cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sintering behaviors and consolidation mechanism of high-chromium vanadium and titanium magnetite fines

To achieve high efficiency utilization of high-chromium vanadium–titanium magnetite (V–Ti–Cr) fines, an investigation of V–Ti–Cr fines was conducted using a sinter pot. The chemical composition, particle parameters, and granulation of V–Ti–Cr mixtures were analyzed, and the effects of sintering parameters on the sintering behaviors were investigated. The results indicated that the optimum quicklime dosage, mixture moisture, wetting time, and granulation time for V–Ti–Cr fines are 5wt%, 7.5wt%, 10 min, and 5–8 min, respectively. Meanwhile, the vertical sintering speed, yield, tumbler strength, and productivity gains were shown to be 21.28 mm/min, 60.50wt%, 58.26wt%, and 1.36 t·m−2·h−1, respectively. Furthermore, the consolidation mechanism of V–Ti–Cr fines was clarified, revealing that the consolidation of a V–Ti–Cr sinter requires an approximately 14vol% calcium ferrite liquid-state, an approximately 15vol% silicate liquid-state, a solid-state reaction, and the recrystallization of magnetite. Compared to an ordinary sinter, calcium ferrite content in a V–Ti–Cr sinter is lower, while the perovskite content is higher, possibly resulting in unsatisfactory sinter outcomes.
Students' patterns of engagement and course performance in a Massive Open Online Course

A series of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the Curriculum and Instruction (CUIN) Department at a university are collaboratively being designed and developed by a team of doctoral students with mentorship from two CUIN professors. The first two MOOCs, Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling MOOC (DS MOOC) and Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Web 2.0 Tools, have been developed and offered multiple times on the Coursera platform. This paper reports on the relationships between learners' patterns and motives of engagement and their prior subject knowledge with their course performance in the Digital Storytelling MOOC. Results from this study indicate that learners who demonstrated active engagement in the MOOC tended to outperform other learners who did not practice this trait. Learners whose motives for participation involved earning the Continuing Professional Development certificate, gaining skills, ideas and inspirations, and improving their professional practice outperformed the students who valued these traits less. Learners who possessed moderate level of content knowledge seemed to benefit most from the course. This paper contributes insight into aspects of students' behaviors that possibly contributed to their success in a MOOC and invites discussion on how to reinforce these traits. Active groups of learners outperformed in the MOOC compared to the other groups.Learners with moderate prior content knowledge benefitted most from the course.Different motives for participation result in different course performance.
Individuelle Lernberatung als Instrument der Organisationskulturentwicklung – Ein Pilotprojekt zur Internationalisierung der Hochschule

Die Hochschullandschaft in Deutschland steht gegenwartig vor tiefgreifenden Veranderungen. Der Ausbau der Internationalisierung gehort in diesem Zusammenhang zu den Hauptanliegen einer reformorientierten deutschen Hochschulpolitik (vgl. Otten 2006). Der Beitrag beschaftigt sich mit dem Thema Internationalisierung aus organisationspadagogischer Perspektive und geht dabei von der Frage aus, welche organisationalen Lernaufgaben mit einem erfolgreichen Ausbau der Internationalisierung verbunden sind. Internationalisierung wird hier als eine Veranderung der Organisationskultur verstanden, die neben der individuellen auch die Gruppen- und Organisationsebene umfasst. Dies geht auch mit neuen Herausforderungen fur die organisationsinterne Beratung einher. Die folgenden Ausfuhrungen diskutieren diese Problematik am Beispiel eines Pilotprojekts zur Verbesserung der Integration internationaler Studierender an deutschen Hochschulen. Neben dem Training zentraler Schlusselkompetenzen liegt der Schwerpunkt des Projekts auf individueller Lernberatung, die die Studierenden dabei unterstutzt, sich in Bezug auf zentrale hochschulrelevante Aufgabenstellungen selbst realisierbare Lernziele zu setzen.
Stress Wave Propagation in Rock

There are a number of pressing engineering and geophysical problems involving transient finite deformation of rock and rock masses. An interesting and representative example is a borehole drilled into a geological formation which is packed with explosives and detonated in an attempt to rubblize the adjacent medium for the purpose of in situ resource recovery. The explosive energy is coupled into the rock near the borehole perimeter and the initial compressive stresses can be on the order of 5 GPa. The disturbance is propagated away from the borehold as a large-amplitude deformation wave which attenuates with radial distance, eventually reaching a level for which material response is purely elastic. Wave propagation and attenuation to this level is complex and depends on the dynamic material response of the zone affected. Such response can involve compressive shear yielding, phase transitions, and tensile fracture. Strain rates typically range between about 105/s during early time response to about 101/s during late time response.
Option spread trades: Returns on directional and volatility trades

Option spread trades can be set up in a variety of different ways and offer flexibility for an investor to target specific goals in terms of risk-return profile. I study different setups of Bull spread trades with Calls to illustrate which setups are largely directional trades and which setups are largely volatility trades. Analytical derivations reveal that setups involving short positions in out-the-money Calls offer the strongest directional plays, whereas other setups are mostly long or short volatility. An analysis of spread returns using S&P 500 Index options data reveals high average returns, strong negative skewness in short volatility setups, and positive skewness in long volatility setups. Returns are heavily affected by costs of trading, but setups including short positions in out-the-money Calls return strong average returns even after costs. Factor analysis reveals that positive alpha is more readily obtained for trades held until maturity rather than for trades closed out before maturity.
Current office-based hearing screening questions fail to identify adolescents at risk for hearing loss

ObjectiveThere is a rising prevalence of hearing loss among adolescents in the United States. Current paediatric preventive care recommendations by the Bright Futures guidelines and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest that clinicians should ask adolescents ten hearing screening questions to identify those who are at high risk of hearing loss for further objective hearing testing. We assessed the utility of these subjective risk assessment questions to distinguish those adolescents with objectively documented hearing loss.SettingA single public high school in Pennsylvania.MethodsWe compared results from a prospective study evaluating objective hearing assessments with the use of the ten Bright Futures hearing screening questions plus additional adolescent-specific questions to predict adolescent hearing loss.ResultsIn relation to the questions used in this study, adolescents who were referred following objective hearing screens were more likely to report “trouble following the conversation when two ...
Learning Hierarchical Menu Systems: A Comparative Investigation of Analogical and Pictorial Formats:

The studies investigated the relative efficacy of different instructional aids for the learning and use of a hierarchical database system. Previous research has suggested that subjects who study a ...
Advancing Sustainable Income Accounting: An Australian Case Study

This paper is an exploration of the sustainability accounting literature to investigate the variety of accounting measurement instruments/tools/methodologies applied to achieve business sustainability and whether there is a real practical concern and application by companies toward the revenue side of sustainability, as well as, cost side. The research present a classification of different implemented sustainable accounting tools to measure corporate environmental and social costs due to the limitation of tools that implemented to measure corporate environmental and social revenues. Therefore, the paper adopts an Australian textile case study to investigate and analysis reality in practice. The outcome of the case study indicates that the companies may use the implemented sustainable accounting tools which are commonly applied to measure cost side of sustainability to measure, as well, revenue side, although the majority of the business sustainability literature focuses mainly on the cost side and how to measure it.
A Top-k High Utility Itemset Mining Method Based on the Index Utility

The existing methods of Top-k high utility itemset mining substitute the transaction utilities of itemsets for their real utilities in order to keep the downward closure property. This makes the utilities of itemsets be estimated too large,resulting in bad pruning effect and lowmining efficiency. To solve this problem,the concept of the index utility was proposed. On this basis,the two-level index was built and pruned,by which the pruning effect was strengthened and the efficiency of Top-k high utility itemset mining was enhanced. M oreover,the fast calculation of itemset utilities was supported by building the utility matrix. Therefore,the mining efficiency was further enhanced. The experiments on different types of datasets validate the effectiveness and the efficiency of the proposed method.
Rapid cloning, expression, and functional characterization of paired αβ and γδ T-cell receptor chains from single-cell analysis

Transgenic expression of antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) genes is a promising approach for immunotherapy against infectious diseases and cancers. A key to the efficient application of this approach is the rapid and specific isolation and cloning of TCRs. Current methods are often labor-intensive, nonspecific, and/or relatively slow. Here, we describe an efficient system for antigen-specific αβTCR cloning and CDR3 substitution. We demonstrate the capability of cloning influenza-specific TCRs within 10 days using single-cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Gibson Assembly techniques. This process can be accelerated to 5 days by generating receptor libraries, requiring only the exchange of the antigen-specific CDR3 region into an existing backbone. We describe the construction of this library for human γδ TCRs and report the cloning and expression of a TRGV9/TRDV2 receptor that is activated by zoledronic acid. The functional activity of these αβ and γδ TCRs can be characterized in a novel reporter cell line (Nur77-GFP Jurkat 76 TCRα–β–) for screening of TCR specificity and avidity. In summary, we provide a rapid method for the cloning, expression, and functional characterization of human and mouse TCRs that can assist in the development of TCR-mediated therapeutics.
Infections in Prosthetic Devices

Infection in prosthetic devices is a rare but potentially serious complication of prosthesis implant surgery. Infections associated with a variety of permanently implanted devices are reviewed in the context of recent knowledge of the host-prosthesis interaction.
Habeas Procedure and Remedies in Minnesota's Sex Offender Program

This Paper will first summarize Karsjens v. Jesson, providing an overview of the arguments and the district court’s findings of fact. Then, this Paper will detail the arguments on appeal for Karsjens. Next, this Paper will provide a background of MSOP and outline the statutory and regulatory process that underlies the law suit in Karsjens. Fourth, this Paper will explore applicable law on habeas process in civil commitment hearings and the proper relief available under § 1983 actions. Fifth, this Paper will proffer the appropriate resolution to these two issues by analyzing the relevant case law and predicting the actions of the Eighth Circuit on appeal. This paper finds that the district court’s order of release under § 1983 will be affirmed on appeal and that the additional habeas procedures will be similarly upheld. This paper concludes with a few thoughts on what future relief looks like for this class of litigant and what actions can be taken to secure a change in the conditions of confinement for these plaintiffs.
Psychotherapie bei Depression

Als prognostisch 2030 haufigster Erkrankung kommt depressiven Storungen besondere Bedeutung in Pravention und Behandlung zu, vor allem aufgrund der erheblichen Einschrankungen des psychischen und physischen Befindens, sozialer Bindungen sowie Arbeits- und Funktionsfahigkeiten. Psychotherapie ist in der S3-Leitlinie „Unipolare Depression“ fur die akute Behandlung der unipolaren Depression sehr aufgewertet. Bemerkenswert ist, dass bei allen Schweregraden der Depression allgemein Psychotherapie empfohlen wird, als Monotherapie oder in Kombination. Langerfristige Psychotherapien werden in ihrer nachhaltigen Wirkung unterschatzt. Die aktuelle Evidenzlage auf Basis des empirischen Forschungsparadigmas mit Auswirkung auf die klinische Praxis wird reflektiert.
Edge slot waveguide array antenna for an omnidirectional radar system

An edge-slot waveguide array antenna is proposed to serve as the receive antenna in an omnidirectional radar system. The general design process for the antenna is described and the antenna is modeled in Ansoft HFSS and EMSS FEKO. Results from these simulations are compared with prototype measurements to characterize the antenna. The results indicate an S 11 < −10 dB bandwidth of 6.5%, half-power beamwidth of 14° in azimuth and 96° in elevation and a realized gain of 12.65 dBi.
George W. Bush’s Overstretch Abroad

Bush’s Iraq War, as Henriksen describes, is the apogee in America’s cycles of international engagement since the Cold War. Bush defied allies along with others in going to war without UN approval. This war, pretexted on the notion that Iraq possessed chemical and nuclear weapons, sees implementation of a preemptive war strategy to prevent mega-death weapons being used. The Pentagon quickly defeats Hussein’s armies before stumbling into an insurgency and sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shiites. The White House turns to its second rationale for invasion when it finds no weapons of mass destruction. It embraces democracy promotion with a Wilsonian fervor not only in Iraq but also in the Republic of Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan Lebanon while intervening militarily in Liberia and Haiti to save democracy.
Practice Patterns for the Use of Antibiotic Agents in Damage Control Laparotomy and Its Impact on Outcomes.

Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was to identify practice patterns associated with the use of antimicrobial agents with damage control laparotomy (DCL) and the relationship with post-operative intra-abdominal infection (IAI) rates. Patients and Methods: The study was a retrospective review of trauma patients undergoing laparotomy at a Level 1 trauma center in 2010. Patients undergoing DCL versus those primarily closed (PCL) were compared for antimicrobial use (ABX) and its correlation with IAI rates (p < 0.05). Deaths with length of stay <5 days were excluded. Results: A total of 121 patients were identified (28 DCL, 93 PCL). The DCL group was more severely injured (Injury Severity Score [ISS]: 31.4 ± 15 DCL vs. 18 ± 12.7 PCL, p < 0.001) with more small and large bowel injuries (SLBI), although not statistically significant (53.6% DCL vs. 35.5% PCL, p = 0.12). Practice patterns of ABX administration in terms of pre-operative (94.6% PCL vs. 69.2% DCL, p = 0.0012) and post-operative administra...
Evolution of the Immune Response

Publisher Summary The most fascinating and the least explored area in immunophylogeny is in the invertebrate group and in certain primitive chordate subphyla. The induced molecules of invertebrates have generally exhibited less specificity than antibodies of higher vertebrates; however, if the invertebrate evolutionary sequence above is correct, it may offer an explanation. Molecules composed of only aggregated light or heavy chains may lack the architectural complexity of the combining regions of vertebrate antibodies. Inductibility and reactivity evolved before specificity; the first degree of antigenic recognition may have incorporated limited specificity but not of the degree ultimately to be reached in the higher vertebrates. An alternative hypothesis would consider the induced bactericidins of invertebrates as examples of antibiosis. The induced antibiotics could be released from cells in the hemolymph or from tissues by bacterial endotoxins or other cytotoxic agents
Development of internal radiation dosimetry tool using preclinical 124I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) PET/CT

1442 Objectives When combined with 131I-MIBG radionuclide therapy of neuroblastoma, a pretherapy 124I-MIBG PET/CT scans can estimate radiation dose to normal organs and tumors with potential of optimizing the treatment prescription. The aim of this work was to estimate human-equivalent internal radiation dose of 124I-MIBG using preclinical PET/CT imaging. Methods Pharmacokinetics in two mice bearing NB1691 tumors was followed by small animal PET/CT scanner (Inveon, Siemens Healthcare, Malvern, PA) over 93 hours (imaging time points: 2, 4, 24, 48, and 93 h) after intravenous administration of 0.05 mCi 124I-MIBG. Volumes of interest were drawn on the coregistered CT images for thyroid, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and bladder, and transferred to PET images to obtain pharmacokinetic data. Based on tabulated organ mass distributions for both mice and adult male, preclinical pharmacokinetics was extrapolated to its human-equivalent. Dose calculations were performed using using the OLINDA 1.0|EXM (Vanderbilt University). Effective dose was estimated for different age groups using the tissue weighting factors defined in the ICRP Publication 103, a revision to the ICRP Publication 60 which was used in OLINDA 1.0|EXM. Results The effective dose to the adult male was estimated at 1.24 mSv/MBq, and the highest effective dose was in the thyroid (0.55 mSv/MBq). In different age groups, effective dose was estimated: adult female 1.35, 15-year old 2.09, 10-year old 4.56, 5-year old 13.3, 1-year old 53.7, 3-month pregnant female 1.74, 6-month pregnant female 1.67, and 9-month pregnant female 1.64 (mSv/MBq). For comparison, the reported effective dose equivalent of 124I-NaI for adult male (25% thyroid uptake, MIRD Dose Estimate Report No. 5) was 6.5 mSv/MBq. Conclusions We estimated human-equivalent internal radiation dose of 124I-MIBG using preclinical imaging data. As a reference, our effective dose estimation showed that 124I-MIBG would deliver less radiation dose than 124I-NaI, a radiotracer being used in human subjects
Bifaces to the Ends of the Earth

The date of arrival of humans in the Americas is a long-standing puzzle in archaeology. A vein quartz biface from southern New England (South Hadley, Massachusetts) represents the oldest evidence for human occupation in New England, one of the last places in the United States to be colonized by Homo sapiens. The biface, which was resharpened and reused by a member of a subsequent lithic culture, is dated here to approximately 18,000 years ago, which means that pre-Clovis hunters arrived in Massachusetts just as the most recent glacial maximum was melting back to the north.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Mimic of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Pathologic diseases, besides GERD, are becoming more prevalent and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with symptoms of esophageal dysfunction.
Negative reviews: Formation, spread, and halt of opportunistic behavior

Abstract Studies have shown that companies conduct compensation strategies in times of service failure to enhance recovery satisfaction and purchase intention. The role of compensation strategy in individuals’ propensity to leave fake negative reviews, however, has not been well studied. Accordingly, the present conceptual study addresses this gap. First, we present how customers’ deviant behavior is the result of companies’ service recovery strategies (i.e., compensation strategy) themselves. Next, we present how deviant behavior spreads out in a network and then comes to a halt. The paper concludes with a presentation of the conceptual model of the manifestation of individuals’ online deviant behavior. The research is important from both theoretical and managerial perspectives. From a theoretical outlook, this study adds to the literature on the dark side of guest services by investigating deviant behavior of customers and their strong ties. The research provides practitioners with a new perspective on how their service recovery strategy of compensation can lead to individuals displaying online deviant behavior and how they should address the issue.
Surface Electronic States

To characterize a surface completely, one needs to know the position and motion of atoms and electrons. In this chapter, we focus on the electronic part and assume that the atomic structure and atomic motion (e.g., surface vibrations) have been determined already by using techniques as described in several other parts of this series. To characterize an electron in a crystalline solid, it is sufficient to know its quantum numbers, i.e., energy, momentum, spin, and angular (point group) symmetry. For disordered solids, some of these quantum numbers become meaningless and it is useful to think in terms of a molecular picture where only the immediate neighborhood of an atom is considered, which exhibits short-range order. In this case, the characteristic quantities are energy levels, the coordination number, the oxidation state, etc.
Gastric Lipolysis and Fatty Acid Utilization in Preterm Infants

Development of the newborn infant is greatly dependent upon the capability to utilize dietary fat. In human milk and infant formulas, fats provide 50% of the calories. Fat utilization is dependent upon 1) digestion of the dietary lipids by lipases present in the gastrointestinal tract, and 2) absorption of the hydrolyzed lipid products facilitated by bile salts (1). In the newborn, and especially in the premature infant, because of insufficient maturation, pancreatic lipase activity and bile salt levels are low (2). Consequently intragastric lipolysis by lingual and gastric (3) lipases may play an important role in fat digestion. This is especially critical for the premature or low-birth-weight infant.
Guar, Locust Bean, Tara, and Cassia Gums

Abstract This chapter describes sources, natures, properties, structures, and applications of guar, locust bean, tara, and cassia gums, including molecular explanations for the differences in properties and their synergistic interactions with other hydrocolloids.
Implementation of UAV-Based Lidar for High Throughput Phenotyping

High throughput phenotyping is rapidly gaining widespread popularity due to its ability to non-destructively extract plant traits, such as plant height, canopy density, leaf and plant structure, and so on. In this study, we focus on developing a UAV-based LiDAR system to acquire accurate time-series 3D point clouds for monitoring two specific plant traits - plant height and canopy cover - which are integral for enhancing crop genetic improvement to meet the needs of future generations. Furthermore, the obtained estimates are validated by comparing the results with those obtained from wheel-based LiDAR data.
Group Work: Processes and Applications

SECTION I: Foundations of Group Work Chapter 1: The Value of Group Work: Functional Group Models and Historical Perspectives by Julia A Southern, Bradley T. Erford, Ann Vernon, and Darcie Davis-Gage Chapter 2: Ethical and Legal Foundations of Group Work by Lynn E. Linde, Bradley T. Erford, Danica G. Hays, and F. Robert Wilson Chapter 3: Multicultural Issues in Group Work by Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy and Cheryl Moore-Thomas Chapter 4: Distinguishing Group Member Roles by George Leddick Chapter 5: Leading Groups by Amy Milsom SECTION II: Systemic Group Work: Planning and Process Chapter 6: Planning for Group Work by F. Robert Wilson Chapter 7: Forming and Orienting Groups by Nathaniel Ivers and Debbie W. Newsome Chapter 8: The Transition Stage in Group Work by D. Paige Bentley Greason Chapter 9: The Working Stage by Kevin A. Fall, H. George McMahon, and Danica G. Hays Chapter 10: Termination by Danica G. Hays, Tammi F. Milliken, and Catherine Y. Chang SECTION III: Group Work in Action: Models and Theoretical Approaches Chapter 11: Leading Task Groups by Janice L. DeLucia-Waack and Amy Nitza Chapter 12: Leading Psychoeducational Groups by Sam Steen, Julia Bryan, and Norma Day-Vines Chapter 13: Person-Centered and Existential Approaches to Group Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory, Techniques, and Applications by Laura R. Simpson and Joel F. Diambra Chapter 14: Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy Approaches to Group Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory, Techniques, and Applications by Ann Vernon Chapter 15: Reality Therapy and Behavior Therapy Approaches to Group Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory, Techniques, and Applications by Ann Vernon Chapter 16: Adlerian and Transactional Analysis Approaches to Group Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory, Techniques, and Applications by Laura R. Simpson, Ann Vernon, and Bradley T. Erford Chapter 17: Gestalt and Psychodrama Approaches to Group Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory, Techniques, and Applications by Darcie Davis-Gage Chapter 18: Other Approaches to Group Counseling and Psychotherapy: Family-Couples, T-groups, and Self-help Groups by Darcie Davis-Gage and Ann Vernon SECTION IV: Special Issues in Group Work Chapter 19: Special Issues in Group Work With Children and Adolescents by Susan H. Eaves and Carl J. Sheperis Chapter 20: Group Work With Adult Populations by Susan H. Eaves and Carl J. Sheperis Chapter 21: Accountability in Group Work by Bradley T. Erford Chapter 22: Outcome Research in Group Work by Bradley T. Erford
Change in Marrow and Spleen CFU Compartments Following Leukemia Virus Infection: Comparison of Friend and Rauscher Virus

The effects of the Friend and Rauscher leukemia viruses on the marrow and spleen colony-forming unit compartments have been studied. It was found that the two viruses produced qualitatively similar but quantitatively different effects relative to each other. Comparison of the effects of the individual virus on spleen with those on the marrow also showed striking differences. In the spleen by 14 days after infection with either virus the CFU compartment was grossly enlarged. In the marrow of the Friend-infected mouse the CFU number was not significantly different from normal, and in the Rauscher-infected mouse there was a 50% drop in marrow CFU. Measurement of the F factor showed that infection by either virus resulted in colony-forming units that were deficient as compared to the normal in their ability to successfully ''seed'' in the spleens of irradiated normal recipients, with the greater depression in F factor being found in cells obtained from spleen tissue. These results indicate that in both cases the nature of the host tissue (marrow versus spleen) exerts a significant modifying effect on the expression of the virus action, and also suggest that the pluripotent colony-forming unit may be a target cell for these viruses.
Treatment of hematological malignancies with T cell redirected bispecific antibodies: current status and future needs.

Introduction: Enthusiasm for developing therapeutic bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) for cancer applications has become intense in the past decade facilitated by advances in molecular biology, hybrido...
Management trends and outcomes of breast angiosarcoma: Is breast conservation feasible?

We queried the National Cancer Database for nonmetastatic breast angiosarcoma, yielding 808 patients (202 de novo, 606 secondary). The median survival was 53.7 months. Secondary tumors were more likely to undergo mastectomy than de novo lesions (OR = 3.99, P 5 cm, and high-grade disease (P < 0.05). While breast angiosarcoma is usually treated with mastectomy, lumpectomy may be feasible for well-selected tumors.
Variables that Influence Basic Prosthetic Mobility in People With Non-Vascular Lower Limb Amputation.

Background There exists a dearth of evidence on rehabilitation factors that influence prosthetic mobility in people with lower limb amputation (LLA). Examining variables that contribute to prosthetic mobility can inform rehabilitation interventions, providing guidance in developing more comprehensive care for these individuals. Objective To determine the influence of modifiable and non-modifiable variables related to LLA and their impact on prosthetic mobility, using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. Secondarily, to determine if personal factors and self-reported balance and mobility are predictive of Component timed-up-and-go (cTUG) performance. Design Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample. Setting National conference. Participants People (N=68) with non-vascular causes of unilateral LLA. Methods Assessment of anthropometrics, mobility, bilateral hip extensor strength, hip range of motion, single limb balance, and self report measures. Lasso linear regression and extreme gradient boosting analyses were used to determine influence of variables on prosthetic mobility. Main outcome measure Timed performance of the cTUG. Results The following five variables were found to influence basic prosthetic mobility (P ≤ .05) in people with transtibial amputation: hip extensor strength, hip range of motion, single limb balance, waist circumference, and age. In the transfemoral cohort, number of comorbidities and waist circumference primarily influenced prosthetic mobility. Additionally, 66% of the variance in cTUG total time for the entire sample could be explained by simply regressing on level of amputation, number of comorbidities, age and Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale score, all variables easily collected in a waiting room. Conclusion Variables that are modifiable with physical therapy intervention including hip extensor strength, hip range of motion, single limb balance, and waist circumference significantly influenced basic prosthetic mobility. These variables can be affected by targeted rehabilitation interventions and lifestyle changes. Level of evidence II.
Credentialing in Pharmacy Practice: Examining Pharmacist Views and Perceptions.

Introduction: Pharmacy practice has evolved to include direct patient care and interprofessional team models. Proper documentation of training and certification is required to verify eligibility for providing specialized services and for reimbursement. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess pharmacists’ views and perceptions on credentialing with respect to (1) familiarity and perceived importance of credentialing; (2) satisfaction with current credentialing tracking systems; and (3) challenges in adopting a centralized credentialing platform. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional, survey design to examine pharmacist perceptions of credentialing. The survey, distributed by the American Pharmacists Association from November 18, 2017 to December 2, 2017, consisted of 11 demographic items and 22 items about familiarity, importance, satisfaction and current systems of credentialing in pharmacy practice. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and outcome variables. Content analysis was conducted on freeform responses. Results: Data were analyzed from 446 (7.3%) completed surveys of the 6,144 distributed. Respondents were primarily represented by pharmacists from chain stores (29.6%), outpatient clinics (16.6%), and academic settings (15.2%). Job titles included staff pharmacist (33.9%), clinical pharmacist (21.3%), and manager positions (18.3%). Nine of 10 pharmacists reported familiarity with credentialing and considered credentialing as important to the pharmacy profession. Majority agreed with the importance of having a centralized online platform to store credentialing information (96.1%) and to obtain reimbursement (97.1%). Poor integration of data among different platforms (16%) was a common reason for dissatisfaction with current tracking systems. Most respondents (96.5%) were willing to provide information necessary for credentialing; however, over half were concerned about security of the information. Conclusions: This study was among the first to examine pharmacist perceptions of credentialing. Pharmacists in this study were familiar with and responsive to participating in credentialing process. They were also supportive of having a centralized credentialing system, but held reservations about security of information. Article Type: Original Research
Conservation Hospice: A Better Metaphor for the Conservation and Care of Terminal Species

The extinction crisis creates a need to increase conservation funding, and use it more efficiently. Most conservation resources are allocated through inefficient political processes, that seem ill-equipped for dealing with the crisis. In response, conservation triage emerged as a metaphor for thinking about the optimization of resource allocation. Since triage operates primarily as a metaphor, not means for allocating resources, its metaphorical implications are of particular importance. Of particular concern, the triage metaphor justifies abandoning some species, while acquiescing to inadequate conservation funding. We argue conservation hospice provides an alternative medical metaphor for thinking about the extinction crisis. Hospice is based on the underlying principle of caring for all [species], and places particular emphasis on expected survival time, symptom burden and relief, treatments, ability to ‘stay at home’ (i.e., in-situ conservation), and maintaining support for related species and landscapes. Ultimately, application of hospice principles may be ethically obligated for a society that accepts the idea that least some organisms are intrinsically valuable and may help place emphasis on resource allocation issues without providing implicit justification for abandoning species to extinction.
Laws of nature that define biological action and perception

We describe a physical approach to biological functions, with the emphasis on the motor and sensory functions. The approach assumes the existence of biology-specific laws of nature uniting salient physical variables and parameters. In contrast to movements in inanimate nature, actions are produced by changes in parameters of the corresponding laws of nature. For movements, parameters are associated with spatial referent coordinates (RCs) for the effectors. Stability of motor actions is ensured by the abundant mapping of RCs across hierarchical control levels. The sensory function is viewed as based on an interaction of efferent and afferent signals leading to an iso-perceptual manifold where percepts of salient sensory variables are stable. This approach offers novel interpretations for a variety of known neurophysiological and behavioral phenomena and makes a number of novel testable predictions. In particular, we discuss novel interpretations for the well-known phenomena of agonist-antagonist co-activation and vibration-induced illusions of both position and force. We also interpret results of several new experiments with unintentional force changes and with analysis of accuracy of perception of variables produced by elements of multi-element systems. Recently, this approach has been expanded to interpret motor disorders including spasticity and consequences of subcortical disorders (such as Parkinson's disease). We suggest that the approach can be developed for cognitive functions.
Four-dimensional impedance manometry derived from esophageal high-resolution impedance-manometry studies: a novel analysis paradigm.

Background:This study aimed to introduce a novel analysis paradigm, referred to as 4-dimensional (4D) manometry based on biophysical analysis; 4D manometry enables the visualization of luminal geom...
Monitoring GPS Eirp for Cygnss Level 1 Calibration

The effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the Global Positioning System (GPS) determines the power incident on the Earth surface. It is critical to the CYGNSS mission's Level 1 calibration of normalized bistatic radar cross section (NBRCS). This paper reports a dynamic EIRP calibration algorithm that uses the CYGNSS direct signal to correct the GPS EIRP in the direction to the specular reflection point. This approach can instantaneously detect any transmit power fluctuation in all GPS transmitters and any change of the receiver system gain, and then automatically applied to correct the science measurement. It also helps mitigate the error caused by the azimuthal asymmetry of the GPS antenna gain pattern without knowing the exact yaw attitude of the GPS satellite. The dynamic EIRP calibration algorithm brings back flagged observations from the Block IIF (~37% of the entire dataset) to the CYGNSS standard science data products. It will also help improve the accuracy of Level 2 wind speed retrieval.
Correction: Plateau-Rayleigh instability in a soft viscoelastic material.

Correction for ‘Plateau–Rayleigh instability in a soft viscoelastic material’ by S. I. Tamim et al., Soft Matter, 2021, DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00019e.
Designing Electronic Circuits Labs to Promote Community Engagement

As technology continues to evolve and open new areas of research and academic disciplines, one must take into account the impact on society as a whole. In exploring ideas for the community engagement projects, and driven by the ideas of encouraging deeper reflection, understanding of the injustices and disparities of the world outside, and striving for the common good, we proposed incorporating a project specifically tailored to promoting those values. We thought that the laboratory experiments in PHYS 243 (Electronic Circuit Analysis Laboratory) and the required final project for the lecture part (PHYS 242) offered splendid opportunities in engaging students to grow their spirit of solidarity, compassion and service, and that they can demonstrate this by implementing projects dedicated to help those in need in the local community.
Classical and Neural Network Machine Learning to Determine the Risk of Marijuana Use

Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug for military personnel tested at the Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory. A publicly available dataset of drug use, personality trait scores and demographic data was modeled with logistic regression, decision tree and neural network models to determine the extent to which marijuana use can be predicted using personality traits. While the logistic regression model had lower performance than the neural network model, it matched the sensitivity of prior work (0.80), achieved a high level of significance (p < 0.05) and yielded valuable inferences. It implied that younger, less educated individuals who exhibit sensation-seeking behavior and are open to experience tend to be at higher risk for THC use. A method for performing an iterative multidimensional neural network hyperparameter search is presented, and two iterations of a 6-dimensional search were performed. Metrics were used to select a family of 8 promising models from a cohort of 4600 models, and the best NN model's 0.87 sensitivity improved upon the literature. The model met an f1 overfitting threshold on the test and holdout datasets, and an accuracy sensitivity analysis on a holdout-equivalent dataset yielded a 95% CI of 0.86 ± 0.04. These results have the potential to increase the efficacy of drug prevention and intervention programs.
Update on Trichomoniasis

In recent years diagnostic surveillance for bovine trichomoniasis has increased since most states require testing prior to interstate movement of non-virgin bulls. However, bovine trichomoniasis continues to be an economically significant disease, particularly in beef cattle, in much of the United States. The disease produces no clinical signs in bulls but can have devastating reproductive consequences on females resulting in reduced calf crops and extended calving seasons. The organism is efficiently transmitted via the venereal route. Although prevalence may be highest in older bulls it has been documented to occur in non-virgin bulls of any age. Bulls are believed to be persistently infected but females develop short lived immunity and naturally clear the infection within 3-22 months. Diagnosis is made by culture in selective media and/or by PCR identification of the organism in smegma samples collected by preputial scraping. Samples of reproductive or fetal fluids obtained from females can also be tested. Readers should consult their state veterinary diagnostic labs for instructions on sample preparation and shipment. Control of trichomoniasis is primarily through testing and culling of positive bulls. There are no approved, effective treatments available. However, vaccination of females will, in most cases, improve reproductive indices in infected herds.
Dual SMN inducing therapies can rescue survival and motor unit function in symptomatic ∆7SMA mice.

Abstract Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by survival motor neuron (SMN) protein deficiency which results in motor neuron loss and muscle atrophy. SMA is caused by a mutation or deletion of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene and retention of the nearly identical SMN2 gene. SMN2 contains a C to T change in exon 7 that results in exon 7 exclusion from 90% of transcripts. SMN protein lacking exon 7 is unstable and rapidly degraded. The remaining full-length transcripts from SMN2 are insufficient for normal motor neuron function leading to the development of SMA. Three different therapeutic approaches that increase full-length SMN (FL-SMN) protein production are approved for treatment of SMA patients. Studies in both animal models and humans have demonstrated increasing SMN levels prior to onset of symptoms provides the greatest therapeutic benefit. Treatment of SMA, after some motor neuron loss has occurred, is also effective but to a lesser degree. The SMN∆7 mouse model is a well characterized model of severe or type 1 SMA, dying at 14 days of age. Here we treated three groups of ∆7SMA mice starting before, roughly during, and after symptom onset to determine if combining two mechanistically distinct SMN inducing therapies could improve the therapeutic outcome both before and after motor neuron loss. We found, compared with individual therapies, that morpholino antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) directed against ISS-N1 combined with the small molecule compound RG7800 significantly increased FL-SMN transcript and protein production resulting in improved survival and weight of ∆7SMA mice. Moreover, when give late symptomatically, motor unit function was completely rescued with no loss in function at 100 days of age in the dual treatment group. We have therefore shown that this dual therapeutic approach successfully increases SMN protein and rescues motor function in symptomatic ∆7SMA mice.
Gene expression comparison between primary estrogen receptor-positive and triple-negative breast cancer with paired axillary lymph node metastasis

The aim of this study is to characterize and compare changes in gene expression patterns of paired axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases from estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and triple-negative (TNBC) primary breast cancer (PBC). Patients with stage 2-3 PBC with macrometastasis to an ALN were selected. Gene expression of 2567 cancer-associated genes was analyzed with the HTG EdgeSeq system coupled with the Illumina Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform. Changes in gene expression between ER/PR-positive, HER2-negative PBC, and their paired ALN metastases were compared with TNBC and their paired ALN metastases. Fourteen pairs of ER-positive and paired ALN metastasis were analyzed. Compared with the PBC, ALN metastasis had 673 significant differentially expressed genes, including 348 upregulated genes and 325 downregulated genes. Seventeen pairs of TNBC and paired ALN metastasis were analyzed. ALN metastasis had 257 significant differentially expressed genes, including 123 upregulated genes and 134 downregulated genes. When gene expression of the ALN for ER-positive PBC was compared to that of TNBC, 97 genes were upregulated in both, and 115 genes were similarly downregulated. Common upregulated genes were associated with cell death, necrosis, and homeostasis. Common downregulated genes were those of migration, degradation of extracellular matrix, and invasion. Although ER-positive PBC and TNBC have a distinct gene expression profiles and distinct changes from PBC to ALN metastases, a significant number of genes are similarly up- or downregulated. Understanding the role of these common genomic changes may provide clues to understanding the metastatic process itself.
Capacitor-Less Memristive Integrate-and-Fire Neuron with Stochastic Behavior

Stochasticity in networks of artificial spiking neurons has been theorized to unlock some of the adaptive learning capabilities of biology. To realize this behavior, systems must be designed to operate probabilistically, looking for patterns in a distribution rather than performing a deterministic mathematical function. In order to design these systems efficiently, stochasticity must be natively built into the system at its most fundamental level. Here, we propose an area-efficient non-leaky integrate-and-fire neuron which models membrane potential accumulation with a memristive device instead of a capacitor. The probabilistic behavior of the memristor ultimately generates stochastic firing patterns in the neuron output.
Human and Primate Subtelomeres

Subtelomeres are an unusual part of primate genomes, enriched in genes, repetitive DNA, structural polymorphisms, and chromosome rearrangements. As with subtelomeres of other orders, such genomic variation in primates can lead to genetic diversity, the birth of new genes, and an explosion of gene families. However, rearrangements in human subtelomeres can also alter developmentally critical genes, causing intellectual disability and birth defects.
Super Resolution Fluorescence Localization Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy is a popular tool for imaging biological samples. The resolution of a microscope has been, until recently, limited by the diffraction limit of light, typically to ~250 nm in fluorescence microscopy. Localization-based super resolution microscopy has improved the final image resolution by roughly a factor of 10 and, in some cases, more. Here, we provide an overview of localization-based super resolution techniques and modifications for multicolor, three dimensional, and anisotropic imaging.