cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preventing plane-assisted suicides through the lessons of research on homicide and suicide–homicide

OBJECTIVE: The Germanwings 9525 incident drew significant attention to the 'plane-assisted suicide' construct, yet little scientific literature exists on this topic. This paper reviews the available literature and applies lessons from the suicide-homicide and men's mental health literature to better understand this construct from a scientific perspective. METHODS: A systematic review of the relevant clinical literature was undertaken. RESULTS: Multiple lines of evidence suggests the applicability and relevance of suicide-homicide research and men's mental health to the plane-assisted suicide phenomenon. Plane-assisted suicides occur within an overwhelmingly male, middle aged population who, in addition to suicide, commit large scale acts of murder. Issues of divorce, separation, and threats to masculinity appear integral to an effective prevention program. CONCLUSION: Further research in the understanding of plane-assisted suicide as a product of neuropsychiatric disorder may advance such prevention efforts and have the opportunity to reduce the loss of life in future tragedies. Language: en
Your Work Will Be Your Most "Faithful Mistress": Thoughts on Work-Life Balance Occasioned by the Loss of Professor Jane Larson

“Work-Life” balance has become part of contemporary public discourse. Whether in boardrooms, job interviews, or classrooms, we speak of this balance as a goal that is within our reach and worthy of our pursuit, collectively and individually. To date, the bulk of the discourse on work-life balance presupposes that a balance is obtainable and desirable. This essay challenges that notion. At the heart of my challenge is an alternate perspective on women’s relationship to work, inspired by a seemingly off-hand, yet rich comment made by my dear friend, the late Professor Jane Larson: "Your work will be your most faithful mistress." The essay begins by describing the shortcomings of the contemporary frameworks invoked when describing women’s struggles with work, family and accomplishment (“having it all” and “work-life balance”). Following this critique, I borrow from the work of Jerome Bruner and Arthur Frank, considering narratives that more accurately reflect the turbulence of motherhood and illustrating the manner in which a relationship to work can serve as a ballast, a solace, a faithful mistress, for those endeavoring to achieve meaningful connections in their personal and their professional lives.
Oxygen, Hemoglobins, and Energy Usage in Actinorhizal Nodules

The nitrogen-fixing symbioses between higher plants and Rhizobium, Frankia, and cyanobacteria differ in a number of important ways. Identification of the nature and range of these differences may help in understanding how these systems function and the possible means by which new symbioses may be created by genetic engineering. My own recent studies have emphasized comparisons between actinorhizal plants where Frankia is the nitrogen-fixing symbiont, and legumes and Parasponia where Rhizobium is the symbiont
Perioperative seizure in patients with glioma is associated with longer hospitalization, higher readmission, and decreased overall survival

OBJECTIVE Seizures are among the most common perioperative complications in patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumor resection and have been associated with increased disease progression and decreased survival. Little evidence exists regarding the relationship between postoperative seizures and hospital quality measures, including length of stay (LOS), disposition, and readmission. The authors sought to address these questions by analyzing a glioma population over 15 years. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was used to evaluate the outcomes of patients who experienced a postoperative seizure. Patients with glioma who underwent craniotomy for resection between 1998 and 2013 were enrolled in the institutional tumor registry. Basic data, including demographics and comorbidities, were recorded in addition to hospitalization details and complications. Seizures were diagnosed by clinical examination, observation, and electroencephalography. The Student t-test and chi-square test were used to analyze di...
In vitro mass propagation of Cannabis sativa L.: A protocol refinement using novel aromatic cytokinin meta-topolin and the assessment of eco-physiological, biochemical and genetic fidelity of micropropagated plants

Abstract The present study describes a simple, efficient and one step regeneration system for rapid shoot proliferation and in vitro rooting of Cannabis sativa nodal explants using meta-topolin (mT), an aromatic natural cytokinin. The best response in terms of explants producing maximum number of shoots with maximum shoot length and percent explants producing shoots was recorded on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2 μM mT. Shoots multiplied on the same medium for two sub-cultures were able to induce healthy roots within 4–6 weeks. A separate medium containing auxin was not required for root induction. Regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized and hardened off in the climatic controlled grow room with 100% survival rate. Genetic fidelity of in vitro propagated plants was tested using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Our results show that all the ISSR profiles from in vitro propagated plants were monomorphic and comparable to that of the mother plant, thereby confirming the genetic fidelity. Qualitatively and quantitatively, cannabinoid profiles and the content, using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC–FID), in mother plant and in vitro propagated plants were found to be similar to each other. Furthermore, regenerated plants were eco-physiologically and functionally comparable to that of the mother plant. The maximized regeneration protocol using mT is thus effective and safe for large scale production of true to type C. sativa plants.
The nasal valve: a rhinomanometric evaluation of maximum nasal inspiratory flow and pressure curves.

The nasal valve is defined as the region of the nasal airway bounded by the caudal end of the upper lateral cartilages and the nasal septum. During inspiration this region of the nasal airway may collapse and produce a marked increase in nasal airway resistance. To define the function of this region, measurements of the nasal airway resistance in 38 subjects were performed. Using anterior mask rhinomanometry, right and left total nasal resistance, right and left upstream nasal resistance, right and left downstream nasal resistance, and right and left transmural collapsing pressure of the nasal valve were measured. Subjects who complained of nasal obstruction and had anatomical evidence of anterior nasal deformity showed a reduced level of transmural closing pressure compared with subjects complaining of no airway obstruction or those with anatomical evidence of posterior nasal deformity. This suggests that premature collapse of the nasal valve due to inadequate cartilaginous support is an important factor...
Cysteinate Protonation and Water Hydrogen Bonding at the Active-Site of a Nickel Superoxide Dismutase Metallopeptide-Based Mimic: Implications for the Mechanism of Superoxide Reduction

Nickel-containing superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) is a mononuclear cysteinate-ligated nickel metalloenzyme that catalyzes the disproportionation of superoxide into dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide by cycling between NiII and NiIII oxidation states. All of the ligating residues to nickel are found within the first six residues from the N-terminus, which has prompted several research groups to generate NiSOD metallopeptide-based mimics derived from the first several residues of the NiSOD sequence. To assess the viability of using these metallopeptide-based mimics (NiSOD maquettes) to probe the mechanism of SOD catalysis facilitated by NiSOD, we computationally explored the initial step of the O2– reduction mechanism catalyzed by the NiSOD maquette {NiII(SODm1)} (SODm1 = HCDLP CGVYD PA). Herein we use spectroscopic (S K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectroscopy) and computational techniques to derive the detailed active-site structure of {NiII(SODm...
Lead-Cadmium Interaction: Effects on Viral-Induced Mortality and Tissue Residues in Mice

Simultaneous exposure to lead and cadmium is highly probable due to common environmental sources of exposure. Mice were exposed simultaneously for 10 wk to lead and cadmium and effects were observe...
Religion and Non-traditional Families in the United States

Family forms that have historically been considered “nontraditional” and even “transgressive” are becoming increasingly accepted in the United States, bringing the United States into greater conformity with other western nations. The United States is still unique, however, in that religion continues to play an exceptionally powerful role in shaping Americans' perceptions of and engagement in non-traditional families. Focusing our attention on same-sex and interracial families specifically, we consider the recent work on how religion serves to stimulate and justify opposition or (in a minority of instances) support for such families. We contend that studies typically limit their focus to the cognitive aspects (beliefs, ideologies, identities, schemas, salience, etc.) of religion, while often ignoring the influence of religion's more structural aspects in shaping Americans' relationship to non-traditional families. Given that religion impacts Americans' approaches to family formation at the micro, meso, and macro levels, we propose a more Durkheimian perspective on the topic, one that synthesizes social psychological and structural frameworks in future studies, thus allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of religion's evolving role in American family formation. We also call for more attention to how religion shapes the functioning of non-traditional families.
Changes of albumin levels in children with sepsis

Objective To discuss the significance of serum albumin level in assessing severity,progress and prognosis of sepsis in children. Methods The clinical data of 212 patients diagnosed with sepsis admitted to PICU from February 2010to July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed,and 52 patients had severe sepsis and 31 patients had septic shock. Meanwhile,110non-sepsis patients were selected as controls. The relationships of hypoalbuminemia with pediatric critical illness score(PCIS),pediatric risk of mortality III(PRISM III) and prognosis were evaluated,and the change of albumin level in patients with different severity of sepsis was observed. Relative factors analysis of albumin level≤25 g/L was performed. Results As the serum albumin level was decreased,the PCIS was significantly decreased while the PRISM III was increased(P0.01). The serum albumin level was significantly different among children with septic shock,severe sepsis and sepsis and controls(F=13.938,P=0.000). The results of relative factors analysis showed that sepsis children with an albumin level≤25 g/L had more organ failures,higher mortality,longer hospital and PICU stay and more likelihood for ventilator support(P0.01). Lower albumin levels were accompanied with lower rates of recovery and improvement but higher mortality(r s=-0.161,P=0.000). Conclusions Hypoalbuminemia can be used as indirect indicator for severity of infection. The albumin level≤25 g/L indicated the severity of illness and prognosis in children with sepsis.
A Large-Eddy Simulation Study of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Influence on Stratified Flows over Terrain

AbstractThe impact of atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) interactions with large-scale stably stratified flow over an isolated, two-dimensional hill is investigated using turbulence-resolving large-eddy simulations. The onset of internal gravity wave breaking and leeside flow response regimes of trapped lee waves and nonlinear breakdown (or hydraulic-jump-like state) as they depend on the classical inverse Froude number, Fr−1 = Nh/Ug, is explored in detail. Here, N is the Brunt–Vaisala frequency, h is the hill height, and Ug is the geostrophic wind. The results here demonstrate that the presence of a turbulent ABL influences mountain wave (MW) development in critical aspects, such as dissipation of trapped lee waves and amplified stagnation zone turbulence through Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. It is shown that the nature of interactions between the large-scale flow and the ABL is better characterized by a proposed inverse compensated Froude number, = N(h − zi)/Ug, where zi is the ABL height. In addition, it...
The Sublime Object of Postmodernity

In the last several decades much discussion in the humanities and social sciences has focused on an array of purportedly new identities and political positions: postfeminist, post-Marxist, postcolonial and, of course, postmodern. This trend indicates substantial unease about historical periodization, a difficulty marking social or cultural tendencies. The "post" is an oddly retro-futurist conception that hinges on a central contradiction: on the one hand, an unwillingness to specify change in decisive, positive terms; on the other, an urgent declaration of radical transformation–the end of an era, the arrival of a brave new world. Our society is fundamentally different, says the post, but we can speak of it only in the terminology of the past. This form of self-description seems appropriate to an era marked by skepticism about ontological grounds. Yet it does not simply articulate anxiety about groundlessness; it also offers a form of psychic compensation; it offers a dramatic periodizing gesture itself as a new ground. In an age marked by the loss of the grand gesture, what could be more attractive than a grand gesture?
Elucidating the genotype–phenotype map by automatic enumeration and analysis of the phenotypic repertoire

The gap between genotype and phenotype is filled by complex biochemical systems most of which are poorly understood. Because these systems are complex, it is widely appreciated that quantitative understanding can only be achieved with the aid of mathematical models. However, formulating models and measuring or estimating their numerous rate constants and binding constants is daunting. Here we present a strategy for automating difficult aspects of the process. The strategy, based on a system design space methodology, is applied to a class of 16 designs for a synthetic gene oscillator that includes seven designs previously formulated on the basis of experimentally measured and estimated parameters. Our strategy provides four important innovations by automating: (1) enumeration of the repertoire of qualitatively distinct phenotypes for a system; (2) generation of parameter values for any particular phenotype; (3) simultaneous realization of parameter values for several phenotypes to aid visualization of transitions from one phenotype to another, in critical cases from functional to dysfunctional; and (4) identification of ensembles of phenotypes whose expression can be phased to achieve a specific sequence of functions for rationally engineering synthetic constructs. Our strategy, applied to the 16 designs, reproduced previous results and identified two additional designs capable of sustained oscillations that were previously missed. Starting with a system’s relatively fixed aspects, its architectural features, our method enables automated analysis of nonlinear biochemical systems from a global perspective, without first specifying parameter values. The examples presented demonstrate the efficiency and power of this automated strategy. A mathematical model can reveal the phenotypic repertoire of a gene circuit without the input of specific parameter values. Jason Lomnitz and Michael Savageau from the University of California, Davis, USA, designed this strategy for studying complex biochemical systems that are affected both by genes and the environment. It automates the process of parsing the characteristics of a biological system into distinct phenotypic categories without having to define the particular parameters of the surroundings. The researchers applied their method to a class of two-gene systems that had previously been shown to exhibit oscillatory behavior. This analysis revealed new oscillatory phenotypes compared to previous methods that relied on obtaining and plugging in experimentally determined parameters. This approach could offer new insights into complex natural systems and help synthetic biologists construct elaborate artificial systems.
Carotid body tumor imitator: An interesting case of Castleman's disease.

Background There are very few reports in the literature of Castleman's disease affecting the carotid artery and a single previous report of a case of Castleman's disease of the neck originally mistaken as a carotid body tumor. Case description We describe a rare case of Castleman's disease, manifesting with classic radiographic hallmarks of a carotid body tumor. The postoperative pathologic examination identified the resected mass as Castleman's lymphadenopathy. The management of this particular case is discussed, and the findings are highlighted. Conclusions We present a unique case of a tumor initially and incorrectly diagnosed as a carotid body tumor. However, after comprehensive treatment with endovascular and surgical modalities and subsequent pathologic examination, the diagnosis of this rare entity was made.
Academic Genealogy of Shoshichi Kobayashi and Individuals Who Influenced Him

Professor Yoshiaki Maeda, a co-editor of this volume, kindly asked me to prepare an article on academic genealogy of my brother Shoshichi Kobayashi. In the olden times, it would have been a formidable task for any individual who is not in the same field as the subject mathematician to undertake a genealogy search. Luckily, the “Mathematics Genealogy Project” (administered by the Department of Mathematics, North Dakota State University) [1] and Wikipedia [2] which document almost all notable mathematicians, provided the necessary information for me to write this article. Before I undertook this study, I knew very little about Shoshichi’s academic genealogy, except for his advisor Kentaro Yano at the University of Tokyo and his Ph.D. thesis advisor Carl Allendoerfer at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Neurobiological signatures associated with alcohol and drug use in the human adolescent brain

Magnetic resonance (MR) techniques provide opportunities to non-invasively characterize neurobiological milestones of adolescent brain development. Juxtaposed to the critical finalization of brain development is initiation of alcohol and substance use, and increased frequency and quantity of use, patterns that can lead to abuse and addiction. This review provides a comprehensive overview of existing MR studies of adolescent alcohol and drug users. The most common alterations reported across substance used and MR modalities are in the frontal lobe (63% of published studies). This is not surprising, given that this is the last region to reach neurobiological adulthood. Comparatively, evidence is less consistent regarding alterations in regions that mature earlier (e.g., amygdala, hippocampus), however newer techniques now permit investigations beyond regional approaches that are uncovering network-level vulnerabilities. Regardless of whether neurobiological signatures exist prior to the initiation of use, this body of work provides important direction for ongoing prospective investigations of adolescent brain development, and the significant impact of alcohol and substance use on the brain during the second decade of life.
Effect of electronic cooking on fatty acids in meats.

Fatty acids in beef, pork, and chicken cuts, cooked conventionally and in a microwave oven, are compared.
Looking for a light Higgs boson in the Zγ→ll̄γ channel

This is a copy of an article published in the Physical Review D © 2012 American Physical Society. The publication is available at http://prd.aps.org/
Electoral protest and democracy in the developing world, by Emily Beaulieu

What triggers electoral protests in the developing world? What role do incumbent and opposition parties play in shaping the electoral protests? And finally, how does information asymmetry alter the...
Ideal cycle evaluation of steam augmented gas turbines

A wide range of air-standard Brayton and modified-Brayton power cycles are evaluated to determine their second-law efficiencies and their volume flows per unit output. A cycle with reheating is chosen for further analysis on the basis of its potential for high efficiency through exploitation of its exhaust availability (exergy) and its low volume rates. This exploitation can be had either through a conventional Rankine bottoming cycle, or through injection of the bottoming cycle steam into the Brayton turbine. The Rankine bottoming cycle is superior with respect to second-law efficiency ; the cycle augmented by injected steam is superior with respect to volume flows. Examination of irreversibilities illuminates the reasons for the better efficiency of the Rankine bottoming cycle alternative.
A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial of N -Acetylcysteine in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders

OBJECTIVE The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine is being increasingly investigated as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). This study explored the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which frequently co-occurs with SUD and shares impaired prefrontal cortex regulation of basal ganglia circuitry, in particular at glutamate synapses in the nucleus accumbens. METHODS Veterans with PTSD and SUD per DSM-IV criteria (N = 35) were randomly assigned to receive a double-blind, 8-week course of N-acetylcysteine (2,400 mg/d) or placebo plus cognitive-behavioral therapy for SUD (between March 2013 and April 2014). Primary outcome measures included PTSD symptoms (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, PTSD Checklist-Military) and craving (Visual Analog Scale). Substance use and depression were also assessed. RESULTS Participants treated with N-acetylcysteine compared to placebo evidenced significant improvements in PTSD symptoms, craving, and depression (β values < -0.33; P values < .05). Substance use was low for both groups, and no significant between-group differences were observed. N-acetylcysteine was well tolerated, and retention was high. CONCLUSIONS This is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate N-acetylcysteine as a pharmacologic treatment for PTSD and SUD. Although preliminary, the findings provide initial support for the use of N-acetylcysteine in combination with psychotherapy among individuals with co-occurring PTSD and SUD. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02499029.
Abstract 2108: Regulation of nucleotide metabolism by mutant p53 contributes to its gain-of-function activities

Mutant p53 (mtp53) is an oncogene that drives cancer cell proliferation. We found that mtp53 associates with the promoters of numerous nucleotide metabolism genes (NMG). Mtp53 knockdown reduced NMG expression and substantially depleted nucleotide pools. Decreased GTP levels correlated with reduced activation of GTP dependent proteins (GTPases) and reduced invasiveness. Addition of exogenous GTP restored the invasiveness of mtp53 knockdown cells, suggesting that mtp53 promotes invasion by increasing GTP. Additionally, mtp53 creates a dependency on the nucleotide salvage pathway enzyme deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) for the maintenance of a proper balance in dNTP pools required for proliferation. These data indicate that mtp53 harboring cells have acquired a synthetic sick or lethal phenotype relationship with the nucleotide salvage pathway. Finally, elevated expression of NMG correlates with mutant p53 status and poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Thus, mtp539s control of nucleotide biosynthesis has both a driving and sustaining role in cancer development. Citation Format: Luis A. Martinez, Madhusudhan Kollareddy. Regulation of nucleotide metabolism by mutant p53 contributes to its gain-of-function activities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2108. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2108
Cross-Layer Optimization and Information Assurance in Decentralized Detection over Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensors generate a vast amount of data, which must be processed rapidly for the purpose of decision making. Stringent delay constraints typical of sensor networks suggest that a classical capacity/throughput analysis of the communication infrastructure associated with a sensor network may not offer an accurate assessment of overall performance. Rather, the allocation of system resources should be carefully crafted to optimize overall system performance. This work explores the potential benefits of a cross-layer design in the context of detection over sensor networks. The allocation of system resources is considered and overall performance for sensor systems subject to hard delay constraints is analyzed. A continuous-time Markov model is introduced to capture the unreliable nature of wireless connections. Based on this model, a sensor equivalent single-server queue is introduced and an overall performance metric is proposed. Numerical results suggest that substantial gains are possible through cross-layer optimization. A queueing-aware architecture outperforms both the instantaneous transmission model common to the decentralized detection literature and the throughput maximization approach often favored by the sensor network community. The performance evaluation methods presented in this paper provides an elegant framework to quantify the amount of physical resources necessary to achieve a desired performance level at the fusion center. More importantly, this research underscores the importance of a global system-theoretic view in the design of real-time applications over sensor networks.
Evidence that the ventral stream codes the errors used in hierarchical inference and learning

Hierarchical feedforward processing makes object identity explicit at the highest stages of the ventral visual stream. We leveraged this computational goal to study the fine-scale temporal dynamics of neural populations in posterior and anterior inferior temporal cortex (pIT, aIT) during face detection. As expected, we found that a neural spiking preference for natural over distorted face images was rapidly produced, first in pIT and then in aIT. Strikingly, in the next 30 milliseconds of processing, this pattern of selectivity in pIT completely reversed, while selectivity in aIT remained unchanged. Although these dynamics were difficult to explain from a pure feedforward perspective, a model class computing errors through feedback closely matched the observed neural dynamics and parsimoniously explained a range of seemingly disparate IT neural response phenomena. This new perspective augments the standard model of online vision by suggesting that neural signals of states (e.g. likelihood of a face being present) are intermixed with the error signals found in deep hierarchical networks.
Alaska’s Economy: The First World War, Frontier Fragility, and Jack London

The Northern Review 44 (2017): 327–346The two world wars had dramatically different effects on the Alaska economy. The military build-up during the Second World War created an economic boom and laid the foundation for the modern Alaska economy. The First World War contributed to an economic decline that followed the dramatic expansion of mining activity and population in the first decade of the century. The boom and bust story is familiar to anyone interested in the economies of frontier regions. The frontier is assumed to be a fragile economy dependent on the economic fortunes of its resource industries. The economy expands and contracts with staples production. The support sector plays a passive role in economic growth and development of the frontier. Jack London suggested a different role for firms in the frontier’s support sector. He hypothesized that in a staples bust some portion of this support sector would remain. This remainder would change the frontier economic environment, providing services and reducing costs for the future. The supporting industries become an active participant in a virtuous cycle of economic development on the frontier. The First World War provides a natural experiment to test Jack London’s hypothesis. This paper looks at the effects of the decline in Alaska’s staples industries, which started in the First World War, on the territory’s support sector. Did the supporting industries simply collapse like gold, copper, and fishing? Or did these industries seem resilient in the face of the staples decline? Census and Polk Directory data are used to test this hypothesis. This article is part of a special collection of papers originally presented at a conference on “The North and the First World War,” held May 2016 in Whitehorse, Yukon.https://doi.org/10.22584/nr44.2017.014
Impact of Electrode Roughness on Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) Diodes and Step Tunneling in Nanolaminate Tunnel Barrier Metal-Insulator-Insulator-Metal (MIIM) Diodes

In this chapter, the impact of electrode roughness and bilayer insulator tunnel barriers on the performance of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) diodes are discussed. The effect of bottom electrode roughness on the current versus voltage (I–V) characteristics of asymmetric electrode M1IM2 tunnel diodes is discussed first. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to deposit high quality insulators independent of bottom metal electrode. It is shown that bottom electrode roughness can strongly influence the I–V characteristics of M1IM2 diodes, overwhelming even the metal work function difference induced asymmetry. Devices with smoother bottom electrodes are shown to produce I–V behavior with better agreement with Fowler–Nordheim tunneling theory as well as yield a higher percentage of well-functioning devices. By combining high quality uniform tunnel barriers deposited by ALD with atomically smooth (~0.3 nm RMS roughness) bottom electrodes, highly nonlinear and asymmetric MIM tunnel diodes with good reproducibility and stable I–V behavior are produced. Next, the impact of nanolaminate bilayer insulator tunnel barriers on asymmetric metal work function metal-insulator-insulator-metal (M1I1I2M2 & M1I2I1M2) devices is discussed. It is demonstrated that bilayer tunnel barriers can be arranged to either enhance, oppose, or even reverse the asymmetry induced by the asymmetric work function electrodes. These results represent experimental demonstration that step tunneling (a step change in the tunneling distance through a bilayer tunnel barrier) can dominate the I–V asymmetry of M1IIM2 diodes with asymmetric work function electrodes. By combining bilayer tunnel barriers with asymmetric metal electrodes, devices are made with voltage asymmetry and nonlinearity that exceed that of standard single layer asymmetric electrode M1IM2 devices as well as that of symmetric electrode M1I1I2M1 devices.
Design and Commissioning of a Three-Barrel Shattered Pellet Injector for DIII-D Disruption Mitigation Studies

AbstractDisruptions are sudden unplanned terminations of tokamak plasmas that can lead to high thermal loads and runaway electrons (REs). Unmitigated disruptions in ITER are predicted to dissipate ...
Optimal Bayesian feature filtering for single-nucleotide polymorphism data

Many bioinformatics studies aim to find features that differentiate between two or more classes. Recent work proposes a Bayesian framework for feature selection that places a prior on the label-conditioned feature distribution. Assuming independent features, the optimal Bayesian filter is obtained and has been solved for Gaussian features. Here we extend the optimal Bayesian filter for categorical data, compare it with several algorithms in synthetic simulations, and apply it to breast and colon cancer SNP datasets. For the real datasets we select the top SNP's, find the genes that map to them, and perform enrichment analysis. Literature review suggests many of the top genes and pathways are involved in cancer.
Teacher candidates in the garden

ABSTRACTRecent science education reform has led to an increased emphasis on engaging students in inquiry and science practices rather than having them simply memorize scientific facts. However, many teachers of elementary science may themselves have had more traditional science learning experiences, and may therefore be unsure about inquiry-based teaching methods. One way to enhance preservice teachers' comfort with and desire to teach science using a hands-on approach might be to engage them in science learning experiences alongside children during their educator preparation program. The purpose of this article is to share how one faculty member and a cooperating teacher from a partner school involve teacher candidates in working with children in the school's garden, allowing them to personally experience inquiry while witnessing firsthand the potential benefits to children of authentic science learning through garden based activities.
Substrate effects on the microsphere photolithography process (Conference Presentation)

Microsphere Photolithography (MPL) uses an array of self-assembled microspheres as optical elements. Flood illumination is focused to a photonic jet by each microsphere. Simulation and experiments show that photonic jet can be as small as λ/3, with collimation of more than a wavelength. This provides significant potential for pattern transfer of sub-micron patterns over large-areas and offers an inexpensive alternative to direct-write techniques such as e-beam lithography or two-photon absorption. This has applications such as SERS and SEIRA templates as well as metasurfaces to control radiation heat transfer. For these applications, the underlying substrate is important for the device performance and often presents a considerable index-contrast with the photoresist. The substrate significantly affects the behavior of the photonic jet and changes the necessary dose, minimum feature size, and morphology of the exposed area. This paper explores the effects of the substrate on the process. Numerical models using commercial (HFSS) frequency-domain Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to simulate the interaction of light with the microsphere/photoresist/substrate. The distribution of the electric field is used to predict the exposure curve for the process. In general, metals and high index materials cause significant standing waves in the photoresist which modifies the hole morphology and ultimate feature size. These predictions are compared to i-line illuminated experiments with SEM measured hole dimensions for aluminum, germanium, and glass substrates. The objective of the paper is to establish design rules for the process which can be incorporated into the device design.
Signal-to-noise Ratio and Response Variability in Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia

Schizophrenic patients tend to have smaller and apparently more variable evoked potentials (EPs) than normal controls. The amplitude abnormality is consistent with a number of psychological theories of schizophrenia (e.g. Freud, Pavlov, Venables, Broen and Storms, Silverman) characterized by Epstein and Coleman (1970) as assuming that the “basic deficit in schizophrenia consists of a low threshold for disorganization under increasing stimulus input.” While it is difficult to compare specific components in recordings made from different laboratories, there is general agreement that the P100-N140-P200 complex is smaller in schizophrenics, regardless of sensory modality (see review by Buchsbaum, 1977). As predicted by the various theories, reduction in amplitude is particularly marked for high levels of stimulation such as rapid rates of stimulus presentation, high intensity (Landau, 1975; Rappaport, 1975), novel (Roth and Cannon, 1972) or paired stimuli (Shagass, 1976).
THE EXCITATORY ACTION OF SUBSTANCE P AND TRH ON SPINAL MOTONEURONS

The present report demonstrates that substance P and the hypothalamic-releasing hormone, TRH, which has been shown by immunohistochemical techniques to be localized within nerve terminals ending in the vicinity of spinal motoneurons, have an excitatory action on motoneurons with a potency approaching that of glutamate. The actions of substance P and TRH also resemble glutamate in that they often increase the conductance of the membrane. However, the responses differ from those of glutamate in two respects. Their actions are of long duration and the maximum depolarization rarely surpasses threshold. These results suggest that substance P and TRH provide a background facilitation of motoneurons.
Regulatory issues in microwave packaging

Abstract: This chapter reviews the main regulations in the US covering packaging for microwave products. It discusses their development and the current situation in such areas as safety and food contact materials.
Health insurance coverage is associated with access to substance use treatment among individuals with injection drug use: Evidence from a 12-year prospective study.

Abstract Objective Understand how insurance impacts access to services among people who have injected drugs. Methods 1748 adults who have injected drugs were assessed at twice-annual study visits between 2006 and 2017 (18,869 visits). Use of specialty substance use treatment, receipt of buprenorphine, and having a regular source of medical care were assessed for association with concurrent insurance coverage. Random intercept logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. Results When participants acquired insurance, they were more likely to report specialty substance use treatment (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.5), a buprenorphine prescription (aOR 3.3, 95% CI 2.0 to 5.5), and a regular source of medical care (aOR 6.3, 95% CI 5.1 to 7.8). Conclusion Insurance is associated with increased use of three important services for individuals who inject drugs. Implications Expanding insurance may facilitate access to substance use treatment and other needed health services.
Coordinated Patient Appointment Scheduling for a Multistation Healthcare Network

Outpatient services account for more than four-fifths of patient care in the United States, and most patients access these services via appointment scheduling. Because of the possibility of patient...
Heeding the Face of the Other: a Case Study in Relational Ethics

This article draws on the author’s engagement with, and writing about, his mother’s dementia as a vehicle for exploring the nature of relational research ethics. The philosophical foundations of such research may be found in the seminal work of Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas, whose reflections on the “I-Thou” relationship and “the face of the Other,” respectively, serve to illuminate the contours of such an ethics. Central to the broad perspective being considered is the idea of responsibility, both to and for other persons, and the kind of ethical attitude it entails. As the author avows, adopting and maintaining this attitude is challenging and difficult. By examining the trajectory of the relationship in question, with attention to both the challenges encountered and the ethical attitude required to meet them, we have in hand a potentially useful vehicle for advancing an Other-inspired form of relational research ethics.
How pre-service teachers’ sense of teaching efficacy and preparedness to teach impact performance during student teaching

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between early childhood/elementary pre-service teachers’ sense of teaching efficacy and feelings of preparedness and actual performance...
Parametric Resonant Control of Macroscopic Behaviors of Multiple Oscillators

Consider a finite collection of oscillators, which a user has limited means to perturb due to physical restrictions. We show that as long as the stiffness parameters of these oscillators can be harmonically perturbed, one can design a single shared perturbation, such that macroscopic trajectory tracking is achieved independently in each oscillator; that is, the oscillation amplitudes of all oscillators will approximate, respectively, an arbitrary collection of target functions. This control mechanism is based on the dynamical phenomenon of parametric resonance, which not only permits both increase and decrease of the oscillation amplitude by design, but also the simultaneous control of multiple oscillators with distinct intrinsic frequencies. A simulated animation of a remotely-powered-and-controlled array of circuits illustrates the efficacy of this control. Oscillators that can be controlled by this mechanism are not limited to harmonic ones, but those subject to additional weak damping, noise, and nonlinearity.
Humoral Amplification Systems in Inflammation1

Publisher Summary Nonspecific effector systems of inflammation appear to be phylogenetically more ancient than adaptive immunity. Late complement components, for example, have been recognized in invertebrates lacking any known immunoglobulins. With the evolution of adaptive immunity in the vertebrates, preexisting effector systems of inflammation appear to have been adapted to immunological activation, and specific immune responses, relatively feeble in themselves, are markedly amplified. The kinin-forming system and the complement sequence also have a capacity for self-amplification. Further, the systems involved in the inflammatory response are marked by a striking degree of mutual enhancement. Complex interrelationships are also apparent in the cellular aspects of inflammation and in the synergism between humoral and cellular contributions. The inherent tendency of these plasma systems of inflammation to amplify makes control factors critical in limiting the extent of inflammation and in preventing spontaneous activation. This chapter focuses on the reactions and interactions of two of the plasma effector systems: (1) complement and (2) the kinin-forming sequence.
Backward locomotor treadmill training combined with transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation in stroke: a randomized pilot feasibility and safety study.

Walking impairment impacts nearly 66% of stroke survivors and is a rising cause of morbidity worldwide. Despite conventional post-stroke rehabilitative care, the majority of stroke survivors experience continued limitations in their walking speed, temporospatial dynamics and walking capacity. Hence, novel and comprehensive approaches are needed to improve the trajectory of walking recovery in stroke survivors. Herein, we test the safety, feasibility and preliminary efficacy of two approaches for post-stroke walking recovery: backward locomotor treadmill training and transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation. In this double-blinded study, 30 chronic stroke survivors (>6 months post-stroke) with mild-severe residual walking impairment underwent six 30-min sessions (three sessions/week) of backward locomotor treadmill training, with concurrent anodal (N = 19) or sham transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (N = 11) over the thoracolumbar spine, in a 2:1 stratified randomized fashion. The primary outcomes were: per cent participant completion, safety and tolerability of these two approaches. In addition, we collected data on training-related changes in overground walking speed, cadence, stride length (baseline, daily, 24-h post-intervention, 2 weeks post-intervention) and walking capacity (baseline, 24-h post-intervention, 2 weeks post-intervention), as secondary exploratory aims testing the preliminary efficacy of these interventions. Eighty-seven per cent (N = 26) of randomized participants completed the study protocol. The majority of the study attrition involved participants with severe baseline walking impairment. There were no serious adverse events in either the backward locomotor treadmill training or transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation approaches. Also, both groups experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in walking speed immediately post-intervention that persisted at the 2-week follow-up. However, in contrast to our working hypothesis, anodal-transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation did not enhance the degree of improvement in walking speed and capacity, relative to backward locomotor treadmill training + sham, in our sample. Backward locomotor treadmill training and transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation are safe and feasible approaches for walking recovery in chronic stroke survivors. Definitive efficacy studies are needed to validate our findings on backward locomotor treadmill training-related changes in walking performance. The results raise interesting questions about mechanisms of locomotor learning in stroke, and well-powered transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation dosing studies are needed to understand better its potential role as a neuromodulatory adjunct for walking rehabilitation.
Magnetic bubble domain memories

Some attractive features of Bubble Domain Memory and its relation to existing technologies are discussed. Two promising applications are block access mass memory and tape recorder replacement. The required chip capabilities for these uses are listed, and the specifications for a block access mass memory designed to fit between core and HPT disk are presented. A feasibility model for a tape recorder replacement is introduced.
A comprehensive evaluation of monochloramine disinfection on water quality, Legionella and other important microorganisms in a hospital

Opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella are of significant public health concern in hospitals. Microbiological and water chemistry parameters in hot water throughout an Ohio hospital were monitored monthly before and after the installation of a monochloramine disinfection system over 16 months. Water samples from fifteen hot water sampling sites as well as the municipal water supply entering the hospital were analyzed using both culture and qPCR assays for specific microbial pathogens including Legionella, Pseudomonas spp., nontuberculous Mycobacteria [NTM], as well as for heterotrophic bacteria. Legionella culture assays decreased from 68% of all sites being positive prior to monochloramine addition to 6% positive after monochloramine addition, and these trends were parallel to qPCR results. Considering all samples, NTMs by culture were significantly reduced from 61% to 14% positivity (p<0.001) after monochloramine treatment. Mycobacterium genus-specific qPCR positivity was reduced from 92% to 65%, but the change was not significant. Heterotrophic bacteria (heterotrophic bacteria plate counts [HPCs]) exhibited large variability which skewed statistical results on a per room basis. However, when all samples were considered, a significant decrease in HPCs was observed after monochloramine addition. Lastly, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vermamoeba vermiformis demonstrated large and significant decrease of qPCR signals post-chloramination. General water chemistry parameters including monochloramine residual, nitrate, nitrite, pH, temperature, metals and total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) were also measured. Significant monochloramine residuals were consistently observed at all sampling sites with very little free ammonia present and no water quality indications of nitrification (e.g., pH decrease, elevated nitrite or nitrate). The addition of monochloramine had no obvious impact on metals (lead, copper and iron) and disinfection by-products.