cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successfully applying the supplemental instruction model to engineering and pre engineering

Supplemental instruction (SI) is a nonremedial program that utilizes peer-assisted review sessions and targets historically difficult academic courses. SI has been used nationally for decades in nonengineering and pre-engineering courses, however, there is very little literature on its application in engineering courses. In UNC Charlotte, offering SI in core engineering courses began in 1996 when the College of Engineering joined forces with the university's established SI program. Using grant funding, SI was piloted in three engineering "gateway" courses with low participation and results that initially were not as impressive as those in chemistry and biology courses. Yet students and faculty began to recognize the potential of this new program. Since then, assessment results indicate that SI is making a positive impact on final course grade sand on DFW rates. This paper focuses on the development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of the program. Actual assessment results and lessons learned are presented.
“All the News That's Fit to Print”: A Content Analysis of the Correctional Debate in the New York Times

Scholarship over the past three decades has generated considerable insight into the roles of the media, politicians, and law enforcement officials in constructing images of criminal justice; still, that body of research has rarely ventured into the realm of corrections. Filling this void, we drew a sample of 206 newspaper articles on corrections published in the New York Times for the purpose of examining news sources and their quoted statements. Our findings reveal that the New York Times relies heavily on political and government sources who—not surprisingly—express support for the prevailing correctional policies and practices. Whereas the New York Times also quoted sources critical of the government's correctional strategies, the dominance of political sources in the press offers evidence of agenda setting in the debate over corrections.
Diagnostic utility of von Hippel-Lindau gene product, maspin, IMP3, and S100P in adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder

Our recent study demonstrated the up-regulation of maspin, IMP3, and S100P and down-regulation of von Hippel-Lindau gene product (pVHL) in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Distinction of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder from benign/reactive glandular epithelium can be challenging if based on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections alone. Immunohistochemical stains for pVHL, maspin, IMP3, and S100P were performed on 82 gallbladder specimens, including adenocarcinoma (n = 33) and normal/reactive gallbladder (n = 49). The results demonstrated (1) only 6.0% of adenocarcinoma cases were focally positive for pVHL, and all normal and most reactive cases (85%) were diffusely positive for pVHL; (2) maspin, IMP3, and S100P were positive in 100%, 81.8%, and 75.8% of adenocarcinoma cases, respectively; in contrast, 53.1%, 12.2%, and 30.6% of normal/reactive cases were only focally and weakly positive for maspin, IMP3, and S100P, respectively; and (3) 90.3% of adenocarcinoma cases were pVHL-negative and positive for 2 or more positive markers, whereas none of the benign/reactive cases showed this staining profile. This study demonstrates that the immunostaining profile of pVHL-/IMP3+/maspin+/S100P+ is useful in the distinction of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder from normal/reactive conditions.
Adaptive resolution ADC array for neural implant

This paper describes an ADC array for an implantable prosthetic processor which digitizes neural signals sensed by a microelectrode array. The ADC array consists of 96 variable resolution ADC base cells. The base ADC has been implemented in 0.13μπι CMOS as a 100kS/s SAR ADC whose resolution can be varied from 3 to 8-bits with corresponding power consumption of 0.23μ\Υ to 0.90^W achieving an ENOB of 7.8 at the 8-bit setting. The resolution of each ADC cell in the array is varied according to neural data content of the signal from the corresponding electrode. Resolution adaptation reduces power consumption by a factor of 2.3 whilst maintaining an effective 7.8-bit resolution across all channels.
Time-of-arrival measurement for transionospheric EMP

An ionospheric-delay correction model that measures the time of arrival (TOA) of a transionospheric electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is presented. The pulse-broadening effect due to the dispersive ionosphere is incorporated into the ionospheric group-delay model to provide an improved delay correction in measurements of EMP time of arrival. The model's predictions are compared with laboratory test results for various total electron contents. This improved model also makes it possible to evaluate the sensitivity of TOA performance to changes in the receiver hardware parameters, e.g. filter bandwidth and the threshold levels in the time-tagging process. >
Divergent Mating Systems and Parental Conflict as a Barrier to Hybridization in Flowering Plants

Abstract: Parental conflicts can lead to antagonistic coevolution of the sexes and of parental genomes. Within a population, the resulting antagonistic effects should balance, but crosses between populations can reveal conflict. Parental conflict is less intense in self‐pollinating plants than in outcrossers because outcrossing plants are pollinated by multiple pollen donors unrelated to the seed parent, while a self‐pollinating plant is primarily pollinated by one individual (itself). Therefore, in crosses between plants with differing mating systems, outcrossing parents are expected to “overpower” selfing parents. We call this the weak inbreeder/strong outbreeder (WISO) hypothesis. Prezygotically, such overpowering can alter pollination success, and we argue that our hypothesis explains a common pattern of unilateral incompatibility, in which pollen from self‐incompatible populations fertilizes ovules of self‐compatible individuals but the reciprocal cross fails. A postzygotic manifestation of overpower...
A teacher’s first language use in form-focused episodes in Spanish as a foreign language classroom:

This study investigates a teacher's L1 use during focus-on-form episodes (FFEs). FFEs assist L2 learning by bringing learners' attention to language. We studied the language used in FFEs in a Spanish as a foreign language (SFL) classroom to better understand the pedagogical purposes of L1 use in the classroom. We video-recorded 12 hours of an intermediate-high SFL classroom with an L1 English teacher at a US university. The audio data was segmented into FFEs and then coded (English L1, Spanish L2, mix) to reflect the language used in each of the teacher's utterances. We also identified the linguistic areas (e.g., grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation) targeted in the FFEs. Chi-square and descriptive statistics were used to understand the relationship between the teacher's language and the linguistic areas. Lastly, using the same data set, we conducted a qualitative analysis in order to depict the situations in which the teacher employed the L1 and L2. There was a significant relationship between the teacher's language and the FFEs' linguistic areas. Specifically, the L1 and L2 were used equally when FFEs concerned vocabulary and grammar. However, when FFEs concerned semantics, frequent code-switching occurred. The qualitative data illustrate that the language choice may depend on the interactional patterns and the complexity of the linguistic structure.
High-power switching in semiconductors - What is beyond silicon thyristor?

A critical evaluation of high-power electronics switching in semiconductor materials is made from the standpoint of performance, reliability, and commercial viability. This study takes into account recent experimental results obtained from the field-reliability study of silicon power MOSFETs in high-density power supplies where residual material defects present in the space charge region of the device were found to generate local micro plasma that eventually caused power MOSFETs to fail. Based on these results and commercial progress made to date in wide bandgap semiconductor technologies, it is suggested that silicon carbide (SiC) promises to be the preferred material for high-power electronics switching from cost, performance and reliability considerations - this assessment is further strengthened by the near-term potential for developing large-area, low-cost, and defect-free SiC bulk substrates and epitaxial layers. This conclusion is also supported by the feasibility and the need for vertical, MOS-controlled, bipolar power switches in compact and efficient megaWatt-level power converters in order to make transformational changes in the 21st century electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Bacteriological Criteria for Ground‐Water Qualitya

Although more than 60 million individuals rely upon the absence of microbial pathogens in their marginally-treated or untreated ground-water supplies, an analysis of reported waterborne disease outbreaks for the period 1946-1970 shows that contaminated ground-water supplies were responsible for over 50 percent of the outbreaks. Completed ground-water studies indicate: (1) coliforms and fecal coliforms are present in a significant percentage of improperly located or inadequately protected private supplies, and (2) the apparent absence of coliforms due to the insensitivity of currently available bacteriological methods does not preclude pathogen occurrences. Excessive bacterial populations, normally not encountered in finished water, can suppress coliform detection. For this reason, it is essential that improved bacterial detection methods be developed and other criteria for untreated ground water be explored by comprehensive field investigations and laboratory analysis of ground-water supplies for a variety of bacterial parameters.
HARMONICA: enhanced QoS support with admission control for IEEE 802.11 contention-based access

Currently deployed IEEE 802.11 WLANs work mostly with distributed coordination function (DCF) mode at the MAC layer, which does not provide QoS support. The upcoming IEEE standard 802.11e achieves service differentiation by assigning different channel access parameters (CAPs) to different traffic classes at the MAC layer. However, such relative differentiation does not yield QoS guarantee. In practice, appropriately selecting CAPs a priori is difficult. Time-varying traffic loads also make the use of fixed CAPs inefficient for both QoS support and channel utilization. We propose a novel architecture called HARMONICA, in which the access point dynamically selects the best CAPs for each traffic class to optimally match their QoS requirements. We present and discuss a simple admission control mechanism used by HARMONICA to avoid congestion. Our simulation results demonstrate that under an interference-free environment, HARMONICA can guarantee the QoS for all traffic classes while simultaneously achieving quasi-optimal channel utilization.
Plastic Deformation Magnetic Assembly (PDMA) Of 3D Microstructures: Technology Development and Application

This paper presents the development and application of a 3D microstructure assembly process — Plastic Deformation Magnetic Assembly (PDMA). In PDMA, certain part of a microstructure is plastically deformed by the magnetic force generated in a magnetic material piece attached to the microstructure when an external magnetic field is applied. Due to this plastic deformation, the entire microstructure will remain by itself at a rest angle off substrate surface. The amount of plastic deformation and the rest angle are found to be strongly dependent on the deformation region and also the magnetic material piece. A general design rule for PDMA is given.
Letter from Kathmandu

This magazine article is about my family's experience in Kathmandu, Nepal, in June of 2001, when the Royal Family was massacred.
Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 35-2009. A 60-year-old male renal-transplant recipient with renal insufficiency, diabetic ketoacidosis, and mental-status changes.

A 60-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and a history of renal transplantation was admitted to this hospital because of mental-status changes, diarrhea, renal insufficiency, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hypotension. On examination, the patient appeared cachectic and confused. Ultrasonographic examination of the pelvis showed the transplanted kidney with a well-circumscribed, rounded, focal hypoechoic lesion within the upper pole. On the fourth hospital day, respiratory distress developed that required mechanical ventilation.
Abstract 4973: Tumor type and organ type dependent differences of vascular permeability to pegylated liposomal doxorubicin.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) for cancer therapy is advantageous over conventional chemotherapy with doxorubicin, because of the preferential delivery of drugs to tumors owing to the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. The biological barriers include abnormal structure of tumor vessels in heterogeneous tumor microenvironments shall influence the EPR effect and result in heterogeneous tumor perfusion of PLD and therapeutic efficacy. Although 4T1, murine breast cancer cells and 3LL, murine lung cancer cells had similar sensitivity to PLD in vitro, only 4T1 tumors responded to therapy with PLD in vivo. There were no significant differences of the microvessel density and blood perfusion in these tumors. In contrast, PLD extravasated and accumulated into 4T1 tumors significantly more than 3LL tumors, indicating vascular permeability was higher in 4T1 tumors. Coverage of endothelial cells by collagen type IV, which constitutes basement membrane of the vessels, was significantly lower in 4T1 tumors as compared to those in 3LL tumors. Differential analysis of protein expression by 4T1 and 3LL cells in vitro revealed that MMP-9 (collagenase) production was significantly higher in 4T1 cells as compared to 3LL cells. MMP-9 expression was also higher in 4T1 tumors as well as in sera of mice bearing 4T1 tumors as compared to 3LL tumors and sera of mice bearing 3LL tumors and normal mice respectively. Batimastat, MMPs inhibitor, injected in vivo increased the coverage of endothelial cells by basement membrane and abrogated the accumulation of PLD into the 4T1 tumors, indicating MMP-9 can play a pivotal role in controlling the vascular permeability. Interestingly, 4T1 tumors were accumulated with PLD only when tumors were growing in the brain and mammary fat pad, but not in the liver. Coverage of the endothelial cells by basement membrane was significantly higher in the tumors growing in the liver as compared to the other two locations. The levels of TIMP-1, endogenous inhibitor of MMPs, were significantly higher in the mice bearing 4T1 in the liver as compared to the mice bearing the tumors in the other locations. These data indicate the levels as well as balance between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 can determine the vascular permeability to PLD. Therefore the these enzymes in the circulation can serve as surrogate markers for the vascular permeability to PLD and there is a possibility to personalize the therapy by selecting patients who will likely accumulated with PLD into tumors to increase clinical outcome. Citation Format: Kenji Yokoi, Tomonori Tanei, Biana Godin, Anne van de Ven, Jenolyn Alexander, Mauro Ferrari. Tumor type and organ type dependent differences of vascular permeability to pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4973. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4973
Application of SEA Method in Effectiveness Analysis of SoS for Airborne Electronic Warfare

The SEA method can do effectiveness analysis of SoS(system of systems) for airborne electronic warfare by combining with top-down decomposition of mission and bottom-up polymerization of ability,and the method eliminate limitations of original static effectiveness evaluation.The SEA(system effectiveness analysis) method is used to constitute the airborne electronic warfare effectiveness evaluation model and corresponding the equipment performance to the mission,which has some theoretical significance to the accurate assessment of combat capability of SoS for airborne electronic warfare system.
Investigation on the quality of sterilization of digestive endoscopes in hospitals in Dalian City between 2010 and 2011

OBJECTIVE To assess the hygienic conditions of gastrointestinal endoscopes in hospitals in Dalian City,so to help improve the quality of sterilization of such devices.METHODS Field sampling was adopted to examine the hygienic conditions of gastrointestinal endoscopes and the related supplies from 23 hospitals in Dalian City.RESULTS A total of 100 gastrointestinal endoscopes and the related supplies were tested,and the compliance rate was 77.00%.More specifically,compliance rate of 69 gastrointestinal endoscope samples was 81.16%,and 1 strain of Escherichia coli was detected.In addition,among the 18 samples of glutaraldehyde endoscope disinfectants,compliance rate on the active ingredients was 83.33%;and the compliance rate of 13 water samples from water bottles was 46.15%.CONCLUSION Compliance rate on the sterilization of gastrointestinal endoscopes is low,suggesting a potential risk of cross-infections caused by endoscopes.
Can we predict unplanned hospital readmission after colectomy for ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis

Unplanned readmission (UR) is considered to be an index of quality surgical care. We examined whether any perioperative factor was associated with UR after colectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC) or indeterminate colitis (IC). Patients undergoing a two-stage or three-stage ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were included. Patient, disease, and surgical factors were collected. UR occurring within 30 days of hospital discharge was assessed. The 202 study patients had a median age of 38 years. Median body mass index was 22. There were 130 (64%) UC patients and 72 (36%) IC patients. Indications for surgery were medically refractory disease (n = 176, 87%) and dysplasia/ cancer (n = 26, 13%). Preoperative medical therapy included steroids alone in 25 patients and steroids combined with other immunomodulators in 151 patients. A two-stage and three-stage ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was used in 146 (72%) and 56 (28%) patients, respectively. Median white blood cell count before discharge was 8600 cells/mm 3 . Median length of stay after surgery was 7 days. Complications before discharge were observed in 28 patients (14%). Thirty-eight patients (19%) had a UR. No preoperative or surgical factor was associated with UR. Although UR occurs frequently (19%) after colectomy for UC or IC, it cannot be predicted.
Charge transfer and ionization in collisions of alpha micro with all elements.

Cross sections are determined for stripping (charge transfer and ionization) of the \ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\mu} ion in collisions with a number of elements. The calculations are done with the classical-trajectory Monte Carlo method using the Thomas-Fermi model for the neutral-atom target. The total stripping cross sections are shown to differ only slightly from those for collisions with the bare nuclei. A simple analytic formula is given for evaluation of the stripping cross section for any target element. Finally, the results are applied to stopping and stripping of \ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\mu} ions in several metallic foils.
Unique and Redundant Functions of p70 Ribosomal S6 Kinase Isoforms Regulate Mesenchymal Cell Proliferation and Migration in Pulmonary Fibrosis

The p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K) is a downstream substrate that is phosphorylated and activated by the mammalian target of rapamycin complex and regulates multiple cellular processes associated with pulmonary fibrogenesis. Two isoforms of the p70S6K have been identified (S6K1 and S6K2), but their relative contributions in mediating pulmonary fibrosis are unknown. To interrogate the roles of the p70S6K isoforms, we overexpressed transforming growth factor (TGF)-α in mice deficient for the S6K1 or S6K2 genes and measured changes in lung histology, morphometry, total lung collagen, lung function, and proliferation between wild-type and isoform-deficient mice. Deficiency of S6K1, but not S6K2, had a significant effect on reducing proliferation in subpleural fibrotic lesions during TGF-α-induced fibrosis. Migration was significantly decreased in mesenchymal cells isolated from the lungs of S6K1 knockout mice compared with wild-type or S6K2 knockout mice. Conversely, increases in subpleural thickening were significantly decreased in S6K2-deficient mice compared with wild type. Deficiency of S6K2 significantly reduced phosphorylation of the downstream S6 ribosomal protein in lung homogenates and isolated mesenchymal cells after TGF-α expression. However, deficiency of neither isoform alone significantly altered TGF-α-induced collagen accumulation or lung function decline in vivo. Furthermore, deficiency in neither isoform prevented changes in collagen accumulation or lung compliance decline after administration of intradermal bleomycin. Together, these findings demonstrate that the p70S6K isoforms have unique and redundant functions in mediating fibrogenic processes, including proliferation, migration, and S6 phosphorylation, signifying that both isoforms must be targeted to modulate p70S6K-mediated pulmonary fibrosis.
Special Nuclear Material Characterization Using Digital 3-D Position Sensitive CdZnTe Detectors and High Purity Germanium Spectrometers

Special nuclear material (SNM) monitoring often requires high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for material characterization. Portable systems and rapid deployment are also highly valued for some applications. Deployable gamma-ray imaging spectrometers using pixelated CdZnTe semiconductor detectors have become commercially available within the past three years to meet these requirements. CdZnTe systems have demonstrated room-temperature energy resolutions below 0.5% FWHM at 662 keV using single pixel events and below 0.7% FWHM at 662 keV using all events. The systems are able to go from storage to measurement in less than two minutes. Special nuclear materials were measured at the Y-12 National Security Complex and at the Device Assembly Facility at the Nevada National Security Site. The use of a CdZnTe system to measure uranium enrichment was demonstrated and uranium spectral features were compared to a commercially available high purity germanium (HPGe) spectrometer. The use of passive gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques to estimate plutonium grade using CdZnTe detectors was demonstrated for the first time.
Synthesis, characterization and curing optimization of a biobased thermosetting resin from xylitol and lactic acid

Abstract A biobased thermoset resin was synthesized by direct condensation reaction of lactic acid with xylitol followed by the end-functionalization of the hydroxyl groups of branches by methacrylic anhydride. Chemical structures of resins were evaluated and confirmed by 13C NMR and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Different techniques were employed for the optimization of the curing process. Techniques including Microscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) were employed for characterization of the cured resins. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) were also carried out to check the thermal stability of the cured resins. The viscosity of the neat resin was measured at different temperatures and different stress levels. Water adsorption tests were also carried out to check the water absorption properties of cured resins. The glass temperature (Tg) of the resin was 98 °C, and the viscosity of the resin was 2.97 Pa s at room temperature which drops to 0.07 Pa s upon increasing the temperature to 85 °C. The biobased content of the resin was calculated as 77%. Cheap raw materials, high biobased content, biodegradability, good thermomechanical and rheological properties, good processability and good thermal stability are of advantages of the synthesized resin which makes the resin comparable with commercial unsaturated polyester resins.
Engineering Students’ Views of Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study from Petroleum Engineering

The mining and energy industries present unique challenges to engineers, who must navigate sometimes competing responsibilities and codes of conduct, such as personal senses of right and wrong, professional ethics codes, and their employers’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the current dominant framework used by industry to conceptualize firms’ responsibilities to their stakeholders, yet has it plays a relatively minor role in engineering ethics education. In this article, we report on an interdisciplinary pedagogical intervention in a petroleum engineering seminar that sought to better prepare engineering undergraduate students to critically appraise the strengths and limitations of CSR as an approach to reconciling the interests of industry and communities. We find that as a result of the curricular interventions, engineering students were able to expand their knowledge of the social, rather than simply environmental and economic dimensions of CSR. They remained hesitant, however, in identifying the links between those social aspects of CSR and their actual engineering work. The study suggests that CSR may be a fruitful arena from which to illustrate the profoundly sociotechnical dimensions of the engineering challenges relevant to students’ future careers.
2H/1H fractionation in lipids of the mangrove Bruguiera gymnorhiza increases with salinity in marine lakes of Palau

Abstract Hydrogen isotope ratios (2H/1H or D/H) of sedimentary mangrove lipid biomarkers can be exploited as a quantitative proxy of past salinity and water isotopes. This approach is based on the observation that apparent 2H/1H fractionation between surface water and mangrove leaf lipids increases with surface water salinity. In order to better understand the mechanisms responsible for this empirical relationship, we analyzed the isotopic composition of surface water, xylem water, leaf water and leaf lipids from Bruguiera gymnorhiza mangroves growing around eleven marine lakes and a lagoon on the rock islands of Palau, spanning a salinity range of 5–32 parts per thousand (ppt). Net fractionation increased with increasing salinity for both nC31-alkane (0.7 ± 0.1‰ ppt−1) and for the pentacyclic triterpenoid lupeol (0.5 ± 0.2‰ ppt−1). These trends could not be attributed to changes in biosynthetic fractionation with salinity, but seem more likely to be due to increasing disequilibrium between xylem water and water vapor as salinity increases. In Palau’s humid climate, this most likely causes leaf water to become less 2H-enriched relative to surface water and to xylem water as salinity increases. This supposition is supported not only by measurements of leaf water 2H enrichment, but also by the correlation (R2 = 0.66) between leaf water isotopes and those of rain water, which are assumed to be in equilibrium with water vapor isotopes, and by the dependence of leaf water isotopes on water vapor isotopes in a Peclet-modified Craig-Gordon model. These results should inform the application of sedimentary mangrove lipid hydrogen isotope ratios to infer past hydroclimatic changes.
Sufficient conditions for the unsolvability and solvability of the absolute value equation

We give linear-inequalities-based sufficient conditions for the unsolvability and solvability of the NP-hard absolute value equation: \(Ax-|x|=b\), where A is an \(n\times n\) square matrix. The satisfaction of the linear inequalities is easily verified using a linear program.
Classification and Definition of an Enterprise Architecture Analyses Language

Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) deals with the assessment and development of business processes and IT components. Through the analysis of as-is and to-be states the information flow in organizations is optimized. Thus EAM analyses are an essential part in the EAM cycle. To cover the needs of an architect the analyses pursue different goals and utilize different techniques. In this work we examine the different EA analysis approaches according to their characteristics and requirements. For that purpose we design a generic analysis language which can be used for their description. In order to manage the numerous approaches from literature we develop a categorization. The categories are created based on the goals, constructs and kind of results. We propose a two-dimensional classification into functional and technical categories. The goal is to provide a common description for EA analyses for an easy access to their goals and execution requirements.
Whom to Biopsy: Prediagnostic Risk Stratification with Biomarkers, Nomograms, and Risk Calculators

This article describes markers used for prostate biopsy decisions, including prostrate-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA, the prostate health index, 4Kscore, PCA3, and ConfirmMDx. It also summarizes the use of nomograms combining multiple variables for prostate cancer detection.
Designing an In Vivo Efficacy Study of Nanomedicines for Preclinical Tumor Growth Inhibition

Novel nanoformulated chemotherapeutics and diagnostics require demonstration of efficacy and safety in appropriate animal models prior to conducting early-phase clinical trials. In vivo efficacy experiments are tailored to the tumor model type and route of administration as well as several parameters related to the nanoformulation, like drug loading to determine dosing volume. When designing in vivo efficacy studies for nanomedicines, understanding the relationship between tumor biology and the nanoformulation characteristics is critical to achieving meaningful results, along with applying appropriate drug and nanoformulation controls. In particular, nanoparticles can have multifunctional roles such as targeting and imaging capabilities that require additional considerations when designing in vivo efficacy studies and choosing tumor models. In this chapter, we outline a general study design for a subcutaneously implanted tumor model along with an example of tumor growth inhibition and survival analysis.
Is a Human CD8 T-Cell Vaccine Possible, and if So, What Would It Take? CD8 T-Cell-Mediated Protective Immunity and Vaccination against Enteric Bacteria

Although induction of CD8+ responses is widely accepted as critical in clearing viral infections and necessary for effective vaccines against viruses, much less is known regarding the role of these cells in bacterial and other infections, particularly those that enter the host via the gastrointestinal tract. In this commentary, I discuss the likelihood that CD8+ responses are also important in protection from intestinal Gram-negative bacteria, as well as the many factors that should be taken into consideration during the development of vaccines, based on eliciting long-term protection predominantly mediated by CD8+ responses against these organisms.
Vitamin E and its anticancer effects

Vitamin E is a lipid soluble vitamin comprising of eight natural isoforms, namely, α, β, δ, γ isoforms of tocopherol and α, β, δ, γ isoforms of tocotrienol. Many studies have been performed to elucidate its role in cancer. Until last decade, major focus was on alpha tocopherol and its anticancer effects. However, major clinical trials using alpha-tocopherol like SELECT trial and ATBC trial did not yield meaningful results. Hence there was a shift of focus to gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol and tocotrienol. Unlike alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and delta-tocopherol can scavenge reactive nitrogen species in addition to reactive oxygen species. Antiangiogenic effect, inhibition of HMG CoA reductase enzyme and inhibition of NF-κB pathway make the anti-cancer effects of tocotrienols unique compared to other vitamin E isoforms. Preclinical research on non-alpha tocopherol isoforms of vitamin E showed promising data on their anticancer effects. In this review, we deal with the current understanding on the potential mechanisms involved in the anticancer effects of vitamin E and the controversies in this field over last three decades. We also highlight the need to conduct further research on the anticancer effects of non-alpha-tocopherol isoforms in larger population and clinical setting.
Marketing’s identity crisis: it’s complicated

El-Ansary et al. (AMS Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-017-0102-y , 2017) provide a 100-year historical review of the concepts and paradigms that have led to an identity crisis in marketing. This commentary is a retrospective review, contributing to the understanding of the evolution of concepts and changes in the marketing discipline which have precipitated this identity crisis. In addition, progress in the development of marketing theory is examined to determine if there are major theories or frameworks that can assist in resolving the identity crisis. Concerns about the current narrow focus on consumer behavior, modeling, and methodological sophistication have resulted from the failure of the marketing discipline to determine appropriate research agenda and topics important in marketing education. A marketing systems paradigm is considered for resolving this identity crisis in academia and industry.
Racial and Political Dynamics of an Approaching “Majority-Minority” United States:

Do demographic shifts in the racial composition of the United States promote positive changes in the nation’s racial dynamics? Change in response to the nation’s growing diversity is likely, but it...
Discretionary adoption of group support software: lessons from calendar applications

Although the World Wide Web, Internet and organisational intranets have made computer-mediated collaboration possible for many people, adoption of collaboration technologies in business environments still presents challenges and is often slower or less widespread than anticipated Technologies focused on supporting groups fall between strictly single-user applications and enterprise systems. Single-user applications are designed with a “discretionary use” model. In contrast, for large enterprise systems, upper management support is considered crucial for smooth deployment and adoption. Which one applies to technologies that support group work? The relatively low cost of an application such as a shared calendar lowers its visibility in an organisation, reducing management attention to it. However, some argue that the complex social dynamics surrounding such technologies still necessitate a managerial mandate for use to occur — the large system approach. Interview studies of electronic calendar adoption in two large organisations found successful, near-universal use achieved without managerial mandate. Versatile functionality and ease of use, associated with discretionary products, were factors leading to individual adoption. Other factors leading to “bottom-up” adoption included the presence of an organisation-wide infrastructure, integration with e-mail, and substantial peer pressure that developed over time.
Enhanced Raman-Kerr frequency combs in Zr-doped silica coated hybrid microresonators (Conference Presentation)

Ultrahigh quality factor microresonators have extremely long photon lifetimes, enabling high circulating power. As a result of the amplification of the input optical power, these devices are able to excite various nonlinear optical phenomena, such as four-wave mixing (FWM) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). Previously, FWM and their cascaded peaks enabled frequency comb generation in silica toroidal resonators. However, high input power (> 60 mW) is required to generate broad frequency combs (>500 nm span) due to the intrinsic material properties of silica. In this present work, we modify the material properties of silica by coating a silica toroidal cavity with a thin film of Zirconium (Zr) doped solgel. This thin layer substantially improves the performance of Raman-Kerr frequency comb generation in hybrid microcavities. A series of concentrations of Zr-doped solgel are synthesized, and the effects of the Zr dopants are characterized with both theoretical calculations and experimental measurements. Doping Zr into the silica matrix enables the Zr-doped devices to have a lower dispersion than a bare silica device, enabling the frequency comb span to increase. Additionally, Zr dopants increase the efficiency of the SRS process. As Zr concentrations increase, Stokes as well as anti-Stokes Raman scattering and their cascaded FWM peaks start contributing to the formation of the frequency comb, generating Raman-Kerr frequency combs. Consequently, Zr doping enables large frequency comb spans with significantly reduced input power.
1st report of unexpected true left-sided gallbladder treated with robotic approach.

Abstract Introduction True left-sided gallbladder (T-LSG) occur when the gallbladder is positioned to the left of the ligamentum teres and falciform ligament and under the surface of the left liver lobe. Presentation of case Patient is 29-year-old caucasian male, presenting with 9-month history of epigastric right upper quadrant (RUQ) colic pain. RUQ Ultrasound reported cholelithiasis, gallbladder wall thickening, and no intrahepatic biliary dilation. Discussion Robotic cholecystectomy was the chosen approach. When visceral surface of the liver was exposed, anomalous location of the gallbladder was noted, left to the round ligament. A cystic duct with a “hairpin” configuration and a very cephalad cystic artery were identified. Cholecystectomy was performed safely and uneventfully. Conclusion No change of port setting was required with the robotic approach. The ICG-aided cholangiography improved surgeon’s ability to recognize the concomitant vascular and biliary anomalies. However, no definitive conclusion can be drown until further experience and volume are achieved.
GaN HEMT Characterization for Base Stations

This paper describes characterization method for the current source of GaN HEMTs and its relation to the efficiency, optimal load impedance, and operating classes. We have demonstrated a time-domain measurement setup working at low-frequency (LF) is a powerful tool for accurate evaluation of the current source. Furthermore, this characterization method enables RF characteristics such as output power and drain efficiency on arbitrary different classes of operation.
Variations in Tensile Behavior of a High-Strength Titanium Alloy Fabricated and Heat Treated in a Heavy Section

Some titanium alloys have the advantage of possessing the capability of hardening to high strength levels through the thickness of heavy sections. Such an alloy is the metastable beta titanium alloy Ti-8Mo-8V-2Fe-3Al (Ti-8823). This study is concerned with the tensile property variation exhibited by Ti-8823 after its fabrication and heat treatment in heavy section. Information on the tensile behavior was obtained from tension specimens taken from three through-the-thickness locations; outside diameter, midwall, and inside diameter. Values for the following parameters were obtained at each location: yield strength (0.1 and 0.2 percent offset), tensile strength, reduction in area, elongation, and modulus of elasticity. From these data, the variation (standard deviation) for each parameter was determined. Variations in tensile properties as well as hardness measurements of Ti-8823 were compared to those experienced with heavy-section steel gun tube forgings and another titanium alloy in heavy section, namely the alpha/beta Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn alloy.
Whose Data? Which Rights? Whose Power? A Policy Discourse Analysis of Student Privacy Policy Documents

The proliferation of information technology tools in higher education has resulted in an explosion of data about students and their contexts. Yet, current policies governing these data are limited ...
Farnesyl transferase inhibitors.

Substituted imidazoles and thiazoles having the formula are useful for inhibiting farnesyltransferase. Also disclosed are farnesyltransferase-inhibiting compositions and methods of inhibiting farnesyltransferase in a patient.
On the Ethics of "Non-Corporate" Insider Trading.

The ethical considerations of insider trading have been widely debated in the academic literature (see e.g., Moore in J Bus Ethics 9(3):171–182, 1990). In 2013, the STOCK Act, which was initially passed to mitigate insider trading by government officials, was quickly and unexpectedly amended to allow certain government employees to withhold their financial information. To identify and quantify the potential costs placed on investors by non-corporate insider traders, we use the unusual circumstances surrounding this amendment. For a sample of stocks most held by members of Congress, we find that, relative to control stocks, liquidity significantly worsens and volatility increases during the post-amendment period. Our results highlight the costs that are incurred by investors in the presence of non-corporate insider trading. These findings call for a stronger development of an ethical framework that justifies the restriction of all types of insider trading.
Food intolerance or food allergy? exploring food safety practices among campus foodservice employees

Although some studies have explored the importance of accommodating students with food allergies at campus foodservice operations, food intolerance has not been discussed in the previous studies. U...
Brain Imaging of Auditory Learning Functions in Rats: Studies with Fluorodeoxyglucose Autoradiography and Cytochrome Oxidase Histochemistry

For brain imaging of learning functions, the primary goal of the study is to detect learning-related changes in quantitative functional measures of neural activity. Both of the imaging techniques used in the studies reported here operate on the basis that activity of brain cells is coupled to energy metabolism. Functional changes are considered as evidence for the participation of a brain region in a learning paradigm relative to its activity in a control condition that differs only on the learned relation between the stimuli. Isolating the underlying metabolic processes contributing to the activity change related to learning is not, therefore, central to the goal of these studies. The findings presented here illustrate how an acoustic stimulus modifies the activity of the auditory system when the stimulus acquires different behavioral roles through learning. The studies also map, in detail, the rat brain to identify the learning effects of the acoustic stimulus outside the auditory system. Two learning paradigms were used: long-term habituation of the acoustic startle reflex, and differential Pavlovian conditioning of acoustic stimuli. These represent nondiscriminative and discriminative forms of auditory learning depending on the loudness or frequency of the acoustic stimuli, respectively. Brain imaging was done with two techniques recently combined and adapted to map learning effects on the same brain. They incorporate fluorodeoxyglucose autoradiography and cytochrome oxidase histochemistry as described in detail here. These mapping techniques provided functional images of how entire neural systems change, and were used to quantify relative changes in the operations of each neural system involved in the learning paradigms. Together, the experiments support the conclusion that learning-related changes in stimulus significance occur in the auditory system and influence anatomically linked structures distributed in neural systems with specific functional contributions to mediate the behavioral change produced by each specific form of learning. Functional brain imaging techniques provided a more complete picture of how the rat brain works as a unit to modify behavior during learning in the intact organism.
Rape and Roll Call: How Military Culture and Military Law Affect the Immediate Aftermath of Military Sexual Trauma

The chapter title, “Rape and Roll Call,” illustrates how the victim of sexual trauma must operate within the greater military culture. Despite the severe trauma that includes psychological chaos and physical injury, the military service member must decide if she is going to report sexual assault and is limited in whom she can trust to make this report. In addition to the chaos that unfolds after a sexual assault, the victim must continue to comply with the job duties, military assignments, and warrior mentality. Because of the “duty-first” mindset implicit in military culture, victims often have to perform their duty assignments immediately following a sexual assault without excused days or hours off from work. Life as usual, or rape and roll call, is often the experience of the victims. Many victims only have their personal time—outside of work hours—to recover from being raped or never recover at all, thus perpetuating acute stress and eventual posttraumatic stress symptomology.
Psychotropic Medications: An Update for School Psychologists.

This article provides an overview of medications used frequently in the treatment of pediatric depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. The need for a collaborative relationship between the prescribing physician, school personnel, and the family is outlined. School psychologists can play crucial roles by providing the physician with information at the time of referral, developing schoolbased psychosocial interventions that augment pharmacological treatment, completing periodic evaluations to assist in symptom monitoring, and alerting the family and physician to any adverse side effects. C � 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bayesian adaptive randomization designs for targeted agent development

PL06 With the advent of searching for predictive markers in guiding targeted agent development, many new designs have been proposed recently to increase study efficiency. These include the efficient targeted design (Simon R and Maitournam, Clinical Cancer Research 2004), adaptive signature design (Freidlin and Simon, Clinical Cancer Research 2005), marker by treatment interaction design (Sargent et al., JCO 2005), and biomarker adaptive threshold design (Jiang et al. JNCI 2007), etc. In contrast to the frequentist selection or equal randomization designs, we propose a novel Bayesian adaptive randomization design to allow treating more patients with effective treatments, stopping ineffective treatments early, and increasing efficiency while controlling type I and type II errors. The new design incorporates rational learning from the interim data to guide the study conduct in terms of randomization and early stopping. By comparing with previously published designs, the proposed design can be more efficient and ethical and is also more flexible in the study conduct. The statistical properties for various designs are evaluated via simulation studies. Examples and experiences learned from real studies will be given.
Understanding Intestinal Spore-Forming Protozoa: Cryptosporidia, Microsporidia, Isospora, and Cyclospora

Objectives: To summarize recent information about the “new” gastrointestinal protozoal pathogens (cryptosporidia, microsporidia, isospora, and cyclospora) and to help practicing clinicians integrat...
Proactive Environmental Strategies: An Exploration of the Effects of Cross-Sector Partnerships

This study explores whether firms might improve their performance with respect to the natural environment by collaborating with organizations outside their industry, such as environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs). Such environmental performance may be manifest in two ways. Environmental proactivity indicates an internalized, authentic commitment to protecting the natural environment, whereas environmental legitimacy describes efforts to improve the image or appearance of an organization, in line with stakeholder expectations of environmental performance. The findings indicate that cross-sector partnerships drive environmental proactivity directly, as well as indirectly through environmental legitimacy.