cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthetic Capillaries to Control Microscopic Blood Flow

Capillaries pervade human physiology. The mean intercapillary distance is only about 100 μm in human tissue, which indicates the extent of nutrient diffusion. In engineered tissue the lack of capillaries, along with the associated perfusion, is problematic because it leads to hypoxic stress and necrosis. However, a capillary is not easy to engineer due to its complex cytoarchitecture. Here, it is shown that it is possible to create in vitro, in about 30 min, a tubular microenvironment with an elastic modulus and porosity consistent with human tissue that functionally mimicks a bona fide capillary using "live cell lithography"(LCL) to control the type and position of cells on a composite hydrogel scaffold. Furthermore, it is established that these constructs support the forces associated with blood flow, and produce nutrient gradients similar to those measured in vivo. With LCL, capillaries can be constructed with single cell precision-no other method for tissue engineering offers such precision. Since the time required for assembly scales with the number of cells, this method is likely to be adapted first to create minimal functional units of human tissue that constitute organs, consisting of a heterogeneous population of 100-1000 cells, organized hierarchically to express a predictable function.
Media and policy in a complex adaptive system: Insights from wind energy legislation in the United States

Abstract Since the early 1970s, debates surrounding the promises and pitfalls of renewable energy as a way to securely meet consumption demands in the United States have been commonplace in the media and political discourse. Drawing on the communication and political science literatures, this research addresses the relationships between the amount of media coverage given to wind energy, as well as the frames used in covering the topic, and the number of bills presented to state legislatures. We argue the media and political decision-making bodies are working as agents in a complex adaptive system, wherein they are constantly interacting and adjusting to both internal and external variables.
Genetic variation in MHC proteins is associated with T cell receptor expression biases

In each individual, a highly diverse T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire interacts with peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Despite extensive research, it remains controversial whether germline-encoded TCR-MHC contacts promote TCR-MHC specificity and, if so, whether differences exist in TCR V gene compatibilities with different MHC alleles. We applied expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping to test for associations between genetic variation and TCR V gene usage in a large human cohort. We report strong trans associations between variation in the MHC locus and TCR V gene usage. Fine-mapping of the association signals identifies specific amino acids from MHC genes that bias V gene usage, many of which contact or are spatially proximal to the TCR or peptide in the TCR-peptide-MHC complex. Hence, these MHC variants, several of which are linked to autoimmune diseases, can directly affect TCR-MHC interaction. These results provide the first examples of trans-QTL effects mediated by protein-protein interactions and are consistent with intrinsic TCR-MHC specificity.
Computational Isotope Geochemistry

Abstract Isotope fractionation factors play a key role in modern geochemistry and are used to interpret a broad range of natural phenomena over a wide range of temporal scales. Experimental advances in this area have been driven by significant improvements in mass spectrometry techniques coupled to advances in computational chemistry methods due to advances in software and substantial improvements in hardware. The prediction of isotope fractionation factors requires the ability to predict harmonic frequencies to high accuracy due to the fact that the changes are often in parts per 1000 (per mil). This requires the choice of a good model system that captures the critical geochemical features, the appropriate choice of the computational electronic structure method (correlated molecular orbital theory at least at the second-order Moller–Plesset theory level vs. density functional theory with an appropriate exchange-correlation functional), the choice of the basis set, and the potential use of implicit models for solvation and/or the solid state environment. This chapter describes the computational approaches needed for the prediction of isotope fractionation factors and provides example of the application of these methods to geochemical systems containing atoms from across the periodic table.
Ultra-sensitive detection of explosive molecules using multi-functional plasmonic-biosilica

We fabricate plasmonic-active SERS substrates by diatom biosilica through in-situ synthesis of in-pore silver nanoparticles. Such bioenabled multi-functional SERS substrate enables label-free detection of explosive molecules down to 2.7×10−15 gram on a single diatom frustule.
Spectral characterization of high-power plasmonic photomixers

We present a high-power, continuous-wave LT-GaAs plasmonic photomixer that utilizes plasmonic contact electrodes to offer significantly higher radiation powers compared to conventional non-plasmonic photomixers. We demonstrate a record-high radiation power of 17 μW at 1 THz with spectral characteristics determined by the optical pump laser linewidth and stability.
A Biodiversity Hotspot Heats Up: Nine New Species of Suckermouth Catfishes (Mochokidae: Chiloglanis) from Upper Guinean Forest Streams in West Africa

The widespread species, Chiloglanis occidentalis, is recorded in flowing waters from Senegal to Ghana. Recent studies of this species within the Upper Guinean Forests revealed genetic divergence among the populations sampled, suggesting the presence of several unconfirmed candidate species. A detailed study of these populations revealed morphological variation congruent with the molecular results. Nine new species are described herein: Chiloglanis camarabounyi, new species, Chiloglanis kolente, new species, Chiloglanis kabaensis, new species, Chiloglanis dialloi, new species, Chiloglanis loffabrevum, new species, Chiloglanis longibarbis, new species, Chiloglanis pezoldi, new species, Chiloglanis nzerekore, new species, and Chiloglanis tweddlei, new species. These new species, each endemic to specific river basins, are diagnosed through a combination of meristic and morphometric characters. Chiloglanis waterloti, from the Senegal and Niger river basins, is elevated from synonymy with Chiloglanis occidental...
Rise of the Machines. A Cybernetic History, by Thomas Rid

What a difference three years make, especially when a fine scholar like Thomas Rid of King’s College switches from a top academic press (Oxford published his Cyber War Will Not Take Place in 2013) ...
End Effects on Stability of Cohesive Slopes

The concept of the two-dimensional circular arc method of stability analysis is extended to three-dimensional slope stability problems. End effects on the stability of cohesive slopes due to failure along a finite length are evaluated by means of a computer program STAB3D developed for this purpose. As an application of the technique, two cases are considered: (1) The toe failure of a vertical cut where typical end effects are illustrated; and (2) the toe failure of a slope with any angle β when a finite length of failure is imposed. The stability of a test section embankment loaded to failure is analyzed.
Large intra-abdominal seminoma in a left undescended testicle complicated by torsion

A 39-year-old man presented with a 2-day history of worsening constant, dull diffuse lower abdominal pain with associated constipation and known history of left undescended testicle. He was evaluated at an outside hospital where a non-contrasted CT scan revealed a 20 cm well-circumscribed soft tissue mass within the pelvis. He was referred and further imaging revealed a 12 cm heterogeneous mass with foci of air that appeared to be contiguous with the left spermatic cord. This constellation of findings could represent torsion of undescended left testicle with infarction or underlying malignancy. Tumour markers were only significant for elevated lactate dehydrogenase of 1445. A subsequent ultrasound-guided biopsy of the mass demonstrated seminoma. Surgical resection revealed a large intra-abdominal mass emanating from the left spermatic cord with 270° of torsion. There appeared to be a left atrophic remnant testicle at the base of the mass with final pathology confirming the diagnosis of classic seminoma.
CHAPTER 161 – Phospholipase D

This chapter summarizes the properties and functions of PLD enzymes with a focus on the mammalian proteins. More detailed information can be found in several reviews that provide excellent depth and earlier perspectives, as well as description of the enzymes in plants and yeast. Phospholipase D (PLD) activity is found throughout the biological world, and enzymes have been characterized from a broad spectrum of organisms. Phosphatidic acid is a key molecule in the metabolic pathways for phospholipid synthesis and degradation. One pathway for the production of this lipid is hydrolysis of glycerophospholipids by PLD enzymes, which produce phosphatidic acid (PA) and the associated base or headgroup. Numerous hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, and other cellular stimuli regulate the generation of PA by PLD in manmialian cells. This has led to an emerging role for the mammalian enzymes and PA in signal transduction. Phosphatidic acid is hypothesized to act as a second messenger through direct interaction with a variety of targets, which are discussed elsewhere. In addition, PA is a precursor for formation of diacylglycerol (DAG) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). DAG can act as a second messenger to regulate the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes; LPA can function as an autocoid or paracrine through interaction with receptors in the edg family.
The application of genetic algorithms to knowledge discovery and data mining

Knowledge discovery is a new discipline that applies machine learning techniques to large real-world databases to extract knowledge from the data. This knowledge is often expressed as rules modeling the data. Genetic algorithms (GA) are a unique method for evolving high quality solutions from a potentially huge search space of possible solutions. This technique uses a simulated process of natural selection rather than a simulated reasoning process. Genetic algorithms are uniquely suited to data mining problems due to the inductive nature of the problem. This paper describes two GA-based data mining systems, GA-MINIR, a pure GA technique, and DOGMA, a hybrid technique, using GAs to improve on rules generated by another classifier. It also discusses the difficulty of formally analyzing a genetic algorithm in order to compare it with more conventional methods of solving the same problem.
237) Periaqueductal Gray Dopaminergic Neurons Modulate Peripheral Inflammatory Hyperalgesia

Neural dopamine (DA) modulators such as ᴅ-amphetamine and methylphenidate provide a promising new approach to treating pain. Though the mechanism by which they produce analgesia is poorly understood, these psychostimulants are antinociceptive and counteract the opioid-induced side effects of respiratory depression and sedation. Despite their potential, DA-modulating drugs have never been adopted clinically for pain relief, possibly due to a lack of understanding their mechanism of action. Considering previous evidence of a role of DA neurons from the periaqueductal gray (PAG) in pain modulation, we hypothesized that PAG DA neurons are antinociceptive and contribute significantly to the analgesic effect of ᴅ-amphetamine via descending spinal cord inhibition at the rostral ventral medulla (RVM). Male C57BL/6 mice that had received carrageenan in the hind paw were treated intraperitoneally with ᴅ-amphetamine, and its analgesic effect was compared with the analgesia produced by morphine. Separate groups of mice were stereotaxically prepared with infusion cannula targeted to either the PAG or RVM. We observed that the inhibition of thermal hyperalgesia in the mouse model of carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain by systemic ᴅ-amphetamine (6mg/kg) was similar to that produced by morphine (3mg/kg), and that ᴅ-amphetamine increased cFOS expression in PAG DA neurons. Targeted microinfusion of ᴅ-amphetamine, L-DOPA, or a selective D2 receptor agonist, but not a D1 agonist, into the PAG also attenuated thermal hyperalgesia, suggesting a role for D2 receptors in PAG-mediated analgesia. Finally, systemic ᴅ-amphetamine-mediated analgesia was prevented when neural transmission through the RVM was inhibited by local pretreatment with the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol. These findings indicate a modulatory role of D2 receptors and descending inhibition through GABAergic receptors at the RVM in ᴅ-amphetamine-mediated analgesia. Importantly, they indicate that the use of stimulants could enhance pain control, potentially as an alternative to opioids, avoiding the deleterious side-effects responsible for the current opioid crisis.
The Thin Colon After Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a valuable endoluminal technique that allows for the complete removal of colonic lesions, and its application and utility is increasing. However, this method can lead to a very thin colon wall post-procedure and concern for possible full thickness resection and perforation. The endoscopist must have knowledge and capabilities in dealing with a thin colon after EMR. This chapter will provide insight in dealing with this scenario and offer some techniques to avoid perforation.
Experiences of upward social comparison in entertainment contexts: Emotions, state self-esteem, and enjoyment

Abstract This study examines the self- and affect-related outcomes associated with upward social comparisons to entertainment characters. Participants (N = 218) chose one entertainment television program to view from a selection of eight available and reported their emotional responses, state self-esteem, and enjoyment post-viewing. Feelings of envy and jealousy, associated with upward contrastive social comparisons, were related to decreased state self-esteem post viewing. Alternatively, feelings of hope and inspiration, associated with upward assimilative social comparisons, were related to increased enjoyment and appreciation of the content post-viewing. Implications for a better understanding of the relationships between emotions, state self-esteem, enjoyment, and appreciation in mediated entertainment contexts are discussed.
Does group feeding by toxic prey confer a defensive benefit? Aristolochic acid content, group size and survival of first‐instar pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor L.) larvae

1. Aggregative feeding of larvae is widespread in the Lepidoptera, and many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the adaptive significance of this trait. Group feeding occurs disproportionately more in species with aposematic, chemically defended larvae compared with species with cryptic, non‐chemically defended larvae, consistent with the hypothesis that group feeding provides an enhanced aposematic signal to natural enemies. Most species characterised as having chemically defended larvae are cryptic during the first instar, when they are most highly aggregated and most vulnerable to predation. 2. The benefits of group feeding in terms of decreased predation were explored for first‐instar larvae of the pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor, a species that sequesters aristolochic acids from its Aristolochia host plant and exhibits aposematism in later instars and as adults. We found that groups of larvae with experimentally enhanced aristolochic acid content had significantly lower survivorship due to predation both in the field and in laboratory experiments compared with groups of larvae without enhanced chemical defence. 3. A laboratory experiment found that aristolochic acid does not deter the generalist predator Hippodamia convergens. 4. No evidence was found that was consistent with the hypothesis that group feeding and increased sequestered chemical defence interact to decrease rates of larval mortality in non‐aposematic, first‐instar larvae. Future research on chemical defence, aposematism, and aggregative feeding should continue to appreciate that particular chemical defences and feeding behaviours are not universally effective against all natural enemies.
Estimating the Relative Impact of Clinical and Preventive Community-Based Interventions: An Example Based on the Community Transformation Grant Program

Introduction Public health focuses on a range of evidence-based approaches for addressing chronic conditions, from individual-level clinical interventions to broader changes in policies and environments that protect people's health and make healthy living easier. This study examined the potential long-term impact of clinical and community interventions as they were implemented by Community Transformation Grant (CTG) program awardees. Methods We used the Prevention Impacts Simulation Model, a system dynamics model of cardiovascular disease prevention, to simulate the potential 10-year and 25-year impact of clinical and community interventions implemented by 32 communities receiving a CTG program award, assuming that program interventions were sustained during these periods. Results Sustained clinical interventions implemented by CTG awardees could potentially avert more than 36,000 premature deaths and $3.2 billion in discounted direct medical costs (2017 US dollars) over 10 years and 109,000 premature deaths and $8.1 billion in discounted medical costs over 25 years. Sustained community interventions could avert more than 24,000 premature deaths and $3.4 billion in discounted direct medical costs over 10 years and 88,000 premature deaths and $9.1 billion in discounted direct medical costs over 25 years. CTG clinical activities had cost-effectiveness of $302,000 per death averted at the 10-year mark and $188,000 per death averted at the 25-year mark. Community interventions had cost-effectiveness of $169,000 and $57,000 per death averted at the 10- and 25-year marks, respectively. Conclusion Clinical interventions have the potential to avert more premature deaths than community interventions. However, community interventions, if sustained over the long term, have better cost-effectiveness.
ExaPlan Archive: Data Placement and Provisioning for Large Storage Systems with Archival Tiers

Many important big data use cases do not require data to be instantly available. Examples are video recordings in TV and film industry, surveillance videos and data from scientific experiments. Archiving such data to high-latency media storage, such as tape and optical disk libraries, results in significant cost savings. In this context, data is accessed by first staging it to low-latency media. However, archiving and staging operations incur additional device and bandwidth costs for both the active and archiving tiers, and might impact user data access performance. For instance, in terms of cost and performance, it is often suboptimal to archive all the data. This paper presents ExaPlan Archive, a scheme to determine the data placement and number of devices required in each tier of a multitiered storage system comprised of archival and active tiers that minimize the latency of the active tiers under budget and staging-time constraints. The efficiency of the proposed optimized archiving scheme is compared with an existing scheme that optimizes multitier storage with only direct-access tiers. The two schemes are evaluated using a staging workload of LOFAR radio telescopes long-term archive for astronomical observation data.
When parties go abroad: Explaining patterns of extraterritorial voting

Abstract As more countries grant political rights to their emigrants and more politicians look beyond national boundaries for support, scholars are beginning to explore the drivers and implications of voting from abroad. We use an original dataset of overseas campaigning by political parties in 108 elections in 24 countries to provide the first cross-national test of how party mobilization shapes turnout beyond national borders. Using fractional regression and inverse probability weighting with regression adjustment (IPWRA), we find that party mobilization increases extraterritorial voter turnout. Our results remain robust when controlling for emigrant profiles, institutional barriers to participation, and political context and correcting for self-selection bias.
Analysis of effect of dexmedetomidine on neonatal digestive tract malformation

Objective To investigate the anesthetic effect of dexmedetomidine for neonatal digestive tract malformation. Methods 69 cases of neonatal digestive tract malformation were randomly divided into control group (34 cases) and observation group (35 cases). Remifentanil and dexmedetomidine were used for anesthesia in the two groups respectively, and the hemodynamic changes before and after anesthesia were compared, as well as the effects of postoperative sedation and analgesia. Results The FLACC scores of the observation group at 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 24 h after operation were (2.93±1.82) points, (2.33±1.23) points, (1.60±0.62) points, and (1.27±0.52) points, respectively, which were all significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The Ramsay score at 1 hour after operation in the observation group was (3.36±2.36) points, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(1.55±0.92) points] (P<0.05). The HR, SBP, and DBP values of the two groups at T1 and T2 were significantly lower than those at T0, and the decrease range in the control group was more significant (P<0.05); the HR, SBP, and DBP values of the two groups at T3 were higher than those at T1 and T2, but still lower than those at T0; the HR, SBP and DBP values of the observation group at T3 respectively were (146.45±5.53) times/min, (67.55±11.51) mmHg, and (41.41±8.24) mmHg, which were significantly higher than those of the control group [(137.14±5.36) times/min, (61.33±10.93) mmHg, (37.26±6.59) mmHg] (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of dexmedetomidine in neonatal digestive tract malformation anesthesia can maintain the stability of hemodynamics, with good analgesia and sedation effect, good resuscitation quality, and few adverse reactions. Key words: Dexmedetomidine; Neonatal digestive tract malformation; Anesthesia; Recovery quality
Pulmonary Embolism in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 (From a New York Health System).

Pulmonary embolisms (PEs) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have increasingly been reported in observational studies. However, limited information describing their clinical characteristics and outcomes exists. Our study aims to describe clinical features and risk stratification strategies of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with PE. We retrospectively analyzed 101 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection and acute PE. Clinical outcomes measured were intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, bleeding and transfusion events, acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality. Pulmonary severity index (PESI) scores were used for risk stratification. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (50%), obesity (27%) and hyperlipidemia (32%) among this cohort. Baseline D-dimer abnormalities (4,647.0 ± 8,281.8) were noted on admission with a 3-fold increase at the time of PE diagnosis (13,288.4 ± 14,917.9; p 85), which portended a worse prognosis with higher mortality rate and length of stay. In conclusion, this study provides characteristics and early outcomes for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and acute pulmonary embolism. PESI scores were utilized for risk stratifying clinical outcomes. Our results should serve to alert the medical community to heighted vigilance of this VTE complication associated with COVID-19 infection.
Does Religion Affect Perception of Pregnancy Timing among Women Using Contraception

Nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended. Unintended pregnancy refers to a mistimed or unwanted pregnancy. Unwanted and mistimed pregnancies are often distinguished from each other because of the negative social connotations and poorer health outcomes associated with unwanted pregnancies. However, mistimed pregnancies also pose significant economic, societal, and health burdens that necessitate enhanced risk factor identification and prevention efforts. Religion and religious practices are important to consider as potential risk factors for mistimed pregnancy as over 70% of Americans identify as religious. However, little research exists on the potential religious factors-mistimed pregnancy association. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this association among women using contraception in the U.S. This analysis used National Survey of Family Growth data. Women (n = 2841) self-reported measures of religion, religiosity and pregnancy timing. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. After adjustment, women who reported currently being Catholic, Protestant, or another religion had statistically significant increased odds of mistimed pregnancy compared to women with no current religious affiliation (Catholic OR = 2.31, Protestant OR = 1.41, Other OR = 2.58). Women who reported that religion was very important or somewhat important had statistically significant increased odds of mistimed pregnancy (Very Important OR = 1.82, Somewhat Important OR = 1.60). More frequent service attendance was associated with statistically significant decreased odds of mistimed pregnancy. Specifically, women who reported attending services 2–3 times a month or 1 or more times per week had nearly half the odds of mistimed pregnancy compared to women who never attended services (OR = 0.54 and OR = 0.51). This study provides insight into the interrelationship of religion as a sociocultural risk factor for mistimed pregnancy and found that while religiously active women had increased odds of mistimed pregnancy, frequency of service attendance was a protective factor against mistimed pregnancy. Given that approximately half of pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, additional studies are needed to further understand cultural mechanisms that may be important risk factors of unintended pregnancy, and to confirm this study’s findings.
Bladder cancer organoid image analysis: textured-based grading

Bladder cancer has high recurrence rates, which leads to treatment difficulties and reduced survival. Field cancerization is the prevailing idea for why bladder cancers recur with high frequency, and it centers around genetic and epigenetic changes in tissue that lead to conditions favoring recurrence. However, the specifics of these alterations are not well understood or described. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been implicated as a strong proponent of oncogenesis in many organ systems, including the bladder. The TME comprises stromal cells, paracrine factors, and extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which may contribute to field cancerization. As such, identifying the hallmarks of these alterations may expedite the prognosis of recurrence. For this purpose, we fabricated bladder cancer organoids of varied cancer grades, with which we developed a texture-based grading system. Image texture is characterized by filtering images and finding their similarity. The similar images are clustered, and the cumulative histogram of clusters is formed to find the closest training image. In two independent image data sets of 54 and 76 images, respectively, with different imaging protocols, 100% and 92% accuracy were achieved.
A comparison between primary endorectal pull-through and staged procedures for patients with Hirschsprung’s disease

Background: Primary endorectal pull-through is becoming a standard of care across the globe. This study was done to compare the outcome of patients with Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) who underwent primary endorectal pull-through with patients who were treated with a staged approach. Methods: A retrospective data review was done of all patients diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, during an 11-year period (2007 – 2018). The patients were divided into 2 groups: the primary Endorectal pull-through (ERP) group and the staged group and the two groups were compared. Results: Eighty patients with histologically confirmed Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) were seen at our institution during the study period (2007 – 2018). Four patients did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded. Of the remaining seventy-six who were included, forty-six patients (60.5%) had a primary endorectal-pull through (Primary group) and thirty patients (39.5%) had staged procedures (Staged group) with a stoma before the final ERP. The peri-operative complications were subdivided into major and minor complications. Minor perioperative complications in the primary group were less (13%) compared to the staged group (33%) with a p-value of 0.017, making the difference statistically significant. Anastomotic strictures were the most common complication in both groups with abdominal wound infection being more common in the staged group. The late complications were similar in both groups with a p-value of 0.43. Constipation was the most common complication in both groups, followed by soiling. Conclusion: The two groups had a similar outcome without statistically significant differences. We can safely conclude that the primary endorectal pull-through for HD is at least as safe as the staged approach in Sub- Saharan Africa. With this technique, we avoid a stoma and the necessity for two surgical procedures with added potential complications.
Readership and citations as alternative measures of impact

This paper undertakes a statistical analysis of citations and readership of papers published in the journal Constitutional Political Economy. Its focus is not the usual attempt to assess the relative impact of articles or authors but rather to suggest that readership (downloads) is a more general measure of impact and one that should be given more attention. Downloads are not simply a product of citations; nor are citations a simple product of downloads. They are distinct measures of impact. Papers and authors are evidently judged one at a time by their readers and by those who subsequently cite papers that they have read.
Mechanical Properties and Strain Transfer Behavior of Molybdenum Ditelluride (MoTe2) Thin Films

Abstract Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer superior properties over conventional materials in many areas such as in electronic devices. In recent years, TMDs have been shown to display a phase switching mechanism under the application of external mechanical strain, making them exciting candidates for phase change transistors. Molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) is one such material that has been engineered as a strain-based phase change transistor. In this work, we explore various aspects of the mechanical properties of this material by a suite of computational and experimental approaches. First, we present parameterization of an interatomic potential for modeling monolayer as well as multilayered MoTe2 films. For generating the empirical potential parameter set, we fit results from density functional theory calculations using a random search algorithm known as particle swarm optimization. The potential closely predicts structural properties, elastic constants, and vibrational frequencies of MoTe2 indicating a reliable fit. Our simulated mechanical response matches earlier larger scale experimental nanoindentation results with excellent prediction of fracture points. Simulation of uniaxial tensile deformation by molecular dynamics shows the complete non-linear stress-strain response up to failure. Mechanical behavior, including failure properties, exhibits directional anisotropy due to the variation of bond alignments with crystal orientation. Furthermore, we show the deterioration of mechanical properties with increasing temperature. Finally, we present computational and experimental evidence of an extended c-axis strain transfer length in MoTe2 compared to TMDs with smaller chalcogen atoms.
Character Strengths and Ethical Engagement in Online Faculty

In this study, the researchers investigated the relationships between character strengths and ethical engagement in online faculty. One of the ethical duties for higher education faculty is to engage in effective teaching practices. As online higher education becomes increasingly popular, online faculty also bear this duty. Numerous studies have shown that character strengths cultivate ethical behavior. Hence, we sought to determine the relationship between character strengths and ethical engagement in online faculty. Specifically, we focused on intellectual character strengths, interpersonal character strengths, and emotional character strengths because of their relevance to online faculty’s teaching practices. Through correlational analyses, we learned that interpersonal and emotional character strengths were positively and moderately related to ethical engagement, whereas intellectual character strengths were weakly related to ethical engagement. The findings of this study provide insight into online faculty’s character strengths and ethical engagement. However, further research is needed to understand the role of character strengths and ethical engagement in promoting effective teaching practices in online higher education classrooms.
Model form uncertainty versus intrinsic atomic variability in amorphous silicon oxides and nitrides

Abstract We quantify uncertainties in density functional theory predictions of several fundamental materials properties of amorphous dielectrics focusing on those that arise from the intrinsic atomic variability of the glass structures and those stemming from approximations in the theory. The intrinsic, or aleatoric, uncertainties are quantified by performing calculations over ensembles of structures obtained by annealing independent liquid samples. We estimate model form, or epistemic, uncertainties by comparing results from two exchange and correlation functionals that exhibit different bonding characteristics: the local density approximation (that typically overbinds), and the generalized gradient approximation (that often underbinds). In the case of density, bulk modulus, and point defect formation energies predictions obtained from systems containing between 72 and 192 atoms, typical of current state-of-the-art calculations, show that the intrinsic variability in the atomic structure leads to uncertainties a factor of two to four times greater than those originating from model form. While model form discrepancies remain important, our results emphasize the importance of using ensembles of structures to make predictions of amorphous materials. The use of such probabilistic atomic-level data as input in multiscale materials or device models is critical for predictions with quantified uncertainties but also to uncover how atomic variability affects device performance.
The Nucleotide Sequence of Marsupial 5 S Ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid

Abstract Oligonucleotides generated by complete T1 or pancreatic RNase digestion of marsupial (Potorous tridactylis) 5 S ribosomal RNA are identical with those obtained from human or mouse 5 S rRNA. It is therefore probable that the nucleotide sequence of 5 S rRNA is invariant throughout the Mammalia.
Bandwidth bounds for matching coupled loads

The Bode-Fano bounds on the integral over all frequency of the logarithm of the reflection coefficient between a source and a load, connected to each other through a matching network, are well-known measures of the bandwidth of the matching network and load. When there are multiple coupled loads being driven by independent sources, establishing the maximum possible bandwidth of the matching network and loads requires the development of a broadband matching theory that applies to coupled systems. We define a bandwidth measure for coupled loads based on the integral logarithm of their collective power reflection, and develop upper bounds on this measure. These upper bounds can be used to evaluate the broadband performance of matching networks for an arbitrary number of coupled loads.
A highly efficient fire‐retardant nanomaterial based on carbon nanotubes and magnesium hydroxide

SUMMARY Hybrid buckypapers (HBP) were developed and showed potential as efficient fire-retardant materials by implementing multiple fire retardance mechanisms. The fabrication of HBP was performed using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) nanoparticles. The Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles were well dispersed throughout the CNTs network, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry both confirmed the decomposition of magnesium hydroxide in the HBPs and heat absorption under elevated temperatures. Our initial results indicated that when used as a skin layer, the HBP has the potential to significantly improve the fire-retardant properties of epoxy carbon fiber composites. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A DC-10GHz linear-in-dB attenuator in 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS technology

A CMOS attenuator has been designed and fabricated in a commercial 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS process. Two /spl Pi/ stages are cascaded to achieve more than 35 dB of maximum attenuation over a frequency range of DC to 10 GHz. Minimum insertion loss varies from 0.8 dB at DC to 3 dB at 10 GHz and remains less than 2 dB in the frequency band of DC-4 GHz. Attenuation is achieved with a control voltage that varies from 0 V to 1.2 V and it is linear-in-dB with respect to the control voltage. A DC feedback loop is implemented to achieve input and output impedance matching over the frequency of interest.
A synchrophasor measurement based method for assessing damping torque contributions from power system stabilizers

This paper proposes a method for assessing the damping torque contribution of generators equipped with power system stabilizers (PSSs) using synchrophasor measurements from disturbance events exhibiting lightly damping oscillations. The method is based on an extension to the Heffron-Phillips and deMello-Concordia synchronizing and damping torque analysis method to include the sensitivities for the terminal bus voltage angle. It requires only examining the phase relationship between the oscillatory components of the generator rotor angle and its terminal bus voltage angle. The method can also be applied to time responses from simulation programs.
THERMAL BEHAVIOR OF URBAN LANDSCAPES AND THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND

The cause or causes of urban heat islands have puzzled scientists for more than a century. Investigators have observed a close relation between urban land cover and urban temperature patterns. A proposed explanation of this relation is that the thermal inertia of urban surfaces is larger than rural interface thermal inertia. However, recent METROMEX and remote sensor satellite observations do not appear to support this view. The thermal inertia model of the urban interface ignores urban canopy structure and composition. Specifically the hollow structure of buildings reduces the thermal mass and thus the apparent thermal inertia of these structures compared with pavements. Numerical modeling results of the thermal behavior of a two-layer interface and aircraft far-infrared remote sensor observations of urban landscapes demonstrate the differential thermal behavior of buildings versus pavements. Accounting for the structure and configuration of urban canopies explains observed urban landscape thermal behavi...
Aromatic interactions with naphthylalanine in a β-hairpin peptide

Stable peptides have been explored as epitope mimics for protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions; however, presentation of a regular structure is critical. Aromatic interactions are ubiquitous and are competent at stabilizing a β-hairpin fold. The greatest stabilization has been reported from pairs of tryptophan side chains. Naphthylalanine residues are often used as tryptophan replacements, but it is not clear if 1-naphthylalanine or 2-naphthylalanine is adequate at replicating the geometry and stability observed with tryptophan aromatic interactions. Herein, a 12-residue peptide has been constructed with laterally disposed aromatic amino acids. A direct comparison is made between tryptophan and other bicyclic, unnatural amino acids. Significant stabilization is gained from all bicyclic amino acids; however, geometric analysis shows that only 1-naphthylalanine adopts a similar edge to face geometry as tryptophan, whereas the 2-naphthylalanine appears most similar to a substituted phenylalanine.
Labeled Schwann cell transplants versus sural nerve grafts in nerve repair

✓ This study evaluated the ability of Schwann cell transplants to enhance the recovery of function in injured nerves and compared the results to those produced by sural nerve grafts. Schwann cells were isolated from sciatic nerves, prelabeled with gold fluorescent dye admixed with collagen gel, and placed in resorbable collagen tubes. Twenty-four adult rats underwent severing of the bilateral sciatic nerves, with a 10-mm gap between the nerve stumps. The rats were then divided into two groups. A collagen tube with implanted Schwann cells was implanted in one leg of the Group I rats, and the contralateral leg served as a control and was repaired with a collagen tube filled with collagen gel only. The Group II animals received conduits packed with labeled Schwann cells in one leg to bridge the 10-mm gap; the contralateral leg was repaired with an autogenous sural nerve graft. Recovery of function was assessed physiologically and morphologically. Nerve conduction velocity and nerve action potential amplitude...
Solar rotation during the Maunder Minimum

We have measured solar surface rotation from sunspot drawings made in a.d. 1642–1644 and find probable differences from present-day rates. The 17th century sunspots rotated faster near the equator by 3 or 4%, and the differential rotation between 0 and ±20° latitude was enhanced by about a factor 3. These differences are consistent features in both spots and groups of spots and in both northern and southern hemispheres. We presume that this apparent change in surface rotation was related to the ensuing dearth of solar activity (the Maunder Minimum) which persisted until about 1715.
Parsimony dictates a human introduction: on the use of genetic and other data to distinguish between the natural and human-mediated invasion of the European snail Littorina littorea in North America.

Two centuries of historical, archaeological, paleontological, geological, oceanographical and biological data conclusively indicate that the periwinkle snail Littorina littorea was introduced to North America from Europe either by Norse explorers 1000 years ago or by European colonists after 1840. Available genetic data do not indicate ancient divergence of North American and European L. littorea and thus do not challenge all other evidence that it was introduced from Europe by humans.
SEX, WINGTIP SHAPE, AND WING-LOADING PREDICT ARRIVAL DATE AT A STOPOVER SITE IN THE SWAINSON'S THRUSH (CATHARUS USTULATUS)

Abstract Pointed wingtips and low wing-loading are believed to reduce the amount of energy used during migratory flight. If this is true, individuals with pointed wingtips or consistently low wing-loading should be able to migrate faster than conspecifics and may arrive on the breeding grounds and at stopover sites earlier. To test this hypothesis, I captured 97 Swainson's Thrushes (Catharus ustulatus; hereafter “thrushes”) during May in three consecutive field seasons, 2003-2005, at a stopover site in central Illinois. I used molecular techniques to sex 47 of these thrushes and created a discriminant function analysis using wing, tarsometatarsus, and tail lengths that predicted sex with 80.9% accuracy (P < 0.001). I applied this function to the remaining 50 thrushes so that I could control for any sexual dimorphism in morphology and arrival timing, and then examined seasonal trends in sex and morphology. Male thrushes arrived earlier at my stopover site than females (P < 0.001). After controlling for sex...
ONIOM: A Multilayered Integrated MO + MM Method for Geometry Optimizations and Single Point Energy Predictions. A Test for Diels−Alder Reactions and Pt(P(t-Bu)3)2 + H2 Oxidative Addition

The new ONIOM (our own n-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics) approach has been proposed and shown to be successful in reproducing benchmark calculations and experimental results. ONIOM3, a three-layered version, divides a system into an active part treated at a very high level of ab initio molecular orbital theory like CCSD(T), a semiactive part that includes important electronic contributions and is treated at the HF or MP2 level, and a nonactive part that is handled using force field approaches. The three-layered scheme allows us to study a larger system more accurately than the previously proposed two-layered schemes IMOMO, which can treat a medium size system very accurately, and IMOMM, which can handle a very large system with modest accuracy. This three-layered scheme has been applied to activation barriers for the Diels−Alder reaction of acrolein + isoprene, acrolein + 2-tert-butyl-1,3-butadiene, and ethylene + 1,4-di-tert-butyl-1,3-butadiene. In general, the results for b...
On measuring the nearness of near moneys revisited

Abstract In this paper we re-examine the theoretical foundations and empirical estimation of models which incorporate a CES utility function to study the nearness of money substitutes. We show that previous studies using these models have been subject to a number of theoretical and empirical flaws. The result of these flaws has been to overestimate the degree of substitutability between money and near money assets. We show that when these errors are corrected, estimates of substitution elasticities are several times smaller than even those of the most recent studies and therefore are more in line with estimates from more traditional demand for money studies.
Naturally Occurring and Suggestion- Dependent Memory Distortions: The Convergence of Disparate Research Traditions

Two lines of research that have revealed the existence of memory distortions are reviewed. Both began at the beginning of this century and continue through today. One is a coherent research tradition aimed at investigating suggestion-dependent memory distortions produced by clinical and social psychological manipulations; the other consists of a series of unrelated studies on naturally occurring memory distortions. These latter studies are aimed at establishing some of the basic processes underlying the functioning of normal human memory and have not previously been considered together as part of the literature on memory errors.
Compression-aware dynamic cache reconfiguration for embedded systems ☆

Abstract Optimization techniques are widely used in embedded systems design to improve overall area, performance and energy requirements. Dynamic cache reconfiguration is very effective to reduce energy consumption of cache subsystems which accounts for about half of the total energy consumption in embedded systems. Various studies have shown that code compression can significantly reduce memory requirements, and may improve performance in many scenarios. In this paper, we study the challenges and associated opportunities in integrating dynamic cache reconfiguration with code compression to retain the advantages of both approaches. We developed efficient heuristics to explore large space of two-level cache hierarchy in order to study the effect of a two-level cache on energy consumption. Experimental results demonstrate that synergistic combination of cache reconfiguration and code compression can significantly reduce both energy consumption (61% on average) and memory requirements while drastically improve the overall performance (up to 75%) compared to dynamic cache reconfiguration alone.