cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The evolution of cryptic spider silk: a behavioral test

Phylogenetic patterns of change in spider silk coloration provide insight into the selective pressures directing evolution of silks. Trends toward evolution of silks with low reflectance of ultraviolet (UV) light suggest that reduced UV reflectance may be an adaptation to reduce visibility of webs to insect prey. However, a test of the visibility of primitive and derived spider silks is lacking. Several genera of orb-weaving spiders include conspicuous designs of silk, called ‘‘stabilimenta,’’ at the center of their webs. Due to their large size, stabilimenta present signals that insects can use to avoid webs. Unlike other silks in the orb web, which reflect little UV light, evolutionarily derived stabilimentum silk retains a bright UV reflectance. But, unlike primitive silks, stabilimentum silk also reflects large amounts of blue and green light. We compared the visibility of primitive tarantula silks and derived stabilimentum silks to insects by using the ability of honey bees to learn to forage at targets of spider silk. We found that the unique spectral properties of stabilimentum silk render it cryptic to insects and that primitive silks are more visible to bees. Our findings support a hypothesis that the coloration of stabilimentum silk is an adaptation to reduce the ability of insects to avoid webs and that ancient biases in the color vision of insects have acted upon the evolution of spider silk coloration through sensory drive. But our findings question the emphasis on UV reflectance alone for visibility of spider silks to insects.
Taphonomic processes of bone distribution and deposition in the tufa caves of Taung, South Africa

The tufa caves at Taung create a somewhat unique despositional enveronment for the bones that are brought in by various taphonomic agents. The Taung hominin skull, type specimen of Australopithecus africanus, and associated fossil fauna must be interpreted within the particluar context os such tufa caves. Taphonomic experiments with three animals were conducted to elucidate the nature of bone distribution and deposition in a cave that is similar in nature to those in which Pliocene fossils were deposited. It was found that dry portions of the cave tend to preserve a higher proportion of the skeletal remains, and that the distribution of bones is relatively restricted. Skeletal representation of this nature parallels that found in the densely fossiliferous Hrdlicka Deposits at Taung. This contrasts with the wet portion of the cave in which water activity tends to spread bones aver a wider area and results in lesser skeletal representation.
Complete Transcatheter Treatment of Degenerated Bioprosthetic Mitral Regurgitation : Transapical Paravalvular Leak Closure Followed by Transseptal Mitral Valve-in-Valve Replacement

A 67-year-old woman (frail, body mass index of 18, forced expiratory volume1 of 0.86, Society of Thoracic Surgeons score of 12%) was referred for transcatheter correction of a severely degenerated bioprosthetic (29-mm Edwards Perimount Bovine Pericardial, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California)
Electronic and spectral properties of ametal-organic super container molecule by single point DFT

ABSTRACTMetal-organic super container (MOSC) molecules are ideal candidates for photocatalysis due to their construction with transition metal centres and tuneable cavity sizes that could house catalytic sites. The basic electronic structure for a model of extremely large size (more than 2000 ions) is explored by single point calculation using unrestricted density functional theory, and Perdue–Burke–Ernzerhof functional in Vienna ab initio simulation package software. The information obtained through these calculations (such as density of states, absorbance spectra, and charge density) will allow for analysis of a MOSC's catalytic ability. Electronic characteristics of the nanostructures (MOSCs and their building blocks) in the ground and photoexcited electronic configurations are examined. We explore if the presence of transition metal ions with open shells in such close proximity to one another may result in high spin configurations and show any arrangement into ferromagnetic ordering. Spin-unrestricted...
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes reduce cardiac function in vitro by release of H2O2

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) have been implicated in postischemic myocardial injury and associated derangements in contractile function. To examine the direct effects of PMNs on cardiac function, isolated right ventricular papillary muscles of the rabbit were exposed to increasing concentrations of purified rabbit PMNs in the presence of cimetidine. PMNs induced a significant concentration-dependent decrease in contractile function, where 5 x 10(5) PMNs/ml reduced contractile force to 75 +/- 2.1% of control (vs. 95 +/- 5% for time control; P less than 0.005). Similar decreases were also observed for peak positive and negative first derivatives of contractile force. The degree of PMN-induced contractile dysfunction correlated with the activity of the PMNs in an aggregation assay (r = 0.82, P less than 0.01). The loss of contractile function in response to PMNs was attenuated by catalase, which metabolizes H2O2, but not by superoxide dismutase, a scavenger of the superoxide anion. PMNs can convert H2O2 to either the hypochlorite anion or the hydroxyl radical, which are removed by methionine or mannitol, respectively. However, these scavengers did not ameliorate the PMN-induced loss of cardiac function. Exposure of papillary muscles to H2O2 resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in contractile function where 100 microM reduced contractile force to 78 +/- 4%, an effect prevented by catalase. Thus PMNs reduce the contractile function of isolated papillary muscles probably by the release of H2O2.
Is there an n for which φ(x)=n has a Unique Solution?

(1969). Is there an n for which φ(x)=n has a Unique Solution? The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 76, No. 3, pp. 288-289.
Mucosus Organism from Suppurative Lesions of Rat on Diet Deficient in Vitamin A

Spontaneous infection of the upper part of the respiratory tract of the albino rat is not uncommon. In animals being used for experimental purposes, as well as among those kept in stock 1 one frequently encounters suppurative otitis media, purulent nasal sinusitis, and various types of pulmonary infections. As terminal events in the course of experimental avitaminosis in the white rat, such infections are frequent 2 and are instrumental in causing death. It is thought that deficiency of vitamin A causes such a reduction in cellular activity that it amounts to a deficiency of glandular activity 3 and that this, in turn, brings about secondary changes, bacterial invasion, and death. Reviewing the literature, one is surprised to find that bacteriologic studies of these infections have not been extensive. For this reason, and because it was desired to find an organism in rats kept on diets deficient in vitamin A that might be suitable for use in the study of the relationship of vitamin deficiencies to infection, cultural studies of a group of animals dying from avitaminosis, were made. Method of Culture.-By using ordinary skill one can obtain satisfactory cultures from the middle ears and the nasal turbinates of a rat by the following technique.
Graphical Solution of Difficult Crossing Puzzles

(1966). Graphical Solution of Difficult Crossing Puzzles. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 151-157.
Isotopic transient studies of sodium promotion of Pt/Al2O3 for the water–gas shift reaction

Abstract The promotional effect of sodium on Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalysts for the water–gas shift (WGS) reaction was investigated with operando FTIR during steady-state and isotopic transient experiments. The highest turnover frequency (TOF) promotion per surface Pt occurred on a 0.82 wt.% Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalyst with a 30:1 molar ratio of Na:Pt. This catalyst exhibited a TOF of 0.35 s −1 at 250 °C and 7% CO, 11% H 2 O, 9% CO 2 , and 37% H 2 compared to 0.43 × 10 −2 s −1 on Pt/Al 2 O 3 . Operando IR revealed that Na addition modifies CO adsorption on Pt to create more strongly bound, multiply-bonded CO species at 1768 cm −1 and 1697 cm −1 compared to predominantly linear CO on Na-free Pt/Al 2 O 3 at 2060 cm −1 . Transient experiments with 12 CO/ 13 CO isotope switches showed that the number of carbon-containing active intermediates increased from less than 1% of the surface Pt for Na-free Pt/Al 2 O 3 to nearly 100% of the surface Pt for 20Na:Pt/Al 2 O 3 , which indicates that only a small fraction of the Pt surface on the Na-free samples participates in the WGS reaction. From time-resolved IR spectra during transient WGS with 12 CO/ 13 CO and 12 CO 2 / 13 CO 2 isotope switches, we propose that surface formate species are spectators for all Na-promoted Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalysts under these WGS conditions. The results suggest that Na promotes Pt/Al 2 O 3 for WGS by modifying the local electronic properties of Pt and creating new H 2 O activation sites, which provide greater availability of surface OH/H species to react with nearly all CO on the metallic Pt surface through a non-formate pathway.
Latino Mothers' Cumulative Food Insecurity Exposure and Child Body Composition

Objectives To document whether an intergenerational transmission of food insecurity is occurring by assessing low-income foreign-born Latino mothers' experiences with food insecurity as none, once (either childhood or adulthood) or twice (during both childhood and adulthood). Also the association between maternal cumulative food insecurity and children's body composition was examined. Methods Maternal self-reported surveys on retrospective measures of food insecurity during childhood, current measures of food insecurity, and demographics were collected from Houston-area community centers (N = 96). Children's body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were directly assessed. Covariate-adjusted logistic regression models analyzed the association between cumulative food insecurity experiences and children's body composition. Results Fifty-eight percent of mothers experienced food insecurity both as a child and as an adult and 31% of the mothers experienced food insecurity either as a child or adult. Maternal cumulative exposure to food insecurity was unrelated to BMI but was negatively related to elevated WC. Conclusions Although an intergenerational transmission of food insecurity does exist, maternal cumulative exposure to food insecurity does not impact children's body composition negatively in the short term. Studying the long-term effects of cumulative food insecurity exposure can provide information for the development and timing of obesity interventions.
Idiographic Network Visualizations

Abstract In this article the authors present an ongoing research project aimed at supporting scholars in the exploration of historical networks through a highly visual and interactive environment for the construction and the manipulation of graphs. They briefly illustrate and discuss a set of techniques defined within a multidisciplinary academic context to better integrate scholars and students’ knowledge beyond the graph.
Intercultural Interactions Among Burmese Refugees in Multicultural Middle School Classrooms

The largest refugee group entering the United States in recent years is from Burma. Refugee students face a daunting set of challenges, from language and cultural differences to living in poverty, in becoming successful in their new homes. To be successful in schools and gain cultural and social capital, refugee students must learn and internalize the specific norms of their classrooms. In middle school, students are particularly reliant upon their peers for support, making peer interactions especially important. In multicultural settings, students have ample opportunities for intercultural interactions, which can help refugee students navigate their new settings and become more successful. Unfortunately, there has been little research on the experiences of Burmese refugee students in classrooms in the United States. I used a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological approach to study how three female Burmese refugee students experienced multicultural middle school classrooms in the United States, especially their intercultural interactions, through interviews, observations, and stimulated recall. The participants reported wanting to understand what they were learning, stay on task, and be kind to other students. Those traits developed from their experiences in their countries of origin and combined to create a picture of what a good student should be. In observations, students acted out their ideas of what it meant to be a good student. Their intercultural interactions in class reaffirmed their identities as good students. BURMESE REFUGEE STUDENT INTERACTION ii Implications based on the findings include setting up intentional intercultural interactions with a diverse group of students in classrooms with multicultural approaches and that researchers examine the experiences of various groups of marginalized students while accounting for the context in which they learn and acknowledging a multifaceted view of adolescent identity development. BURMESE REFUGEE STUDENT INTERACTION iii Table of
Quality Improvement in University Counseling Centers

ABSTRACTUniversity Counseling Centers (UCCs) experience high clinical demands and severe client presentations leaving counselors with limited time and resources to evaluate delivery of services. In this article, we present clinician-friendly quality improvement (QI) strategies used at a large Midwestern university and provide recommendations for implementing QI programs at other UCCs even as their resources may vary. With counselor-led efforts examining and evaluating services, UCCs can use QI programs to inform and improve counseling practices as well as advise university administrators about the positive outcomes of the center’s work.
Achieving Competitively Cooperative Economic and Trade Relations: Lessons Over the Years

The U.S-France relations will continue to be remembered not just because of the exchange of gifts and amicable diplomatic relations which have symbiotically benefited both nations over the years – particularly from an economic point of view, but also from the very important moral that nations can still work cooperatively and competitively with each other in such a way whereby net benefits – as opposed to disadvantages, are generated by both parties involved.In an ever increasingly changing and dynamic environment where emerging economies are impacting the world at a rapid pace - resulting in new economic alliances being forged, as well as new trade and regional agreements, current widely-held perceptions that globalization and free trade could be detrimental to any nation’s economy, is generating concerns that protectionist measures will soon be adopted and embraced by some leading economic nations. In view of the dawn of an historic era – as well as the birth of a new era – with the election of an incoming US President fast approaching, and given the significance of finalizing the Trans Pacific Partnership before the inauguration of the new President – possibly undertaken by the current President, this paper seeks to highlight how diplomatic relations have transformed the global economy over the years – as well as why free trade still generates economic and environmental benefits.The central theme of this paper – as with other papers published by the author in relation to Free Trade Agreements is namely:That Free Trade Agreements, on their own, are intended to be beneficial to any economy. It ceases to be beneficial for a number of reasons, most notably, when they have been badly negotiated and lacking of essential provisions.Therefore, there should be every opportunity to renegotiate badly negotiated Free Trade Agreements which may have been attributed to previous or present administrations – as well as ensuring that future agreements are not lacking when it comes to essential provisions.
Rapid, High-Throughput Identification of Anthrax-Causing and Emetic Bacillus cereus Group Genome Assemblies via BTyper, a Computational Tool for Virulence-Based Classification of Bacillus cereus Group Isolates by Using Nucleotide Sequencing Data

The Bacillus cereus group comprises nine species, several of which are pathogenic. Differentiating between isolates that may cause disease and those that do not is a matter of public health and economic importance, but it can be particularly challenging due to the high genomic similarity within the group. To this end, we have developed BTyper, a computational tool that employs a combination of (i) virulence gene-based typing, (ii) multilocus sequence typing (MLST), (iii) panC clade typing, and (iv) rpoB allelic typing to rapidly classify B. cereus group isolates using nucleotide sequencing data. BTyper was applied to a set of 662 B. cereus group genome assemblies to (i) identify anthrax-associated genes in non-B. anthracis members of the B. cereus group, and (ii) identify assemblies from B. cereus group strains with emetic potential. With BTyper, the anthrax toxin genes cya, lef, and pagA were detected in 8 genomes classified by the NCBI as B. cereus that clustered into two distinct groups using k-medoids clustering, while either the B. anthracis poly-γ-d-glutamate capsule biosynthesis genes capABCDE or the hyaluronic acid capsule hasA gene was detected in an additional 16 assemblies classified as either B. cereus or Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from clinical, environmental, and food sources. The emetic toxin genes cesABCD were detected in 24 assemblies belonging to panC clades III and VI that had been isolated from food, clinical, and environmental settings. The command line version of BTyper is available at https://github.com/lmc297/BTyper. In addition, BMiner, a companion application for analyzing multiple BTyper output files in aggregate, can be found at https://github.com/lmc297/BMiner. IMPORTANCE Bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen that is estimated to cause tens of thousands of illnesses each year in the United States alone. Even with molecular methods, it can be difficult to distinguish nonpathogenic B. cereus group isolates from their pathogenic counterparts, including the human pathogen Bacillus anthracis, which is responsible for anthrax, as well as the insect pathogen B. thuringiensis. By using the variety of typing schemes employed by BTyper, users can rapidly classify, characterize, and assess the virulence potential of any isolate using its nucleotide sequencing data.
International perspectives on age-friendly cities, edited by Francis G. Caro and Kelly G. Fitzgerald : New York, NY, Routledge, 2016

Caro and Fitzgerald’s edited volume, International Perspectives on Age-Friendly Cities, is a timely effort to further research on a growing segment of the population. It should prove helpful for pl...
Causal set generator and action computer

Abstract The causal set approach to quantum gravity has gained traction over the past three decades, but numerical experiments involving causal sets have been limited to relatively small scales. The software suite presented here provides a new framework for the generation and study of causal sets. Its efficiency surpasses previous implementations by several orders of magnitude. We highlight several important features of the code, including the compact data structures, the O ( N 2 ) causal set generation process, and several implementations of the O ( N 3 ) algorithm to compute the Benincasa–Dowker action of compact regions of spacetime. We show that by tailoring the data structures and algorithms to take advantage of low-level CPU and GPU architecture designs, we are able to increase the efficiency and reduce the amount of required memory significantly. The presented algorithms and their implementations rely on methods that use CUDA, OpenMP, x86 Assembly, SSE/AVX, Pthreads, and MPI. We also analyze the scaling of the algorithms’ running times with respect to the problem size and available resources, with suggestions on how to modify the code for future hardware architectures. Program summary Program Title: Causal Set Generator and Action Computer Program Files doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/5k8wjrhgwh.1 Licensing Provisions: MIT Programming Language: C++/CUDA, x86 Assembly Nature of Problem: Generate causal sets and compute the Benincasa–Dowker action. Solution Method: We generate causal sets sprinkled on a Lorentzian manifold by randomly sampling element coordinates using OpenMP and linking elements using CUDA. Causal sets are stored in a minimal binary representation via the FastBitset class. We measure the action in parallel using OpenMP, SSE/AVX and x86 Assembly. When multiple computers are available, MPI and POSIX threads are also incorporated. Additional Comments: The program runs most efficiently with an Intel processor supporting AVX2 and an NVIDIA GPU with compute capability greater than or equal to 3.0.
Verified hybrid LQ control for autonomous spacecraft rendezvous

Rendezvous is a fundamental maneuver in autonomous space operations in which an active chaser spacecraft is required to navigate safely to the proximity of a second passive target spacecraft. Ensuring safety of such control maneuvers is challenging and design errors can be expensive. We present the first verified control solution to a benchmark formulation of spacecraft autonomous rendezvous in the form of a hybrid LQR controller verified using a data-driven algorithm. Our hybrid LQR scheme is motivated by enforcing safety constraints rather than optimizing performance, and the control law is formulated by periodically solving optimization problems that depend on the current state. The resulting hybrid system presents a challenge for existing automated formal verification tools due to its lack of a closed-form model description. We overcome this challenge by using a data-driven approach (implemented in the new verification tool DryVR). DryVR relies on simulation traces to compute reachable states of the system over bounded time horizon and initial conditions to rigorously verify that the system does not violate any safety requirements.
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) reproduction undeterred by predator scent inside nest boxes

Indirect predator cues near nests have been shown to enhance perceived predation risk and associated antipredator behaviours in breeding animals across taxa and particularly with birds. We hypothesized that scent from the raccoon (Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758)) inside nest boxes would, despite being an evolutionarily unique predator, enhance perceived risk to the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758)), thus reducing use of treated sites and reproduction. During early spring, starlings selected from nest boxes treated with equal volumes of predator scent, a novel odour, or water (n = 40 boxes per treatment). We evaluated effects of treatment on reproductive traits via generalized linear models. Starlings established nest bowls in 61% of nest boxes (predator scent, n = 27 boxes; novel odour, n = 24 boxes; control (water), n = 22 boxes); clutches were laid in 68 boxes. We observed no effects of treatment on the likelihood of a clutch (≥1 egg) or nest failure. Further, we found no treatment ef...
Common Platform Architecture

Designing a family of products using a common platform approach instead of designing single products has gained momentum in various industries. One of the challenges faced by companies include identifying common modular platform configuration for a set of existing similar products, which requires development of product and process models and tools to facilitate configuration reasoning. The purpose of this chapter is to present a configuration reasoning framework that can be applied to identify common platform architectures. To accomplish this objective, first representations are developed for product architecture, then mathematical tools are developed to identify common platform from these representations along with a re-modularization scheme to investigate alternative architectures. Product architectures are discrete, as such graph and set representations are used to model product architectures. Discrete mathematical tools such as isomorphism are then adopted and applied to identify common platform architecture. The application of this configuration reasoning framework is illustrated using identifying common platform architecture for a set of automotive underbody front structures.
Using Brain Activity to Predict Task Performance and Operator Efficiency

The efficiency and safety of many complex human-machine systems are closely related to the cognitive workload and situational awareness of their human operators. In this study, we utilized functional near infrared (fNIR) spectroscopy to monitor anterior prefrontal cortex activation of experienced operators during a standard working memory and attention task, the n-back. Results indicated that task efficiency can be estimated using operator’s fNIR and behavioral measures together. Moreover, fNIR measures had more predictive power than behavioral measures for estimating operator’s future task performance in higher difficulty conditions.
The life and thought of Margaret Fuller : a Buddhist interpretation

Margaret Fuller (1810-1850), a Transcendentalist of the nineteenth century America, was a woman of enigmatic thought and remarkable personality. However, both her thought and personality have neither been understood nor forgotten. This is the Margaret Myth. She has been depicted as an arrogant woman, who said that there was no intellectual above her in America, and as an immoral eccentric woman who pursued free love. Her thought was full of nobility and wisdom. Some say that her thought is very modern or even ahead of our age, yet it was disregarded because it was not Christian. These are her images for a few who still remember her in America. Yet she has been a popular topic for the students and scholars of Transcendentalism, Women s Studies, feminism and so forth. Once she becomes a topic, many are deeply attracted to her. Some scholars have tried to do more justice to her. Generally speaking, however, she is still not well recognized. Surprisingly, however, her thought is very similar to that of Buddhism. She had an awakening experience like the Buddha had, and her thought was constructed on it. The central idea of her thought is the ineffability of Truth. It is very similar to the doctrine of sunyata (emptiness) in Buddhism. Her enigmatic personality is not that of an eccentric, but it is very similar to an awakened person, who is well recognizable in Buddhism, especially in Zen. The inseparability of her thought and personality was also a mystery; however, such phenomenon also similarly happened in many awakened persons
Serum alpha 1-antitrypsin concentration in dogs with panniculitis.

OBJECTIVE To measure serum alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) concentration in dogs with histologically confirmed panniculitis to determine whether serum deficiency could cause or exacerbate panniculitis in dogs. DESIGN Cross-sectional, descriptive study. ANIMALS 9 dogs (5 with multiple lesions and 4 with solitary lesions). PROCEDURE Serum samples were obtained by means of cephalic or jugular venipuncture and frozen at -20 C until assayed. Serum alpha 1AT concentration was measured by means of radial gel immunodiffusion. RESULTS In all dogs, serum alpha 1AT concentration was within the previously established reference range. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS In the small number of-dogs studied, panniculitis was not associated with serum alpha 1AT deficiency.
The Role of Progenitor Cells in Lung Disease Prognosis

The number of investigations related to the role of stem and progenitor cells in lung repair has grown exponentially in recent years. Bone-marrow-derived cells, including stem cells and progenitors, have emerged as candidate markers to prognosticate outcomes during pulmonary disease. The relationship of these cells to prognosis has provided clues regarding the pathophysiologic characteristics of pulmonary disease, and direction for investigations related to lung repair. The ability of a progenitor population to participate in structural and paracrine processes in the lung paves the way for additional investigations of these cells as biomarkers in a variety of lung diseases, as well as to validate previous observations related to prognosis in these lung diseases. Many questions remain regarding the hierarchy and abilities of circulating hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and endogenous progenitor cells; however, correlations between the numbers and functions of these cells and pulmonary disease prognosis have been reported. Here we provide a detailed analysis of the relationship between these progenitors and the course of specific pulmonary diseases, including asthma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lung injury, and lung cancer.
Both toxic and beneficial effects of pyocyanin contribute to the lifecycle of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen, produces redox-active pigments called phenazines. Pyocyanin (PYO, the blue phenazine) plays an important role during biofilm development. Paradoxically, PYO auto-poisoning can stimulate cell death and release of extracellular DNA (eDNA), yet PYO can also promote survival within biofilms when cells are oxidant-limited. Here, we identify the environmental and physiological conditions in planktonic culture that promote PYO-mediated cell death. We demonstrate that PYO auto-poisoning is enhanced when cells are starved for carbon. In the presence of PYO, cells activate a set of genes involved in energy-dependent defenses, including: (i) the oxidative stress response, (ii) RND efflux systems and (iii) iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis factors. P. aeruginosa can avoid PYO poisoning when reduced carbon is available, but blockage of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis either through carbon limitation or direct inhibition of the F0 F1 -ATP synthase triggers death and eDNA release. Finally, even though PYO is toxic to the majority of the population when cells are nutrient limited, a subset of cells is intrinsically PYO resistant. The effect of PYO on the producer population thus appears to be dynamic, playing dramatically different yet predictable roles throughout distinct stages of growth, helping rationalize its multifaceted contributions to biofilm development.
Uber Drivers and Employment Status in the Gig Economy: Should Corporate Social Responsibility Tip the Scales?

As the gig economy continues to grow, the legal status of its workers remains a source of confusion and controversy. Uber and other transportation network companies (TNCs) typically disclaim employee status, depriving drivers of social insurance among other benefits. Further, such companies typically deny liability to third party victims for damages due to auto accidents, sexual assaults, and other negative outcomes arising out of their business. Legal and regulatory systems in the U.S. and elsewhere continue to struggle with how to determine and apply a consistent standard as to employee classification. We argue that corporate social responsibility should figure prominently in the equation. Private companies already are required to cover social costs of doing business in a variety of contexts (e.g., workers compensation, family leave, public and workplace accommodations for disabled individuals), and it makes sense that they also should be required to underwrite other important implications associated with employee status as part of their responsibilities to society. This is especially so where, as with Uber and other TNCs, a company’s core profit-making operations include activities that carry the direct potential for causing substantial harm both to individual clients and to the public at large.
Filling the Gap: Silicon Terahertz Integrated Circuits Offer Our Best Bet

The definition for the frequency range of a terahertz wave varies in the literature. Some refer to terahertz as the spectrum between 300 GHz (l = 1 mm) and 3 THz (l = 0.1 mm) to distinguish it from its millimeter-wave counterpart (30-300 GHz). Others adopt a decimal pattern and a loosely defined frequency range from 100 GHz to 10 THz. Based on the latter definition, probably the earliest documented endeavor to reach terahertz frequency was published in a paper in Physical Review in 1923 [1]. In this nearly century-old work, authors Nichols and Tear generated a 0.17-THz signal using a spark-gap oscillator, detected it with a radiometer vane, and analyzed the spectrum through a Boltzmann interferometer.
Fantasies of Modernity: Korean TV Dramas in Latin America

This article examines the transnational circulation of Korean TV dramas in Latin America. It argues that the popularity of Korean TV dramas in Latin America has to do with how they offer a lived ex...
Doctorpreneurs: Salience of the Professional Logic in Healthcare Entrepreneurship

An important critique of transaction cost theory has been a lack of consideration for social controls. Beyond purely economic rationality, sociological influences impact how, why, and with what eff...
Automated droplet size distribution measurements using digital inline holography

Abstract Droplet generation through spray breakup is an unsteady and non-linear process which produces a relatively dense, highly polydisperse aerosol containing non-spherical droplets with sizes spanning several orders of magnitude. Such variability in size and shape can lead to significant sources of error for conventional measurements based on laser scattering. Although direct imaging of droplets can potentially overcome these limitations, imaging suffers from a shallow depth of field as well as occlusions, which prevents the complete spray from being analyzed. In comparison, digital inline holography (DIH), a low cost coherent imaging technique, can enable high resolution imaging of the sample over an extended depth of field, typically several orders of magnitude larger than traditional imaging. In this study, we showcase an automated DIH imaging system for characterizing monodisperse and polydisperse aerosol droplet size and shape distributions in the 20 μm–3 mm diameter range, over a large sample volume. The high accuracy of the technique is demonstrated by measurements of monodisperse droplets generated by a vibrating orifice aerosol generator (VOAG), achieving a peak resolution of ∼14.2. Measurements of a polydisperse spray from a flat fan nozzle serve to establish the versatility of DIH in extracting a two-dimensional size-eccentricity distribution function, which indicates a strong semilogarithmic scaling between the two parameters, that decays as the droplet migrates away from the nozzle. Due to its low cost, compact setup as well as high density of data obtained, DIH can serve as a promising approach for future aerosol characterization.
Metanetwork Framework for Analysis of Actor-Plan-Task-Infrastructure Networks in Resilience Planning and Management

AbstractThis paper proposes a metanetwork framework for modeling dependent Actor-Plan-Task-Infrastructure networks. The proposed framework is able to quantitatively evaluate the extent to which coo...
Effect of Escalating and Deescalating Financial Incentives vs Usual Care to Improve Antidepressant Adherence: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

This pilot randomized clinical trial examines whether giving a financial incentive in an escalating or deescalating pattern (vs no incentive) to patients receiving antidepressants can enhance medication adherence.
Seventy-two-hour Return Initiative: Improving Emergency Department Discharge to Decrease Returns.

Unscheduled return visits within 72 hours of discharge account for 4% of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits each year and are a quality indicator of ED care. This project aimed to reduce the unexpected 72-hour return visit rate for a network of ED and urgent cares (UC) by improving discharge processes. Methods A multidisciplinary team conducted a quality improvement initiative in the EDs/UCs of a tertiary children's hospital network. The team developed discharge interventions through successive Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. They included standardization of the electronic health record discharge workflow and implementation of "mini-after care instructions" and teach-back education. The team used a statistical process control chart to follow the 72-hour return rate, and a chi-square test to compare the pre- and post-intervention 72-hour return rate. Results The ED/UC network discharged 219,196 patients during the study, 12/2014-4/2016. The baseline 72-hour return rate was 3.5% before interventions. The team implemented discharge interventions from 12/14 to 9/15. After the implementation of mini-after care instructions (4/15), 8 consecutive points fell below the mean on the statistical process control chart, and there was an 8.2% reduction in the 72-hour return rate (P < 0.01). Admission rates of 72-hour return patients remained stable throughout the study (27% pre-intervention and 28% post-intervention). Improvements to the ED/UC discharge process resulted in the estimated prevention of 600 ED/UC visits annually throughout the network. Conclusions Quality improvement methodology and multidisciplinary enhancement of discharge processes significantly decreased 72-hour return rates across a network of pediatric EDs and UCs.
The Allegorical Aĭdaḣar: An Animated Look at Kazakh National Identity

The little-known Kazakh animated film, Why the Swallow’s Tail is Forked (1967), written and directed by Amen Khaydarov, not only holds the position as the first example, but is also acclaimed as the greatest work of Kazakh animation by critics, academics, and contemporary animators. The film, based on the traditional Kazakh folk tale of the same name, was significantly altered by Khaydarov in his auteurist direction resulting in a radical retelling. Despite these alterations, Khaydarov’s variant of the folk tale resonated with viewers of the period as well as today. In this paper I argue how certain motifs are changed, added, and removed from the original folk tale by Khaydarov, consciously or unconsciously, to incorporate new allegorical elements in the folk tale. This essay takes an “animated look” at the film in that it performs a close reading of a folk tale through a film medium. After performing a shot by shot analysis, I deconstruct alleged “traditional” Kazakh elements, then analyze the dreamlike nature of pastoral national identity, the interplay of film, written, and spoken folklore, and the rhizomatic structure of folklore through audio and visual elements. Ultimately, I return to the film and display it as a construction of a specific nationalist narrative thus shedding light on the broader pastoral nationalist vision.
Access to personal protective equipment in exposed healthcare workers and COVID-19 illness, severity, symptoms and duration: a population-based case-control study in six countries.

Background Despite the widespread implementation of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the COVID-19 pandemic, there are surprisingly few studies of its impact. To assess the risk, severity and duration of COVID-19 in relation to access to PPE in at-risk healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods From 17 July to 25 September 2020, at-risk physicians and nurses registered as a provider in the Survey Healthcare Globus network in six countries (the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and USA) were identified based on adult medical specialties with frequent and close contact with patients with COVID-19. Exposed HCWs completed a detailed questionnaire including demographics, medical, social and lifestyle factors. COVID-19 cases were defined as COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell) and asymptomatic COVID-19 test positive cases. Results Among 2884 exposed HCWs (94% medical doctors and 6% nurses or physician assistants), there were 514 reports of COVID-19 illness and 54 asymptomatic COVID-19 test positive cases. COVID-19 risk was significantly associated with close contact with COVID-19 cases both inside and outside the workplace, number of work shifts and hours worked per week. Limited access to PPE compared with access to a fresh mask, gown and gloves and face shield with each patient encounter was associated with a 2.2-fold to 22-fold increased risk of reporting COVID-19 symptoms (p Conclusion In six countries, less access to PPE was strongly associated with both increased risk of reporting COVID-19 illness as well as more prolonged and severe disease course in frontline HCWs.
The Clinical Characteristics of Noninfectious Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis.

Purpose To characterize the clinical features of occlusive retinal vasculitis (ORV). Design Retrospective case series. Participants Forty-two patients with ORV. Methods A retrospective chart review identified all patients with ORV seen at the University of Colorado uveitis service between January 2013 and April 2020. All included patients demonstrated noninfectious uveitis and evidence of vascular occlusion in the presence of retinal vascular inflammation on widefield fluorescein angiography. Main Outcome Measures Demographic data, visual acuity, clinical findings, and fluorescein angiography findings. Results We identified 73 eyes from 42 patients (15 men, 27 women) with ORV. Thirty-one of 42 patients had bilateral disease. Most eyes (54/73) showed mixed arteriolar and venous vasculitis compared with primarily arteriolar (6/73) or venous (15/73) vasculitis. Thirteen of 42 patients had an underlying systemic condition, most commonly granulomatosis with polyangiitis; however, bilaterality was not associated with a systemic condition. Retinal nonperfusion was present equally in zone 2 (28/73) and zone 3 (28/73) compared with zone 1 (16/73). Retinal or iris neovascularization was present in 25 of 73 eyes. Eighteen of 42 patients required more than 1 immunosuppressive medication (average, 1.33) to prevent progressive vascular occlusive disease. Conclusions Occlusive retinal vasculitis is a heterogeneous entity with significant risk of visual impairment. Systemic disease was more prevalent in this specific cohort compared with cohorts from prior studies of retinal vasculitis.
Efficacy of targeted therapy in alveolar soft part sarcoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

e23543Background: Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare subtype of soft tissue sarcoma, characterized by a specific unbalanced translocation leading to the fusion of the TFE3 gene on chromoso...
Damage Anchors on Real Juries

Experiments reveal anchoring as a powerful force, even when participants see the anchor as irrelevant. Here, we examine the reactions of real deliberating jurors to attorney damage requests and concessions in 31 cases involving 33 plaintiffs in which the jury awarded damages. Jurors were critical consumers of attorney suggestions. They reacted more negatively to, and were less influenced by, plaintiff ad damnums for pain and suffering than to damage requests in categories grounded in more objective evidence. Deliberations revealed that jurors often perceive plaintiff ad damnums not only as irrelevant, but also as outrageous, impressions reflected in their verdicts. These findings suggest that extreme plaintiff ad damnums, including those without grounding in quantitative evidence from trial, may not exert substantial undue influence.
Long-term management drives divergence in soil microbial biomass, richness, and composition among upper Midwest, USA cropping systems

Abstract Long-term, systems-based experiments have previously demonstrated how different cropping systems change soil physiochemical properties and, less commonly, soil microbial communities. These long-term experiments allow for isolating the effects of management on soil microbial communities by minimizing variability in soil type, climate, and short-term effects of management intra-annual variability, and thus are able to inform best practices for regional cropping systems. In this study we address whether soil microbial communities are uniquely affected by upper Midwest US cropping systems’ management in a 26-year-old trial and examined how well microbial community responses to management track observed changes in soil physiochemical properties. We found that microbial biomass was highest in continuous pasture, lowest in continuous corn, and intermediate in alfalfa-based dairy forage rotations for both fungi and bacteria. Fungal taxonomic richness exhibited the same trend, but bacterial richness did not differ among cropping systems. Microbial community composition differed significantly among the cropping systems but could not be further explained by physical or chemical differences linked to particular management practices. We conclude that upper Midwest U.S. cropping systems cultivate distinct soil microbial communities, justifying further research on proximate drivers that cause the observed patterns and the consequences of altered microbial communities.
Electron Penetration through Surfaces

Electrons penetrate through the surface of semiconductors in various devices. Such penetration is determined by the kinetic energy of electrons and limited by the workfunction.
On the Minimum Description Length (MDL) Principle for Hierarchical Classifications

Hierarchical clustering procedures such as single-, average-, or complete-link procedures produce a series of groupings of the data arranged in the form of a hierarchy, or tree structure. In most cases, the choice of where to “cut” the tree is left to the user. Occasional formal guidelines have usually been based on ideas of random sampling, but that assumption is often violated in the contexts in which cluster analysis is used. This paper explores the application of Rissanen’s MDL principle to derive possible guidelines for cutting the tree. These guidelines do not assume random sampling.
Dirichlet’s Theorem on Primes in Arithmetical Progressions

The arithmetic progression of odd numbers 1, 3, 5, ... , 2n + 1,... contains infinitely many primes. It is natural to ask whether other arithmetic progressions have this property. An arithmetic progression with first term h and common difference k consists of all numbers of the form $$kn = h,n = 0,1,2,...,$$ (1) If h and k have a common factor d, each term of the progression is divisible by d and there can be no more than one prime in the progression if d > 1. In other words, a necessary condition for the existence of infinitely many primes in the arithmetic progression (1) is that (h, k) — 1. Dirichlet was the first to prove that this condition is also sufficient. That is, if (h, k) = 1 the arithmetic progression (1) contains infinitely many primes. This result, now known as Dirichlet’s theorem, will be proved in this chapter.
Transfer and functional consequences of dietary microRNAs in vertebrates: Concepts in search of corroboration

If validated, diet-derived foreign microRNA absorption and function in consuming vertebrates would drastically alter our understanding of nutrition and ecology. RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms of Caenorhabditis elegans are enhanced by uptake of environmental RNA and amplification and systemic distribution of RNAi effectors. Therapeutic exploitation of RNAi in treating human disease is difficult because these accessory processes are absent or diminished in most animals. A recent report challenged multiple paradigms, suggesting that ingested microRNAs (miRNAs) are transferred to blood, accumulate in tissues, and exert canonical regulation of endogenous transcripts. Independent replication of these findings has been elusive, and multiple disconfirmatory findings have been published. In the face of mounting negative results, any additional positive reports must provide the proverbial "extraordinary proof" to support such claims. In this article, we review the evidence for and against a significant role for dietary miRNAs in influencing gene expression, and make recommendations for future studies. Also watch the Video Abstract.