cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategies for Probing Nanometer-Scale Electrocatalysts: From Single Particles to Catalyst-Membrane Architectures

The project primary objectives are to prepare and elucidate the promoting properties of materials that possess high activity for the conversion of hydrogen and related small molecules (water, oxygen, carbon monoxide and methanol) in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. One area of research has focused on the study of catalyst materials. Protocols were developed for probing the structure and benchmarking the activity of Pt and Pt bimetallic nanometer-scale catalyst against Pt single crystal electrode standards. A second area has targeted fuel cell membrane and the advancement of simple methods mainly based on vibrational spectroscopy that can be applied broadly in the study of membrane structure and transport properties. Infrared and Raman methods combined with least-squares data modeling were applied to investigate and assist the design of robust, proton conductive membranes, which resist reactant crossover.
The online platform economy: has growth peaked?

In this report the JPMorgan Chase Institute assembled one of the largest samples of participants in the Online Platform Economy to date: over 240,000 de-identified individuals who earned income between October 2012 and June 2016 from one or more of 42 different platforms. Our findings point to several dimensions of how the growth in online platform participation has slowed. First, growth in participation in the Online Platform Economy peaked in 2014 and has slowed since then. Second, while monthly earnings on capital platforms increased by 34 percent between June 2014 and June 2016, they decreased on labor platforms by 6 percent. Third, turnover in the Online Platform Economy is high: one in six participants in any given month is new, and more than half of participants exit within 12 months. Fourth, employed, higher-income, and younger participants are more likely to exit the Online Platform Economy within a year. Finally, non-employed individuals are more likely than the employed to participate in labor platforms but represent a decreasing share of participants as the unemployment rate drops. In sum, growth in online platform participation is highly dependent on attracting new participants or increasing attachment of existing participants. As outside options improve, recruiting and retaining platform workers might become increasingly difficult.
Cyclical Food Deprivation and Classical Conditioned Response Patterns

Classical conditioned response patterns of mice were recorded while food deprivation was scheduled for 0 and 23 hr on alternate daily conditioning sessions. A 10-sec tone was paired with one food pellet, with the location and movement of the subject tracked by computer during control and stimulus intervals. The 23-hr deprivation increased the frequency of virtually all changeover sequences to conditioned food cup responses relative to controls. In comparison, deprivation differentially increased and decreased specific changeover sequences to stimulus orienting responses. Deprivation also differentially affected response duration, with the modal duration of food cup responses increasing to 6–10 sec while stimulus-orienting responses remained relatively unchanged at 1 sec or less. The results suggest differential and dissociative effects of food deprivation upon the individual components of classical conditioned response patterns.
Abstract 1105: A chemotherapeutic approach to kill cancer stem cell rich ovarian ascites

Purpose: More than one third of ovarian cancer patients present with cancer cells in the abdomen (also known as ascites) at diagnosis, and almost all have ascites at recurrence (Ahmed and Stenvers 2013). It is well-documented that subpopulations of the ascites show cancer stem cell-like characteristics which possess enhanced resistance to chemotherapies and the capacity for distal metastatic spread and recurrent disease. Therefore, ascites are a major source of morbidity and mortality for ovarian cancer patients. The major deficiency that currently exists is that there is no effective and safe therapy for ascites since they are rich in cancer stem cells (CSCs) and resistant to chemotherapy. To overcome this deficiency, it is our objective to develop an effective chemotherapy approach that can destroy the CSC-rich ascites and inhibit recurrence. Methods: Several established human ovarian cancer cells as well as ascites obtained from the abdomen of an ovarian cancer patient (ASCITES) were cultured. Cells were sorted by FACS Cell Sorter to determine the percentage of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in each cell line. Dose response curves of different chemotherapeutic drugs such as Cisplatin (CDDP), 6-Methylpurine (6-MP), 5-Flurouracil (5-FU), SN-38, Monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) and Etoposide were studied in suspension culture enriched with cancer stem cells. The relative change in total CSC-rich spheroid mass which considers both number and volume of spheroids was used to determine Killing Index for each chemotherapeutic drug. To investigate inhibition of recurrence, the spheroids were monitored for 30 days post treatment and the viability of CSC-rich spheroids were studied by fluorescent microscopy. Results: Primary human ovarian A2780 and ASCITES (derived from ovarian cancer patient Ascitic fluid) were found to have CSCs with unlimited renewal capacity in suspension culture. While Cisplatin, 5-FU, 6-MP and Etoposide showed efficacy in killing CSC spheroids at effective doses around 1-10 μM, but MMAE and SN-38 showed the ability to either significantly diminish or completely eradicate CSC spheroids with effective doses as low as 10 nM. Importantly, no evidence of recurrence (repopulation of spheroids) was observed in MMAE and SN-38 treated group even after 30 days of post treatment. Conclusion: These promising results with the two chemotherapeutic drugs that show their ability to kill highly drug-resistant CSC-rich ovarian spheroids open the door to further investigate their use in the clinic. Currently, we are investigating the potential use of these two drugs in combination but at very low concentrations for the treatment of abdominal ovarian metastasis. Citation Format: Siddik Sarkar, Obeid M. Malekshah, Arash Hatefi. A chemotherapeutic approach to kill cancer stem cell rich ovarian ascites [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1105. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1105
Corpus Methods in a Digitized World

Data is available like never before. We believed that back in the 1990s, but corpora are even larger today than they were then, and corpora will continue to grow for some time to come. Thus far, corpus sizes have been limited by our ability to collect data, but we are rapidly approaching a fundamental limit on supply of written and spoken language. There are only so many people in the world, and they have only so much time to communicate with one another. It is becoming feasible to digitize a non-trivial fraction of the world’s communication. This ability is creating new opportunities for new audiences to join in on the fun. Google Ngrams makes it easy for anyone to apply corpus-based methods to half a trillion words (4% of all books ever printed). The popular press is referring to corpus methods and Google Ngrams as “addictive.” Computer Scientists are talking about “digital immortality” (recording much of human communication and storing it forever). Digital immortality may not be a reality just yet, but psychologists are currently recording most of what children say and hear between 2 months and 2 years of age in order to better understand language acquisition. As the world becomes digitized, there will be many applications of corpus-based methods that include lexicography (and so much more).
An Overview of Sexual Trauma in the U.S. Military

This article discusses the scope and impact of military sexual trauma (MST) in the U.S. Armed Forces. The authors explore aspects of the military setting that may make recovery from this form of sexual violence particularly difficult. Risk factors for MST as well as associated mental, physical, sexual, and relational health consequences are reviewed. The authors also introduce clinical issues unique to male and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) survivors. Finally, first-line psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies for subsequent mental health difficulties are reviewed, as are strategies for reducing barriers to health care for this population.
Rob’s World: Evolving Psychosis and the Transition to College

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are serious, chronic mental disorders characterized by psychotic symptoms, cognitive decline, and social withdrawal. Onset of psychotic symptoms peaks in the college age youth, but attenuated symptoms often begin a decade earlier. Accurately identifying which at-risk youth will develop schizophrenia and knowing when to initiate early treatment remain vexing problems. Planning and orchestrating the transition to college for high school students who exhibit symptoms of the at-risk mental state (ARMS) but have not yet had full onset of the disorder can be extraordinarily complex. This chapter describes a young man who developed symptoms of anxiety when he transitioned from middle school to high school, had symptoms of the ARMS in high school, and developed schizophrenia in his second semester of college that required he leave college. It traces the development of his illness and his treatment from social anxiety to brief psychotic symptoms, to severe psychosis. It illustrates a treatment approach that emphasized shared decision making (SDM), engagement, and respect, and how this frame was extended to transition planning. This young man made the transition to college well, but had an acute psychotic episode in his second semester from which he has not fully recovered.
Novel Technique for Determination of the Landau Level Density of States as a Function of Fermi Energy in the Two-Dimentional Electron Gas

This paper introduces a new technique for obtaining a quantitative description of the magnetic field density of states (DOS) in the two-dimensional (2d) electron gas. The density of states of a 2d electron gas in a magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the plane of the electron gas is ideally made up of delta function Landau level DOS peaks. These broaden under the influence of scattering. The shape and size of these peaks has been of considerable experimental and theoretical interest over the last two decades (Ando et al., 1982, and references therein). In our samples the electron density in the 2d gas may be varied by means of a gate bias. Two samples have densities variable from 0 – 4 × 1011 cm-2, and another is variable from 0 – 6 × 1011 cm-2. Through the use of a “lever-arm, “ determined from analysis of our data, which converts this gate bias to Fermi energy in the 2d gas, we are able to plot the DOS as a function of Fermi energy. This contrasts with previous DOS studies which have typically measured the DOS at fixed density of the 2d gas.
Increased cocaine reward in offspring of females exposed to morphine during adolescence

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that environmental exposures can impact the physiology and behavior of subsequent generations. We have previously demonstrated reduced morphine self-administration in the F1 and F2 offspring of female rats exposed to morphine during adolescence. The current study was designed to determine whether attenuated self-administration for a substance not in the opioid class is also observed in the F1 progeny of adolescent morphine exposed females. Female adolescent rats were administered morphine at increasing doses for 10 days (P30–39). Females then remained drug free for at least 3 weeks prior to mating with drug-naive males. As adults, male and female offspring (F1 animals) were tested for cocaine self-administration acquisition, progressive ratio, extinction, and reinstatement. In addition, β-endorphin peptide levels were measured in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of behaviorally experienced animals following reinstatement and in behaviorally naive littermates after acute cocaine (0 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.). Proopiomelanocortin, the polypeptide that is cleaved to produce β-endorphin, as well as β-endorphin, was examined in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and the nucleus accumbens, respectively. Finally, corticosterone was measured following acute cocaine. While no differences were observed during the cocaine acquisition phase (FR-1 and FR-5 schedules), under a PR schedule, Mor-F1 animals (both males and females) had increased motivated responding for cocaine. In addition, Mor-F1 males demonstrated enhanced reinstatement compared to Sal-F1 males. In Mor-F1 males, an acute injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased β-endorphin levels in the NAc compared to a saline injection while acute cocaine increased β-endorphin in the NAc in Sal-F1 males compared to saline injection. Following acute cocaine, Mor-F1 males had significantly lower levels of β-endorphin in the Nac compared to Sal-F1 males. Additionally, β-endorphin levels in the nucleus accumbens were negatively correlated with reinstatement behavior only in Mor-F1 males. Levels of POMC in the arcuate nucleus were elevated in Mor-F1 males compared to Sal-F1 males, a main effect driven primarily by POMC levels in the acute cocaine condition. These changes were not observed in Mor-F1 females. Finally, plasma corticosterone was increased in Mor-F1 males regardless of acute injection while Mor-F1 females displayed increased corticosterone in response to acute cocaine. These data indicate that morphine prior to conception increases the rewarding effects of cocaine in male and female offspring. In addition, sex-specific alterations in endogenous opioids and hypothalamic physiology were observed.
Self-awareness and the evaluation of hot flash severity: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the association of two dimensions of self-awareness with hot flash (HF) severity. METHODS A subset of women from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study (N = 232) provided data for these analyses. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate two dimensions of self-awareness (Internal States Awareness [ISA] and Self-Reflectiveness [SR]), and secondary factors of perceived stress, anxiety, and attitudes toward menopause as continuous with earlier life, health perceptions, and menopausal stage with respect to HF severity. The measurement and structural models were tested with a maximum likelihood missing values estimator and displayed good model fit. RESULTS Women with greater ISA reported greater HF severity (β = 0.17, P < 0.05). In addition, women in later menopausal transition stages reported greater HF severity and those with attitudes of continuity toward menopause reported less severe HFs (β = 0.20, P < 0.01, β = -0.30, P < 0.001, respectively). SR was not related to HF severity. Women with higher levels of SR reported greater perceived stress levels (β = .51, P < 0.001), and those with greater perceived stress reported greater anxiety levels (β = 0.63, P < 0.001) and attitudes of continuity toward menopause as less continuous with earlier life (β = -0.30, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS ISA (balanced self-awareness) was associated with greater HF severity, suggesting that enhanced balanced self-awareness may promote women's ability to evaluate their symptom experience. A multidimensional construct of self-awareness, perceived stress, anxiety, and attitude toward menopause are all plausible targets for future intervention studies of symptom management.
Exploring the Catalytic Mechanism of Cas9 Using Information Inferred from Endonuclease VII.

Elucidating the nature of the gene editing mechanism of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is an important task in view of the role of this breakthrough to the advancement of human medicine. In particular, it is crucial to understand the catalytic mechanism of Cas9 (one of the CRISPR associated proteins) and its role in confirming accurate editing. Thus, we focus in this work on an attempt to analyze the catalytic mechanism of Cas9. Considering the absence of detailed structural information on the active form of Cas9, we use an empirical valence bond (EVB) which is calibrated on the closely related mechanism of T4 endonuclease VII. The calibrated EVB is then used in studying the reaction of Cas9, while trying several structural models. It is found that the catalytic activation requires a large conformational change, where K848 or other positively charged group moves from a relatively large distance toward the scissile phosphate. This conformational change leads to the chang...
DEFECTS FORMED AT THE InGaAs/GaAs INTERFACE

The results of elastic strain relaxation for a system with low misfit and the possibility of an internal source of misfit dislocation formation will be discussed. As an example, layers of InxGa1-xAs grown on GaAs will be shown. Anisotropy of α and β dislocation introduction was observed for layers grown on an (001) GaAs substrate. The anisotropy was drastically enhanced by substrate tilting. Migration of In toward the surface and into the substrate was observed, even for layer thicknesses below the critical layer thickness for misfit dislocation formation. The In segregation also resulted in formation of platelets rich in In near the InGaAs/GaAs interface, and decoration of misfit dislocations by In. The local strain associated with such platelets may be large enough to promote the nucleation of dislocation loops which can be considered as a source of misfit dislocations. It is also found that, during post-growth annealing, 60° dislocations along directions tend to move by climb toward the orientation.
Flipping Statistics Courses in Graduate Education: Integration of Cognitive Psychology and Technology.

This article examines the integration of cognitive psychology research and technology within existing frameworks of statistics course design and implementation for a sequence of flipped graduate-le...
Nicknames and sex role stereotypes

Since nicknames are a very fluid component of language, they become a useful tool for revealing current sex role stereotypes. A study of 380 nicknames collected from 175 young women and men ages 14–19 shows that males assign most nicknames and males receive more names based on surnames; also, connotations of strength, largeness, hardness, and maturity are typical of male nicknames. For female nicknames, physical attributes are more important, and connotations are typically of beauty, pleasantness, kindness, and goodness. Nicknames do not reflect much difference in activity, however, a quality that in earlier studies is associated predominantly with males.
Joining Together Online: The Trajectory of CSCW Scholarship on Group Formation

The field of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) has an enduring interest in studying and designing technologies that bring people together in partnerships, teams, crowds, communities, and other collectives. As the technologies enabling group formation have evolved, so too have the guiding questions pursued by CSCW scholars. This review outlines the trajectory of scholarship on group formation with an eye towards the most pressing future questions in this area. To understand how CSCW researchers have studied technology-enabled group formation, we systematically review articles published at CSCW from 1992 to 2018. Exploring more than 2,000 potentially relevant works, we identified 35 focused on technologies and group formation. Content coding and thematic analysis revealed four periods and six themes in the study of online group formation. These themes include: group composition, self-presentation, assembly mechanisms, recruitment, organizing structures, and group culture. Quo vadis? Based on our review, we offer recommendations for the next generation of CSCW scholarship seeking to understand and enable collectives joining together online.
Medical history: as it was; as it will be

Born shortly after World War I in 1919 and living through multiple wars, conflicts, and cultural changes in his ninety-six years, Erich Meyerhoff remained a student of history throughout his long life. He regularly attended the annual meetings of the American Association for the History of Medicine and other history groups such as the Medical Library Association’s History of the Health Sciences well into his nineties. This essay traces how the field of history and historical methods changed during Erich’s life and suggests that he saw history and librarianship as a means for achieving social justice and social equity.
Magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg 2 Bi 2 single crystals

The trigonal compound ${\mathrm{EuMg}}_{2}{\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$ has recently been discussed in terms of its topological band properties. These are intertwined with its magnetic properties. Here detailed studies of the magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of ${\mathrm{EuMg}}_{2}{\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$ single crystals are presented. The ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{+2}$ spins 7/2 in ${\mathrm{EuMg}}_{2}{\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$ exhibit an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at a temperature ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}=6.7$ K, as previously reported. By analyzing the anisotropic magnetic susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}$ data below ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$ in terms of molecular-field theory (MFT), the AFM structure is inferred to be a $c$-axis helix, where the ordered moments in the hexagonal $ab$-plane layers are aligned ferromagnetically in the $ab$ plane with a turn angle between the moments in adjacent moment planes along the $c$ axis of $\ensuremath{\approx}{120}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$. An alternate but less likely magnetic structure is a planar structure with nearest-neighbor Eu spins aligned at $\ensuremath{\approx}{120}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ with respect to each other, where these ordered-moment layers are stacked along the $c$ axis. The magnetic heat capacity exhibits a $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ anomaly at ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$ with evidence of dynamic short-range magnetic fluctuations both above and below ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$. The high-$T$ limit of the magnetic entropy is close to the theoretical value for spins 7/2. The in-plane electrical resistivity $\ensuremath{\rho}(T)$ data indicate metallic character with a mild and disorder-sensitive upturn below ${T}_{\mathrm{min}}=23$ K. An anomalous rapid drop in $\ensuremath{\rho}(T)$ on cooling below ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$ as found in zero field is replaced by a two-step decrease in magnetic fields. The $\ensuremath{\rho}(T)$ measurements also reveal an additional transition below ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$ in applied fields of unknown origin that is not observed in the other measurements and may be associated with an incommensurate to commensurate AFM transition. The dependence of ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$ on the $c$-axis magnetic field ${H}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ was derived from the field-dependent $\ensuremath{\chi}(T)$, ${C}_{\mathrm{p}}(T)$, and $\ensuremath{\rho}(T)$ measurements. This ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}({H}_{\ensuremath{\perp}})$ was found to be consistent with the prediction of MFT for a $c$-axis helix with $S=7/2$ and was used to generate a phase diagram in the ${H}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}\text{\ensuremath{-}}T$ plane.
Deep Vein Thrombosis after Cement Intravasation during Hip Hemiarthroplasty.

Abstract Cement intravasation occurs in hemiarthroplasty when pressurization of cement through the medullary canal backflows through the nutrient vessels. This case report describes a 70-year-old woman who underwent hip hemiarthroplasty for a displaced left femoral neck fracture. Postoperative radiographs demonstrated radio-opacity consistent with local cement intravasation. A Doppler ultrasound study subsequently revealed a mobile thrombus at the confluence of the femoral and profunda femoris veins, as well as a nonmobile thrombus within the profunda femoris vein. The more proximal thrombus was determined to be cement that had intravasated during the index operation. The cement likely impeded venous flow, ultimately leading to the development of deep vein thrombosis just distal to the site of cement occlusion.
Coding in the Liberal Arts through Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning

An initiative recently established at our institution is creating new opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of code and computational thinking, and to embrace questions of access, equity and social justice. In this short paper we report on two contextualized computing courses in this initiative that introduce coding and computational thinking through contextualizing two subfields of AI: Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning. The goal was two-fold: to help students gain foundational computational skills to further their own creative and critical practices; and more broadly, to help them develop better-informed critiques of the use of algorithmic systems, especially AI technology.
Infrared Spectroscopy of Water and Zundel Cations in Helium Nanodroplets

Here, we show that electron impact ionization of helium (He) droplets doped with water molecules and clusters yield water and Zundel cations embedded in the droplets consisting of a few thousand he...
Achievement Motivation and Academic Dishonesty: A Meta-Analytic Investigation

Academic dishonesty is a rampant and troubling phenomenon in the educational sector. Although demographic factors have been linked with students’ academic dishonesty in the literature, many of these aspects are difficult to change. However, students’ motivation, a known malleable factor, may allow for opportunities to shape students’ beliefs, goals, and values, which can, in turn, mitigate academic dishonesty. In light of the growing literature on this topic, a research synthesis is needed to clarify discrepant findings and identify salient motivation factors associated with academic dishonesty. Thus, we examined relations between academic dishonesty and motivation as informed by achievement motivation frameworks. From 79 studies, meta-analytic results indicated that academic dishonesty was negatively associated with classroom mastery goal structure, individual mastery approach goals, intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, utility value, and internal locus of control. Academic dishonesty was positively linked with amotivation and extrinsic goal orientation. Students’ age was a significant moderator for the relation between intrinsic motivation and academic dishonesty. Implications from meta-analytic findings are drawn with regard to theory and practice.
The role and Meaning of Managerial Decision in Different Management Schools

The unity of conceptual apparatus in all management schools is an essential element for a progressive development of the science. The paper describes the aspect of dividing most resonant theorists of management into schools and the searching for a managerial decision idea in each of those schools. The aim of the work is to develop a generally accepted holistic view of the managerial decision through the analysis of the heritage of the classic theory of management. The research is of a theoretical and general nature, the authors use general scientific methods, including the historical method, analysis and synthesis, methods of analogy and generalization. Here you can find the approach based on the identification of a paradigm including the historical method, analysis and synthesis, methods of analogy and generalization. For the first time, schools of management have been compared from the point of view of their understanding of the essence of management decisions. The paper pays equal attention to the representatives of both world and domestic management theory. The conclusion is about the lack of a common understanding of management decisions shared by all schools. It also revealed the need to formulate its universal idea. As a study result, the sixth school has been added to the five schools identified in management theory. There has been formulated a paradigm for each one including a comparison of schools with respect to their views on a managerial decision. Also, there was compiled a table reflecting ideas about managerial essence and significance in management schools. The results of this research can be useful and relevant both for scientists, involved in management decision-making, and management practitioners who want to reasonably approach the problems and goals facing the organization. The perspective of further research lies in development of a definition that allows to get the most holistic picture of the managerial decision. The complexity of proposing that new definition lies in the need to consider all the achievements of all predecessors and it’s associated with the risk of initial rejection of the innovation by the scientific community.
Broadband solar distributed Bragg reflector design using numerical optimization

Abstract In this paper, we optimize the structure of the multi-paired SiO2/TiO2 Bragg reflector to obtain broad-band and broad-angled high solar reflectivity in visible to near-infrared frequencies. To control the refractive index contrast in the BR pairs, the porosity of SiO2 (same across all layers) is also allowed to change. We study the trade-off between the number of pairs and porosity and the overall performance of the structure. As a result of the optimization, we demonstrate that a 15-pair structure can yield an average reflectivity twice that of a quarter-wavelength stack rule design for extraterrestrial irradiance.
First principles investigation into the interwoven nature of voltage and mechanical properties of the LixNMC-811 cathode

Abstract Density functional theory has been used to investigate the electrochemical and mechanical properties of the well-known cathode material Li x Ni 0.833 Mn 0.083 Co 0.083 O 2 (Li x -NMC-811) as a function of Li concentration. We used the PBE functional with dispersion corrections to calculate a voltage in good agreement with experiment, which gradually changes from 3.3 to 4.2 V during the charging process. A similar profile trend can be found without dispersion, though voltages were lower by ∼ 0.4 V and the known NMC lattice collapse was not captured as it was with dispersion. We compare calculated quantities such as Young’s modulus ( E ) to better understand the mechanical response of the material to outside forces with varying Li concentration. We also compare Poisson’s ratio ( ν ) and the Pugh ratio ( γ ), which are used as metrics of ductility, for each of these lithiation concentrations. We have shown that as the concentration of Li reaches x = 0 . 25 , the material transitions from ductile to brittle based on both ductility metrics. It is near this concentration that we also see the largest change in voltage from our calculations. We propose that this transition between ductile and brittle provides additional insight and understanding into structural failure and, consequently, capacity loss during normal cycling for cathode materials. Furthermore, it demonstrates a mechanism for reversibly controlling mechanical properties by electrochemical means.
Pilot Study in Sampling-Based Sensitivity Analysis of NCHRP Design Guide for Flexible Pavements

The mechanistic–empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG), developed under the recently completed NCHRP Project 1-37A, is a complex tool. Sensitivity analyses typically vary a single input parameter while holding other parameters constant. A pilot project is outlined to identify the feasibility of a global sensitivity analysis of the design process by using random sampling techniques over the entire input parameter space. This study sampled the following flexible pavement input variables: hot-mix asphalt (HMA) base nominal aggregate size, climate location, HMA thickness, annual average daily truck traffic (AADTT), subgrade strength, truck traffic category, construction season, and binder grade “bump.” A total of 100 design sections were randomly sampled from these input parameters. The resulting predicted performance of longitudinal and alligator cracking, HMA and total rutting, and international roughness index were analyzed by using the Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients. These coefficients indicate that AADTT, HMA thickness, and subgrade strength have a significant impact on performance, whereas the remaining parameters have lesser impacts. The performance predicted with trial designs with default values of the least significant variables was compared with the original performance predictions using the original input factors. This comparison indicated that the default parameters produced similar performance to designs using all the input parameters. These results demonstrated that this type of sensitivity analysis may be used to identify important input parameters across the entire parameter space. The utilization of a “bumped” binder grade did not appear to have a significant influence on the performance predicted by the MEPDG models. These results indicate that further research to refine the MEPDG performance models may be necessary.
Optimal Strategic Monetary Policies in Dynamic Interdependent Economies

This paper applies the framework of dynamic game theory to the analysis of a number of issues in international policy making. First, a dynamic inflationary model is developed for two interdependent symmetric economies, where the objective of each policy maker is to trade off in an intertemporally optimal way the rate of inflation and unemployment in his economy. Then, the equilibrium is studied under a variety of behavioral assumptions. These include principally feedback Nash equilibrium, feedback Stackelberg behavior, and feedback consistent conjectural variations equilibrium, all under the feedback information pattern and with discounted objective functions defined on an infinite time horizon. These solutions are subsequently computed for different sets of numerical values assigned to some key parameters in the model, and compared with results obtained in a previous work using a static model.
IL-12 Suppresses Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 Expression on Tumor Vessels by Two Distinct IFN-γ–Dependent Mechanisms

IL-12 has been shown to be effective in enhancing antitumor responses. However, how IL-12 exerts its antiangiogenic effect is largely unknown. In this study, we elucidate this mechanism using B16 transfected to express IL-12 (B16/IL-12), a system that provides constant, local production of IL-12 within the tumor microenvironment. Intratumoral IL-12 resulted in a significant delay in tumor growth and phenotypic changes in the vasculature. Vessels found within B16 tumors are chaotic and poorly formed and express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3), a growth factor receptor not expressed on normal adult vessels. However, the vessels within B16/IL-12 tumors have a more normal morphology and do not express VEGFR3. We have shown that IFN-γ is required for IL-12 to suppress the aberrant expression of VEGFR3. Indeed, the presence of intratumoral IL-12 stimulates the immune system resulting in more IFN-γ–producing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes per tumor when compared with parental B16 tumors, which may have a marked effect on control of tumor growth. Interestingly, within B16/IL-12 tumors, T cells are necessary to suppress VEGFR3 expression on tumor vessels. Finally, using IFN-γ receptor knockout mice in a bone marrow chimera system, we show that the IFN-γ produced within the tumor suppresses VEGFR3 expression in two ways: 1) acting directly on tumor vessel endothelial cells, and 2) acting on the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to indirectly alter endothelial cells’ VEGFR3 expression. Our data indicate a mechanism in which tumor-infiltrating immune cells regulate tumor vessel phenotype.
Utility sponsored information and financial incentive programs: An analysis of economic efficiency

Abstract This paper models a consumer with imperfect information on the benefits of residential conservation investment. This informational deficiency results in too little of a conservation commodity purchased. A public utility selling its primary product to this consumer at a regulated price which is less than incremental cost has a profit incentive to encourage conservation investment. It attempts to increase this investment through two different approaches: a program which gives information on the benefits of conservation (an energy audit type program) and a program which offers a per unit subsidy on a conservation commodity. The paper compares a regulated firm's profit maximal allocation under each program type with the allocation which would be efficient or socially optimal.
Uncertainty in thermal time series analysis estimates of streambed water flux

[1] Streambed seepage can be predicted using an analytical solution to the one-dimensional heat transport equation to take advantage of the relationship between streambed thermal properties, seepage flux, and the amplitude ratio and phase shift associated with streambed temperature signals. This paper explores the accuracy of streambed-seepage velocity estimates from this method when uncertainty in input parameters exists. Uncertainty in sensor spacing, thermal diffusivity, and the accuracy of temperature sensors were examined both individually and in combination using Monte Carlo analysis. The analytical solution correctly reproduced known thermal front velocities above 1.25 m d−1, using both the amplitude-ratio and phase-shift methods, despite introduced uncertainty in any of the variables. Noise in temperature measurements (because of sensor accuracy) caused erroneous prediction of velocity for gaining stream conditions using both the amplitude ratio and phase shift. Uncertainty in the thermal diffusivity and sensor spacing resulted in incorrect velocity, primarily under gaining conditions, when using the amplitude ratio and near-zero velocity using the phase shift. For a sensor accuracy of 0.15°C, we present combinations of parameters for which the resulting signal amplitude is sufficiently large for use with the Stallman equation.
Strategic Repositioning of the Service Supply Chain

This study uses archival data, observations, and focus groups to better understand strategic repositioning in the service supply chain. The strategic management theory, resource based view theory and social exchange theory are used to develop a conceptual framework. The study attempts to answer three research questions concerning Blockbuster, Inc.: What is the role of technology innovation? How does strategic repositioning apply? What is the role of strategic alliances? A discussion and implications of the study are offered.
Achieving plasmon reproducibility from surfactant free gold nanostar synthesis

Obtaining reproducible plasmon resonances from nanostars remains a challenge for both surfactant and surfactant-free syntheses. For any nanostar application, a plasmon band with a reproducible spectral profile and λmax is a fundamental criterion. In particular, synthesis of biocompatible gold nanostars will benefit from surfactant-free methods to alleviate concerns over the cytotoxicity of many surfactants used in current synthesis techniques and the relative ease of synthesis. In this paper, we analyze different surfactant-free nanostar synthesis conditions and their influence on achieving plasmon reproducibility. Plasmon reproducibility was judged via the standard deviation of the extinction spectra's λmax and the spectral bandwidth. The synthesis temperature was the most influential factor in producing gold nanostars with reproducible plasmons. Nanostars synthesized at 5 °C exhibited a statistically (α = 0.05) smaller standard deviation in both their λmax and spectral bandwidth than nanostars synthesized at 25 °C. The reproducibility of the plasmon band was preserved even when the reaction conditions were adjusted to shift the position of the peak plasmon resonance. The high reproducibility of this approach, combined with the ease of synthesis, presents a significant step towards achieving gold nanostars with reproducible plasmons for biological applications. For example, photodynamic therapy, biomedical imaging contrast agents, and biosensing will all benefit from the reproducibility of the nanostars plasmon bands.
Multihop wireless ad hoc networking: current challenges and future opportunities

An ad hoc network is a collection of wireless mobile nodes that form a network without existing infrastructure or centralized administration. Nodes in the network cooperate to forward packets for each other, to allow mobile nodes not within direct wireless transmission range of each other to communicate. Ad hoc networks were initially studied for military applications more than 20 years ago, and they are currently a very active area of research within academia, government, and industry. However, few real applications of ad hoc networking have yet been deployed in common usage, and the commercial potentials of this technology have yet to be realized. In this talk, I will describe some of the current research challenges in ad hoc networking, and I will present what I believe are some the future real-world applications for this promising technology.
Covalent nitrophenyl diazonium functionalized silicene for spintronics: a first-principles study

We predict some novel electronic and magnetic properties of a functionalized silicene sheet by nitrophenyl diazonium (NPD) using first-principles calculations in the framework of density functional theory with dispersion corrections. Our calculations at the HSE06 level show that for the three coverage ratios of NPD considered in this work (i.e., NPD : Si = 1 : 8, 1 : 18 and 1 : 32), spin-polarized electronic structures can be always realized with NPD adsorption although the bandgap decreases upon reducing the NPD coverage ratio. The quasi-localized pz electrons of Si are identified to be responsible for the ferrimagnetism in these two-dimensional systems. Remarkably, the system with the NPD : Si = 1 : 8 ratio is predicted to be a bipolar magnetic semiconductor. As such, half-metallicity can be realized by applying a gate voltage with reversible spin polarization, making NPD-1/8 a potential candidate for future spintronic applications. This work offers a new tailor-made functionalization approach to realize magnetic semiconducting silicene.
Effects of Dissolved Gas on Viscoelastic Scaling and Glass Transition Temperature of Polystyrene Melts

The free volume theory of Gerhardt et al.1 (J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Phys. 1998, 36, 1911) is used to predict viscoelastic scaling factors describing the effect of dissolved gas content on the viscosity curves of polystyrene melts swollen with dissolved carbon dioxide and dissolved 1,1-difluoroethane. The predictions of the theory are compared to viscoelastic scaling factors measured by Kwag et al.2 (J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Phys. 1999, 37, 2771) for each system at 150 and 175 °C, at concentrations up to 10 wt % of dissolved gas, and pressures ranging up to 22 MPa. The agreement between the theory and experiments is very good for the polystyrene−CO2 system but only fair for the polystyrene−1,1-difluoroethane system. The experimental viscoelastic scaling factor values are also interpreted with the WLF equation to estimate the change in the underlying glass transition temperatures of the polystyrene−gas mixtures. The glass transition temperatures estimated from these rheological data are in very good agre...
The thermodynamic properties of the earth's lower mantle

Abstract The thermodynamic properties of the lower mantle are determined from the seismic profile, where the primary thermodynamic variables are the bulk modulus K and density ρ. It is shown that the Bullen law ( K ∝ P ) holds in the lower mantle with a high correlation coefficient for the seismic parametric Earth model (PEM). Using this law produces no ambiguity or trade-off between ρ 0 and K 0 , since both K 0 and K ′ 0 are exactly determined by applying a linear K − ρ relationship to the data. On the other hand, extrapolating the velocity data to zero pressure using a Birch-Murnaghan equation of state (EOS) results in an ambiguous answer because there are three unknown adjustable parameters ( ρ 0 , K 0 , K ′ 0 ) in the EOS. From the PEM data, K = 232.4 + 3.19 P (GPa). The PEM yields a hot uncompressed density of 3.999 ± 0.0026 g cm −3 for material decompressed from all parts of the lower mantle. Even if the hot uncompressed density were uniform for all depths in the lower mantle, the cold uncompressed mantle would be inhomogeneous because the decompression given by the Bullen law crosses isotherms; for example, the temperature is different at different depths. To calculate the density distribution correctly, an isothermal EOS must be used along an isotherm, and temperature corrections must be placed in the thermal pressure P TH . The thermodynamic parameters of the lower mantle are found by iteration. Values of the three uncompressed anharmonic parameters are first arbitrarily selected: α 0 (hot), the coefficient of thermal expansion; γ 0 , the Gruneisen parameter; and δ, the second Gruneisen parameter. Using γ 0 and the measured ρ 0 (hot) and K 0 (hot), the values of θ 0 (Debye temperature) and q = dln γ /dln ρ are found from the measured seismic velocities. Then from ( αK T ) 0 and q the thermal pressure P TH at all high temperatures is found. Correlating P TH against T to the geotherm for the lower mantle, P TH is found at all depths Z . The isothermal pressure, along the 0 K isotherm, at every Z is found by subtracting P TH from the measured P given by the seismic model. Using the isothermal pressure at depth Z , the solution for the cold uncompressed density ρ 0C and the cold uncompressed bulk modulus, K T 0 is found as a trace in the K T 0 − ρ 0C plane. A narrow band of solutions is then found for ρ 0C and K T 0 at all depths. The thermal expansion at all T is found from [ ρ 0C − ρ 0 (hot)/ ρ 0C . From Suzuki's formula, the best fit to the thermal expansion determines γ 0 and α 0 (hot). When the values of these two parameters do not agree with the original assumptions, the calculation is repeated until they do agree. In this way all the important thermodynamic parameters are found as a self-consistent set subject only to the assumptions behind the equations used.
Chronic kidney disease and cognitive impairment in menopausal women.

Background: Although end-stage renal disease has been associated with cognitive impairment, the relation between lesser degrees of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cognitive impairment is less well understood. Methods: Data for 1,015 women enrolled at 10 of the 20 Heart Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study clinical sites were analyzed. All participants were younger than 80 years and had established coronary artery disease at study entry. Participants underwent 6 standard tests of cognitive function evaluating various domains. Unadjusted, residual age- and race-adjusted, and multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression models were used. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease regression equation. In addition to analyses across the spectrum of GFRs, CKD was categorized as mild (estimated GFR [eGFR], 45 to 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), moderate (eGFR, 30 to 44 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), and severe (eGFR, 2 ) according to a modification of recently established classification guidelines. Results: Mean eGFR was 57 ± 14 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . In multivariable analyses, eGFR was associated significantly with impairment in global cognition, executive function, language, and memory (∼15% to 25% increase in risk for dysfunction/10-mL/min/1.73 m 2 decrement in eGFR). Associations among eGFR and cognitive function were independent of residual effects of age and race (2 key determinants of GFR) and the contributions of education, lifestyle factors, stroke, diabetes, and other laboratory variables. Conclusion: CKD is associated with cognitive impairment in menopausal women with coronary artery disease.