cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A FEM analysis of crack growth in microcracking brittle solids

In this study large scale microcracking ahead of the growing main crack in brittle solids was studied numerically. The random nucleation, orientation and size effects of discrete microcracks and resulting interactions are fully accounted for in a hybrid element model. The results obtained were compared with the available continuum solutions. The continuum description of microcracking can provide a reasonable estimation of shielding resulting from pre-nucleated and continuous nucleation of microcracks ahead of the growing main crack. However, it fails to distinguish the effects of microcrack zone length and the role of the wake region during the crack extension. The knowledge of the magnitude of shielding is not sufficient to predict the development of the R-curve behavior. It is essential to know the inherent fracture toughness of the material undergoing microcracking, since not every shielding event during the course of crack extension corresponds to an increase in the R-curve. It will also be shown that crack branching and crack kinking can readily develop as a result of microcracking.
A scalable formal verification methodology for pipelined microprocessors

We describe a novel, formal verification technique for proving the correctness of a pipelined microprocessor that focuses specifically on pipeline control logic. We iteratively deconstruct a pipeline by merging adjacent pipeline stages, allowing for the verification to be done in several easier steps. We present an inductive proof methodology that verifies that pipeline behaviour is preserved as the pipeline depth is reduced via deconstruction; this inductive approach is less sensitive to pipeline depth and complexity than previous approaches. Invariants are used to simplify the proof, and datapath components are abstracted using validity checking with uninterpreted functions. We present experimental results from the formal verification of a DLX five-stage pipeline using our technique.
Optimum finite-length equalization for multicarrier transceivers

A new criterion for partially-equalizing severe ISI channels to reduce the cyclic prefix overhead of the discrete multitone (DMT) transceiver, assuming a fixed transmission bandwidth, is introduced. The equalized DMT is shown to recover a significant portion of the performance loss incurred because of the use of a moderate-size FFT in the DMT to reduce latency and implementation cost. In particular, equalizers designed using our new criterion result in a higher DMT performance margin than traditional mean-square-error DMT equalizers. Finally, additional promising methods that further enhance the performance of the equalized DMT are investigated.
Automated Reasoning and Bledsoe’s Dream for the Field

In one sense, this article is a personal tribute to Woody Bledsoe. As such, the style will in general be that of private correspondence. However, since this article is also a compendium of experiments with an automated reasoning program, researchers interested in automated reasoning, mathematics, and logic will find pertinent material here. The results of those experiments strongly suggest that research frequently benefits greatly from the use of an automated reasoning program. As evidence, I select from those results some proofs that are better than one can find in the literature, and focus on some theorems that, until now, had never been proved with an automated reasoning program, theorems that Hilbert, Church, and various logicians thought significant. To add spice to the article, I present challenges for reasoning programs, including questions that are still open.
Plasmapheresis in the dysproteinemias.

: The dysproteinemias consist of a broad range of serious disease states with the common thread of excessive production of an abnormal, or para-protein. Various clinical syndromes may arise, either from the underlying disease process, the excess paraprotein, or both. Clinical presentation depends upon the organ system(s) affected by the abnormal protein. Diseases included under the classification of dysproteinemias include cryoprotein-related diseases, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, hyperviscosity syndrome, monoclonal gammopathy, multiple myeloma, light chain disease, and amyloidosis. Plasmapheresis, often in conjunction with other therapies, has been widely used to treat the dysproteinemias and their resulting clinical syndromes. Automated plasmapheresis, which separates plasma from the cellular blood elements by centrifugation, is used most commonly in the United States. Membrane separation and immunoadsorption techniques are more commonly used in Europe and Japan. In automated plasmapheresis, the plasma is removed from the patient's circulation and replaced with a protein-based fluid such as 5% human albumin solution or plasma protein fraction or with fresh frozen plasma. Membrane separation and immunoadsorption allow the offending proteins to be removed more selectively from the patient's plasma prior to the plasma being returned to the patient. This review article presents a description of each disease, the rationale for plasmapheresis therapy, recommended schedules of plasmapheresis, and the use of adjunctive therapies. Results of published studies, case reports, and the author's experience in treating these diseases will serve as the foundation for discussion.
Perceptions Of Reading Assignments: A Comparison Of Business Students And Professors

How do the perceptions of reading assignments of students and professors differ? This study surveyed undergraduate business students and professors to address this question. A review of literature indicated that professors believe that reading assignments are an important part of the learning process while students view reading as less important. Two questionnaires were developed; one for professors and one for students. One hundred four students and twenty-two professors participated in the study. Cluster sampling was used to select student participants and all business school professors were polled. The results will assist with the understanding of college teaching and the development of teaching methods. The findings of this survey are that professors and students have similar perceptions concerning textbook requirements, the percentage of students who buy textbooks, and the number of pages required for weekly readings. The results indicate that 95% of professors and 93% of the students say that a textbook is required for business courses. The professors believe that 70% of the students buy textbooks and 77% of the students indicated that they actually did buy their books. The perception of professors and students concerning the number of pages assigned were similar with 69.9% of the students and 73.9% of the professors indicating that from one to fifty pages was the average weekly assignment. The findings also suggest that professors and students differ in their perceptions of the importance of reading the textbook to course grades, the percentage of examination questions derived from the textbook, student understanding of reading materials, and whether a student can earn an “A” in a course without reading the textbook. Ninety-five percent of the Professors compared to 52.4% of the students believe that reading the textbook is important or very important to course grades. When asked where examination questions came from 78.1% of the professors and only 32.7% of the students said that 60% or more of the test questions come from textbooks. A total of 82.6% of the professors and 48.1% of the students indicated that students often or always understand textbook readings without explanation. This results in 51.9% of the students stating that they understand the textbook only sometimes, rarely or never without explanation. Thirty-four percent of the students agreed or strongly agreed that it is easy to make an A or B in a course without reading the textbook and only 4.3% of the professors believed that a student could make an A or B in the classes they teach without reading the textbook.
Reducing cigarette sales to minors in an urban setting: Issues and opportunities for merchant intervention

Abstract Introduction: Intervention studies to reduce cigarette sales to minors have been conducted primarily in suburban settings. Little is known about sociocultural factors influencing cigarette sales to minors in urban settings. This study sought to determine sociodemographic and cultural factors that may play a role in cigarette sales and in efforts to reduce sales to minors in urban areas. Methods: Merchant education and follow-up surveys were conducted in small local stores in predominantly African-American urban census tracts in Baltimore. The stores had prior evidence of cigarette sales to minors. Results: Merchants reported hostility (66%) and foul language (64%) when they requested youth identification. Youthful-oriented advertising of cigarettes was highly prevalent in all stores and moreso in stores owned and staffed by Asian merchants. Advertising with specific youthful content was predictive (OR = 3.97; 95% CI = 1.70, 9.23; P = .0014) of higher requests for cigarettes from minors. Conclusions: Youth-oriented cigarette advertising is a prevalent environmental risk for urban youth. Differences between Asian and African-American merchants suggest socioethnic factors may be an influential component of illegal sales and educational campaigns to reduce smoking among minors.
Determining Synthetic Routes to Consumer Product Ingredients through the Use of Electronic Resources

An activity is described in which students in the first semester of a two semester organic chemistry laboratory class are introduced to the use of SciFinder. Students are required to determine the structures of three compounds as well as additional information regarding the synthesis of one of them using some of the features available in SciFinder.
Currents in an Interoceanic Canal

The feasibility of a sea-level canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is under consideration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the agent for a five-man Interoceanic Canal Commission appointed by President Johnson. This paper describes the tidal and hydrologic studies made for the feasibility study. The study estimates tidal currents and evaluates their impact on the canal and the potential shipping. Considerable variation in character and range of tides is experienced. Currents in a sea-level canal were based on a mathematical model utilizing an explicit finite difference method. The current varies with tidal range and phasing and canal characteristics; cross-sectional width and depth, length, and roughness. Currents caused by the flow of fresh water during flood times are also considered. A method of reducing tidal currents is described.
Analysis and Automatic Estimation of Children's Subglottal Resonances.

Models and measurements of subglottal resonances are generally made from adult data, but there are several applications in which it would be useful to know about subglottal resonances in children. We therefore conducted an analysis of both new and old recordings of children’s subglottal acoustics in order 1) to produce a fuller picture of the variability of children’s subglottal resonances, and 2) to confirm that existing models of subglottal acoustics can be reasonably applied to children. We also tested the effectiveness of recent algorithms for estimating children’s subglottal resonances from speech formants and the fundamental frequency, which were originally formulated based on adult data. It was found that these algorithms are effective for children at least 150cm tall. Index Terms: subglottal resonances, child speech, speech production, speaker normalization
Toward empirical behavior laws: I. Conditioned reinforcement

A “totality of reaction” hypothesis, based on Premack’s theory of reinforcement, seems to encompass a variety of conditioned reinforcement data.
Langerhan’s Cell Sarcoma: Two Case Reports

Langerhan’s cell sarcoma (LCS) is a rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis. To our knowledge, only sixty-six cases have been published. We discuss two patients who presented very differently with LCS, as well as a recently published review of all sixty-six cases. Our first case had a complicated history of metastatic, high-grade myxofibrosarcomas and presented with a single skin lesion of LCS which was treated with resection to a positive margin and adjuvant radiotherapy. The LCS recurred locoregionally and was again resected. The patient is alive two years after initial diagnosis. The second case presented with bone marrow and splenic involvement, leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. This patient had an excellent response to etoposide, prednisone, oncovorin, cyclophosphamide, and adriamycin, with normalization of the complete blood count, negative bone marrow biopsy at follow up, and splenectomy without viable neoplasm. This patient is alive without signs of disease at 16 months after initial diagnosis.
Translatoric Spinal Manipulation (TSM™) for Physical Therapists

Krauss JR, Evjenth O, Creighton D. Minneapolis, MN 55447, Lakeview Media LLC, 2006, spiralbound (with DVD), 134 pp, illus, ISBN: 978-1-59975-195-5, $79.95. This is an excellent workbook for physical therapists interested in developing their manual therapy skills. It is extremely well organized with 6 chapters: “Introduction,” “Applying TSM,” and 1 chapter for each spinal region—cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, and sacroiliac joint. The book is spiralbound so it will lie flat when opened. In the authors’ clinical experiences, they observed that many commonly used manipulation techniques did not relieve pain or improve segmental hypomobility. They concluded that this was because the techniques lacked specificity of forces and involved the use of large angular or rotational forces. The authors developed the techniques of translatoric spinal manipulation (TSM) as a method of spinal manipulation that specifically isolates motion to a single segment. Translatoric spinal manipulation is defined …
The Effect of Digital Rectal Examination on the Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Concentration: Results of a Randomized Study

AbstractTo determine the effect of digital rectal examination on the serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration a prospective, randomized, controlled trial involving 143 patients was conducted. Of the patients 86 (60%) had benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 47 (33%) had prostate cancer and 10 (7%) had chronic prostatitis. The study group consisted of 71 men, all of whom had a serum PSA determination followed by a digital rectal examination and then a second serum PSA determination. The control cohort consisted of 72 men, all of whom had 2 serum PSA determinations without an intervening digital rectal examination. The median change in the serum PSA level for the study group was 0.4ng./ml. compared to –0.1ng./ml. for the control cohort (p <0.0001). For 76% of the study patients the second serum PSA level was greater than the initial value; only 32% of the control patients exhibited a higher second serum PSA level than the initial level (p <0.0001). However, only 4 patients with an initial PSA valu...
Pediatric Lung Transplantation: An Emerging Program

Success has many measures, and team members each have personal criteria, but the success of our program is measured in the lives of our patients. To this end, every person associated with the program had a sense of ownership in it. It was imperative, in overcoming resistances, to treat people as individuals with valuable input, involve those affected in the planning, and provide complete and accurate information. Every person understood the process as a team effort. No one person acted alone, although key persons orchestrated the efforts of many. The instruments used were team building, communication, commitment, and collaboration. Problems and resultant pressures were viewed as challenges and opportunities for growth. When mistakes were made, we tried to learn from them, support each other, and move forward. Emphasis was on accomplishments, strengths, and unrealized potential. We learned from each other and from our patients. A close-knit team is an essential component of a successful program. The team is composed of professionals as active participants with mutual goals and a common purpose. Each member brings unique expertise, insights, personality, and experience in a cooperative venture to exchange information, identify problems, and reach a consensus. Time acts as a catalyst for members to learn to respect and appreciate each other. Cohesiveness evolves in a climate of acceptance, flexibility, and understanding. Members support and help each other. Consumers are involved with team members to participate in planning for care. In the space of 1 year, in spite of initial chaos from the Ready! Fire! Aim! approach, we have developed a sophisticated, comprehensive program for children with end-stage lung disease that can grow from a solid foundation. As we approach the second year and gain experience, we continue to evaluate our results and refine our aim.
Differentiating visual from response sequencing during long-term skill learning

The dual-system model of sequence learning posits that during early learning there is an advantage for encoding sequences in sensory frames; however, it remains unclear whether this advantage extends to long-term consolidation. Using the serial RT task, we set out to distinguish the dynamics of learning sequential orders of visual cues from learning sequential responses. On each day, most participants learned a new mapping between a set of symbolic cues and responses made with one of four fingers, after which they were exposed to trial blocks of either randomly ordered cues or deterministic ordered cues 12-item sequence. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups n = 15 per group: Visual sequences same sequence of visual cues across training days, Response sequences same order of key presses across training days, Combined same serial order of cues and responses on all training days, and a Control group a novel sequence each training day. Across 5 days of training, sequence-specific measures of response speed and accuracy improved faster in the Visual group than any of the other three groups, despite no group differences in explicit awareness of the sequence. The two groups that were exposed to the same visual sequence across days showed a marginal improvement in response binding that was not found in the other groups. These results indicate that there is an advantage, in terms of rate of consolidation across multiple days of training, for learning sequences of actions in a sensory representational space, rather than as motoric representations.
Gene therapy for animal models of Krabbe disease

G therapy is currently being investigated to treat the animal models of many lysosomal storage diseases including globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) or Krabbe disease. These therapies resulted in increased levels of galactocerebrosidase (GALC) activity and significant pathological improvements in central nervous system (CNS), but did not result in a normal life span. This was true in our own experiments injecting GALC-expressing viral vectors into the CNS of twitcher (twi) mice, the mouse model of GLD. However, using AAVrh10 serotype for packaging of our AAV2-mGALC construct resulted in an extended life and reduced symptoms in mouse model of Krabbe disease. The viral particles were injected into cerebral ventricles in both brain hemispheres (ICV), into cerebellar cortex (IC) and into the tail vein (IV) of the twi mice. The combination of these different delivery routes resulted in widespread GALC activity and healthier myelin throughout the CNS. Histochemical staining using X-gal and immunohistochemical staining using anti-GALC antibody on frozen brain sections of the treated mice demonstrated high levels of GALC expression near the site of injection, hippocampus, choroid plexus, and cortical regions. The Purkinje cell region in cerebellum was also strongly positive using X-gal staining. GALC activity measured in different brain sections of a treated mouse demonstrated high activity in all sections with the highest level of activity being 42.9 nmol/h/mg protein (compared to 0.0-0.02 in untreated affected and 2-5 in control mice) in the mid-brain area. The treated mice had less twitching, increased mobility and prolonged life span compared to untreated affected mice. While some of the treated mice lived 140 days, the average life span of these mice was about 100 days compared to 35-40 days in untreated affected mice. This study demonstrates the synergistic effect of the combined ICV, IC and IV injections of the AAVrh10 vector in the mouse model of Krabbe disease. At this time we are using the same vector expressing canine GALC and packaged into AAVrh10 to treat dog model of this disorder.
Towards Autonomous Moderation of an Assembly Game

Socially Assistive Robotics (SAR) is the field of study dedicated to developing algorithms and models that enable robots to assist users in goal-directed interactions, often in situations connected to improving health and wellness or enriching education [1]. In this work, we address one extension of SAR into multi-party interactions: robots acting as moderators, facilitating group interactions. This extension of SAR to multi-party interactions could have applications in group interactions across the age range, from supporting group learning for children, to facilitating positive intergenerational interactions in family groups playing collaborative games. Based on prior work in the social sciences [2], [3], we consider two types of goals for a group: those related to either the task (what the group is trying to achieve, such as assembling tokens) or to social aspects of the interaction (how the group should do the task; for example, maximizing the number of intra-group interactions). In order to reduce the state space of the problem, we focus on moderator behaviors in which the moderator helps the group achieve these goals by assigning or reassigning resources. These resources can include both social resources such as the conversational floor or participant attention, and physical resources such as taskrelated objects. The approach is summarized in Figure 1. We provide an overview of an algorithm for moderation in a collaborative assembly game, as well as the design for an evaluation study examining the effect of different objective functions for the model.
Polynomially linked additive functions—II

We continue the study of additive functions $$f_k:R\rightarrow F \;(1\le k\le n)$$ linked by an equation of the form $$\sum _{k=1}^n p_k(x)f_k(q_k(x))=0$$ , where the $$p_k$$ and $$q_k$$ are polynomials, R is an integral domain of characteristic 0, and F is the fraction field of R. A method is presented for solving all such equations. We also consider the special case $$\sum _{k=1}^n x^{m_k}f_k(x^{j_k})=0$$ in which the $$p_k$$ and $$q_k$$ are monomials. In this case we show that if there is no duplication, i.e. if $$(m_k,j_k)\ne (m_p,j_p)$$ for $$k\ne p$$ , then each $$f_k$$ is the sum of a linear function and a derivation of order at most $$n-1$$ . Furthermore, if this functional equation is not homogeneous then the maximal orders of the derivations are reduced in a specified way.
Consistency and robustness of forecasting for emerging technologies: the case of Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles

Abstract There are a large number of accounts about rapidly declining costs of batteries with potentially transformative effects, but these accounts often are not based on detailed design and technical information. Using a method ideally suited for that purpose, we find that when experts are free to assume any battery pack design, a majority of the cost estimates are consistent with the ranges reported in the literature, although the range is notably large. However, we also find that 55% of relevant experts’ component-level cost projections are inconsistent with their total pack-level projections, and 55% of relevant experts’ elicited cost projections are inconsistent with the cost projections generated by putting their design- and process-level assumptions into our process-based cost model (PBCM). These results suggest a need for better understanding of the technical assumptions driving popular consensus regarding future costs. Approaches focusing on technological details first, followed by non-aggregated and systemic cost estimates while keeping the experts aware of any discrepancies, should they arise, may result in more accurate forecasts.
Chemiluminescence resulting from an interaction between imipramine and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The addition of imipramine to a suspension of resting polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) resulted in the generation of chemiluminescence (CL) (100,000 cpm with 1 X 10(-4)M imipramine). In the presence of a particle (zymosan) capable of activating the PMNs to generate reactive oxygen species, the magnitude of CL observed with 1 X 10(4)M imipramine was greatly enhanced (greater than 1,000,000 cpm). No CL was detected upon the addition of imipramine to PMNs isolated from a chronic granulomatous child or to alveolar macrophages isolated from rats. Another tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline, failed to generate CL with PMNs either alone or in the presence of zymosan; however, both imipramine and amitriptyline generated CL upon addition to the xanthine oxidase-purine superoxide generating system. Although the mechanism by which this drug-cell interaction results in the generation of CL is not known, the observations are suggestive that the CL may originate, in part, from the activation of imipramine by some reactive oxygen state(s).
How and why we should take deradicalization seriously

Deradicalization programmes are the cornerstone of counter-terrorism strategies in many countries, yet few have been evaluated for their effectiveness. Stakeholders must introduce standards to ensure basic elements are in place, such as programme development, staff training, advisory services, and transparency.
The importance of individual and species-level traits for trophic niches among herbivorous coral reef fishes

Resolving how species compete and coexist within ecological communities represents a long-standing challenge in ecology. Research efforts have focused on two predominant mechanisms of species coexistence: complementarity and redundancy. But findings also support an alternative hypothesis that within-species variation may be critical for coexistence. Our study focuses on nine closely related and ecologically similar coral reef fish species to test the importance of individual- versus species-level traits in determining the size of dietary, foraging substrate, and behavioural interaction niches. Specifically, we asked: (i) what level of biological organization best describes individual-level niches? and (ii) how are herbivore community niches partitioned among species, and are niche widths driven by species- or individual-level traits? Dietary and foraging substrate niche widths were best described by species identity, but no level of taxonomy explained behavioural interactions. All three niches were dominated by only a few species, contrasting expectations of niche complementarity. Species- and individual-level traits strongly drove foraging substrate and behavioural niches, respectively, whereas the dietary niche was described by both. Our findings underscored the importance of species-level traits for community-level niches, but highlight that individual-level trait variation within a select few species may be a key driver of the overall size of niches.
Psychological Words in Music and Propagandistic Communication in Two Koreas over the DMZ

This study analyses linguistic meanings of songs and their effectiveness of psychological influence from a propagandistic perspective with the case of South Korean loudspeaker propaganda targeting ...
The mechanism of phloem mobility of boron

Recent evidence suggests that the production and translocation of polyols will influence the phloem mobility of B in higher plants. Here we have determined B transport in a number of plant species producing polyols, using B concentration gradient along a shoot and foliar 10B labelling techniques. Results demonstrate that B is phloem mobile in the species producing polyols. These results are discussed with reference to the formation and transport of B-polyol complexes in higher plants.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography of Cardiac Masses and Pseudomasses in the Atrioventricular Groove

Abstract The atrioventricular (AV) groove constitutes the anatomic space separating the atria and ventricles. The AV groove is often difficult to visualize at echocardiography, and suspected lesions can be further assessed with cardiac computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. AV groove lesions may originate from within the AV groove or extend into this space from adjacent structures. The differential diagnosis for AV groove lesions is often wide, but a precise diagnosis can sometimes be made. This pictorial essay illustrates the magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography appearance of common and uncommon AV groove lesions, and attempts to provide a logical framework for differential diagnosis when confronted with a known or suspected lesion at cross-sectional imaging.
Impact of insurance status on survival in neuroendocrine tumors: A multi-institutional Study from the U.S. Neuroendocrine Study Group.

371Background: Insurance status predicts access to medical care in the United States. Previous studies show uninsured and government insured patients have worse outcomes than those with private ins...
Caribbean Icons in Uniform: A Comparative Analysis of Toussaint L’Ouverture, Marcus Garvey, and Fidel Castro

ABSTRACTThe central question this paper explores is the significance of the dress of three Caribbean icons, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Marcus Garvey, and Fidel Castro whose contribution toward the invention and maintenance of a path of freedom out of slavery in Caribbean history is indelible. Its core argument is that their uniforms functioned as mirrors that mediated a process of interaction to construct a collective sense of identity, imagination, and liberty that transcend them.
A network diffusion ranking family that includes the methods of Markov, Massey, and Colley

We present a one parameter family of ratings and rankings that includes the Markov method, as well as the methods of Colley and Massey as particular cases. The rankings are based on a natural network diffusion process that unites the methodologies above in a common framework and brings strong intuition to how and why they differ. We also explore the behavior of the ranking family using both real and simulated data.
Feedback enhanced entanglement in a spin-1/2 XY dimer model permeated by a transverse magnetic field

This paper studies the ability of feedback control to reduce the effect of decoherence and enhance entanglement in an interacting spin-1/2 XY dimer model in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. The system reaches an improved steady state entanglement when feedback is present. The influence of the strength of the external B field is found for optimized steady state entanglement. The time-dependent entanglement evolution of the system is also studied. One potential application of this scheme is to raise the maximum operating temperature of spin entangled systems.
Dialogic Collaboration across Sectors: Partnering for Sustainability

A substantial body of literature in the management discipline has evolved to make the case for and analyze the impacts of cross‐sector partnerships (CSPs). Yet, not all of these CSPs manifest the requisite collaborative propensities to achieve much more than superficial sustainability. Moreover, other disciplines like economics need to be brought to bear on analyses of such partnerships. In this article, we frame sustainable development challenges as collective action problems. We argue that over‐emphasizing the role of a single actor or institution will not yield genuine sustainability. Instead, we propose that a collaborative orientation is necessary for business managers as they deal with challenges as expansive and complex as those presented by goals of the sustainability of the natural environment. Cross‐sector collaborative partnerships (CSCPs) are needed to achieve collective responsibility, wherein dialogic CSCPs issue in a new paradigm of collaborative markets. Market‐based solutions that ignore or minimize the important contributions that may be made by government, academia, and civil society organizations must give way to new models of collaboration across sectors. We identity specific challenges and opportunities for cross‐sector collaboration and provide case examples. There are important limits to addressing environmental and ethics problems from a single sector focus, and we show how meaningful sustainability can be facilitated within a dialogic cross‐sector collaborative perspective.
Apolipoprotein E4 Alters Astrocyte Fatty Acid Metabolism and Lipid Droplet Formation

Lipid droplets (LDs) serve as energy rich reservoirs and have been associated with apolipoprotein E (APOE) and neurodegeneration. The E4 allele of APOE (E4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for the development of late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since both E4 carriers and individuals with AD exhibit a state of cerebral lipid dyshomeostasis, we hypothesized that APOE may play a role in regulating LD metabolism. We found that astrocytes expressing E4 accumulate significantly more and smaller LDs compared to E3 astrocytes. Accordingly, expression of perilipin-2, an essential LD protein component, was higher in E4 astrocytes. We then probed fatty acid (FA) metabolism and found E4 astrocytes to exhibit decreased uptake of palmitate, and decreased oxidation of exogenously supplied oleate and palmitate. We then measured oxygen consumption rate, and found E4 astrocytes to consume more oxygen for endogenous FA oxidation and accumulate more LD-derived metabolites due to incomplete oxidation. Lastly, we found that E4 astrocytes are more sensitive to carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 inhibition than E3 astrocytes. These findings offer the potential for further studies investigating the link between astrocyte lipid storage, utilization, and neurodegenerative disease as a function of APOE genotype.
Special Education Technology Addressing Diversity: A Synthesis of the Literature

With the increasing complexity of schools and society, there is great need for expanded understanding of the many dimensions of diversity within the field of assistive technology (AT). The question...
Evaluating Computational Chemistry Methods for Isotopic Fractionation between CO2(g) and H2O(g).

Quantum mechanical calculations can be useful in predicting equilibrium isotopic fractionations of geochemical reactions. However, these computational chemistry methods vary widely in their effecti...
Welfare Gains from a Capital Market Union with Capital-Funded Pensions

We analyze and compare the long-run effects for a country introducing a capital-funded pension pillar in two scenarios: The case of separate capital markets, on the one hand, and the case of integrated capital markets (a capital market union), on the other hand. Our analysis is based on simulations with a large-scale overlapping-generations model. We find that, in the long run, the introduction of capital-funded pensions is more attractive in integrated capital markets than in separated capital markets, if other countries in the integrated capital market have pay-as-you-go pension systems.
A Meta-analysis of Challenging Behavior Interventions for Students with Developmental Disabilities in Inclusive School Settings

Challenging behavior is a significant barrier in accessing the general education curriculum for students with developmental disabilities. This necessitates the identification of evidence-based practices for addressing challenging behavior in inclusive settings. The purpose of our meta-analysis is to (a) quantify the magnitude of effect of interventions targeting the reduction of challenging behavior in students with developmental disabilities in inclusive educational settings and (b) determine if participant and intervention characteristics moderate intervention effects. A systematic search of academic databases was conducted to identify studies, which were evaluated for methodological rigor and analyzed for effects using Tau-U. Results indicate a strong overall effect of .94 (95% CI [.87, 1]) and moderating variables associated with behavior topography, interventionist, and intervention components were identified.
SLX4IP-mediated telomere maintenance is essential for androgen receptor-independent castration-resistant prostate cancer

ABSTRACT In advanced prostate cancer, resistance to androgen deprivation therapy is achieved through numerous mechanisms, including loss of the androgen receptor (AR) allowing for AR-independent growth. Therapeutic options are limited for AR-independent castration-resistant prostate cancer, and defining mechanisms critical for its survival is of utmost importance for targeting this lethal disease. Our studies have focused on defining the telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM) required for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cell survival. TMMs are responsible for telomere elongation to instill replicative immortality and prevent senescence, with the two TMM pathways available being telomerase and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Here, we show that AR-independent CRPC exhibits ALT hallmarks and limited telomerase expression and activity, whereas AR-dependent models use telomerase for telomere maintenance. AR-independent CRPC exhibited elevated levels of SLX4IP, a protein implicated in TMM switching. SLX4IP overexpression in AR-dependent CRPC C4-2B cells promoted ALT hallmarks in vitro. SLX4IP knockdown in AR-independent CRPC cells (DU145 and PC-3) led to the loss of ALT hallmarks, dramatic telomere shortening, induction of senescence, and reduced tumor volume. Using an in vitro model of CRPC progression, induction of neuroendocrine differentiation in AR-dependent CRPC cells promoted ALT hallmarks in an SLX4IP-dependent manner. Lack of sufficient SLX4IP expression prevented ALT hallmarks rendering a TMM deficient environment, thus inducing senescence. This study demonstrates a unique reliance of AR-independent CRPC on SLX4IP-mediated ALT. Furthermore, ALT hallmark inhibition via SLX4IP induces senescence, thereby abolishing the replicative immortality of AR-independent CRPC.
Japanese International Medical Graduates and entrance into US clinical training: Challenges and methods to overcome them.

Introduction Entering US clinical training requires completing requirements and navigating an application process differing from the Japanese system. Additionally, increases to the number of US medical school graduates have increased competition for US residency positions. We examined profiles of Japanese International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who completed US clinical training, the timelines to securing US clinical positions, and the greatest challenges during this process and methods to overcome them. Methods Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 purposively sampled Japanese IMGs. We performed exploratory thematic analysis using iterative data collection and constant comparison. Results Twenty percent of participants lived in a native English-speaking country during childhood. The United States Medical Licensing Examinations were completed at ages 25-40 years. Challenges were categorized as: (1) English communication, (2) understanding the application process, (3) motivation to persevere through the process, (4) time management to complete Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates requirements, (5) receiving letters of recommendation and overcoming competition for US residency positions, (6) financial cost of the process. Pragmatic generally self-dependent methods helped overcome challenges 1-4 and 6. Participants detailed personal or, more commonly, institutional connections to US training programs required to overcome challenge 5. Conclusions Japanese IMGs pursue US clinical training from diverse backgrounds commonly without the advantage of prior English fluency. Amidst increased competition internationally to enter US residency coupled with cultural and linguistic differences making this challenge often greater for Japanese IMGs, the competition to participate in institutionalized connections to US training programs is anticipated to increase.
T95 nucleophosmin phosphorylation as a novel mediator and marker of regulated cell death in acute kidney injury.

The function of site-specific phosphorylation of nucleophosmin (NPM), an essential Bax chaperone, in stress-induced cell death is unknown. We hypothesized that NPM threonine 95 (T95) phosphorylatio...
Hydrogel and neural progenitor cell delivery supports organotypic fetal spinal cord development in an ex vivo model of prenatal spina bifida repair.

Studying how the fetal spinal cord regenerates in an ex vivo model of spina bifida repair may provide insights into the development of new tissue engineering treatment strategies to better optimize...
Tailoring thermal stratification to enable high load low temperature combustion with wet ethanol on a gasoline engine architecture

Wet ethanol is a biofuel with unique fuel properties: a high latent heat of vaporization and low equivalence ratio sensitivity. These two fuel properties enable control over the heat release proces...
Management of Chronic and Neuropathic Pain with 10 kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation Technology: Summary of Findings from Preclinical and Clinical Studies.

Since the inception of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in 1967, the technology has evolved dramatically with important advancements in waveforms and frequencies. One such advancement is Nevro’s Senza® SCS System for HF10, which received Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) approval in 2015. Low-frequency SCS works by activating large-diameter Aβ fibers in the lateral discriminatory pathway (pain location, intensity, quality) at the dorsal column (DC), creating paresthesia-based stimulation at lower-frequencies (30–120 Hz), high-amplitude (3.5–8.5 mA), and longer-duration/pulse-width (100–500 μs). In contrast, high-frequency 10 kHz SCS works with a proposed different mechanism of action that is paresthesia-free with programming at a frequency of 10,000 Hz, low amplitude (1–5 mA), and short-duration/pulse-width (30 μS). This stimulation pattern selectively activates inhibitory interneurons in the dorsal horn (DH) at low stimulation intensities, which do not activate the dorsal column fibers. This ostensibly leads to suppression of hyperexcitable wide dynamic range neurons (WDR), which are sensitized and hyperactive in chronic pain states. It has also been reported to act on the medial pathway (drives attention and pain perception), in addition to the lateral pathways. Other theories include a reversible depolarization blockade, desynchronization of neural signals, membrane integration, glial–neuronal interaction, and induced temporal summation. The body of clinical evidence regarding 10 kHz SCS treatment for chronic back pain and neuropathic pain continues to grow. There is high-quality evidence supporting its use in patients with persistent back and radicular pain, particularly after spinal surgery. High-frequency 10 kHz SCS studies have demonstrated robust statistically and clinically significant superiority in pain control, compared to paresthesia-based SCS, supported by level I clinical evidence. Yet, as the field continues to grow with the technological advancements of multiple waveforms and programming stimulation algorithms, we encourage further research to focus on the ability to modulate pain with precision and efficacy, as the field of neuromodulation continues to adapt to the modern healthcare era.
Artificial Neural Networks to Emulate and Compensate Breathing Motion During Radiation Therapy

A number of treatment sites for external-beam radiation therapy, such as lung, breast, pancreatic, and liver cancers, move as the patient breathes, which compromises the precision of their irradiation. Modern radiation treatment modalities attempt to deal with this by adapting the radiation delivery to the respiratory motion as it occurs. This requires system control processes that can detect and anticipate respiratory movement patterns on a patient-by-patient basis in real time. Because breathing can be very idiosyncratic, this problem is a good candidate for machine learning algorithms that can be trained to model individual breathing patterns. Neural networks have proven quite effective in this capacity. This chapter describes the nature of the motion-compensated treatment problem and the issues in using a neural network to handle it.
Gender and Academic Achievement in Math: An Examination of the Math Performance Data on Seven to Nine Year Olds in Trinidad and Tobago

There is a general concern in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider English-speaking Caribbean about the gender differential in performance on regional and national examinations. Previous studies had shown boys not performing as well as girls. Utilizing scores from the math component of the Continuous Assessment Programme (CAP), this study investigated whether the trend was evident among the younger primary school students. The final sample comprised 1,682 students in Standard 1, Standard 2, and Standard 3 (age group 7-9 years). Total scores, Zscores, scores for students attempting all items, and composite scores for the low-level and high-level items were computed. The proportion of boys and girls in the upperÂ (z greater than or equal to 1.00) and lower (z less than or equal to -1.00) tails of the distrubution were examined, as was the gender differential in the number of students omitting test items. Overall, girls scored higher than boys, more boys than girls omitted items, and a significantly greater proportion of boys were in the lower tail of the distribution. The Hindu schools were the exception to this general finding. The non-response to items could be addressed by schools teaching test-taking skills. However, more important may be the underlying reasons for the phenomenon, and the implications for boys' future academic achievement and employment opportunities.
Additions and Corrections to Janheinz Jahn's Bibliography of Neo-African Literature (1965)

Janheinz Jahn's Bibliography is the most useful reference work that bibliographers of African literature have yet produced. One may wish to quarrel with Jahn about his definition of “neo-African literature” or about some of the material he has chosen to include (e.g., unpublished manuscripts, sermons, travel books, political works, monographs) as well as some he has chosen to exclude (e.g., literary works by white African writers, collections of folklore), but one must applaud his thorough documentation and multilingual approach. No other bibliography of African literature has been so comprehensive and so accurate. However, Jahn himself is aware that “there is no bibliography without gaps,” and he has invited others to help him “fill in these gaps and correct errors” (Jann, p. ix). It is hoped that the following list of additions and corrections will prove useful not only to Jahn but also to librarians, literary scholars, and other bibliographers. It is not to be taken as a complete list, for I have had neither the time nor the resources to check all of Jahn's entries or to search in more than a few libraries for missing titles. Of necessity my emphasis has been placed on materials written in European languages. I would encourage those who are aware of further errors and omissions to publish similar lists so that a more definitive bibliography of African literature can be prepared.