cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“OUR HOPE COMES FROM GOD”: FAITH NARRATIVES AND RESILIENCE IN SOUTHERN SUDAN

The world is not the same place anymore! This has become a popular refrain in the past decade. Indeed, it seems true. We have been increasingly confronted with stunning violence, tragedy, and despair, the magnitude of which is usually designated to places far away from our daily lives. We can argue about whether the world has really changed or merely our perception of it. Regardless of the answer, it has become clear that building strategies for helping our communities, particularly communities of faith, cope when tragedy befalls them is an important task of the church. To this end, I have turned to what, at first glance, may seem an unlikely source for a case study, that is, a group of refugees from the Abang community of the Dinka tribe in southern Sudan. True, the sociocultural differences between this African community and our own are immense. Life in a refugee camp or after repatriation to Sudan seems to have little in common with life in the United States or its own challenges. But after more than twenty years of enduring civil war, they do know a great deal about surviving incomprehensible violence, astounding loss, and the process of trying to make sense out of the senseless. They know about being a Christian community of faithful people who must live out a life of prayer and hope when all seems lost. It is from these people and for these reasons that I believe we can learn something about how to cope as a community of faith in very difficult times.
Surface Snow, Firn and Ice Core Composition in Polar Areas in Relation to Atmospheric Aerosol and Gas Concentrations: Critical Aspects

The paper addresses some of the problems surrounding the relation between ice core chemical signals and atmospheric chemical composition in polar areas. The topic is important as the reconstruction of past climate and past atmospheric chemical composition is based on the assumption that chemical concentrations in the air, snow, firn and ice core are correlated. Ice core interpretation of aerosol is more straightforward than that of reactive gases. The transfer functions of gaseous species strongly interacting with ice are complex and additional field and laboratory experiments are required. Ice core chemical signals depend on the chemical composition of precipitations, which are related to the physics of precipitation formation, the chemical composition of the atmosphere, and post-depositional processes. Published papers reporting data on the chemical composition of snow seldom consider the fact that crystal formation and growth in cloud (rimed or unrimed) or near the ground (clear-sky precipitations), hoar-frost formation and surface riming determine different chemical concentrations, even assuming constant background concentration in the atmosphere. This paper discusses the physical and chemical processes affecting the formation of precipitations in polar areas, and the process of scavenging gases from non-growing and growing crystals. Attention is mainly focused on the processes involving nitrate anion in snow, hoar frost and firn. Knowledge of the chemical relationship between surface snow and atmospheric chemical concentration could be enhanced by considering specific events, such as snow falling from cloud, clear sky precipitation, and surface hoar or riming surface, with simultaneous air sampling. In conclusion, field and laboratory experiments are still required to study the scavenging processes during crystal formation.
Moralizing upward mobility: Investigating the myth of class mobility in working girl

Despite the booming U.S. economy, the economic lives of many Americans are not improving. Living the myth of the American Dream often requires individuals to negotiate their inability to transcend socioeconomic class. This study examines filmic narratives of upward mobility as one resource that people use to help them understand their socioeconomic situation. Using Working Girl as an exemplar, this study finds that upward mobility films prescribe a purification of motives for those attempting class transformation while denying the need for social action. Therefore, they separate a person's moral and characterological substance from the social transformation of class and bolster the idea that personal transformation is not hampered by class structures. This essay finds that narrative film has the potential to offer guidelines for negotiating the ideological gap in the myths of the American Dream and to recode social problems as individual problems with individual solutions.
Chitosan films with improved tensile strength and toughness from N-acetyl-cysteine mediated disulfide bonds

To improve the mechanical properties of chitosan (Ct) materials without the use of cytotoxic crosslinkers, disulfide cross-linkable Ct was synthesized by grafting N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) to Ct using carbodiimide chemistry. Cast films of NAC-Ct conjugates were prepared with degrees of substitution (DS) of 0%, 6%, 15%, and 20%, and the disulfide bond formation was induced by increasing the reaction media pH to 11. The tensile strength, breaking strain, elastic moduli and toughness of disulfide cross-linked polymers were analyzed by monotonic tensile testing of hydrated NAC-Ct films. Crystallinity was determined via XRD. Results demonstrated that NAC incorporation and crosslinking in chitosan produced tougher polymer films with 4-fold higher tensile strength (10 MPa) and 6-fold greater elongation (365%), but reduced crystallinity, compared to unmodified chitosan. The resilience of NAC-Ct films was evaluated by cyclic testing, and results demonstrate that increasing NAC content produced a more resilient material that dissipated less energy when deformed. These improved mechanical properties broaden chitosan's applicability towards the construction of mechanically robust implantable scaffolds for tissue regeneration.
Cardiobacterium hominis endocarditis. Characterization of the unusual organisms and review of the literature.

A case of subacute bacterial endocarditis in which Cardiobacterium hominis was isolated from the blood of a 55-year-old woman who had rheumatic heart disease is reported. A survey of the literature revealed very few reports in which this organism has been implicated in human lesions. The colonies grew after 48 hours of incubation in a candle jar. They were small, convex, nonhemolytic, and oxidase-positive. The indole reaction was positive, the catalase and nitrate reactions were negative, and acid reaction was obtained from the following carbohydrates: glucose, maltose, mannitol, sucrose, and sorbitol. The morphologic and biochemical properties served to distinguish these organisms from similar bacteria implicated in human disease, such as Haemophilus aphrophilus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Streptobacillus moniliformis , and HB-1.
Production of benzene, toluene, and xylenes from natural gas via methanol: Process synthesis and global optimization

A systematic global optimization-based process synthesis framework is presented to determine the most profitable processes to produce aromatics from natural gas. Several novel, commercial, and/or competing technologies are modeled within the framework, including methanol-to-aromatics, toluene alkylation with methanol, selective toluene disproportionation, and toluene disproportionation and transalkylation with heavy aromatics, among others. We propose a stand-alone chemicals facility: the main products are aromatics with allowable by-products of gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, and electricity. Several case studies are discussed that produce varying ratios of para-, ortho-, and meta-xylene across multiple refinery capacities. The results indicate that utilizing natural gas for the production of aromatics is profitable with net present values as high as $3800 MM dollars and payback periods as low as 6 years. The required investment for these refineries represents as much as a 65% decrease compared to published estimates of similar coal-based capacity plants. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 1531–1556, 2016
Challenging issues in Bayesian calibration of multi-physics models

This paper investigates several challenging aspects of Bayesian calibration for multiphysics models, including: (1) calibration with different forms of experimental data (e.g., interval data and time series data), (2) determination of the identifiability of model parameters when the analytical expression of model is known or unknown, (3) calibration of multiple physics models sharing common parameters, and (4) efficient use of available data in a multi-model calibration problem especially when the experimental resources are limited. A Bayesian network-based method is developed for the calibration of multi-physics models, integrating various sources of uncertainty with information from computational models and experimental data. We adopt the well-known Kennedy and O’Hagan (KOH) framework for model calibration under uncertainty, and develop extensions to multi-physics models and various scenarios of available data. Both aleatoric uncertainty (due to natural variability) and epistemic uncertainty (due to lack of information, including data uncertainty and model uncertainty) are accounted for in the calibration process.A first-order Taylor series expansion-based method is proposed to determine which model parameters are identifiable, i.e., to find the parameters that can be calibrated with the available data. Following the KOH framework, a probabilistic discrepancy term is estimated and added to the prediction of the calibrated model, attempting to account for model uncertainty. This discrepancy term is modeled as a Gaussian process when sufficient data are available for multiple model input combinations, and is modeled as a random variable when the available data set is small and limited. The overall approach is illustrated using two application examples related to microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices: (1) calibration of a dielectric charging model with time-series data, and (2) calibration of two physics models (pull-in voltage and creep) using measurements of different physical quantities in different devices.
Strategies for non‐invasive imaging of polymeric biomaterial in vascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine using ultrasound and photoacoustic techniques

The ability of new polymeric materials to provide excellent biomechanical properties expanded their potential for biomedical applications enormously. The use of non-invasive imaging modalities could provide crucial information to monitor the efficacy/effectiveness/efficiency of the new materials employed in ‘regenerative’ approaches, including scaffolds, hydrogels, self-assembling materials and nanosized structures. The assessment of the morpho-functional and metabolic changes of treated or implanted tissues, the visualization of sites of drug delivery and the real-time check of the in vivo efficacy of therapeutics could be achieved by non-invasive micro- and macro-imaging techniques. The macro- and nano-requirements of these new materials and their behaviour in vivo can be investigated using standard approaches such as computed tomography, MRI and ultrasound techniques and the emerging photoacoustic imaging. This paper presents recent advancements of ultrasonography and the novel photoacoustic technique to monitor the morpho-functional parameters of synthetic polymeric scaffolds and conduits in experimental models. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Distribution and Establishment of Tetrastichus incertus in the Eastern United States

Tetrastichus incertus (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a larval parasite of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), has become established in 10 middle Atalntic and New England States since its initial release in New Jersey in 1960 and its subsequent release in 14 other States. The release sites and the dispersal and distribution in the Eastern United States are reported for the period from 1960 to June 1968.
SEP stage for earth orbital missions

Application of the SEP Stage (SEPS) for earth orbital missions in the Shuttle era has been investigated for the first time. In particular, the geosynchronous payload delivery/retrieval mission was evaluated using SEPS as the upper stage of the Shuttle/Tug system. Results show that SEPS can significantly increase the payload capability of the Shuttle/Tug, especially for the low-technology Tug. The missions can be accomplished using a modified planetary SEPS concept. Use of SEPS can significantly reduce the Shuttle/Tug launches to accomplish projected geosynchronous traffic requirements.
Deformation and Failure of Nanostructured Materials with Bimodal Grains

The low ductility of nanostructured materials is attributed to the deficit of dislocation activity in the nanometer range. Recent scientific interest in nanostructured materials stems from reports of alterative combinations of mechanical properties, although a low ductility is typically reported. One promising approach based on the concept of multiple length scales is illustrated by a “bimodal” microstructure, i.e. containing a mixture of nanostructured and coarse grains. The present work reports a numerical study of the tensile deformation and fracture of a nanostructured Al alloy with a bimodal microstructure. In the theoretical framework used in the present study, the elastic-plastic behavior and deformation processes are approximated by Ramberg-Osgood formula and finite element method, respectively. The numerical results are found to be in a good agreement with the experimental behavior.
Effect of Early Ambulation on Hospital Length of Stay Following Bariatric Surgery

were no significant differences between active and sedentary (BMI in kg / m2 1⁄4 43.5 5.4 vs 42.5 5.2, respectively), demonstrating that individuals who underwent activities for more than 30 minutes 5 times a week showed no significant difference in body weight and BMI compared to sedentary. Conclusion: The results showed that even patients considered active do not showed significant differences in BMI compared to sedentary, proving the inefficiency of the current practices of physical activity for weight loss. Thus, it is essential to review the current concepts regarding prescription of continuous long-term aerobic exercise aimed at weight loss in obese individuals, especially those undergoing bariatric surgery.
Identification of vagal preganglionics that mediate cephalic phase insulin response

To define the vagal circuitry mediating the cephalic phase insulin response (CPIR), this reflex was measured in conscious, freely moving rats that had previously undergone selective abdominal vagotomies that spared different columnar subpopulations of dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (dmnX) neurons. The CPIR was defined as an increase of plasma insulin from basal at 2 min after the start of ingestion. The CPIR measured in peripheral blood after chow ingestion was reliable and significant (P less than 0.05) in rats with all branches intact, +24.9 +/- 5.1 microU/ml (+130% increase from basal); rats with only the two gastric branches and the hepatic branch intact, +27.0 +/- 3.5 microU/ml (+153%); and rats with only the hepatic branch intact, +13.5 +/- 4.8 microU/ml (+188%). No significant response occurred in animals with only the two celiac branches intact, +1.8 +/- 1.8 microU/ml (+15%) or in those with none of the branches intact, +3.9 +/- 3.3 microU/ml (+21%). The CPIRs measured in portal vein blood were generally larger but showed the same pattern across groups. Plasma glucose measurements of portal vein blood indicated that with chow ingestion no significant absorption had occurred by 2 min, whereas with either milk or glucose intake absorption did occur. Subsequent bilateral electrical cervical vagal stimulation-induced insulin and glucagon responses in the same animals under anesthesia showed the same branch dependency. It is concluded that the CPIR is mediated by the two gastric and the hepatic branches but not the two celiac vagal branches. The perikarya of the preganglionics innervating the pancreatic B-cells are contained within a large pool occupying the two medial columns of the dmnX.
Quantitative Analysis of 2,3,5,4 '-tetetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside from Shouwu Capsule by HPLC

Objective:To establish an optimal HPLC method to determine the content s of 2,3,5,4 '- tetetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside from Shouwu Capsule. Method: Column: Diamonsil C18(4.6mm×200mm),mobile phase : acetonitrile - water (25:75) ,column temperature: 30 ℃ ,flow rate : 1. 0 mL·min-1,wavelength : 320nm. Results : Paeoniflorin was over the range of 0.02104~0.526μg. The corresponding mean recovery rate was 98.45% with RSD 1.23% (n = 5) accordingly. accordingly.Conclusion: The HPLC method established was simple, feasible,accurate, highly sensitive and reliable ,which can beused to control the quality of 2,3,5,4 '- tetetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside.
Seapower and Global Politics

The purpose of this book is twofold: (i) to bring together, under one cover, the basic data on the strength of the world’s major navies between 1494 and 1993, and (ii) to shed light upon the exercise of leadership in global politics in the same time-span.
New Mechanistic Insights on Na-Ion Storage in Nongraphitizable Carbon.

Nongraphitizable carbon, also known as hard carbon, is considered one of the most promising anodes for the emerging Na-ion batteries. The current mechanistic understanding of Na-ion storage in hard carbon is based on the “card-house” model first raised in the early 2000s. This model describes that Na-ion insertion occurs first through intercalation between graphene sheets in turbostratic nanodomains, followed by Na filling of the pores in the carbon structure. We tried to test this model by tuning the sizes of turbostratic nanodomains but revealed a correlation between the structural defects and Na-ion storage. Based on our experimental data, we propose an alternative perspective for sodiation of hard carbon that consists of Na-ion storage at defect sites, by intercalation and last via pore-filling.
Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

Perhaps the most significant improvement of the WTO over the GATT 1947 is its dispute settlement understanding (DSU). The GATT clauses for trade disputes settlement were too vague and too brief: contained in three precious paragraphs. The DSU, spelled out in 40 pages, incorporates several new dimensions such as the role of rules that cannot be vetoed by a single member country, clear schedules and time-bound actions in processing disputes and their effective compliance, recognition of the role of customary international public law and provision of measures to compensate members for adverse impacts of any trade policy violation by one or more measures. The DSU was expected to contribute toward security and predictability to the multilateral trading systems.
Empirical Knowledge: Kantian Themes and Sellarsian Variations

Etude du statut de la realite et de la sphere conceptuelle dans les theories de la connaissance de Kant et W. Sellars. Examinant la definition de la connaissance empirique comme connaissance de l'apparence chez l'un, et la definition d'une contrainte rationnelle chez l'autre, l'A. montre que la confrontation dialectique des deux positions met en evidence leurs defauts respectifs concernant la distinction entre spontaneite et receptivite, entre concept et objet.
Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Sarcopenia and Acetabular Fractures.

Background: Sarcopenia is a condition of clinically relevant loss of muscle mass and function. Acetabular fractures in elderly patients are common and difficult to treat. This study aimed to determine if sarcopenia is common in elderly patients with acetabular fractures and correlates with lower-energy mechanisms of injury, higher rates of complications, and higher mortality than patients with normal muscle mass. Methods: The Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Database was queried for patients who were ≥60 years of age from 2005 to 2014 using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code for closed acetabular fracture, 808.0. Charts were retrospectively reviewed for demographic data, operative intervention, mechanism of injury, mortality, comorbidities, and other factors. Computed tomography (CT) was used to determine the muscle cross-sectional area and to calculate the skeletal muscle index. Results: The database revealed 192 patients coded for acetabular fracture; of these, 181 were correctly diagnosed. Ninety-nine patients had recorded body mass index (BMI) and adequate CT scans to measure the skeletal muscle index. Forty-two patients (42.4%) had sarcopenia, and 57 patients (57.6%) did not have sarcopenia. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the groups with the exception of BMI and sex. BMI was higher in patients who did not have sarcopenia (31.7 kg/m2) than it was in patients with sarcopenia (23.6 kg/m2) (p < 0.001). Male sex was significantly greater (p = 0.0104) in patients with sarcopenia at 76.2% (32 of 42 patients) than in patients without sarcopenia at 50.9% (29 of 57 patients). Fractures in patients without sarcopenia were associated with a higher-energy mechanism of injury in 78.9% of cases compared with 52.4% of cases of patients with sarcopenia (p = 0.005). Sarcopenia was significantly associated (p = 0.0419) with increased 1-year mortality (28.6%) compared with the absence of sarcopenia (12.3%). This association was even stronger if in-hospital mortality was excluded (p = 0.00074). Finally, anterior column fractures were more likely (p = 0.017) to be sustained by patients with sarcopenia at 47.6% (20 patients) than by patients who did not have sarcopenia at 24.6% (14 patients). Conclusions: Sarcopenia is common in elderly patients with acetabular fractures and is associated with lower-energy mechanisms, anterior column fractures, and higher risk of 1-year mortality. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The effect of alloying elements on the plastic properties of aluminum alloys

The amount of solid solution hardening in aluminum alloys was found to be dictated by two factors: the lattice strain, and the change in the mean number of free electrons per atom of the solid solution. To obtain this correlation it was necessary to assume that aluminum contributes two electrons per atom to the metallic bond.
Design Study for a 2-GeV Double-Sided Microtron

A design study is presented for a double-sided (two linacs) microtron to accelerate a continuous beam of electrons to energies up to 2-GeV. The external beam can be continuously varied from 500 MeV to 2-GeV. The bunch length is of the order of 2.5 psec and the energy spread is ±100 keV. Preliminary beam blow-up calculations indicate that, using a feedback damping system, an average current of 300 μA can be obtained.
Powdery Mildew Resistant Rootstocks that Impart Tolerance to Grafted Susceptible Watermelon Scion Seedlings

Powdery mildew (PM) is a major foliar disease causing serious economic losses of cucurbit crops grown in the United States. The pathogen Podosphaera xanthii, which causes PM, is known to infect see...
The Two-Dimensional Orthographic Projection of a Semicircle onto an Epicycle of Cones

In “Observation Nine” of chapter three in the fourth tractate of Guarino Guarini's treatise Architettura civile (1735), he describes the process of constructing the drawings of a vault that interse...
North American Deserts: Environments and Vegetation

North American deserts range from subtropical thorn scrub to high-latitude steppe to extreme barren desert. The deserts of North America are significantly smaller than those in the Old World, and generally not arid enough to be considered true deserts; North America is thus largely typified by semideserts (Shmida and Whittaker 1979; West 1988). The main determinant of arid climates in western North America is the presence of local mountain ranges creating rain shadows in the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts (the Sierra Nevada-Cascades and Rockies), the Sonoran Desert (the Peninsular Ranges and Sierra Madre Occidental), and the Chihuahuan Desert (the Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental). In contrast, most of the world’s great arid deserts are created by predictable descending high pressure systems at subtropical latitudes (Shmida 1985). Although a multitude of desert definitions proliferate in the literature, the 120–150 mm isohyet of annual precipitation is generally recognized as the boundary between deserts and semideserts (Shmida 1985) and of arid and semiarid climates (Meigs 1953). Based on this classification, only the western extent of North America’s deserts, which lie adjacent to the primary rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada and associated cordillera, can be considered true arid deserts. Shmida (1985) made a further distinction at the 70 mm isohyet between true desert and extreme desert, which corresponds roughly to the boundary between diffuse and contracted vegetation.
Property Rights and the Environment

This article reviews the economics of property rights and the environment. Property rights are the relationship between a person and a thing (such as an environmental amenity) and what an owner (and others) may permissibly do and not do with a given piece of property. Until recently, property rights to the environment tended to be informal. This meant that one party could pursue a high-intensity use without a right, thereby ignoring the costs borne by low-intensity users. This is the idea of negative externalities, which exist when rights do not.
A Protestant View: The Ethics of Embryo Adoption and the Catholic Tradition

This paper offers a Protestant perspective on Roman Catholic debates regarding the moral permissibility of transferring and adopting genetically unrelated embryos that have been abandoned or designated for donation. The relative silence in Protestant bioethics on these issues stands in contrast to the vigor of Catholic discussions. This neglect is striking in light of both the significant role of mainline Protestants in supporting the practice of in vitro fertilization (IVF) which gave rise to such novel possibilities and the growing support of embryo adoption by evangelical Protestants (Berkman, 2002; Cooperman, 2005; Ennis, 2005; Saake, 2005). The essay affirms the inherent morality of both the transfer and adoption of abandoned embryos. But, it also expresses reservations about the current practice. For theological reasons, it encourages a critical attitude toward potentially vicious reasons for which it is promoted in our cultural context. Given the neglect of Protestant analysis and the characteristic diversity of Protestant reflection, I enlist themes from two influential twentieth-century theologians in order to achieve my aim of offering a distinctively Protestant contribution. In particular, I turn to H. Richard Niebuhr’s theological appeal to “responsibility” and Karl Barth’s eschatological discussion of marriage, parenthood, and children. Bringing together these often contrasted authors will serve as a route into defending the licitness of embryo transfer while calling into question embryo adoption as a social practice for the Christian community unless it is disciplined by Christian agape and does not contribute to an idolatry of the nuclear family. Embryo adoption
Induction and Pattern Emergence in the Mesoderm

The dorsal mesoderm and the ventral mesoderm are induced prior to gastrulation, and in the frog Xenopus the signals responsible for these inductions have influences in the ectoderm beyond the portions that they induce to form mesoderm. These signals bias the prospective ectoderm toward epidermal or neural development and the interaction of the signals tentatively sets the boundary between epidermis and neural plate before gastrulation. Following the early induction of the mesoderm in general, there are additional interactions that specify the various mesodermal organs. The nature and patterning of these inductions, and the early segmentation of the mesoderm are the main topics to be explored here.
Does Intraperitoneal Therapy for Ovarian Cancer Have a Future

Ovarian cancer has a unique pattern of spread, with the majority of disease limited to the peritoneal cavity. Intraperitoneal (IP) delivery of chemotherapeutic agents allows for a higher local concentration of drug for a more prolonged period of time at the major site of disease, providing a rationale for its use in ovarian cancer, although limited by poor penetration of tumor implants. This approach is supported by multiple clinical trials demonstrating improved outcomes for ovarian cancer patients but with uncertainty regarding the optimal selection and scheduling of specific agents. Additional challenges to the adoption of IP therapy include the requirement for initial optimal cytoreductive surgery, experience with catheter placement, staff expertise, and the management of treatment-related toxicity. Nonetheless, the improved survival justifies consideration of IP therapy in appropriate patients. Multiple approaches to decrease toxicity, improve tolerability, and indentify key treatment components are currently being evaluated.
Publisher Correction: Structural underpinnings of oestrogen receptor mutations in endocrine therapy resistance

The originally published article contained an error in the legend of supplementary figure 1. A figure permission line was left off. The correct figure permission line has now been added to the HTML and PDF versions of the article, stating that "Data shown in (B) and (C) of this figure were originally published in Jeyakumar, M., Carlson, K. E., Gunther, J. R. & Katzenellenbogen, J. A. Exploration of dimensions of estrogen potency: parsing ligand binding and coactivator binding affinities. J. Biol. Chem. 286, 12971-12982, (2011) (c) the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Ref. 53)."
GaN-on-GaN power device design and fabrication

Abstract Widebandgap (WBG) semiconductors present a pathway to push the limits of power conversion efficiency beyond that available from Silicon (Si)-based devices, enabling significant energy savings. Recent progress in Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based power electronic devices has been compelling. Reducing conversion losses is not only critical for minimizing consumption of limited resources, it simultaneously enables new compact architectures, the basis for a new industry offering increased power conversion performance at reduced system cost. This is because GaN devices enable power electronics with 1) higher efficiency at higher frequency of operation and 2) higher efficiency over a wider range of operating temperature, compared with what is possible with Si. High efficiency operation at higher operating frequency reduces the size, weight and cost of the overall system by reducing the size of the passive components and the heat sink. While Lateral GaNdevices, in the form of HEMTs, are more matured in technology and have entered the medium power conversion market (up to 10 kW), Vertical GaNdevices are evolving to address high power conversion (10 kW-10 MW). Availability of single crystalline GaN substrates has led to vertical device research and development, not possible on foreign substrates. Furthermore, epitaxial layers of GaN grown on GaN substrates owing to their highest single-crystal structural quality are enabling bulk electron mobility to go up to 1200 cm2V−1s−1. Avalanche was first observed in GaN p-n junctions when the junction was grown on bulk GaN. Such outcomes are promising and are leading to unprecedented interest in the topic both in academia and industry. In this chapter we will go over GaN-on-GaN power electronic devices from their design to fabrication and characterization.
Cognitive Function Prediction of Performance During Dual-Tasks Across Adults With and Without Hearing Loss

Background Dual-task procedures are commonly implemented to examine cognitive load and listening effort as individual differences in cognition often determine successful listening. However, which methods are most efficacious is unclear. Specifically, standardized, targeted assessment procedures for establishing cognitive function, and age-related changes that might account for changes in dual-task performance have yet to be established. Additional data are needed across aging populations, including middle-aged adults and older adults to establish the trend of performance changes throughout the aging process. Investigations of the relationship between cognitive function and dual-task performance may better inform clinical decisions. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate if cognitive function predicts dual-task performance across adults with and without hearing loss. Methods Participants were divided into two groups based on age. Group 1: 14 listeners (Female = 11), 30-50 years old, with normal hearing. Group 2: 12 listeners (Female = 9), 60-80 years old, with normal hearing to near-normal hearing, including typical age-related hearing loss. Participants were administered four of the Woodcock-Johnson III cognitive subtests and standard hearing threshold procedures. All participants were tested in each of three experimental conditions, including two perceptual-cognitive dual-tasks: (1) Auditory word recognition + visual processing, (2) Auditory working memory (sentence) + visual processing in noise, and (3) Auditory working memory (word) + visual processing. Results Results indicated that cognitive function does predict dual-task performance regardless of age and hearing function. Conclusion Cognitive function may predict dual-task performance during speech-in-noise tasks. Further research investigating the predictive value of related cognitive subtests to listening effort is warranted.
Eastern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) display an ontogenetic shift in relative consumption of native and invasive prey

Interactions between invasive prey and native predators can provide an opportunity to better understand predator–prey dynamics and how these may change through ontogeny. Eastern Fence Lizards (Scel...
American Political Discourse on China

My grandfather, a 97-year-old Chinese Air Force veteran, who trained and flew missions with the US Air Force Flying Tigers during World War II, has been disconsolate over President Trump’s trade wa...
An Examination of Investigative Practices of Homicide Units in Florida

The study examined Florida law enforcement agency homicide investigation practices previously identified in the literature as best (or most frequent). Departments handling at least 25 homicides per...
The Power of Being There for Each Other: The Importance of Self-Awareness, Identifying Stress and Burnout, and Proactive Self-Care Strategies for Sex-Offender Treatment Providers.

This was an exploratory study which hypothesized that there would be significant individual differences in feelings, perceptions, experiences, self-care strategies, and barriers to practicing self-...
Ambitious Reform Via Constituent Assemblies: Determinants of Success in Contemporary Latin America

Since 1998, several Latin American presidents have attempted to create constituent assemblies, rewrite constitutions, and fundamentally shift power relations with varying levels of success. I argue that two variables have determined executive success. These are mobilizational leverage, or the ability to rally popular support behind the reform agenda, and institutional leverage, or the ability to convince the Judiciary or Electoral Council to allow a referendum to form a Constituent Assembly and sanction its supreme power. I examine this argument through process tracing cases of success (Chavez in Venezuela, Morales in Bolivia, and Correa in Ecuador) and a case of failure (Zelaya in Honduras), drawing on data from 118 elite interviews in Bolivia and Ecuador. This article contributes to the literature on executive-legislative relations and presidential power, explaining a process that allows presidents to navigate the institutions of democracy and enact ambitious reform.
Exploring Pediatric Obesity Training, Perspectives, and Management Patterns Among Pediatric Primary Care Physicians.

OBJECTIVE Significant variability exists in the amount of formal obesity training obtained by physicians caring for pediatric patients. The study objective was to assess the relationship between formal obesity training and pediatrics physicians' perceptions, practice patterns, overall knowledge, and confidence during management of pediatric obesity. METHODS An anonymous survey was distributed via email from February 2020 through March 2020 at a large academic system. Internal medicine/pediatrics (46 total) and pediatrics (104 total) primary care providers were selected. Data were collected on the total number of obesity-related training hours by quartiles, demographics, physicians' clinical practice patterns, and physicians' knowledge of pediatric obesity management, along with their perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs. RESULTS A total of 73 survey participants completed the survey: 69% were female, 77% were older than 40 years, and 74% were White. Physicians with the highest training were most likely to feel confident when managing pediatric obesity. However, only 20% of all physicians felt confident providing pre- and post-bariatric surgery care, and just 6% of physicians self-reported achieving management success. CONCLUSIONS Increased obesity training improves physicians' confidence and leads to familiarity with management guidelines. Formal obesity training should be prioritized during residency and beyond so that physicians who care for pediatric patients are better equipped to offer unbiased and effective care.
Pain Control After Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials With a Network Meta-analysis:

Background:Shoulder arthroscopy is one of the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedures used to treat a variety of conditions, with >500,000 procedures performed each year.Purpose:To systemati...
Developing an Interdisciplinary Data Science Program

This paper describes a newly developed Data Science major that is jointly offered between two departments (Computer Science and Statistics) and across two colleges (College of Engineering and College of Natural and Architectural Sciences). The paper explores the inspiration and motivation for creating the undergraduate Data Science program, the program curriculum, and the governing body of the program. We aim to recruit undergraduates, specifically women, into the new major which are underrepresented in Computer Science at our University. We expect that this Major in Data Science will serve as a general framework for establishing similar interdisciplinary programs.
TCF21+ mesenchymal cells contribute to testis somatic cell development, homeostasis, and regeneration in mice

Testicular development and function rely on interactions between somatic cells and the germline, but similar to other organs, regenerative capacity declines in aging and disease. Whether the adult testis maintains a reserve progenitor population remains uncertain. Here, we characterize a recently identified mouse testis interstitial population expressing the transcription factor Tcf21. We found that TCF21lin cells are bipotential somatic progenitors present in fetal testis and ovary, maintain adult testis homeostasis during aging, and act as potential reserve somatic progenitors following injury. In vitro, TCF21lin cells are multipotent mesenchymal progenitors which form multiple somatic lineages including Leydig and myoid cells. Additionally, TCF21+ cells resemble resident fibroblast populations reported in other organs having roles in tissue homeostasis, fibrosis, and regeneration. Our findings reveal that the testis, like other organs, maintains multipotent mesenchymal progenitors that can be potentially leveraged in development of future therapies for hypoandrogenism and/or infertility. Whether the adult testis harbours a somatic progenitor population is unknown. Here, the authors provide evidence that the testis interstitial cells expressing the transcription factor Tcf21 maintain adult testis homeostasis during aging, and act as potential reserve somatic progenitors following injury.
Contextual Semantic analysis on Blogs/Websites and its Credibility

As technology advances, there is a great deal of deceptive information revolving around the news websites and all-over the social media. This menace can only be handled by automating the verification of authenticity of the websites rather than manually detecting them. This research presents a novel method for the verification of the credibility of the news. This method includes web-crawling, sentence scoring, and comparison with authentic websites. Initially, keywords for a topic from twelve verified websites are used for training the Relational Description Framework (RDF) based database. Then, a contextual semantic analysis of the news from a blog/website is done, and keywords are identified. These keywords are compared with the trained keywords of the RDF based database using Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) and Logistic Regression algorithms. The highest accuracy achieved is 82.8% after a blog/website content is compared with the database. This will help to identify only legitimate news.
Optimizing neonatal cardiac imaging (magnetic resonance/computed tomography)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT perform an important role in the evaluation of neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) when echocardiography is not sufficient for surgical planning or postoperative follow-up. Cardiac MRI and cardiac CT have complementary applications in the evaluation of cardiovascular disease in neonates. This review focuses on the indications and technical aspects of these modalities and special considerations for imaging neonates with CHD.
The Influence of Plural Organizational Forms on Beliefs and Outcomes Related to New Product Adoption

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore product adoption beliefs and actions of a large retail food organization with both corporate-owned stores and privately held franchise stores. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used a case study approach involving survey data collection from 190 corporate-owned and licensed retail outlets that were members of a large, single organization. Ordinary least squares regression and mean differences (t-tests) were used to test the data. Findings were elaborated upon based upon structured interviews. Findings – Corporate-owned retail outlets invested heavily in food safety innovation, while franchised retail outlets pursued minimal investment to retain product flexibility. The level of adoption is contingent upon ownership structure, as well as institutional forces emanating from the corporate environment, the customer, and peer organizations. Research limitations/implications – The findings offer greater insight into methodological issues associated with ...
Prediction of Nonlinear Seismic Building Behavior

This paper reviews many of the nonlinear computer programs currently used in seismic-resistant design, and examines and compares them in light of the data available on the actual seismic behavior of structures and of the needs of the design profession. Particular attention is devoted to programs that simulate the response of structural steel and reinforced concrete moment-resisting frames and frame-wall structural systems. Computer programs are categorized into three groups depending on the level at which a structure is idealized: (1)Macroscopic idealizations based on simplified mechanical models for structural subassemblages; (2)discrete element idealizations based on simplified mechanical models of individual members; and (3)microscopic idealizations based on finite element or other models of critical regions of members. Within each group, the principal limitations, assumptions, and capabilities of various programs are discussed, and recommendations for future development are offered.
INORGANIC PYROPHOSPHATASE OF DESULFOVIBRIO DESULFURICANS.

Akagi, J. M. (University of Illinois, Urbana) and L. Leon Campbell. Inorganic pyrophosphatase of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. J. Bacteriol. 86:563–568. 1963.—The inorganic pyrophosphatase of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was purified 136-fold by (NH4)2SO4 and ethanol fractionation and diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. Mg++ or Mn++ was required for optimal activity; Co++ was only 65% as effective as Mg++. The optimal ratio of Mg++ to pyrophosphate was 1.0 at pH 8.0. The Ks for the pyrophosphatase was found to be in the region of 1.9 × 10−3m. Sulfhydryl inhibitors and sodium fluoride had no effect on enzyme activity at a concentration of 10−3m. The purified enzyme did not hydrolyze adenosine triphosphate, glycerol phosphate, diphenyl phosphate, or p-nitrophenyl phosphate. Thermal stability studies showed that the enzyme is rapidly inactivated at temperatures above 40 C.
Cause of Mortality in Thermally Injured Patients

Concomitant with a decreasing mortality rate, a marked change in the cause of death has occurred in thermally injured patients over the last decade. In 1979, a mortality rate of 27.1 % was observed in 273 patients admitted to this Institute. Between the years of 1987 und 1991, an overall mortality rate of 8.5% was observed in 1094 patients with a generally comparable age and burn size distribution compared to the 1979 cohort (Table 1). In 1979, infection was identified as the primary cause of death in 64% of patients, a figure which has declined to 42 % over the past 5 years. In 1979, the mean postburn day of death was postburn day 24, but it has recently increased to postburn day 32.
Physics for Clinical Oncology, edited by Amen Sibtain: Scope: handbook. Level: teacher, specialist

Physics for Clinical Oncology, edited by Amen Sibtain, Andrew Morgan and Niall MacDougall, New York, Oxford University Press, 2012, 280 pp., £44.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-19-957335-6. Scope: handb...
How unfamiliar words in smartphone manuals affect senior citizens

Elderly people are motivated to continue working, but may have difficulties working in full-time jobs and need flexible working styles to compensate for their declining physical abilities. ICT can help support flexible working styles by enhancing communication between people in distant places. Smartphones offer various features for communication and information gathering, thus creating more opportunities to work. However, smartphone adoption has been slow for the elderly. One of the reasons is that elderly people have lower familiarity with computer terminology and therefore find the manuals difficult to understand. In this study, we investigated factors that make smartphone manuals hard to understand. We first asked elderly people about their familiarity with words found in smartphone manuals. Our second survey asked about sentences extracted from the smartphone manuals. By analyzing these results, we found that the comprehension was highly correlated with their familiarity with the specialized vocabulary.
Activation of the Endothelium-Derived Relaxing Factor System in Acute Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction

AbstractPurpose: To investigate the effects of L-arginine, a substrate for nitric oxide (NO) synthase, on renal hemodynamics in acute ureteral obstruction (UUO).Materials and Methods: Renal blood flow (RBF) and ureteral pressure (UP) were measured in anesthetized dogs with or without UUO.Results: In 9 dogs (Group 1), RBF was 212 +/− 13 ml./min. before UUO, and significantly increased to 302 +/− 18 and 268 +/− 9 ml./min. at 90 and 140 min. post-UUO, respectively, associated with a marked increase in UP from 3 +/− 1 mm. Hg to 73 +/− 5 and 83 +/− 2 mm. Hg at 90 and 140 min. post-UUO, respectively. In 6 dogs (Group 2) prostaglandin synthesis was inhibited with meclofenamate (5 mg./kg., i.v.). After UUO, RBF did not change significantly and the increase in UP was markedly attenuated when compared with Group 1, as UP rose only to 27 +/− 3 and 34 +/− 4 mm. Hg at 90 and 140 min. post-UUO, respectively. In 6 dogs pre-treated with meclofenamate, L-arginine was infused into the renal artery at 5 mg./kg./min. at 90 m...