that the lips are highly sensitive due to their large cortical mapping, leading one to envision a wearable lip-based tactile display that is easy to use and allows hands-free operation. As lips have never been utilized for tactile display applications, preliminary study on the sensitivity and discriminating ability of the lips is conducted on five human subjects. Three stimulator arrays of different sizes are utilized to present electrotactile patterns in experiments on measurement of sensory thresholds and rating of two-line separation. Experimental results show that the lips need very low intensities for effective electrotactile stimulation. As the stimulator diameter increases from 75 /spl mu/m to 1.55 mm, the average stimulation intensity at the threshold level decreases from 11.6 V to 6.6 V for the lower lip, and the percentage of correct rating of spacing between two adjacent lines increases from 47.3% to 84.8%. The preliminary study will help to understand the electrotactile characteristics of the lips and to optimize the design of an electrotactile display with geometrical parameters suitable for lip stimulation.
Construction and validation of the Subjective Underemployment Scales (SUS)

Abstract Underemployment refers to work that is inferior to certain standards, such as sufficient pay or adequate use of people's abilities. Current measurement of underemployment has a number of problems, including categorization of continuous variables, lack of conceptual clarity, and overreliance on objective and single-item scales. To address these issues, the goal of the current research was to develop and refine scales assessing the six major domains underemployment identified by Feldman (1996): pay, status, field, hours, involuntary temporary work, and poverty wage employment. In two studies with different samples of diverse, working adults, we provide evidence for the internal consistency, factor structure, and the validity of the Subjective Underemployment Scales (SUS). The SUS demonstrated convergent validity by relating to similar constructs, work-related outcomes, and job attitudes. In addition, we tested different factor structures and incremental validity for the six dimensions, along with overqualification, and we found evidence for the use of a total SUS score and subscale SUS scores. The current research represents improvements in underemployment measurement and continued conceptual clarification in this area. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research are discussed.
Why environmental exposures

Concerns about environmental health are rising. Publics, scientists and policymakers have grown increasingly alarmed about adverse health effects arising from catastrophic accidents such as the Bho...
Robotic Radical Parametrectomy With Upper Vaginectomy and Pelvic Lymphadenectomy in Patients With Occult Cervical Carcinoma After Extrafascial Hysterectomy.

Abstract Study Objective To confirm the safety and feasibility outcomes of robotic radical parametrectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy and compare the clinicopathological features of women requiring adjuvant treatment with the historical literature. Design Retrospective cohort study and review of literature (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Patients All patients who underwent robotic radical parametrectomy with upper vaginectomy (RRPV), and pelvic lymphadenectomy for occult cervical cancer discovered after an extrafascial hysterectomy at our institution between January 2007 and December 2015. Interventions RRPV and pelvic lymphadenectomy for occult cervical cancer discovered after an extrafascial hysterectomy. We also performed a literature review of the literature on radical parametrectomy after occult cervical carcinoma. Measurements and Main Results Seventeen patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix discovered after extrafascial hysterectomy underwent RRPV with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. There were 2 intraoperative complications, including 1 bowel injury and 1 bladder injury. One patient required a blood transfusion of 2 units. Three patients underwent adjuvant treatment with chemoradiation with radiation-sensitizing cisplatin. One of these patients had residual carcinoma on the upper vagina, 1 patient had positive parametria and pelvic nodes, and 1 patient had positive pelvic lymph nodes. No patients experienced recurrence, and 1 patient died from unknown causes at 59.4 months after surgery. We analyzed 15 studies reported in the literature and found 238 women who underwent radical parametrectomy; however, no specific preoperative pathological features predicted outcomes, the need for adjuvant treatment, or parametrial involvement. Conclusion RRPV is a feasible and safe treatment option. As reflected in the literature, RRPV can help avoid empiric adjuvant chemoradiation; however, no pathological features predict the need for adjuvant treatment after surgery.
Lessons from the lower airway microbiome in early CF.

Lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterised by chronic airway infection and inflammation.1 Advances in sequencing technology have expanded our understanding of airway infection in CF, with complex polymicrobial bacterial communities frequently detected along with typical CF bacterial pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa .2 Investigations of CF airway microbiota rely on interrogation of airway samples, most commonly expectorated sputum. Young children with CF rarely expectorate sputum spontaneously, leaving clinicians with the option of oropharyngeal swabs which may not reflect lower airway bacteriology or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collection which requires an invasive procedure with anaesthesia.3 Microbial diversity, a measure that takes into account the number of different bacterial taxa and the relative amount of each taxa detected within a community, has been associated with disease status in CF with lower diversity associated with lower lung function, the presence of pathogenic bacteria and increased airway inflammation.4–6 Microbial analyses of CF samples from younger, healthier patients often show highly diverse bacterial communities,7 whereas lung explants from patients with end-stage lung disease reveal extremely low diversity with typically only one or two pathogenic bacteria detectable.8 The transition from a diverse community to one dominated by CF pathogens likely begins early, but difficulty with airway sampling hinders our ability to study changes in young children. Lung disease begins early in CF with airway infection, inflammation and bronchiectasis, evident as early as 3 months.9 Airway inflammation is tightly linked to development of bronchiectasis, as the presence of BALF neutrophil elastase (NE) in early infancy is strongly associated with bronchiectasis in young children. Airway inflammation is also increased in the presence of known CF pathogens such as P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus , with less inflammation seen with bacteria detected by molecular approaches but not on conventional routine culture. …
Birthing Narratives in the News: Gendered Notions of 'Real' Womanhood

This study explores how child-birthing experiences are described in English-language newspapers across the world through the lens of media framing and post-structuralist feminism. Media frames of two child-birthing options, often cast as the opposite ends of a spectrum, are discussed: home birth and standard hospital birth. The frames construct an imaginary clash between presumably male-dominated obstetrics and female-dominated midwifery, ignoring the possibility of oppression perpetuated by women upon women. Home birth grants mothers no control over pain and breastfeeding options, but is almost invariably framed as the pro-woman option. Standard hospital birth, which allows for pain control, scheduling convenience, and a relative preservation of dignity is commonly cast as the anti-woman option.The framing reflects gendered expectations of motherly martyrdom as well as news media's over-reliance on a limited circle or sources about childbirth due to discomfort with the subject.
Models in the Biology Classroom: An in-Class Modeling Activity on Meiosis

National STEM education reform efforts call for increased emphasis on science practices, such as modeling. We describe an activity where students read a scientific blog post relating human gametogenesis to disease and then during class develop a model explaining why defects in meiotic machinery cause this disease. This interactive activity was implemented in two sections of an introductory biology course, each exceeding 150 students. Overall, students responded positively to the activity, and based on follow-up exam questions addressing the main learning goals of the modeling activity, about 70 percent of students mastered the learning objectives associated with the modeling activity.
Bicuspid and unicuspid aortic valves: Different phenotypes of the same disease? Insight from the GenTAC Registry

Background Unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is a rare disorder, often difficult to distinguish from bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). BAV and UAV share valve pathology such as the presence of a raphe, leaflet fusion, aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and/or ascending aortic dilatation, but a comprehensive echocardiographic comparison of patients with UAV and BAV has not been previously performed. Methods We investigated UAV and BAV patients at an early stage of disease included in GenTAC, a national registry of genetically related aortic aneurysms and associated cardiac conditions. Clinical and echocardiographic data from the GenTAC Registry were compared between 17 patients with UAV and 17 matched-controls with BAV. Results Baseline characteristics including demographics, clinical findings including family history of BAV and aortic aneurysm/coarctation, and echocardiographic variables were similar between BAV and UAV patients; aortic stenosis was more common and more severe in patients with UAV. This was evidenced by higher mean and peak gradient, smaller aortic valve area, and more advanced valvular degeneration (all P < .05). There were no significant differences in aortic dimensions, with a similar pattern of enlargement of the ascending aorta. Conclusions The similar baseline characteristics with more accelerated aortic valve degeneration and stenosis suggest that UAV represents an extreme in the spectrum of BAV syndromes. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider application of recommendations for the management of patients with BAV to those with the rarer UAV.
Crimp analysis of connective tissue using quantitative second-harmonic generation microscopy

We assess the capacity for second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy by quantitatively characterizing collagen fiber crimp pattern in the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and disclosing the 3D structure in PCL and porcine tendon.
Quantifying Sarcopenia Reference Values Using Lumbar and Thoracic Muscle Areas in a Healthy Population

Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function associated with aging. Muscle mass can be reliably and accurately quantified using clinical CT scans but reference measurements are lacking, particularly in healthy US populations. Two-phase CT scans from healthy kidney donors (age 18-40) at the University of Michigan between 1999-2010 were utilized. Muscle mass was quantified using two thoracic and two lumbar muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) measures. Indexed measurements were computed as area divided by height-squared. Paired analyses of non-contrast and contrast phases and different Hounsfield Unit (HU) ranges for muscle were conducted to determine their effect on CSA muscle measures. We report the means, standard deviations, and 2SD sarcopenia cutoffs from this population. Healthy population CSA (cm2) cutoffs for N=604 males/females respectively were: 34.7/20.9 (T12 Dorsal Muscle), 91.5/55.9 (T12 Skeletal Muscle), 141.7/91.2 (L3 Skeletal Muscle), 23.5/14.3 (L4 Total Psoas Area), and 23.4/14.3 (L4 Psoas Muscle Area). Height-indexed CSA (cm2/m2) cutoffs for males/females respectively were: 10.9/7.8 (T12 Dorsal Muscle), 28.7/20.6 (T12 Skeletal Muscle), 44.6/34.0 (L3 Skeletal Muscle), 7.5/5.2 (L4 Total Psoas Area), and 7.4/5.2 (L4 Psoas Muscle Area). We confirmed that a mask of -29 to 150 HU is optimal and shows no significant difference between contrast-enhanced and non-contrast CT scan CSA measurements. We quantified reference values for lumbar and thoracic muscle CSA measures in a healthy US population. We defined the effect of IV contrast and different HU ranges for muscle. Combined, these results facilitate the extraction of clinically valuable data from the large numbers of existing scans performed for medical indications.
Dosing characteristics of oral treprostinil in real-world clinical practice:

Pharmacokinetic studies with oral treprostinil demonstrate that three times daily (TID) dosing reduces peak-to-trough plasma trepostinil fluctuations compared with twice daily (BID) dosing. TID dosing may allow for faster titration, higher total daily doses, and potentially improve the tolerability of oral trepostinil. This analysis, which looks at the real-world dosing of oral treprostinil, supports the utility of TID dosing.
Site-Specific Recombination: Genes and Regulation

A dozen years have passed since Allan Campbell (1962) suggested that prophages might associate with the host chromosome through an insertion mechanism accomplished by a reciprocal recombination event. We now know that insertion does occur for most temperate phage and that the insertion reaction is typically catalyzed by a phage-speci-fied pathway of recombination, which is notable for its localization to one or a small number of sites on the phage and host DNA (for reviews see Echols, 1971; Gottesman and Weisberg, 1971).
Origins and Directions of Environment-Behavioral Research

For several decades, experimental psychologists have characterized their discipline as the search for lawful relationships between dimensions of the environment and patterns of behavior (cf. Hull, 1943; Skinner, 1953; Spence, 1944; Tolman, 1938; Watson, 1913). This abbreviated view of psychology, though initially proposed by learning theorists, seems generally applicable today to several areas of psychological research. Thus it is not surprising that current mention of research on environment and behavior as an “emerging field” of scientific inquiry is met with some rather puzzled looks and hard questions from numerous psychologists. Most of these questions, of course, pertain to the alleged uniqueness of environment-behavioral research in relation to existing subareas of psychology.
Online Learning Meets Mixed-Reality Immersive Spaces: Result Increased Learning

Online learning in higher education is no longer an anomaly. The majority of American college courses include some digital components, and fully online degree programs are ubiquitous throughout all disciplines. The delivery format of online courses is particularly in line with the needs of the adult learner who often faces challenges of balancing work, family, and graduate coursework. While flexibility is an appealing aspect to online courses, the question of how to engage learners in meaningful, collaborative knowledge-creation remains. Innovative developments in technology provide support in the search for the answer. A small, private university in the southeastern United States employed the use of mixed-reality simulations to increase student-to-student engagement and to encourage the transfer of skills between the classroom and the real-world setting. Students enrolled in an introductory qualitative research course applied the theoretical concepts foundational to conducting effective focus groups through the use of a simulated middle school classroom environment with six student participants (avatars). Using a web conferencing tool that enabled all participants (and the course instructor) to see and be seen during individual focus group sessions, collaborative, shared experiences became the central feature of what students described as an important experience. Innovative tools such as mixed-reality immersive environments provide faculty from a range of disciplines to engage online students in experiences in which the online platform supports and extends meaningful learning.
Controlled polymers: accessing new platforms for material synthesis

Advances in polymer synthesis and characterization have laid the foundation for expanding the scope of synthetic polymer applications. Precisely controlled polymer synthesis could enable a generation of polymers with unique and predictable properties, akin to the syntheses of nucleic acids and peptides. Applications of synthetic polymers include information storage and assembly of 2-D and 3-D organic and composite nanomaterials. Herein, methods to achieve sequence control are discussed, including DNA-templated chemistries, iterative additions, and controlled living polymerization. The possibility of incorporating a verification method at each step is also presented.
Abstract P230: Adherence to the MIND Diet is Associated with a Favorable Profile of Subclinical Cardiac Remodeling in the Framingham Offspring Cohort

Introduction: The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet is based on the central components of the Mediterranean and DASH diets and emphasizes foods that may provid...
Criterion-Referenced Assessment of Individual Differences

The field of criterion-referenced testing has developed quickly since the first papers on the topic by Glaser (1963) and Popham and Husek (1969). Glaser, and later, Popham and Husek, were interested in assessment methods that could provide information on which to base a number of individual and programmatic decisions arising in connection with specific instructional objectives or competencies. Norm-referenced tests were judged to be inappropriate because they provide information that facilitates comparisons among examinees on broad traits or constructs. These tests were not intended to measure specific objectives. And even if items in a norm-referenced test could be matched to objectives, typically there would be too few test items per objective to permit valid criterion-referenced test score interpretations.
Ronald Laing and Kingsley Hall

This chapter discusses the life and works of R.D. Laing, one of the most controversial figures in the history of psychiatry and whose ill-fated experiment, Kingsley Hall, served as the inspiration for the much more successful Soteria House in the United States.
A Case of Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and a Pulmonary Embolus in a Patient Treated with Triple Therapy

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) can be caused by a variety of etiologies. AIHA is associated with the development of coagulopathy, leading to potentially fatal pulmonary emboli. Here, we present a case of a 66-year-old female with a past medical history of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and gastritis treated with triple therapy that developed warm AIHA. The patient later succumbed to a suspected pulmonary embolus.
A Chip-Level Single-Event Latchup (SEL) Estimation Methodology

A chip-level single-event latchup (SEL) estimation methodology is introduced, and its accuracy is demonstrated on the test vehicles manufactured in a state-of-the-art technology for various process options. Novel test structures have been designed and built to make them accessible to accelerated beam testing for the purpose of calibrating the SEL rate as a function of layout design style and use condition. The calibrated model and the SEL assessment strategy are capable of accurately accounting for variations in circuitry and layouts across complex products. The 64-MeV monoenergetic proton and broad-spectrum neutron beam testing results establish that the novel compact model accurately projects full-chip SEL rates, and hence, it can be used to guide layout optimizations and mitigate (or eliminate) component-level SEL rates.
Disparities in Bladder Cancer Outcomes Based on Key Sociodemographic Characteristics

A review of the impact of several key patient characteristics on oncologic outcomes in bladder cancer (BC) summarized and analyzed in a narrative fashion. The bulk of the published literature suggests that females and blacks have poorer cancer-specific outcomes. Both groups tend to present with worse disease, which may be driven by differences in access to timely and quality care. Attempts to assess the association between smoking status and history and BC outcomes have been hindered by the quality and heterogeneity of the data, although several studies have linked smoking with higher rates of recurrence and poorer survival. Being married, particularly in men, may improve survival after radical cystectomy (RC). Limited data suggests that socioeconomic and education levels may be associated with poorer survival; however, the data is limited. A growing body of investigation suggests that there are significant differences in oncologic outcomes in BC patients based on race, gender, smoking status, socioeconomic status, and others. Further focus and investigation is needed to validate these findings, investigate the root cause of these differences, and offer solutions to mitigate them.
Uncovering the Mystery of How Users Find and Use eBooks through Guerilla Usability Testing

This case study focuses on user research that was conducted to enhance our users’ ebook discovery experience. We took an outward-facing approach by seeking the users’ perspectives. We wanted to kno...
Thromboprophylaxis across orthopaedic surgery: Bibliometric analysis of the most cited articles.

Abstract Purpose One of the most common adverse events after orthopaedic surgery, with a potential for subsequent serious morbidity and mortality is venous thromboembolism (VTE). Bibliometric analysis has been performed regarding many topics and across orthopaedics. As DVT prophylaxis is a major component of both orthopaedic surgery considerations and research, a bibliometric analysis in this area would prove beneficial in not only in understanding the research done in the field thus far, but would also direct future research efforts. Methods The Web of Science (WoS) database from the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) was used to compile articles for bibliometric analysis using Boolean search: ((Orthopaedic∗ OR Orthopaedic∗) AND (thromboprophylaxis OR Thromboembolism OR Deep vein thrombosis OR thrombus OR embolism OR anticoagulation OR Embolus OR prophylaxis)). Results The Top 100 cited articles included in the final list generated a total of 21,099 citations. The highest cited article was Prevention of venous thromboembolism by Geerts et al. published in Chest, which had a total of 2802 on WoS, and a calculated citation density of 215.54 of citations/years since publication. Comparing the overall citation against the year of publication there was a slight positive trend favoring more recent publications (R-value: 0.142; adjusted R-squared: 0.01; p = 0.16). Analysis of an articles Level of Evidence (LOE), 17 were grade with a level of I. Conclusions Orthopaedic thromboprophylaxis is an ever-changing field that is at the forefront of orthopaedic literature. The significant trend favoring high quality research within orthopaedic thromboprophylaxis demonstrates the importance of this topic and there was a need for a guide to best understand the evolution of DVT prophylaxis.
Delayed-onset Necrotizing Myositis following COVID-19 Infection

As the numbers of cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, the heterogeneity of its clinical manifestation continues to increase. Here, we describe a case of delayed-onset, biopsy-proven necrotizing myositis following infection with SARS-CoV-2. LEARNING POINTS: SARS-CoV-2 may be associated with late-onset necrotizing myositis, mimicking autoimmune inflammatory myositis. We need more studies to understand the underlying pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2-induced myositis.
Ca2+-dependent protein acyltransferase DHHC21 controls activation of CD4+ T cells

Despite the recognized significance of reversible protein lipidation (S-acylation) for T cell receptor signal transduction, the enzymatic control of this post-translational modification in T cells remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that DHHC21 (also known as ZDHHC21), a member of the DHHC family of mammalian protein acyltransferases, mediates T cell receptor-induced S-acylation of proximal T cell signaling proteins. Using Zdhhc21dep mice, which express a functionally deficient version of DHHC21, we show that DHHC21 is a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent enzyme critical for activation of naive CD4+ T cells in response to T cell receptor stimulation. We find that disruption of the Ca2+/calmodulin-binding domain of DHHC21 does not affect thymic T cell development but prevents differentiation of peripheral CD4+ T cells into Th1, Th2 and Th17 effector T helper lineages. Our findings identify DHHC21 as an essential component of the T cell receptor signaling machinery and define a new role for protein acyltransferases in regulation of T cell-mediated immunity.
Computational modeling of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 binding to human ribosomal 40S complex

Molecular docking and Targeted Molecular Dynamics Simulations were conducted to elucidate binding properties of SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 1 (nspl) onto the human ribosomal 40S complex. Nspl serves as a host shutoff factor by blocking ribosome assembly on host mRNAs, thereby suppressing host gene expression. Recently, cryo-electron microscope structure of both 40S and 80S ribosome purified in the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nspl revealed the presence of the C-terminal region of nspl in the mRNA binding site of the 40S ribosome. This structure gives the first insight into the molecular mechanism of nspl-mediated suppression of host protein translation. In this study we have utilized the most recent emerging partial structures of nspl bound to 40S ribosome as the reference point of implementing a Targeted Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the entire nspl bound to the 40S complex. Our final bound structure of nspl exhibits the previously reported helix-turn-helix conformation of the C-terminal region of nspl and satisfies all the previously reported proximity restraints. Finally, we have established the interaction and stability of this final bound state of the full nspl and 40S. The observation that C-terminal region of nspl folds into a helix-turn-helix structure to occupy the mRNA binding site in the 40S ribosome enables further inquiry into the understanding of the entire nspl structure bound to the 40S ribosome to reveal relative positioning of the two termini when nspl is bound to ribosome.
Adhesive Interactions of Murine and Human Trophoblast Cells

Successful implantation of the embryo requires a complex and ordered series of adhesive interactions occurring between the trophoblast cells of the blastocyst and the uterus. First, the blastocyst hatches from the acellular zona pellucida and attaches to the uterine epithelium. These initial adhesive interactions are probably transient since in mice and in humans the cells of the trophoblast outgrowth are also invasive. As a result, these cells rapidly penetrate the uterine epithelium and its associated basement membrane, then invade the endometrium where they contact decidual cells, each of which is surrounded by a specialized basement membrane collar (Wewer et al., 1985, 1986). Invasion stops once the trophoblast cells have penetrated the uterine arterioles and tapped the maternal blood supply (Ramsey et al, 1976). The result is formation of the hemochorial placenta, in which blood from the maternal circulation constantly bathes the fetal chorionic villi. Thus, both cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions are important in the adhesive interactions that occur during placental development.
A power quality transformer for feeding critical loads

In this paper a new single phase distribution transformer concept is proposed to improve power quality for critical loads. The secondary of the proposed transformer is composed of two windings, one of them equipped with a power electronic ac-ac converter. With the choice of proper turns ratio and the design of the PWM ac-ac converter, the proposed transformer has the following capabilities: (a) can compensate for 50% voltage sag and swells (b) can continuously shape the output voltage to be sinusoidal (low THD) even when the input voltage is highly distorted (c) can disconnect the load rapidly under fault conditions. The proposed approach does not employ any energy storage devices, such as large capacitors or inductors. The PWM ac-ac converter consists of four switching devices (IGBT) and is controlled with a four-step switching technique to achieve snubber-less operation. A design example is presented for a 480 V/120 V, 5 kVA transformer. Simulation results are discussed. Experimental results are included in the final paper.
Rural Women’s Perceptions of Availability, Development and Maintenance of Rural Built Environments

Background: Obesity is a worldwide concern. Physical activity is one way to address obesity. The environment surrounding individuals can impact activity choices. Design/Methods: Multiple, description, explanatory case study design, multiple-methods (focus groups, individual interviews, archival data collection, sidewalk maintenance evaluation) Findings: Women participants perceived community economic resources as an influencing factor for availability, development, and maintenance of rural built environments conducive to physical activity. These women participants also identified women speaking out and „being heard‟ as influencing availability and maintenance of built environments, and advancing age with reduced physical ability influenced the maintenance of resident-owned rural built environments. Conclusions: There are many policy indications for local nurses advocating for rural populations including the consideration of built environment as a factor in health promotion and treatment (diabetes, obesity).
MODELING FOR MASS BURNING RATE AND COMBUSTION DURATION IN SPARK IGNITION ENGINES USING GASOHOL FUELS

This paper presents an analytical model for the prediction of mass burning rates and combustion duration via analysis of pressure versus time data, physical engine design parameters, and the thermodynamic properties of the fuel. For model verification pressure and ion discharge traces were obtained for five methanol-gasoline blends burned in a single cylinder spark ignition engine. A new computational technique, built upon earlier Russian works, is presented to provide a more accurate model for the density of the combustion gases during combustion. The accuracy of the model predictions is substantiated through comparison with heat release data and flame front position data as recorded by ion discharge transducers.