cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrodeposition of Cu into a Highly Porous Ni ∕ YSZ Cermet

The electrochemical deposition of Cu into 0.12 cm and 60 μm thick, highly porous (65 vol %) Ni/yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) cermets was investigated. An electrochemical cell in which the electrolyte solution was allowed to flow through a porous Ni/YSZ substrate was used to eliminate mass-transfer limitations and to determine the conditions for which the potential drop in the electrolyte solution was minimized and a uniform Cu layer was produced throughout the porous substrate. The conditions determined from these experiments were then used to electrodeposit Cu throughout a thin, porous Ni-YSZ cermet anode layer on a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using a standard nonflow-through setup. This SOFC was found to exhibit stable operation while using methane as the fuel.
Universal logic modules based on double-gate carbon nanotube transistors

Double-gate carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (DG-CNT-FETs) can be controlled in the field to be either n-type or p-type through an extra polarity gate. This results in an embedded XOR behavior, which has inspired several novel circuit designs and architectures. This work makes the following contributions. First, we propose an accurate and efficient semi-classical modeling approach to realize the first SPICE-compatible model for circuit design and optimization of DG-CNTFETs. Second, we design and optimize universal logic modules (ULMs) in two circuit styles based on DG-CNTFETs. The proposed ULMs can leverage the full potential of the embedded XOR through the FPGA-centric lookup table optimization flow. Further, we demonstrate that DG-CNTFET ULMs in the double pass-transistor logic style, which inherently produces dual-rail outputs with balanced delay, are faster than DG-CNTFET circuits in the conventional single-rail static logic style that relies on explicit input inversion. On average across 12 benchmarks, the proposed dual-rail ULMs outperform the best DG-CNTFET fabrics based on tiling patterns by 37%, 12%, and 33% in area, delay, and total power, respectively.
Important role of mechanical circulatory support in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Objectives Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) remains associated with significant mortality despite the widespread application of early revascularization strategies. Recent evidence suggests that the use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation does not improve mortality in this cohort of patients. We summarize our experience with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) therapy for AMI/CS. Methods This is a retrospective review of 61 patients who received MCS therapy for AMI/CS at our institution between March 2007 and March 2013. Results Mean age was 60.2 ± 10.3 years; mean ejection fraction was 24 ± 15% and 29% of patients were receiving active cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the time of support initiation. Prior to the initiation of MCS, 70.5% of patients had an IABP. Mean arterial pressure improved significantly with MCS (63 mmHg prior to MCS, 82 mmHg after MCS, P ≤ 0.01). Mean length of support was 9.5 ± 11.0 days, and overall survival to 30 days was 59.0%. Among 30-day survivors, 44.4% required device exchange to a durable MCS device. Ultimately, only 31% (52.8% of patients who survived to 30 days) achieved myocardial recovery. Conclusions Short-term MCS therapy with subsequent aggressive use of durable MCS device may improve the unacceptably high mortality rate in AMI/CS. Rigorous prospective studies of MCS therapy in AMI/CS are warranted.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE FREQUENCY OF NEST PARASITISM BY BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS IN THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA

Nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) can negatively affect host populations. Landscape-scale factors, such as proximity to residential areas, equestrian riding stables, and grazing allotments, can affect the risk of nest parasitism as well as the abundance of Brown-headed Cowbirds. Recent increases in residential and recreational development along with a reduction in grazing allotments in the northern Sierra Nevada provide an opportunity to reevaluate factors that influence frequency of nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Frequency of nest parasitism increased as the distance to the nearest residential center and distance to the nearest equestrian riding stable decreased. Similarly, Brown-headed Cowbird abundance was negatively correlated with distance to the nearest residential center and distance to the nearest equestrian stable. To reduce the risk of nest parasitism, efforts should be devoted to (1) reducing further residential development at the wildland-urban interface and (2) educating landowners about bird feeders, which frequently attract Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Current Role of Robotic Hysterectomy.

Background: While robotic surgery for gynecologic indications received U.S. government approval in 2005, and has been rapidly and widely adopted, it is currently unclear how often this approach to hysterectomy is utilized. Objective: The aim of this research was to assess length of stay (LOS), mortality, indications, and current use of robotic hysterectomy, compared to other types of hysterectomy. Methods: A retrospective study of hysterectomies performed in New York State (NYS) in 2011 was performed. Data, including indication for surgery, age, procedure, LOS, and discharge status were obtained from the NYS Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). Outcome Measures: LOS and mortality rate, were calculated according to institution, procedure, and indication for surgery. Results: For 22073 hysterectomies performed in NYS, the mean LOS was 2.9 days, and there were 29 (0.13%) deaths. The mean LOS for abdominal (12774 cases, 3.9 days) hysterectomies was longer than for laparoscopic (3927 cases, 1.6 days), robotic (2814 cases, 1.6 days), or vaginal (2558 cases, 1.7 days) hysterectomies (p<0.05). The adjusted mortality rates for abdominal (0.20%), laparoscopic (0.03%), robotic (0.07%), and vaginal (0.04%) hysterectomies were not significantly different. Overall, robotic surgery was performed in 29% of hospitals, by 11% of physicians and in 13% of cases. A robotic approach was utilized in 35% of patients with uterine cancer, 13% with endometriosis, 11% with excessive bleeding, 8% with leiomyomata, and 8% with pelvic relaxation. Conclusions: Despite the advantages in reduced LOS for robotic and other minimally invasive types of hysterectomies, the abdominal route is still predominant in most institutions. (J GYNECOL SURG XX:1).
Cartilaginous metaplasia of the thoracic aorta of control turkeys and exacerbation by beta-aminopropionitrile.

AbstractSeventeen of sixty distal extremities of the thoracic aortas of 12-week-old control male turkeys and 37 of 40 distal extremities of the aortas of turkeys fed 0.07% β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) from 4 to 12 weeks of age contained areas of cartilaginous metaplasia when examined by light microscopy. The cartilaginous areas were generally elongated and located in the subendothelium of control turkeys, but a roundish area of cartilage was occasionally evident in the deep media. The magnitude of chondroplasia was enhanced by feeding BAPN; the extensive lesion usually extended from the subendothelium to deep in the media. Regardless of treatment, chondrocytes were pleomorphic, contained vacuoles, and had cytoplasmic processes. The cells were separated by pools of proteoglycans and connective tissue. The ultrastructure of chondrocytes in the aortas of both treatment groups was typical of this cell type. They had undulations or projections of the cell membranes. The cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum were d...
End-to-end WAN service availability

This paper seeks to understand how network failures affect the availability of service delivery across wide area networks and to evaluate classes of techniques for improving end-to-end service availability. Using several large-scale connectivity traces, we develop a model of failures that includes key parameters such as failure location and failure duration. We then use trace-based simulation to evaluate several classes of techniques for coping with network failures. We find that caching alone is seldom effective at insulating services from failures but that the combination of mobile extension code and prefetching can improve failure rates by as much as an order of magnitude for classes of service whose semantics support disconnected operation. We find that routing-based techniques may provide significant improvements, but that the improvements of many individual techniques are limited because they do not address all significant categories of network failures. By combining the techniques are examine, some systems may be able to improve availability by as much as one or two orders of magnitude.
Nonlinear Effects of Periodic Electric Fields on Membrane Proteins

The nonlinear response of a two-state chemical reaction to an oscillating electric field is described. An interesting example is a conformational transition of a membrane protein in an applied ac electric field. Even a modest external field leads to a very large local field within the membrane and hence gives rise to nonlinear behavior. The applied ac field causes harmonics in the polarization and can cause a dc shift in the state occupancy, both of which can be observed and used to determine kinetic parameters. Fourier coefficients are given for the enzyme state probability in the ac field, exactly for infinite frequency, and in a series of powers of the field for finite frequency. The results are extended to the spherical symmetry relevant to suspensions of spherical cells or vesicles.
Blockholder Short-Term Incentives, Structures, and Governance

When blockholders are reputation-conscious fund managers facing short-term incentives and caring about investors' perception of their stock-picking ability, the consequent trading reduction in bad firms' stocks weakens the efficacy of governance via blockholder exit. Under a single blockholder structure, career concerns also weaken a fund manager's incentive to undertake (public and private) value-enhancing interventions in bad firms. With multiple blockholders with heterogeneous degrees of career concerns, a reputation-conscious fund manager's weakened incentive in public intervention strengthens a reputation-unconscious fund manager's intervention incentive. As for private intervention, career concerns provide a reputation-conscious fund manager stronger incentives to privately engage with management to improve firm value to reduce trading by a reputation-unconscious fund manager, thereby enhancing the market's assessment of the reputation-conscious fund manager's stock-picking ability. Thus, although (career-concerns-induced) blockholder short-term incentives weaken governance with a single blockholder, they may help ameliorate the free-rider problem under a multiple blockholder structure, and consequently enhance blockholder governance and encourage long-term corporate investment.
An Old Horse Revived?: In-house Use of Print Books at Seton Hall University

Abstract With limited library budgets and declining circulation of print books, it is important to demonstrate library value to multiple stakeholders and to make informed collection development choices. The aim of this one-year study was to gain a complete picture of print book circulation by identifying titles that were used in the library (“in-house”) but not checked out. We found that almost 30% of circulation transactions were books that were used in-house. Medical and nursing books showed the highest rate of in-house use in both the reference and main (circulating) collection. A close examination of these subject areas indicated that 46% of potentially circulating medical books used in-house were checked out, and 19% of science books used in house were checked out. This suggests that libraries should not assume that titles used in-house are subsequently checked out, or that check out statistics represent the totality of book use. We recommend including in-house use statistics to obtain an accurate picture of total circulation and library value, and to inform collection development.
Nearly Total Solar Absorption in Ultrathin Nanostructured Iron Oxide for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

We demonstrate using first-principles full-field electromagnetic simulations that nearly total above-band-gap solar absorption can be achieved in ultra-thin-film iron oxide photoanodes for water splitting applications. In our designed structure, all regions of iron oxide are away from the interface between iron oxide and water by a distance of less than the hole diffusion length, which is assumed to be 20 nm in our simulation. The absorption in our structure corresponds to a photocurrent density of 12.5 mA/cm2 if one assumes an air mass 1.5 solar spectrum and a unity absorbed photon-to-current efficiency. Our photon management strategy eliminates the trade-off between optical absorption and carrier collection as commonly found in conventional designs and is generally applicable to photoelectrochemical cells.
Assassination and Commemoration: JFK, Dallas, and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Stephen Fagin. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2013.

Assassination and Commemoration: JFK, Dallas, and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Stephen Fagin. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2013.In his 1986 book America, Jean Baudrillard wrote the following about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy: "It is the energy of Kennedy's murder which radiates out over present-day America" (95). Baudrillard's insight into the heroic image and violent death of Kennedy, even though it was written almost thirty years ago, still resonates soundly with many Americans, regardless of generation. This interest in the Kennedy assassination is evidenced, in part, by the large number of books published to mark the fiftieth anniversary during November 2013. The sheer number of books on the assassination suggests that Baudrillard's "energy" still radiates across the American cultural landscape.In Stephen Fagin's Assassination and Commemoration: JFK, Dallas, and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the author provides a fascinating account of the history and the planning of The Sixth Floor Museum in the former Texas School Book Depository. Whereas other books have focused largely on the historical events of the assassination, on various conspiracy theories, or on the impact the shooting had on American life, Fagin's book explores not just what we remember but how we remember and commemorate the site of one of America's most tragic events. In his meticulously researched account of the museum's history, Fagin, the museum's Associate Curator and Oral Historian, has produced a highly readable account of the difficult road civic planners traveled to transform the former school book depository into a museum of remembrance and reflection and the subsequent impact the museum has had on how visitors and others remember, learn about, and reflect upon the events of November 1963. In telling this story, Fagin also relates how the city of Dallas itself used the building of the museum to help heal its own wounds by transforming, arguably the most shameful monument of its history, into an internationally recognized museum. As such, Fagin's book is an important history of not only one of American history and culture's most iconic sites of tragedy, but it is also an important comment on how we remember and commemorate such sites.The author begins by placing the museum in the context of other infamous sites from American history: Ford's Theater, the Alfred P. Mur rah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, and the World Trade Center, among others. …
Boards of Directors and Operational Performance

We provide new evidence linking board characteristics and performance. We employ a sample of S&P 500 index funds to isolate the operational component of performance, thereby minimizing investment policy effects in our performance measures. Funds with higher percentages of board directors who are sponsor officers (insiders) experience higher returns and lower expenses. In the overall sample returns and expense ratios are not impacted by board size, the proportion of independent directors, or the presence of an independent chair. However, the presence of an independent chair is positively related to performance in funds where shares of the sponsoring investment firm are publicly traded. Overall, our results indicate current and recently proposed regulatory changes in board structure rules will impose dead weight costs on some shareholders and may even result in significantly lower performance.
The Research on Ultrasonic Guided Wave Technology Applied in Blade Body

This article selects the model to ultrasonic guided wave of test blade body and studies out test parameters of guided wave,by studying the transmission feature of guided wave in board. Also,test piece of real blade is made,and defect in different positions is tested in different distance,the results show that ultrasonic guided wave technology have very good sensitivity,and can test the total blade at once. By testing the real blade,the practicability of method has been verified.
Anasazi Fibrous Sandal Terminology

ABSTRACTFibrous sandals dating from about A.D. 200 to 1300 have been found in numerous Anasazi sites of northeastern Arizona. The variety of sandal features, including complex structures, have considerable value for answering cultural questions. However, literature studies, laboratory analyses of sandals, and the requirements of museum computer registration and cataloging indicate that sandal terminology needs to be standardized before these data can be used to address research questions. This paper defines and illustrates sandal characteristics that change over time and space, including fabric construction and density, toe and heel silhouettes, yarn structures, and tie systems. Terms are based on precedence of use and clarity of definition, and are selected from approximately 450 sandals from the literature and 117 examined in the laboratory.
Emerging agendas at the intersection of political and science communication: The case of nanotechnology

The continued disconnects between science and the mainstream public have received renewed attention from policymakers and academics in recent years as scientific and technological innovations increasingly commingle science and politics. Nanotechnology is the most recent example in a long line of emerging technologies that have produced applications with tremendous ethical, legal, and social implications. It is therefore particularly surprising that our discipline has not played as much of a leadership role in closing potential communication gaps between science and the public as it should have. So where have we fallen short? And where are the most obvious contributions that communication theory and research can make to the unresolved questions surrounding communication about emerging technologies, in general, and nanotechnology, in particular? This chapter provides an overview of the state-of-the-art literature on communication about nanotechnology and highlights areas of convergence from conceptual model...
Subjective social status, work volition, and career adaptability: A longitudinal study

Abstract Building from the Psychology of Working Theory, we explore relations between subjective social status, work volition, and career adaptability over time in a sample of 267 undergraduate students. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing study variables in three waves over a period of six months. Structural equation modeling was used to examine cross-lagged relations between all three variables as well as examine the mediating effect of work volition in the link from social status to career adaptability. Results showed Time 1 and Time 2 social status to predict Time 2 and Time 3 work volition respectively. Likewise, Time 1 and Time 2 work volition significantly predicted Time 2 and Time 3 career adaptability. Finally, we found work volition to significantly mediate the relation between social status and career adaptability. Results provide preliminary support for the Psychology of Working Theory hypotheses regarding the relations from financial constraints and marginalization to work volition and career adaptability. Practical implications and future directions are discussed.
Conflict Management Styles and Cybervictimization: Extending Routine Activity Theory

ABSTRACTDo online conflict management styles affect the likelihood of cybervictimization? To answer this question, we use an online survey of youth and young adults recruited from a demographically balanced sample of Americans. Using an extended version of routine activity theory, we examine how two conflict resolution styles—self-help and toleration—affect the target suitability of online users and, in turn, their likelihood of being the victim of cybercrime. Our findings demonstrate that individuals who adopt the confrontational conflict resolution style of self-help upon witnessing hostile behavior online are at an increased risk of being victimized. However, tolerating online conflict does not significantly influence the likelihood of victimization, net of other online behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics.
Abstract P219: Role of Angiotensin Type I Receptor and β 1 Integrin in Stretch-Induced Activation of Akt and JNK in Cardiac Myocytes

Cardiac hypertrophy is a common response to mechanical stimuli, such as increased hemodynamic load and exercise. However, the underlying mechanotransduction processes are poorly understood. Recent studies indicate that both β 1 integrin and angiotensin type I receptor (AT 1 R) can serve as mechanoreceptors in the intact myocardium and isolated cardiac myocytes. Mechanical stress induced activation of Akt and JNK has been associated with various aspects of hypertrophic growth. We used primary cultures of NRVM plated on deformable membranes to test whether static stretch-induced activation (phosphorylation) of Akt and JNK involves β 1 integrin and/or AT 1 R. In these studies, pretreatment with the AT 1 R antagonist Losartan (10 µM), significantly decreased mechanical stretch induced activation of Akt (Akt 473 , 47.1 ± 6.1%, p 308 , 33.1 ± 3.2%, p 1 D -integrin (Tac-β 1 D ) alone had no effect on stretch-induced Akt and JNK activation, the addition of Losartan to the culture medium decreased stretch-induced activation of both Akt (Akt 473 , 74.9 ± 10.4%, p 308 , 66.1 ± 8%, p 473 , 36.3 ± 7.6%, p 308 , 29.8 ± 6.2%, p 473 , 64.9 ± 10.4%, p 308 , 50.8 ± 7.8%, p 1 R, whereas JNK activation could be mediated through either AT 1 R or β 1 integrin. The regulation Akt and JNK was also found to be significantly dependent on Rac1 activation. In conclusion, this study suggests that both AT 1 R and β 1 integrin are important mechanosensors that activate pathways that lead to cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.
Does clinic visit education within a multidisciplinary center improve health literacy scores in caregivers of children with complex colorectal conditions

Abstract Introduction Health literacy is low in an estimated one-third of the US population. Little is known about the health literacy of caregivers of children with colorectal conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a timed health literacy intervention could improve health literacy in this population. Methods We used the BRIEF Health Literacy screening (BHLS) tool on caregivers of children who came to our colorectal clinic. Health literacy was categorized as inadequate, marginal, or adequate. The number of caregivers with adequate health literacy was compared to the number of clinic visits and socioeconomic status. Results We included 233 caregivers. The average number of clinic visits was 3.5 over 1.2 years. At the first clinic visit, 70% (n = 98) of caregivers had “adequate” health literacy. Scores improved to 88% (p = 0.024) after the fourth visit. Socioeconomic factors were not associated with health literacy. Patients of caregivers with “adequate” health literacy visited our clinic 3.8 times, compared to 2.7 times for those with lower literacy (p = 0.006). Conclusion Emphasis on providing an education-based approach at each visit increased health literacy significantly. As expected, health literacy was lowest during the first visit, which we believe is the optimal time to implement educational interventions. Type of study Case Control/Retrospective Comparative Study. Level of evidence Level III.
The Varieties of Feminist Counterspeech in the Misogynistic Online World

To combat the rising tide of online harassment many women are turning to counterspeech as a way of fighting digital misogyny. Stroud and Cox explore the range of feminist counterspeech by engaging two representative case studies from the current online environment. The first example analyzed is Anna Gensler, a feminist who uses her artistic talents and social media as a way to shame harassers and misogynistic men. The second case study explored is TrollBusters, an organization dedicated to fighting the online bullying of females. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the various normative values involved in choosing a strategy of counterspeech, as well as the various ethical concerns that circulate around each strategy represented by the two case studies analyzed in this chapter.
Highly Asymmetric Nodal Semimetal in Bulk SmB 6

We show that novel low temperature properties of bulk SmB_{6}, including the sudden growth of the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) amplitude (and heat capacity) at millikelvin temperatures and a previously unreported linear-in-temperature bulk electrical conductivity at liquid helium temperatures, signal the presence of a highly asymmetric nodal semimetal. We show that a highly asymmetric nodal semimetal is also a predicted property of the Kondo lattice model (with dispersionless f-electron levels) in the presence of Sm vacancies or other defects. We show it can result from a topological transformation of the type recently considered by Shen and Fu and eliminates the necessity of a neutral Fermi surface for explaining bulk dHvA oscillations in SmB_{6}.
Genomic diversity of Taylorella equigenitalis introduced into the United States from 1978 to 2012

Contagious equine metritis is a disease of worldwide concern in equids. The United States is considered to be free of the disease although sporadic outbreaks have occurred over the last few decades that were thought to be associated with the importation of horses. The objective of this study was to create finished, reference quality genomes that characterize the diversity of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates introduced into the USA, and identify their differences. Five isolates of T. equigenitalis associated with introductions into the USA from unique sources were sequenced using both short and long read chemistries allowing for complete assembly and annotation. These sequences were compared to previously published genomes as well as the short read sequences of the 200 isolates in the National Veterinary Services Laboratories' diagnostic repository to identify unique regions and genes, potential virulence factors, and characterize diversity. The 5 genomes varied in size by up to 100,000 base pairs, but averaged 1.68 megabases. The majority of that diversity in size can be explained by repeat regions and 4 main regions of difference, which ranged in size from 15,000 to 45,000 base pairs. The first region of difference contained mostly hypothetical proteins, the second contained the CRISPR, the third contained primarily hemagglutinin proteins, and the fourth contained primarily segments of a type IV secretion system. As expected and previously reported, little evidence of recombination was found within these genomes. Several additional areas of interest were also observed including a mechanism for streptomycin resistance and other virulence factors. A SNP distance comparison of the T. equigenitalis isolates and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) showed that relatively, T. equigenitalis was a more diverse species than the entirety of MTBC.
Hierarchical and Hybrid: Mobility-Compatible Database-Assisted Framework for Dynamic Spectrum Access

The protection of primary user activities plays a vital part in dynamic spectrum access. There are currently two types of schemes. One is based on spectrum sensing and the other one relies on spectrum database. There exist many works surrounding the subject of spectrum sensing, which requires high sensing accuracy, and thus poses extra time cost. Nevertheless, the database-based access scheme is receiving an increasing amount of devotion, e.g., IEEE 802.11af for TV white space. In comparison to spectrum sensing, nodes only need to look up the spectrum maps provided by the database. In this paper, we study the practical issues of the above two schemes, and propose a hierarchical framework, which enables the hybrid spectrum access scheme. In this framework, we build relatively reliable clusters, and have cluster heads connect to the spectrum database to assist nodes in their clusters. As a result, nodes with poor or no connections to the database can benefit from spectrum maps as well. The process of retrieving spectrum maps is formalized as a Markov Decision Process. Moreover, mobility compatibility is provided. We illustrate how the evolution of our hierarchical structure is affected by mobile nodes. We also propose a feasible algorithm to maximize the benefits that can be obtained from the database under the mobile environment. We model a virtual database and conduct simulations to reveal certain performances of our framework.
Internet Use and Happiness: A Replication and Extension

This study is an extension of two previous studies, which explored the relationship between happiness and Internet use [1, 2]. An Internet Use Scale (IUS), developed in the initial study, was administered to college students along with the Flourishing Scale [3] and the Satisfaction with Life Scale [4]. I compared changes in the relationship between these measures, and their mean values, across the three samples; assessed the relationship between use factors and happiness over-all, combining data from all samples; and evaluated the relationship between individual usage scale items and happiness. Results indicated that those who reported spending less time on the Internet, and less time expressing negative emotions scored higher on measures of happiness. There was also some indication that those who spend time checking facts on the Internet are happier, but the effect was not as strong nor consistent.
Evolution at the Cutting Edge: CRISPR-Mediated Directed Evolution

In a recent issue of Nature, Halperin et al. (2018) develop a new technology to continuously diversify specific genomic loci by combining CRISPR-Cas9 with error-prone DNA polymerases.
Sexual dysfunction in men taking systemic dermatologic medication: A systematic review.

Background Prescription medications are among the most common causes of sexual dysfunction, and patients are often hesitant to seek help when experiencing these symptoms. Objective In this review, we identify the available evidence of sexual adverse effects in men using systemic dermatologic medications and suggest screening protocols and actions that may improve a patient's symptoms where possible. Methods A systematic review was conducted of all articles in the PubMed database published from the time of inception to May 2018 to identify studies evaluating the use of systemic dermatologic medications in men with evidence of sexual adverse effects. Subsequently, a secondary in-depth literature review was performed for each individual medication. Results There were 5497 articles reviewed in the primary systematic review, and 59 articles covering 11 systemic dermatologic medications met inclusion criteria. We identified level 1 evidence for sexual adverse effects as a primary outcome in patients taking finasteride. Limitations Many included studies were limited by sample size and methodology. Conclusion The information in this review may serve as a reference of adverse effects when deciding on a therapeutic agent and a guide to help identify patients to screen for sexual dysfunction.
Economic Incentives and Agricultural Exports in Developing Countries

The findings of this paper indicate that exports in general, and agricultural exports in particular, strongly respond to price incentives. This conclusion has been established by an econometric analysis of data for developing countries and for a subset of Sub-Saharan African countries as well as by comparisons of the experience of countries at different levels of development and following different policies. The econometric analysis shows the responsiveness of the exports of goods and nonfactor services, merchandise exports, and agricultural exports to changes in the real exchange rate. It is of particular interest to note that this response is apparently greater in Sub-Saharan African countries than in developing countries in general. The country analyses further indicate that outward-oriented countries had a far better export performance in regard to merchandise exports, as well as for traditional agricultural exports, than inward-oriented economies. The conclusion applies to all the periods under consideration as well as to countries at different levels of development, from newly-industrializing developing countries to Sub-Saharan African countries.
Comparison of Bingham Filter and Extended Kalman Filter in IMU Attitude Estimation

This paper reports the implementation of the Bingham filter (BF), a recently developed stochastic filter on SO(3), in the IMU attitude estimation problem. The BF uses the Bingham distribution, a probability distribution defined on the unit three-sphere, i.e., the space of unit quaternions, to model the attitude of a rigid body, and uses Bayes’ formula to update the prediction with new attitude measurements. We compared the BF with the widely used multiplicative extended Kalman filter (MEKF) for accuracy and convergence speed through both the simulated and experimental IMU data. We used the gyroscope and accelerometer signals to estimate the tilt attitude (roll and pitch) with heading angle left uncorrected. We tested two types of measurements: attitude converted from measured acceleration and the measured acceleration itself. Results showed some benefits of BF over MEKF in terms of estimation accuracy and convergence speed from large initial errors. However, the computational cost of BF is also much higher than MEKF. Incidental findings also showed that using the full acceleration measurement improves the accuracy of the MEKF compared to using the attitude measurement converted from acceleration.
Democratic professionals in civic life: cultivating civil discourse in community development

The field of community development is challenged in the current political culture where polarization and incivility impact democratic ideals and practices. The role of the community development pra...
Monolithic quartz platform for cellular contact guidance

Contact guidance is vital to many physiological processes, yet is still poorly understood. This is partly due to the variability of experimental platforms, making comparisons difficult. To combat this, a multiplexed approach was used to fabricate topographical cues on single quartz coverslips for high-throughput screening. Furthermore, this method offers control of surface roughness and protein adsorption characterization, two critical aspects to the in vitro environment often overlooked in contact guidance platforms. The quartz surface can be regenerated, is compatible with versatile microscopy modes, and can scale up for manufacturing offering a novel platform that could serve as a potential standard assay.
Improving Hazard Map Comprehension for Protective Action Decision Making

A major challenge in the communication of spatial hazard information is the existence of substantial variation in people’s ability to correctly infer the appropriate conclusions from hazard maps. Examination of the results from a variety of different types of hazard maps has identified patterns of erroneous as well as accurate processing of map information. In response, most hazard map studies have focused on the erroneous inferences and sought to develop displays that would cause hazard map viewers to make more accurate inferences about the hazard. This research has made some significant advances, but it has neglected the development and testing of spatial displays that can help people to make more timely and effective protective action decisions. This article concludes by summarizing the findings from hazard map research and recommending future research that will address these unresolved issues.
Predictors of dysrhythmias with norepinephrine use in septic shock.

Abstract Purpose Norepinephrine (NE) is recommended first-line for treatment of septic shock, partly due to its intrinsically low effect on heart rate. While dysrhythmias secondary to NE are still reported, factors associated with development of this adverse effect have not been described. Our study sought to investigate factors associated with dysrhythmias in patients receiving NE for septic shock. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults receiving NE for septic shock if NE was initiated as the first vasopressor and continued for at least 6 h. The primary objective was to determine the rate of dysrhythmias among this patient population. Secondary objectives included determining the effect of dysrhythmia development on patient outcomes and elucidating predictors for dysrhythmia development. Results Of the 250 patients included, 34.4% (n = 86) developed a dysrhythmia. These patients had higher mortality (30.5% vs. 63.9%; p Conclusion Development of dysrhythmia is associated with increased mortality and is independently associated with longer duration of NE infusion and higher NE doses.
In-situ manufacturing of ODS FeCrAlY alloy via laser powder bed fusion

Abstract Gas-atomized Fe–24Cr–8Al–0.5Y (wt.%) powder was used as a feedstock in a laser powder bed fusion process with nitrogen atmosphere. Formation of Al–Y–O-enriched nanoparticles with diameters of 10–100 nm implied in-situ precipitation of Al–Y–O-enriched nanoparticles within the ferritic matrix developing an oxide dispersion strengthened FeCrAl alloy without any mechanical alloying. Thermodynamics and kinetics of the internal oxidation during rapid solidification of laser powder bed fusion process are discussed.
What it Might Be like to Be a Group Agent

Many theorists have defended the claim that collective entities can attain genuine agential status. If collectives can be agents, this opens up a further question: can they be conscious? That is, is there something that it is like to be them? Eric Schwitzgebel (Philosophical Studies 172: 1697–1721, 2015) argues that yes, collective entities (including the United States, taken as a whole), may well be significantly conscious. Others, including Kammerer (Philosophia 43: 1047–1057, 2015), Tononi and Koch (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 370: 20140167–20140167, 2015) , and List (Nous 52: 295–319, 2018) reject the claim. List does so on the basis of Tononi’s Integrated Information Theory of consciousness (Encyclopedia of Consciousness, 403–416, 2009). I argue here that List’s rejection is too quick, and that groups can, at least in principle, display the kind of informational integration we might think is necessary for consciousness. However, group consciousness will likely differ substantially from the individual experiences that give rise to it. This requires the defender of group consciousness to face up to a similar combination problem as the panpsychist.
Insulin Resistance is Mechanistically Linked to Hepatic Mitochondrial Remodeling in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Insulin resistance and altered hepatic mitochondrial function are central features of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), but the etiological role of these processes in disease progression remains unclear. We investigated the molecular links between insulin resistance, mitochondrial remodeling, and hepatic lipid accumulation in a rodent model of T2D / NAFL. Livers from obese, insulin resistant mice displayed augmented mitochondrial content and increased TCA cycle and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activities. Insulin sensitization with pioglitazone mitigated pyruvate-driven TCA cycle activity and PDH activation via both covalent (PDK4 and PDP2) and allosteric (intracellular pyruvate availability) mechanisms. Interestingly, improvements in insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function were entirely dissociated from changes in hepatic triglycerides, diacylglycerides or fatty acids. Instead, we show that the mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin undergoes pathological remodeling in livers from obese mice and that this is reversed by insulin sensitization. Our findings identify targetable mitochondrial features of T2D and NAFLD and highlight the benefit of insulin sensitization in managing the clinical burden of obesity-associated disease.
Becoming Political: Grassroots Environmental Justice Activism As a Source of Political Learning and Socialization

This article investigates the political learning effects of grassroots environmental justice activism on the political behavior and participation of grassroots activists and organizations engaged in environmental justice (EJ) activism in predominantly minority communities through a multi-layered study of EJ activism in Pennsylvania and Maryland from its peak in the early 1990's through the early 2010's. Qualitative analysis was conducted on relevant state documents, correspondence and environmental justice advisory committee meeting minutes. Quantitative analysis was conducted on participant responses to an original survey of environmental justice community organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Data has also been collected from archives, interviews, newspapers and published reports. These case studies show how EJ activism functioned as a source of political learning and socialization that contributed to the implementation of policies and procedures that encouraged and facilitated community organizations' and impacted populations' participation. The findings also show that grassroots EJ activism is an important space where citizens learn about themselves, their identities, histories and relationships. Such learning is highly political. Many of the participants in this study were completely new to activism and political engagement, and through their mobilization developed new skills and knowledge that shaped their political trajectories. The non-political became a pathway to the political. In short, community organizations learned, in part, how to identify and navigate relevant institutions and processes by participating in direct action grassroots EJ activism. The information gleaned was applied to subsequent behavior and played a role in shaping their state governments’ procedural and institutional responses which contributed to the development and implementation of enhanced participation policies, opportunities and particularized benefits for areas and populations of environmental justice concern. The findings also show that these responses produced feedback effects that helped citizens become even more politically engaged.
Social support and its effects on self-efficacy among entrepreneurs with disabilities

Abstract We analyze if various programs for entrepreneurs with disabilities (EWD) positively impact their self-efficacy. We examine if variations in self-efficacy of EWD are related to perceptions of social support, quality assistance from service providers, and perceived barriers to entrepreneurship as a way to evaluate the impact of programs for EWD. We draw upon Critical Disability Theory to understand if service providers act as ‘sites of injustice’ for EWD, creating further barriers, or as ‘sites of justice’ that positively impact their self-efficacy. Using a sample of 127 EWD, we find a positive relationship between the services received from entrepreneurship and disability-specific support programs on self-efficacy. Conversely, we find a strong negative relationship between barriers to entrepreneurship and the self-efficacy of EWD. We contribute by forwarding Critical Disability Theory to the realm of entrepreneurship and shedding new empirical light on EWD.
Wall Street Versus Main Street: How Ignorance, Hyperbole, and Fear Lead to Regulation

For two years in the early 1990s, Frank Partnoy worked for a couple of investment banks (CS First Boston and Morgan Stanley) selling derivatives. He made a lot of money doing this. Now he is trying to make a little more money from his experience by writing a sensationalist book about his time at Morgan Stanley. The book is clearly patterned after Michael Lewis's bestseller, Liar's Poker, which chronicled the author's life as a bond salesman for Salomon Brothers in the 1980s.' What F.IA.S. C.O.2 and Liar's Poker have in common, and the reason they are of interest to those studying the regulation of the financial markets, is the way the two books depict the relationship between investment banks and their clients. These books provide significant ammunition to those interested in regulating
Nucleotide sequence and genetic analysis of the nifB-nifQ region from Azotobacter vinelandii.

Abstract A 3.8-kilobase-pair EcoRI fragment which corrects the mutations carried by the NifB- Azotobacter vinelandii strains CA30 and UW45 was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. Four complete open reading frames (ORFs) and two partial ORFs were found. The translation product of the first partial ORF is the carboxy-terminal end of a protein homologous to the nifA gene product from Klebsiella pneumoniae. A 285-base-pair sequence containing a potential nif promoter and nif regulatory sites separates this nifA gene from the first complete ORF which encodes a protein homologous to nifB gene products from K. pneumoniae and Rhizobium species. The Tn5 insertion in strain CA30 and the nif-45 mutation of strain UW45 are located within this nifB gene. The ORF downstream from nifB predicts an amino acid sequence with a cysteine residue pattern that is characteristic of ferredoxins. No similarities were found between the translation product of the third complete ORF and those of nif genes from other organisms. At the carboxy-terminal end of the predicted translation product of the fourth complete ORF, 30 of 60 amino acid residues were identical with the sequence of the nifQ gene product from K. pneumoniae. The partial ORF located at the end of the fragment encodes the N-terminal part of a potential protein with an unknown function. Northern (RNA) blot analysis indicated that transcripts from the region containing the four complete ORFs were NH4+ repressible and that the transcription products were identical in cells derepressed under conditions of Mo sufficiency or Mo deficiency or in the presence of vanadium. In contrast to the NifB- strain CA30, which is Nif- under all conditions, mutants that carry mutations affecting the C-terminal end of nifB or genes located immediately downstream from nifB, grew under all N2-fixing conditions. However, in the presence of Mo, most of the strains required 1,000 times the amount of molybdate that is sufficient for maximal growth of the wild-type strain CA under N2-fixing conditions. Growth data from strain CA37, which carries a Kanr insertion in nifQ, indicate that nifQ in A. vinelandii is not required for N2 fixation in the presence of V2O5 or under Mo-deficient conditions. Growth studies and acetylene reduction assays performed on two nifEN deletion strains showed that nifE and nifN are required for N2 fixation under Mo sufficiency, as previously observed (K. E. Brigle, M. C. Weiss, W. E. Newton, and D. R. Dean, J. Bacteriol. 169:1547-1553, 1987), but not under conditions of Mo deficiency or in the presence of 50 nM V2O5.