cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of hypophysectomy on liver nucleoproteins.

SummaryEarlier investigations on liver nucleoprotein changes following hypophysectomy have been extended showing that the DNA per average nucleus is increased. This is not restored to normal values rapidly, since treatment for one week with growth hormone effects no appreciable reduction. These data obtained by chemical analyses strongly indicated that following hypophysectomy there was an increase in the frequency of nuclei of higher ploidy. This was found to be the case when the nuclei were examined by microspectropho tome trie technics. The results suggest that growth hormone may be important in effecting the conversion of diploid to the tetraploid nuclei. However, tetraploid nuclei may be converted to octaploid nuclei in the absence of growth hormone.
Computational and Experimental Study of Li-doped Ionic Liquids at Electrified Interfaces

We evaluate the influence of Li-salt doping on the dynamics, capacitance, and structure of three ionic liquid electrolytes, [pyr14][TFSI], [pyr13][FSI], and [EMIM][BF4], using molecular dynamics and polarizable force fields. In this respect, our focus is on the properties of the electric double layer (EDL) formed by the electrolytes at the electrode surface as a function of surface potential (Ψ). The rates of EDL formation are found to be on the order of hundreds of picoseconds and only slightly influenced by the addition of Li salt. The EDLs of three electrolytes are shown to have different energy storage capacities, which we relate to the EDL formation free energy. The differential capacitance obtained from our computations exhibits asymmetry about the potential of zero charge and is consistent with the camel-like profiles noted from mean field theories and experiments on metallic electrodes. The introduction of Li salt reduces the noted asymmetry in the differential capacitance profile. Complementary e...
225 INTRAUTERINE PROGRAMMING OF OFFSPRING OBESITY: THE ROLE OF MATERNAL DIABETES

Obesity prevails as an increasingly widespread metabolic disorder of energy intake and balance with multifactorial causes involving both genetics and environmental influences. The prenatal period has been highlighted as a sensitive and critical stage in the development of obesity and has been a focus of basic and clinical research efforts for prevention. The modification of substrate transfer to the fetus may subsequently alter organ development and function involved in energy metabolism. Although there is no single mechanism for fetal programming of obesity in the intrauterine environment, the strongest evidence is for the role of maternal diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms leading from intrauterine exposure to diabetes mellitus to adolescent offspring obesity later in life. A second purpose was to evaluate the epidemiologic evidence that links maternal diabetes mellitus to offspring obesity. Epidemiologic data was collected in a systematic review of the literature using PubMed and MDconsult. Six studies were identified that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria The evidence suggests that aside from genetic factors, the altered intrauterine environment in maternal diabetes may predispose offspring to adolescent obesity and glucose intolerance. Proposed mechanisms suggest that a fetus exposed to hyperglycemic conditions can be programmed to develop a dysregulated adipoinsular feedback pathway leading to adolescent obesity. Therefore, careful monitoring of maternal glucose levels during pregnancy may have a significant impact on the prevention of adolescent obesity.
A conceptual evolutionary aseismic decision support framework for hospitals

In this paper, aconceptual evolutionary framework for aseismic decision support for hospitalsthat attempts to integrate a range of engineering and sociotechnical models is presented. Genetic algorithms are applied to find the optimal decision sets. A case study is completed to demonstrate how the frameworkmay applytoa specific hospital.The simulations show that the proposed evolutionary decision support framework is able to discover robust policy sets in either uncertain or fixed environments. The framework also qualitatively identifies some of the characteristicbehavior of the critical care organization. Thus, by utilizing the proposedframework, the decision makers are able to make more informed decisions, especially toenhance the seismic safety of the hospitals.
Simultaneous diversion of the urinary and fecal streams utilizing a single abdominal stoma: the double-barreled wet colostomy.

AbstractA new technique to achieve simultaneous diversion of the urinary and fecal streams using a single abdominal stoma is described. The procedure consists of the construction of a diverting loop colostomy with division of the colon approximately 10 to 15cm. distal to the stoma. The segment of colon distal to the stoma, the urine limb, acts as a urinary conduit. To date 3 patients have undergone the procedure with followup of 3, 13 and 18 months. Neither upper tract infection nor upper tract deterioration has occurred. The potential role of this procedure to treat a difficult group of patients is discussed.
Semiactive control for a distributed mass damper system

Summary Recently, a distributed mass damper (DMD) has been proposed for architectural design considerations. By placing a mass damper in every story of a building, building designers can (1) integrate shading fins (that are typically installed in every story) and mass dampers to synergistically improve safety and energy efficiency, and (2) solve many architectural design and implementation issues (e.g., complications of a large damper mass near the top or the prime space of a building) with small damper masses. The passive DMD system was shown effective in response mitigation as a conventional tuned mass damper. In this paper, two semiactive DMD strategies are evaluated: a conventional semiactive clipped-optimal LQR strategy, and a proposed gain-scheduled semiactive DMD strategy. A conventional clipped-optimal approach turns individual dampers off when their control forces are nondissipative, whereas the proposed strategy uses a redesigned control force, using an alternate control gain, to maximize the number of dampers exerting dissipative forces. A five-story shear structure with one semiactive tuned mass damper per floor is used as a testbed to evaluate these control strategies. Both semiactive DMD strategies best the passive DMD system in reducing structural response; further, the semiactive gain-scheduling strategy notably outperforms the established clipped-optimal semiactive control strategy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthetic Images of Beta-spline Objects

In computer graphics, it is of interest to render a Beta-spline, that is, create a realistic two-dimensional image representing three-dimensional Beta-spline objects. This chapter shows several synthetic color images of Beta-spline objects including such features as specular highlights and texture patterns.
The European Union: Development and the Primacy of Bureaucratic Politics

Alongside national governments in Britain, France, Germany, and other West European countries, the European Union (EU) constitutes a crucial organization for the coordination and implementation of economic, social, and foreign policies on the regional level of governance. The significance of the EU lies not only in its economic status as the nucleus of the world’s largest trading bloc and integrated regional market but also in the declared intentions of political leaders in both the EU and its member countries to achieve economic, monetary, and political union by the end of the 1990s. Implementing these objectives will entail the further transfer of significant degrees of national decision-making authority to supranational institutions1—a process that began when the European integration movement was launched during the early 1950s. Once it is fully attained, economic, monetary, and political union will firmly establish the European Union as a powerful governmental system in its own right.
Light-sheet microscopy by confocal line scanning of dual-Bessel beams

We have developed a light-sheet microscope that uses confocal scanning of dual-Bessel beams for illumination. A digital micromirror device (DMD) is placed in the intermediate image plane of the objective used to collect fluorescence and is programmed with two lines of pixels in the “on” state such that the DMD functions as a spatial filter to reject the out-of-focus background generated by the side-lobes of the Bessel beams. The optical sectioning and out-of-focus background rejection capabilities of this microscope were demonstrated by imaging of fluorescently stained actin in human A431 cells. The dual-Bessel beam system enables twice as many photons to be detected per imaging scan, which is useful for low light applications (e.g., single-molecule localization) or imaging at high speed with a superior signal to noise. While demonstrated for two Bessel beams, this approach is scalable to a larger number of beams.
Strengthening effect of reduced graphene oxide in steel clad copper rod

Reduced graphene oxide has been extensively used as reinforcing agent owing to their high mechanical properties. In this work, an attempt is made to synthesize steel clad copper rod reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) by the combination of powder-in-tube and intermediate annealing (IA). Experiments show that the Fe/RGO/Cu composites manifest better mechanical properties than Fe/Cu composites. In the process of groove rolling, RGO acts as effective binder, which can greatly improve the adhesive strength of copper scrap and two metals. Moreover, the strengthening effect of RGO is tightly related to its dispersion state. The RGO diffuses much more uniformly on the metallic substrate under the IA temperature of 1100 °C than 800 °C, which can be characterized by less deformation twins appearing at the interface of core copper and the formation of Fe–RGO–Cu transition belt at the bonding interface. In this case, the peak hardness, tensile strength and shear strength of Fe/RGO/Cu composites are 52 HV, 125 and 41 MPa higher than those of the Fe/Cu composites, respectively. The difference of strengthening effect and mechanisms of RGO under 800 and 1100 °C of IA are systematically discussed by referring to experimental results.
Dynamics of mode-coupling-assisted microresonator frequency combs

We investigate theoretically and experimentally the dynamics of frequency comb formation triggered by mode-crossings in a normal group-velocity dispersion microresonator. We demonstrate that phase-matching conditions can predict the spectral features of the resulting combs.
Is No-Fault Auto Insurance the Answer to Liability Concerns of Autonomous Vehicles?

Automotive travel will change dramatically as technological advances shift more driver functions to computers, cameras, and sensors. Ultimately, drivers will become a thing of the past and all Americans will become passengers in fully self-driving vehicles. Automobile ownership may decline as ride-sharing services utilizing autonomous vehicles proliferate. Fundamental changes in how Americans get from one location to another necessitate a change in how liability is assessed and damages are paid in the event of automobile accidents. No longer will human error (driver negligence) be the cause of most automobile accidents. Complexities and costs involved with determining who should be responsible for damages may cause regulators, insurance companies, and consumers to reconsider the benefits of no-fault automobile insurance. Revised no-fault automobile insurance can provide fair compensation while keeping uncertainty about liability from deterring the advancement and implementation of autonomous vehicle technologies.
Cyanine and Squaric Acid Metal Sensors

Abstract Metals are present in every facet of human existence and many are even necessary to support life. Some metals, however, are extremely toxic, thus it is important to be able to quickly and accurately determine the concentrations of metals present in solutions. One method used to determine the concentrations of metals in solution is through the use of Near-Infrared (NIR) fluorescence. Cyanine and squaric acid dyes represent two important classes of organic dyes due to their ease of modification allowing solubility, absorption and emission wavelengths, and conjugatability to be adjusted. The tunability of these dyes allows for the design and synthesis of probes which can be used to accurately and selectively determine the concentration of a given metal even in a solution containing multiple metal species. Due to the lack of a collective work on this topic, we have compiled this review of the literature; and, while squaric acids have found numerous applications in sensing metal cations, cyanines have been underrepresented in the development of metal probes. Both dyes, however, feature excellent chemical, physical, and optical properties which allow them to be used for this purpose.
A Decade of Research on Evaluation: A Systematic Review of Research on Evaluation Published Between 2005 and 2014

Although investigations into evaluation theories, methods, and practices have been occurring since the late 1970s, research on evaluation (RoE) has seemingly increased in the past decade. In this r...
A 300 mV, 6-bit ultra-low power SAR ADC

This work uses the mutual temperature compensation of threshold voltage and carrier mobility to establish the optimum overdrive voltage for a MOS transistor. A fully differential SAR ADC is designed using 65 nm technology with improved temperature and process stability and can work under supply voltage of 300 mV. Simulation results show that under VDD of 300 mV the ADC is able to achieve a peak ENOB of 5.5 bits, with a variation of 0.7 bit over temperature range of −55 °C to 125 °C. Also the FOM of the ADC is 8.8 and 58 fJ/conversion-step at 27 °C and 125 °C, respectively.
Aging Research: Collaborations Forge a Promising Future

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was founded in 1974 to conduct and support research on aging and the health and well-being of older people. The Institute's interests span the fundamental processes that contribute to aging and their impact on systems; diseases and conditions for which aging is a risk factor; and interventions that may prevent, delay, or treat these conditions or otherwise contribute to an extension of healthy, active years of life. Multiple fruitful research collaborations within and outside the federal government, spanning the breadth of the Institute's research activities, have marked NIA's growth over the past 40 years, as well as its current areas of ongoing research. This article discusses several highlights of these collaborations, including the Health and Retirement Study, geroscience research, falls injury prevention in elderly adults, and implementation of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease, from the perspective of past accomplishments and trends for the future.
The imagination paradox: Participation or performance of visioning the city

Abstract Models of urban planning after authoritarian modernism raise the question of democratic control over the city and the possibility of imagining as a collective act. The paper examines systemic hindrances to free-thinking, and thus free-acting, embedded in urban communities. Through the case study of recent work by the art collective Department of Play, it illustrates the rationale for engaging public imagination specifically via play as world-building; and it posits the potential implications and limits of such activity as an intervention into city planning processes. Interested in liminal spaces between territory, language and social affiliation, the collective advances an agenda of productive dissent in public space through play and performance. Department of Play begins from the position that we can only plan that which we imagine, and thus exists as an effort to free the public imagination from modes of thinking dictated by the capitalist context.
An improved connectionist activation function for energy minimization

Symmetric networks that are based on energy minimization, such as Boltzmann machines or Hopfield nets, are used extensively for optimization, constraint satisfaction, and approximation of NP-hard problems. Nevertheless, finding a global minimum for the energy function is not guaranteed, and even a local minimum may take an exponential number of steps. We propose an improvement to the standard activation function used for such networks. The improved algorithm guarantees that a global minimum is found in linear time for tree-like subnetworks. The algorithm is uniform and does not assume that the network is a tree. It performs no worse than the standard algorithms for any network topology. In the case where there are trees growing from a cyclic subnetwork, the new algorithm performs better than the standard algorithms by avoiding local minima along the trees and by optimizing the free energy of these trees in linear time. The algorithm is self-stabilizing for trees (cycle-free undirected graphs) and remains correct under various scheduling demons. However, no uniform protocol exists to optimize trees under a pure distributed demon and no such protocol exists for cyclic networks under central demon.
Aneurysm of right-sided cervical arch: Surgical removal and graft replacement

Right-sided cervical aortic arch is a rare congenital anomaly which may cause respiratory symptoms or dysphagia. In the past, surgical correction of the cervical arch has not been attempted except in one patient in whom an erroneous diagnosis of aneurysm of the innominate artery led to an unsuccessful operation. A case is reported of a 39-year-old woman with an extensive fusiform aneurysm of a right-sided cervical arch. The arch aneurysm was successfully removed surgically and normal circulation was restored to the arch vessels. At the same operation, a ventricular septal defect was repaired with the aid of temporary cardiopulmonary bypass.
A Suggested Prefield Process for Missionary Candidates

This article gives one example of a prefield process geared to the financial limitations, geographic distances, and conservative religious population represented by missionary candidates. Although ...
Aligned and Packed Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes as Hyperbolic Thermal Emitters

We demonstrate a broadly tunable, polarized and selective thermal emitter from highly aligned and densely packed single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNCTs) operating at 700 °C, originating from their optical topological transition.
Energy and States of Matter

This chapter focuses on energy and states of matter. The distinctions between the elements of nature arise from the number and arrangement of basic particles—electrons, protons, and neutrons. At both the atomic and nuclear levels, the structure of elements is determined by internal forces and energy. There are a limited number of basic forces—gravitational, electrostatic, electromagnetic, and nuclear. Associated with each of these is the ability to do work. Thus, energy in different forms may be stored, released, transformed, transferred, and “used” in both natural processes and man-made devices. It is often convenient to view nature in terms of only two basic entities—particles and energy. The chapter reviews some principles of physics needed for the study of the release of nuclear energy and its conversion into thermal and electrical form. Another form of energy is electromagnetic or radiant energy. This energy may be released by heating of solids, as in the wire of a light-bulb, or by electrical oscillations, as in radio or television transmitters, or by atomic interactions, as in the sun.
Functional Development of Rat Trophoblast and Decidual Cells During Establishment of the Hemochorial Placenta

ABSTRACT Progesterone alters gene expression of uterine stromal cells, rendering them sensitive to decidual transformation. Prenidatory estrogen, by qualitatively modulating progesterone-induced gene expression, activates the blastocyst and initiates implantation. Implantation is the hormonally programmed migration of trophoblast through decidualized stroma in order to bring it into apposition with the maternal vasculature prior to gestation day 10 in the rat. At that time, the luteotropic peptide hormone secreted by the trophoblast giant cell (rat placental lactogen, rPL) becomes a primary regulatory factor in maintaining the latter period of pregnancy. Activation reorganized the blastocyst cytoskeleton. Microtubule assembly and distribution are associated with the outgrowth of motile trophoblast cells which insinuate themselves between uterine epithelium. A progressive decrease in specific estrogen receptor binding of decidual cells begins when implantation is initiated (day 4) and reaches 30% at the time (days 5–6) the trophoblast is moving through the superficial decidual cells. Progesterone and estrogen are being actively synthesized and estrogen receptors are being actively accumulated by the advancing trophoblast. Estrogen is responsible for the recruitment of progesterone-sensitized, deep, metastable stromal cells for decidual transformation. Migration of trophoblast through these decidual cells (days 7-8) is associated with the onset of secretion of proteolytic enzymes by the trophoblast. Invasion of deep decidual cells is correlated with peak proteolytic enzyme activity (days 8-9) which decreases markedly when the trophoblast comes into apposition with maternal vascular endothelium (days 9-10). The cessation of proteolytic tissue reorganization coincides with the breaching of the decidua, the entry of the trophoblast into the maternal sinuses and peak rPL secretion (day 10). Failure of the trophoblast to penetrate the decidual barrier on schedule prevents hemochorial placentation and interrupts pregnancy. No extrinsic regulatory factors for trophoblast differentiation have yet been identified. Trophoblast progesterone, estrogen and testosterone could be considered as possible intrinsic regulators of proteolytic invasion and rPL synthesis and secretion. DEDICATION This chapter is dedicated to the late James Hain Leathern of Rutgers University. He was our friend and teacher. Jim Leathern was a unique person. He was a warm, expansive human being. His significant contributions to science derived from a robust intellect and an unbridled enthusiasm. He will have a lasting influence on reproductive biology and endocrinology which extends beyone his own scientific contribution.
Activin-A stimulates the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 messenger RNA in human luteinizing granulosa cells.

Publisher Summary Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II, IGF receptors, and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) are all present within the human follicle, and IGF-II is produced by granulosa cells (GC). IGFs augment gonadotropin stimulated steroidogenesis by both theca and granulosa cells in culture. All known IGFBP species except IGFBP-6 antagonize the actions of IGF-I on GC, presumably by competing with IGF receptors for binding to IGF ligands. This chapter provides an overview of the examination of hypothesis that in human granulosa cells, activin-A stimulates expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) coding for one or more IGFBP species. The findings of the experiment discussed in this chapter lend support to the hypothesis that the inhibition of steroidogenesis by activin-A is mediated by an increase in medium IGFBP-5, resulting in antagonism of the steroidogenic effects of IGF peptides. The experiments described in this chapter show that IGFBP-5, which is localized to granulosa cells in atretic antral follicles in the human and rat, may be a mediator of follicular atresia. Activin-A may promote atresia by increasing expression of IGFBP-5, with resultant neutralization of IGF-I and/or IGF-II.
Low income parents' reports of communication problems with health care providers: effects of language and insurance.

Objectives.This study examines how parental reports of communication problems with health providers vary over a wider range of characteristics of low income children than considered in previous studies.Methods.Data were drawn from the 1999 and 2002 National Survey of America's Families. Communication problems, insurance type, socioeconomic characteristics, health factors, and provider type were examined. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate techniques.Results.Bivariate analysis identified that the parents of 24.4% of low income children and 36.4% of publicly covered low income children with a Spanish interview reported poor communication with health providers. Coefficients from regression analysis suggest that, controlling for covariates, foreign-born parents with a Spanish interview were 11.8 percentage points (p<0.01) more likely to report communication problems than U.S.-born parents with an English interview. Among low income publicly covered children with a Spanish interview, regressio...
Path Delay Fault Classification

This chapter is devoted to a discussion on the classification of the path delay faults. Paths are classified according to their testability characteristics. A given path delay fault can be tested by many different tests. Unlike a stuck-at fault for which all tests have the same quality (fault is certainly detected by the test), in path delay fault testing different tests for a given fault have different levels of quality (probability of detection). For example, some tests can guarantee detection of a fault while others can detect the fault only under restricted conditions. Not every path can be tested with a highest quality test. This is because higher quality path delay fault tests require more stringent conditions for path sensitization. To ensure the highest quality of path delay fault testing, each path delay should be tested under the most stringent sensitization criterion for which a test exists. Given various path sensitization criteria, paths are generally classified into several classes: single-path sensitizable, robust, non-robust, functional sensitizable and functional unsensitizable.
Isolation of Human cDNAS That Complement the Ataxia-Telangiectasia Phenotype in Cultured Fibroblasts

The autosomal recessive disease ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) represents an important model system for the study of immunodeficiency, cancer and neurologic degeneration as well as for cellular responses to induced and spontaneous DNA damage. However, despite extensive investigation, no A-T gene has been identified to date and the site of action of the A-T gene product(s) is unknown.
Problems in Fish-to-Tetrapod Transition: Genetic Expeditions Into Old Specimens

The fish-to-tetrapod transition is one of the fundamental problems in evolutionary biology. A significant amount of paleontological data has revealed the morphological trajectories of skeletons, such as those of the skull, vertebrae, and appendages in vertebrate history. Shifts in bone differentiation, from dermal to endochondral bones, are key to explaining skeletal transformations during the transition from water to land. However, the genetic underpinnings underlying the evolution of dermal and endochondral bones are largely missing. Recent genetic approaches utilizing model organisms-zebrafish, frogs, chickens, and mice-reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying vertebrate skeletal development and provide new insights for how the skeletal system has evolved. Currently, our experimental horizons to test evolutionary hypotheses are being expanded to non-model organisms with state-of-the-art techniques in molecular biology and imaging. An integration of functional genomics, developmental genetics, and high-resolution CT scanning into evolutionary inquiries allows us to reevaluate our understanding of old specimens. Here, we summarize the current perspectives in genetic programs underlying the development and evolution of the dermal skull roof, shoulder girdle, and appendages. The ratio shifts of dermal and endochondral bones, and its underlying mechanisms, during the fish-to-tetrapod transition are particularly emphasized. Recent studies have suggested the novel cell origins of dermal bones, and the interchangeability between dermal and endochondral bones, obscuring the ontogenetic distinction of these two types of bones. Assimilation of ontogenetic knowledge of dermal and endochondral bones from different structures demands revisions of the prevalent consensus in the evolutionary mechanisms of vertebrate skeletal shifts.
Presence of a potential competitor and its individual identity modulate ultrasonic vocalizations in male hamsters

Animal communication takes place in a complex environment that is constantly modulated by particular social conditions. The majority of examples of signalling behaviours modulated by social context involve the presence of an individual of a particular sex or one that simply represents general competition. However, the identity of the individuals and the social relationships among individuals could also significantly modulate acoustic behaviour. In this study, I examined whether the presence of another male competitor modulates the post-interaction vocal response of a male subject to an oestrous female stimulus in golden hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus. I found that the presence of a potential competitor during an interaction with a female across a wire-mesh barrier significantly decreased the duration, tempo and energy of ‘post-female calls’ over time (experiment 1). Moreover, the call duration and energy of one-note simple calls changed over time depending on the identity of the stimulus male. Males that experienced social conflict and lost a fight maintained call duration and increased the energy of their calls over time, but only if the social interaction with the female was in the presence of another familiar neutral male and not in the presence of a familiar winner male (experiment 2). When the winner male stimulus was present, the duration and energy of the calls produced by the loser decreased with time. Individual recognition between familiar conspecifics with different shared experiences likely modulated the motivational state of the male subject and his vocal response after a social interaction with the female. This study provides new evidence that social complexity (competition and individual recognition) can induce dynamic changes of spectrotemporal features of hamster sexual ultrasonic vocalizations.
Innovative experiments for reduction of nuclear data uncertainty

Due to the complexity of nuclear reaction models, current nuclear data evaluations must rely on experimental observations to constrain models and provide the accuracy needed for applications. For criticality applications, the accuracy of nuclear data needed is higher than what is currently possible from differential experiments alone, and integral measurements are often used for data adjustment within the uncertainties of differential experiments. This approach does not necessarily result in physically correct cross sections or other adjusted quantities because compensation between different materials is hard to avoid. One of the objectives of the recent CIELO project [M. Chadwick et al., Nucl. Data Sheets 118, 1 (2014)] was simultaneous evaluation of important materials in an attempt to minimize the effects of compensation. Improvement to the evaluation process depends on obtaining new experimental data with high accuracy and lower uncertainty that will help constrain the evaluations for certain important reactions. Improved experiments are accomplished by careful design with the objective of achieving high accuracy and lower uncertainty, and by designing new innovative experiments. New and unconventional experiments do not necessarily provide differential data but instead nuclear data that evaluators will find useful to constrain the evaluation and reduce the uncertainty. This also means that closer information exchange and collaboration between experimentalists and evaluators is important. For conventional experiments such as neutron transmission or capture measurements, it is important to understand the sources of uncertainty and address them in the experiment design. Such a process can also lead to the design of innovative methods. For example, the filtered beam method minimizes uncertainties due to background, and the Quasi-Differential Neutron Scattering method simplifies the experiment and data analysis and results in lower experimental uncertainty. A review of the sources of uncertainty in various experiments and examples of experimental techniques that help reduce experimental and evaluation uncertainty and increase accuracy will be discussed.
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: a new public health threat.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is an increasingly recognized pathotype of K. pneumoniae characterized clinically by its ability to cause organ- or life-threatening infections in healthy...
The dysphagia stress test for rapid assessment of swallowing difficulties in esophageal conditions

Background Esophageal dysphagia is a common symptom in gastroenterology practice. Current rapid assessment tools are limited to oropharyngeal dysphagia and do not translate well to esophageal conditions. We aim to create a novel tool, the dysphagia stress test (DST), to evaluate swallowing in patients with esophageal disease characterized by dysphagia. Methods Adults with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), achalasia, and dysphagia not otherwise specified (NOS) participated. Patient controls with non-esophageal diagnoses and healthy controls were also recruited. Participants completed the DST with five bolus challenges: water, applesauce, rice, bread, barium tablet and rated their swallowing difficulty and pain. A study clinician observed and documented water use and refusal of any challenges. Participants also completed measures of esophageal symptoms, hypersensitivity, and symptom anxiety to evaluate the DST validity. Collinearity of bolus challenges guided item reduction. Key results A total of 132 subjects participated. Both control groups and GERD patients had the best swallowing ability, while achalasia, EOE, and dysphagia NOS scored poorer. About 90% of patients were able to attempt or pass each of the bolus challenges, suggesting high acceptability. Construct validity of the DST is evidenced by modest negative correlations with symptom severity, hypersensitivity, and anxiety. The DST does not appear to be influenced by brain-gut processes. Applesauce, rice, and bread demonstrated collinearity; thus, the DST was reduced to three challenges. Conclusions & inferences The DST is the first rapid assessment tool designed for gastroenterology clinics with direct observation of swallowing ability across several conditions to mitigate issues related to patient self-report of esophageal symptoms.
Deletion of Cdkn1b in ACI rats leads to increased proliferation and pregnancy-associated changes in the mammary gland due to perturbed systemic endocrine environment

Mammary epithelial progenitors are the normal cell-of-origin of breast cancer. We previously defined a population of p27+ quiescent hormone-responsive progenitor cells in the normal human breast whose frequency associates with breast cancer risk. Here, we describe that deletion of the Cdkn1b gene encoding the p27 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in the estrogen-induced mammary tumor-susceptible ACI rat strain leads to a decrease in the relative frequencies of Cd49b+ mammary luminal epithelial progenitors and pregnancy-related differentiation. We show by comprehensive gene expression profiling of purified progenitor and differentiated mammary epithelial cell populations that p27 deletion has the most pronounced effects on luminal progenitors. Cdkn1b-/- females have decreased fertility, but rats that are able to get pregnant had normal litter size and were able to nurse their pups implying that loss of p27 in ACI rats does not completely abrogate ovarian function and lactation. Reciprocal mammary gland transplantation experiments indicate that the p27-loss-induced changes in mammary epithelial cells are not only caused by alterations in their intrinsic properties, but are likely due to altered hormonal signaling triggered by the perturbed systemic endocrine environment observed in Cdkn1b-/- females. We also observed a decrease in the frequency of mammary epithelial cells positive for progesterone receptor (Pr) and FoxA1, known direct transcriptional targets of the estrogen receptor (Erα), and an increase in phospho-Stat5 positive cells commonly induced by prolactin (Prl). Characterization of genome-wide Pr chromatin binding revealed distinct binding patterns in mammary epithelial cells of Cdkn1b+/+ and Cdkn1b-/- females and enrichment in genes with known roles in Notch, ErbB, leptin, and Erα signaling and regulation of G1-S transition. Our data support a role for p27 in regulating the pool size of hormone-responsive luminal progenitors that could impact breast cancer risk.
Evidence of Faculty Salary Differences Across Business Disciplines and Employment Contracting Systems

Using sample data from two accredited business schools in the Florida State University System, one non-tenure granting and one tenure granting, and regression analysis, this paper explores variation in faculty salary levels across business disciplines. The results indicate (1) that accounting and finance professors earn more than management professors, thus receiving a salary premium in the market, (2) that marketing and information systems/operations management faculty earn no significantly different salaries than management professors, and (3) that economics professors earn less than management professors and thus receive a discount in the market. The results also indicate that rank, administrative duties, years in the profession, and research productivity are significant determinants of the salaries of business professors, but that salaries in this sample are unrelated to gender and race. The findings also provide evidence of salary inversion, with assistant professors receiving larger salaries than associate professors. The unique results of this study are that salary discounts and premiums by discipline are similar at both non-tenure granting and tenure granting universities.
VLSI, A Major New Tool for Productivity Improvement

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on VLSI, which is a major new tool for productivity improvement. A principal concern at the present time for all who bear responsibility for economic welfare in the United States is the sharp decrease in productivity improvement. Indeed, many couple this sharp decrease in the ability to improve productivity, impending energy shortages, and sharply increased energy costs as inevitably destroying the long-established ability to improve steadily the standard of living enjoyed by the citizens of this country. These views, however, may well be unduly pessimistic. The invention of the transistor, leading directly to the subsequent invention of the integrated circuit and the development of VLSI, has not just revolutionized electronics but has created a potential for new tools whose long-term impact on the way people live and work is likely to be enormous. The new electronics could introduce a technological step function in improving productivity, the correlations established are admittedly speculative and the conclusions drawn simplistic.
Microstructural modification to improve mechanical properties of a 70%Si3N4-30%BAS self-reinforced ceramic composite

Different microstructures of the 70%Si3N4-30%BAS self-reinforced composite, fine, coarse and bimodal, are obtained by pressureless sintering at 1920°C. Flexural strength, fracture toughness and crack-growth resistance (R-Curve) behavior of each microstructure are characterized by three-point bending, indentation and modified compact tension methods respectively, at room temperature. The crack deflection, whisker bridging and pullout are considered as major toughening mechanisms in the composite. It is found that coarsening β-Si3N4 whiskers of this composite can improve the toughness/fracture resistance but deteriorate the strength. When limited large abnormally grown whiskers are introduced into the microstructure, the composite shows an improved toughness/fracture resistance behavior and concurrently sustains a high strength.
Emergence of garden spurge (Euphorbia hirta) and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) in response to different physical properties and depths of common mulch materials

Greenhouse and outdoor container experiments were conducted to determine garden spurge and large crabgrass emergence when seeds were placed either on top of or below three different mulch materials [pine bark (PB), hardwood (HW), or pine straw (PS)] applied at five depths (0, 1.3, 2.5, 5.1, and 10.2 cm). To elucidate mulch characteristics that contributed to weed control, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was recorded underneath each mulch layer, moisture retention was monitored for 24 h following irrigation, and particle size was determined using standard soil sieves. HW reduced PAR (97%) more than did PB (90%) or PS (92%) at 1.3 cm, but few or no differences were noted between mulches at greater mulch depths. HW also contained the highest percentage of small particles and consequently retained more water (29%), than PB (14%) or PS (22%) 24 h following a simulated irrigation event. Emergence of large crabgrass and garden spurge was consistently greater when seeds were placed on top of the mulch, compared to seeds placed below. Emergence of both species also tended to respond to increasing depth in a quadratic manner, indicating that once a critical level of mulch was applied (2.5 to 5 cm), further reductions in weed emergence would not be observed, at least over the short term (12 wk). PB and PS tended to provide a greater reduction in emergence of both species compared to HW. This research also indicates that larger particle materials such as PB or PS would be advantageous because of their ability to suppress weed emergence regardless of seed position.
Reading with and against in the times of Trump Submitted to the international journal of qualitative studies in education

In this article, I wonder on how to differently teach in the times of Trump where the old masks of domination (e.g., racism, sexism, homophobia) are made more explicit while also critically bearing...
Mass Incarceration, Convict Leasing, and the Thirteenth Amendment: A Revisionist View

Judging from present-day legal and popular discourse, one might think that the Punishment Clause of the Thirteenth Amendment has always had one single, clear meaning: that a criminal conviction strips the offender of protection against slavery or involuntary servitude. Upon examination, however, it appears that the Amendment’s Republican framers took an entirely different view. It was the former slave masters and their Democratic allies in Congress who promoted the interpretation that prevails today. From their point of view, the text clearly specified that, once convicted of a crime, a person could be sold into slavery for life or leased for a term at the discretion of state legislatures and officials. But contemporary Republicans emphatically rejected that reading. They held that a convicted person retained protection against any servitude that had not truly been inflicted as a punishment for crime. They challenged the validity of state criminal policy (for example, imposing servitude on blacks but not whites, or on offenders whose crimes were not serious enough to warrant servitude), the ways in which servitude was implemented (for example, placing offenders under the control of private masters outside prison walls), and the process by which individuals were condemned to servitude (for example, without an official sentence to hard labor). The Republican reading faded from view after the Democratic Party regained control of the Deep South. For several decades, one-party, white supremacist regimes incarcerated African-American laborers en masse and leased them to private employers without facing a serious Thirteenth Amendment challenge. Present-day scholars sometimes treat this silence as evidence that the Amendment, correctly interpreted, authorizes such practices. Courts similarly honor the Democratic reading on the assumption that it has always prevailed. So thoroughly has it triumphed that even prisoners’ rights advocates accept it as constitutional truth. Neither courts nor advocates have, however, taken into account the framers’ views. Their interpretation faded from view not because it was wrong, but because Democratic paramilitaries terminated Reconstruction, paving the way for white supremacist state governments to expand convict leasing and insulate it against challenges, constitutional or otherwise. Had the Republican reading been enforced during the era of convict leasing, it might have prevented or shortened one of the most barbaric and shameful episodes in United States history. And perhaps, if revived today, it might yet accomplish similar results. Nothing in the text, original meaning, or Supreme Court jurisprudence of the Punishment Clause blocks that path. Whether to continue denouncing the Amendment or to reclaim it for prisoners’ rights is, then, less a question of jurisprudence than of constitutional politics.
Risk Analysis of Vehicle/Track Interaction Related Derailment for Dangerous Goods Transportation by Rail

A vehicle/track interaction related derailment model for a tank car with liquid cargo was developed which takes into consideration grade, curvature, track geometries, car trailing tonnage, car length dimensions and coupler lengths of adjoining cars, speed, superelevation, density and fill ratio of liquid cargo, etc. The model can be used to improve the derailment risk analysis of dangerous goods transportation by rail. Derailment risk is a product of the probability of a derailment and the consequence of that derailment. The vehicle/track interaction related derailment model is an important part of the probability analysis to determine how risk would be affected by improving track geometry, optimizing cant deficiency, controlling friction, grinding more often, optimizing train marshalling, etc. Consequence analysis models were developed based on a GIS database of the railway network, population, waterways in Canada. Safety risk analysis was conducted based on the potential impact of a dangerous goods release due to a derailment on the population in close proximity to the track. Environmental risk was based on the potential impact of dangerous goods release due to a derailment on the local environment. Such risk analysis can be used to assist in train marshalling, route planning and risk mapping.
Endometrial cancer in young women: prognostic factors and treatment outcomes in women aged ≤40 years.

Objective Endometrial cancer in pre-menopausal patients aged ≤40 years is rare and poses both diagnostic and management challenges. The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical and pathologic factors associated with endometrial cancer in this group and their impact on survival. Methods Patients with endometrial cancer treated between January 2004 and August 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent either primary surgical treatment or fertility-sparing therapy were included. Exclusion criteria were age >60 years and patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or primary radiation. Age at diagnosis was used to classify patients into two groups: ≤40 and 41–60 years. Clinical and pathologic variables were compared between the groups. Progression-free survival and overall survival were estimated using Cox proportional hazards. Results A total of 551 patients were evaluated, of which 103 (18.7%) patients were ≤40 years and 448 (81.3%) were 41–60 years. Age ≤40 years was associated with higher body mass index (38.8 vs 35.8 kg/m2, p=0.008), non-invasive cancers (54.2% vs 32.6%, p Conclusions Patients aged ≤40 years with endometrial cancer have more favorable prognostic factors and higher rates of synchronous tumors. Fertility-sparing therapy was associated with higher recurrence rates. The prognostic value of MLH1 methylation in this population warrants further investigation.