cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scalable nanomanufacturing of millimetre-length 2D NaxCoO2 nanosheets

A novel, scalable nanomanufacturing technique is reported for batch fabrication of nanoscale-thick Na0.7CoO2 nanosheets. The nanomanufacturing technique is a high-yield, bottom-up process that is capable of producing tens of thousands of nanosheets stacked into a macro-scale pellet. The nanosheets are uniform in length and shape with very high crystal anisotropy. The nanosheet thicknesses can be 10–100 nm while their lengths can measure up to 1.8 mm long. The typical dimension ratios are highly anisotropic, at 10−5:1 : 1 (thickness:length:width). X-ray synchrotron studies indicate that the 2D crystals are stacked in a turbostratic arrangement with rotational misalignment with respect to the stacking axis. The stacked nanosheets are readily delaminated into very large (350 μm × 150 μm × 100 nm) free-standing 2D crystals. The novel nanomanufacturing technique is based on sol–gel and electric-field induced kinetic-demixing followed by a brief high temperature treatment, thus providing an efficient means of large scale crystal growth requiring only a simple furnace and power supply. Evidence shows that the demixing process increases the concentration of Na ions and that demixing is necessary to produce the millimetre-length nanosheets. Electric field induced kinetic-demixing is successfully performed at low temperatures (<300 °C), which is more than three times lower than past kinetic-demixing temperatures.
Fundamental aspects of nucleation and growth in the solution-phase synthesis of germanium nanocrystals

Colloidal Ge nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized via the solution phase reduction of germanium(II) iodide. We report a systematic investigation of the nanocrystal nucleation and growth as a function of synthesis conditions including the nature of coordinating solvents, surface bound ligands, synthesis duration and temperature. NC synthesis in reaction environments with weakly bound phosphine surface ligand led to the coalescence of nascent particles leading to ensembles with broad lognormal particle diameter distributions. Synthesis in the presence of amine or alkene ligands mitigated particle coalescence. High-resolution transmission electron micrographs revealed that NCs grown in the presence of weak ligands had a high crystal defect density whereas NCs grown in amine solutions were predominantly defect-free. We applied infrared spectroscopy to study the NC surface chemistry and showed that alkene ligands project the NCs from surface oxidation. Photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements showed that alkene ligands passivate surface traps, as indicated by infrared fluorescence, conversely oxidized phosphine and amine passivated NCs did not fluoresce.
Defining phenomena for an emotion state model in the human interface

The use of facial nonverbal behavior as an input has created a need for a robust emotion state model. Such a model would be used by the machine to determine actions appropriate to the exhibited behavior and machine state. Existing cognitive models of emotion provide a ready starting point for the development of a model for the human interface. However, these models do not account for the unique phenomenological aspects of the interface. These aspects are examined in detail from both a historical and modern perspective. The effects of the level of immersion into the virtual environment are also explored. Finally, solutions to this phenomena problem and further research paths are explored. >
Leishmania donovani Possess a NADPH-Dependent Alkylglycerol Cleavage Enzyme

Abstract Leishmaniaparasites possess an abundance of ether-linked hydrocarbons as components of phospholipids and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors of glycoproteins and polysaccharides, including important surface molecules such as lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and glycosylinositolphospholipids (GIPLs). Cleavage of the ether bond is an important feature in the turnover pathway of alkylglycerols. In mammals, ether lipid cleavage activity requires a pteridine cofactor (H4-biopterin), suggesting the potential for linkage between the unusualLeishmaniapteridine metabolic pathways and lipid metabolism. In this study, we partially purified and characterized an activity inL. donovanicapable of cleaving the ether lipid 1-O-alkyl[3H]glycol. Unlike the mammalian enzyme but like that ofTetrahymena,theLeishmaniaenzyme required NADPH rather than H4-biopterin. The use of divergent cofactors by the parasite and mammalian enzymes may provide a basis for the design of anti-parasitic drugs targeting ether-linked lipid metabolism.
Fluorescence-based directed termination PCR: direct mutation characterization without sequencing

We describe a fluorescence-based directed termination PCR (fluorescent DT–PCR) that allows accurate determination of actual sequence changes without dideoxy DNA sequencing. This is achieved using near infrared dye-labeled primers and performing two PCR reactions under low and unbalanced dNTP concentrations. Visualization of resulting termination fragments is accomplished with a dual dye Li-cor DNA sequencer. As each DT–PCR reaction generates two sets of terminating fragments, a pair of complementary reactions with limiting dATP and dCTP collectively provide information on the entire sequence of a target DNA, allowing an accurate determination of any base change. Blind analysis of 78 mutants of the supF reporter gene using fluorescent DT–PCR not only correctly determined the nature and position of all types of substitution mutations in the supF gene, but also allowed rapid scanning of the signature sequences among identical mutations. The method provides simplicity in the generation of terminating fragments and 100% accuracy in mutation characterization. Fluorescent DT–PCR was successfully used to generate a UV-induced spectrum of mutations in the supF gene following replication on a single plate of human DNA repair-deficient cells. We anticipate that the automated DT–PCR method will serve as a cost-effective alternative to dideoxy sequencing in studies involving large-scale analysis for nucleotide sequence changes.
Setting M-Estimation Parameters for Detection and Treatment of Influential Values

Recent research on the use of M-estimation methodology for detecting and treating verified influential values in economic surveys found that initial parameter settings affect effectiveness. In this article, we explore the basic question of how to develop initial settings for the M-estimation parameters. The economic populations that we studied are highly skewed and are consequently highly stratified. While we investigated settings for several parameters, the most challenging problem was to develop an “automatic” data-driven method for setting the initial value of the tuning constant φ, the parameter with the greatest influence on performance of the algorithm. Of all the methods that we considered, we found that methods defined in terms of the accuracy of published estimates can be implemented on a large scale and yielded the best performance. We illustrate the methodology with an empirical analysis of 36 consecutive months of data from 19 industries in the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey.
Abstract 4640: High expression of the stem cell marker LGR5 is associated with a poor clinical outcome in patients with Ewing's sarcoma

Ewing9s sarcoma family tumors (ESFT) are aggressive bone and soft tissue tumors that are most commonly diagnosed in childhood and adolescence. Unfortunately, drug-resistant relapse is not uncommon and is associated with very poor outcomes. No clinical or pathologic features currently exist that reliably predict chemosensitivity or relapse in newly diagnosed patients. In this study we used whole genome expression microarray profiling to identify potential markers of drug resistance and relapse in ESFT. Affymetrix human exon (HuEx) arrays were used to profile a highly drug resistant case of primary, localized ESFT before and after induction therapy. Comparison of gene summarized data from pre- and post-therapy samples with 10 chemosensitive tumors identified 309 genes to be differentially expressed in the resistant case at diagnosis (fold change>2). Of the 309 differentially expressed genes at diagnosis, 130 demonstrated an even greater change in expression post-induction therapy suggesting that these genes might be markers of the most highly drug-resistant cells. Intriguingly, two stem cell associated genes, PROM1 (prominin 1) and LGR5 (leucine-rich-repeat containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5), were included in the list of putative chemoresistance markers. Expression of PROM1 and LGR5 were 18-fold and 17-fold higher, respectively, at diagnosis and 31-fold and 21-fold higher post-induction therapy in the drug resistant case. To determine if either gene is associated with chemoresistant disease or relapse in ESFT we next evaluated whether their expression correlated with outcome in a large cohort of institutional and Children9s Oncology Group patients. Clinical correlates analysis of HuEx gene expression data obtained from 53 tumors revealed no correlation between PROM1 expression and outcome. In contrast, increased expression of LGR5 was associated with worse event-free (p=0.008) and overall survival (p=0.046). Variable but detectable expression of LGR5 in ESFT tumors and cell lines was validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Finally, LGR5 expression in ESFT cells was compared to human embryonic and somatic stem cells and fibroblasts. Significantly, LGR5 was found to be highly expressed by neural crest stem cells but not by bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, differentiated neural crest cells, or embryonic fibroblasts. These data suggest that LGR5 might be useful as a predictor of outcome in ESFT and implicate a primitive neural crest stem cell phenotype in the developmental origins of drug-resistant and relapsed disease. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4640.
General Program for Determining Instar Distributions from Headcapsule Widths: Example Analysis of Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytide) Data

Determining instar distributions from field-collected insect samples is a common problem in insect ecology. We describe a generalized computer program (HCAP) that determines an optimum separation rule based on the distribution of headcapsule widths. The program is initiated through visual interaction with the user to determine starting points for separation rules. HCAP then determines the optimum instar classification rules; estimates of means and standard deviations of headcapsule widths for each instar; estimated number in each instar; and probabilities of misclassification. Application of the program is illustrated by the analysis of 3 data sets of >10,000 observations of headcapsule widths obtained from field collections of larvae of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins. This analysis resulted in finding significant differences between larvae collected from different hosts (ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosae Lawson, and lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Douglas variety latifolia Engelmann) and ecological circumstances (outbreak phase and geographic location). These results indicate that caution must be taken when extrapolating published results to new data or from one ecological situation to another.
The Effect of Religion on Candidate Preference in the 2008 and 2012 Republican Presidential Primaries

Thanks to the work of politics and religion scholars, we now know a lot about the relationship between religion and voting in American presidential general elections. However, we know less about the influence of religion on individual vote choice in presidential primaries. This article fills that gap by exploring the relationship between religion and candidate preference in the 2008 and 2012 Republican primaries. Using pre-Super Tuesday surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center, I find that the Republican candidate who most explicitly appealed to religious voters (Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Rick Santorum in 2012) was the preferred candidate of Republican respondents who attended religious services at the highest levels, and that as attendance increased, so did the likelihood of preferring that candidate. I also find that identification as a born again Christian mattered to candidate preference. Specifically, born again Christians were more likely than non-born again Christians to prefer Huckabee to Mitt Romney, John McCain and Ron Paul in 2008, and Santorum to Romney in 2012. Although ideology was not the primary subject of this article, I find that ideology was also a statistically significant predictor of Republican candidate preference in both 2008 and 2012. This robust finding reinforces scholars’ prior work on the importance of ideology in explaining presidential primary vote choice. The overall findings of the paper provide evidence that religion variables can add to our understanding of why voters prefer one candidate over another in presidential primaries.
The Measurement Assurance-the Key of Arborne Computer Quality Control

The measure assurance,that is the quality control key to airborne computer development,is introduced in the paper.The important function of measure assurance work for the correspondent value and accurante experiment data is elucidated.The measure devices applied in research and product also provided.
Writing “Gamers”: The Gendered Construction of Gamer Identity in Nintendo Power (1994–1999)

In the mid-1990s, a small group of video game designers attempted to lessen gaming’s gender gap by creating software targeting girls. By 1999, however, these attempts collapsed, and video games remained a masculinized technology. To help understand why this movement failed, this article addresses the unexplored role of consumer press in defining “gamers” as male. A detailed content analysis of Nintendo Power issues published from 1994 to 1999 shows that mainstream companies largely ignored the girls’ games movement, instead targeting male audiences through player representations, sexualized female characters, magazine covers featuring men, and predominantly male authors. Given the mutually constitutive nature of representation and reality, the lack of women in consumer press then affected girls’ ability to identify as gamers and enter the gaming community. This shows that, even as gaming audiences diversify, inclusive representations are also needed to redefine gamer as more than just “male.”
Abstract IA17: Dynamic changes in the epigenetic landscape during retinal development, cellular reprogramming, and tumorigenesis

The stepwise progression from proliferating multipotent progenitor cells to terminally differentiated neurons in the developing central nervous system (CNS) is marked by dramatic changes in gene expression programs. Those changes in gene expression are accompanied by changes in histone modifications at individual promoters, gene bodies and enhancers as well as changes in the higher order structure of the chromatin. Once established during development, the cell-type specific epigenome of differentiated cells is thought to be relatively stable. Indeed, one of the major barriers to reprogramming differentiated cells such as neurons into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is the reversal of the epigenetic landscape that was established during differentiation. For some cell types, the cell-type specific epigenetic programs are not completely erased during reprogramming and the resulting induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) retain an epigenetic memory of their cellular origins. The dynamic changes in the epigenome that occur during development are also important for human disease. Childhood cancers are developmental tumors that arise during critical periods of development across diverse tissues. In a childhood cancer of the developing retina called retinoblastoma, it was shown the epigenetic reprogramming is required for tumorigenesis and this led to the identification of a novel druggable target for this ocular tumor. However, it is not known if the epigenetic changes that accompany tumorigenesis in childhood cancer are similar to those that occur during cellular reprogramming or if it is a completely distinct process that is required for oncogenic transformation. In this presentation, I will compare and contrast the changes in the epigenome that accompany changes in gene expression during retinal development, retinal neuron reprogramming and in retinoblastoma to gain a deeper understanding of the epigenome in development and cancer. Citation Format: Michael Dyer. Dynamic changes in the epigenetic landscape during retinal development, cellular reprogramming, and tumorigenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Developmental Biology and Cancer; Nov 30-Dec 3, 2015; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(4_Suppl):Abstract nr IA17.
Switching to alternative transit: combining bicycle safety improvements with parking regulations

ABSTRACTSmart growth policies advocate for economically viable, environmentally conscientious, and socially equitable solutions for urban development. These policies were developed largely in response to issues rooted in the automobile-oriented culture: air pollution, high greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion, and sedentary lifestyles. In urban settings, a good transportation alternative is cycling, since it is able to serve the travel needs of nearly half of city dwellers’ daily trips. Many European and Canadian cities have successfully increased cycling rates by creating safer bicycle environments and restricting or discouraging automobile use. To evaluate the potential effects of the above measures on American urban areas, this paper examines case studies of cycle tracks and bicycle boulevards implemented in American cities, and how these facility improvements have changed how safe cyclists feel on the road and overall bicycle usage. Results show the two methods are indeed effective in increasi...
Herding elephants: Geographic perspectives on gendered violence

In this commentary, I provide critical feedback to a suite of interventions directed toward the geographic study of gendered violence. In furthering this dialogue, I identify three interrelated obj...
Abstract 385: mTORC1/2 inhibition as a treatment strategy for subtypes of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Several key mutations in CRC include APC (80%), TP53 (50%), and PIK3CA (20-30%). Mutations in the PIK3CA gene, resulting in a constitutively active PI3K, often occur concomitantly with loss of the APC gene in human CRCs. Our lab has developed a murine model system where a constitutively active PI3K and loss of APC occur simultaneously in the colon (AK3K) as well as concomitant loss of p53 (AK3KTO). Colon tumors from these models are cultured as three-dimensional spheroids and treatment studies. METHODS AK3K and AK3KTO spheroids were treated with a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, NVP-BEZ235, or a mTORC1/2 inhibitor, MLN0128. Images were taken both pre- and post-treatment and changes in spheroid diameter were measured. Parallel treatment studies were performed on a primary human colon cancer tumor cell line, SW48, which carries a mutant FBXW7 and also on a cell line transfectedwith a PIK3CA mutation (SW48PK). RESULTS Treatment with NVP-BEZ235 and MLN0128 resulted in a significant treatment response as measured by marked change in spheroid diameter in the AK3K spheroids at 100, 200 and 400nM (p Citation Format: Stephanie Fricke, Cheri Pasch, Susan Payne, Alexander Yueh, Tyler Foley, Demetra Korkos, Dana Van De Hey, Linda Clipson, Dustin Deming. mTORC1/2 inhibition as a treatment strategy for subtypes of colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 385.
Characterization of carbon nanotube yarn after exposure to hyperthermal atomic oxygen and thermal fatigue

Abstract Carbon nanotube (CNT)-yarn was evaluated for the survivability under hazardous space environmental conditions which were thermal fatigue, atomic oxygen and additive effect of these two exposures. Its tensile strength, tenacity, stiffness, strain to failure and electrical conductivity were characterized at the two extreme space temperatures of −150 and 120 °C before and after exposure to these environmental conditions. Tensile strength, stiffness and electrical conductivity of unexposed CNT yarn increased at the cryogenic temperature relative to at the elevated temperature. There was no change in the tensile properties after exposure to the space environmental conditions when measured at the elevated and cryogenic temperatures. Electrical conductivity decreased after exposure to three hazardous environments involving thermal fatigue, but it had no or small decrease when exposed to atomic oxygen only. No additive effect of thermal fatigue followed by atomic oxygen or by atomic oxygen followed by thermal fatigue environments on the CNTs’ tensile properties and electrical conductivity was observed. Considering the low density 0.59 g/cc and good resistant to the extreme hazardous space environment, CNT-yarns have potential for applications in spacecraft and satellites.
Molecular dynamics study of self-diffusion in the core of a screw dislocation in face centered cubic crystals

Abstract Self-diffusion along the screw dislocation core in aluminum, nickel, copper and silver in the absence of any pre-existing point defects in the structure is studied using molecular dynamics. Simulation results show that the effect of screw dislocation on enhancing self-diffusion is more remarkable in Al and Ni than in Cu, and no significant enhancement of self-diffusion has been observed in the core regions of Ag. This behavior has been related to higher stacking fault energies and resultant smaller dissociation distance of partial dislocations in Al and Ni, compared to Cu and Ag.
A decade of emerald ash borer effects on regional woodpecker and nuthatch populations

The emerald ash borer (EAB) Agrilus planipennis, first detected in 2002 in the vicinity of Detroit, Michigan, USA, has spread throughout much of eastern and midwestern North America as of 2016, resulting in widespread mortality of ash trees in the genus Fraxinus. We investigated the effects of this newly available, exotic food source on populations of six species of largely resident insectivorous birds, including five species of woodpeckers and white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), using North American Breeding Bird Survey data for breeding season estimates and Audubon Christmas Bird Counts for winter season estimates. We found evidence for relatively modest and variable effects of EAB invasion on the populations of these birds during the breeding season, but highly significant numerical increases during the winter that in several cases appeared to be increasing as the EAB invasion has progressed. Our results confirm that the EAB invasion is resulting in increased populations of several insectivorous birds, primarily during the winter. They also suggest that the numerical response of woodpeckers to EAB may be such that avian predation, which represents a significant, and possibly the largest, morality factor affecting some EAB populations, may continue to increase and help control the EAB epidemic as the invasion continues.
A Communicative Approach to Sport Socialization: The Functions of Memorable Messages in Division-I Student-Athletes’ Socialization

Previous research has suggested the potential for enduring and influential messages (otherwise known as memorable messages) to serve as mechanisms of athlete socialization but has failed to explore how these messages might help athletes adjust to their teams. This study used open-ended questionnaires to explore how the memorable messages that Division-I student-athletes receive before their college career influence them before and after they join their teams, as well as the associations between message content and function. The results of this study indicate that memorable messages shape student-athletes’ attitudes, expectations, and participative decisions before beginning their college careers and their attitudes, relationships, and performance once they began their careers. However, few associations between message content and functions were observed, and no associations between student-athletes’ sex and sport type with message functions were observed. These results highlight the role of discourse in s...
A Mixture Partial Credit Model Analysis Using Language-Based Covariates

A mixture partial credit model (MixPCM) can be used to classify examinees into discrete latent classes based on their performance on items scored in multiple ordered categories. Characterizing the latent classes, however, is not always straightforward, particularly when analyzing text from constructed responses. This is because there may be information in the constructed responses that is not captured by the scores. Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) is a statistical model that has been used to detect latent topics in textual data. The topics can be used to characterize documents, such as answers on a constructed-response test, as mixtures of the topics. In this study, we used one of the topics from the LDA as a covariate in a MixPCM to help characterize the different latent classes detected by the MixPCM.
Evaluating the effectiveness of urban trees to mitigate storm water runoff via transpiration and stemflow

Many cities in the Eastern United States are working to increase urban tree cover due to the hydrological services that trees provide, including the interception, storage and transpiration of water that would otherwise enter sewer systems. Despite the understanding that trees benefit urban ecosystems, there have been few studies that address the underlying physiology of different urban trees with regard to their capacity to take up water, particularly following rain events. We monitored the sap flow of nine species of trees in urban parks and linked sap flow to local microclimate. In addition, we measured throughfall, stemflow and crown architecture. Interspecific variation in sap flow was significant as were differences in time lags (i.e. difference in time between the increase of solar radiation versus sap flow) across species of large but not small trees. Interestingly the most important microclimatic drivers of sap flow were different in large versus small trees. Lastly, we found that trees with a large branch angle routed more rainwater to stemflow. In this study we found strong evidence that variation in urban tree physiology can impact important hydrological services that will influence the effectiveness of different trees as tools to manage stormwater runoff.
Chapter 19 DNA-Binding Proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the method for isolation of DNA-binding proteins. DNA-binding proteins are isolated on the basis of their affinity for purified DNA in vitro . Eukaryotic DNA-binding proteins, such as the steroid hormone-receptor proteins, are involved in gene regulation. DNA-binding proteins are isolated by affinity chromatography using purified DNA immobilized on a neutral substrate. DNA can be bound to cellulose by drying the two together, by a combination of drying and ultraviolet irradiation, or by chemical coupling using activating agents, such as water-soluble carbodiimide. DNA can also be immobilized by trapping it in an agarose gel or an acrylamide gel. Alternatively, it can be covalently attached to agarose beads by activating the DNA with carbodiimide or by activating the agarose beads with cyanogen bromide. These various methods all yield a DNA-substrate complex, with which known DNA-binding proteins can interact. However, they vary in the fraction of input DNA bound, in the stability of the complex formed, and in whether large or small, single- or double-stranded DNA molecules can be immobilized. DNA molecules too small to bind efficiently to cellulose by drying can be chemically linked to cellulose or agarose.
Bacterial gene control by DNA looping using engineered dimeric transcription activator like effector (TALE) proteins.

Genetic switches must alternate between states whose probabilities are dependent on regulatory signals. Classical examples of transcriptional control in bacteria depend on repressive DNA loops anchored by proteins whose structures are sensitive to small molecule inducers or co-repressors. We are interested in exploiting these natural principles to engineer artificial switches for transcriptional control of bacterial genes. Here, we implement designed homodimeric DNA looping proteins (‘Transcription Activator-Like Effector Dimers’; TALEDs) for this purpose in living bacteria. Using well-studied FKBP dimerization domains, we build switches that mimic regulatory characteristics of classical Escherichia coli lactose, galactose and tryptophan operon promoters, including induction or co-repression by small molecules. Engineered DNA looping using TALEDs is thus a new approach to tuning gene expression in bacteria. Similar principles may also be applicable for gene control in eukaryotes.
Wellness Coaching to Improve Lifestyle Behaviors Among Adults With Prediabetes: Patients’ Experience and Perceptions to Participation

Background:Health and Wellness Coaching has been shown to enhance treatment outcomes in the primary care setting. However, little is known about the experience and perceptions of patients who worked with a wellness coach as an integrated member of their primary health-care team.Objective:This project assessed patients’ experience and obtained their perceptions on barriers and facilitators to participation in a primary care–based wellness coaching program.Method:A survey was mailed to 99 primary care patients with prediabetes who participated in a 12-week wellness coaching program.Results:Sixty-two (63%) completed the survey; responders felt that participation in the wellness coaching program helped move them toward healthier lifestyle behavior and created a personal vision of wellness. Major themes associated with participation were supportive coaching relationship, increased self-accountability, increased goal-setting, and healthy behavior strategies. No significant barrier to participation was reported....
HOW ENGLAND FELL OFF THE MAP OF VOLTAIRE'S ENLIGHTENMENT

Voltaire's Letters Concerning the English Nation (Lettres philosophiques) have left the indelible impression that the French philosophe was fundamentally marked by his exposure to English thought in the late 1720s. On the map of his epistolary correspondence, however, England is hardly to be found. What are we to make of this discrepancy? In this article, we demonstrate that the missing letters to England are unlikely to be the result of a data glitch, but rather reflect a lack of interest in contemporary English matters. The only England that Voltaire seems to have cared about lay in the past, during the reign of Charles II. Moreover, this period of English history was (in his view) intrinsically French, given the English monarch's close ties to Versailles. Voltaire's limited admiration of English thought, accordingly, formed part of his broader philosophy of history, which was centered at the court of Louis XIV.
Evaluation of Endocrine Function

Making the diagnosis of endocrine disease in a horse is not always straight forward. Clinical pathologic results can be confusing or even conflicting, making interpretation difficult. In this article, thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, endocrine, pancreas, and adrenal diseases are discussed. Clinical pathologic findings are related to the predominate clinical signs of each disease.
Comparisons of RL and RLC Interconnect Models in the Simultaneous Switching Noise Simulations

Package interconnect structures are typically modeled as lumped inductive-resistive circuits that are independent of frequency for the purpose of Simultaneous Switching Noise (SSN) simulations. In such models, displacement current and the dispersive behavior of the package has been neglected. This paper investigates the impact of these mechanisms on interconnect electrical performance, and compares the results of RL and RLC models of package interconnects in SSN simulations. Two circuit model extractors for microelectronic packaging structures, namely UAEPIC and UAEPIC 2, are utilized. Both UAEPIC and UAEPIC 2 are able to extract both frequency-independent and frequency-dependent (broadband) models. Some typical package structures were utilized to compare results from the application of the lumped macromodels and the broadband macromodels on SSN simulations.
Corruption and Reform in Higher Education in Ukraine

At least thirty percent of Ukrainians enter colleges by paying bribes while many others use their connections with the faculty and administration. Corruption increases inequalities in access to higher education, prevents future economic growth in the country, and undermines quality and credentials of academic degrees. This paper considers corruption in higher education in Ukraine, including such aspects as corruption in admissions to higher education institutions and corruption in administering the newly introduced standardized test. The reform of higher education in Ukraine, based on the national examinations, is intended to be a response to the rapidly changing economic environment and the new social order. Au moins un tiers des etudiants ukrainiens des colleges universitaires a ete admis en payant des pots-de-vins, le reste s’est servi de ses contacts avec les departements academiques et administratifs. La corruption accentue un acces inegal aux universites, freine la croissance economique future du pays et remet en question la qualite et les cartes de presentation des diplomes academiques. Cet article vise la corruption dans les universites ukrainiennes et plus precisement, la corruption lors des processus d’admission dans les institutions d’education superieure ainsi que dans l’administration du nouvel examen standard utilise a cet effet. La reforme de l’education superieure en Ukraine, basee sur l’application d’examens nationaux, cherche a repondre a un nouvel ordre economique et surtout a un environnement economique en constante mutation.
An Interactive Boundary-Layer Stability-Transition Approach for Low Reynolds-Number Airfoils

An interactive boundary-layer stability-transition approach for predicting the performance characteristics of airfoils at low Reynolds numbers is described and evaluated in terms of experimental data. The interactive boundary-layer procedure makes use of a panel method and an inverse boundary-layer scheme in which the Reynolds stress term is modeled by an algebraic eddy-viscosity formulation and the governing equations are solved in inverse mode by a two-point finite-difference method. The procedure also makes use of the en-method to determine the location of transition. The turbulence model employs an extended version of the intermittency expression in the Cebeci and Smith eddy-viscosity model and this plays an important role in the calculation of low Reynolds numbers flows. The solution procedure also considers the calculation of flow in the wake which becomes increasingly more important with increased flow separation.
Some Mathematical Models Useful in Reliability Analysis For Advanced Technologies

This paper presents the mathematical foundations thought necessary to formalize properly most instances of stochastic variation that will be problematic in the construction industry. An emphasis is placed on clarifying those aspects which are frequently misunderstood. The paper reviews the concept of a distribution, its sample and parameter spaces, and compares several of those that have proved to be most useful in life and strength calculations. The problems of estimating the somewhat specialized quantities of engineering interest are discussed. The modern methods of maximum likelihood estimation for incomplete samples are explained and illustrated. The classification of a life length by the behavior of its hazard rate is shown. Cumulative damage is defined and such distributions are given and their properties explained. Some problems from the aero-space and (Hi-tech) Electronic industries are presented to illustrate the combination of these concepts arising in actual problems.
THIN FILM KINETICS AND REACTIONS AT METAL-SILICON INTERFACES.

Raman scattering and RBS measurements are used to characterize the initial interactions at metal-Si interfaces. The results indicate that for some metals, a disordered intermixed layer can precede the formation of an ordered silicide. The results are discussed in terms of the chemical energy and strain which result from the interdiffusion.
Bioenergetics and Muscle Cell Types

Potential complexities in biochemical and bioenergetic interpretation due fiber type heterogeneity are not significant for human muscle. Paradigms for understanding muscle bioenergetics then can be understood from a set of basic premises of biochemical energy balance 1) ATP provides the energy for all forms of muscle work; 2) chemical energy is stored in cells as phosphocreatine, a biochemical capacitor; 3) the sum of the coupled ATPases sets the demand side of the balance and defines energetic states; and 4) this demand is supplied by aerobic metabolism and the products of the coupled ATPases provide control signals for regulation of energy balance. We speculate that cytoplasmic signals at work in energy balance may also control muscle plasticity.
Biofeedback for Constipation and Fecal Incontinence

Constipation and associated symptoms are the most common chronic gastrointestinal complaints, accounting for 2.5 million physician visits per year with a prevalence of 2% in the United States population (1,2). The Rome II Diagnostic Criteria for the Definition of Constipation as a Symptom Complex is specified in Table 6.5-1 (3). After identification and exclusion of extracolonic or anatomic causes, many patients respond favorably to medical and dietary management. However, patients unresponsive to simple treatment may require further physiologic investigation to evaluate the pathophysiologic process underlying these symptoms. Physiologic investigation generally includes a colonic transit time study, cinedefecography, anorectal manometry, and electromyography (EMG) (4), which allows for definitive diagnosis of treatable conditions including anismus, colonic inertia, rectocele, and sigmoidocele (5). Anismus—also termed pelvic floor dyssynergia, spastic pelvic floor syndrome, paradoxical puborectalis contraction, and nonrelaxing puborectalis syndrome—accounts for an estimated 50% of patients with symptoms of chronic constipation (6). The Rome II Diagnostic Criteria for a Diagnosis of Pelvic Floor Dyssynergia are specified in Table 6.5-2 (3). This disorder of unknown etiology is characterized by a failure of the puborectalis muscle to relax during defecation. Invasive surgical therapies or injection of botulinum neurotoxin (7) may be associated with an unacceptable incidence of incontinence in this disorder, and in 1993, Enck’s critical review summarized the role for biofeedback, which has become widely accepted as the treatment of choice for anismus (8) (see Chapter 6.4).
Human Papillomavirus Genotypes Predict Progression of Anal Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions.

Background High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV)-induced anal low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) have the potential to progress to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). We investigated whether anal hrHPV infections, particularly types 16 and 18, predict LSIL-to-HSIL progression. Methods One hundred forty-six human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and 22 HIV-uninfected patients with anal LSILs underwent cytology, HPV genotyping (16, 18, and pooled 12 hrHPV types), and high-resolution anoscopy-guided biopsy at baseline and surveillance. The associations between the rate of LSIL-to-HSIL progression and HPV types as well as longitudinal HPV-16/18 status were assessed by fitting separate Cox regression models. Results At baseline, 91% of patients harbored hrHPV: HPV-16/18 (44%) and non-16/18 (86%). Upon follow-up (median, 20 [range, 6-36] months), 41% developed HSIL (84% at the same anatomic location as the initial LSIL and 16% at a different location). Baseline HPV-16/18-positive patients had greater probability of progression than patients with non-16/18 types or negative (67%, 25%, and 7%, respectively; P < .001). Persistent HPV-16/18 conferred the highest probability of progression (70%), followed by intermittent HPV-16/18 positivity (52%). In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, baseline and persistent HPV-16/18 were significantly associated with LSIL-to-HSIL progression. Conclusions Anal LSIL patients who are positive for hrHPV, especially HPV-16/18, have an increased risk of developing HSIL. Type-specific HPV testing could serve as a risk stratification tool, providing prognostic information.
The influence of French colonial humanism on the study of late antiquity: Braudel, Marrou, Brown

Late antiquity is a sub-discipline of history. It is also a particular way of representing the time and space of the past. Studies in late antiquity tend to focus on the culture and society of the late Roman world. This article argues that this way of imagining time and space and people derives from francophone debates about colonial governance that were current in the 1920s and 1930s. This colonial humanism provided the context for two francophone authors whose work heavily influenced the formation of late antiquity: Fernand Braudel and Henri Marrou. This article shows how Braudel and Marrou were influenced by colonial humanism and how this influence shaped the formation of late antiquity. Historiographical accounts of the study of late antiquity have noted a recurring preoccupation with modernity. This article argues that late antiquity is modern to the extent that it is dependent on the colony for its constitution.
Selected Nonmusic Predictors of Urban Students’ Decisions to Enroll and Persist in Middle and High School Music Ensemble Electives:

The purpose of this study was to fit theoretical models of prediction to urban students’ decisions to enroll and persist in music ensembles using academic achievement, socioeconomic status (SES), n...
Timely recognition of total elbow and radial head arthroplasty adverse events: an analysis of reports to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Background Recent recalls of several commonly used elbow arthroplasty implants have prompted interest in the modes by which elbow implants fail and the timing of reports of these failures. Methods We reviewed the adverse event reports to the US Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database from 2012 to 2015 regarding elbow arthroplasty to determine the event date and the type of each adverse event. Results Among 179 total elbow adverse event reports, the most common modes of failure were implant dissociation (23%), loosening (22%), and infection (16%). The most common modes of failure among 58 radial head replacement reports were component dissociation (19%) and linkage screw failure (19%). The percentage distribution of adverse event types differed among different arthroplasty systems and from that reported in published reviews of elbow arthroplasty. Three implant recalls were implemented 2, 5, and 9 years after the first adverse event report in the MAUDE database. For 2 of the recalls, the first reports of the device failures were published 2 and 5 years after the first MAUDE reports. Conclusions The MAUDE database is a publicly funded and publicly available means by which surgeons can identify adverse events for the prostheses they use before such information becomes available through journal publication or recall notification. In this study, MAUDE data revealed a higher relative frequency of mechanical dissociation of elbow implants than what has been represented in the literature. Early identification of these adverse events may help surgeons by informing their implant selection and surgical technique.
Is it time to revise the definition of research misconduct

U.S. federal policy defines research misconduct as fabrication of data, falsification of data, or plagiarism (FFP). In recent years, some have argued or suggested that the definition of research misconduct should also include sexual harassment, sabotage, deceptive use of statistics, and failure to disclose a significant conflict of interest (COI). While the arguments for revising the definition of misconduct used by federal agencies to include misbehaviors other than FFP are not convincing at this point in time, the arguments for revising definitions used by other organizations, such as professional societies, universities, or journals, may be. Since these other organizations play an important role in promoting integrity in science and deterring unethical behavior, they may consider adopting definitions of misconduct that extend beyond FFP. Debates about the definition of research misconduct are a normal and healthy part of broader discussions about integrity in science and how best to promote it. These debates should continue even if the federal definition of misconduct remains unchanged.
The Dynamics of a Chaplygin Sleigh with an Elastic Internal Rotor

In this paper the dynamics of a Chaplygin sleigh like system are investigated. The system consists a of a Chaplygin sleigh with an internal rotor connected by a torsional spring, which is possibly non-Hookean. The problem is motivated by applications in robotics, where the motion of a nonholonomic system is sought to be controlled by modifying or tuning the stiffness associated with some degrees of freedom of the system. The elastic potential modifies the dynamics of the system and produces two possible stable paths in the plane, a straight line and a circle, each of which corresponds to fixed points in a reduced velocity space. Two different elastic potentials are considered in this paper, a quadratic potential and a Duffing like quartic potential. The stiffness of the elastic element, the relative inertia of the main body and the internal rotor and the initial energy of the system are all bifurcation parameters. Through numerics, we investigate the codimension-one bifurcations of the fixed points while holding all the other bifurcation parameters fixed. The results show the possibility of controlling the dynamics of the sleigh and executing different maneuvers by tuning the stiffness of the spring.
Draft Genome Sequences of 38 Serratia marcescens Isolates Associated with Acroporid Serratiosis

Serratia marcescens is a Gram-negative bacterium causally linked to acroporid serratiosis, a form of white pox disease implicated in the decline of elkhorn corals. We report draft genomes of 38 S. marcescens isolates collected from host and nonhost sources. The availability of these genomes will aid future analyses of acroporid serratiosis.
Inexistent Night (with Yasunari Kawabata)

ABSTRACTThis piece theorizes the myriad strange possibilities of “the inexistent night” – that is, a minor temporal-existential break in the after-dark that nevertheless enables both disastrous and...
The Dimension of Quasi-Homogeneous Linear Systems With Multiplicity Four

A linear system of plane curves satisfying multiplicity conditions at points in general position is called special if the dimension is larger than the expected dimension. A (-1) curve is an irreducible curve with self intersection -1 and genus zero. The Harbourne-Hirschowitz Conjecture is that a linear system is special only if a multiple of some fixed (-1) curve is contained in every curve of the linear system. This conjecture is proven for linear systems with multiplicity four at all but one of the points.