cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agit-Prop and Political Purpose: the Becks, Holden, Valdez, Nelson

In 1968, the Year of the Radical, a new KKK threatened the land in the Killing of King and Kennedy. One of the year’s less violent events was the birth of the Radical Theatre Repertory, which proclaimed, The member groups, and dozens of others in this country and abroad, are in the vanguard of a new phenomenon in theatrical and social history — the spontaneous generation of communal playing troupes, sharing voluntary poverty, making experimental collective creations and exploring space, time, minds, and bodies in manifold new ways to meet the demands of our explosive period. With the exception of the Firehouse Theatre in Minneapolis (but soon thereafter in San Francisco), the nineteen radical groups of the Repertory were located on the two coasts of the United States, thirteen in New York. Although the members agreed on opposition to the war in Vietnam, over half of them were not overtly political. A decade afterwards, six of the nineteen groups were still playing, and only three were politically radical — the Living Theatre, the San Francisco Mime Troupe and El Teatro Campesino.
Parallel programming illustrated through Conway’s Game of Life

This chapter introduces a number of basic concepts in parallel programming using the Game of Life as an example. No specific programming systems will be taught here, but this chapter should leave the student with a basic understanding of the fundamental concepts. There are some pen-and-paper exercises.
Identification of Preservice Teachers’ Preconceptions about the Role of the Computer in Learning and Teaching

AbstractIn this study, preservice teachers’ preconceptions of the role of the computer in learning and teaching and the factors effecting those preconceptions were examined. During the 1997 fall semester, 279 preservice teachers in an introductory instructional technology course completed survey instruments designed to gather data about the subjects’ experiences with and attitudes toward computers in education, their beliefs about effective computer use, and epistemology. The results of the survey indicated that prior to receiving formal instruction about integrating computers into teaching and learning processes, preservice teachers possessed naive conceptions about how to use computers in the classroom. The results of this study can inform teacher educators and provide the opportunity to design and implement instruction that will help preservice teachers to develop more comprehensive conceptions of the role of the computer in the classroom.
Piezoelectric d36 in-plane shear-mode of lead-free BZT-BCT single crystals for torsion actuation

We report the study of piezoelectric direct torsion actuation mechanism using lead-free piezoelectric d36 in-plane shear-mode BZT-BCT single crystals. The generated angle of twist of the piezoelectric torsion actuator was obtained from the transverse deflection measurement using a laser vibrometer. The bi-morph torsional actuator, consisting of two lead-free piezoelectric BZT-BCT in-plane shear-mode single crystals with a giant piezoelectric d36 shear strain coefficient of 1590 pC/N, provided a rate of twist of 34.12 mm/m under a quasi-static 15 V drive. The experimental benchmark was further modelled and verified by the ANSYS software using three dimensional (3D) piezoelectric finite elements. The experimental results revealed that lead-free piezoelectric BZT-BCT d36-mode single crystal is a superior candidate for piezoelectric torsion actuation. This lead-free piezoelectric BZT-BCT d36-mode torsion actuator can be effectively applied in torsional deformation control by taking into account the environmen...
Association Between Preoperative Hemoglobin A1c Levels, Postoperative Hyperglycemia, and Readmissions Following Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Importance Preoperative hyperglycemia is associated with adverse postoperative outcomes among patients who undergo surgery. Whether preoperative hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) or postoperative glucose levels are more useful in predicting adverse events following surgery is uncertain in the current literature. Objective To examine the use of preoperative HbA 1c and early postoperative glucose levels for predicting postoperative complications and readmission. Design, Setting, and Participants In this observational cohort study, inpatient gastrointestinal surgical procedures performed at 117 Veterans Affairs hospitals from 2007 to 2014 were identified, and cases of known infection within 3 days before surgery were excluded. Preoperative HbA 1c levels were examined as a continuous and categorical variable ( 6.5%). A logistic regression modeled postoperative complications and readmissions with the closest preoperative HbA 1c within 90 days and the highest postoperative glucose levels within 48 hours of undergoing surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures Postoperative complications and 30-day unplanned readmission following discharge. Results Of 21 541 participants, 1193 (5.5%) were women, and the mean (SD) age was 63.7 (10.6) years. The cohort included 23 094 operations with measurements of preoperative HbA 1c levels and postoperative glucose levels. The complication and 30-day readmission rates were 27.2% and 14.7%, respectively. In logistic regression models adjusting for HbA 1c , postoperative glucose levels, postoperative insulin use, diabetes, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), and other patient and procedural factors, peak postoperative glucose levels of more than 250 mg/dL were associated with increased 30-day readmissions (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.99-1.41; P = .07). By contrast, a preoperative HbA 1c of more than 6.5% was associated with decreased 30-day readmissions (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.96; P = .01). As preoperative HbA 1c increased, the frequency of 48-hour postoperative glucose checks increased (4.92, 6.89, and 9.71 for an HbA 1c 6.5%, respectively; P 1c of more than 6.5% had lower thresholds for postoperative insulin use. Conclusions and Relevance Early postoperative hyperglycemia was associated with increased readmission, but elevated preoperative HbA 1c was not. A higher preoperative HbA 1c was associated with increased postoperative glucose level checks and insulin use, suggesting that heightened postoperative vigilance and a lower threshold to treat hyperglycemia may explain this finding.
Modification of gene expression profiling related to renin–angiotensin system in an ischemia/reperfusion rat model after T3 infusion

Triiodothyronine (T3) and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) are functionally related in cardiovascular system. Recently, in an in vivo myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model in rats, we showed that T3 treatment improved the post-ischemic recovery of cardiac function. In the present study, we used the same experimental model of regional I/R, obtained by 30 min occlusion of the left descending coronary artery, followed by 3-days of reperfusion, to investigate the effect of 48-h treatment (started 1 day after ischemia) with 6 µg/kg/day T3 or vehicle. T3 was delivered by constant subcutaneous infusion via miniosmotic pump. In particular, aim of this work is to evaluate the effects of T3 on the gene expression of the main receptors and enzymes involved in the two cardiac arms of RAS in an in vivo rat model of I/R: AT1R-ACE (detrimental arm) and AT2R/MAS1-ACE2 (protective arm). Gene expression was evaluated by Real-Time PCR in infarct zone (Area-At-Risk: AAR) and in tissues distant from ischemic wound (Remote Zone: RZ). Three different rat groups were used: sham-operated; I/R and I/R + T3. Main result of the study is the opposite response of AT1R and AT2R/MAS1 expression to I/R procedure and to T3 administration after I/R in both AAR and RZ. Moreover, T3 significantly increased ACE and ACE2 enzyme expression in AAR and RZ. This study reveals that T3 stimulates the expression of protective genes related to RAS such as AT2R/MAS1-ACE2 mainly in BZ, suggesting that, at least in part, T3 could be involved in the local cardiac ameliorative response to I/R procedure.
The evolution of ethics education: 1980-2015.

Ethics education became an integral part of most U.S. institutions of higher education between 1980 and 2015. Growth can be seen in institutional messaging, number of courses in ethics offered throughout the graduate and undergraduate curricula, national recognition of degrees and certificates granted in ethics by the federal National Center for Educational Statistics, creation of campus-wide ethics centers and co-curricular initiatives, and an explosion of peer-reviewed journals in the intersection of disciplinary areas and ethics. Yet, much research is yet to be done. Connections between ethics education and students’ civic and moral development remain unclear. The impact of ethics education remains unknown. There is no consensus on what counts as effective ethics education. Student voices are largely absent from discussions on the topic. And conversations relating to curricular and co-curricular ethics education continue to be divorced from analysis of the ethical implications of institutional choices.
Adolescent Preferences and Design Recommendations for an Asthma Self-Management App: Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Approximately 10% of adolescents in the United States have asthma. Adolescents widely use apps on mobile phones and tablet technology for social networking and gaming purposes. Given the increase in recreational app use among adolescents, leveraging apps to support adolescent asthma disease management seems warranted. However, little empirical research has influenced asthma app development; adolescent users are seldom involved in the app design process. Objective: The aim of this mixed-methods study was to assess adolescent preferences and design recommendations for an asthma self-management app. Methods: A total of 20 adolescents with persistent asthma (aged 12-16 years) provided feedback on two asthma self-management apps during in-person semistructured interviews following their regularly scheduled asthma clinic visit and via telephone 1 week later. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim, analyzed using SPSS v24, and coded thematically using MAXQDA 11. Results: Regarding esthetics, app layout and perceived visual simplicity were important to facilitate initial app use. Adolescents were more likely to continually engage with apps that were deemed useful and met their informational needs. Adolescents also desired app features that fit within their existing paradigm or schema and included familiar components (eg, medication alerts that appear and sound like FaceTime notifications and games modeled after Quiz Up and Minecraft), as well as the ability to customize app components. They also suggested that apps include other features, such as an air quality tracker and voice command. Conclusions: Adolescents desire specific app characteristics including customization and tailoring to meet their asthma informational needs. Involving adolescents in early stages of app development is likely to result in an asthma app that meets their self-management needs and design preferences and ultimately the adoption and maintenance of positive asthma self-management behaviors.
Sync Buck Optimization

This is the last chapter of the script discussing the ways how to take advantage of the improved performance of state-of-art MOSFETs as presented above. From the point of view of switching applications the most important improvement has been achieved by minimizing the switching power loss. Less switching loss allows an increase of the switching frequency of an SMPS unit, which in turn can be used to improve performance of the system as discussed in Section 2.2 and illustrated in Fig. 2.11.
Cytotoxic Triterpenoids from the Fruits of Ligustrum japonicum

Medicinal plants are potential sources of anticancer agents screening. A large number of phytochemicals, including triterpenoids, have been reported to have significant cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. From the fruits of Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., thirteen triterpenoids (1 - 13) were isolated and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against Hela and HL-60 cells. As results, 8 (oleanolic acid) showed significant effects on Hela with IC50 values of 5.5 μM, and moderate effects on HL-60 cells with IC50 values of 55.9 μM. Meanwhile, 10 (oleanderic acid) and 11 (3β-acetoxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid) exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on Hela with IC50 value of 55.0 and 68.8 μM, respectively. Moreover, 10 showed cytotoxic effect on HL-60 cell line with IC50 value of 63.9 μM. To our knowledge, this is the first report that oleanderic acid was isolated from L. japonicum and investigated in cytotoxic effects on Hela and HL-60 cells.
Chemical angioplasty for medically refractory reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome

Purpose: Medically refractory reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), a rare variant of RCVS, poses a significant therapeutic challenge. Herein we describe a case of medically refract...
Metabolic regulation of innate and adaptive lymphocyte effector responses

Innate and adaptive lymphocytes employ diverse effector programs that provide optimal immunity to pathogens and orchestrate tissue homeostasis, or conversely can become dysregulated to drive progression of chronic inflammatory diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that CD4+ T helper cell subsets and their innate counterparts, the innate lymphoid cell family, accomplish these complex biological roles by selectively programming their cellular metabolism in order to instruct distinct modules of lymphocyte differentiation, proliferation, and cytokine production. Further, these metabolic pathways are significantly influenced by tissue microenvironments and disease states. Here, we summarize our current knowledge on how cell-intrinsic metabolic factors modulate the context-dependent bioenergetic pathways that govern innate and adaptive lymphocytes. Further, we propose that a greater understanding of these pathways may lead to the identification of unique features in each population and provoke the development of novel therapeutic strategies to modulate lymphocytes in health and disease.
Report of the Committee on Policy of the American Political Science Association for the Year 1934.

The activities of the Committee on Policy during the year 1934 are presented in detail in reports of the several sub-committees printed below. The Committee on Policy has this year held two meetings-one at Chicago on September 19 and the other, also at Chicago, on December 27. My own work has been largely confined to promotion of the radio series, which has been carried on again this year with the financial cooperation of the National Municipal League. Three series of talks have been presented, as follows: Seventh Series, "Reviving Local Government," February 13 to June 19, 1934; Eighth Series, "A New Deal in Local Government," June 26 to September 25, 1934; and Ninth Series, "Trends in Government," October 2, 1934, to January 29, 1935. A tenth series on "The Forty-four Legislatures of 1935" has been arranged and is printed on pages 106-107 above. Beginning with the eighth series, our time has been fifteen minutes instead of half an hour. The reduction has not, however, been an unmixed evil. While it is impossible to say as much in fifteen minutes as was formerly said in half an hour, and many of the subjects discussed would benefit from a longer treatment, it must be admitted that it is easier to sustain the interest of the radio audience for fifteen than for thirty minutes. Furthermore, speakers, when faced with the necessity of condensing what they have to say into the short period, on the whole show more snap and sparkle; and the dull ones can be only half as dull. Another innovation this year has been my practice of introducing all speakers instead of leaving it to be done by the announcer. The thought was to make the introductions more stimulating and to provide a thread of continuity in the talks. I would welcome expressions of opinion concerning the wisdom of keeping up this practice, which is, of course, a serious burden on my time. Beginning with the ninth series, we were shifted from the "blue" to the "red" network. Aside from the northeastern section of the United States, this has entailed almost no change in our station list. For the ninth series, the number of stations was forty-one, the largest in our history. The loyalty of the local stations, especially in the supplementary networks, which continue to take our programs year after year, is the best possible testimony to the satisfaction we have given. Station owners and managers now know that our programs are reliable-no hitch has yet
Pulmonary artery denervation: a novel treatment modality for pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a complex pulmonary vascular disease that leads to right ventricular (RV) failure and sudden cardiac death (1). PAH is associated with sympathetic nervous system (SNS) over-stimulation, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation and cardiac arrhythmias. RAAS activation generates vasoactive compounds that result in pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling, hallmarks of PAH (2). It is suggested that patients with PAH often have a low cardiac output and that RAAS and SNS over-activation are merely compensatory mechanisms for that decreased cardiac output (3).
Probiotics in Crohn's Disease

The outcomes of studies utilizing probiotics to treat Crohn's disease especially in pediatrics have been disappointing. The use of selected probiotics has demonstrated benefits in ulcerative colitis and pouchitis. Future studies of probiotics in Crohn's disease will require greater scientific rigor
A Customized Approach to Biological Control of Wheat Root Diseases

Take-all caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), Rhizoctonia root rot caused by R. solani AG8 and R. oryzae, and Pythium root rot caused by several Pythium spp., individually and as mixtures, are major limiting factors to the yield of wheat grown with short or no crop rotation and little or no tillage, typical of modern wheat farming in much of North America and in the world. In experiments conducted over a 15-year period in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the average response of wheat to soil fumigation (used as a research tool) in the higher-production areas (subhumid-rainfed and arid/semiarid-irrigated) has been 70, 22, and 7% in fields cropped to wheat every year, every other year, and every third year, respectively (Cook, 1990; Cook and Veseth, 1991).
Research and Application of Grid-connected Control Device for Distributed Photovoltaic Power Supply

Distributed photovoltaic grid connection has impaired the power quality of the distribution network. Aiming at this salient problem, a regulation method for the voltage at the point of interconnection in the distribution network is proposed. Besides, the basic principles of voltage regulation device are introduced, and the computing method for the capacity energy storage battery configuration, matched with the power generation capacity, is given. The simulation model based on the full-control device is built in the PSCAD environment, which verified the accuracy of the control strategy and the favorable dynamic adjusting performance. Finally, by the prototype developed, the effectiveness of the new regulation method for the voltage at the point of interconnection in the distribution network is proved.
Neuroprotecitve and Pro-Angiogenic Roles of Erythropoietin in Retina Degeneration

Purpose:The glycoprotein hormone erythropoietin (EPO) was found as a regulator of erythropoiesis by inhibiting apoptosis and by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid precursor cells. Recently, EPO is known to have neuroprotective effect on ischemic brain by preventing neuronal cell apoptosis and differentiating neuronal precursor cell. Here we investigate regulation mechanism of neuroprotection through EPO in RPE and retina cells at hyperoxic, hypoxic condition or light exposure. Methods:Angiogenic and neuroprotective effects of Epo were investigated in vitro (retina and RPE cell culture), ex vivo (bovine and mouse eye), in vivo (mouse) using Western blot, RT-PCR, cell viability assasy, immunohistochemistry. Survival of the RPE and retinal cells were assessed chemically by measuring cellular DNA contents using DNA-binding fluorescent dye. Cells were exposed to bright light exposure (10,000 lux of diffuse white fluorescent light) for 15, 30, and 60 min, or 1% O2 (hypoxic) or 50 % O2 (hyperoxic) for 30 min, 1,3,6, and 12 h at 37°C in a humidified 5% CO2 incubator, respectively. Changes in the level of EPO, janus kinase 2 (JAK2), hypoxia inducible factor-1 (Hif1 ), RPE65, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), thioredoxin, c-Fos, or BCL-xl were investigated. Results:EPO is increased in light exposure, hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions. The antiapoptotic factor (Bcl-XL) as well as another death signal factor (c-Fos) was increased in high dose of H2O2. Because RPE cell contains abundant anti-stress factors, the death threshold of RPE cell against oxidative stress seems to be higher than the other cells. Epo is up-regulated in 50% hyperoxic, 1% hypoxic, and bright light conditions. Further, the level of its downstream regulator, JAK2, and upstream regulators, Hif1 , and VEGF were also increased. Interestingly, treatment with EPO (50 unit) significantly increased the viability of human RPE cells and rat retinal cells exposed to bright light. Conclusions:Hyperoxic and hypoxic environment or in the light, there is up-regulation of EPO in RPE and retinal cells. In the light and the oxidative stress, up-regulation of EPO confers neuroprotection against retinal degeneration. Our results show that Epo has dual functions such as neuroprotection by anti-apoptosis and neovascularization by pro-angiogenesis.
Determination of the Fine Structure Constant Using Helium Fine Structure

We measure 31,908,131.25(30) kHz for the 2(3)}P J=0 to 2 fine structure interval in helium. The difference between this and theory to order mα7 (20 Hz numerical uncertainty) implies 0.22(30) kHz for uncalculated terms. The measurement is performed by using atomic beam and electro-optic laser techniques. Various checks include a 3He 2{3}S hyperfine measurement. We can obtain an independent value for the fine structure constant α with a 5 ppb experimental uncertainty. However, dominant mα8 terms (potentially 1.2 kHz) limit the overall uncertainty to a less competitive 20 ppb in α.
A Cross-Sectional Survey to Evaluate Potential for Partnering With School Nurses to Promote Human Papillomavirus Vaccination.

INTRODUCTION The human papillomavirus (HPV) increases the risk for cancers of the cervix, oropharynx, vulva, vagina, penis, and anus. HPV vaccination rates are low in many states having large medically underserved areas. In such areas, school nurses are a potential partner for improving population health, but their perceptions about HPV, HPV vaccination, and their role in promoting HPV vaccination have not been well documented. METHODS We administered a cross-sectional survey to 61 of 74 lead school nurses at their 2019 annual training session in South Carolina. Survey questions assessed lead school nurses' HPV vaccination beliefs, barriers, and HPV vaccination role in schools. We tabulated descriptive data and created heat maps to visualize correlations between responses. RESULTS Despite 95.1% of nurses envisioning a role in supporting HPV vaccination at their schools, only 41.0% envisioned an active role in promoting HPV vaccine among students. Lead nurses consistently believed in vaccinating both male and female students; in vaccine safety, effectiveness, and health benefits; and in recommending HPV vaccination. The nurses agreed that lack of time and competing priorities were barriers to HPV vaccination. Few other barriers were consistently identified. CONCLUSION Partnering with school nurses may be a feasible strategy to overcome barriers to increasing HPV vaccination rates in medically underserved areas. However, to increase nurses' confidence and time allotment to assume an active role in HPV vaccine promotion in their schools, coordinated and sustained partnerships between public health agencies, school districts, and school nurses are needed.
Household food insecurity and preschool suspension/expulsion in the United States

Abstract Food insecurity is a serious public health concern, affecting approximately 15 million children in the U.S. alone. Exposure to household food insecurity has been linked to a host of deleterious outcomes among infants and children, including mental and behavioral health outcomes. Even so, scholars have yet to examine the connection between household food insecurity and early experiences of school punishment among preschool-aged children. The current study employs a nationally representative sample of 6100 preschool-aged children from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health. Difference-of-means t-tests and multivariate logistic regression models examining the link between mild and moderate-to-severe household food insecurity and suspension/expulsion among preschool-aged children were conducted in 2020. All estimates were calculated using sample weights that adjust for nonresponse, probability of selection, and the demographic distribution of the target population (i.e., U.S. children attending preschool in 2016). The findings indicate a robust association between moderate-to-severe household food insecurity and suspension/expulsion among preschool-aged children. This association emerged only among male children, as their risk of suspension/expulsion increased more than 11-fold in the presence of moderate-to-severe food insecurity. Additional analyses revealed that a large portion of this association was attenuated upon accounting for parenting stress and child mental health. Trauma-informed nutrition assistance programming as well as early mental health assessment and consultation may yield collateral benefits in the form of reductions in preschool suspension/expulsion. Given the findings, moreover, future research should consider the role of household food insecurity in contributing to health inequities that perpetuate the school-to-prison pipeline.
Evaluation of anterotalofibular and calcaneofibular ligament stress tests utilizing musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging.

Study Design: A quasi-experimental Background: The talar tilt test and the anterior drawer test are clinically used to evaluate the length of the anterotalofibular (ATFL) and calcaneofibular (CFL) ...
Development and validation of a real-time method characterizing spontaneous pain in women with dysmenorrhea.

AIM Prior research has primarily focused on static pain assessment, largely ignoring the dynamic nature of pain over time. We used a novel assessment tool for characterizing pain duration, frequency, and amplitude in women with dysmenorrhea and evaluated how these metrics were affected by naproxen treatment. METHODS Dysmenorrheic women (n = 25) rated their menstrual pain by squeezing a pressure bulb proportional to the magnitude of their pain. To evaluate whether bulb squeezing was affected by naproxen, we compared parameters before and after naproxen. We also analyzed the correlation between pain relief on a numerical rating scale to changes in bulb squeezing parameters. Random bulb-squeezing activity in pain-free participants (n = 14) was used as a control for nonspecific effects or bias. RESULTS In dysmenorrheic women, naproxen reduced the duration of the squeezing during a painful bout, the number of painful bouts and bout intensity. Before naproxen, the correlation between these bulb squeeze parameters and self-reported pain on numeric rating scale was not significant (R2 = 0.12, p = 0.304); however, there was a significant correlation between changes in bulb squeeze activity and self-reported pain relief after naproxen (R2 = 0.55, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates a convenient technique for continuous pain assessment, capturing three different dimensions: duration, frequency, and magnitude. Naproxen may act by reducing the duration and frequency of episodic pain in addition to reducing the severity. After further validation, these methods could be used for other pain conditions for deeper phenotyping and assessing novel treatments.
Stepwise nitrosylation of the nonheme iron site in an engineered azurin and a molecular basis for nitric oxide signaling mediated by nonheme iron proteins

Mononitrosyl and dinitrosyl iron species, such as {FeNO}7, {FeNO}8 and {Fe(NO)2}9, have been proposed to play pivotal roles in the nitrosylation processes of nonheme iron centers in biological systems. Despite their importance, it has been difficult to capture and characterize them in the same scaffold of either native enzymes or their synthetic analogs due to the distinct structural requirements of the three species, using redox reagents compatible with biomolecules under physiological conditions. Here, we report the realization of stepwise nitrosylation of a mononuclear nonheme iron site in an engineered azurin under such conditions. Through tuning the number of nitric oxide equivalents and reaction time, controlled formation of {FeNO}7 and {Fe(NO)2}9 species was achieved, and the elusive {FeNO}8 species was inferred by EPR spectroscopy and observed by Mossbauer spectroscopy, with complemental evidence for the conversion of {FeNO}7 to {Fe(NO)2}9 species by UV-Vis, resonance Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies. The entire pathway of the nitrosylation process, Fe(II) → {FeNO}7 → {FeNO}8 → {Fe(NO)2}9, has been elucidated within the same protein scaffold based on spectroscopic characterization and DFT calculations. These results not only enhance the understanding of the dinitrosyl iron complex formation process, but also shed light on the physiological roles of nitric oxide signaling mediated by nonheme iron proteins.
Discrepancies in Thyroidectomy Outcomes Between General Surgeons and Otolaryngologists

Thyroidectomy is a common operation, performed by general surgeons and otolaryngologists. Few studies compare complication rates between these two specialties. We hypothesized that there would be no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications including recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, hypocalcemia, or hematoma based on the surgical specialty performing the thyroidectomy. The 2016–2017 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Targeted Thyroidectomy database was queried for patients who underwent thyroidectomy for both benign and malignant thyroid diseases. Thyroidectomies performed by general surgeons were compared to those performed by otolaryngologists. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with RLN injury, hematoma, and hypocalcemia. From 11,595 patients, 6313 (54.4%) were performed by general surgeons and 5282 (45.6%) by otolaryngologists. Goiter (43.7%) and nodule/neoplasm (40.8%) were the most common indications for the general surgery and otolaryngology cohorts respectively. General surgeons used an energy vessel sealant device more frequently (77.7% vs. 51.5%, p < 0.001), whereas RLN monitoring (67.4% vs. 58.3%, p < 0.001) and drain placement (44.3% vs. 14.8%, p < 0.001) were utilized more often by otolaryngology. After controlling for covariates, thyroidectomy by general surgeons had an increased associated risk of RLN injury (OR = 1.26, CI = 1.07–1.48, p = 0.006) and post-operative hypocalcemia (OR = 1.17, CI = 1.00–1.37, p = 0.046). Thyroidectomy volume is relatively equally distributed among general surgeons and otolaryngologists. Operation by a general surgeon is associated with an increased risk for RLN injury and postoperative hypocalcemia. This discrepancy may be explained by case volume, training, and/or completion of an endocrine surgery fellowship; however, this discrepancy still merits ongoing attention.
The controlling factors of urban heat in Bengaluru, India

Abstract Urbanization can induce land cover changes that impact land surface temperature (LST). Many factors can influence the magnitude of urban heat, such as vegetation and aerosols. This work uses linear correlation, composite analysis, multiple linear regression, and random forest to determine the leading controls on urban LST of Bengaluru, India in the dry and wet seasons during daytime and nighttime from 2003–2018 using data from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and the European Centre for Medium-Range Forecasts ERA5 reanalysis. Results show that for the dry and wet season daytime, vegetation was the leading factor (linear correlation R=–0.74 and R=–0.34 with urban LST) since reduced vegetation limits evaporative cooling. For the dry season nighttime, vegetation was the leading factor (R=–0.52). Limited evaporative cooling during daytime can increase surface heat retention at night. For the wet season nighttime, specific humidity was the leading factor (R=0.21) since increased water vapor enhances downward longwave radiation and warms the surface. Therefore, urban heat is primarily controlled by vegetation in Bengaluru. However, since vegetation and specific humidity are related, mitigation strategies that increase vegetation must not increase water vapor substantially, otherwise urban heat may amplify during the wet season nighttime.
Conservation of asymptotic charges from past to future null infinity: Lorentz charges in general relativity

We show that the asymptotic charges associated with Lorentz symmetries on past and future null infinity match in the limit to spatial infinity in a class of spacetimes that are asymptotically-flat in the sense of Ashtekar and Hansen. Combined with the results of \cite{KP-GR-match}, this shows that \emph{all} Bondi-Metzner-Sachs (BMS) charges on past and future null infinity match in the limit to spatial infinity in this class of spacetimes, proving a relationship that was conjectured by Strominger. Assuming additional suitable conditions are satisfied at timelike infinities, this proves that the flux of all BMS charges is conserved in any classical gravitational scattering process.
Deep learning 2D and 3D optical sectioning microscopy using cross-modality Pix2Pix cGAN image translation

Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) reconstructs optically-sectioned images of a sample from multiple spatially-patterned wide-field images, but the traditional single non-patterned wide-field images are more inexpensively obtained since they do not require generation of specialized illumination patterns. In this work, we translated wide-field fluorescence microscopy images to optically-sectioned SIM images by a Pix2Pix conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN). Our model shows the capability of both 2D cross-modality image translation from wide-field images to optical sections, and further demonstrates potential to recover 3D optically-sectioned volumes from wide-field image stacks. The utility of the model was tested on a variety of samples including fluorescent beads and fresh human tissue samples.
Acculturation discrepancy and mental health associations among Hispanic childhood cancer survivors and their parents.

OBJECTIVE Acculturation discrepancy occurs when the rate of host culture acquisition and/or heritage culture retention between non-native parents and their children diverges. The resulting conflict may exacerbate mental health conditions in already vulnerable populations. The present study examined discrepancies between Hispanic and Anglo-American acculturation, as two separate constructs, and mental health symptomology in Hispanic childhood cancer survivors (HCCS) and their parents. METHODS Participants were 68 matched parent-child dyads (HCCS (Mage = 19.4 (2.77) years., 50.0% female); and parent (Mage = 46.3 (6.07) years., 89.7% female)). Study variables were HCCS posttraumatic-growth (PTG) and quality-of-life (PedsQL); parent posttraumatic stress (PTSD); and parent/HCCS depressive symptoms (CESD) and acculturation orientations. Discrepancy was calculated as the dyadic difference between like acculturation measures. RESULTS After controlling for covariates, Hispanic acculturation discrepancy and HCCS psychosocial health (a subset of PedsQL) was negatively correlated (r = -0.26, p < 0.5); while Anglo-American acculturation discrepancy was positively associated with HCCS PTG (r = 0.34, p < 0.01) and overall PedsQL (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), and moderated the relationship between parent CESD and HCCS PedsQL. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that the two acculturation discrepancy constructs have opposite effects. HCCS losing their heritage culture while their parents simultaneously retain it appears to be a deleterious process; whereas, HCCS learning the US culture more rapidly than parents may have protective benefits. This study has important implications for mental health interventions among HCCS. Findings should be used to inform the survivorship clinical community of the value of acculturation timing and parent/child discrepancy.
Laboratory Evaluation of the Effect of SBS Modifier on Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures

Laboratory Evaluation of the Effect of SBS Modifier on Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures
Oppression by Scientific Method: The Use of Science to “Other” Sexual Minorities

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) civil rights have become a major focus of the legislative agenda of a variety of organizations in support of and in opposition to those rights. This growing interest in LGB civil rights can be seen through the increasing news reports and political discussions concerning marriage equality, the addition of sexual orientation as a protected class to hate crime laws and workplace nondiscrimination legislation, the elimination of the military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, and the right of LGB people to adopt children. As these issues move to the forefront, different groups attempt to use scientific reports, studies, and perspectives as one way to promote their viewpoints.
An investigation of the structure of sizing systems: A comparison of three multidimensional optimized sizing systems generated from anthropometric data with the ASTM standard D5585‐94

Most apparel sizing systems are based on one or two body dimensions and rely on assumptions about proportional body relationships to project other dimensions necessary to design the garment pattern. Garments from these systems will not fit a population with large variations in body proportions. Using nonlinear optimization methods and anthropometric data of US Army women three multidimensional sizing systems were derived that are designed to provide improved fit for women from the USA, a population with much variation. These systems range from an optimized linear system with a regular grade to an unconstrained optimized system with a grade break at each size. The optimized sizing systems compare favorably with D5585‐94 in their ability to accommodate variation in the population based on a mathematical test of the aggregate loss of each system. Issues related to pattern grading, size selection, and calculation of stock keeping units are discussed.
Zimbabwe: Why Is One of the World's Least Free Economies Growing So Fast?

Between 2009 and 2011, Zimbabwe’s GDP growth averaged an impressive 7.3 percent, making it one of the world’s fastest-growing countries. Yet World Bank governance indicators place Zimbabwe’s government among the world’s worst, and the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World index ranks it as one of the world’s least economically free countries. Zimbabwe’s performance coincides with its January 2009 adoption of the U.S. dollar and South African rand as its official currencies, which swiftly squelched rampant hyperinflation and stabilized the economy. Yet dollarization doesn’t explain why the country has been growing faster than Hong Kong, a territory with a stable currency and one of the freest economies in the world.Zimbabwe’s dollarization was accompanied by three significant economic developments, none of which will foster growth long-term. First, between 2009 and 2011, two-thirds of Zimbabwe’s nominal GDP growth was the result of increases in government expenditures, augmented by hundreds of millions of dollars in International Monetary Fund grants and Chinese loans. Second, rich Western countries dramatically increased their infusions of "off-budget" grants to Zimbabwe, and this foreign aid now accounts for nearly 9 percent of its GDP. Third, Zimbabwe’s economy is becoming increasingly dependent on the production and export of raw mineral commodities, which have experienced rapid worldwide price hikes. Zimbabwe’s recent growth rates do not accurately reflect its long-term economic prospects. Rather, they draw attention away from the country’s continuing pressing problems, including an inadequate food supply, poor governance, weakening property rights protection, and a bloated government sector. Those problems have been unwittingly enabled by Western governments and the IMF through massive cash infusions, which have given the Zimbabwean government little incentive to change.
Localization of an Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Receptor on Bovine Adrenal Cortical Membranes

Abstract The preparation of a subcellular fraction from bovine adrenal cortex is described. Characterization by electron microscopy, electron microscopic cytochemistry, and enzymatic assay indicates that this fraction is enriched plasma membranes. The preparation binds the steroidogenically active [Gln5] [14C-Phe7] corticotropin1–20 amide. The specificity of this binding is demonstrated by competitive binding studies with pig corticotropin as well as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) fragments and analogs. The membrane preparation contains an adenylate cyclase sensitive to both sodium fluoride and corticotropin1–24. Corticotropin11–20 amide binds to the membranes but fails to activate adenylate cyclase. This membrane preparation provides a means to correlate peptide structure and in vivo corticotropic activity with selective binding and adenylate cyclase activation. The observation that corticotropin11–20 amide binds to the membranes but does not activate the adenylate cyclase supports the previous hypothesis that major binding sites of the ACTH molecule reside in this portion of the sequence. Two peptides exhibiting significantly higher in vivo adrenocorticotropic activity than ACTH from natural sources were only weakly active in stimulating the membrane adenylate cyclase. The experimental results strongly suggest that the membrane preparation contains an ACTH receptor.
Probabilistic models for mobile phone trajectory estimation

This dissertation is concerned with the problem of determining the track or trajectory of a mobile device — for example, a sequence of road segments on an outdoor map, or a sequence of rooms visited inside a building — in an energy-efficient and accurate manner. GPS, the dominant positioning technology today, has two major limitations. First, it consumes significant power on mobile phones, making it impractical for continuous monitoring. Second, it does not work indoors. This dissertation develops two ways to address these limitations: (a) sub-sampling GPS to save energy, and (b) using alternatives to GPS such as WiFi localization, cellular localization, and inertial sensing (with the accelerometer and gyroscope) that consume less energy and work indoors. The key challenge is to match a sequence of infrequent (from sub-sampling) and inaccurate (from WiFi, cellular or inertial sensing) position samples to an accurate output trajectory. This dissertation presents three systems, all using probabilistic models, to accomplish this matching. The first, VTrack, uses Hidden Markov Models to match noisy or sparsely sampled geographic (lat, lon) coordinates to a sequence of road segments on a map. We evaluate VTrack on 800 drive hours of GPS and WiFi localization data collected from 25 taxicabs in Boston. We find that VTrack tolerates significant noise and outages in location estimates, and saves energy, while providing accurate enough trajectories for applications like travel-time aware route planning. CTrack improves on VTrack with a Markov Model that uses "soft" information in the form of raw WiFi or cellular signal strengths, rather than geographic coordinates. It also uses movement and turn "hints" from the accelerometer and compass to improve accuracy. We implement CTrack on Android phones, and evaluate it on cellular signal data from over 126 (1,074 miles) hours of driving data. CTrack can retrieve over 75% of a user's drive accurately on average, even from highly inaccurate (175 metres raw position error) GSM data. iTrack uses a particle filter to combine inertial sensing data from the accelerometer and gyroscope with WiFi signals and accurately track a mobile phone indoors. iTrack has been implemented on the iPhone, and can track a user to within less than a metre when walking with the phone in the hand or pants pocket, over 5× more accurately than existing WiFi localization approaches. iTrack also requires very little manual effort for training, unlike existing localization systems that require a user to visit hundreds or thousands of locations in a building and mark them on a map. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
The Temperature Sensitivity of Hot Wires

Significant errors in measurements of some velocity and joint velocity-temperature statistics arise from the non-negligible contamination of the measured hot-wire velocity signal by concomitant temperature fluctuations. Measurements of the temperature sensitivity of hot wires operated at high overheat ratios are considerably more difficult to obtain than measurements of the velocity sensitivity. Therefore to provide a check on the measured values, an analytical expression for the temperature sensitivity is derived which can be evaluated from parameters readily obtained from the velocity calibration data. The analysis, based on the convective heat transfer relation of Collis and Williams (1959), gives values of the temperature sensitivity which compare well with directly measured values. The present analysis is extended to show that the temperature and velocity sensitivities can be expressed entirely in terms of the linearized voltage output obtained by direct calibration for each hot-wire or hot-film sensor. Estimates of the errors in some measured statistics caused by the concomitant temperature fluctuation contamination of the hot-wire signal are determined.
Cost Control for Nonprofits in Crisis. by G. Stevenson Smith: Chicago, IL: ALA Editions, 2011, viii +133 pp., $75.00, ISBN 978-0-8389-1098-6.

The title Cost Control for Nonprofits in Crisis would lead one to believe that this book was written for and could be used by all sorts of nonprofits from American history museums to zoos. Nonethel...