cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A critique of A. C. Graham's reconstruction of the Neo-Mohist Canons

A. C. Graham's Later Mohist Logic, Ethics, and Sciences (1978) is the only Western-language translation of the obscure and textually corrupt chapters of the Mozi that purportedly constitute the foundations of ancient Chinese logic. Graham's presentation and interpretation of this difficult material has been largely accepted by scholars. This article questions the soundness of Graham's reconstruction of these chapters (the so-called Neo-Mohist Canons). Upon close examination, problems are revealed in both the structure and the content of the framework Graham uses to interpret the Canons. Without a more reliable framework for interpreting the text, it seems best to remain skeptical about claims that the Canons represent evidence for the study of logic in early China.
Small angle X-ray scattering analysis of the effect of cold compaction of Al/MoO3 thermite composites

Nanothermites composed of aluminum and molybdenum trioxide (MoO(3)) have a high energy density and are attractive energetic materials. To enhance the surface contact between the spherical Al nanoparticles and the sheet-like MoO(3) particles, the mixture can be cold-pressed into a pelleted composite. However, it was found that the burn rate of the pellets decreased as the density of the pellets increased, contrary to expectation. Ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) data and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to elucidate the internal structure of the Al nanoparticles, and nanoparticle aggregate in the composite. Results from both SEM imaging and USAXS analysis indicate that as the density of the pellet increased, a fraction of the Al nanoparticles are compressed into sintered aggregates. The sintered Al nanoparticles lost contrast after forming the larger aggregates and no longer scattered X-rays as individual particles. The sintered aggregates hinder the burn rate, since the Al nanoparticles that make them up can no longer diffuse freely as individual particles during combustion. Results suggest a qualitative relationship for the probability that nanoparticles will sinter, based on the particle sizes and the initial structure of their respective agglomerates, as characterized by the mass fractal dimension.
Solving Hyperbolic PDEs in MATLAB

Software is developed in Matlab to solve initial–boundary value problems for first order systems of hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) in one space variable x and time t . (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Abnormal network topographies and changes in global activity: absence of a causal relationship.

article i nfo Changes in regional brain activity can be observed following global normalization procedures to reduce variabil- ity in the data. In particular, spurious regional differences may appear when scans from patients with low global activity are compared to those from healthy subjects. It has thus been suggested that the consistent increases in subcortical activity that characterize the abnormal Parkinson's disease-related metabolic covariance pattern (PDRP)areartifactsofglobalnormalization,andthatsimilartopographiescanbeidentifiedinscansfrom healthy subjectswithvaryingglobal activity.Toaddressthisissue,we examinedtheeffectsofexperimentalreductionsin global metabolic activity on PDRP expression. Ten healthy subjects underwent 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET in wakefulness and following sleep induction. In all subjects, the global metabolic rate (GMR) declined with sleep (mean �34%, range: �17 to �56%), exceeding the test-retest differences of the measure (pb0.001). By contrast, sleep-wake differences in PDRP expression did not differ from test-retest differences, and did not cor- relate (R 2 =0.04) with concurrent declines in global metabolic activity. Indeed, despite significant GMR reduc- tions in sleep, PDRP values remained within the normal range. Likewise, voxel weights on the principal component patterns resulting from combined analysis of the sleep and wake scans did not correlate (R 2 b0.07)
Perfluorooctyl bromide dispersions in aqueous media for biomedical applications.

In studying perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) dispersions in aqueous media, we have used two types of surfactant: egg yolk phospholipids (EYP) and polyglycerol esters (PGE). Our interest in these dispersions arises from their potential biomedical applications as imaging solutions and oxygen-carrying solutions (i.e., blood substitutes). For EYP systems, we have identified the dispersion structure as consisting of (a) PFOB droplets (250-nm diameter) stabilized by a phospholipid monolayer adsorbed irreversibly at the o/w interface and (b) small empty phospholipid vesicles. With both surfactants commercial preparations yielded stable systems, while purified samples, being non-dispersible, could not be made to act as emulsifiers. In both cases, minor components in the commercial surfactant were found to be necessary for the formation of a stable dispersion, enabling the transport of the pure surfactant to the PFOB/water interface.
A criterion based on computational singular perturbation for the identification of quasi steady state species: A reduced mechanism for methane oxidation with NO chemistry

A criterion based on computational singular perturbation (CSP) is proposed to effectively distinguish the quasi steady state (QSS) species from the fast species induced by reactions in partial equilibrium. Together with the method of directed relation graph (DRG), it was applied to the reduction of GRI-Mech 3.0 for methane oxidation, leading to the development of a 19-species reduced mechanism with 15 lumped steps, with the concentrations of the QSS species solved analytically for maximum computational efficiency. Compared to the 12-step and 16-species augmented reduced mechanism (ARM) previously developed by Sung, Law & Chen, three species, namely O, CH3OH, and CH2CO, are now excluded from the QSS species list. The reduced mechanism was validated with a variety of phenomena including perfectly stirred reactors, auto-ignition, and premixed and non-premixed flames, with the worst-case error being less than 10% over a wide range of parameters. This mechanism was then supplemented with the reactions involving NO formation, followed by validations in both homogeneous and diffusive systems.
Breast Cancer and Fatigue

Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients who have breast cancer and in breast cancer survivors. A rather nebulous concept, fatigue overlaps with sleepiness and depressed mood. This article addresses methods for assessing fatigue; describes the occurrence of fatigue before, during, and after initial treatment; presents possible underlying mechanisms of fatigue; and enumerates approaches to its treatment.
Distinct molecular pathways to X4 tropism for a V3-truncated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 lead to differential coreceptor interactions and sensitivity to a CXCR4 antagonist.

During the course of infection, transmitted HIV-1 isolates that initially use CCR5 can acquire the ability to use CXCR4, which is associated with an accelerated progression to AIDS. Although this coreceptor switch is often associated with mutations in the stem of the viral envelope (Env) V3 loop, domains outside V3 can also play a role, and the underlying mechanisms and structural basis for how X4 tropism is acquired remain unknown. In this study we used a V3 truncated R5-tropic Env as a starting point to derive two X4-tropic Envs, termed ΔV3-X4A.c5 and ΔV3-X4B.c7, which took distinct molecular pathways for this change. The ΔV3-X4A.c5 Env clone acquired a 7-amino-acid insertion in V3 that included three positively charged residues, reestablishing an interaction with the CXCR4 extracellular loops (ECLs) and rendering it highly susceptible to the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100. In contrast, the ΔV3-X4B.c7 Env maintained the V3 truncation but acquired mutations outside V3 that were critical for X4 tropism. In contrast to ΔV3-X4A.c5, ΔV3-X4B.c7 showed increased dependence on the CXCR4 N terminus (NT) and was completely resistant to AMD3100. These results indicate that HIV-1 X4 coreceptor switching can involve (i) V3 loop mutations that establish interactions with the CXCR4 ECLs, and/or (ii) mutations outside V3 that enhance interactions with the CXCR4 NT. The cooperative contributions of CXCR4 NT and ECL interactions with gp120 in acquiring X4 tropism likely impart flexibility on pathways for viral evolution and suggest novel approaches to isolate these interactions for drug discovery.
Modeling Latent Biographic Attributes in Conversational Genres

This paper presents and evaluates several original techniques for the latent classification of biographic attributes such as gender, age and native language, in diverse genres (conversation transcripts, email) and languages (Arabic, English). First, we present a novel partner-sensitive model for extracting biographic attributes in conversations, given the differences in lexical usage and discourse style such as observed between same-gender and mixed-gender conversations. Then, we explore a rich variety of novel sociolinguistic and discourse-based features, including mean utterance length, passive/active usage, percentage domination of the conversation, speaking rate and filler word usage. Cumulatively up to 20% error reduction is achieved relative to the standard Boulis and Ostendorf (2005) algorithm for classifying individual conversations on Switchboard, and accuracy for gender detection on the Switchboard corpus (aggregate) and Gulf Arabic corpus exceeds 95%.
Biochemical and Molecular Genetic Aspects of Floral Scents

The chemical composition of floral scents has been extensively investigated for hundreds of years because of the commercial value of floral volatiles in perfumery. More recently, several ecological studies have examined the roles of floral scent in the biology of the plant. However, in contrast to
Non-empirical valence bond calculation of hydrogen bond energy in polypeptides.

An approximate ab-initio valence bond calculation of hydrogen bond energy was carried out and the results are discussed. The total bond energy of a simplified NH…O structure is calculated for various NH and N…O distances and the potential energy profiles are obtained. The hydrogen bond energy, ie, the delocalization energy gained by the formation of one hydrogen bond is found to be 8.7–12.0 kcal/mole. The potential energy is characterized by a deep minimum at 1.6–1.8 a.u. from the nitrogen and the second trough is found to be considerably higher than the first.
An Omnipresent Formal Trust Model (FTM) for Pervasive Computing Environment

Mutual collaboration plays a vital role in sharing of resources in an ad hoc network of handheld devices in a pervasive computing environment. Effective sharing of resources is facilitating tiny pervasive devices to benefit from situations which otherwise would not have been possible due to several limitations (such as poor storage and computational capability). An unavoidable consequence of this aspect is opening the door for security breaches. Trust is the weapon which is used to fight against security violations by restricting malicious nodes from participating in any interaction. Here, we present a context specific and reputation based trust model along with a brief survey of current trust models. To the best of our knowledge, our model is the first formal omnipresent trust model for pervasive computing, which can be used universally. This paper presents a recommendation protocol that provides a multi-hop recommendation capability and a flexible behavioral model to handle interactions. This paper also illustrates the implementation and evaluation of the omnipresent formal trust model.
ON THE PHASE OF ε AND THE NA31 BOUND ON CPT VIOLATION

I discuss the theoretical prediction for the phase of the CP-violating parameter e, and the experimental bound on the CPT-violating contribution to that parameter. I conclude that, if one neglects theoretical prejudices and only takes into account the experimental data, the phase of e may differ by as much as four degrees from the superweak phase. The present experimental bound on CPT violation cannot be much strengthened if one does not first obtain better bounds on the CP violation in the three-pion decay modes.
Pre-clinical validation of a method to measure strains in prosthetic sockets using photoelasticity

The current design of prosthetic sockets does not allow for the dissipation of heat given off by the residual limb of the amputee. The poor thermal conductivity of the prosthetic socket leads to skin problems which make the amputee uncomfortable. A proposed solution is the introduction of a window into the prosthetic socket to increase air circulation. However, the window may create problems with the structural integrity of the socket. The goal of the project is to validate a method by which practitioners can determine the proper placement of the window. The method of photoelasticity is proposed to determine the strains in the socket to aid in the placement of the window to prevent structural failure. Before photoelasticity can be used in a clinical setting, the accuracy and precision of the system must be determined. Multiple compression tests using a mock residual limb will be performed on an intact socket to determine the accuracy and precision of the photoelasticity method.
Defense against filoviruses used as biological weapons

The filoviruses, Marburg and Ebola, are classified as Category A biowarfare agents by the Centers for Disease Control. Most known human infections with these viruses have been fatal, and no vaccines or effective therapies are currently available. Filoviruses are highly infectious by the airborne route in the laboratory, but investigations of African outbreaks have shown that person-to-person spread requires direct contact with virus-containing material. In consequence, filovirus epidemics can be halted by isolating patients and instituting standard infection control and barrier nursing procedures. The filovirus disease syndrome resembles that caused by other hemorrhagic fever viruses, necessitating studies in a biocontainment laboratory to confirm the diagnosis. Some progress has been made in developing vaccines and antiviral drugs, but efforts are hindered by the limited number of maximum containment laboratories. Terrorists might have great difficulty acquiring a filovirus for use as a weapon, but my attempt to do so because of the agents' ability to inspire fear. Accurate information is the best tool to prevent panic in the event of an attack.
Biomechanical stimulation of osteoblast gene expression requires phosphorylation of the RUNX2 transcription factor

Bone can adapt its structure in response to mechanical stimuli. At the cellular level, this involves changes in chromatin organization, gene expression, and differentiation, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we report on the involvement of RUNX2, a bone-related transcription factor, in this process. Fluid flow shear stress loading of preosteoblasts stimulated translocation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) to the nucleus where it phosphorylated RUNX2 on the chromatin of target genes, and increased histone acetylation and gene expression. MAPK signaling and two RUNX2 phosphoacceptor sites, S301 and S319, were critical for this response. Similarly, in vivo loading of mouse ulnae dramatically increased ERK and RUNX2 phosphorylation as well as expression of osteoblast-related genes. These findings establish ERK/MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of RUNX2 as a critical step in the response of preosteoblasts to dynamic loading and define a novel mechanism to explain how mechanical signals induce gene expression in bone.
Illustrative parallel coordinates

Illustrative parallel coordinates (IPC) is a suite of artistic rendering techniques for augmenting and improving parallel coordinate (PC) visualizations. IPC techniques can be used to convey a large amount of information about a multidimensional dataset in a small area of the screen through the following approaches: (a) edgebundling through splines; (b) visualization of "branched" clusters to reveal the distribution of the data; (c) opacitybased hints to show cluster density; (d) opacity and shading effects to illustrate local line density on the parallel axes; and (e) silhouettes, shadows and halos to help the eye distinguish between overlapping clusters. Thus, the primary goal of this work is to convey as much information as possible in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to understand for non-experts.
A Model of Controlled Acute Hyperglycemia in Rats: Effects of Insulin and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analog

A rodent model of controlled acute hyperglycemia that is sensitive to glucose-lowering agents insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog has been developed. The studies show that anesthesia could be induced in fasted rats with ketamine (100 mg/kg) plus a low dose of xylazine (5 mg/kg) without inducing the acute hyperglycemia typically associated with these agents. Under these conditions, continuous infusion of glucose (10 and 20%) via the jugular vein for 30 to 150 min induced hyperglycemia in a time-dependent fashion. Administration of "loading" boluses of glucose (0.2-0.6 ml of a 20% solution) prior to continuous infusion of 10% glucose produced more immediate and sustained hyperglycemia. Plasma levels of a variety of glucoregulatory and stress hormones such as insulin, growth hormone, glucagon, and corticosterone were determined. Only glucagon levels changed significantly during induction and maintenance of hyperglycemia. The infusion of insulin (0.1 U/kg/h) or GLP-1 analog (10 microg/kg/h) effectively lowered blood glucose from its elevated levels. Insulin produced a significant increase in glucagon levels, and GLP-1 analog produced a significant increase in insulin levels without any change in other glucoregulatory and stress hormone levels. In conclusion, the present studies identified a novel approach for the induction of anesthesia and surgical manipulations without inducing hyperglycemia and further defined an approach for producing acute hyperglycemia in a controlled fashion in rodents. This model will be beneficial to study the influence of hyperglycemia in acute models of critical illness where hyperglycemia develops following the precipitating event. This model was responsive to insulin and GLP-1 analog, both of which were effective in ameliorating hyperglycemia.
Effect of observed start vs. traditional Sunday start on hormonal contraceptive continuation rates after medical abortion

Objective: This study was conducted to determine whether early initiation of combined hormonal contraception under direct clinical observation following successful medical abortion increases continuation rates with the method compared to traditional “Sunday start.” Study Design: Women enrolled in a multicenter medical abortion trial with mifepristone and misoprostol who requested combined hormonal contraception (pill, ring or patch) following medical abortion were recruited. Women were randomized to initiate the method under supervision either at the 1-week medical abortion follow-up visit (“observed start”) or at the first Sunday following this visit (“Sunday start”). Primary outcome was continuation of the chosen method at 6 weeks. Results: Of the 1128 women in the primary trial, 261 subjects enrolled in this substudy and 36/261 (13.8%) were lost to follow-up. There was no significant difference in method continuation at 6 weeks [observed start 108/114 (94.7%), Sunday start 101/111 (91.0%, p=.27]. Conclusion: Short-term continuation rates among those choosing hormonal contraception following medical abortion are high and are not
Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma recurrence associated with exogenous testosterone therapy

Background Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNAs) are rare benign lesions that express hormonal receptors. This report describes a recurrence of a JNA 20 years after excision associated with exogenous testosterone therapy. Methods A 36-year-old man developed a sphenoid mass 20 years following resection of a JNA, shortly after initiating exogenous testosterone therapy for symptomatic low endogenous testosterone. Results The mass was subsequently excised and was histologically consistent with a JNA. The patient resumed his testosterone therapy postoperatively. Repeated imaging has demonstrated no recurrence after 3 years. Conclusion This unique case adds further evidence to the role of testosterone in the pathogenesis of JNAs. Exogenous testosterone can cause tumor regrowth at any time, even decades following treatment. The patients with a history of JNA, even those without recurrence for years, should weigh the risk of recurrence before the use of exogenous testosterone. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010
Implementation of the Cloud Prediction Scheme in the Eta Model at NCEP

Abstract An explicit cloud prediction scheme has been developed and incorporated into the Eta Model at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) to improve the cloud and precipitation forecasts. In this scheme, the cloud liquid water and cloud ice are explicitly predicted by adding only one prognostic equation of cloud mixing ratio to the model. Precipitation of rain and snow in this scheme is diagnostically calculated from the predicted cloud fields. The model-predicted clouds are also used in the model’s radiation calculations. Results from the parallel tests performed at NCEP show improvements in precipitation forecasts when prognostic cloud water is included. Compared with the diagnostic clouds, the model-predicted clouds are more accurate in both amount and position. Improvements in specific humidity forecasts have also been found, especially near the surface and above the freezing level.
Historical Overview of Dementia

The evolution of senile dementia has traditionally been considered to represent an aspect of senescence which, in turn, is the normal final phase of human performance that occurs as a prelude to death. Yet there has always been vast disagreement regarding the meaning of this statement. Let us begin with senescence itself (Tibbitts, 1957): The character of elderly men — men who are past their prime may be said to be formed for the most part of elements that are the contrary of all those in youth. They have lived many years; they have often been taken in, and often made mistakes; and life on the whole is a bad business. (Aristotle, 384–322 B. C.).
Nanocomposites for Regenerative Medicine

This chapter describes properties and applications of nanocomposites in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine with an emphasis on the impact of the nanophase on nanocomposite function. The nanophase can be used as a means to engineer new physical properties that improve the utility of tissue engineering scaffolds. Several examples of the use of the nanophase for mechanical reinforcement or drug delivery are discussed with an emphasis on understanding how nanoparticles are used to achieve the controlled release of macromolecules. Advances in nanotechnology, knowledge of mechanical reinforcement at the nanoscale level, and new strategies for controlled drug release will contribute to the next generation of nanocomposite-based scaffolds designed for regenerative medicine.
PERSPECTIVE: EVOLUTIONARY PATTERNS IN THE FOSSIL RECORD.

The study of large-scale evolutionary patterns in the fossil record has benefited from a diversity of approaches, including analysis of taxonomic data, ecology, geography, and morphology. Although genealogy is an important component of macroevolution, recent visions of phylogenetic analysis as replacing rather than supplementing other approaches are short-sighted. The ability of traditional Linnaean taxa to document evolutionary patterns is mainly an empirical rather than a theoretical issue, yet the use of these taxa has been dismissed without thorough evaluation of their empirical properties. Phylogenetic analysis can help compensate for some of the fossil record's imperfections. However, the shortcomings of the phylogenetic approach have not been adequately acknowledged, and we still lack a rigorous comparison between the phylogenetic approach and probabilistic approaches based on sampling theory. Important inferences about the history of life based on nongenealogical data have later been corroborated with genealogical and other analyses, suggesting that we risk an enormous loss of knowledge and understanding if we categorically dismiss nonphylogenetic data.
Intellectual Property—Protecting Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, and Trade Secrets

Intellectual property rights balance the incentive for innovative thought and creative expression with the greatest pubic access to the writings and discoveries that result. The form and function of the intellectual property determine the manner and duration that it may be protected. A well-crafted clinical trial agreement protects the intellectual property rights of the parties engaged in the research.
Muscle Weakness Is Associated With Diabetes in Older Mexicans: The Mexican Health and Aging Study.

Abstract Background The risk of cardiovascular problems due to diabetes mellitus is highest among older Mexicans, and yet what remains to be determined is the association between muscle weakness and diabetes in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between muscle strength and diabetes among Mexican adults greater than 50 years of age. Design Cross-sectional. Setting National sample of households in both urban and rural areas. Participants A subsample of 1841 individuals aged 50 years and older was included from the 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Measurements Strength was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer, and the single largest reading from either hand was normalized to body mass (normalized grip strength [NGS]). Conditional inference tree analyses were used to identify sex-specific NGS weakness thresholds. Linear regression was used to examine the association between NGS and HbA1c, and logistic regression was used to assess the association between weakness and risk of diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5% [≥48 mmol/mol]), after controlling for age, sex, and waist circumference. Results NGS was inversely associated with HbA1c (β = −1.56; P Conclusions NGS was robustly associated with diabetes and other cardiometabolic risk factors in older Mexicans. This simple screen may serve as a valuable tool to identify adults that are at risk for negative health consequences or early mortality and who might benefit from lifestyle interventions to reduce risk.
Collaborative Approaches to Addressing Mental Health and Addiction Care in the Middle East

Treating mental health issues with comorbid addiction issues is challenging, but is gaining more attention globally and is referred to as integrated care. However, this type of practice or even movement toward working more collaboratively is difficult to find in the Middle East for this client population. This chapter provides an overview of the cultural issues related to substance abuse and mental health, including an exploration of the collective trauma that underpins the development of such disorders, that impact collaborative practice. It also considers the use of the community in interventions and concludes with recommendations for the future such as partnering with Western providers and researchers, as well as policy makers, which could help advance the efforts more quickly.
Argatroban, Not Lepirudin or Bivalirudin, Treatment Results in the Generation of Nitric Oxide during Parenteral Administration.

While all direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) produce their anticoagulant effect by inhibiting thrombin, there are differences in their mode of action, not only in protease generation/inhibition, but also in modulating cellular mechanisms such as the release of endothelial mediators including nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin. Preliminary studies have revealed that argatroban treatment, unlike bivalirudin and lepirudin, results in vasomodulation and other pharmacological effects unrelated to thrombin inhibition [Pathophysiol Haemost Thromb2002;Suppl 3:56–65]. To validate this observation primates ( Macaca mulatta ; n=6/group) were treated with 100 to 500 μg/kg iv BID of these three DTIs. Blood samples were drawn at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 minutes. Total NO levels were measured by two different methods. The Griess reaction was performed by a chromogenic substrate method (RD p
Why Race Matters in Physics Class

During oral argument in the second round of Fisher v. Texas, Chief Justice Roberts asked counsel for the University "what unique perspective a minority student brings to physics class." Counsel sidestepped the question, leaving the impression that the presence of Black and Latino students confers an educational benefit only when their presence enhances "diversity discourse." According to the Supreme Court's jurisprudence and contemporary social science, I argue, this impression is wrong. The Court has included within the educational benefits of diversity: “the lessening of racial isolation and stereotypes” and promoting cross-racial understanding, in addition to robust classroom dialogue. This vision is strongly supported by social science research, which reveals that inter-group interaction is crucial to promoting cross-racial understanding — by decreasing the cognitive phenomena of implicit bias, racial anxiety, and stereotype threat. In addition, racial and ethnic diversity — as well as other kinds of diversity — have been found to act as catalysts for both innovation and error-free decision-making. These benefits all have particular importance in physics classes, as well as other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classes, not to mention the STEM fields. The social science shows that when people of all races and ethnicities are in classes or working together, we are less apt to succumb to “group think” and so engage in more rigorous analysis. I argue here that whether in physics class or any other setting, diversity contributes to our work product, our comfort and capacity to engage with people of all races and ethnicities, and the likelihood that we will contribute to our capacity.
A Multifunctional Protein Coating for Self-Assembled Porous Nanostructured Electrodes

Creation of three-dimensional (3D) porous nanostructured electrodes with controlled conductive pathways for both ions and electrons is becoming an increasingly important strategy and is particularly of great interest for the development of high-performance energy storage devices. In this article, we report a facile and environmentally friendly self-assembly approach to fabricating advanced 3D nanostructured electrodes. The self-assembly is simply realized via formation of a multifunctional protein coating on the surface of electrode nanoparticles by using a denatured soy protein derived from the abundantly prevalent soybean plant. It is found that the denatured protein coating plays three roles simultaneously: as a surfactant for the dispersion of electrode nanoparticles, an ion-conductive coating for the active materials, and a binder for the final electrode. More importantly, it is interestingly found that being a unique surfactant, the surface protein coating enables the self-assembly behavior of the e...
Efficacy of organically approved insecticides against brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys and other stink bugs

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stal), is a serious invasive pest in the USA. Organic growers have limited options to effectively manage this pest. Several organically approved insecticides including pyrethrins, azadirachtin, spinosad, potassium salts of fatty acids, sabadilla, extract from Burkholderia sp., and two combination products were evaluated for toxicity to H. halys nymphs and adults using laboratory bioassays and evaluated in field experiments on tomatoes and peppers using weekly applications of the highest labeled rates of the products. In submersion bioassays, high mortality (>70%) of H. halys nymphs was achieved with pyrethrins, azadirachtin, azadirachtin + pyrethrins, potassium salts + spinosad, and sabadilla alkaloids. Using the same bioassay for adult H. halys, only pyrethrins, azadirachtin + pyrethrins, and potassium salts resulted in high mortality. In bean dip bioassays, only pyrethrins resulted in moderate mortality of nymphs and high mortality of adults. In field experiments, which included weekly insecticide applications, none of the insecticides that were tested significantly reduced stink bug feeding injury (from all species) to tomatoes or peppers with the exception of one harvest date of peppers in 2014, where pyrethrins + azadirachtin had less injury than the control. Our results confirm that several organically approved insecticides may demonstrate a high level of activity on H. halys in laboratory bioassays, but when applied in the field, none of the products that we tested appear to be consistently effective at reducing stink bug injury to peppers or tomatoes.
Carol Pendergrast: my journey to now*

I did not start out to be a voice and speech teacher. Actually, my early training was with the intention of becoming an actress or an opera singer. What turned me into a voice and speech teacher wa...
Cardiorespiratory Capacity and Strength Remain Attenuated in Children with Severe Burn Injuries at Over 3 Years Postburn.

Objectives To compare physical capacity and body composition between children with burn injuries at approximately 4 years postburn and healthy, fit children. Study design In this retrospective, case-control study, we analyzed the strength, aerobic capacity, and body composition of children with severe burn injuries (n = 40) at discharge, after completion of a 6- to 12-week rehabilitative exercise training program, and at 3-4 years postburn. Values were expressed as a relative percentage of those in age- and sex-matched children for comparison (n = 40 for discharge and postexercise; n = 40 for 3.5 years postburn). Results At discharge, lean body mass was 89% of that in children without burn injuries, and exercise rehabilitation restored this to 94% (P Conclusions Although the benefits of rehabilitative exercise training on strength and cardiorespiratory capacity are maintained at almost 4 years postburn, they are not restored fully to the levels of healthy children. Although the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains elusive, these findings suggest that future development of continuous exercise rehabilitation interventions after discharge may further narrow the gap in relation to healthy adolescents.
Effects of short-duration hydraulic pulses on the treatment performance of a periphyton-based treatment wetland

Abstract The effect of high flows on total phosphorus (TP) removal in a 40-ha periphyton-based stormwater treatment area wetland (PSTA Cell) located in Stormwater Treatment Area (STA)-3/4 was evaluated by subjecting the PSTA Cell to three short-duration (3-day) hydraulic (high-inflow) pulses. The intent was to mimic hydraulic conditions that would be experienced during large storm events should the PSTA concept be implemented throughout the complex of treatment wetlands (STAs) operated by the South Florida Water Management District for Everglades restoration. The average inflow rate to the PSTA Cell during the pulses (1.3–2.0 m3 s−1) was approximately three to four times higher than under normal operation. The hydraulic loading rates (HLRs) during the pulses (28–43 cm d−1) matched the peak 3-day HLRs observed in STA-3/4 during high inflows associated with storm runoff. Correspondingly, the phosphorus loading rates (PLRs) and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) during the pulses (2.3–6.3 mg m−2 d−1 and 1.4–1.8 days, respectively) were substantially higher and lower, respectively, compared to PLRs and HRTs in the PSTA Cell under normal operation. No reduction in TP removal performance was observed in the PSTA Cell during the pulses, and there was no indication that post-pulse outflow TP concentrations increased compared to pre-pulse levels in response to the pulse events. The short-term increase in hydraulic and TP loads during this study did not compromise the treatment efficacy of the PSTA Cell. If implementable in a cost-effective manner in the STAs, the PSTA concept could be part of a treatment strategy that achieves TP effluent limits mandated for these wetlands.
Sleep Apnea in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Ischemic Stroke: Underrecognition and Associated Clinical Outcomes.

Study Objectives:To evaluate clinical recognition of sleep apnea and related outcomes in patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:A retrospective study of all patients hospitalized ...
Chinese Novels, Scholarly Errors and Goethe’s Concept of World Literature

Eckermann’s account of his conversation with Goethe on 31 January 1827, leading to the idea of world literature, refers to an unnamed Chinese novel. It has commonly been misidentified as Iu-Kiao-Li...
Therapeutic potential of small molecules and engineered proteins.

Virtually all currently used therapeutic agents are small molecules, largely because the development and delivery of small molecule drugs is relatively straightforward. Small molecules have serious limitations: drugs of this type can be fairly good enzyme inhibitors, receptor ligands, or allosteric modulators. However, most cellular functions are mediated by protein interactions with other proteins, and targeting protein–protein interactions by small molecules presents challenges that are unlikely to be overcome with these compounds as the only tools. Recent advances in gene delivery techniques and characterization of cell type-specific promoters open the prospect of using reengineered signaling-biased proteins as next-generation therapeutics. The first steps in targeted engineering of proteins with desired functional characteristics look very promising. As quintessential scaffolds that act strictly via interactions with other proteins in the cell, arrestins represent a perfect model for the development of these novel therapeutic agents with enormous potential: custom-designed signaling proteins will allow us to tell the cell what to do and when to do it in a way it cannot disobey.
Unsupervised Corpus-Based Methods for WSD

This chapter focuses on unsupervised corpus-based methods of word sense discrimination that are knowledge-lean, and do not rely on external knowledge sources such as machine readable dictionaries, concept hierarchies, or sense-tagged text. They do not assign sense tags to words; rather, they discriminate among word meanings based on information found in unannotated corpora. This chapter reviews distributional approaches that rely on monolingual corpora and methods based on translational equivalence as found in word-aligned parallel corpora. These techniques are organized into typeand token-based approaches. The former identify sets of related words, while the latter distinguish among the senses of a word used in multiple contexts.
A new approach to learning via self-organization

Recently, we have introduced a simple “toy” brain model to address the problem of learning in the absence of external intelligence.1 Our model departs from the traditional gradient-descent based approaches to learning by operating at a highly susceptible “critical” state with low activity and sparse connections between firing neurons. Here, quantitative studies of the performance of our model in a simple association task show that tuning our system close to this critical state results in dramatic gains in performance.
Crafting for major life events: implications for technology design and use

Technology increasingly plays a role in the way that we prepare for, celebrate, and reflect upon major life events. Modern digital artefacts, such as Facebook messages and digital photos, now stand alongside traditional artefacts, such as guest books and heirloom jewellery, as cherished mementos of these occasions. Considering how these physical artefacts are crafted provides a useful lens for understanding the evolving relationship among digital tools, the artefacts they produce, and the major life events where these artefacts are used and imbued with meaning. In this paper, we present themes from an interview study conducted with crafters who created items for major life events including weddings, household moves, and births. Our findings outline properties of the crafting process and of the crafted items. Across all occasions, crafters saw major life events as opportunities to learn new skills and use special materials to create personalized artefacts that codified and extended interpersonal relationships. This occurred in parallel with a creative, thoughtful process to make crafts that were appropriate for each occasion and meaningful enough to be kept and treasured for years to come. We reflect on the properties of these crafters' processes and artefacts, and suggest implications for the role of digital tools and assets in relation to major life events. In particular, digital ways to reveal an artefact's provenance and relationship to an event may be useful for augmenting its symbolic meaning and its ability to represent interpersonal relationships.
African American Living Donors' Attitudes About APOL1 Genetic Testing: A Mixed Methods Study.

Rationale & Objective African American live kidney donors ("donors") have a greater risk for kidney failure than European American donors. Apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) variants in African Americans may be associated with this disparity. Study Design Cross-sectional mixed-methods design. Setting & Participants African American donors at 1 transplantation center. Analytical Approach Semistructured interviews assessed attitudes about APOL1 genetic testing, willingness to undergo APOL1 testing, hypothetical decisions about donating with 2 APOL1 variants, and demographics. Surveys assessed perceptions of ethnic identity and genetics knowledge. Interview transcriptions were analyzed using thematic analysis. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results 23 donors participated in semistructured interviews. Most (96%) reported that transplantation centers should routinely offer APOL1 genetic testing to all African American potential donors. Most (87%) would have been willing to undergo APOL1 testing before donating. Although study participants noted that APOL1 testing may deter African American potential donors from donating, most (61%) would have donated even if they had 2 high-risk APOL1 variants. Several themes emerged. Study participants believed that APOL1 testing was beneficial for providing information to help donors make informed donation decisions. Participants expressed concern about APOL1 variants placing donors at harm for kidney failure, and therefore valued taking preventive health measures. Participants believed that potential donors would experience psychological distress from learning that they have 2 gene variants and could harm their recipients. Participants were apprehensive about insurance coverage and costs of APOL1 testing and feared that APOL1 genetic test results could discriminate against African Americans. Limitations Findings may not be generalizable to African American potential donors. Conclusions Findings suggest that African American donors support APOL1 genetic testing yet fear that APOL1 variants and genetic testing could adversely affect donors' health and ethnic identity. Transplantation centers using APOL1 genetic testing should address African American donors' concerns about APOL1 genetic testing to optimize future donors' informed consent practices.
Let's Go One Step Farther in Addition.

learn to get the right answer quickly and with a minimum of effort. When you think of the many, many addition problems a student is asked to do throughout his school years, it is easy to see that a student who completes his work quickly has considerable time left for other things. Besides, just as a slow reader tends to lose track of what he is reading, a slow computer tends to forget where he was in a computation, increasing the chance of
Oral Vs Intravenous Tacrolimus Post Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction Tacrolimus (tacro) is commonly used for the prevention of graft vs host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Due to concerns of inadequate absorption, tacro is commonly administered intravenously (IV) in the immediate post allogeneic transplant period. Advantages to oral (PO) tacro include decreased need for multi lumen IV catheters, improved patients (pts) convenience, and reduced cost. We retrospectively analyzed differences in safety, tolerability, time to achieve therapeutic levels during the 1st 4 weeks and rates of acute GVHD. Methods IV tacro at 0.02 mg/kg by continuous infusion or PO tacro at 0.03 mg/kg twice daily was started between T-3 and T+5. Levels were assessed 3 times weekly. Dose was titrated to achieve a steady level between 7 and 14 ng/ml. GVHD was graded according to CIBMTR criteria. Results 54 pts were treated between Sep 2016 and July 2018. 21 who received PO tacro and 27 who received IV tacro were studied. 6 pts on PO tacro are still within 100 days post-transplant and will be reported in follow up. The median age was 59 years (range, 21-74), 52% were females, diagnoses were AML (54%), MDS (19%), ALL (15%), CML (6%), NHL (4%) and MF (2%). HCT-CI was 0, 1-3 and >3 in 23%, 54% and 23% of pts, respectively. Donors were match-unrelated (58%), match-related (27%), haploidentical (6%) and double umbilical cord (6%). Conditioning regimens were myeloablative (60%) and reduced intensity (40%). 60% of pts received rabbit ATG (3 mg/Kg). GVHD prophylaxis also included mini-MTX on days +1, +3, +5 and +11 (79%), MMF (15%), and MMF + post-transplant Cy (6%). Pts characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. 7 pts (33%) who initially started on PO tacro switched to IV due to poor absorption (3), mucositis (1), toxicity (1), GVHD (1) and patient's concern (1). Target therapeutic level was reached in 67% vs 81% during week 1, 86% vs 96% during week 2, 95% vs 96% during week 3, and 100% vs 96% during week 4, of pts on PO vs IV tacro, respectively. Median tacro level during the 1st 4 weeks was 12.6 ng/ml vs 11.2 ng/ml, acute kidney injury occurred in 23.8% vs 33.3% (p=.47) and increased bilirubin occurred in 4.7% vs 22.2% (p=.09), in pts on PO vs IV tacro. Posterior reversible encephalopathy was observed in 1 patient on PO tacro. Grade I and Grade II-IV acute GVHD incidence was 47.6% vs 14.8% (p=.01) and 47.6% vs 44.4% (p=.82) of pts on PO vs IV tacro. Stage 1-2 skin aGVHD rate was higher in the PO vs. IV group (90% vs 33.3%; p=.0001). There was no difference in rates of stage 3 skin (4.7% vs 3.7%), stage 1 GI (33.3% vs 33.3%), or stage 2-4 GI (14% vs 7.4%) aGVHD. None of the pts had stage 4 skin or any stage liver aGVHD. Conclusion PO tacro is safe and effective in the prevention of aGVHD in pts receiving myeloablative or RIC allo-SCT. The use of PO tacro during the 1st 4 weeks post-transplant was found to be associated with higher rate of stage 1-2 skin aGVHD and warrants further study.