cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What is a code

The etymology of the word code is most interesting. It seems evident that in its original form it has reference to the paginated format of a book as distinguished from the earlier scrolls. Books with leaves fastened together at a common edge were apparently used in Roman times to record compilations of laws, and this is the basis for the original meanings of code, as a systematic collection, compilation, or formulation of laws, principles, rules or regulations.
A new master program for electric power systems engineering

This paper outlines the main features of a new mater degree program for Electric Power Systems Engineering which is being developed at NC State University. The goal of the program is to give students a thorough understanding of the tools, methods, and practices of electric power engineering. The program encompasses a broad treatment of the engineering, management, and professional skills needed for a successful career in industry, and includes both core power engineering topics as wells as new cross-disciplinary technical topics relevant to the clean-energy Smart Grid. The degree is suitable for new graduates as well as experienced professionals who want to receive the necessary retraining to change careers.
Thermally reversible polymer systems by cyclopentadienylation. I. A model for termination by cyclopentadienylation of olefin polymerization

The reaction between tert-butylchloride (t-BuCl) and dimethylcyclopentadienylaluminum (Me2AlCPD) was studied as a model for initiation by the tert-butyl cation (t-Bu⊕) and termination by cyclopentadienylation by the Me2Al(CPD)Cl⊖ counteranion of isobutylene polymerization. All reaction products formed in this model system have been identified and quantitatively determined. A comprehensive scheme that indicates pathways to these products was developed (scheme III). It is proposed that the predominant product, tert-butylcyclopentadiene (t-BuCPD), arises in the collapse of the t-Bu⊕-Me2Al(CPD)Cl⊖ ion pair, mainly by CPD⊖ transfer to the tert-butyl cation. The minor products are neopentane (t-BuMe) and isobutylene (i-C4H8), which are probably formed, respectively, by Me⊖ transfer to and proton loss from the t-butyl cation. Cyclopentadienylation selectivity increases by lowering the temperature and extrapolation of results suggests 100% cyclopentadienylation at −55°C. The t-BuCl/Me2AlCPD ratio strongly influences the overall reaction pathway. The reaction is first order in t-BuCl with ΔEa of ca. 7 kcal/mole (1,2-dichloroethane or chlorobenzene solvents, +24 to −29°C). Indirect evidence indicates that the kinetic product of cyclopentadienylation is 5-t-BuCPD and that this isomer cannot be tert-butylated; that is, the initiation of 5-t-BuCPD polymerization by t-Bu⊕ is sterically unfavorable. Detailed analysis of the chemistry and kinetics of the t-BuCl/Me2AlCPD model system holds important clues to the controlled polymerization of olefins leading to macromolecules with cyclopentadiene (CPD) termini.
SPI-1-Dependent Host Range of Rabbitpox Virus and Complex Formation with Cathepsin G Is Associated with Serpin Motifs

Serpins are a superfamily of serine proteinase inhibitors which function to regulate a number of key biological processes including fibrinolysis, inflammation, and cell migration. Poxviruses are the only viruses known to encode functional serpins. While some poxvirus serpins regulate inflammation (myxoma virus SERP1 and cowpox virus [CPV] crmA/SPI-2) or apoptosis (myxoma virus SERP2 and CPV crmA/SPI-2), the function of other poxvirus serpins remains unknown. The rabbitpox virus (RPV) SPI-1 protein is 47% identical to crmA and shares all of the serpin structural motifs. However, no serpin-like activity has been demonstrated for SPI-1 to date. Earlier we showed that RPV with the SPI-1 gene deleted, unlike wild-type virus, fails to grow on A549 or PK15 cells (A. Ali, P. C. Turner, M. A. Brooks, and R. W. Moyer, Virology 202:306–314, 1994). Here we demonstrate that in the absence of a functional SPI-1 protein, infected nonpermissive cells which exhibit the morphological features of apoptosis fail to activate terminal caspases or cleave the death substrates PARP or lamin A. We show that SPI-1 forms a stable complex in vitro with cathepsin G, a member of the chymotrypsin family of serine proteinases, consistent with serpin activity. SPI-1 reactive-site loop (RSL) mutations of the critical P1 and P14 residues abolish this activity. Viruses containing the SPI-1 RSL P1 or P14 mutations also fail to grow on A549 or PK15 cells. These results suggest that the full virus host range depends on the serpin activity of SPI-1 and that in restrictive cells SPI-1 inhibits a proteinase with chymotrypsin-like activity and may function to inhibit a caspase-independent pathway of apoptosis.
Two-dimensional visible/near-infrared correlation spectroscopy study of thawing behavior of frozen chicken meats without exposure to air.

The thawing behavior of frozen chicken meats without exposure to air was investigated by generalized 2D Vis/NIR correlation spectroscopy. The synchronous 2D visible correlation analysis revealed that intensities of the 435 and 555 nm bands increase, because of the relaxation of DeoxyMb and OxyMb components, whereas those of the 475 and 620 nm bands decrease as MetMb and SulfMb decompose into small molecules due to specific enzymes. The corresponding asynchronous spectra indicated that the decomposition of MetMb and SulfMb species precedes the recovery of DeoxyMb and OxyMb, and that the DeoxyMb species recovers faster than the OxyMb. Further, the asynchronous 2D NIR spectra suggested that the melting of ice crystals and the relaxation and proteolysis of proteins occurs earlier, indicating a coordination process for hydrophilic OH and NH groups. Moreover, strong correlation peaks correlating the bands in the visible and NIR spectral regions were observed and discussed. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Power dependence of feedback amplifiers on opamp architecture

Power optimized design strategies for operational amplifiers (opamps) used in finite gain feedback applications with fixed closed-loop settling constraints are introduced. A comparison of several operational amplifier architectures shows that the optimal amplifier architecture is dependent upon the desired closed-loop gain. Closed form expressions are given which relate power dissipation and closed loop bandwidth for a given closed loop gain.
Litter degradation rate and β-glucosidase activity increase with fungal diversity

Declining biodiversity is a critical component of global change owing to its influence on ecosystem functioning. Decomposition rate frequently increases with fungal species number, but the responses of extracellular enzymes to fungal species number have not been tested. To test the effect of biodiversity on decomposition and enzyme activities, quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) litter was inoculated with mixtures of one, two, four, or eight fungi from a pool of 16 fungi that had been isolated from a boreal forest in Alaska. Total CO2 release and the activities of β-glucosidase, which targets cellulose, and polyphenol oxidase, which targets lignin and other recalcitrant phenolic compounds, were observed across the range of species numbers in the mixtures. Total CO2 release and β-glucosidase activity increased with number of species but were only weakly correlated with each other; polyphenol oxidase activity had no correlation with number of species or CO2 release. The results indicate that, over 4 ...
Kinetics of anion exchange accompanied by fast irreversible reaction

The kinetics of binary anion exchange accompained by a fast irreversible reaction at the exchanger surface was studied. Dowex 1, X-8, in the hydroxyl form was contacted with a strong acid in a well-stirred batch reactor and concentration-time data were obtained by electrical conductivity measurements. The process was analyzed assuming rate control by film diffusion, intraparticle diffusion, and a combination of both mechanisms. The results indicated that models based on the individual mechanisms gave quite satisfactory representations of the data under appropriate conditions, but the combined model appears superior in the nominally intraparticle diffusion controlled range. It was also found that severe particle cracking occurs, particularly with larger resin particles, at high solution concentrations. This results in degradation of the particles as well as apparent intraparticle diffusion coefficients that vary during the exchange process. Care must be taken to avoid or to account for this phenomenon.
Travel distance to outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities for Spanish-speaking clients.

Background Travel distance and English proficiency skills are widely recognized factors associated with service access and treatment engagement. As Latino populations represent one of the most rapidly growing populations in the United States, methods are needed to better understand availability of linguistically appropriate services in Latino communities. Given regional variability in the density of Latino communities, the current study examines treatment access as travel distance to outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities in one of the largest and most rapidly changing Latino communities in the United States – Los Angeles County, CA.
Pattern recognition receptors: an update.

The vertebrate immune system consists of two inter-related components, the innate and adaptive responses, which are required for the resolution of infection. The innate immune response is critical for the immediate protection from infection and for marshalling the B- and T-cell responses of the adaptive response. A key component of the innate immune response is germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors that detect pathogens. Several families of these pattern recognition receptors have now been described. Microbial recognition by these receptors triggers appropriate immune responses, including the direct uptake and killing of pathogens and/or initiation of intracellular signaling pathways that culminate in the activation of immune responsive transcriptional programs. Pattern recognition receptors include soluble receptors in serum (collectins), transmembrane receptors on cell surfaces or vacuolar membranes (C-type lectins and Toll-like receptors) or cytoplasmic sensors (NACHT-LRR proteins and RNA heli...
Coronary Artery Plaque Volume and Obesity in Patients with Diabetes: The Factor-64 Study

The extent of coronary plaque in asymptomatic diabetic patients is related to body mass index and duration of diabetes.
Generating 5-regular planar graphs

For k=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, let ${\cal{P}}_{k}$ be the class of k -edge-connected 5-regular planar graphs. In this paper, graph operations are introduced that generate all graphs in each ${\cal{P}}_{k}$. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 61: 219–240, 2009
Development of novel poly(ethylene glycol) based vehicles for gene therapy

The overall goal of this project is to develop synthetic vehicles for gene therapy that facilitate intracellular delivery of DNA and enhance expression of the encoded genes. We seek to utilize expertise from the field of biomaterials to make synthetic vehicles that are less toxic, have higher transfection efficiencies, and have longer circulation times than traditional cationic polymers. Toward this goal, we have used poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the backbone for our gene delivery vehicle. A difunctional PEG backbone was coupled with DNA-binding peptides (DBPs) to create a DNA condensing polymer with much lower charge ratio (+/-) than traditional cationic polymers, thus reducing the cytotoxicity of the PEG-based vehicles versus traditional cationic: polymers such as polyethylenimine (PEI) and poly-L-lysine (PLL). These DNA-binding moieties allow the PEG-based vehicles to condense DNA and self assemble into nanoparticles for gene delivery. Transfection efficiencies of these DBP-PEG vehicles were found to be comparable to other synthetic cation polymers. The self-assembling vehicles proposed above, provide a potentially non-toxic alternative to the currently available non-viral gene therapy agents.
Complete assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of deoxyhemigossypol derivatives

The 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of the deoxyhemigossypol derivatives 4-isopropyl-2,3-dimethoxy-6-methylnaphthalene. 4-isopropyl-2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-1-naphthaldehyde and 2,3-dihydroxy-4-isopropyl-6-methyl-1-naphthaldehyde were assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques, including DEPT, 1 H NOE and 1 H- 13 C HETCORR spectroscopy
Cramer-Rao lower bound on doppler frequency of coherent pulse trains

This paper derives the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) on estimates of the frequency of a coherent pulse-train passively intercepted at a moving antenna. Such estimates are used to locate the transmitting radar. Although frequency estimation algorithms for pulse trains have been proposed, no results were previously available for the CRLB; thus, it has been impossible to assess the complete potential of location. The derived CRLB is compared to previously published algorithm accuracy results. A general rule of thumb is found that the CRLB depends inversely on pulse on-time, number of pulses, variance of pulse times, and the product of signal-to-noise-ratio and sampling frequency; pulse shape and modulation have negligible impact on the result. When K pulses are equally spaced by the pulse repetition interval (PRI), then the CRLB decreases as 1/PRI2 and as 1/K3.
Can ErbB2 overexpression protect against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity

identification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2/ErbB2) as a target for therapy in HER2/ErbB2-positive breast cancer was a huge milestone in treatment of these typically highly aggressive cancers. At 8-yr follow-up, trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against HER2/ErbB2, increased survival by ∼40% compared with standard chemotherapy: anthracycline (doxorubicin), cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (11). Unfortunately, trastuzumab turned out to be severely cardiotoxic, leading to serious complications including left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure, with approximately three times greater incidence than anthracyclines (doxorubicin) alone (27 vs. 8% of patients at 1 yr of therapy) (14, 15). This is even further concerning when considering that anthracyclines themselves have considerable documented cardiotoxicity: ∼8% at 1 yr, 6-18% at 2 yr (4, 13), and ∼40% at 20 yr (5) postcompletion of treatment. As might be expected, because of the efficacy of anti-HER2/ErbB2 antibodies in the treatment of cancer, discovery of their cardiotoxicity prompted considerable research effort into mechanisms by which ErbB2 regulates cardiac function.
Creating Identity Distance in Targeted Advertisements: The Black Sheep Effect

This research examines the effect of target marketing using the black sheep effect, which occurs when individuals judge likable ingroup members more positively than similar outgroup members, while judging unlikable ingroup members more negatively than similar outgroup members. The results of 2 experiments show that individuals feel more targeted by ads that feature members of their ingroup that are more prototypical and feel less targeted by advertisements featuring models who violate the group’s positive image on some trait, making them nonprototypical. Theoretical implications regarding the impact of intragroup processes in consumer persuasion effects and target marketing are discussed.
Evaluation of 9,10 Anthraquinone Application to Pre-Seed Set Sunflowers for Repelling Blackbirds

Most nonlethal methods available for reducing blackbird (Icteridae) damage to sunflowers rely on fright responses (e.g., propane cannons, distress calls, pyrotechnics, raptor silhouettes) that birds quickly learn to ignore. Chemicals that cause taste or feeding aversions have potential to overcome the spatial and behavioral limitations of frightening methods. Anthraquinone (AQ) is an effective feeding repellent as a seed treatment to deter birds from eating freshly planted grains. In the United States, foliar application of AQ is not permitted on food crops except on small experimental plots. In August 2013, we applied 37.4 L/ha of an aqueous mix consisting of 15.1 L of a prototype AQ product (active ingredient = 25%) per 41.7 L water (5.6 kg AQ/ha). We applied the AQ product by high-clearance ground sprayer on 0.4-ha in a sunflower field in North Dakota. Sunflower development was at the R5.1 to R5.3 stages, or 10 to 14 days before usual onset of blackbird damage. We kept another 0.4-ha plot adjacent to the treated plot as an untreated reference. In early September, we placed 3 red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) in 6 netted enclosures (2.4 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m) in each plot. Supplemental rations of cracked corn and water were provided daily throughout the testing period that ended October 1, 2013. Treated enclosures had significantly greater damage (247.4 ± 5.8 cm2) than reference enclosures (214.0 ± 8.6 cm2). Statistical significance implied that AQ increased blackbird damage to sunflowers, contrary to the results of other studies. However, residue analysis of the backs of sunflower heads, bracts (our target areas for the spray), and achenes indicated that AQ residues may have been too low to produce a repellent effect. Our findings suggest that the effectiveness of AQ as a blackbird repellent is context-dependent when applied under commercial-grower conditions.
Genetic analysis and molecular mapping of a photoperiod-thermo-sensitive genic male sterile gene in rice line Yangdao 6 S

Yangdao 6was the most widely used restorer line in the indicatwo-line hybrid rice breeding system.A photoperiod-thermo-sensitive genic male sterile line Yangdao 6Swas selected from the space mutation population of Yangdao6via breeding satellite Shijian 8.Genetic analysis indicated that the sterility of Yangdao 6Swas controlled by a single recessive gene using the F2and BC2F2population derived from a cross of between Yangdao 6Sand Jingganghandao 1.The sterile gene ptgms2-2was restricted to a 200kb region on chromosome 2between the marker InDel 2-4085and InDel2-5846.The sequencing results indicated that there were two nucleotide polymorphisms between Yangdao 6and Yangdao6S.The nucleotide Gand Cmutated into Tand Aat site 70-71bp,subsequently,apremature stop codon was created.
The Driving Force of Double Bases Cooperating Mechanism to Knowledge Discovery Main Stream

The paper, by a research report, summarizes emergence and definition of double bases cooperating mechanism, and introduces its driving force and influence to many sides of main stream of knowledge discovery from structural model to algorithm , from structuring data mining to complex type data mining. The influence also expands to philosophy field. It has been above five years from proposing it to now. Summarizing it makes us learn a thing clearly ; its functions are not simply improvement to algorithm, are to bring forward many new structural models and technology methods . It answers those urgent questions in the one paragraph of the paper to a greater extent. So we may say: double bases cooperating mechanism has important driving force to main stream of knowledge discovery.
Grand Strategy: From Battles to Bridges

This chapter focuses on the distinctions between an overarching grand strategy of public diplomacy and the strategy and tactics of individual public diplomacy initiatives. Failure to distinguish between these different levels may have been the first critical shortcoming of post-9/11 U.S. public diplomacy. Despite the chorus of calls for“a strategy,” U.S. public diplomacy already had a grand strategy in place. Not only was there an overarching grand strategy, but that strategy appeared to run counter to the underlying communication dynamics in the international arena. The failure to recognize and analyze the viability of this grand strategy may be the second and single most important factor that undermined all of U.S. public diplomacy’s efforts in the post-9/11 period. This chapter identifies and analyzes U.S. public diplomacy’s information battle grand strategy and proposes a new grand strategy of building communication bridges. The chapter concludes by redefining the grand strategic goals of U.S. public diplomacy in a global communication era.
Confrontations with Modernity

This essay compares how four important figures in German philosophy have reacted in important ways to the phenomenon of modernity and some of the problems it poses. Kant’s project of the Enlightenment suggests a generally positive assessment of modernity at the same time as he tries to face the challenge that a physicalist model of causality poses for traditional notions of moral responsibility. Hegel represents the nineteenth century’s stronger reservations about one-sided orientations of the model of self-interested individuals, and he presents an alternative in his Philosophy of Right that recognizes the modern claims of subjectivity and balances it with the emphasis on the social and historical rootedness of those individuals and thereby highlights the importance of context and the need for a state regulation of modern market economies. This is also consistent with Husserl’s resistance to reductionist theories of all kinds oriented too one-sidedly on the models provided by modern natural science. Finally the essay shows how Heidegger’s critique of technology represents a powerful extension of that general project. It closes with a note that one response consistent with these insights has been the tendency of modern European states in the second half of the twentieth century to propose appropriate regulations on markets that helped them better serve the general good. The emergence of globalization that tends to undermine the power of individual states to regulate and control these powerful market forces presents a new challenge to societies across the globe to find similar ways of harnessing the power of modern technologies and markets in positive ways.
Concluding Statements and Current Challenges

Estrogens have been shown to be potent mediators of many processes following damage to the brain. This chapter summarizes the major concepts elaborated on in the preceding chapters of the book concerning estrogen-mediated neuroprotection. It summarizes current knowledge and outlines the remaining challenges to be addressed.
Role of C1q complement fixing antibody assay in therapeutic plasma exchange management of pediatric cardiac antibody mediated rejection

Pediatric cardiac transplant patients with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) often undergo therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to remove pathologic donor specific antibodies (DSA). In cases where DSA persist, it is unclear how long TPE should be continued. We report a case of a 17-year-old cardiac transplant patient with AMR where use of a C1q complement fixing antibody assay helped guide TPE cessation. This report adds to the existing literature that highlights the potential clinical significance of C1q antibodies in AMR management.
Response of the hyporheic zone to transient groundwater fluctuations on the annual and storm event time scales

The volume of the water stored in and exchanged with the hyporheic zone is an important factor in stream metabolism and biogeochemical cycling. Previous studies have identified groundwater direction and magnitude as one key control on the volume of the hyporheic zone, suggesting that fluctuation in the riparian water table could induce large changes under certain seasonal conditions. In this study, we analyze the transient drivers that control the volume of the hyporheic zone by coupling the Brinkman-Darcy equation to the Navier-Stokes equations to simulate annual and storm induced groundwater fluctuations. The expansion and contraction of the hyporheic zone was quantified based on temporally dynamic scenarios simulating annual groundwater fluctuations in a humid temperate climate. The amplitude of the groundwater signal was varied between scenarios to represent a range of annual hydrologic forcing. Storm scenarios were then superimposed on the annual scenario to simulate the response to short-term storm signals. Simulations used two different groundwater storm responses; one in-phase with the surface water response and one 14 h out-of-phase with the surface water response to represent our observed site conditions. Results show that annual groundwater fluctuation is a dominant control on the volume of the hyporheic zone, where increasing groundwater fluctuation increases the amount of annual variation. Storm responses depended on the antecedent conditions determined by annual scenarios, where the time of year dictated the duration and magnitude of the storm induced response of the hyporheic zone.
A simple variable-width CMOS bump circuit

In this paper, I present a simple CMOS bump circuit whose transfer characteristic width is electronically adjustable via a single back-gate bias voltage. The proposed circuit comprises two asymmetric differential pairs whose transfer characteristics can be shifted left and right about the origin by adjusting this back-gate bias. One output current from each diff pair is fed into a current correlator circuit, which produces the bump current. The circuit can simultaneously produce a complementary antibump current by summing the other two diff pair currents. I describe the proposed circuit's operation, present a large-signal analysis for weak-inversion bias currents, and show measurements from a proof-of-principle prototype made from commercially available MOS transistor arrays.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL GERONTOLOGY

In recent years ethnogerontology has emerged as a critical new field of study in gerontology. This area (also known as minority gerontology or minority aging) focuses on the racial, ethnic, and cultural processes of aging and the aged and the problems of social inequality in an aging society. A major concern is this field is the absence of a core knowledge base on minority populations and the lack of relevant theories and research applicable to these groups. This article critiques the influence of empirical, scientific, logical positivism and the historically strong emphasis on quantitative methods in gerontology and advocates the use of qualitative research in educational gerontology through ethnographic interviews. The nature of qualitative research and the role of the educational gerontologist require flexibility to free the scientific knowledge building process from the absolutism of positivist research. One of the most important aspects of this change is that qualitative methods allow researchers and...
New α-Granule Biology Reveals How Platelets May Regulate Angiogenesis

Abstract Abstract SCI-35 In addition to their “classic” role in hemostasis, platelets are now known to be major contributors in wound healing, tumor growth, and angiogenesis. Stored within the α-granules is an array of angiogenic regulatory proteins, which are deposited by the secretion reaction of surface-activated platelets into the local environment of a tumor or wound. Despite the recognized importance of platelets in regulating new blood vessel growth, our understanding of how platelets modulate the angiogenic response remains unclear. Here, we consider how new α-granule biology may provide insights into how platelets regulate angiogenesis. First, we will present data on a new form of α-granule movement. We will show that actin filament assembly can power the propulsion of α-granule movement, and this may be a novel mechanism underlying the secretion reaction. Second, we show that one mechanism by which anticoagulants may impact malignancy is by disrupting the tumor cells’ ability to hijack the angiogenic potential of platelets. Third, we will review the molecular basis of transport and delivery of α-granules to assembling platelets. Finally, we will discuss the concept of using “designer platelets” as a drug delivery system for targeted agents. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A phase II trial of bevacizumab and erlotinib as second line therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

4088 Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of bevacizumab (B) and erlotinib (E) combination as second line therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcino...
Roland Barthes’ grain of the voice: from mélodie to media

This paper examines the resonance of Barthes’ essays on the human voice in works such as ‘The Grain of the Voice’ in the context of Barthes’ own writings on melodie and the body, as well as in the ...
Morphological characterization and wing description of Vespa orientalis orientalis queens

Oriental hornets, Vespa orientalis, are dangerous enemy to bee colonies in some countries of the world. There are more than one subspecies of V. orientalis. Few studies have investigated the morphological characteristics of these subspecies. Morphological characterization can help in confirming and discriminating between the subspecies, and to follow any changes in their morphology over time. In this study, some body characteristics of V. orientalis orientalis queens from Egypt were measured including head width, fore wing length and width, hind wing length and width, femur length, tibia length and approximate stinger length. Also, fore wing characteristics using wing coordinates for 20 landmarks were studied. Computer based techniques were applied to take these measurements. The data of the current study can be utilized for comparisons with other subspecies.
Emotional Intelligence as a Means to Combat Funding Cuts: Meeting Student Academic Success and Promoting Well-Being in Challenging Financial Times

The K-12 setting is seeing the most racially and ethnically diverse population of students in the history of education in the United States. In addition to an increasingly diverse student population, state appropriations have seen a sharp decline. K-12 leaders are grappling with the quandary of how to best support their students while being tasked with doing more with less due to recent and continuing budget cuts. These budget cuts impact all in the school, especially students receiving interventions, supports, and services. K-12 leaders must be strategic and innovative in their solution toward best supporting their students and the school overall. Some innovative measures that school leaders implement are evidence based as well as solutions that have resulted from their experience in education. Further, many of the school leaders displayed a high degree of emotional intelligence when approaching many of the quandaries associated with meeting the demands of supporting the overall development of their students and school community.
Infusion pump informatics approach to quantify impact of alerts and alarms on healthcare delivery

Infusion pumps are medical devices that deliver medication, fluids, and nutrients in a precise and controlled manner that is critical to patient care. This study proposes using infusion pump inform...
Falling-Strand Devolatilization

The falling-strand devolatilizer (FSD) operates via vapor flashing from a polymer melt at a temperature such that the pressure maintained in the devolatilizer is below the saturation pressure of the volatiles in the melt. If FSD chamber pressure is not changed when additives are used, the partial pressure of the higher boiling volatile vapor will be lowered by the presence of the inert vapor. This will lower the equilibrium concentration of the volatile in the melt and thereby increase the devolatilization driving force. For many applications, including polystyrene and rubber-modified polystyrene, carbon steel has frequently been a satisfactory FSD material. With some polymers, stainless steel and sometimes aluminum have been preferred to prevent black specks, product discoloration, or other corrosion-related problems. The importance of preheater design and operation to improved FSD performance cannot be overstated. Indeed, patents related to the FSD have to a considerable extent focused on the preheater.
Essential iPad Skills for Administrators and Teachers

In this chapter, you learn essential skills for using an iPad as an administrator or as a teacher. We’ll start with the basics, since there’s little worse than missing some vital piece of information that people assume is obvious. We’ll cover how to set up an iPad, perform basic power operations, navigate the interface, connect to Wi-Fi networks, and so on. Once you know those moves, we’ll look at how to configure an iPad’s essential settings manually: Notifications, Do Not Disturb, Restrictions, and Accessibility. Toward the end of the chapter, I’ll cover connecting keyboards to the iPad, updating the operating system, installing, removing, and organizing apps, and managing both local storage and iCloud storage.
Affect and cortisol mechanisms through which acute exercise attenuates cigarette cravings during a temporary quit attempt.

Abstract Introduction A number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain how exercise attenuates cravings among temporarily abstinent smokers; however, research has presented mixed findings. The aim of this study was to further investigate the mechanistic role of positive and negative affect and cortisol in the exercise-craving reduction relationship. Methods Adult smokers (N = 110, male = 56, M age = 33.1, M cigarettes/day = 15.4) provided baseline affective and cortisol data (T1). After an 18-h period of abstinence, participants were randomized to a passive sitting (PSG) or moderate exercise group (MEG; 40–68% of heart rate reserve) for 10 min. Affect and cortisol data were also collected immediately before (T2) and after (T3) the condition. Results The smoking abstinence manipulation increased cravings (p Conclusions Understanding the mechanisms by which exercise induces craving reductions will better allow researchers and healthcare professionals to infer causality and implement interventions guided by the processes that yield such desirable outcomes.
Comparison of vehicle re-identification models for trucks based on axle spacing measurements

In previous research, it has been demonstrated that there is enough variation within the truck population in terms of axle spacings and vehicle lengths, which enable anonymous vehicle re-identification between two measurement stations (e.g., two weigh-in-motion (WIM) sites). Matching trucks between two sites can support various applications, such as calibration of WIM equipment and estimation of travel times and origin-destination flows. In this paper, several modeling approaches to solve the re-identification problem are explored including Naive Bayes (NB), Bayesian Models (BM) fitted by mixture models, and the formulation of the re-identification problem as a mathematical assignment problem. In addition, the influence of selecting a similarity measure is evaluated through numerical experiments conducted on real-world data from six pairs of upstream–downstream WIM stations. The results demonstrate that solving the re-identification problem with BMs fit by mixture distributions outperforms solving...
Conceptual Underpinnings of the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL): Comparisons of Core Sets for Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury, and Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Objective To determine the extent to which the content of the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) covers the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) using summary linkage indicators. Design Content analysis by linking content of the Neuro-QoL to corresponding ICF codes of each Core Set for MS, stroke, SCI, and TBI. Setting Three academic centers. Participants None. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Four summary linkage indicators proposed by MacDermid et al were estimated to compare the content coverage between Neuro-QoL and the ICF codes of Core Sets for MS, stroke, MS, and TBI. Results Neuro-QoL represented 20% to 30% Core Set codes for different conditions in which more codes in Core Sets for MS (29%), stroke (28%), and TBI (28%) were covered than those for SCI in the long-term (20%) and early postacute (19%) contexts. Neuro-QoL represented nearly half of the unique Activity and Participation codes (43%–49%) and less than one third of the unique Body Function codes (12%−32%). It represented fewer Environmental Factors codes (2%−6%) and no Body Structures codes. Absolute linkage indicators found that at least 60% of Neuro-QoL items were linked to Core Set codes (63%−95%), but many items covered the same codes as revealed by unique linkage indicators (7%−13%), suggesting high concept redundancy among items. Conclusions The Neuro-QoL links more closely to ICF Core Sets for stroke, MS, and TBI than to those for SCI, and primarily covers activity and participation ICF domains. Other instruments are needed to address concepts not measured by the Neuro-QoL when a comprehensive health assessment is needed.
Poultry Litter Ash Rate and Placement Affect Phosphorus Dissolution in a Horticultural Substrate1

Abstract Poultry litter ash (PLA) is a byproduct of bioenergy production and an effective P source for horticultural crops since it reduces P losses from container production due to its low P solub...
Development of Research Farms, Field Days and Tours, and Acknowledgments

Includes: Development of Research Farm Armstrong Farm Neely-Kinyon Farm Lauren Christian Farm Field Experiments Field Days and Tours Acknowledgments
Mechanistic and Functional Aspects of Oscillatory Calcium Signalling

Mobilization of calcium from intracellular stores and the extracellular medium to yield an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) is one of the most common forms of signal transduction utilized by extracellular stimuli in the control of cell function. It is now clear that receptor-induced increases in [Ca2+]i are generated, in part, by an elevation in the level of the second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) which is produced by a phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidyl inositol 4,5-bisphosphate (Berridge and Irvine, 1984). Ins(1,4,5)P3 is released into the cytosol where it interacts with an intracellular receptor which functions as a release channel for lumenal Ca2+ (Berridge and Irvine, 1989; Joseph and Williamson, 1989). However, intracellular Ca2+ stores are not uniformly sensitive to Ins(1,4,5)P3, as demonstrated in permeabilized cell studies where Ins(1,4,5)P3 can only release a fraction (30–50%) of the calcium accumulated by non-mitochondrial stores (Berridge and Irvine, 1984; Williamson et al., 1985; Joseph and Williamson, 1989). There is some debate as to the intracellular location of the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ store. In Purkinje cells antibodies to the receptor have revealed localized concentrations on the nuclear envelope and parts of the endoplasmic reticulum (E.R.) (Ross etal., 1989).
Chapter 11. Atomic transactions

We have defined a facility (transactions) which clients can use to perform complex updates to distributed data in a manner which maintains consistency in the presence of system crashes and concurrency. We have seen that transactions can be implemented with only a small amount of communication among servers. This communication is proportional to the number of servers involved in a transaction, rather than the size of the update. We have described the algorithm through a series of abstractions, together with informal correctness arguments.
Elucidating the optical spectra of [Au25(SR)18]q nanoclusters

Ligand-protected Au nanoclusters have attracted tremendous interest due to their atomically precise structural determination and controllable optical properties. However, the origin of their optical features is not well understood. Herein, we address the effects of charge state and type of ligands on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of the Au25(SR)18 nanocluster, using first principles calculations. In particular, we analyze in detail the optical absorption spectra of phenylethanethiol-capped [Au25(SCH2CH2Ph)18]q nanocluster (q = −1, 0, and 1) and demonstrate that the nanocluster undergoes geometric changes when increasing its charge state, yielding the development of additional photoabsorption features. Moreover, by comparing the properties of the anionic [Au25(SR)18]1− nanoclusters (with SR = –SCH2CH2Ph, –SCH3 and –SH) we demonstrate that accounting for full (–SCH2CH2Ph) compared to simplified (–SCH3 and –SH) ligands leads to significant modifications in the shape of the main absorption features, such as the emergence of step-like absorption shoulders. In addition, we show that the energy of the main absorption peaks of the [Au25(SR)18]1− significantly blue-shifts when using –SH as model ligands. Overall, our computational work aids the experimental characterization of optical properties of ligand-protected nanoclusters and highlights the importance of accounting for full ligands in optical spectra calculations.
Disease and wellness across the lifespan: A global perspective on the mental health burden of dementia

Abstract Dementia, and especially behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), reverses the hard won freedoms and rights that are enjoyed by most adult human beings. The deficits in cognition and decision-making lead to a legitimate reduction in autonomy and rights. The prognosis for dementia is poor and it ultimately ends in death. These facts, along with the widespread fear of dementia, lead to social exclusion and stigmatization of both persons living with dementia and their family members, which contributes to significant mental health burdens. This chapter explores the perspectives of persons living with dementia, caregivers, and people at risk of developing dementia in order to give a human face and voice to a marginalized population that is increasing globally. Perspectives and challenges of early and later stage patients and care-givers are contrasted to preconceived notions of older adults as well as media representations of dementia in order to explore the social discourses of labeling persons as “demented.” The mental health burden of dementia is a global problem which can only be solved after innovative policies across the world are assessed for enabling healthcare delivery and empowering patients to lead as dignified lives as possible.
Dilation and evacuation after preterm premature rupture of membranes with abdominal cerclage in situ.

Abstract For women with a history of cervical insufficiency, treatment with transvaginal (TV) or abdominal (TA) cerclage is often recommended; however management of pregnancy complications necessitating uterine evacuation in the second trimester are challenging. We present a patient at 17 weeks 3 day gestation with preterm premature rupture of membranes, and chorioamnionitis with an abdominal cerclage in situ. She desired uterine evacuation via dilation and evacuation. This case report reviews the clinical considerations for uterine evacuation in the second trimester in patients with an abdominal cerclage in situ and discusses options for cervical preparation prior to dilation and evacuation for this unique patient population.
A Contextual Understanding of the Process of Educational Resilience: High Achieving Dominican American Students and the "Resilience Cycle.".

This article explores the lives of academically resilient Dominican American college students at a selective private university in the Northeast. The conceptual framework used to guide the inquiry is based on the assumption that there are certain protective factors that play significant roles in the students' defiance of the odds and their ultimate academic achievement. The findings presented here focus on the emergence of a “resilience cycle” present during these students' academic journeys. The cycle is presented and its practical implications explored.
Depression in Girls With Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and/or Type 2 Diabetes.

Abstract Objectives Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive/metabolic condition associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and depression in adult women. Depression in adults is related to PCOS dermatologic manifestations. Adolescents with obesity with or without T2D have elevated depression symptoms, but data from youth with PCOS and obesity with/without T2D are limited. Methods Our study included girls, aged 11 to 17 years, with obesity and PCOS, PCOS+T2D or T2D, who were newly seen in an obesity complications clinic after March 2016. All participants had Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression (CES-D, 20 items) scores obtained within 6 months of PCOS or T2D diagnosis. Data on history of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, metabolic syndrome and severity of acne and hirsutism were collected through chart review. Results One hundred five girls (47 with PCOS, 14 with PCOS+T2D, 44 with T2D) had similar age (15±1.8 years) and body mass index z scores (2.2±0.4). CES-D scores ≥16, indicating elevated depression symptoms, and CES-D scores ≥24, indicating severe depression symptoms, were observed in 60% and 30% of girls with PCOS, 78% and 71% of those with PCOS+T2D and 39% and 21% of those with T2D, respectively (p 0.05 for both). Conclusions Adolescents with PCOS and obesity have higher rates of elevated depression symptoms compared with girls with T2D, which is not related to worse dermatologic symptoms. Because depression may impact both PCOS and T2D management and adherence to therapy, greater efforts should be made to screen for and address mental health in adolescents with PCOS and obesity, especially if T2D is present.
Sex differences in linear enamel hypoplasia prevalence and frailty in Ancestral Puebloans

Abstract Objectives We consider sex-biased effects of mortality and frailty patterns and how they may be influenced by early life stress using linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH). Methods LEH was recorded as present/absent on the canines of 192 Ancestral Puebloans from what is now New Mexico. We use Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Usher’s multi-state model of morbidity and mortality to estimate survival probability and relative risk of death. Results We find no difference in survival probability between males and females with LEH, although individuals without LEH live longer, regardless of their sex. Males with LEH are frailer than their age-matched peers without LEH. Females follow a similar trend, although this result is not significant. Conclusions LEH presence does not have a consistent relationship with mortality or probability of survival, indicating that early-life stress conveys different biological impacts across the lifespan and across individuals. Equivalent survival probability between the sexes could reflect cultural and/or biological consequences including equivalent buffering capabilities, lack of preferential treatment, or hidden effects of social status. When stress indicators such as LEH are observed in adults, they represent a stressor survived by a child. Some children exposed to the stressor likely died prior to lesion formation, while some potentially survived the stress event without developing a lesion. Sex differences in stress indicators that form during childhood are likely best understood when examined in children (of known sex) at risk of developing them. They could also be addressed through the comparison of LEH age at formation in adults of known sex.