cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elliptical pollen corona from North American boreal paper birch trees (Betula papyrifera): strong fall orientations for near-spherical particles

It has only recently been realized that solar corona can be generated by dispersions of tree pollen grains suspended in the atmosphere, and these studies have come almost exclusively from Scandinavia. Using corona photographic and surface pollen analyses, it is shown here that paper birch trees in the interior of Alaska regularly generate solar corona during the boreal green-out in mid-May. Although near-spherical in shape, these ∼27 μm average diameter particles have three surface protrusions involved in germination that are indicated to aid in the generation of elliptical corona, for which a strong preferential particle orientation is needed. For observations at solar elevation angles of ∼35°–40°, an axis ratio of about 1.2 and average radius of 2.5° (for the second-order red band) are found. Because oriented particles of a particular shape tend to fall slower than randomly oriented ones, this microdesign promotes the lateral spread of pollen and enhances tree reproductive opportunities, an especially important trait for pioneering species.
Recruiting African American Women to Participate in Hereditary Breast Cancer Research

Purpose This study evaluated the process of recruiting African American women to participate in genetic counseling research for BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutations with respect to referral, study enrollment, and participation in genetic counseling. Patients and Methods African American women (n = 783) were referred for study enrollment. Results Of 783 referrals, 164 (21%) women were eligible for enrollment. Eligible women were most likely to be referred from oncology clinics (44%) and were least likely to be referred from general medical practices (11%; χ2 = 96.80; P = .0001). Overall, 62% of eligible women enrolled onto the study and 50% of enrollees completed genetic counseling. Women with a stronger family history of cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18; 95% CI, 1.36 to 7.44; P = .01) and those referred from oncology clinics and community oncology resources (OR = 2.97; 95% CI, 1.34 to 6.58; P = .01) were most likely to enroll onto the study. Referral from oncology clinics was associated significantly with pa...
Do emissions from ships have a significant impact on concentrations of nitrogen oxides in the marine boundary layer

The potential impact of ship emissions on concentrations of nitrogen oxides and reactive nitrogen compounds in the marine boundary layer is assessed using a global chemical transport model. The model predicts significant enhancements of these compounds over large regions, especially over the northern midlatitude oceans. This result is consistent with a recently published study, though the impacts predicted here are more widespread and the peak enhancements are not as large. However, comparisons of model results with recent measurements over the central North Atlantic Ocean do not provide support for these model predictions. While one cannot completely overlook the possibility that emissions of nitrogen oxides from ships may be overestimated, our analysis suggests that there may be a gap in our understanding of the chemical evolution of ship plumes as they mix into the background atmosphere in the marine boundary layer. On a related note, it is also possible that the overestimate of the impacts of ships on nitrogen oxides in the marine boundary layer by global models is due to the lack of parameterized representations of plume dynamics and chemistry in these models.
Prior knowledge improves decoding of finger flexion from electrocorticographic signals.

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) use brain signals to convey a user’s intent. Some BCI approaches begin by decoding kinematic parameters of movements from brain signals, and then proceed to using these signals, in absence of movements, to allow a user to control an output. Recent results have shown that electrocorticographic (ECoG) recordings from the surface of the brain in humans can give information about kinematic parameters (e.g., hand velocity or finger flexion).The decoding approaches in these studies usually employed classical classification/regression algorithms that derive a linear mapping between brain signals and outputs. However, they typically only incorporate little prior information about the target movement parameter. In this paper, we incorporate prior knowledge using a Bayesian decoding method, and use it to decode finger flexion from ECoG signals. Specifically, we exploit the constraints that govern finger flexion and incorporate these constraints in the construction, structure, and the probabilistic functions of the prior model of a switched non-parametric dynamic system (SNDS). Given a measurement model resulting from a traditional linear regression method, we decoded finger flexion using posterior estimation that combined the prior and measurement models. Our results show that the application of the Bayesian decoding model, which incorporates prior knowledge, improves decoding performance compared to the application of a linear regression model, which does not incorporate prior knowledge. Thus, the results presented in this paper may ultimately lead to neurally controlled hand prostheses with full fine-grained finger articulation.
Influence of magnetic focusing fields and transverse electron motion on starting conditions for spurious oscillations in 0-type backward-wave oscillators

The ratio of the starting current for the first spurious mode of oscillation, in 0-type backward-wave oscillators, to the starting current for the main oscillation has been computed, taking into account the magnetic fields used for beam focusing as well as the transverse components of RF circuit fields. The results show an appreciable influence of both parameters on this ratio and partially explain the suppression of spurious outputs in backward-wave oscillators which can be achieved by deliberate misalignment of the tube in the magnetic field. For higher losses uniformly distributed over the RF circuit length, the ratio I' s /I' o decreases; i.e., the tendency toward spurious oscillations increases. This effect may be understood from the coupled-mode theory, since for higher losses the interaction between the circuit wave and the slow space-charge wave decreases much more rapidly for the main mode than for the spurious one.
Population Characteristics of Phalangium opilio (Opiliones: Phalangiidae) in Kentucky Agroecosystems

A 2-yr pitfall-trap study was conducted to examine the species composition of the Opiliones and the seasonal age-structure of Phalangium opilio (L.) in central Kentucky soybean, grassland, and alfalfa habitats. Phalangium opilio was the most commonly caught opilionid in all habitats, accounting for >90% of the adult specimens captured in soybean and alfalfa. Pitfall-trap results also suggest that Kentucky P. opilio populations have three generations per year and overwinter in the egg stage. Absolute sampling indicated that P. opilio was present at densities of <0.5 per m2 in soybean.
Appreciative Organizing: Charting a Course for Community Engagement

This article provides a brief overview of Appreciative Organizing (AO), a term coined by the author in her graduate work to describe the roles that dialogue, listening, storytelling, community networks, social bonding, and leadership play in designing and leading meaningful community engagement initiatives that result in transformative partnerships. It offers constructive steps and a real-life example of how AO was used to strengthen relationships between an institution of higher learning and the community it serves. AO posits that in order to strengthen America’s sense of community, public engagement practices must become more inclusive and innovative, and better networked. It illustrates how this community-centered method, grounded in the philosophical principles of partnership, appreciation, hope, and imagination, transformed an administration and built a culture of continuous engagement that helped the college meet and exceed its institutional goals. Further, through this example, the article’s larger objective is to share ways in which this method, when broadly applied, can be used to build trust and strengthen working relationships within a community setting.
The Gap Between Expected and Actual Retirement: Evidence From Longitudinal Data

This EBRI paper compares the expected and actual retirement for the same group of workers. It finds a majority (55.2 percent) of these workers retired within three years (before or after) of their expected retirement. Specifically, the longitudinal findings show that 38.0 percent retired before they expected, 48.0 percent retired after they expected, and 14.0 percent retired the year they expected to retire. It also shows that more people (35.9 percent) actually retired after 65 than expected (18.9 percent), and among those who expected to retire after 65, 56.6 percent did so. The study also shows that these longitudinal findings (comparing one cohort at different times) differ from cross-sectional findings (comparing different cohorts at the same time), which are reported more frequently. It shows that in 2012, the expected probability of working full-time after age 65 was 48.7 percent and 46.0 percent, respectively, among men and women working full-time. But only 12.7 percent of men and 6.0 percent of women worked full-time after age 65 in 2012. EBRI also found that people who have a retirement plan tend to retire closer to when they expected, compared with those without a plan. It also found that the gap between expected and actual retirement among those with defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans is generally very small. A large difference exists in later-than-expected retirement between pre- and post-September 2008, when the markets crashed. Pre-September 2008, 83.9 percent retired either earlier or no later than three years after their expected retirement, but only 59.3 percent did so post-September 2008. Clearly, the economic recession delayed the retirement of many people. The EBRI study uses data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, and is the most comprehensive national survey of older Americans. The PDF for the above title, published in the November 2014 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another November 2014 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Views on the Value of Voluntary Workplace Benefits: Findings from the 2014 Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey.”
Broadband Microwave Dielectric Properties of Polymers

The recently developed coherent microwave transient spectroscopy (COMITS) technique is capable of determining the complex dielectric properties of materials over a broad frequency range (15–140 GHz), in a single experiment. COMITS is based on the radiation and detection of picosecond duration electromagnetic transients by optoelectronically pulsed antennas. The essential features of the COMITS technique are described and representative results on dielectric and conducting polymers are presented.
Advanced lightweight materials and manufacturing processes for automotive applications

The global automotive industry is facing challenges in several key areas, including energy, emissions, safety, and affordability. Lightweighting is one of the key strategies used to address these challenges. Maximizing the weight reduction (i.e., minimizing vehicle weight) requires a systems-engineering design optimization and iteration process that combines material properties and manufacturing processes to meet product requirements at the lowest mass and/or cost. Advanced high-strength steels, aluminum and magnesium alloys, and carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers have emerged as important materials for automotive lightweighting. This article presents examples of how coupling materials science with innovative manufacturing processes can provide lightweight solutions in automotive engineering.
IFRS ’ Fair Value Elections Signal Stock Premiums and Lower Interest

This research emphasizes whether UK companies choose cost or fair value for property, plant, and equipment under International Accounting Standard 16. For equity, stock price premiums result from making this election and obtaining status as the high-quality financial reporter. For debt, this status leads to lower interest rates. The former is tested through price to earnings ratios whereas the latter involves review of interest rates.
Mechanical fragility of erythrocytes from leukemic patients.

Summary and ConclusionsThe average mechanical fragility of the erythrocytes from 43 leukemic patients was 6.5%, while that of the control group was 4.4%. Statistical analysis of the reported data indicates that this difference is not due to chance.
Sources for Mining Company History in Africa: The History and Records of the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (Ghana), Ltd.

The history of mining enterprise has recently become an important growth industry in both African and British Commonwealth business history. A number of important multinational mining corporations have in recent years opened their archives on assimilated or restructured parent companies active in overseas enterprise in the first half of this century. In the following essay, Professor Dumett surveys the extensive holdings of the leading British gold mining company in West Africa, the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of the Heterometallic Dinuclear μ-PH2 and μ-PPhH Complexes FeMn(CO)8(μ-PH2) and FeMn(CO)8(μ-PPhH)‡

Deprotonation of Fe(CO)4PRH2 and treatment with Mn(CO)5Br afforded the dinuclear complexes FeMn(CO)8(μ-PRH) (1a, R = H; 1b, R = Ph), which contain the relatively rare μ-PH2 and μ-PPhH functionalities. The heterometallic nature of these complexes was confirmed by mass spectrometry, and the molecular structures of 1a and 1b were determined by X-ray diffraction experiments. Deprotonation of 1b and subsequent addition of Mn(CO)5Br or AuPPh3Cl yielded the trinuclear complexes FeMn(CO)8[μ-PPh(Mn(CO)5)] (3a) and FeMn(CO)8[μ-PPh(AuPPh3)] (3b), both of which were characterized structurally and spectroscopically. Deprotonation of 1a at room temperature resulted in rapid coupling of the deprotonated product [2a]− with neutral 1a to form M+[FeMn(CO)8(μ3-PH)Mn(CO)4(μ-PH2)Fe(CO)4]− (M+[4]−) (M+ = Li+, Na+, K+), the formation of which was observed using in situ infrared spectroscopy. M+[4]− was found to decompose upon solvent removal, and the structure of [4]− was elucidated by examination of spectroscopic data. The 1H ...
Incident Infection and Resistance Mutation Analysis of Dried Blood Spots Collected in a Field Study of HIV Risk Groups, 2007-2010.

Objective To assess the utility of cost-effective dried blood spot (DBS) field sampling for incidence and drug resistance surveillance of persons at high risk for HIV infection. Methods We evaluated DBS collected in 2007–2010 in non-clinical settings by finger-stick from HIV-positive heterosexuals at increased risk of HIV infection (n = 124), men who have sex with men (MSM, n = 110), and persons who inject drugs (PWID, n = 58). Relative proportions of recent-infection findings among risk groups were assessed at avidity index (AI) cutoffs of ≤25%, ≤30%, and ≤35%, corresponding to an infection mean duration of recency (MDR) of 220.6, 250.4, and 278.3 days, respectively. Drug resistance mutation prevalence was compared among the risk groups and avidity indices. Results HIV antibody avidity testing of all self-reported ARV-naive persons (n = 186) resulted in 9.7%, 11.3% and 14.0% with findings within the 221, 250, and 278-day MDRs, respectively. The proportion of ARV-naive MSM, heterosexuals, and PWID reporting only one risk category who had findings below the suggested 30% AI was 23.1%, 6.9% and 3.6% (p<0.001), respectively. MSM had the highest prevalence of drug resistance and the only cases of transmitted multi-class resistance. Among the ARV-experienced, MSM had disproportionately more recent-infection results than did heterosexuals and PWID. Conclusions The disproportionately higher recent-infection findings for MSM as compared to PWID and heterosexuals increased as the MDR window increased. Unreported ARV use might explain greater recent-infection findings and drug resistance in this MSM population. DBS demonstrated utility in expanded HIV testing; however, optimal field handling is key to accurate recent-infection estimates.
Ethics for the Twenty-First Century

This book argues that a new moral theory, Rightness as Fairness, is superior to existing theories. However, in order to argue this effectively, we need standards for theory comparison. When should we judge one moral theory to be superior to another?
Familiarity influences on direct and indirect associative memory for objects in scenes.

ABSTRACTRemembering arbitrary associations, such as unrelated word pairs or object–background pairs, appears to depend on recollection. However, for cases in which the components of an association share pre-existing semantic relations, can familiarity support associative recognition? In two experiments with congruent object–background pairings, we found that participants were successful at direct and indirect associative recognition in both 1000 ms time restriction (speeded) and unlimited response time (non-speeded) test conditions. Because dual-process theory postulates that familiarity is less impacted by speeded responses, relative to recollection, these findings suggest that congruent object–background associations may not necessitate recollection when an arbitrary link is not constructed at encoding. Experiment 3 compared direct associative memory for congruent and incongruent object–background pairs in speeded and non-speeded test conditions. We found that participants in the non-speeded condition p...
Single-Cell mRNA Sequencing in Cancer Research: Integrating the Genomic Fingerprint

Critical cancer mutations are often regional and mosaic, confounding the efficacy of targeted therapeutics. Single cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled unprecedented studies of intra-tumor heterogeneity and its role in cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance. When coupled with DNA sequencing, scRNA-seq allows one to infer the in vivo impact of genomic alterations on gene expression. This combination can be used to reliably distinguish neoplastic from non-neoplastic cells, to correlate paracrine-signaling pathways between neoplastic cells and stroma, and to map expression signatures to inferred clones and phylogenies. Here we review recent advances in scRNA-seq, with a special focus on cancer. We discuss the challenges and prospects of combining scRNA-seq with DNA sequencing to assess intra-tumor heterogeneity.
The surface roughness of Mercury from the Mercury Laser Altimeter: Investigating the effects of volcanism, tectonism, and impact cratering

Surface roughness is a statistical measure of change in surface height over a given spatial horizontal scale after the effect of broad scale slope has been removed, and can be used to understand how geologic processes produce and modify a planet's topographic character at different scales. The statistical measure of surface roughness employed in this study of Mercury was the root-mean-square (RMS) deviation, and was calculated from 45–90°N at horizontal baselines of 0.5-250 km with detrended topographic data from individual Mercury Laser Altimeter tracks. As seen in previous studies, the surface roughness of Mercury has a bimodal spatial distribution, with the cratered terrain (dominated by the intercrater plains) possessing higher surface roughness than the smooth plains. The measured surface roughness for both geologic units is controlled by a trade off between impact craters generating higher surface roughness values and flood-mode volcanism decreasing surface roughness. The topography of the two terrain types has self-affine-like behavior at baselines from 0.5–1.5 km; the smooth plains collectively have a Hurst exponent of 0.88 +/- 0.01, whereas the cratered terrains have a Hurst exponent of 0.95 +/- 0.01. Subtle variations in the surface roughness of the smooth plains can be attributed to differences in regional differences in the spatial density of tectonic landforms. The northern rise, a 1,000-km-wide region of elevated topography centered at 65° N, 40° E, is not distinguishable in surface roughness measurements over baselines of 0.5–250 km.
Recent Findings on Women’s Motives for Engaging in Sexual Activity

Motives for engaging in sex are complex, and the assessment of these motives offers unique insights into women’s sexual function and overall sexual well-being. In this review, we summarize the most recent literature on reasons for sexual activity among women and comment on the relationship between sexual motives and sexual function with particular attention to sexual interest/arousal. Recent work has focused on the effects of relationship type and attachment on sexual motives, differences in motives based on sexual orientation, and the association between sexual motives and sexual function. Contextual factors that impact women’s reasons for having sex are also assessed, and the findings of these studies are interpreted with a clinical lens. The authors conclude that the valence of women’s reasons for having sex, and the associations that women have with certain reasons, influences the likelihood that any one motive is linked to increased desire. Women’s motives for engaging in sexual activity are complex, heterogeneous, and influenced by several important domains. Clinical and research implications are discussed. Future research that expands upon these recent findings and more thoroughly addresses the relationship between sexual function and sexual motivations, as well as other clinical phenomena, is warranted.
Catalyst Deposition on Photoanodes: The Roles of Intrinsic Catalytic Activity, Catalyst Electrical Conductivity, and Semiconductor Morphology

Semiconducting oxide photoanodes are used to drive the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water-splitting systems. The highest-performing systems use nanostructured semiconductors coated with water-oxidation catalysts. Despite much work, the design principles governing the integration of catalysts with semiconductors are poorly understood. Using hematite as a model system, we show how semiconductor morphology and electrical conductivity of the catalyst affect the system photoresponse. Electrically conductive catalysts can introduce substantial “shunt” recombination currents if they contact both the semiconductor surface and the underlying conducting-glass substrate, leading to poor performance. This recombination can be largely eliminated by using pinhole-free semiconductors, using selective photoassisted electrodeposition of thin catalyst layers on the semiconductor surface, using electrically insulating catalyst layers, or adding an intermediate insulating oxide layer. The results of this study are used...
The 3' UTRs of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Transcripts Differentially Regulate the Dendritic Arbor.

The patterning of dendrites is regulated by many factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which our laboratory has previously shown alters the dendritic arbor uniquely depending on the mode of extracellular application. In the current work, we examine how BDNF affects dendritogenesis in hippocampal neurons when it is overexpressed intracellularly by transcripts previously reported to be transported to distinct cellular compartments. The BDNF gene is processed at two different polyadenylation sites, leading to mRNA transcription with two different length 3’ untranslated regions (UTRs), and therefore, different mRNA localization preferences. We found that overexpression of BDNF mRNA with or without 3’ UTRs significantly alters dendritic branching compared to branching in control neurons as analyzed by Sholl distribution curves. Unexpectedly, we found that the overexpression of the shorter BDNF mRNA (reported to be preferentially targeted to the cell body) results in similar changes to Sholl curves compared to overexpression of the longer BDNF mRNA (reported to be preferentially targeted to both the cell body and dendrites). We also investigated whether the BDNF receptor TrkB mediates these changes and found that inhibiting TrkB blocks increases in Sholl curves, although at different distances depending on the transcript’s UTR. Finally, although it is not found in nature, we also examined the effects of overexpressing BDNF mRNA with the unique portion of the longer 3’ UTR since it was previously shown to be necessary for dendritic targeting of mRNA. We found that its overexpression increases Sholl curves at distances close to the cell body and that these changes also depend on TrkB activity. This work illustrates how the mRNA spatial code affects how BDNF alters local dendritogenesis and how TrkB may mediate these effects. Finally, our findings emphasize the importance of intracellular transport of BDNF mRNAs in the regulation of dendrite morphology.
Evaluating Mastectomy Skin Flap Necrosis in the Extended Breast Reconstruction Risk Assessment Score for 1-Year Prediction of Prosthetic Reconstruction Outcomes

Background Rates of mastectomy for breast cancer treatment and immediate reconstruction continue to rise. With increasing scrutiny on outcomes and patient satisfaction, there is an impetus for providers to be more deliberate in appropriate patient selection for breast reconstruction. The Breast Reconstruction Risk Assessment (BRA) Score was developed for prediction of complications after primary prosthetic breast reconstruction, focusing on calculating risk estimations for a variety of complications based on individual patient demographic and perioperative characteristics. In this study, we evaluated mastectomy skin flap necrosis (MSFN) as a function of patient characteristics to validate the BRA Score. Study Design We examined our prospective intra-institutional database of prosthetic breast reconstructions from 2004 to 2015. The end point of interest was 1-year occurrence of MSFN after stage I tissue expander placement. Results Nine hundred and three patients were included; 50% underwent bilateral reconstruction. Median follow-up was 23 months. Mean 1-year complication rates were as follows: MSFN 12.4%, seroma 3.0%, infection 6.9%, dehiscence/exposure 7.1%, and explantation 13.2%. Statistically significantly higher rates of MSFN were found in older patients, smokers, patients with postoperative infections, patients with hypertension, and patients who used aspirin. Neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation, diabetes, and seroma formation did not have a statistically significant impact on necrosis rates. Conclusions The BRA Score was expanded to estimate complication risk after tissue expander placement up to 1 year postoperatively. The risk of MSFN as calculated by the BRA Score: Extended Length is consistent with published studies demonstrating increased risk with specific comorbidities, and further validates expansion of the BRA score risk calculator.
Examining the Link between Youth Body Mass Index and Student Achievement

Childhood obesity is a major public health issue in the United States and other industrialized countries. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 16 percent of children and adolescents ages 6-19 in the United States are overweight based on data from 1999-2002, a 45 percent increase from a similar survey covering the period 1988-1994. While most of the press and policy attention on issues of weight focus on the consequences of being overweight, there is also evidence of negative outcomes associated with being underweight. For example, underweight boys are more likely than average weight boys to dislike school and consider themselves poor students (Falkner et al., Obesity Research, January 2001). In this paper we explore the association between student BMI (with underweight and overweight as special cases) and academic achievement. We examine whether students who are in the tails of the BMI distribution have test scores that are, on average, different from students who are in the recommended range of the BMI. We also estimate how this relationship varies by gender and racial groups. Our study uses a unique data source to examine the problems associated with high and low body-mass index (BMI) values for children and adolescents. The Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) recently released the results of the Child Development Supplement (CDS I and II). The CDS was developed to gain additional information and understanding of the process of human capital formation within households. 2,017 families provide data on 2,908 children/adolescents aged 5-18 years. We focus on the link between educational outcomes and BMI, controlling for a rich set of observable variables about the individual and his or her family. The CDS includes several measures of cognitive ability which we use as outcome variables: symbolic learning, comprehension and vocabulary skills, and mathematics. Preliminary estimates suggest that children whose BMI is in the tails of the distribution have lower test scores than students who are not in the tails of the BMI distribution. Interestingly, underweight students perform significantly worse on achievement tests than overweight children, which suggests that policy makers should focus on meeting the needs of underweight as well as overweight children.
Activity of Moxifloxacin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Acid Phase and Nonreplicative-Persister Phenotype Phase in a Hollow-Fiber Infection Model.

A major goal for improving tuberculosis therapy is to identify drug regimens with improved efficacy and shorter treatment durations. Shorter therapies improve patient adherence to the antibiotic regimens that, in turn, decreases resistance emergence. M. tuberculosis exists in multiple metabolic states. At the initiation of therapy, the bulk of the population is in Log-Phase growth. Consequently, it is logical to focus initial therapy on these organisms. Moxifloxacin has good early bactericidal activity against Log-Phase growth bacteria and is a logical component of initial therapy. It would be optimal if this agent also possessed activity against Acid-Phase and Non-Replicative Persister (NRP) Phenotype organisms. We studied multiple exposures to moxifloxacin (equivalent to 200 mg-800 mg daily) in our Hollow Fiber Infection Model against strain H37Rv in Acid-Phase and against strain 18b in streptomycin starvation, which is a model for NRP-Phase organisms. Moxifloxacin possesses good activity against Acid-Phase organisms, generating from 3.75 Log 10 (CFU/ml) cell kill (200 mg daily) to 5.16 Log 10 (CFU/ml) cell kill (800 mg daily) over the 28 days of the experiment. Moxifloxacin also has activity against the streptomycin-starved strain 18b. The 400 to 800 mg daily regimens achieved extinction at day 28, while the no-treatment control still had 1.96 Log 10 (CFU/ml) culturable. The lowest dose (200 mg daily) still had 0.7 Log 10 (CFU/ml) measurable at day 28, a net kill of 1.26 Log 10 (CFU/ml). Moxifloxacin is an attractive agent for early therapy, as it possesses activity against three metabolic states of M. tuberculosis .
259 DOCTORS AND MANAGERS: CONVERT OUR DIFFERENCES INTO STRENGTH.

We perceive that a gap exists between two components of the health care workforce: management (MGT) and providers (MD). We studied 670 CEOs of US hospitals to understand their education, background, training, work experience, and cultural values. All factors were substantively different comparing MGT and MD, except the last. The two groups share core values: altruism, service, and love of a challenge. The present MGT-MD relationship, euphemistically called the blue suits and white coats, is generally adversarial, negatively impacts health care outcomes, and is based on erroneous stereotypes as well as misinformation. Common core values could be used as a foundation for convergence across the gap between MGT and MD. Each side has knowledge and skills that the other needs to achieve their goals-in-common. For example, MGT could teach MD tools for planning, implementation, and assessment, especially systems thinking. MD could identify for MGT the important, clinically relevant health care issues and assist MGT with generation of evidence for optimal decision-making with appropriate feedback. Much of the dysfunction in the health care system can be addressed if MGT and MD convert from enemies to partners.
Distributed sensing for fluid disturbance compensation and motion control of intelligent robots

A control methodology for aerial or aquatic vehicles is presented that leverages intelligent distributed sensing inspired by the lateral line found in fish to directly measure the fluid forces acting on the vehicle. As a result, the complex robot control problem is effectively simplified to that of a rigid body in a vacuum. Furthermore, by sensing these forces, they can be compensated for immediately, rather than after they have displaced the vehicle. We have created a sensory shell around a prototype autonomous underwater vehicle, derived algorithms to remove static pressure and calculate total force from the discrete measurements using a fitting technique that filters sensor error, and validated the control methodology on a vehicle in the presence of multiple fluid disturbances. This sensing control scheme reduces position tracking errors by as much as 72% compared to a standard position error feedback controller. Accurate manoeuvring of autonomous aerial and aquatic robots requires detailed knowledge of the fluid forces, which can be challenging especially in turbulent water or air. A control method for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) uses intelligent distributed sensing inspired by fish ‘lateral line’ sensing. This is used by many species of fish to feel the flow around them and respond instantly, before they are displaced by disturbances. An AUV designed with such a sensory shell similarly compensates for disturbances and has improved position tracking.
An Empirical Assessment of the Influence of March and Simon’s Organizations: The Realized Contribution and Unfulfilled Promise of a Masterpiece

March and Simon’s Organizations is a seminal work in management studies. We assess the contribution Organizations has made to management studies through a citation context analysis of 1,400 articles from top management journals. By categorizing the content from Organizations cited in subsequent works, we find that two related categories associated with cognitive limits and routines or programs account for half (50.5%) of all citation contexts since 1990. We also investigate whether citations to Organizations have been peripheral or substantial to the citing authors’ claims, how cited content has changed over time, and the extent to which citing works have provided empirical evidence to test March and Simon’s propositions or have been critical of their assertions. Our investigation reveals disturbingly few attempts to empirically validate the assertions made in Organizations. Overall, we provide a critical reflection on how well subsequent scholarship fulfils the aims and promise heralded by this masterpiece.
Continuous biodiesel production in a packed bed reactor from microalgae Chlorella sp. using DBSA catalyst

Abstract Biodiesel production from Chlorella sp. oil using dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid catalyst in the packed bed reactor filled with a cylindrical glass raschig rings was investigated. The best conditions for the esterification and transesterification reactions were found to be (process temperature: 373.15 K, residence time: 30 min, methyl alcohol/oil ratio: 30, and catalyst loading: 11 wt%) which provide a yield of 99%. The water content effect was tested and the best value for the production of more than 90% biodiesel yield should be less than 0.5 wt%. Acid value was found to be decreased strongly using the DBSA catalyst in the esterification reaction. DBSA was found to be a highly active catalyst for the transesterification of Chlorella sp. compared to the activity of H2SO4 catalyst. The residence time of only 30 min using the DBSA catalyst would make the process more economical process compared to the batch process using sulfuric acid catalyst which consume more than 12 h. The flow characterization in the packed bed reactor was tested and characterized as laminar viscous flow with a Reynold number of 6.42 × 10−5.
Tracking the Metal-Centered Triplet in Photoinduced Spin Crossover of Fe(phen)32+ with Tabletop Femtosecond M-Edge X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure Spectroscopy.

Fe(II) coordination complexes are promising alternatives to Ru(II) and Ir(III) chromophores for photoredox chemistry and solar energy conversion, but rapid deactivation of the initial metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) state to low-lying (d,d) states limits their performance. Relaxation to a long-lived quintet state is postulated to occur via a metal-centered triplet state, but this mechanism remains controversial. We use femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) transient absorption spectroscopy to measure the excited-state relaxation of Fe(phen)32+ and conclusively identify a 3T intermediate that forms in 170 fs and decays to a vibrationally hot 5T2g state in 39 fs. A coherent vibrational wavepacket with a period of 249 fs and damping time of 0.63 ps is observed on the 5T2g surface, and the spectrum of this oscillation serves as a fingerprint for the Fe–N symmetric stretch. The results show that the shape of the M2,3-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectrum is sensitive to the electron...
Trends in Cancer Incidence Among American Indians and Alaska Natives and Non-Hispanic Whites in the United States, 1999-2015.

Background Female breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers are the leading incident cancers among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) persons in the United States. To understand racial differences, we assessed incidence rates, analyzed trends, and examined geographic variation in incidence by Indian Health Service regions. Methods To assess differences in incidence, we used age-adjusted incidence rates to calculate rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Using joinpoint regression, we analyzed incidence trends over time for the four leading cancers from 1999 to 2015. Results For all four cancers, overall and age-specific incidence rates were lower among AI/ANs than NHWs. By Indian Health Service regions, incidence rates for lung cancer were higher among AI/ANs than NHWs in Alaska (RR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.37, 1.56) and Northern (RR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.33) and Southern (RR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.09) Plains. Similarly, colorectal cancer incidence rates were higher in AI/ANs than NHWs in Alaska (RR: 2.29; 95% CI: 2.14, 2.45) and Northern (RR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.09) and Southern (RR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.15) Plains. Also, AI/AN women in Alaska had a higher incidence rate for breast cancer than NHW women (RR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.20). From 1999 to 2015, incidence rates for all four cancers decreased in NHWs, but only rates for prostate (average annual percent change: -4.70) and colorectal (average annual percent change: -1.80) cancers decreased considerably in AI/ANs. Conclusion Findings from this study highlight the racial and regional differences in cancer incidence.
High-throughput phenotypic screening of random genomic fragments in transgenic rice identified novel drought tolerance genes

Novel drought tolerance genes were identified by screening thousands of random genomic fragments from grass species in transgenic rice. Identification of agronomically important genes is a critical step for crop breeding through biotechnology. Multiple approaches have been employed to identify new gene targets, including comprehensive screening platforms for gene discovery such as the over-expression of libraries of cDNA clones. In this study, random genomic fragments from plants were introduced into rice and screened for drought tolerance in a high-throughput manner with the aim of finding novel genetic elements not exclusively limited to coding sequences. To illustrate the power of this approach, genomic libraries were constructed from four grass species, and screening a total of 50,825 transgenic rice lines for drought tolerance resulted in the identification of 12 reproducibly efficacious fragments. Of the twelve, two were from the mitochondrial genome of signal grass and ten were from the nuclear genome of buffalo grass. Subsequent sequencing and analyses revealed that the ten fragments from buffalo grass carried a similar genetic element with no significant homology to any previously characterized gene. The deduced protein sequence was rich in acidic amino acid residues in the C-terminal half, and two of the glutamic acid residues in the C-terminal half were shown to play an important role in drought tolerance. The results demonstrate that an open-ended screening approach using random genomic fragments could discover trait genes distinct from gene discovery based on known pathways or biased toward coding sequence over-expression.
Material hardship, perceived stress, and health in early adulthood

Abstract Purpose We examined the associations between material hardship and health outcomes in early adulthood and the extent to which these associations are mediated by perceived stress. Methods We used wave I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative survey of young adults aged 18–34 years old (n = 13,313). Multivariate logistic regression and decomposition methods were used to evaluate the associations between types and depth of material hardship (food, bill-paying, and health resource hardship), health outcomes (self-rated health, depression, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts) in early adulthood, and the extent to which these associations were mediated by perceived stress. Results The adjusted odds of fair or poor health status, depression, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts were higher among individuals with material hardship than counterparts without. A considerable proportion of the association between material hardship and health outcomes was attributable to perceived stress. Conclusions Material hardship is associated with adverse health outcomes in early adulthood, and these relationships are robust after accounting for various sociodemographic characteristics and family background. Perceived stress accounted for a sizable portion of the effects of material hardship on health. Public Health Implications Efforts to promote health equity in young adults should focus on material hardship and associated stressful conditions.
Stretching nanowires on a stretchable substrate: A method towards facile fracture testing and elastic strain engineering

Abstract Nanomaterials are building blocks for a wide range of applications. They typically exhibit ultrahigh strength, which make them also promising candidates for elastic strain engineering. Here we demonstrate a potentially facile method to measure fracture strain and strain distribution of nanomaterials, with Ag nanowires as an example. Nanowires are placed on top of or embedded in a stretchable substrate (i.e., elastomer), either as-prepared (van der Waals interactions) or treated with UV ozone (chemical bonding), which is subjected to uniaxial tensile loading. Nonlinear and bilinear cohesive shear-lag models can well capture the interfacial shear stress transfer characteristics associated with the two types of interactions, respectively. For each type, interfacial parameters such as stiffness, shear strength, and/or fracture toughness are identified by fitting the measured average strains of the nanowires. The nanowires embedded in as-prepared and on top of treated substrate are found to fracture under large substrate strain. The fracture strain and strain distribution along the nanowires are predicted using the shear-lag models. This method can be readily applied to investigate fracture and elastic strain engineering of 1D nanomaterials (regardless of aligned or inclined with respect to the stretching direction) and 2D nanomaterials.
Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydroamination of Unactivated Terminal Alkenes with Stoichiometric Amounts of Alkene and an Ammonia Surrogate by Sequential Oxidation and Reduction.

Hydroamination of alkenes catalyzed by transition-metal complexes is an atom-economical method for the synthesis of amines, but reactions of unactivated alkenes remain inefficient. Additions of N–H...
Do all cardiac surgery patients benefit from antifibrinolytic therapy

BACKGROUND In trauma patients, the recognition of fibrinolysis phenotypes has led to a re-evaluation of the risks and benefits of antifibrinolytic therapy (AF). Many cardiac patients also receive AF, but the distribution of fibrinolytic phenotypes in that population is unknown. The purpose of this hypothesis-generating study was to fill that gap. METHODS Seventy-eight cardiac surgery patients were retrospectively reviewed. Phenotypes were defined as hypofibrinolytic (LY30 3%) based on thromboelastogram. RESULTS The population was 65 ± 10-years old, 74% male, average body mass index of 29 ± 5 kg/m2 . Fibrinolytic phenotypes were distributed as physiologic = 45% (35 of 78), hypo = 32% (25 of 78), and hyper = 23% (18 of 78). There was no obvious effect of age, gender, race, or ethnicity on this distribution; 47% received AF. For AF versus no AF, the time with chest tube was longer (4 [1] vs. 3 [1] days, p = .037), and all-cause morbidity was more prevalent (51% vs. 25%, p = .017). However, when these two groups were further stratified by phenotypes, there were within-group differences in the percentage of patients with congestive heart failure (p = .022), valve disease (p = .024), on-pump surgery (p < .0001), estimated blood loss during surgery (p = .015), transfusion requirement (p = .015), and chest tube output (p = .008), which highlight other factors along with AF that might have affected all-cause morbidity. CONCLUSION This is the first description of the prevalence of three different fibrinolytic phenotypes and their potential influence on cardiac surgery patients. The use of AF was associated with increased morbidity, but because of the small sample size and treatment allocation bias, additional confirmatory studies are necessary. We hope these present findings open the dialog on whether it is safe to administer AFs to cardiac surgery patients who are normo- or hypofibrinolytic.
Magnetic ordering and structural distortion in a PrFeAsO single crystal studied by neutron and x-ray scattering

We report the magnetic ordering and structural distortion in PrFeAsO crystals, the basis compound for one of the oxypnictide superconductors, using high-resolution x-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and x-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS). We find the structural tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition at ${T}_{\mathrm{S}}=147\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, the AFM phase transition of the Fe moments at ${T}_{\mathrm{Fe}}=72\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, and the Pr AFM phase transition at ${T}_{\mathrm{Pr}}=21\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. Combined high-resolution neutron diffraction and XRMS show unambiguously that the Pr moments point parallel to the longer orthorhombic $\mathbit{a}$ axis and order antiferromagnetically along the $\mathbit{a}$ axis but ferromagnetically along the $\mathbit{b}$ and $\mathbit{c}$ directions in the stripelike AFM order. The temperature-dependent magnetic order parameter of the Pr moments shows no evidence for a reorientation of moments.
The Cognitive Underpinnings of Incremental Rehearsal

Incremental rehearsal (IR) is a flashcard technique that has been developed and evaluated by school psychologists. We discuss potential learning and memory effects from cognitive psychology that ma...