cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanically robust superhydrophobicity on hierarchically structured Si surfaces

Improvement of the robustness of superhydrophobic surfaces is critical in order to achieve commercial applications of these surfaces in such diverse areas as self-cleaning, water repellency and corrosion resistance. In this study, the mechanical robustness of superhydrophobic surfaces was evaluated on hierarchically structured silicon surfaces. The effect of two-scale hierarchical structures on robustness was investigated using an abrasion test and the results compared to those of superhydrophobic surfaces fabricated from polymeric materials and from silicon that contains only nanostructures. Unlike the polymeric and nanostructure-only surfaces, the hierarchical structures retained superhydrophobic behavior after mechanical abrasion.
Five Reasons Why Nonspeech Oral Motor Exercises (NSOME) Do Not Work

Abstract Nonspeech oral motor exercises (NSOME) are used often by speech-language pathologists to help children improve their speech sound productions. However, the phonology, articulation, and motor speech development and disorders literature does not support their use. This article presents five reasons (four theoretical, one empirical) why NSOME are not an appropriate therapeutic technique for treating children's speech sound production problems.
An explicit approach to the group structure of hidden symmetry

Abstract With a slight modification of the parametric infinitesimal transformations explicitly constructed by Hon et al. for hidden symmetries of chiral models, we obtain a closed expression for their commutators which summarizes the same set of commutation relations as recently uncovered for the hidden symmetry with a different set of off-shell transformations.
Inner-shell ionization of fission products during nuclear fission

Abstract The time-dependent Schroedinger equation representing the electron cloud of a fissioning nucleus is solved using a variant of the stationary-phase approximation. The problem is unusual in that the time-varying part of the Hamiltonian can never be regarded as a small operator, and so a novel treatment is required. The ionization probabilities per fission for the K- and L-shells of the daughter atoms are calculated and turn out to be substantial (i.e. p k + p l ≈ 0.2).
Integrating rooftop solar into a multi-source energy planning optimization model

Abstract This research uses an optimization model to compare the role of rooftop solar generation versus large-scale solar and wind farm installations in renewable energy planning. The model consists of competing objectives, minimizing annual generation costs and minimizing annual greenhouse gas emissions. Rather than focus on the individual consumer’s investment decision, over 20 scenarios were developed which explored key input parameters such as the maximum penetration level of rooftop solar installations, pricing of equipment, tax credits, and net-metering policy to determine what role rooftop solar plays in renewable energy investment at an aggregate level. The research finds that at lower levels of penetration, such as those currently found in the United States, other renewable energy sources remain viable options, thus rooftop solar should be just one option considered when increasing development of renewable energy sources. The research also shows that a balanced approach taking into account both of the opposing objectives will lead to greater levels of rooftop solar generation than focusing solely on cost or emissions. Therefore, rooftop solar should be considered as part of an overall balanced approach to increasing renewable energy generation.
Semi-classical analysis of Schrödinger operators and compactness in the ∂-Neumann problem

Abstract We study the asymptotic behavior, in a “semi-classical limit,” of the first eigenvalues (i.e., the groundstate energies) of a class of Schrodinger operators with magnetic fields and the relationship of this behavior with compactness in the ∂ -Neumann problem on Hartogs domains in C 2 .
Consequences of customer powerlessness: Secondary control

This research investigated the consequences of powerlessness when consumers experience service failure with a company that has high-exit barriers. The specific consequences investigated were three types of secondary control, which are grudge-holding, avoidance (predictive avoidance), and retaliation desire. These secondary control coping strategies highlight consumers’ ability to control their personal behaviors and thoughts, even when they cannot completely control the outcomes of a situation. A qualitative study, followed by a scenario-based survey and structural equation model, suggest that the primary direct consequences of powerlessness in commercial relationships are grudgeholding and predictive avoidance, and that both predictive avoidance and a desire to retaliate are further consequences of grudge-holding. The results of this research underscore the importance of understanding the role of powerlessness and its consequences in consumer–firm relationships.
High Energy Capacity TiB2/VB2 Composite Metal Boride Air Battery

Transition metal borides, such as VB2 and TiB2, are studied as battery anode materials both individually and as a composite anode for an air cathode battery. The combination of VB2 and TiB2 is shown to enhance anodic battery performance. In alkaline media, VB2 and TiB2 anodically discharge to yield respectively 11 and 6 electrons per molecule with VB2 intrinsic gravimetric charge capacity of 4,060 mAh/g and 2,314 mAh/g for TiB2, 3 to 5 fold higher than a conventional zinc anode. With an air cathode using external O2, these boride/air batteries discharge at ∼1 V, and exhibit unusually high, primary battery energy capacities. We show that the coulombic efficiency attained by the TiB2 anode in boride/air batteries is not a strong function of the anode capacity per unit area (cm 2 ) of anode, while the efficiency of the VB2 anode decreases with increasing anode capacity. The discharge of VB2 shows a unique singular voltage plateau, indicating that the 11 electrons discharge at a similar potential. Two voltage plateaus are observed during the TiB2 discharge indicating the possibility of a two-step anodic oxidation. The combination of VB2 and TiB2 exhibits evidence of a synergistic increase of the capacity and discharge voltage of boride/air batteries. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any
Valuing New Urbanism: The Case of Kentlands

This study assesses the impact of new urbanism on single-family home prices. Specifically, we use Duany and Plater-Zyberk's traditional neighborhood development (TND) of Kentlands and surrounding conventional subdivisions to estimate the premium, if any, that single-family homeowners are willing to pay to reside in a community with new urbanist features. Using data on 2,061 single-family home transactions and several hedonic price models, the empirical evidence reveals that consumers are willing to pay a premium to locate in Kentlands.
Measuring Patellofemoral Forces and Pressures in a Simulated Operating Room Environment

The purpose of this study was to use a validated capacitive pressure (Novel Electronics, Inc, St Paul, Minn) in the measurement and distribution of patellofemoral forces and pressures during simulated operative procedures. Six fresh frozen cadaver knees were evaluated through a range of motion and observations recorded in native knees (NKNP) with sequential resurfacing of tibiofemoral (RKNP) and patellofemoral (RKRP) articulations with standard and gender (GKRP) components. Significant lateral-medial maximum force differentials were observed for all conditions. Significant lateral-medial peak pressure differentials were observed in RKNP and RKRP. A significant decrease in lateral maximum force from RKRP to GKRP (P = .01) was observed. Significant increases in lateral peak were seen from NKNP to RKNP (P = .04) and RKNP to RKRP (P = .047), whereas a significant decrease was seen from RKRP to GKRP (P < .01). Achieving a quantitative intraoperative assessment of patellar tracking and soft tissue balancing may offer benefits in terms of intraoperative decision making. This is the first reported study to simulate quantitative, intraoperative assessments of patellofemoral pressure and force.
Effects of Coastal Urbanization on Salt-Marsh Faunal Assemblages in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

AbstractCoastal landscapes in the northern Gulf of Mexico, specifically the Mississippi coast, have undergone rapid urbanization that may impact the suitability of salt-marsh ecosystems for maintaining and regulating estuarine faunal communities. We used a landscape ecology approach to quantify the composition and configuration of salt-marsh habitats and developed surfaces at multiple spatial scales surrounding three small, first-order salt-marsh tidal creeks arrayed along a gradient of urbanization in two river-dominated estuaries. From May 3 to June 4, 2010, nekton and macroinfauna were collected weekly at all six sites. Due to the greater abundance of grass shrimp Palaemonetes spp., brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus, blue crab Callinectes sapidus, Gulf Menhaden Brevoortia patronus, and Spot Leiostomus xanthurus, tidal creeks in intact natural (IN) salt-marsh landscapes supported a nekton assemblage that was significantly different from those in partially urbanized (PU) or completely urbanized (CU) s...
Relative Automaticity without Mastery The Grammatical Decision Making of Deaf Students

When writers make frequent grammatical errors, they often spend a substantial part of composing time making decisions about grammar. Studies of unskilled writers with normal hearing indicate this hyperconcern for correctness. There have been reasons to believe, however, that the attention of deaf writers who make errors is less consumed by grammatical decision making. The present study was undertaken to determine whether representative deaf writers devote as much attention to grammatical decisions as unskilled hearing subjects. Ten deaf subjects and five hearing subjects wrote and edited accounts of two short stories that were signed and spoken on videotape. Under all composing conditions, the deaf subjects' rates of pausing were substantially lower than those of the hearing writers. Combined with subjects' patterns of error correction, these findings suggest that the deaf subjects devoted substantially less attention to grammatical decision making during composition.
Package to board interconnect design for minimum return loss

Return loss from impedance discontinuities severely limits the bandwidth and power efficiency of chip-to-chip copper interconnects. Among the more frequently found discontinuities are vertical transitions connecting signals in different layers in the system. In this work, we present a general condition to improve return loss in vertical package to board transitions in high speed links. The relationship involves the impedance of on-package and on-board transmission lines as well as the via model. Experimental results that apply the proposed method show a 10-dB improvement in return loss. The proposed method can be applied in the design of copper interconnects with minimum reflection, which is a requirement of high-speed and low-power signaling systems.
Simultaneous Observations of Mesospheric Gravity Waves and Sprites Generated by a Midwestern Thunderstorm

from a central excitation region directly above the storm. During the initial stages of the storm outwardly expanding waves possessed a period of � ≈10 min and wavelength � ≈50 km. Over a 1 h interval the waves gradually changed to longer period � ≈11 min and shorter wavelength � ≈40 km. Over the full 2 h observation time, about two dozen bright sprites generated by the underlying thunderstorm were recorded near the center of the outwardly radiating gravity wave pattern. No distinctive OH brightness signatures uniquely associated with the sprites were detected at the level of 2% of the ambient background brightness, establishing an associated upper limit of approximately A T . 0:5 K for a neutral temperature perturbation over the volume of the sprites. The corresponding total thermal energy deposited by the sprite is bounded by these measurements to be less than ∼1 GJ. This value is well above the total energy deposited into the medium by the sprite, estimated by several independent methods to be on the order of ∼1–10 MJ. c
Identifying genes preferentially expressed in undifferentiated embryonic stem cells

The mechanism involved in the maintenance and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells is incompletely understood. To address this issue, we have developed a retroviral gene trap vector that can target genes expressed in undifferentiated ES cells. This gene trap vector harbors both GFP and Neo reporter genes. G-418 drug resistance was used to select ES clones in which the vector was integrated into transcriptionally active loci. This was then followed by GFP FACS profiling to identify ES clones with reduced GFP fluorescence and, hence, reduced transcriptional activity when ES cells differentiate. Reduced expression of the GFP reporter in six of three hundred ES clones in our pilot screening was confirmed to be down-regulated by Northern blot analysis during ES cell differentiation. These six ES clones represent four different genes. Among the six integration sites, one was at Zfp-57 whose gene product is known to be enriched in undifferentiated ES cells. Three were located in an intron of a novel isoform of CSL/RBP-Jkappa which encodes the key transcription factor of the LIN-12/Notch pathway. Another was inside a gene that may encode noncoding RNA transcripts. The last integration event occurred at a locus that may harbor a novel gene. Taken together, we demonstrate the use of a novel retroviral gene trap vector in identifying genes preferentially expressed in undifferentiated ES cells.
A Novel Microdialysis Probe Designed for Clinical Use: Potential Analytical and Therapeutic Applications

Significant obstacles to the use of microdialysis in the clinic for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes include the production of a dedicated entry port through the skull and the formation of a tract by the insertion of a probe into the parenchyma. We have developed a microdialysis probe that is minimally invasive and can be combined with an intracranial pressure probe, recording electrode, or other intracranial probe, that is minimally invasive. Yet the surface area of this probe is very high, permitting high recovery efficiencies even at relatively high flow rates.
Haley: A Hierarchical Framework for Logical Composition ofWeb Services

Prevalent approaches for automatically composing Web services (WSs) into Web processes predominantly utilize planning techniques to achieve the composition. However, many of the planning methods do not scale efficiently to large processes. In addition, they lack the capability to operate directly on the WS descriptions, and specifically on the preconditions and effects which may be represented using methods ground and propositionalize the higher level logic resulting in exponentially many more states. In this paper, we present a new framework for composing Web services into processes, called Haley, that exploits the natural hierarchy often found in Web processes. Haley uses symbolic techniques that operate directly on first order logic based representations of the state space to obtain the compositions. In addition to providing an approach that handles the uncertainty inheret in Web services, Haley guarantees cost-based optimality and offers an approach potentially scalable to large real world processes.
The balance of RanBP1 and RCC1 is critical for nuclear assembly and nuclear transport.

Ran is a small GTPase that is essential for nuclear transport, mRNA processing, maintenance of structural integrity of nuclei, and cell cycle control. RanBP1 is a highly conserved Ran guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor. We sought to use Xenopus egg extracts for the development of an in vitro assay for RanBP1 activity in nuclear assembly, protein import, and DNA replication. Surprisingly, when we used anti-RanBP1 antibodies to immunodeplete RanBP1 from Xenopus egg extracts, we found that the extracts were also depleted of RCC1, Ran’s guanine nucleotide exchange factor, suggesting that these proteins form a stable complex. In contrast to previous observations using extracts that had been depleted of RCC1 only, extracts lacking both RanBP1 and RCC1 (codepleted extracts) did not exhibit defects in assays of nuclear assembly, nuclear transport, or DNA replication. Addition of either recombinant RanBP1 or RCC1 to codepleted extracts to restore only one of the depleted proteins caused abnormal nuclear assembly and inhibited nuclear transport and DNA replication in a manner that could be rescued by further addition of RCC1 or RanBP1, respectively. Exogenous mutant Ran proteins could partially rescue nuclear function in extracts without RanBP1 or without RCC1, in a manner that was correlated with their nucleotide binding state. These results suggest that little RanBP1 or RCC1 is required for nuclear assembly, nuclear import, or DNA replication in the absence of the other protein. The results further suggest that the balance of GTP- and GDP-Ran is critical for proper nuclear assembly and function in vitro.
Fractures in the collegiate athlete.

PurposeTo determine the demographics and incidence of fractures in collegiate athletes.Study DesignRetrospective review of prospectively collected data.MethodsDivision I collegiate athletes who sustained a fracture while enrolled at the university from 1986 to 2000 were identified through training room records. Type and location of fracture, sport, gender, age, position, height, and weight were recorded and analyzed. Team information was obtained from athletic department records and was used to calculate incidence.ResultsBetween 1986 and 2000, 5900 Division I athletes at our institution sustained 349 primary fractures (5.9%). By gender, the incidence did not differ significantly between males and females (P = .236), except in water polo where the men sustained significantly more fractures. By type, females sustained significantly more stress fractures (P = .001) than males. Overall, by location, the hand contributed the greatest number of total fractures. By sport, the incidence rate was highest in basket...
Pyriproxyfen cyclodextrin inclusion compounds

Pyriproxyfen is a pyridine based pesticide which is effective against mosquito larvae. Here we report the inclusion complexes (ICs) between guest pyriproxyfen and host β and γ cyclodextrins, but not with α cyclodextrin, based on WAXD, DSC, FTIR, and TGA characterization results. We show that one pyriproxyfen molecule is covered with between one and two β or γ cyclodextrin molecules when it forms columnar ICs upon precipitation from aqueous solution.
Regulative capacity for eye formation by first quartet micromeres of the polychaete Capitella teleta

The stereotypic cleavage pattern shared by spiralian embryos provides unique opportunities to compare mechanisms of cell fate specification of homologous blastomeres, and can give insights into how changes in fate may have influenced the evolution of novel structures and morphological diversity. The potential of cells to undergo regulation and the timing of cell fate specification were investigated during early development in the polychaete annelid, Capitella teleta. Targeted laser deletions of the first quartet micromeres were performed, with a focus on the eye-forming cells 1a and 1c. Most of the larvae resulting from deletion of the 1a or 1c micromeres lack both the pigment cell and sensory cell of the eye as predicted by the C. teleta fate map. In a minority of cases, however, both left and right larval eye spots develop, suggesting that other blastomeres within the embryo regulate for loss of these cells. Deletion of the 1a and 1c derivatives, 1a(1) or 1c(1), also largely result in larvae with one pigment spot, although there are larvae with two eye spots, suggesting that the ability to regulate for loss of an eye-generating cell persists for an additional cell cycle. Cell deletion in conjunction with intracellular labeling indicates that all four quadrants retain the ability to generate eyes, including those that normally do not. Deletion of all four first quartet micromeres provides evidence that only the first quartet micromeres have eye-forming potential. Additionally, in contrast to the right side of the head where larval and adult eye sensory cells are derived from the same cell (1c), on the left side, the larval and adult eye sensory cells are generated by different embryonic lineages. We hypothesize that cell-cell interactions and cell position are important for regulative ability in Capitella. To our knowledge, this is one of the first detailed deletion studies of the first quartet micromeres and the first convincing example of regulation in polychaetes, which are often thought to be non-regulative in nature.
IMF Recommended Debt Sustainability Threshold for Nigeria. Is It Growth Augmenting? An Optimization Algorithm Approach

Sustainable debt is the level of debt which allows a debtor country to meet its current and future debt services obligations in full, without recourse to further debt relief or rescheduling, avoiding accumulation of arrears, while allowing an acceptable level of economic growth or without compromising growth. IMF debt sustainability threshold is seen as a measure of a countries solvency, that is, a countries ability to ensure that accumulated debts are serviced without defaulting and if countries are able to sustain their debt servicing overtime Generally, the study examines the country’s borrowing space under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) debt sustainability threshold of 45% for Nigeria and other low-middle income countries. To achieve the stated objectives, two variant of optimization algorithms namely The Gauss, Berndt, Hall, Hall and Hausman, and Marquardt algorithms, respectively were used as estimators. The Gauss, Berndt, Hall, Hall and Hausman commonly referred to as the Gauss-Newton/BHHH is specifically designed for maximum likelihood problems, while Marquardt algorithm modifies the Gauss-Newton algorithm by adding a correction matrix to the Hessian approximation. Two variant models namely the Least Square (LS) and the Maximum Likelihood-Autoregressive Conditional Hetersocesdasticity (ML-ARCH) were used to cross-match the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) which is the primary model for the study. The data used covers a period of 48 years (1965-2013). It was collected from the online database of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); National Accounts archives of National Bureau of Statistics, and human resources data of Food and Agricultural Organization statistics. From the findings, the study showed that IMF recommended sustainability threshold is not growth augmenting but will act as a hindrance to economic growth in Nigeria. The debt sustainability threshold of 45% for Nigeria is not growth supportive. Our estimate showed that maintaining such threshold drives output to a negative growth of (-19.5%) and (-27.9%), respectively. In all, the study established that sustainability is definable within the country’s growth objective in contrast with debt sustainability analysis which is traditionally based on solvency. In this contest, the study generated an alternative definition of debt sustainability as that threshold which generates maximum debt-output ratio and ensures a steady state and maximum attainable growth in an economy, that is, threshold that ensures a zero growth deficit. It was recommended that sustainability threshold of debt acquisition should not be defined in a vacuum. It should be sacrosanct with the country’s sustainable economic growth objective. That is debt acquisition that is not only serviceable, but ensures a maximum attainable growth.
The Treatment of Open Fractures

Patients with open fractures often present with severe soft-tissue injuries, bony injuries, and contamination that requires prompt treatment. Classifying the severity of injury is important for diagnostic and treatment purposes, including administering antibiotic prophylaxis, providing emergency room management, and executing timely surgical intervention. Surgery is performed to minimize contamination, eliminate necrotic and devascularized tissue, provide biological stabilization of the trauma-induced zone of tissue necrosis, and mechanically stabilize the soft tissues and bone. By approaching these fractures in a multi-disciplinary manner, the development of infection after open fractures can be minimized.
The Flip Side of Twist Cap: Letters of Credit as Executory Contracts in Bankruptcy

This article analyzes the treatment of letters of credit as executory contracts in bankruptcy. Some courts had stated that the bankruptcy of the beneficiary terminates a letter of credit. This article concludes that decisions were incorrect in treating a letter of credit as an executory contract to provide financial accommodations to the beneficiary. A letter of credit is not a means to provide credit to the beneficiary: it is a means to provide credit to the applicant (and thereby allowing the applicant and beneficiary to avoid extending credit to each other). The issuer is not dependent on the credit risk of the beneficiary, rather that of the applicant. So terminating the letter of credit due to the beneficiary's bankruptcy does not fit the executory contract framework in bankruptcy.
The Quotation Mark Puzzle: An Imperfection of “The Field Bazaar”

The rare, and until now rarely seen, first printing of “The Field Bazaar” — that odd little 1896 Sherlock Holmes and John Watson vignette — has an intriguing defect of punctuation. Or is it a feature? The original story, which ends with Holmes speaking about violins, lacks a closing quotation mark. It is a small defect, but one with contradictory yet possibly significant implications for the proper reading of the story.
Bistable electroactive polymer with sharp rigid-to-rubbery phase transition

Bistable electroactive polymers (BSEP) usually exhibit glass transition that spans a rather broad temperature range and are normally actuated above 70 °C. High actuation temperature limits the BSEP for wearable and personal assistive applications. A phase-changing polymer is synthesized and employed as BSEP having a narrow rigid-to-rubbery transition temperature range. Shape memory effect with both fixation and recovery rate close to 100% was observed. Diaphragm actuators of the BSEP can be electrically actuated at 50 °C up to 70% strain, and the deformed shape was fixed after cooling the BSEP below the transition temperature. The rigid-to-rigid actuation can be repeated for at least 10,000 cycles.
Discussion on Solutions of Habitat Restoration for Salmon(Oncorhynchus spp.) in Washington Harbor

The estuarine salt marshes' role as habitat for fish has got attention of many people as it plays a vital role as fish breeding grounds. However, anthropogenic activities have changed the natural setting of many estuarine habitats. A good example is Washington Harbor where an introduction of the landscape pattern change as a result of human activities damaged the salmon habitat in the harbor. The changes to Washington Harbor brought about by the causeway resulted into habitat fragmentation and tidal disconnection. The causeway forms a physical barrier that restricts the movement of plants and animals. As a result majority of the adverse effects seen in this area are due to the loss of hydraulic connection and wave energy. Responding to this problem; design principles and technological methods for eco-habitat restoration were discussed in this paper. The habitat restoration design of rebuilding a bridge after removing the causeway and converts were analyzed and discussed. The experiences of habitat restoration and protection of Yangtze River estuary was useful as a case study. The paper recommended that historical data should be used to validate the main reason leading to habitat damage. On other hand, the ecosystem self-regulating ability is vital for ecosystem and thus it should be applied in the habitat restoration functions. Above all the restoration work, maintenance of the integrity and continuity of fish habitat in the Yangtze River estuary is of necessity.
Prostate Specific Antigen in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate. II. Radical Prostatectomy Treated Patients

AbstractSerum prostate specific antigen was determined (Yang polyclonal radioimmunoassay) in 102 men before hospitalization for radical prostatectomy. Prostate specimens were subjected to detailed histological and morphometric analysis. Levels of prostate specific antigen were significantly different between patients with and without a Gleason score of 7 or greater (p less than 0.001), capsular penetration greater than 1cm. in linear extent (p less than 0.001), seminal vesicle invasion (p less than 0.001) and pelvic lymph node metastasis (p less than 0.005). Prostate specific antigen was strongly correlated with volume of prostate cancer (r equals 0.70). Bivariate and multivariate analyses indicate that cancer volume is the primary determinant of serum prostate specific antigen levels. Prostate specific antigen was elevated 3.5ng. per ml. for every cc of cancer, a level at least 10 times that observed for benign prostatic hyperplasia.Prostate specific antigen is useful as a preoperative marker because no ...
Tumor Suppressors and Endodermal Differentiation of P19 Embryonic Stem Cells.

The P19 embryonic stem (ES) cells are derivatives of the inner cell mass of a mouse blastoderm, are multipotent and can give rise to all three germ layers [1]. They are anchorage-independent, display no contact inhibition, and are tumorigenic [2]. The P19 ES cell line was originally derived from a teratocarcinoma in C3H/HE mice, produced by grafting an embryo at 7 days of gestation to the testes of an adult male mouse [3, 4]. Depending on the nature of inducers, P19 ES cells can be driven to differentiate into derivatives of all three germ layers, an advantage that has been extensively exploited to study early developmental events. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment of P19 ES cell aggregates (embryoid bodies) results in differentiation into cardiac- and skeletal muscle-like cells [1], whereas retinoic acid (RA) induces differentiation into neurons, glia, and fibroblast-like cells [5]. On the other hand, monolayers of P19 ES cells, when treated with RA, differentiate into cells with endodermal and mesodermal phenotypes [6]. The type of differentiation of P19 ES cell aggregates also depends on the RA concentration; with low concentration (10 nM) of RA, these cells differentiate into primitive endoderm-like cells and with high concentrations (1 µM) of RA, differentiation is shifted towards neurons and glia [3, 7, 8].
What allows a health care system to become a learning health care system: Results from interviews with health system leaders

Introduction The US health care system faces pressure to improve quality while managing complexity, curbing costs, and reducing inefficiency. These shortcomings have sparked interest in the Learning Health Care System (LHCS) as an alternate approach to organizing research and clinical care. Although diverse stakeholders have expressed support for moving toward an LHCS model, limited guidance exists for institutions considering such a transition. Methods Interviews were conducted with institutional leaders from 25 health care systems considered to be at the forefront of LHCS. Interviews focused on the process of transitioning toward an LHCS, including motivations for change, key components, challenges encountered, and strategies for success, and on ethics and regulatory issues encountered. Qualitative analysis identified key themes across institutions. Results Respondents described 5 themes related to the origin of their LHCS transformation: (1) visionary leadership or influence of a key individual, (2) adaptation to a changing health care landscape, (3) external funding, (4) regulatory or legislative influence, and (5) mergers or expansions. They described 6 challenges: (1) organizational culture, (2) data systems and data sharing, (3) funding learning activities, (4) limited supply of skilled individuals, (5) managing competing priorities, and (6) regulatory challenges. Finally, they suggested 8 strategies to support transformation: (1) strong leadership, (2) setting a limited number of organizational priorities, (3) building on existing strengths, (4) training programs, (5) “purposeful” design of data systems, (6) internal transparency of quality metrics, (7) payer/provider integration, and, within academic medical centers, (8) academic/clinical integration. Conclusions Even institutions at the forefront of LHCS described the transition as difficult. Their experiences provide insight into other institutions considering similar transitions, including elements essential for success and likely challenges.
Revamping Pennsylvania's Water Law System

As a relatively “wet” state, most people think of Pennsylvania as having a bountiful water supply with over 86,000 miles of streams and rivers, an abundance of groundwater, and various economic sectors generally avoiding the water shortage difficulties of the western U.S. Think again. Based on predictions from various reports, notably the Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment, Pennsylvania can expect warmer temperatures year-round, increased frequency of flood events, more rain than snow in winter, prolonged summer drought, and impacts to coldwater fisheries. Establishing minimum instream flows for Commonwealth waters offers a stepping stone for adapting to predicted changes.
An Evaluation of Human Mental Models of Tactical Robot Movement

In this paper, we describe an ongoing exploratory study investigating human mental models of tactical robot movement under different combinations of mission commands, constraints, and environmental features. In particular, we are assessing the relationship between participants’ mental models of robot form and their expectations for robot movement. The results of this study will inform the design of future experimentation with a soldier population and the design of tactical robot movement behaviors. Due to data collection being in its early stages, findings will be presented at the 2015 HFES Annual Meeting.
Elevated PDGFRB gene copy number gain as prognostic in resected malignant pleural mesothelioma.

7078 Background: PDGF/PDGFR pathway has been implicated in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) carcinogenesis. We sought to evaluate the incidence of PDGFRB gene copy number gain (CNG) and PDGFR p...
The Right to Digital Self-Defense

Although the right to physical self-defense is legally well established, it’s unclear how this principle translates to security in today’s digital world. Approaches to cyber self-defense are discussed, as are arguments for and against allowing organizations to actively respond to cyberattacks.
A multi-mechanism model for large-strain thermomechanical behavior of polyurethane shape memory polymer

Abstract The physical mechanisms underlining the unique shape memory behavior in polymers differ greatly from those in intermetallics. However, phenomenologically, both material systems exhibit pseudoplasticity and superelasticity. This provides the main motivation for the present work, in which a recently-developed multi-mechanism model, previously used successfully for intermetallics is extended to capture the thermomechanical responses of a polyurethane-polyester-polyol material having a glass temperature of 55 °C. To this end, nine different tensile test cases were considered, including engineering strains up to 200%, stress changes up to 120 MPa, temperature range from 35 °C to 75 °C, as well as cyclic isothermal and non-isothermal behaviors. The model results were found to be in excellent agreement with the experiments. Additionally, investigations were carried out to provide macromolecular connection of the model inelastic state variables, as well as study its loading-mode and loading-rate sensitivities.
The Laboratory-Based Intermountain Validated Exacerbation (LIVE) Score Identifies Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients at High Mortality Risk

Background: Identifying COPD patients at high risk for mortality or healthcare utilization remains a challenge. A robust system for identifying high-risk COPD patients using Electronic Health Record (EHR) data would empower targeting interventions aimed at ensuring guideline compliance and multimorbidity management. The purpose of this study was to empirically derive, validate, and characterize subgroups of COPD patients based on routinely collected clinical data widely available within the EHR. Methods: Cluster analysis was used in 5,006 patients with COPD at Intermountain to identify clusters based on a large collection of clinical variables. Recursive Partitioning (RP) was then used to determine a preferred tree that assigned patients to clusters based on a parsimonious variable subset. The mortality, COPD exacerbations, and comorbidity profile of the identified groups were examined. The findings were validated in an independent Intermountain cohort and in external cohorts from the United States Veterans Affairs (VA) and University of Chicago Medicine systems. Measurements and Main Results: The RP algorithm identified five LIVE Scores based on laboratory values: albumin, creatinine, chloride, potassium, and hemoglobin. The groups were characterized by increasing risk of mortality. The lowest risk, LIVE Score 5 had 8% 4-year mortality vs. 56% in the highest risk LIVE Score 1 (p < 0.001). These findings were validated in the VA cohort (n = 83,134), an expanded Intermountain cohort (n = 48,871) and in the University of Chicago system (n = 3,236). Higher mortality groups also had higher COPD exacerbation rates and comorbidity rates. Conclusions: In large clinical datasets across different organizations, the LIVE Score utilizes existing laboratory data for COPD patients, and may be used to stratify risk for mortality and COPD exacerbations.
Preliminary Thoughts on Left Governmentality

In the manufactured politics of crisis that we see increasingly in many societies around the world, the question of what politics can overcome the impasse of so-called democratic rule, which serves as a cover for the domination of liberal oligarchies, has become urgent. Mining the most radical elements in Foucault’s thinking about governmentality, this essay seeks to imagine a politics of left governmentality that would evade the pitfalls of left populism.
Planning and Implementing a Graduate Online Team-Taught Marketing Course

Online courses have become an important educational delivery tool for institutions of higher learning throughout the world. While popular among students and administrators, many faculty members hav...
A fuzzy-based approach to the value of information in complex military environments

The last several decades have seen an unprecedented increase in the types and amount of information pertaining to the military environment. For the military commander and his staff, separating the important information from the routine has become a primary challenge in calculating the Value of Information (VOI). Wrought with uncertainty and contradiction, new methodologies are required to confront this significant issue. This paper presents an approach for calculating the VOI in complex military environments using fuzzy logic as a method for managing uncertain and imprecise information.
Embracing and Extending Windows 2000

We were recently presented with the challenge of deploying a large scale Windows 2000 environment, initially for the Administration Division, but eventually including academic and other users. Rather than try to eventually re-integrate independently administered domains, we took this as an opportunity to develop the tools and resources to provide a campus-wide Windows 2000 environment that is well integrated with the existing enterprise information and computing systems, much like we integrated our Unix systems. This would automate many of the mundane administrative functions, yet provide appropriate delegation of control to departmental administrators as needed. This paper describes the systems we developed to make this happen.
A Response Time Model for Bottom-Out Hints as Worked Examples

Students can use an educational system’s help in unexpected ways. For example, they may bypass abstract hints in search of a concrete solution. This behavior has traditionally been labeled as a form of gaming or help abuse. We propose that some examples of this behavior are not abusive and that bottom-out hints can act as worked examples. We create a model for distinguishing good student use of bottom-out hints from bad student use of bottom-out hints by means of logged response times. We show that this model not only predicts learning, but captures behaviors related to self-explanation.
Shotgun Metagenomics Reveals Taxonomic and Functional Shifts in Hot Water Microbiome Due to Temperature Setting and Stagnation.

Hot water premise plumbing has emerged as a critical nexus of energy, water, and public health. The composition of hot water microbiomes is of special interest given daily human exposure to resident flora, especially opportunistic pathogens (OPs), which rely on complex microbial ecological interactions for their proliferation. Here, we applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing to characterize taxonomic and functional shifts in microbiomes as a function of water heater temperature setting, stagnation in distal pipes, and associated shifts in water chemistry. A cross-section of samples from controlled, replicated, pilot-scale hot water plumbing rigs representing different temperature settings (39°C, 42°C, & 51°C), stagnation periods (8 hours vs. 7 days), and time-points, were analyzed. Temperature setting exhibited an overarching impact on taxonomic and functional gene composition. Further, distinct taxa were selectively enriched by specific temperature settings (e.g., Legionella at 39°C vs. Deinococcus at 51°C), while relative abundances of genes encoding corresponding cellular functions were highly consistent with expectations based on the taxa driving these shifts. Stagnation in distal taps diminished taxonomic and functional differences induced by heating the cold influent water to hot water in recirculating line. In distal taps relative to recirculating hot water, reads annotated as being involved in metabolism and growth decreased, while annotations corresponding to stress response (e.g., virulence disease and defense, and specifically antibiotic resistance) increased. Reads corresponding to OPs were readily identified by metagenomic analysis, with L. pneumophila reads in particular correlating remarkably well with gene copy numbers measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Positive correlations between L. pneumophila reads and those of known protozoan hosts were also identified. Elevated proportions of genes encoding metal resistance and hydrogen metabolism were noted, which was consistent with elevated corrosion-induced metal concentrations and hydrogen generation. This study provided new insights into real-world factors influencing taxonomic and functional compositions of hot water microbiomes. Here metagenomics is demonstrated as an effective tool for screening for potential presence, and even quantities, of pathogens, while also providing diagnostic capabilities for assessing functional responses of microbiomes to various operational conditions. These findings can aid in informing future monitoring and intentional control of hot water microbiomes.
Time since first cannabis use and 12-month prevalence of cannabis use disorder among youth and emerging adults in the United States.

AIM This study estimated whether and how the 12-month prevalence of cannabis use disorder among US youth aged 12-17 and emerging adults aged 18-25 varied by time since first cannabis use. DESIGN Repeated cross-sectional survey data from the 2015-17 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). SETTING United States. PARTICIPANTS A total of 101 000 NSDUH participants aged 12-25. MEASUREMENTS Past 12-month cannabis use disorder was assessed using DSM-IV criteria. FINDINGS Among youth, the life-time prevalence of cannabis use was 15.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 14.86-15.65%]. Among emerging adults, the life-time prevalence of cannabis use was 52.4% (95% CI = 51.77-53.01%). The adjusted 12-month prevalence of cannabis use disorder among youth with life-time cannabis use was 10.9% (95% CI = 9.24-12.75%) in the first year after starting cannabis use, 15.3% (95% CI = 13.68-17.12%) in the second year, 17.7% (95% CI = 15.55-19.97%) in the third year and 20.6% (95% CI = 18.23-23.17%) in the fourth year and beyond, which was consistently higher after the first year (linear trend only: P < 0.0001). The adjusted 12-month prevalence of cannabis use disorder among emerging adults with life-time use ranged from 5.6% (95% CI = 4.26-7.23%) in the first year after starting cannabis use, 7.7% (95% CI = 6.45-9.17%) in the second year and 9.1% (95% CI = 7.81-10.57%) in the third year to 10.5% (95% CI = 9.87%-11.12%) in the fourth year and beyond, which was consistently higher after the first year (linear trend only: P < 0.0001). Within each time-frame since first cannabis use, the adjusted 12-month prevalence of cannabis use disorder was higher among youth life-time users than their emerging adult counterparts. CONCLUSIONS Among youth and emerging adults in the United States, the prevalence of cannabis use disorder appears to increase with time since initiation of use and is higher among youth than among emerging adults during each examined time-frame.
Characterizing a Geant4 Monte Carlo model of a multileaf collimator for a TrueBeam™ linear accelerator.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this work was to develop and validate a multileaf collimator (MLC) model for a TrueBeam™ linac using Geant4 Monte Carlo (MC) simulation kit. Methods A Geant4 application was developed to accurately represent TrueBeam™ linac. Pre-computed phase-space file in a plane just above the jaws was used for radiation transport. A Varian 120 leaf Millennium™ MLC was modeled using geometry and material specifications provided by the manufacturer using Geant4 constructs. Leaf characteristics e.g. tongue-groove design, variable thickness, interleaf gap were simulated. The linac model was validated by comparing simulated dose profiles and depth-doses with experimental data using an ionization chamber in water. Dosimetric characteristics of the MLC such as inter- and intra-leaf leakage, penumbra effect, MLC leaf positioning, and dynamic characteristics were also investigated. Results For the depth dose curves, 99% of the calculated data points agree within 1% of the experimental values for the 4 × 4 cm2 and 10 × 10 cm2 and within 2% of the experimental values for 20 × 20, 30 × 30 and 40 × 40 cm2 jaw defined fields. The cross-plane dose profiles show agreement Conclusions The TrueBeam™ linac equipped with 120-leaf MLC was successfully modeled using Geant4. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing the simulations with experiments. The model may be utilized for independent dose verification and QA of IMRT.