cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The diffusion of oxygen in Zirconia as a function of oxygen pressure

Diffusion of oxygen in monodinic zirconia was studied using the oxygen-18 gas-solid exchange technique. The zirconia was in the form of spheres prepared by dropping the powdered material through a high temperature plasma. Diffusion was measured as a function of equivalent oxygen pressure, using oxygen and CO-CO2 mixtures, over the range 1 to 10−21 atm. In pure oxygen at 700 Torr and between 600 and 1000°C, the diffusion is described by the equation,D ⋆=2.34×10−2 exp — (45,300±1200)/RT. Experiments in CO-CO2 mixtures at 850°C gave self-diffusion coefficients that showed a slight decrease with a decrease in $$P_{O_2 } $$ D ⋆ from 10−6 atm, and finally a decrease inD ⋆ from 10−19 to 10−21 atm. The behavior ofD ⋆ with $$P_{O_2 } $$ appears to be in agreement with a defect model involving anti-Frenkel imperfections, i.e., oxygen interstitials and anion vacancies, if it is assumed that the mobility for oxygen interstitials is greater than that for oxygen vacancies.
Purification and partial characterization of lipoxygenase with dual catalytic activities from human term placenta

Lipoxygenase possessing dual catalytic activities, i.e. dioxygenase and hydroperoxidase, was purified from the cytosols of term placentas from non-smoking women. Concanavalin A affinity chromatography followed by phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B chromatography resulted in the separation of one hydrophobic and one non-hydrophobic isoenzyme. The concanavalin A-purified enzyme was used in all subsequent experiments. The dioxygenase activity of the enzyme exhibited a Vmax. of 204.37 +/- 17.66 nmol/min per mg of protein and a Km of 0.79 mM for linoleic acid. The involvement of dioxygen in enzymic linoleic acid oxidation was confirmed by O2 uptake studies. Arachidonic acid and linolenic acid also served as substrates for the dioxygenase activity. The placental lipoxygenase co-oxidized benzidine in the presence of linoleic acid (hydroperoxidase activity). Both the dioxygenase and hydroperoxidase activities were significantly stimulated by Ca2+ (1-100 microM), ATP (10-400 nM) and H2O2 (1-10 nM). Similarly, these two activities were inhibited by nordihydroguaiaretic acid, 5,8,11-eicosatriynoic acid, gossypol, esculetin, butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene. Boiled enzyme was without significant dioxygenase and hydroperoxidase activities. Pyrogallol, 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, tetramethylphenylenediamine and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) were also co-oxidized by the placental lipoxygenase. These results suggest that: (i) lipoxygenase from human term placenta exhibits both dioxygenase and hydroperoxidase activities, and (ii) this enzyme represents an important pathway for chemical oxidation in the placentas of non-smoking women.
Diplopoda from the Western States

General color of body above dark brown to almost black; a narrow median line of yellow extending from the anterior margin of the second dorsal scutum to the end of the anal scutum; a broader pale stripe of darker caste than that of the median line along each side from the anterior margin of the first segment to the end of the body; lower portion of sides and the entire venter yellowish. Legs yellow on inner or ventral surface Proximally, the distal articles commonly darker; dorsally brownish, likewise darker distally. General color of head brown; vertex areolate with dark-brown over a lighter ground; a smoky or blackish brown area between eye and antenna of each side and those of the other, the area narrowing to a median point down the front, the region each side of this elongation areolatc like the vertex; clypeus and labrum light brown to yellow. Antennae deep brown or blackish excepting the two distal articles which are whitish.
Chronic In Vivo Imaging of Ponto-Cerebellar Mossy Fibers Reveals Morphological Stability during Whisker Sensory Manipulation in the Adult Rat.

Abstract The cerebellum receives extensive disynaptic input from the neocortex via the basal pontine nuclei, the neurons of which send mossy fiber (MF) axons to the granule cell layer of the contralateral cerebellar hemisphere. Although this cortico-cerebellar circuit has been implicated in tasks such as sensory discrimination and motor learning, little is known about the potential role of MF morphological plasticity in the function of the cerebellar granule cell layer. To address this issue, we labeled MFs with EGFP via viral infection of the basal pons in adult rats and performed in vivo two-photon imaging of MFs in Crus I/II of the cerebellar hemisphere over a period of several weeks. Following the acquisition of baseline images, animals were housed in control, enriched, or deprived sensory environments. Morphological dynamics were assessed by tracing MF axons and their terminals, and by tracking the stability of filopodia arising from MF terminal rosettes. MF axons and terminals were found to be remarkably stable. Parameters derived neither from measurements of axonal arbor geometry nor from the morphology of individual rosettes and their filopodial extensions significantly changed under control conditions over 4 weeks of imaging. Increasing whisker stimulation by manipulating the sensory environment or decreasing such stimulation by whisker trimming also failed to alter MF structure. Our studies indicate that pontine MF axons projecting to Crus I/II in adult rats do not undergo significant structural rearrangements over the course of weeks, and that this stability is not altered by the sustained manipulation of whisker sensorimotor experience.
NVL-C: Static Analysis Techniques for Efficient, Correct Programming of Non-Volatile Main Memory Systems

Computer architecture experts expect that non-volatile memory (NVM) hierarchies will play a more significant role in future systems including mobile, enterprise, and HPC architectures. With this expectation in mind, we present NVL-C: a novel programming system that facilitates the efficient and correct programming of NVM main memory systems. The NVL-C programming abstraction extends C with a small set of intuitive language features that target NVM main memory, and can be combined directly with traditional C memory model features for DRAM. We have designed these new features to enable compiler analyses and run-time checks that can improve performance and guard against a number of subtle programming errors, which, when left uncorrected, can corrupt NVM-stored data. Moreover, to enable recovery of data across application or system failures, these NVL-C features include a flexible directive for specifying NVM transactions. So that our implementation might be extended to other compiler front ends and languages, the majority of our compiler analyses are implemented in an extended version of LLVM's intermediate representation (LLVM IR). We evaluate NVL-C on a number of applications to show its flexibility, performance, and correctness.
Abstract A20: What's in the cancer biology part of Community Health Worker Curricula: A systematic review

Background: Disparities in cancer treatment and outcomes mirror socio-economical, racial, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. An important approach for closing health disparities is increasing scientific and health cancer literacy in the community. This can be achieved by Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs are thus at the frontline of our efforts to close these health care gap. However, the current status of a standardized cancer-biology training module for CHWs is unknown. Hypothesis: If we can identify the material covered in the cancer-biology portion of published CHW training curricula, then a standardized cancer-biology module can be developed based on evidence of best practices and recommendations. Methods: A comprehensive search of the published literature on training of CHWs using Pubmed and following the guidelines established by the Cochrane Collaboration systematic review process was performed. Methods for completing this systematic review included identification of a topic; selection of articles based on specialized criteria; design and implementation of a data extraction form; and systematic data synthesis and appraisal from the selected articles to diminish bias. Results: Using this methodology, 49 articles were selected from an initial Pubmed search that yielded 228 literature entries using “Cancer Education Curriculum Community Health Workers” as search criteria. Using this strategy, we will produce a systematic and comprehensive review of the science behind cancer training portion of published CHW curriculum in the U.S. This approach will aid in improving CHW training. Citation Format: Nicole Offer, Kierstyn Jeffries, Danyell S. Wilson. What9s in the cancer biology part of Community Health Worker Curricula: A systematic review. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A20.
Public Infrastructure, Growth and the Community Support Framework

The suggestion that neglecting to raise and improve infrastructure may cause a slow down of growth has attracted much attention from both the research community and policy makers alike. The link between public investment and economic activity had been first addressed analytically by Arrow and Kurz (1970). However, it was not until Ratnier (1983) that a quantitative assessment was obtained for the G7 economies in association with the aggregate stock of public infrastructure invested in those countries. His findings prompted further research on the US economy and other countries.
Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 Activation within the Cardiac Myocyte Limits Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Rodents.

Background:Recent evidence suggests that cross talk exists between cellular pathways important for pain signaling and ischemia–reperfusion injury. Here, the authors address whether the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel, important in pain signaling, is present in cardiac myocytes
Precipitation of anion inclusions and plasticity under hydrostatic pressure in II-VI crystals

Precipitation of anion nanocrystals (NCs) in initially stoichiometric II-VI crystals under hydrostatic pressure and light exposure is explored by Raman spectroscopy, and the mechanism for this effect is analyzed by model calculations. ZnSe, ZnTe, and CdSe crystals are studied in bulk and/or epitaxial-film forms. Se and Te NCs in the trigonal (t) phase precipitate in ZnSe and ZnTe, but the effect is absent or minimal in CdSe. The precipitation is induced by pressure and assisted by sub-band-gap light. In ZnSe, t-Se NCs appear for pressure exceeding 4.8 GPa and light flux above $50--70\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$. In ZnTe, the precipitation of t-Te NCs requires less pressure to initiate, and there is a clear upper-pressure limit for t-Te nuclei to form. We find also that ZnTe samples with cleavage damage or elevated zinc-vacancy content are more prone to form t-Te NCs at lower pressures (even 1 atm in some cases) and lower flux. The precipitation seen in ZnSe and ZnTe occurs at pressures far below their phase transitions, and cannot be due to those transitions. Rather, we propose that the NCs nucleate on dislocations that arise from hydrostatic-pressure induced plastic flow triggered by noncubic defect sites. Calculations of the kinetic barrier for growth of an optimally shaped nucleus are performed, including hydrostatic pressure in the energy minimization scheme. Using sensible values for the model parameters related to the cohesive energies of Se and Te, the calculations account for our main observations, including the existence of an upper pressure limit for precipitation, and the absence of precipitation in CdSe. We consider the effects of pressure-induced precipitate formation on the I-II phase transitions in a variety of binary semiconductors and make predictions of when this effect should be important.
Interdependence of Inhibitor Recognition in HIV-1 Protease

Molecular recognition is a highly interdependent process. Subsite couplings within the active site of proteases are most often revealed through conditional amino acid preferences in substrate recognition. However, the potential effect of these couplings on inhibition and thus inhibitor design is largely unexplored. The present study examines the interdependency of subsites in HIV-1 protease using a focused library of protease inhibitors, to aid in future inhibitor design. Previously a series of darunavir (DRV) analogs was designed to systematically probe the S1′ and S2′ subsites. Co-crystal structures of these analogs with HIV-1 protease provide the ideal opportunity to probe subsite interdependency. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations starting from these structures were performed and systematically analyzed in terms of atomic fluctuations, intermolecular interactions, and water structure. These analyses reveal that the S1′ subsite highly influences other subsites: the extension of the hydrophobic P1′...
Learning By A. C. Catania

Professor Catania’s book, Learning, deals with a wider variety of important issues than any other single text currently available in the experimental analysis of behavior. The book emphasizes the continuity of behavioral processes, from lower animals to humans, from maze running to lever pressing to paired-associate learning. The book also gives a true picture of what it means to be a behaviorist. It does not do so because it eschews data from runways and mazes in favor of data from operant chambers, or because it considers only intersubjectively verifiable events, but precisely because it does consider data from apparatuses other than operant chambers, and in the case of private events, consider events not themselves verifiable by more than one person. The essential feature of behaviorism, therefore, is its epistemology, not its hardware, and we get an excellent illustration of this epistemology at work in the text. Now, whether any text should be used by an instructor is a way of asking whether that text will help achieve the special reinforcers that come from teaching. Catania’s text has for me.
Buckeye Power & Light Company Supplement (Excel Solver)

Buckeye Power & Light Company (BP&L) has recently retained the services of a consulting firm to analyze aspects of its operations. This supplement contains the consultant's report, which includes an optimized linear-programming (LP) spreadsheet model using the Excel Solver. The supplement also provides a detailed explanation of the model, written for someone with no prior LP experience. See also the main case, "Buckeye Power & Light Company" (QA-0326). Excerpt UVA-QA-0490 BUCKEYE POWER & LIGHT COMPANY SUPPLEMENT (EXCEL SOLVER) Early in October, 1986, Don Peters, manager of the production fuels department of Buckeye Power & Light Company (BP&L), received a preliminary report from a consultancy commissioned to analyze various aspects of its operations, including the coal-procurement process. The consultants had been given, among other items, the Offers Edit Report and the Plant Requirements Edit Report for the November coal-procurement decision. The section of the report dealing with the coal-procurement process, reproduced below, contained the consultants' recommendations with respect to the November purchase, as well as an explanation of their methodology. Peters was anxious to understand how this approach might help him more aggressively manage the procurement process and resolve the internal debates on long-term contracts and safety-stock levels. Section of the Consultants' Report Dealing with the Coal-Procurement Process Attached is a spreadsheet model (Exhibit 1) of the November coal-procurement decision. Based on the information contained in the model, linear programming (LP) can be used to identify the optimal (i.e., minimum-cost) procurement and shipping plan. In addition, LP provides valuable ancillary information on related questions of interest, such as how much you would be willing to pay for additional coal from certain vendors, how much your long-term contracts are costing you, and how much the quality restrictions imposed by the various plants are costing the company. . . .
Standoff detection of turbulent chemical mixture plumes using a swept external cavity quantum cascade laser

We demonstrate standoff detection of turbulent mixed-chemical plumes using a broadly tunable external cavity quantum cascade laser (ECQCL). The ECQCL was directed through plumes of mixed methanol/ethanol vapor to a partially reflective surface located 10 m away. The reflected power was measured as the ECQCL was swept over its tuning range of 930 to 1065 cm−1 (9.4 to 10.8 μm) at rates up to 200 Hz. Analysis of the transmission spectra though the plume was performed to determine chemical concentrations with a time resolution of 0.005 s. Comparison of multiple spectral sweep rates of 2, 20, and 200 Hz shows that higher sweep rates reduce effects of atmospheric and source turbulence, resulting in lower detection noise and more accurate measurement of the rapidly changing chemical concentrations. Detection sensitivities of 0.13 ppm*m for MeOH and 1.2 ppm*m for EtOH are demonstrated for a 200-Hz spectral sweep rate and normalized to a 1-s detection time.
Decreasing Perceived Barriers and Enhancing Facilitators of Movement Integration

This chapter deals with the idea that classroom teachers may not be prepared to facilitate physical activity within the academic setting. Perceived barriers are addressed with practical suggestions for decreasing barriers and steps are given to facilitate classroom physical activity.
High-resolution and high-throughput multichannel Fourier transform spectrometer with two-dimensional interferogram warping compensation

Abstract The resolution of multichannel Fourier transform (McFT) spectroscopy is insufficient for many applications despite its extreme advantage of high throughput. We propose an improved configuration to realise both performance using a two-dimensional area sensor. For the spectral resolution, we obtained the interferogram of a larger optical path difference by shifting the area sensor without altering any optical components. The non-linear phase error of the interferometer was successfully corrected using a phase-compensation calculation. Warping compensation was also applied to realise a higher throughput to accumulate the signal between vertical pixels. Our approach significantly improved the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio by factors of 1.7 and 34, respectively. This high-resolution and high-sensitivity McFT spectrometer will be useful for detecting weak light signals such as those in non-invasive diagnosis.
Administration by Treasury

Although the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in theory regulates government policymaking, the agency that is both among the oldest and, as the financial crisis has revealed, one of the most important, does not play by its rules. The Treasury Department is rarely sued for its administrative procedure, makes fewer rules than do agencies that follow the APA more closely, and acts as if it is generally less bound by the nuances of process than do its peers. In the Article, I examine the alternative administrative procedure that applies to the Treasury Department and illustrate the ways in which it does things differently. In some ways, the department’s absence from the usual suspects of administrative oversight, including the Office of Management and Budget, the D.C. Circuit, and the Federal Register, suggest that Treasury is essentially acting as an unsupervised agency; many observers have concluded that the Treasury Department’s response to the financial crisis amounted to an abandonment of the usual safeguards we expect in the modern administrative state. But a closer examination indicates that Treasury simply operates under a different model, one informed by its form, its remit, and its tasks – but not, at least not much, by ordinary administrative procedure. Its constraints come more from Congress, from internal controls, and from the large, but understudied, private bar that interprets what it is doing, than from notice, comment, rulemaking, and litigation.
Synthesis of metastable silver-nickel alloys by a novel laser-liquid-solid interaction technique

Metastable silver-nickel alloys have been synthesized by chemical wetness and laser-liquid-solid interaction techniques from nitrate and acetate precursors of silver and nickel. Ethylene glycol and 2-ethoxyethanol were used as reductants in the synthesis reactions. Rotating niobium substrates immersed in the liquid precursor were irradiated by a continuos wave CO2 and Nd-YAG laser (λ = 1064 nm). The powders were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Two-phase alloys containing silver, nickel, and oxygen were fabricated, and the shape of the particles was found to be dependent on laser parameters and the chemical composition of the precursor solution. The synthesis mechanism of non-equilibrium Ag-Ni alloy nanoparticles has been proposed to occur primarily at the laser-liquid-solid interface by a nucleation and growth mechanism.
Excitation-Contraction Coupling

Since the classic experiments of Ringer (1883) demonstrated that the frog heart would not contract in the absence of extracellular Ca, it has been clear that Cao is critical in muscle contraction. This has been confirmed repeatedly and some modern day extensions of this fundamental observation are illustrated in Figs. 55 and 56. Figure 55A shows that when Cao is removed quickly from the medium around a rat ventricular myocyte contractions are immediately abolished (in < 1 sec, Rich et al, 1988). In contrast, Figure 55B shows that skeletal muscle can contract for many minutes in the complete absence of extracellular Ca (Armstrong et al, 1972). Figure 56 shows the voltage dependence of several parameters during voltage-clamp experiments with isolated guinea-pig myocytes. The Em-dependence of contraction (shortening) and the Cai transient are very similar to the Em-dependence of ICa in guinea-pig and other cardiac preparations (McDonald et al., 1975; London & Krueger, 1986; Cannell et al., 1987; Beuckelmann & Wier, 1988; Callewaert et al., 1988; duBell & Houser, 1989). This is also true for the Em-dependence of an intrinsic birefringence signal in cardiac muscle thought to be associated with SR Ca release (Maylie & Morad, 1984). This bell shaped Em-dependence is strikingly different than the sigmoid Em-dependence of the intramembrane charge movement in heart (Field et al., 1988; Bean & Rios, 1989; Hadley & Lederer, 1989) that is thought to be involved in skeletal muscle E-C coupling (Schneider & Chandler, 1973).
Bank Capital Structure: An Analysis of the Charter Value Hypothesis

Recent profitability and recapitalization trends in the banking industry appear to be consistent with a hypothesis advanced by Keeley (1990) termed the "charter value" hypothesis. Under this hypothesis banks with greater charter value voluntarily hold higher capital ratios to self-insure against its loss under regulatory enforced closure. This paper utilizes a one hundred year history of individual bank market and accounting data to test the hypothesis. Our results indicate that, while there is empirical support for the hypothesis in some sub-periods, we do not find that the charter value hypothesis holds over the full one hundred years of the study.
Ubiquitin as a degradation signal.

For many short-lived eukaryotic proteins, conjugation to ubiquitin, yielding a multiubiquitin chain, is an obligatory pre-degradation step. The conjugated ubiquitin moieties function as a 'secondary' signal for degradation, in that their posttranslational coupling to a substrate protein is mediated by amino acid sequences of the substrate that act as a primary degradation signal. We report that the fusion protein ubiquitin--proline--beta-galactosidase (Ub-P-beta gal) is short-lived in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae because its N-terminal ubiquitin moiety functions as an autonomous, primary degradation signal. This signal mediates the formation of a multiubiquitin chain linked to Lys48 of the N-terminal ubiquitin in Ub-P-beta gal. The degradation of Ub-P-beta gal is shown to require Ubc4, one of at least seven ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes in S.cerevisiae. Our findings provide the first direct evidence that a monoubiquitin moiety can function as an autonomous degradation signal. This generally applicable, cis-acting signal can be used to manipulate the in vivo half-lives of specific intracellular proteins.
Subtype Diversification and Synaptic Specificity of Stem Cell-Derived Spinal Interneurons.

Neuronal diversification is a fundamental step in the construction of functional neural circuits, but how neurons generated from single progenitor domains acquire diverse subtype identities remains poorly understood. Here we developed an embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based system to model subtype diversification of V1 interneurons, a class of spinal neurons comprising four clades collectively containing dozens of molecularly distinct neuronal subtypes. We demonstrate that V1 subtype diversity can be modified by extrinsic signals. Inhibition of Notch and activation of retinoid signaling results in a switch to MafA clade identity and enriches differentiation of Renshaw cells, a specialized MafA subtype that mediates recurrent inhibition of spinal motor neurons. We show that Renshaw cells are intrinsically programmed to migrate to species-specific laminae upon transplantation and to form subtype-specific synapses with motor neurons. Our results demonstrate that stem cell-derived neuronal subtypes can be used to investigate mechanisms underlying neuronal subtype specification and circuit assembly.
A Multi-Product Production/Distribution System Design Problem with Direct Shipments and Lateral Transshipments

In this paper, we investigate a multi-product, three-stage production/distribution system design problem (PDSD) with direct shipment and lateral transshipment capabilities. Our overall goal is to find the most efficient network design to minimize the total fixed facility and transportation costs. Specifically, we locate p capacitated distribution centers in the second stage from a set of candidate locations. At the same time, our design allows for direct shipments between first (suppliers) and third stages (customers) and lateral transshipments among the distribution centers in the second stage. The PDSD problem is known to be NP-hard, and prior studies have explored several heuristic methods including scatter search, tabu search, and genetic algorithms to solve the problem. In this paper, we propose two solution algorithms based on simulated annealing and GRASP heuristics. We apply both long-term and short-term memory lists to maintain an efficient local search, combined with a custom greedy solver that can effectively evaluate the quality of a solution candidate. We conduct a series of computational experiments to validate the proposed algorithms. Compared with the optimal solution, the simulated annealing algorithm presents an average optimality gap of 0.07% and an average time of 25.56% of optimal solution time, while the GRASP algorithm achieves a solution gap of 0.11% with 17.85% of optimal running time. The experimental results also show that the simulated annealing and GRASP algorithms outperform the best-reported heuristic in the literature based on scatter search regarding both solution quality and duration, especially for large-scale problem instances with tighter capacities.
Wide band gap semiconductor technology: State-of-the-art

Abstract Applications of the wide band gap (WBG) semiconductors, such as GaN, AlGaN, and InGaN, range from lighting and ultraviolet (UV) technology to high power, radiation hard, high temperature, terahertz (THz) and sub-THz electronics and pyroelectronics. Wurtzite (hexagonal) symmetry makes these materials to be quite different from conventional cubic semiconductors. Spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization associated with the wurtzite crystal structure induces two-dimensional electron gases at AlGaN/GaN, AlInN/GaN, and AlGaN/InGaN interfaces with sheet concentrations 10–20 times higher than those in Si CMOS. A high current carrying capability and a high breakdown field make these materials perfect for high power applications. Adjusting the energy gaps of AlxGa1−xN and of InxGa1−xN by varying the molar fraction changes the wavelength of light they emit or absorb and enables light and UV emitters, solar cells, and photodetectors operating from THz and infrared to deep UV range. Blue, green, and white LEDs using InGaN revolutionized smart solid-state lighting. AlGaN UV LEDs are used for water purification, fighting antibiotic resistant bacteria and viruses, and dramatically increasing produce storage time. InN, ZnO, and BN have potential to compete with the AlN/GaN family. Diamond has re-emerged not only as a substrate for a record heat removal but also as a viable THz detector material. The WBG technology has many difficult problems to solve. High dislocation density in the WBG materials leads to a low efficiency of deep AlGaN UV LEDs and reliability problems of high power devices. Non-uniformities of the electric field distribution cause a premature breakdown. Using ultrathin WBG quantum well layers and nanowires and exploring radically new physics-based device designs might alleviate or even solve these problems.
Psychological burden of PTSD, depression, and their comorbidity in the U.S. veteran population: Suicidality, functioning, and service utilization

Abstract Background Emerging evidence suggests that comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (PTSD/MDD) may impose an even greater burden than either disorder alone. However, nearly all previous studies examining these associations have relied on treatment-seeking samples. This study examined the mental health burden associated with co-occurring PTSD/MDD compared to PTSD and MDD alone using a nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans. Methods Data were analyzed from National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative survey of U.S. veterans (n = 2,732). Analyses (a) estimated the current prevalence of PTSD only, MDD only, and comorbid PTSD/MDD; (b) compared demographic/military variables by PTSD/MDD status; and (c) examined associations between PTSD/MDD status and suicidality, functioning, psychiatric comorbidities, and service utilization. Results The current prevalences of probable PTSD only, probable MDD only, and probable comorbid PTSD/MDD were 1.7%, 4.8%, and 3.4%. Compared to all other groups, the PTSD/MDD group was more likely to screen positive for current suicidal ideation, lifetime suicide attempts, probable generalized anxiety and social anxiety disorders, and ever utilize mental health services. They also scored lower on measures of mental health functioning (d = 1.49), cognitive functioning (d = 1.03), and quality of life (d = 0.84). Veterans with comorbid PTSD/MDD were more than twice as likely as those with PTSD only to have attempted suicide. Limitations The cross-sectional design of this study precludes causal inference. Conclusions Results provide a population-based characterization of the psychological burden of PTSD/MDD comorbidity in U.S. veterans. Findings further underscore the importance of screening, monitoring, and treatment of the comorbid manifestation of these disorders.
Teaching Mindfulness for the Self-Care and Well-Being of Counselors-in-Training

The demands and expectations placed on counselors-in-training can make them susceptible to stress, burnout, and poor school-life balance. Therefore, counseling students could benefit from learning ...
Elbow Release and Tricepsplasty in Arthrogrypotic Patients: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study.

Purpose Obtaining elbow flexion to improve hand-to-mouth reach capability is an essential component of achieving functional independence in pediatric patients with arthrogryposis. This study analyzed the long-term outcomes of elbow release and tricepsplasty in a series of children with arthrogryposis at a tertiary institution. Methods Medical records of patients with arthrogryposis who underwent elbow release and tricepsplasty from 1993 to 2015, with at least 2 years of follow-up, were reviewed. Collected measures included preoperative elbow passive range of motion (ROM), postoperative elbow passive and active ROM, shoulder passive and active ROM, and Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) scores. Our analysis compared pre- and postoperative follow-up of elbow passive ROM and reviewed PODCI scores with age-adjusted normative values. Results Seventeen patients (4 female and 13 male) with 24 affected upper extremities (10 left elbow and 14 right elbow) were included in final analysis. Age at final follow-up averaged 11 years (range, 4–20 years), mean age at surgery was 2.7 years (range, 9.6 months–9.3 years) with mean follow-up by extremity at 8.3 years (range, 2–18 years). Differences in pre- and post-operative passive elbow ROM were significant for extension, flexion, and total arc of motion. Most parent and self-reported PODCI scores were less than the age-adjusted normal population, except in the domains of Comfort and Pain and Happiness. Conclusion Long-term follow-up of elbow release and tricepsplasty in patients with arthrogryposis indicates both increased and sustained elbow flexion and arc of motion. Although PODCI scores were lower compared with the age-adjusted norm, pediatric patients with arthrogryposis were just as happy and had no more discomfort than their unaffected age-adjusted norms. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Persistent infection with herpes simplex virus 1 and Alzheimer's disease-a call to study how variability in both virus and host may impact disease

Increasing attention has focused on the contributions of persistent microbial infections with the manifestation of disease later in life, including neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Current data has shown the presence of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) in regions of the brain that are impacted by AD in elderly individuals. Additionally, neuronal infection with HSV-1 triggers the accumulation of amyloid beta deposits and hyperphosphorylated tau, and results in oxidative stress and synaptic dysfunction. All of these factors are implicated in the development of AD. These data highlight the fact that persistent viral infection is likely a contributing factor, rather than a sole cause of disease. Details of the correlations between HSV-1 infection and AD development are still just beginning to emerge. Future research should investigate the relative impacts of virus strain- and host-specific factors on the induction of neurodegenerative processes over time, using models such as infected neurons in vitro, and animal models in vivo, to begin to understand their relationship with cognitive dysfunction.
Sustaining future environmental educators: building critical interdisciplinary teaching capacity among graduate students

Scholars of environmental studies and sciences must work across disciplinary boundaries, especially in politically charged contexts with clear race and class-based inequities. Sustainability-focused programs are confronted with the task of creating opportunities for interdisciplinary, experiential learning to incorporate such complexities into undergraduate teaching. Yet, despite being the next generation of environmental science and sustainability faculty, graduate students have limited opportunities to learn how to develop interdisciplinary curriculum that incorporates real-world learning in courses for undergraduate students. This paper examines the development of an interdisciplinary undergraduate course at Portland State University that provided space for graduate students to build their interdisciplinary teaching and pedagogical capacities, while introducing undergraduate students to environmental planning and environmental justice concepts crucial to understanding large-scale urban river restoration projects. Using the methods of translational and action research, the authors developed a pedagogical praxis in a co-facilitated course, via reflection on their own training in an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The paper presents a model for graduate student teacher training that equips graduate students—and the undergraduates they will teach throughout the course of their careers—to address today’s most pressing socio-ecological challenges.
Repeatability of in vitro carboplatin elution from carboplatin-impregnated calcium sulfate hemihydrate beads made in a clinic setting

Objective To evaluate the intra-lot and inter-lot consistency and total carboplatin elution over 25 days from carboplatin-impregnated calcium sulfate hemihydrate (C-I CSH) beads manufactured in a clinic setting. Study design In vitro elution study. Methods Two volumes of carboplatin were mixed with CSH to yield 4 mg and 8 mg C-I CSH doses. Two lots of beads were made for each concentration and split into five doses (n = 10 per concentration). Beads hardened in molds and were placed in a covered six-well plate, submerged in phosphate-buffered saline, and incubated with samples collected at 12 time points (0, 6, 12, and 24 hours and 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, and 25 days). The amount of carboplatin in each sample was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Correction for carboplatin degradation and dilution was applied, and eluted carboplatin was calculated. Intra-lot and inter-lot coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated for each concentration. Results The intra-lot CV ranged between 7.9% and 23.1%, and the inter-lot CV ranged from 3.5% to 10.3%, with improvement noted in each successive lot of beads. Mean peak eluted carboplatin was 2.45 ± 0.43 mg (61%) and 3.68 ± 0.41 mg (45.9%) for the 4-mg and 8-mg C-I CSH beads, respectively, with both occurring at the 12-hour timepoint. Conclusion Progressive improvement in variability with successive lots of beads indicated a learning curve with bead manufacturing with a low variation both within and between lots of C-I CSH beads. Clinical significance On-site mixing of carboplatin with commercial CSH bead powder leads to a low variation of carboplatin per bead dose.
Theoretical Modeling of the Iterative Properties of User Discovery in a Collaborative Filtering Recommender System

The closed feedback loop in recommender systems is a common setting that can lead to different types of biases. Several studies have dealt with these biases by designing methods to mitigate their effect on the recommendations. However, most existing studies do not consider the iterative behavior of the system where the closed feedback loop plays a crucial role in incorporating different biases into several parts of the recommendation steps. We present a theoretical framework to model the asymptotic evolution of the different components of a recommender system operating within a feedback loop setting, and derive theoretical bounds and convergence properties on quantifiable measures of the user discovery and blind spots. We also validate our theoretical findings empirically using a real-life dataset and empirically test the efficiency of a basic exploration strategy within our theoretical framework. Our findings lay the theoretical basis for quantifying the effect of feedback loops and for designing Artificial Intelligence and machine learning algorithms that explicitly incorporate the iterative nature of feedback loops in the machine learning and recommendation process.
Simple Python Module for Conversions Between DICOM Images and Radiation Therapy Structures, Masks, and Prediction Arrays

Abstract Deep learning is becoming increasingly popular and available to new users, particularly in the medical field. Deep learning image segmentation, outcome analysis, and generators rely on presentation of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images and often radiation therapy (RT) structures as masks. Although the technology to convert DICOM images and RT structures into other data types exists, no purpose-built Python module for converting NumPy arrays into RT structures exists. The 2 most popular deep learning libraries, Tensorflow and PyTorch, are both implemented within Python, and we believe a set of tools built in Python for manipulating DICOM images and RT structures would be useful and could save medical researchers large amounts of time and effort during the preprocessing and prediction steps. Our module provides intuitive methods for rapid data curation of RT-structure files by identifying unique region of interest (ROI) names and ROI structure locations and allowing multiple ROI names to represent the same structure. It is also capable of converting DICOM images and RT structures into NumPy arrays and SimpleITK Images, the most commonly used formats for image analysis and inputs into deep learning architectures and radiomic feature calculations. Furthermore, the tool provides a simple method for creating a DICOM RT-structure from predicted NumPy arrays, which are commonly the output of semantic segmentation deep learning models. Accessing DicomRTTool via the public Github project invites open collaboration, and the deployment of our module in PyPi ensures painless distribution and installation. We believe our tool will be increasingly useful as deep learning in medicine progresses.
Estimating clinical research project duration from idea to publication

The scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic has elicited commentaries on the quickening of biomedical research,1–3 contrasting with literature on prolonged time to publication for clinical research projects.4–6 We investigated research project duration for three clinical departments (emergency medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics) with centralized research leadership in a community-based US medical school. Following institutional review board (IRB) approval, we identified original research reports published or accepted in academic year 2019–2020, originating at our institution, and involving faculty from these departments. Of 39 eligible publications, we reconstructed study timelines (table 1) for 17 publications based on departmental records, and 10 publications based on a survey of corresponding authors. View this table: Table 1 Data points on project stages, by project type The median overall project duration was 18 months (IQR 10–26). Median durations of …
Origins and Destinations, but How Much and When? Educational Disparities in Smoking and Drinking Across Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Educational inequalities in health behaviors change dynamically across the life course. Yet, how parental and personal education interactively shape age-specific behavioral inequalities across the transition to adulthood has yet to be understood. Drawing on national Add Health data (N = 12,605; 6,675 women and 5,930 men), we analyze age- and gender-specific trajectories of current smoking and binge drinking from adolescence to young adulthood. In line with previous work, we find that parental education associates with smoking and drinking disparities even after respondents’ own education is completed. Reciprocally, we also find that disparities by eventual educational attainment appear early. During the college years, higher parental education predicts higher—not lower—rates of binge drinking. We find that attaining higher education “against the odds” of an educationally disadvantaged family background circumscribes the lowest rates of smoking and drinking for men and women alike, and especially during the college years, while “falling from grace” by not attaining higher education at levels matching one’s parents predicts the highest levels of smoking and drinking for both genders during or after college. These results shed new light on the interactive socioeconomic processes that help to explain behavioral health gradients across adolescence and adulthood.
Measuring the Gap: Predictions of Nonsuicidal Self-injury, Substance Misuse, and Health-risk Sexual Behavior via Dual Systems Theory

The dual systems theory of health risk behaviors posits that maladaptive behaviors during late adolescence and early adulthood are the result of differential developmental trajectories of a cogniti...
Propensity for Knowledge Sharing: An Equity Theory Approach.

Determining which factors promote or impede the sharing of knowledge within organizations constitutes an important area of research. This paper looks at knowledge sharing through the lens of equity theory. The study will explore the impact of three types of justice – distributional, procedural and interactional – on knowledge sharing. Distributional justice refers to the judgments that people make with respect to the input/output ratios they experience relative to the ratios experienced by others with whom they identify (reference others). Procedural justice has to do with following procedures that are consistent, unbiased, accurate, correctable, representative and ethical. Interactional justice refers to the quality of interpersonal treatment. Hypotheses regarding the influence of distributional, procedural, and interactional justice on knowledge sharing processes are presented. These hypotheses will be tested based on the survey. The survey instrument will be developed based on the adaptation of previously validated scales in addition to new items where no existing measures are found. The new items will be subject to the review of an expert panel comprised of the IS graduate faculty. After incorporating suggestions of the panel, the instrument will be piloted on a sample of the investigated population. The proposed sample will consist of IT professionals working on software development project teams at several Fortune 500 companies representing various industries. The results of the pilot study and the feedback received at the consortium will help refine and modify the instrument before the administration of the final survey.
Vibration of Axially-Loaded Structures

This 2007 book concerns the vibration and the stability of slender structural components. The loss of stability of structures is an important aspect of structural mechanics and is presented here in terms of dynamic behavior. A variety of structural components are analyzed with a view to predicting their response to various (primarily axial) loading conditions. A number of different techniques are presented, with experimental verification from the laboratory. Practical applications are widespread, ranging from cables to space structures. The book presents methods by which the combined effects of vibration and buckling on various structures can be assessed. Vibrations and buckling are usually treated separately, but in this book their influence on each other is examined together, with examples when a combined approach is necessary. The avoidance of instability is the primary goal of this material.
Why metaphors make good insults: perspectives, presupposition, and pragmatics

Metaphors are powerful communicative tools because they produce ‘framing effects’. These effects are especially palpable when the metaphor is an insult that denigrates the hearer or someone he cares about. In such cases, just comprehending the metaphor produces a kind of ‘complicity’ that cannot easily be undone by denying the speaker’s claim. Several theorists have taken this to show that metaphors are engaged in a different line of work from ordinary communication. Against this, I argue that metaphorical insults are rhetorically powerful because they combine perspectives, presupposition, and pragmatics in the service of speech acts with assertoric force.