cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cooling and trapping of atoms and bio-molecules

Summary form only given. A brief history of the laser cooling and trapping of atoms will be presented, covering some of the cooling and trapping techniques that have been developed in the 1980s and 1990s. The cooling and trapping technology is already being applied in numerous areas of science and engineering. Applications to be discussed include atomic clocks, atom interferometers for inertial sensors, and for the measurement of the fine structure constant, as well as studies in polymer dynamics and protein motion.
2.45 GHz Peano Curved Line V-H Antenna with Differential Mode Inputs

In the paper we show how using two monopoles based on the Peano fractal curve we can achieve circular polarization by combining the radiated power in the air. We also demonstrate that four antennas can be combined to serve as receiving and transmitting terminals without the need of any hybrid, using directly the output of a differential amplifier
Toxicity of Chlorine-Produced Oxidants to Arabian Killifish Embryos for Acute Developmental Stages Exposures

Abstract Background: Fish embryos are excellent models for studies aimed at the understanding of toxic mechanisms and the indication of possible acute and chronic effects. Therefore, we present the use of Arabian killifish (Aphanius dispar) embryos, an indigenous species to the Arabian Gulf, to study the effect of chlorine-produced oxidants to marine organisms in the Qatari coastal area. Objective: The objective of this study is to develop chlorine toxicity data for the marine Fish Embryo Toxicity (mFET) test. The test is designed as a means to replace or refine the use of marine juvenile and/or adult fish in standard approaches evaluating toxicity of chemicals and effluents. Methods: Embryos were collected from a breeding stock of sexually mature Arabian killifish. Testing was initiated as soon as possible after fertilization of the eggs with exposure to aqueous concentrations of calcium hypochlorite (0.10 – 12.3 mg/l) for up to 240 hours. The investigated endpoints included; coagulated eggs, somite development, heartbeat, tail detachment, hatchability and post hatch mortality. Results: The results showed a developmental stage-dependent response to chlorine. During earlier developmental stages, chlorine had reduced effects on the embryos and the survival rate and hatchability were high, even at relatively high concentrations. In later developmental stages (pre to post hatch, eleutheroembryo), the embryos were significantly more sensitive to chlorine than in the early stages of development. The chorion, (membrane surrounding the egg), is believed to provide a barrier against chlorine in early stages of embryo development. Conclusions: Taking into account the findings presented here, Killifish embryos exhibit the ability to be an indicator organism for environmental risk assessments of the Qatari coastal area. Benefits include, animal alternative, ease of fish breeding, clarity of the embryos, reduced sample size, reduced waste generation and shorter study duration.
Noninfectious Recombinant Antigen for Detection of St. Louis Encephalitis Virus-Specific Antibodies in Serum by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Proper surveillance of virus activity and a timely response to viral outbreaks depend upon the rapid diagnosis of viral infections. The immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) is a fast, sensitive test routinely used for the diagnosis of the medically important West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis flaviviruses. However, the suckling mouse brain-derived (SMB) antigen used in this assay is tedious to prepare and has a risk of exposing personnel to live virus and hazardous chemicals. We report the development of a St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) noninfectious recombinant antigen that is a safe and easily produced alternative antigen for use in diagnostic assays. The expression plasmid pCB8SJ2, containing the premembrane and envelope structural protein-encoding regions of SLEV, was constructed to express secreted extracellular virus-like particles (VLPs) from CHO cells. Blind-coded human serum panels were assembled from patients having recent SLEV, West Nile virus (WNV), Powassan virus, or La Crosse encephalitis virus infections to assess the sensitivity and specificity of assays with SLEV VLP or SMB antigen. MAC-ELISAs with either antigen had comparable sensitivity for the detection of IgM antibodies against SLEV. Importantly, when these two antigens were tested against a human serum panel from patients having recent WNV or Powassan virus infections, the SLEV VLPs were less likely than SMB antigen to detect flavivirus cross-reactive IgM antibodies. An optimized IgG antibody capture ELISA (GAC-ELISA) with both WNV and SLEV VLPs was developed to circumvent the frequently observed higher background in the antigen-capture IgG-ELISA (ACG-ELISA). For the detection of IgG antibodies against WNV, the GAC-ELISA resulted in a statistically significant higher performance accuracy (P = 0.003) than the ACG-ELISA when the WNV VLP antigen was used in both assays. However, no statistical difference was observed in the assay performance of the GAC-ELISA with SLEV VLP or the ACG-ELISA with SLEV SMB antigen.
Two Loop Dilaton Tadpole Induced by Fayet-Iliopoulos D-Terms In Compactified Heterotic String Theories*

We calculate the two-loop dilaton tadpole induced by Fayet-Iliopoulos D-terms in heterotic string theories compactified on arbitrary supersymmetry preserving backgrounds. The result turns out to be a total derivative in the moduli and hence receives contribution solely from the boundary of the moduli space. This contribution is shown to be proportional to the square of the coefficient of the one-loop Fayet-Iliopoulos D-term in agreement with what is expected from effective lagrangian considerations.
Naturally Occurring Swine Influenza A Virus PB1-F2 Phenotypes That Contribute to Superinfection with Gram-Positive Respiratory Pathogens

A combination of viral, bacterial, and host factors contributes to the severity and overall mortality associated with influenza virus-bacterium superinfections. To date, the virulence associated with the recently identified influenza virus protein PB1-F2 has been largely defined using models of primary influenza virus infection, with only limited assessment in models of Streptococcus pneumoniae superinfection. Specifically, these studies have incorporated isogenic viruses that differ in the PB1-F2 expressed, but there is still knowledge to be gained from evaluation of natural variants derived from a nonhuman host species (swine). Using this rationale, we developed the hypothesis that naturally occurring viruses expressing variants of genes, like the PB1-F2 gene, can be associated with the severity of secondary bacterial infections. To test this hypothesis, we selected viruses expressing variants in PB1-F2 and evaluated outcomes from superinfection with three distinct Gram-positive respiratory pathogens: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Our results demonstrate that the amino acid residues 62L, 66S, 75R, 79R, and 82L, previously proposed as molecular signatures of PB1-F2 virulence for influenza viruses in the setting of bacterial superinfection, are broadly associated with enhanced pathogenicity in swine in a bacterium-specific manner. Furthermore, truncated PB1-F2 proteins can preferentially increase mortality when associated with Streptococcus pyogenes superinfection. These findings support efforts to increase influenza virus surveillance to consider viral genotypes that could be used to predict increased severity of superinfections with specific Gram-positive respiratory pathogens.
Is early ischemic lesion volume on diffusion-weighted imaging an independent predictor of stroke outcome? A multivariable analysis.

Background and Purpose—The heterogeneity of stroke makes outcome prediction difficult. Neuroimaging parameters may improve the predictive value of clinical measures such as the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). We investigated whether the volume of early ischemic brain lesions assessed with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was an independent predictor of functional outcome. Methods—We retrospectively selected patients with nonlacunar ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation from 4 prospective Stanford Stroke Center studies evaluating early MRI. The baseline NIHSS score and ischemic stroke risk factors were assessed. A DWI MRI was performed within 48 hours of symptom onset. Clinical characteristics and early lesion volume on DWI were compared between patients with an independent outcome (Barthel Index score ≥85) and a dependent outcome (Barthel Index score <85) at 1 month. A logistic regression model was performed with factors that were significantly different between the 2 groups in u...
Perceptions of Rural Addictions and Related HIV

Rural addictions and related HIV behaviors, including drug use and sexual behaviors, have received limited attention in United States rural areas when compared with urban areas. However, prevalence rates are similar for alcohol and tobacco in rural and urban United States areas. The perception of policymakers and others is generally that drug use and HIV are urban problems, and resources are more likely to be directed to urban areas than rural areas. A major trend for the future is the continued expectation of limited resources for rural areas.
Comparing hiring strategies in a committee with similarity biases

We present an organizational model that develops organizational expertise and socialization with a hiring process informed by the inherent biases of individuals. We present factors that we believe critically impact candidate selection, literature related to these factors, and our resulting equations. We discuss the model, and present two virtual experiments. The first virtual experiment was used to validate the new model by comparing the implementation with an existing reference implementation—we found similar patterns—which established relational equivalence. The second virtual experiment compared organizations with and without a stochastic selection process and with various selection strategies. Organizations that stressed socialization tended to need to review more (otherwise equally qualified) applicants than organizations that did not, and organizations that were able to deliberate more thoroughly found turnover less effective at maintaining organizational performance. Larger committees reduced the number of applicants that needed to be reviewed in firms that valued diversity, but offered no particular benefit to other organizations.
Corruption, Democracy, and Economic Growth

Scholars have long suspected that political processes such as democracy and corruption are important factors in determining economic growth. Studies show, however, that democracy has only indirect ...
Patterns of gene deletion following genome duplication in yeast

Whole genome duplication (WGD) is followed by massive duplicate deletion that reorganizes gene adjacencies. We compare the deletion patterns and adjacency reorganization following WGD in yeast with simulations. We find that deletion events alternate between paralogous chromosomes more often than expected under a random duplicate deletion model.
Metal-Matrix Nanocomposites with Tailored Coefficients of Thermal Expansion for Improved Thermomechanical Reliability

Ensuring the thermomechanical reliability of various interfaces in thermoelectric (TE) devices during manufacture and operation is challenging, especially for those incorporating TE materials with small coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs). In this paper, we describe our recent progress in the development of metal-matrix nanocomposites with tailorable CTEs, for use as electrodes or as interfacial bonding layers for creating segmented TE elements. The composites incorporate ceramic nanoscale fillers with isotropic negative thermal expansion (NTE) to effectively offset the high CTE of the metal phase. The NTE fillers, synthesized using a sol–gel route, were mixed with metal powders and hot pressed to yield nanocomposites having CTE values decreasing approximately linearly with filler volume fraction. Composites with 54/46 v/v Ag/zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8) achieved average CTE of 7.2 ppm/K, with electrical and thermal conductivities approximately 50% of that of Ag nanopowders hot pressed under identical conditions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses suggest that the composites are thermally stable at temperatures as high as 920 K. This research provides a foundation upon which to investigate alternative electrode and interface materials with tailored CTEs for achieving improved thermomechanical reliability of TE modules and other thermal and electronic devices.
FORCES ON ROUGH-WALLED CIRCULAR CYLINDERS

This paper presents the results of an extensive experimental investigation of the in-line and transverse forces acting on sand-roughened circular cylinders placed in oscillatory flow at Reynolds numbers up to 1,500,000, Keulegan-Carpenter numbers up to 100, and relative roughnesses from 1/800 to 1/50. The drag and inertia coefficients have been determined through the use of the Fourier analysis and the least squares method. The transverse force (lift) has been analysed in terms of its maximum and root-mean-square values. In addition, the frequency of vortex shedding and the Strouhal number have been determined. The results have shown that all of the coefficients cited above are functions of the Reynolds number, Keulegan-Carpenter number, and the relative roughness height. The results have also shown that the effect of roughness is quite profound and that the drag coefficients obtained from tests in steady flow are not applicable to harmonic flows even when the loading is predominantly drag.
Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis in a child with Crohn’s disease, otitis media, and meningitis

Pediatric cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Severe long-term sequelae are reported in up to 48% of children. The most frequent location of CSVT in children is the superficial venous system. We present the neuroimaging findings using both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a 10-year-old child with extensive superficial CSVT. Our report aims to stress the importance of awareness of risk factors in suspecting and rapidly diagnosing CSVT. The application of targeted conventional and advanced MRI sequences is the diagnostic tool of choice in children at risk of or with clinically suspected CSVT.
Conservation and diversity in the secondary forward photodynamics of red/green cyanobacteriochromes†

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are photosensitive proteins that are distantly related to the phytochrome family of photoreceptors and, like phytochromes, exhibit photoactivity initiated by the excited-state photoisomerization of a covalently bound bilin chromophore. The canonical red/green photoswitching sub-family is the most studied class of CBCRs studied to date. Recently, a comparative study of the ultrafast (100 fs-10 ns) forward photodynamics of nine red/green photoswitching CBCR domains isolated from Nostoc punctiforme were reported (S. M. Gottlieb, P. W. Kim, C.-W. Chang, S. J. Hanke, R. J. Hayer, N. C. Rockwell, S. S. Martin, J. C. Lagarias and D. S. Larsen, Conservation and Diversity in the Primary Forward Photodynamics of Red/Green Cyanobacteriochromes, Biochemistry, 2015, 54, 1028-1042). We extend this study by characterizing the secondary (10 ns-1 ms) forward photodynamics of eight red/green photoswitching CBCRs from N. punctiforme with broadband time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. We demonstrate that the dynamics of these representative red/green CBCRs can be separated into two coexisting pathways involving a photoactive pathway that is successful in generating the terminal light-adapted 15EPg population and an unsuccessful pathway that stalls after generating a meta-stable Lumi-Of intermediate. The photoactive pathway evolves through a similar mechanism from excitation of the dark-adapted 15ZPr state to generate a far-red absorbing Lumi-Rf and then via a succession of blue-shifting photointermediates to ultimately generate the 15EPg state. This suggests a steady deviation from planarity of the bilin chromophore during the dynamics. While, the general mechanism for this evolution is conserved among these CBCBs, the timescales of these dynamics deviate significantly. Only half of the characterized CBCRs exhibit the unproductive pathways due to photoexcitation of dark-adapted 15ZPo sub-population that upon photoexcitation generates a meta-stable Lumi-Of intermediate, which eventually decays back to the 15ZPo subpopulation. 15ZPo is ascribed the horizontal Asp657 configuration that disrupts H-bonding with the chromophore in the dark-adapted state; its presence can be identified via enhanced absorption of high-energy tail of the electronic absorption spectrum.
Analysis of a Single H 2 -Air Pulse Detonation in a Supersonic Combustor

A two-dimensional unsteady simulation examines the effects of the detonation initiation of an innovative pulsed scramjet system. An analogous supersonic combustor includes a small detonation device with a stoichiometric H 2 -O 2 mixture, meant to augment the fuel penetration, mixing, and early ignition process of a fueled supersonic combustor. The single pulse detonation tube is located right after a single 30 o angled wall flush injection of H 2 into supersonic freestream air, resulting in a Φ s ~1/3. The injection port and detonation tube are followed by a typical 30 o open cavity with L/D=5. The analyses considered herein assume finite-rate conditions with a reduced chemical mechanism for both the hydrogen-oxygen and hydrogen-air mixtures to model the pulse detonation and the scramjet fuel flow. The flow properties in the tube were initialized at atmospheric conditions for the mixture to evolve the pulse, simulated at the head of the tube after detonation has occurred. The results of the small hydrogen detonator delineated a basic evaluation to advance the understanding and configuration design of a supersonic pulse assisted combustor. Nomenclature:
Confronting sustainable development in two rural heritage valorization models

ABSTRACTMany rural areas have reinvented their territorial development through tourism, turning to vernacular heritage to ensure their future. Various models of heritage preservation and valorization are adopted where small-scale agriculture is no longer viable. Among them, ecomuseums and place-based labelization schemes transform rural heritage into an economic resource while remaining grounded in cultural and architectural preservation and identity transmission to future generations. Both face criticisms, including being decried as fostering the museumification and mythification of the rural, effectively holding back rural areas in an imagined and romanticized past rather than providing a vision for a sustainable future. The Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of France and the Ecomusee d'Alsace illustrate the debate. This investigation analyzes how these two initiatives challenge critics. It unveils their respective understandings of the future of rurality and their approach to promoting sustain...
Redroid: A Regression Test Selection Approach for Android Applications

As the mobile platform pervades human life, much research in recent years has focused on improving the reliability of mobile applications on this platform, for example by applying automatic testing. However, researchers have primarily consid- ered testing of single version of mobile applications. Although regression testing has been extensively studied for desktop appli- cations, and many efficient and effective approaches have been proposed, these approaches cannot be directly applied to mobile applications. We first present a bug study on real-world Android bugs to show the existence of regression bugs, which motivates the need for an efficient regression test selection technique for Android applications. Next, we introduce Redroid, a new ap- proach to regression test selection for Android applications. Our approach leverages the combination of static impact analysis and dynamic code coverage, and identifies a subset of test cases for re- execution on the modified application version. We implement our approach for Android applications, and demonstrate its efficacy through an extensive empirical study. as a runtime environment, which is significantly different from the Java Virtual Machine. This paper first presents a bug study based on 10 real- world Android apps from Google Code Repository (3). The study shows that there are regressions for Android apps during evolution, and an efficient and effective regression testing approach is highly needed for this area. This paper then intro- duces Redroid, a new approach to regression test selection for Android apps. Given a test suite that was performed on the original Android app, and the two versions involved in a change, Redroid identifies a subset of the tests that must be re-executed to test the new Android version. Leveraging the combination of static impact analysis with coverage informa- tion that is dynamically generated at runtime, our approach identifies a subset of tests to check the behaviors of the modified version that can potentially be different from the original version. We developed a prototype tool for Redroid, and conducted an evaluation based on two real-world Android apps, which shows that our approach can significantly reduce the number of tests for re-execution after an Android app is modified.
Intervals, Scales, and Tuning

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the possible origins and bases of scales including those aspects of scales that are universal across musical cultures. It also addresses the perception of the basic unit of melodies and scales, the musical interval. Natural intervals are define as intervals that show maximum sensory consonance and harmony, have influenced the evolution of the scales of many musical cultures, but the standards of intonation for a given culture are the learned interval categories of the scales of that culture. Based on the results of musical interval adjustment and identification experiments, and on measurements of intonation in performance, the intonation standard for Western music appears to be a version of the equitempered scale that is slightly compressed for small intervals, and stretched for wide intervals, including the octave. The perception of musical intervals shares a number of commonalities with the perception of phonemes in speech, most notably categorical-like perception, and an equivalence of spacing, in sensation units, of categories along the respective continua. However, the perception of melodic musical intervals appears to be the only example of ideal categorical perception in which discrimination is totally dependent on identification. Therefore this chapter concludes that, rather than speech being “special” as ofttimes proclaimed by experimental psychologists it seems that music is truly special.
A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Bedside Computer Clinical Decision Support Protocol for Hyperglycemia Is Feasible, Safe and Offers Advantages.

Abstract Background: Computer clinical decision support (CDS) systems are uncommon in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), despite evidence suggesting they improve outcomes in adult ICUs. We reasoned that a bedside CDS protocol for intravenous insulin titration, eProtocol-insulin, would be feasible and safe in critically ill children. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from non-diabetic children admitted to the PICU with blood glucose (BG) ≥140 mg/dL who were managed with intravenous insulin by either unaided clinician titration or eProtocol-insulin. Primary outcomes were BG measurements in target range (80–110 mg/dL) and severe hypoglycemia (BG ≤40 mg/dL); secondary outcomes were 60-day mortality and PICU length of stay. We assessed bedside nurse satisfaction with the eProtocol-insulin protocol by using a 5-point Likert scale and measured clinician compliance with eProtocol-insulin recommendations. Results: Over 5 years, 69 children were titrated with eProtocol-insulin versus 104 by unaided c...
Microscope-Integrated Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in the Operating Room in Young Children With Retinal Vascular Disease.

Importance Intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) has gained traction as an important adjunct for clinical decision making during vitreoretinal surgery, and OCT angiography (OCTA) has provided novel insights in clinical evaluation of retinal diseases. To date, these two technologies have not been applied in combination to evaluate retinal vascular disease in the operating suite. Objective To conduct microscope-integrated, swept-source OCTA (MIOCTA) in children with retinal vascular disease. Design, Setting, and Participants In this case report analysis, OCT imaging in pediatric patients, MIOCTA images were obtained during examination under anesthesia from a young boy with a history of idiopathic vitreous hemorrhage and a female infant with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. Main Outcomes and Measures Side-by-side comparison of research MIOCT angiograms and clinically indicated fluorescein angiograms. Results In 2 young children with retinal vascular disease, the MIOCTA images showed more detailed vascular patterns than were visible on the fluorescein angiograms although within a more posterior field of view. The MIOCTA system allowed visualization of small pathological retinal vessels in the retinal periphery that were obscured in the fluorescein angiograms by fluorescein staining from underlying, preexisting laser scars. Conclusions and Relevance This is the first report to date of the use of MIOCTA in the operating room for young children with retinal vascular disease. Further optimization of this system may allow noninvasive detailed evaluation of retinal vasculature during surgical procedures and in patients who could not cooperate with in-office examinations.
The Joint Commission Ever-Readiness: Understanding Tracer Methodology

The Joint Commission (TJC) evaluates the consistent provision of appropriate and safe access to health care, treatment, and services. Currently, TJC uses the tracer methodology to assess standards compliance and follows a number of patients through an organization's entire health care delivery process. The tracer methodology uses 3 different types of tracers as follows: individual or patient tracers, program-specific, and system tracers, to identify performance issues in one or more steps of the care process or at interfaces between them. This review article describes the different types of tracers used by TJC and provides examples of each tracer in radiology; it outlines how to achieve TJC ever-readiness with the use of mock tracers and provides practical suggestions on how to ensure staff engagement.
Disparities in liver cancer occurrence in the United States by race/ethnicity and state

Liver cancer is highly fatal, and death rates in the United States are increasing faster than for any other cancer, having doubled since the mid-1980s. In 2017, it is estimated that the disease will account for about 41,000 new cancer cases and 29,000 cancer deaths in the United States. In this article, data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and the National Center for Health Statistics are used to provide an overview of liver cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates and trends, including data by race/ethnicity and state. The prevalence of major risk factors for liver cancer is also reported based on national survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite the improvement in liver cancer survival in recent decades, only 1 in 5 patients survives 5 years after diagnosis. There is substantial disparity in liver cancer death rates by race/ethnicity (from 5.5 per 100,000 in non-Hispanic whites to 11.9 per 100,000 in American Indians/Alaska Natives) and state (from 3.8 per 100,000 in North Dakota to 9.6 per 100,000 in the District of Columbia) and by race/ethnicity within states. Differences in risk factor prevalence account for much of the observed variation in liver cancer rates. Thus, in contrast to the growing burden, a substantial proportion of liver cancer deaths could be averted, and existing disparities could be dramatically reduced, through the targeted application of existing knowledge in prevention, early detection, and treatment, including improvements in vaccination against hepatitis B virus, screening and treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infections, maintaining a healthy body weight, access to high-quality diabetes care, preventing excessive alcohol drinking, and tobacco control, at both the state and national levels. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:273-289. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Identification of multiple tubulins in taxol microtubules purified from carrot suspension cells.

Tubulin has been purified from carrot suspension cells by ionexchange chromatography and assembled into microtubules in the presence of 20 μM taxol. One-dimensional SDS-PAGE suggested that the α band migrated faster than the β band (as has been established for some lower eukaryotic tubulins) and this heterology with brain tubulins was confirmed by peptide mapping. When subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the plant tubulins could be separated into multiple α and β isotypes. Immunoblotting, using monoclonal antitubulins, confirmed that the tubulin isotypes identified in taxol microtubules represent all of the tubulins present in homogenates of unsynchronised log-phase carrot suspension cells. All identified tubulins are therefore assembly-competent under these conditions. Plant cells can contain four different microtubule arrays, but cells arrested in G0/G1 contain only cortical microtubule arrays; such cells, however, exhibit the same tubulin profile as non-synchronised cells, thereby showing no restriction in the number of subunits during this phase of the cell cycle.
Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Due to Severe Para-Valvular Regurgitation.

Abstract We describe a challenging case of successful use of Impella CP™ to provide emergent left ventricular support following a circulatory collapse during transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation with a CoreValve Evolut R prosthesis.
A Meta-Analytical Review of PAD Within Retail Environments: An Abstract

The physical store environment is an essential factor that contributes to the overall shopping experience of consumers (Babin and Darden 1995). Specifically, consumer behavioral outcomes are shaped by elements within retail environments that can evoke emotional responses (e.g., Chaudhuri and Ligas 2009; Dawson et al. 1990; Matilla and Wirtz 2001). The classical environment model by Mehrabian and Russell (1974) incorporates a primary emotional response that can be classified as pleasure, arousal, or dominance (PAD). The PAD dimensions are assessed with an 18-item semantic differential scale covering emotional response ranges, including happy-unhappy, stimulated-relaxed, and dominant-submissive responses. Considering the vast application of PAD in the retail literature, the overall goal of this research is to better understand the impact of PAD on atmospheric research. Furthermore, we try to clarify which dimensions are most commonly applied in atmospheric studies and provide insights into which dimension most strongly relates to outcome variables.
Using self-efficacy beliefs to understand how students in a general chemistry course approach the exam process

Retention of students who major in STEM continues to be a major concern for universities. Many students cite poor teaching and disappointing grades as reasons for dropping out of STEM courses. Current college chemistry courses often assess what a student has learned through summative exams. To understand students' experiences of the exam process, including how students prepare for an exam, take an exam, and respond to feedback from an exam, data was collected through interviews with students in an introductory college chemistry course. The interview data was analyzed using emergent coding to describe students' experiences of the exam process using phenomenography. Data indicated that students' experiences with the exam process could be categorized based on their reported exam performance. Overall, differences could be seen between these students' self-efficacy beliefs and metacognitive skills based on the grade each student reported receiving on the exam. The students who performed highest on the exam had self-efficacy beliefs primarily from their mastery experience, and middle performing students' self-efficacy beliefs came from vicarious experience. The lowest performing student had low self-efficacy beliefs. Students who received the highest grades on the exam viewed learning as making meaningful connections between topics, and students who received lower grades viewed learning as memorization. By further understanding students study habits, their views on the exam process, and the development of their self-efficacy beliefs, instructors may be better able to assist low and middle performing students in our general chemistry courses. The findings from this study suggest several ways instructors could facilitate more effective studying and promote higher self-efficacy beliefs, including promoting group work, talking with students about study skills, and encouraging attendance at office hours to review exam responses.
DETECTION OF ACOUSTIC SECOND HARMONICS USING A LASER INTERFEROMETER

Non-linear acoustic measurements can provide information on the microstructure or internal state of stress of materials and offer great potential for the nondestructive characterization of materials [1]. But non linear effects are difficult to measure, especially in industrial environments. For instance, changes in acoustic velocity with temperature or with applied stress are very small. The detection of acoustic harmonics [2], the interaction of multiple acoustic wavefronts [3], or of acoustic-radiation-induced static strain [4] requires sensitive transducers calibrated for absolute amplitude measurements to allow die determination of the third order elastic constants. Among these techniques, the detection of second harmonics offers potential for industrial applications because it requires no applied stress, no (slow) change in temperature and only one acoustic source.
West-Central European Early Iron Age

The prevailing climate of west-central Europe since the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age (-10,000 b.p.) can be described as temperate, but there are significant differences in climate along the north-south and east-west axes. There are more than 3,500 km separating the northern and southern zones of Europe; the western coastline is influenced by the Atlantic, and the eastern zone is affected by proximity to the vast land mass of Asia. West-central Europe can therefore be described as a mosaic of climate zones that have remained distinct in spite of major climatic shifts since the end of the Pleistocene. Three major zones can be defined for the region: a marine climate zone for the western coastal region characterized by cool summers, mild winters, and significant amounts of precipitation; a Mediterranean climate zone in the south with hot, very dry summers, mild winters, and relatively sparse rainfall occurring mostly in the winter months; and a humid continental climate zone for most of central Europe with precipitation levels and summers similar to the western coast but with much colder winters.
Isolation and manipulation of protoplasts from the unicellular green alga Penium margaritaceum.

The unicellular charophycean green alga Penium margaritaceum has emerged as an appealing experimental organism in plant cell wall and cell biology research. Innovative practical approaches in the manipulation and maintenance of this unicellular model alga are needed in order to probe the complexities of its subcellular and molecular machinery. Protoplast isolation and manipulation expedites a new range of experimental possibilities for Penium-based studies. These include enhanced means of isolation of subcellular components and macromolecules, application of intracellular probes for high resolution microscopy of live cells, transformation studies and analysis of the fundamental mechanisms of plant cell expansion and wall polymer deposition. We present a methodology for enzyme-based digestion of the Penium cell wall and the isolation of protoplasts. The subcellular events associated with this technology are presented using multiple microscopy-based techniques. We also provide protocols for applying an array of intracellular dyes that can be used as markers for specific organelles and membrane microdomains in live cells. Finally, we present a protocol for the purification of a nuclei-rich fraction from protoplasts, which can be used for the isolation of nuclear DNA. Protoplast isolation, culturing and manipulation provide valuable means for molecular and cellular studies of Penium. The protocol described here offers a rapid and effective mechanism for fast and effective production of protoplasts. Subsequently, the protoplasts may be used for microscopy-based studies of specific subcellular components and the isolation of organelles and nuclear DNA. These methods offer a new practical methodology for future studies of this model organism in cell and molecular biology.
Race/ethnicity, psychological resilience, and social support among OEF/OIF combat veterans.

Abstract This study examined the relationship between race/ethnicity and psychological resilience, and the moderating role of social support in this relationship among non-Hispanic White (n = 605), Hispanic (n = 107), African American (n = 141), and Asian American (n = 97) Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) combat veterans. Veterans were primarily male (88%) with a mean age of 31.4 years (SD = 8.35). An analysis of covariance showed that Asian American veterans reported significantly lower psychological resilience than non-Hispanic White veterans. The interaction of race/ethnicity and social support with psychological resilience was examined via linear regression. We found that the relationship between psychological resilience and social support significantly differed by race/ethnicity such that social support was positively associated with psychological resilience among non-Hispanic White veterans, but not among other racial/ethnic groups. Our findings are consistent with previous studies that show Asian American veterans report lower psychological resilience than non-Hispanic White veterans. Cultural differences in how and why individuals use social support may underlie racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between social support and psychological resilience. Future qualitative and quantitative research is encouraged to better understand how social support relates to psychological resilience among minority OEF/OIF combat veterans.
Replacement Management in Cattle | Health Management.

Replacements are the future of the dairy industry. Focusing on improving health management of replacements will yield tremendous returns through decreased losses of animals with the greatest genetic potential on the dairy, decreased costs of medication, improved growth rates, improved feed efficiency and earlier entry into the milking herd. Health management begins before replacements are born with attention to the nutrition of lactating and dry cows, the vaccination of lactating and dry cows, control of length of the dry period and both control of the disease status of the dams and the cleanliness of the calving environment. Adequate consumption of colostrums by newborn calves is very important. Attention must be paid to biosecurity to prevent introduction of diseases into the herd and to digestive disorders such as diarrhea, internal parasites and appropriate vaccination programs for the calves. Health management of replacements is often overlooked because producers do not see the immediate returns for their efforts.
Peripheral Nerve Problems: An Overview for Patients and Their Family Members

The peripheral nervous system has a much greater capacity for recovery through axonal regeneration and remyelination than the central nervous system. Peripheral nerve problems usually present with symptoms such as pain, numbness, and /or weakness. The diagnostic workup involves a thorough clinical history and physical examination that is usually supplemented with electrodiagnostic and/or imaging studies. Common peripheral nerve problems such as entrapment neuropathies, the most common of which is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, involve compression and stretching of nerves. When nonsurgical therapies fail, surgical decompression can allow entrapped nerves to recover with restoration of function and reduction in symptoms. Peripheral nerves that are traumatically injured can be repaired sometimes with grafts comprised of nerve or synthetic material along which nerve fibers can regenerate. The majority of peripheral nerve tumors are benign and many will stop growing for long periods of time. Those that do continue to grow and become symptomatic can usually be surgically removed with little if any loss of function. The proper management of complex peripheral nerve problems requires a team approach involving a number of different medical specialties.
Macrophage-Dependent Trafficking and Remodeling of the Basement Membrane-Interstitial Matrix Interface

Macrophages dominate inflammatory environments where they modify the extracellular matrix by mobilizing complex repertoires of proteolytic enzymes. Nevertheless, the dominant proteinases used by macrophage as they confront physiologic tissue barriers remain undefined. Herein, we have characterized the molecular mechanisms that define human macrophage-extracellular matrix interactions ex vivo. Resting and immune-polarized macrophages are shown to proteolytically remodel basement membranes while infiltrating the underlying interstitial matrix. In an unbiased screen to identify key proteases, we find that the macrophage metalloproteinase, MT1-MMP, is the dominant effector of basement membrane degradation and invasion. Unexpectedly, macrophages can alternatively use actomyosin-dependent forces to transmigrate native basement membrane pores that provide cells with proteinase-independent access to the interstitial matrix. These studies not only identify MT1-MMP as a key proteolytic effector of extracellular matrix remodeling by human macrophages, but also define the invasive strategies used by macrophages to traverse physiologic tissue barriers.
Microwave-Driven CPW Microplasma Generator for Low-Power Discharge

A novel microplasma generator based on a halfwavelength grounded coplanar waveguide is introduced. Design theory and considerations as well as simulation results are presented. Measured results of a fabricated circuit are compared with simulations. Sustained microplasma glow discharges are achieved in sub-atmospheric pressure argon with sustained input powers of less than 400 mW. The excitation frequency dependence of the discharge location is also investigated, and its implication for future designs is discussed.
Constraining alternative polarization states of gravitational waves from individual black hole binaries using pulsar timing arrays

Pulsar timing arrays are sensitive to gravitational wave perturbations produced by individual supermassive black hole binaries during their early inspiral phase. Modified gravity theories allow for the emission of gravitational dipole radiation, which is enhanced relative to the quadrupole contribution for low orbital velocities, making the early inspiral an ideal regime to test for the presence of modified gravity effects. Using a theory-agnostic description of modified gravity theories based on the parametrized post-Einsteinian framework, we explore the possibility of detecting deviations from general relativity using simulated pulsar timing array data, and provide forecasts for the constraints that can be achieved. We generalize the enterprise pulsar timing software to account for possible additional polarization states and modifications to the phase evolution, and study how accurately the parameters of simulated signals can be recovered. We find that while a pure dipole model can partially recover a pure quadrupole signal, there is little possibility for confusion when the full model with all polarization states is used. With no signal present, and using noise levels comparable to those seen in contemporary arrays, we produce forecasts for the upper limits that can be placed on the amplitudes of alternative polarization modes as a function of the sky location of the source.
Total reaction cross sections in CEM and MCNP6 at intermediate energies

Abstract Accurate total reaction cross section models are important to achieving reliable predictions from spallation and transport codes. The latest version of the Cascade Exciton Model (CEM) as incorporated in the code CEM03.03, and the Monte Carlo N-Particle transport code (MCNP6), both developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), each use such cross sections. Having accurate total reaction cross section models in the intermediate energy region ( ∼ 50 MeV to ∼ 5 GeV) is very important for different applications, including analysis of space environments, use in medical physics, and accelerator design, to name just a few. The current inverse cross sections used in the preequilibrium and evaporation stages of CEM are based on the Dostrovsky et al. model, published in 1959. Better cross section models are available now. Implementing better cross section models in CEM and MCNP6 should yield improved predictions for particle spectra and total production cross sections, among other results. Our current results indicate this is, in fact, the case.
Surface heterogeneity affects percolation and gelation of colloids: dynamic simulations with random patchy spheres

Surface heterogeneity of colloidal particles has a significant impact on their structure in solution and their rheological properties. During particle synthesis, heterogeneous chemical functionalization, processes of self-assembly, or phase separation, can all lead to heterogeneous colloidal surfaces which impart anisotropic interactions to suspended particles. Additionally, an important class of colloids, biological macromolecules, exhibit similar localized, short-ranged, anisotropic interactions, which have a significant impact on their solution properties. Therefore, understanding the assembly and rheology of such colloids can provide insight into a wide variety of relevant physical systems. In this computational study, we investigate dispersions of particles having surface patches with randomized functionality as a model for heterogeneous colloids. We use Brownian dynamics simulations with hydrodynamic interactions to explore the differences between these random patchy particles and homogeneous (or isotropic) particles. The common basis used for comparing dispersions of particles with different surface functionality is equality of the second virial coefficient, so that dispersions of particles with different patterns of surface heterogeneity are similar thermodynamically at low particle concentrations. We show that at modest particle concentrations, significant deviations from the isotropic model are evident in the dispersion micro-structure, giving drastically different percolation transition points depending on the degree of surface heterogeneity. However, these deviations can be rationalized and a universal percolation criteria derived in terms of the osmotic pressure of the dispersion. Heterogeneous interactions also impose extra constraints on the relative translation and rotation between neighboring particles, which increase the viscosity and elastic modulus of aggregated dispersions and gels built from heterogeneous colloids and shifts the gel point measurably.