cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Web and Mobile Device Cryptology

In 1993 the first graphical web browser, Mosaic, was written. Since then personal security and privacy has been under attack. New algorithms and types of browser and device security have been developed and continue to be spread as more and more attacks occur.
A Multitiered Supply Chain Network Equilibrium Model for Disaster Relief with Capacitated Freight Service Provision

In this paper, a multitiered supply chain network equilibrium model is constructed, consisting of multiple humanitarian organizations, who seek to purchase services from multiple competing freight (logistic) service providers, for transportation of disaster relief supplies to multiple points of demand for distribution to victims. The freight service providers are faced with capacities associated with the volume of shipments that they can transport. We capture the behavior of the humanitarian organizations who individually minimize the total cost associated with payments for the freight transportation and their transaction costs. We also identify the profit-maximizing behavior of the freight service providers. The governing supply chain network equilibrium conditions are formulated as a variational inequality problem and conditions for existence given. We propose an algorithm for the computation of the equilibrium disaster relief item flows and Lagrange multipliers associated with the freight capacity constraints and provide conditions for convergence. The algorithm is then applied to several numerical examples comprising a case study focusing on an international healthcare crisis. In the case study, we explore the impacts of the addition of a freight service provider as well as that of a humanitarian organization on the profits of freight service providers and on the costs incurred by the humanitarian organizations. The theoretical and numerical results in this paper advance game theory frameworks for humanitarian operations and disaster relief, an area in which there is only a limited literature.
Pathogenic troponin T mutants with opposing effects on myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity attenuate cardiomyopathy phenotypes in mice.

Abstract Mutations in cardiac troponin T (TnT) associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy generally lead to an increase in the Ca 2+ sensitivity of contraction and susceptibility to arrhythmias. In contrast, TnT mutations linked to dilated cardiomyopathy decrease the Ca 2+ sensitivity of contraction. Here we tested the hypothesis that two TnT disease mutations with opposite effects on myofilament Ca 2+ sensitivity can attenuate each other's phenotype. We crossed transgenic mice expressing the HCM TnT-I79N mutation (I79N) with a DCM knock-in mouse model carrying the heterozygous TnT-R141W mutation (HET). The results of the Ca 2+ sensitivity in skinned cardiac muscle preparations ranked from highest to lowest were as follow: I79N > I79N/HET > NTg > HET. Echocardiographic measurements revealed an improvement in hemodynamic parameters in I79N/HET compared to I79N and normalization of left ventricular dimensions and volumes compared to both I79N and HET. Ex vivo testing showed that the I79N/HET mouse hearts had reduced arrhythmia susceptibility compared to I79N mice. These results suggest that two disease mutations in TnT that have opposite effects on the myofilament Ca 2+ sensitivity can paradoxically ameliorate each other's disease phenotype. Normalizing myofilament Ca 2+ sensitivity may be a promising new treatment approach for a variety of diseases.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Promotes Development of M2 Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Cancer Mesenchymal Cells through a Complex Chemokine Network

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a highly aggressive form of breast cancer that displays profound cancer stem cell (CSC) and mesenchymal features that promote rapid metastasis. Another hallmark of IBC is high infiltration of M2 tumor-associated (immune-suppressing) macrophages. The molecular mechanism that drives these IBC phenotypes is not well understood. Using patient breast tumor specimens, breast cancer cell lines, and a patient-derived xenograft model of IBC, we demonstrate that IBC strongly expresses IL8 and growth-regulated oncogene (GRO) chemokines that activate STAT3, which promotes development of high levels of CSC-like cells and a mesenchymal phenotype. We also show that IBC expresses high levels of many monocyte recruitment and macrophage polarization factors that attract and differentiate monocytes into tumor-promoting, immune-suppressing M2-like macrophages. The M2 macrophages in turn were found to secrete high levels of IL8 and GRO chemokines, thereby creating a feed-forward chemokine loop that further drives an IBC epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Our study uncovers an intricate IBC-initiated autocrine-paracrine signaling network between IBC cells and monocytes that facilitates development of this highly aggressive form of breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: This study uncovers a signaling network in which IBC cells commandeer macrophages to become tumor-promoting, and they in turn drive IBC cells to be more cancer stem-like, mesenchymal, and aggressive.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/13/3360/F1.large.jpg.
Risk assessment basis of Acoustic Signal from Free Moving Metallic Particles in GIS

To study the risk of free moving metallic particles in gas insulated switchgear (GIS) chamber, a test cell is designed to simulate this defect. A lot of acoustic signals emitted by different shape and different size particles are measured to extract parameters of acoustic signals such as the phase correlation, amplitude and flight time. Then the criticality of particles is analyzed basis on these parameters. By analyzing the experimental results, the acoustic signals are weak and show a strong phase correlation when the discharge is caused by the static particles on the enclosure, however, the acoustic signals are strong and show a weak phase correlation when the particles are dancing on the enclosure. It also shows that the flight time varies with the particles' shape and size, and the cylindrical particles' flight time is more sensitive to the test voltage than that of the spherical. This means that they have different criticalities to the insulation of GIS. Moreover, the signal amplitude and particles flight time also have periodicity. Finally, a case is studied which verifying the finding of the paper.
Hazard of complex regional pain syndrome following human papillomavirus vaccination among adolescent girls in the United States: a case-cohort analysis of insurance claims data

Objectives: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) cases have followed human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, but no causal link has been established.Methods: Using insurance claims, the authors observed unvaccinated 11-year-old girls for CRPS diagnoses. The authors used time-dependent Cox regression to identify health-related CRPS predictors using diagnosis codes. Next, the authors identified HPV vaccinations using procedural codes. HPV vaccination and CRPS predictors were considered time-dependent covariates to estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for CRPS, 30, 90, and 180-days post-vaccination.Results: 1,232,572 girls received 563 unique CRPS diagnoses. In a 10% sub-cohort of 123,981 girls accounting for potential confounders and predisposing risk factors (i.e. injury, infection, mental illness, primary care use), CRPS hazard was not significantly elevated 30 days (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.46, 1.73), 90 days (HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.65), or 180-days post-vaccination (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.47).Conclusion: The results support the safety and continued administration of HPV vaccines to adolescents.
The impact of internet-based patient self-education of surgical mesh on patient attitudes and healthcare decisions prior to hernia surgery.

As internet access improves, patient self-education continues to increase. However, patient surgical background, e-literacy, and media exposure potentially influence what information patients search online. This impacts patient concern, healthcare decisions, and subsequent patient-physician interactions. The purpose of this pilot study is to characterize hernia patients’ use and the impact of internet self-education regarding surgical mesh. The target population included patients presenting for evaluation of hernia repair with mesh. A total of 30 patients were enrolled. Patients took surveys before and after the initial surgical consult. The surveys evaluated internet use, mesh research completed, the impact on patient opinions/decisions, and the impact of research on the patient-physician interaction. The average age of the patients was 58.7 years; sixteen had prior surgery with surgical mesh. 93% of patients were aware of surgical mesh through the media, and 60% were motivated by the media to conduct research. 90% of patients conducted research, and 67% used the internet. Patients with negative attitudes toward mesh had more media exposure in comparison to those with neutral or positive attitudes (p = 0.046), and they were more likely to have researched surgical mesh because of media influence (p = 0.033). This group had the highest rate of perceived knowledge on mesh risks and the lowest regarding benefits (p = 0.013). Patients who had prior surgery without complication had the most positive attitude toward surgical mesh (p = 0.010) and were less likely to plan to do future internet research (p = 0.041) in comparison to patients who had surgery with complications or no prior surgery. Patients’ attitudes and perceived knowledge regarding surgical mesh are associated with media exposure and internet research. These attributes along with prior surgical experience impact the patient-physician relationship and shared decision-making model regarding patient care.
Individuals’ Capacities to Apply Transferred Knowledge in AEC Project Teams

AbstractArchitectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) project teams are multiteam systems that temporarily gather individuals with diverse expertise to develop a common project. Individuals in...
Analysis and Review of Automated Risk Calculators Used to Predict Postoperative Complications After Orthopedic Surgery

To discuss the automated risk calculators that have been developed and evaluated in orthopedic surgery. Identifying predictors of adverse outcomes following orthopedic surgery is vital in the decision-making process for surgeons and patients. Recently, automated risk calculators have been developed to quantify patient-specific preoperative risk associated with certain orthopedic procedures. Automated risk calculators may provide the orthopedic surgeon with a valuable tool for clinical decision-making, informed consent, and the shared decision-making process with the patient. Understanding how an automated risk calculator was developed is arguably as important as the performance of the calculator. Additionally, conveying and interpreting the results of these risk calculators with the patient and its influence on surgical decision-making are paramount. The most abundant research on automated risk calculators has been conducted in the spine, total hip and knee arthroplasty, and trauma literature. Currently, many risk calculators show promise, but much research is still needed to improve them. We recommend they be used only as adjuncts to clinical decision-making. Understanding how a calculator was developed, and accurate communication of results to the patient, is paramount.
From Exclusive to Inclusive: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Study Abroad Participation and Practices.

The purpose of this study was to explore how postsecondary institutions with high and low study abroad participation rates communicate with students about study abroad opportunities. We were especi...
Gender disparities in international COVID-19 clinical trial leadership

Emerging data suggest that despite an increased number of peer-reviewed articles submitted to journals during the pandemic, women have published fewer papers than men thus far this year. In this study, we provide timely analysis to compare the gender distribution of clinical trial leadership in COVID-19 clinical trials. We demonstrate that less than one-third of COVID-19-related clinical trials are led by principal investigators who were predicted to be women, half the proportion observed in non-COVID-19 (breast cancer and T2DM) trials over the same period. These gender disparities during the pandemic may indicate not only a lack of women9s leadership in international clinical trials and involvement in new projects but also may reveal imbalances in women9s access to research activities and funding during health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic offers numerous opportunities for research and leadership that could equalize opportunity in a new field, but our results suggest the opposite. Our demonstration of gender differences in trial leadership and grant allocation argue for revised policies and strategies that encourage the participation of women in pandemic research. Not only can these women drive discovery and innovation, but they can act to address health disparities and provide role models for the next generation of women scientists.
The kappa opioid receptor agonist U50,488H did not affect brain-stimulation reward while it elicited conditioned place aversion in mice

Selective kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists were shown to produce a dose-dependent depression of brain-stimulation reward (BSR) in the rat intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) tests. However, limited studies using mice produced less conclusive results. Here the effects of U50,488H were re-examined on BSR in mice with a larger cohort of animals. Forty C57BL/6J male mice were implanted with the electrodes in medial forebrain bundle. About a week after surgery, mice were subject to ICSS training. Only eighteen passed the two-phase procedures, at which point they readily spun the wheels to obtain reinforcing effect of BSR, and were used for the ICSS tests. Compared with saline (s.c.), U50,488H (2 mg/kg, s.c.) did not have effects on the BSR thresholds within 1 h post-treatment, while it decreased the maximum wheel-spinning rates in a time-dependent manner. In contrast, cocaine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) decreased the BSR thresholds time-dependently without affecting the maximum wheel-spinning rates in the same cohort of mice, demonstrating the validity of our mouse ICSS models. For comparison, U50,488H (2 mg/kg, s.c.) induced significant conditioned place aversion (CPA) in a different cohort of mice without surgeries. Thus, ICSS may not be an appropriate test for KOR agonist-induced aversion in mice.
Toward Supporting Multi-GPU Targets via Taskloop and User-Defined Schedules

Many modern supercomputers such as ORNL’s Summit, LLNL’s Sierra, and LBL’s upcoming Perlmutter offer or will offer multiple, e.g., 4 to 8, GPUs per node for running computational science and engineering applications. One should expect an application to achieve speedup using multiple GPUs on a node of a supercomputer over a single GPU of the node, in particular an application that is embarrassingly parallel and load imbalanced, such as AutoDock, QMCPACK and DMRG++. OpenMP is a popular model used to run applications on heterogeneous devices of a node and OpenMP 5.x provides rich features for tasking and GPU offloading. However, OpenMP doesn’t provide significant support for running application code on multiple GPUs efficiently, in particular for the aforementioned applications. We provide different OpenMP task-to-GPU scheduling strategies that help distribute an application’s work across GPUs on a node for efficient parallel GPU execution. Our solution involves using OpenMP’s construct taskloop to generate OpenMP tasks containing target regions for OpenMP threads, and then having OpenMP threads assign those tasks to GPUs on a node through a schedule specified by the application programmer. We analyze the performance of our solution using a small benchmark code representative of the aforementioned applications. Our solution improves performance over a standard baseline assignment of tasks to GPUs by up to 57.2%. Further, based on our results, we suggest OpenMP extensions that could help an application programmer have his or her application run on multiple GPUs per node efficiently.
Long-Term Effects of Social-Emotional Learning on Academic Skills: Evidence from a Randomized Trial of INSIGHTS

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs are school-based preventive interventions that aim to improve children’s social-emotional skills and behaviors. Although meta-analytic research has shown th...
An orthogonal c-Cbl recognition mode targets LynA for rapid degradation and builds specificity into the LynA checkpoint

Abstract The activity of Src-family kinases (SFKs), which phosphorylate immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs), is critical factor regulating myeloid-cell activation. In a previous paper (Freedman et al., 2015) we showed in macrophages that the SFK LynA is uniquely susceptible to rapid ubiquitin-mediated degradation, functioning as a rheostat regulating ITAM signaling. We now report the mechanism by which LynA is preferentially targeted for degradation and how cell specificity is built into the LynA rheostat. Using genetic and biochemical analysis, we found that the E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl preferentially targets LynA via tyrosine 32 in its unique insert region. This orthogonal mode of c-Cbl recognition depresses the steady-state level of macrophage LynA. Mast cells, however, express little c-Cbl and have correspondingly high steady-state levels of LynA. Upon activation, mast-cell LynA is not rapidly degraded, and SFK-mediated signaling is amplified relative to macrophages. Cell-specific c-Cbl expression therefore builds cell specificity into the LynA checkpoint.
Implications of county-level variation in U.S. opioid distribution.

Abstract Background Prescription opioids accounted for the majority of opioid-related deaths in the United States prior to 2010, and continue to contribute to opioid misuse and mortality. We used a novel dataset to investigate the distributional patterns of prescription opioids, whether opioid pill volume was associated with opioid-related mortality, and whether early state Medicaid expansions were associated with either pill volume or opioid-related mortality. Methods Data on opioid shipments to retail pharmacies for 2006–2013 were obtained from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and opioid-related deaths (ORDs) were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We first compared characteristics of counties in the highest and lowest quartiles for per capita pill volume (PCPV). We used adjusted difference-in-differences regression models to identify factors associated with PCPV or ORDs, and whether early state Medicaid expansions were associated with either outcome. All models were estimated as linear regressions with standard errors clustered by county, and weighted by county population. Results We found large geographic variations in opioid distribution, and this variation appears to be driven by differences in demographics, healthcare access, and healthcare supply. In adjusted models, a one-pill increase in PCPV was associated with a 0.20 increase in ORDs per 100,000 population (95 % CI 0.11–0.30). Early Medicaid expansions were associated with lower PCPV (−2.20, 95 % CI −2.97 to −1.43). Conclusions Our findings validate the relationship between PCPV and ORDs, identify important environmental drivers of the opioid epidemic, and suggest early state Medicaid expansions were beneficial in reducing opioid pill volume.
Make a Left Turn: Cortico-Striatal Circuitry Mediating the Attentional Control of Complex Movements.

Background In movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), cholinergic signaling is disrupted by the loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, as well as aberrant activity in striatal cholinergic interneurons (ChIs). Several lines of evidence suggest that gait imbalance, a key disabling symptom of PD, may be driven by alterations in high-level frontal cortical and cortico-striatal processing more typically associated with cognitive dysfunction. Methods Here we describe the corticostriatal circuitry that mediates the cognitive-motor interactions underlying such complex movement control. The ability to navigate dynamic, obstacle-rich environments requires the continuous integration of information about the environment with movement selection and sequencing. The cortical-attentional processing of extero- and interoceptive cues requires modulation by cholinergic activity to guide striatal movement control. Cue-derived information is "transferred" to striatal circuitry primarily via fronto-striatal glutamatergic projections. Result Evidence from parkinsonian fallers and from a rodent model reproducing the dual cholinergic-dopaminergic losses observed in these patients supports the main hypotheses derived from this neuronal circuitry-guided conceptualization of parkinsonian falls. Furthermore, in the striatum, ChIs constitute a particularly critical node for the integration of cortical with midbrain dopaminergic afferents and thus for cues to control movements. Conclusion Procholinergic treatments that enhance or rescue cortical and striatal mechanisms may improve complex movement control in parkinsonian fallers and perhaps also in older persons suffering from gait disorders and a propensity for falls. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Rapid machine learning-based diagnostic analysis for high-energy-density experiments on high repetition rate laser systems

High intensity, high-repetition rate (HRR) lasers, that is lasers that can operate on the order of 1 Hz or faster, are quickly coming on-line around the world. High intensity lasers have long been an impactful tool in high energy density (HED) science since they are capable of creating matter at extreme temperatures and pressures relevant to this field. The advent of HRR technology enhances to this capability since HRR enables these types of these experiments to be performed faster, thus leading to an acceleration in the rate of learning in fundamental HED science. However, in order to use the full potential of HRR systems, high repetition rate diagnostics in addition to real-time analysis tools must be developed to process experimental measurements and outputs at a rate that matches the laser. Towards this goal, we present an automated machine learning based analysis for a synthetic X-ray spectrometer, which is a common diagnostic in HED experiments.
Alternative Assessment to Lab Reports: A Phenomenology Study of Undergraduate Biochemistry Students’ Perceptions of Interview Assessment

Research has begun to explore the undergraduate laboratory in many facets, such as students’ feelings, goals, and instructional approaches to the laboratory. However, research has not explored the experiences of students with summative assessment in the laboratory. This qualitative study investigates the experiences of upper-level undergraduate students’ exposure to lab interviews as an oral summative assessment. A phenomenological approach guided the analysis and interpretation of data gathered from 16 semistructured student interviews. The exploration of the data resulted in the development of an outcome space with three fundamental features and students’ core perceptions about lab interviews. This outcome space explores students’ feelings, performances, and perceived conceptual understandings before, during, and after the interview process. Implications and suggestions for the design and improvement of assessment practices are discussed.
Instabilities of nematic liquid crystal films

Abstract We discuss instabilities exhibited by free surface nematic liquid crystal (NLC) films of nanoscale thickness deposited on solid substrates, with a focus on surface instabilities that lead to dewetting. Such instabilities have been discussed extensively; however, there is still no consensus regarding the interpretation of experimental results, appropriate modeling approaches, or instability mechanisms. Instabilities of thin NLC free surface films are related to a wider class of problems involving dewetting of non-Newtonian fluids. For nanoscale films, the substrate–film interaction, often modeled by a suitable disjoining pressure, becomes relevant. For NLCs, one can extend the formulation to include the elastic energy of the NLC film, leading to an ‘effective’ disjoining pressure, playing an important role in instability development. Focusing on thin film modeling within the framework of the long-wave asymptotic model, we discuss various instability mechanisms and outline problems where new research is needed.
Persistence and Academic Performance of Medical Students in Online Learning Environment During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

Government response to the COVID 19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 came as a wave of physical closures requiring sudden change in the method of instruction from face-to-face to a completely online. Assessment of students adaptation to this change during emergency lockdown is the focus of this study. We used a One-way ANOVA to compare pandemic and pre-pandemic Performance of First Year medical students at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the brain and behavior module. Students’ test scores related to perception of persistence levels was studied using correlation analysis. In addition, a regression analysis was performed to examine prediction factors of medical student course grades during COVID-19. Students’ grades in the module during the COVID-19 were significantly higher compared to the grades in recent prior years at the p<.001 level [F (3, 692) = 9.08]. Pearson product-moment correlation results showed a strong and positive correlation between students’ persistence level (M = 3.46, SD = .997, n = 79), and their module grade during COVID-19 (M = 258.777, SD = 14.6878, n = 79), r = .33, p = < .01. The multiple linear regression analysis accounts for 14% of the variance in students’ module grades and the variance was statistically significant at p < .05. As such, we conclude that students’ persistence to adjust to a new learning environment coupled with module directors and faculty successfully employing remote education methods, met the learning challenges during the pandemic and students maintained a high level of academic success.
A PC-based free text DSS for health care: case studies and applications

A free text decision support system (DSS) has been constructed for health care professionals that allows the analysis of complex medical cases and the creation of a diagnostic list of potential diseases for clinical evaluation. The system uses a PC-based text management system specifically designed for desktop operation. The texts employed in the decision support package include The Merck Manual (published by Merck Sharpe & Dohme) and Control of Communicable Diseases in Man (published by the American Public Health Association). The background and design of the database are discussed, along with a structured analysis procedure for handling free text DSS systems. A case study is presented to show the application of this technology and conclusions are drawn in the summary that point to expanded areas of professional interaction and new frontiers yet to be explored in this rapidly progressing field.
Newborn temperature. I. Temperatures of term normal infants.

Summary Continuous rectal temperature recordsof twenty-three normal term infants were obtained during the immediate post-delivery period. The temperature curves of individual infants showed marked fluctuations which could not be correlated with crying and/or other physical activity. Although all infants exhibited poikilothermiato some degree, they nevertheless had the ability to increase their rectal temperatures momentarily. No marked differences was noted in the temperature curves of babies born of unsedated, sedated, and anesthetized mothers. Examination of the data suggests that decreased temperatures and temperature fluctuations may be desirable or even essential for a rapid, satisfactory adjustment to extrauterine life.
Loss of PKCδ results in characteristics of Sjögren’s syndrome including salivary gland dysfunction

Chronic infiltration of lymphocytes into the salivary and lacrimal glands of Sjogren’s Syndrome patients leads to destruction of acinar cells and loss of exocrine function. Protein kinase C-delta (PKCδ) is known to play a critical role in B cell maintenance. Mice in which the PKCδ gene has been disrupted have a loss of B cell tolerance, multiple organ lymphocytic infiltration, and altered apoptosis. To determine if PKCδ contributes to the pathogenesis of Sjogren’s Syndrome, we quantified changes in indicators of Sjogren’s Syndrome in PKCδ−/− mice as a function of age. Salivary gland histology, function, the presence of autoantibodies, and cytokine expression were examined. Materials and Methods: Submandibular glands were examined for the presence of lymphocytic infiltrates, and the type of infiltrating lymphocyte and cytokine deposition was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Serum samples were tested by autoantibody screening, which was graded by its staining pattern and intensity. Salivary gland function was determined by saliva collection at various ages. Results: PKCδ−/− mice have reduced salivary gland function, B220+ B cell infiltration, anti-nuclear antibody production, and elevated IFN-γ in the salivary glands as compared to PKCδ+/+ littermates. Conclusions: PKCδ−/− mice have exocrine gland tissue damage indicative of a Sjogren’s Syndrome-like phenotype.
Radiation environment at the Moon: Comparisons of transport code modeling and measurements from the CRaTER instrument

The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER), an instrument carried on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, directly measures the energy depositions by solar and galactic cosmic radiations in its silicon wafer detectors. These energy depositions are converted to linear energy transfer (LET) spectra. High LET particles, which are mainly high-energy heavy ions found in the incident cosmic ray spectrum, or target fragments and recoils produced by protons and heavier ions, are of particular importance because of their potential to cause significant damage to human tissue and electronic components. Aside from providing LET data useful for space radiation risk analyses for lunar missions, the observed LET spectra can also be used to help validate space radiation transport codes, used for shielding design and risk assessment applications, which is a major thrust of this work. In this work the Monte Carlo transport code HETC-HEDS (High-Energy Transport Code-Human Exploration and Development in Space) is used to estimate LET contributions from the incident primary ions and their charged secondaries produced by nuclear collisions as they pass through the three pairs of silicon detectors. Also in this work, the contributions to the LET of the primary ions and their charged secondaries are analyzed and compared with estimates obtained using the deterministic space radiation code HZETRN 2010, developed at NASA Langley Research Center. LET estimates obtained from the two transport codes are compared with measurements of LET from the CRaTER instrument during the mission. Overall, a comparison of the LET predictions of the HETC-HEDS code to the predictions of the HZETRN code displays good agreement. The code predictions are also in good agreement with the CRaTER LET measurements above 15 keV/µm but differ from the measurements for smaller values of LET. A possible reason for this disagreement between measured and calculated spectra below 15 keV/µm is an inadequate representation of the light ion spectra in HETC-HEDS and HZETRN code calculations. It is also clear from the results of this work that Vavilov distributions need to be incorporated into the HETC-HJEDS code before it will be able to recreate the observed LET spectra measured by the CRaTER instrument.
CBA/J mice generate protective immunity to soluble Ag85 but fail to respond efficiently to Ag85 during natural Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

In CBA/J mice, susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is associated with low interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) responses to antigens (Antigen 85 (Ag85) and early secreted antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6)) that have been defined as immunodominant. Here, we asked whether the failure of CBA/J mice to recognize Ag85 is a consequence of M.tb infection or whether CBA/J mice have a general defect in generating specific T-cell responses to this protein antigen. We compared CBA/J mice during primary M.tb infection, Ag85 vaccination followed by M.tb challenge, or M.tb memory immune mice for their capacity to generate Ag85-specific IFN-γ responses and to control M.tb infection. CBA/J mice did not respond efficiently to Ag85 in the context of natural infection or re-infection. In contrast, CBA/J mice could generate Ag85-specific IFN-γ responses and protective immunity when this antigen was delivered as a soluble protein. Our data indicate that although M.tb infection of CBA/J mice does not drive an Ag85 response, these mice can fully and protectively respond to Ag85 if it is delivered as a vaccine. The data from this experimental model suggest that the Ag85-containing vaccines in clinical trials should protect M.tb susceptible humans.
Psychosocial Implications of Homophobia and HIV Stigma in Social Support Networks Insights for High-Impact HIV Prevention Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) bear an increasingly disproportionate burden of HIV in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends high-impact combination prevention for populations at high risk for HIV infection, such as BMSM. However, few scholars have considered the types of behavioral interventions that combined with biomedical prevention could prove effective for mitigating the epidemic among BMSM. Between June 2013 and May 2014, we conducted three in-depth interviews each with 31 BMSM, interviews with 17 community stakeholders, and participant observation in New York City to understand the sociocultural and structural factors that may affect the acceptance of and adherence to oral preexposure prophylaxis among BMSM and to inform an adherence clinical trial. BMSM and community leaders frequently described condomless sex as a consequence of psychosocial factors and economic circumstances stemming from internalized homophobia resulting from rejection by families and religious groups. BMSM revealed that internalized homophobia and HIV stigma resulted in perceived lack of self- and community efficacy in accepting and adhering to preexposure prophylaxis. Our results indicate that addressing internalized homophobia and fostering emotional social support in peer networks are key elements to improve the effectiveness of combination prevention among BMSM.
Über fluorhaltige Komplexe. XI. Über kondensierte Fluorooxoantimonate

Die Herstellung kristalliner Tetraathylammonium- bzw. Tetrabutylammoniumfluoro-hydroxoantimonate gelingt leichter als die entsprechender Natrium- oder Kaliumsalze. Die Art der Kondensation der Anionenkomplexe ist nicht nur vom Zentralatom, sondern auch in starkem Mase von den Kationen abhangig. Fluorohydroxoantimonate mit substituierten Ammoniumkationen ergeben beim Erhitzen eine reine Wasserabspaltung im Gegensatz zu den Natrium- oder Kaliumsalzen, die unter HF-Abspaltung kondensieren. Aus [SbF5OH]− entsteht bei Wasserabspaltung das komplexe Anion [F5SbOSbF5]2−, das Anion [SbF4(OH)2]− fuhrt zu Es wurden verschiedene Salze der beiden kondensierten Anionen hergestellt. ist im Gegensatz zu den anderen Alkalisalzen schwerloslich und eignet sich daher zur Abtrennung von Caesium. Mit Hilfe von Ionenaustauschern sind die wasrigen Losungen der Sauren H2[F5SbOSbF5] und zu gewinnen. [N(C2H5)4][AsF5OH] liefert bei der thermischen Behandlung unter HF-Abspaltung Die Infrarotspektren der verschiedenen Verbindungen werden mitgeteilt. The reaction paths of the thermal condensation of tetraethyl (or butyl) ammonium and alkali-metal fluorohydroxoantimonates have been found to be dependent on the nature of the cations. Whereas the anions of Na and K salts condensate on heating by formation of HF, the substituted ammonium compounds decompose with release of water, yielding thus, from [SbF5OH]− and [SbF4(OH)2]−, the dimeric anions [F5SbOSbF5]2− and respectively, from which several salts and aqueous solutions of the free acids have been prepared. Among the alkali-metal salts , the Cs compound is sparingly soluble and suitable, therefore, for Cs separations. The thermal decomposition of [N(C2H5)4][AsF5OH] yields, with HF formation, The IR spectra of these compounds are communicated.
Interrelationships Between Vitamin K and Estrogenic Hormones

Evidence is presented which indicates a protective effect of estroge nic hormones in vitamin-K deficiency. Impetus for the study was provide d when hemorrhagic deaths began occurring in large numbers in a group of rats being fed a diet which did not contain vitamin-K. Only the male rats seemed to be susceptible. In the present experiment it was demonstrated that female rats are more resistant to the development of dietary K deficiency than are male animals. This difference is most pronounced during early adulthood. Castration increases the susceptibility of the female rat and decreases that of the male rat to hypoprothrombinemia and hemorrhagic death during the feeding of vitamin-K-deficient diets. In male animals fed similar diets the injection of estrogens results in improved prothrombin levels and a lower mortality. Administration of testosterone has an opposite effects . A single large dose of the anticoagulant warfarin sodium is followe d by a greater mortality due to hemorrhage in male rats than in female rats of the same age. In male animals some protection against the effects of the anticoagulant is afforded by pretreatment or by simultane ous administration of estrogenic substances. Effects considered to be characteristic of estrogenic hormones such as increases in the uterine weight and cornification of the vaginal epithelium in castrates have been shown to follow the administration of both K-1 and menadione. With K-1 at least paradoxical effects occur with increasing dose level or continued administration. When K-1 is administered concomitantly with estradiol uterine weights are considerably decreased in comparison with those resulting from the same dose of estradiol given alone.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)
Human platelets contain brain-derived neurotrophic factor

Neurotrophic support to peripheral sensory neurons is provided by 2 factors of related sequence, NGF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). NGF is present in peripheral target tissues, while BDNF has only been reported in the CNS. We now report the biological characterization and molecular cloning of a cDNA for BDNF from human platelets. BDNF in human platelets has biological activities very similar to those of BDNF obtained from adult porcine brain in neuron-enriched cultures prepared from peripheral ganglia of chick embryos at 8-12 d of incubation. BDNF from human platelets promoted the survival and neurite outgrowth of placodal and neural crest-derived sensory neurons, but not to parasympathetic or sympathetic neurons. Activity of the factor was additive to that of NGF in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neuron cultures and is equivalent to porcine brain BDNF in nodose ganglion neuron cultures. On SDS-PAGE, BDNF from human platelets is recovered at an apparent molecular weight equivalent to porcine brain BDNF (13,000 D). A BDNF cDNA fragment was amplified from human platelet RNA by using a coupled reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Molecular cloning and DNA sequence analysis of the amplified cDNA fragment revealed complete identity for the deduced amino acid sequences of human and porcine BDNF [amino acid (aa) 10-108 of the mature factor]. Thus, human platelets might provide an important source of BDNF for regenerating peripheral sensory neurons at the site of nerve injury.
Biomarkers in fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a common pain syndrome characterized by widespread pain, tenderness, and a number of other somatic symptoms and syndromes. Although there was original skepticism that any objective abnormalities would be identified in these individuals, at present there are many that have been reproducibly identified, and most point to dysregulation of central nervous system function as a key underlying pathogenic mechanism in this and related illnesses. This article reviews several objective abnormalities or measures that have been identified or used in fibromyalgia, and indicates which of these may be most promising to eventually use as biomarkers to follow the response to treatment or progress of disease over time.
Rhodopsin and visual adaptation: Analysis of photoreceptor thresholds in the isolated skate retina

Abstract Photoreceptor thresholds in the isolated retina of the skate, determined by extracellular measurement of the photoreceptor potential during periods of light and dark adaptation, were analyzed in relationship to prevailing states of the visual pigment. The starting assumption of the analysis is that relative levels of three forms of the pigment molecule [native rhodopsin ( R ), a photoactivated intermediate ( R* ), and bleached pigment ( B )] govern (quasi-) stable levels of threshold measured (a) during exposure of the retina to background light of fixed incident intensity ( I b ), and (b) after irradiation that bleaches a defined fraction ( B ) of the rhodopsin. It is shown that experimental data are described well by the equation I t /I t0 = (1 − B) −1 · F · (1 + θ 3 B),whereF = [1 + θ 1 I b (1 − B) + θ:B] . In this equation, I t /I t0 is the relative threshold for detection of a test flash; ( 1 − B ) approximates the relative efficiency of quantum capture; and θ 1 − θ 3 are constants. For values of θ 1 − θ 3 yielding an optimal fit to experimental data, log (I t /I t0 )~log F over a broad range of values of I b and B . It is further shown that the algebraic form of the term F in the above equation is consistent with the predictions of a (steady-state) model for the role of the pigment molecule in photoreceptor adaptation. The model proposes that R* and B desensitize the photoreceptor by acting (in qualitatively similar fashion) to reduce the availability of E , an intracellular substance whose activation supports generation of the flash response. Results of the analysis are discussed in relation to the Dowling-Rushton equation (Dowling, 1960, 1963; Rushton, 1961), and to the results of more recent studies examining light and dark adaptation.
An integral method for the analysis of blood flow.

The existing methods to solve the problems of pulsatile flow in the cardiovascular system are based on either linear axisymmetric equations or non-linear one-dimensional equations. The solutions thus obtained give only a mediocre comparison with measurements. In this paper, a non-linear axisymmetric theory is proposed. The starting point of the present theory is a third degree polynomial representation of the velocity profile. Integral methods are then applied to obtain the governing equations. To ascertain the accuracy of the theory proposed above, the calculations for a simple case involving pulsatile flow in a long rigid tube were performed. The results are: (a) the average velocities compare very well with exact solutions and (b) the velocity profiles for a given frequency agree very well with exact solutions for flow in small tubes, but tend to differ as tube size is increased.
Graphene based materials: Past, present and future

Abstract Graphene, a two dimensional monoatomic thick building block of a carbon allotrope, has emerged as an exotic material of the 21st century, and received world-wide attention due to its exceptional charge transport, thermal, optical, and mechanical properties. Graphene and its derivatives are being studied in nearly every field of science and engineering. Recent progress has shown that the graphene-based materials can have a profound impact on electronic and optoelectronic devices, chemical sensors, nanocomposites and energy storage. The aim of this review article is to provide a comprehensive scientific progress of graphene to date and evaluate its future perspective. Various synthesis processes of single layer graphene, graphene nanoribbons, chemically derived graphene, and graphene-based polymer and nano particle composites are reviewed. Their structural, thermal, optical, and electrical properties were also discussed along with their potential applications. The article concludes with a brief discussion on the impact of graphene and related materials on the environment, its toxicological effects and its future prospects in this rapidly emerging field.
Finance, technology transfer, and national security: A preliminary survey

Concern has been expressed within and outside the United States government about the implications for national security of foreign ownership of and control over aspects of the US defense industrial base and the transfer of militarily sensitive technology to other countries. The focus has rightly been placed on direct contact, through over or clandestine means, between US organizations that are engaged in the development or manufacture of such technology and foreign countries. Avenues of indirect contact and/or access have, however, received less attention. This survey is a review of the various elements of one such avenue-foreign control over or presence in the US financial community. Since finance is an essential element of economic activity and US policy strongly endorses the unfettered freedom of movement of all aspects of economic activity across national borders, a strong foreign presence in the American financial sector is expected and welcomed. Yet the obvious use of finance to control and channel production and distribution leads to consideration of the ways in which foreign interests in acquiring or affecting sensitive technologies can be advanced through financial means.
Wetting and Wicking

The fundamentals of wetting and wicking are reviewed. Wetting is the displacement of a fiber-air interface with a fiber-liquid interface. Wicking is the spontaneous flow of a liquid in a porous sub...
Interpreting course evaluation results: insights from thinkaloud interviews with medical students.

PURPOSE To determine whether some of the fundamental assumptions that frequently underlie interpretation of course evaluation results are justified by investigating what medical students are thinking as they complete a typical basic science course evaluation. METHODS A total of 24 students participated in thinkaloud cognitive interviews, voicing their thoughts while completing a typical evaluation instrument that included items on overall course design, educational materials and methods, and faculty teaching. Students' responses were organised to consider how they interpreted questions, formed judgements and selected response options. Major themes relevant to the meaningful interpretation of course evaluation data were identified. RESULTS Medical students understood educational terms such as 'independent learning' in different ways from both one another and common usage. When formulating responses, students' judgements were sometimes based on unique or unexpected criteria, and they described editing their judgements by considering factors such as effort or caring on the part of teaching faculty. Students tended to avoid using the lower end of the rating scale, used the highest rating option selectively, but chose the second highest category indiscriminately. CONCLUSIONS These results call into question fundamental assumptions that frequently underlie interpretation of course evaluation results, such as whether students understand the intended meanings of terms used in items; whether faculty members who receive the same rating are perceived similarly; whether ratings actually reflect teaching effectiveness, and whether 'positive' ratings reflect positive opinions. This study also demonstrates how thinkaloud interviews can be used in validity studies, providing information to supplement statistical and psychometric analyses.