cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decentralized Administrative Techniques of the Federal Government

ECENTRALIZATION of governmental activity in its simplest sense means mere geographical dispersion.' Reference even here may be to either of two things-dispersion of governmental total activity or dispersion of the personnel and offices of a given division within the larger organism. The former has been in the forefront of recent discussion, with the Grazing Service moved to Salt Lake City, the Home Owners' Loan Corporation to New York, and proposals afoot in our defense-jammed capitol for legislative extension of this policy.2 Basically there is nothing new in all this. While some of the founding fathers thought of the federal city as a gigantic leech wherein the federal offices and officers would be absorbed, in practise the executive and judicial branches were from the beginning and from necessity strewn throughout the states. Congress alone was confined to Washington, and even it only in its formal legislative capacity. This aspect of decentralization holds little specific interest for our present task of investigating the extent to which this federal union still remains federal. This is not to deny that as a problem of public administration physical dispersion poses interesting questions, such as the allocation of particular activities to appropriate localities, the effective utilization of existing available space to prevent such repetitions of the Washington housing situation as exists in Baltimore, and so on; but these are matters more proper for consideration elsewhere. Particular agencies, moreover, have been subject to the same geographical dispersion. The collectors of the customs, the postoffices, and the army personnel have been scattered for longer than there has been a union. We may suspect that there is a greater proportion of the federal personnel now located in Washington than was stationed in New York in 1790; I know of no statistics to prove this, however, and the supposition may well be erroneous.3
Speech physiology, speech perception, and acoustic phonetics: Speech synthesis and speech perception

Vocoder synthesizers The pace of research on the perception of speech corresponds in a meaningful way with the development of speech synthesizers. The initial impetus for work on speech synthesis was commercial. In the 1930s Dudley and his colleagues at Bell Telephone Laboratories developed the Vocoder (Dudley, 1936, 1939). The Vocoder is a device that first analyzes a speech signal by means of a set of electronic filters and a fundamental frequency extracting device. The electronic filters derive an approximation of the spectrum of the speech signal as a function of time while the fundamental frequency extractor simultaneously derives the fundamental frequency, or in the case of – voiced sounds indicates a noiselike source excitation. The electrical signals derived by the spectrum channels and the fundamental frequency extractor are then transmitted to a synthesizer in which the acoustic signal is reconstructed. The diagram in Figure 7.1 illustrates a Vocoder system. The signal from the fundamental frequency extractor (the pitch channel) is used to drive a pulse generator (relaxation oscillator) in the Vocoder synthesizer. The output of the Vocoder synthesizer thus has the same periodicity as the input signal. The Vocoder was developed to serve as a speech transmission system that would reduce the frequency bandwidth that is necessary to transmit a speech signal. Although the Vocoder equipment might be expensive, it would more than pay for itself if it allowed the telephone company to “squeeze” twice as many messages into the frequency channel of a transoceanic telephone cable, for example.
A study of molecular adsorption of a cationic surfactant on complex surfaces with atomic force microscopy

The study of molecular adsorption on solid surfaces is of broad interest. However, so far the study has been restricted to idealized flat smooth rigid surfaces which are rarely the case in real world applications. Here we describe a study of molecular adsorption on a complex surface of the submicron fibers of a fibrous membrane of regenerated cellulose in aqueous media. We use a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), as the adsorbing molecule. We study the equilibrium adsorption of CTAC molecules on the same area of the fibers by sequentially immersing the membrane in pure water, 1 mM and then a 20 mM solution of CTAC. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is applied to study the adsorption. The force–volume mode is used to record the force–deformation curves of the adsorbed molecules on the fiber surface. We suggest a model to separate the forces due to the adsorbed molecules from the elastic deformation of the fiber. Interestingly, knowledge of the surface geometry is not required in this model provided the surface is made of elastically homogeneous material. Different models are investigated to estimate the amount of the adsorbed molecules based on the obtained force curves. The exponential steric repulsion model fits the force data the best. The amount of the adsorbed surfactant molecules and its dependence on the concentration are found to be reasonable compared to the data previously measured by means of Raman scattering done on a flat surface of silica.
Aneurysm embolization using detachable coils under intravascular ultrasonography guidance: an in vitro feasibility study.

BACKGROUND Intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) has been used for guiding intravascular stent placement in interventional cardiology. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of aneurysm embolization by using detachable coils under IVUS guidance. METHODS IVUS-guided embolization in conjunction with fluoroscopic imaging and subsequently alone were performed in a silicone model with a side wall aneurysm. IVUS-guided embolization in conjunction with fluoroscopic imaging was also used in an in vitro model of a side wall aneurysm created using sheep vessels. The visibility of the aneurysm, microcatheter, and coils ascertained by the IVUS was graded as excellent, good, or poor based on visualization of these items as distinct structures. The agreement between simultaneously acquired angiographic and IVUS images for detecting increasing intra-aneurysmal coil mass and coil prolapse was assessed in 10 and 6 simultaneously acquired angiographic and IVUS images, respectively. RESULTS IVUS measurements of the aneurysm dimensions strongly correlated with standardized dimensions and measurements acquired by contrast angiography (Pearson coefficient of 0.96 and 0.99 for silicone model and arterial segment model, respectively). IVUS visualization of the aneurysm, microcatheter tip, and coil loops were graded as excellent in the silicone aneurysm model and good in the carotid artery model. The agreement between simultaneously acquired angiographic and IVUS images was very high for detecting increasing intra-aneurysmal coil mass (Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.98) and coil prolapse (83% agreement). CONCLUSION IVUS guidance during aneurysm embolization may improve the procedure by providing intravascular aneurysmal measurements and visualization of devices used in the procedure.
ZS-9 MAINTAINS NORMOKALEMIA IN HYPERKALEMIC PATIENTS DESPITE CONTINUING RAAS INHIBITORS: A SUBGROUP ANALYSIS FROM A PHASE 3 MULTICENTER, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

Hyperkalemia (HK) frequently develops in patients (pts) with heart failure or chronic kidney disease treated with RAAS inhibitors (RAASi). Continuation of these cardiorenal protective agents is desirable but limited by HK. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9), a nonabsorbed cation exchanger that
Influence of Larva Weight and Temperature Change on Survival and Pupation in Black Carpet Beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Larvae of black carpet beetle, Attagenus unicolor (Brahm), were isolated from a laboratory diet at weekly intervals from 5 to 12 weeks of age and thereafter at 14 and 16 weeks of age. Survival and subsequent molting to pupa stage after starvation periods of 23–29 weeks at 28°C and 55–65% RH was dependent on larva size when isolated from food. Male and female larvae had to attain mean weights of ca. 10.5 and 17 mg, respectively, before a significant percentage could survive. Larvae of this average size had essentially completed the first of two larval growth phases peculiar to this species and were found primarily in cultures 14–16 weeks of age. A 4-week feeding period on wool cloth before starvation had no significant effect on percentage of larvae that survived or on mean time until pupation. Cooling young larvae for an 8-week period at 15°C with subsequent rearing at 35°C significantly shortened development time for ca. 35% of the population. Mean time to pupation was 22.3 weeks compared with mean development time of 39 weeks for larvae reared continuously at 28°C. Adults that emerged early because of this combination of temperature treatments did not produce any offspring. Cooled larvae subsequently reared at 35°C that did not undergo early pupal molt entered a phase of arrested development that may last as long as 1 additional year.
Pharmacokinetics in man of theN-acetylated metabolite of proeainamide

The pharmacokinetics of N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA) have been studied in three normal subjects who received 500 mg of this compound by timed intravenous injection. Plasma N APA concentrations and urine excretion were measured by quadrupole mass fragmentography, and a three- compartment pharmacokinetic model was used for data analysis. NAPA elimination half-life and total distribution volume averaged 6.0 hr and 1.38 liters/kg, respectively. Renal excretion of unchanged NAPA accounted for 81% of its elimination, and the mean renal NAPA clearance was 179 ml/min. Approximately 2% of the injected NAPA was deacetylated to procainamide. The fate was not determined of 17% of the NAPA that was estimated to have been eliminated during the 16- hr study period.
Possible Bound State of Two Vacancy Waves in Crystalline 4 He

Because of the large zero-point energy of quantum crystals, a particle next to a vacant site is able to tunnel into that site, so that the vacancy moves. This leads to the vacancy wave excitation in a quantum crystal.1–4 The spectrum of a single vacancy lies in a band which is expected to have the form1,3 $$ \varepsilon _k = \phi + zt - t\sum\limits_a {\text{cos}\;\text{k}\text{.a}} $$ (1) where z is the number of near neighbors and a is a nearest-neighbor vector. The lowest energy in the band is o, which is measured in specific heat5 and NMR2 experiments. The band width is 2zt. (See Fig. 1.)
The Psychologist's Companion: Guidelines for Data Presentation

This chapter draws heavily on three sources to which readers are referred for more details. For the presentation of data in the form of tables, Andrew Ehrenberg's Data Reduction and A Primer in Data Reduction contain much good sound advice. For the use of figures, William Cleveland's The Elements of Graphing Data is a style guide that is required reading for anyone considering using a graph, from the most junior undergraduate to the most experienced researcher. Good advice is also available in Tufte (1983) and Wainer (1984). Tables and figures allow large amounts of material to be presented concisely. Well presented, they often enable a reader to understand at a glance patterns of data and exceptions that would be obscured if presented in the text. Tables and figures are expensive for journals to produce, however, so if you plan to submit a paper for publication, you should present in this form only your most important sets of data. Do not duplicate data from one table or figure to another unless it is essential for comprehension. Extensive sets of data should be reported in appendixes rather than in the body of the paper. The same principles apply to the effective presentation of tables and figures as apply to effective scientific writing. The basic rule is to aim for simple, direct presentation, with no unnecessary clutter.
Hydrologic Exchange Flows and Their Ecological Consequences in River Corridors

Abstract The actively flowing waters of streams and rivers remain in close contact with surrounding off-channel and subsurface environments. These hydrologic linkages between relatively fast flowing channel waters, with more slowly flowing waters off-channel and in the subsurface, are collectively referred to as hydrologic exchange flows (HEFs). HEFs include surface exchange with a channel’s marginal areas and subsurface flow through the streambed (hyporheic flow), as well as storm-driven bank storage and overbank flows onto floodplains. HEFs are important, not only for storing water and attenuating flood peaks, but also for their role in influencing water conservation, water quality improvement, and related outcomes for ecological values and services of aquatic ecosystems. Biogeochemical opportunities for chemical transformations are increased by HEFs as a result of the prolonged contact between flowing waters and geochemically and microbially active surfaces of sediments and vegetation. Chemical processing is intensified and water quality is often improved by removal of excess nutrients, metals, and organic contaminants from flowing waters. HEFs also are important regulators of organic matter decomposition, nutrient recycling, and stream metabolism that helps establish a balanced and resilient aquatic food web. The shallow and protected storage zones associated with HEFs support nursery and feeding areas for aquatic organisms that sustain aquatic biological diversity. Understanding of these varied roles for HEFs has been driven by the related disciplines of stream ecology, fluvial geomorphology, surface-water hydraulics, and groundwater hydrology. A current research emphasis is on the role that HEFs play in altered flow regimes, including restoration to achieve diverse goals, such as expanding aquatic habitats and managing dissolved and suspended river loads to reduce over-fertilization of coastal waters and offset wetland loss. New integrative concepts and models are emerging (eg, hydrologic connectivity) that emphasize HEF functions in river corridors over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.
The relationship of obesity, mammographic breast density, and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with breast cancer

Abstract Purpose The purpose was to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), mammographic breast density, magnetic resonance (MR) background parenchymal enhancement (BPE), and MR fibroglandular tissue (FGT) in women with breast cancer. Methods Our institutional database was queried for patients with preoperative mammography and breast MR imaging. Results There were 573 women eligible for analysis. Elevated BMI was associated with advanced stage of disease ( P =.01), lower mammographic density ( P P P =.005), and nonpalpable lesions ( P =.04). Conclusions Higher BMI was associated with decreased breast density and FGT. Higher BMI was also associated with advanced stage disease and nonpalpable tumors on clinical exam.
Cooperative strategies for near-optimal computation in wireless networks

Computation problems, such as network coding and averaging consensus, have become increasingly central to the study of wireless networks. Network coding, in which intermediate terminals compute and forward functions of others’ messages, is instrumental in establishing the capacity of multicast networks. Averaging consensus, in which terminals compute the mean of others’ measurements, is a canonical building block of distributed estimation over sensor networks. Both problems, however, are typically studied over graphical networks, which abstract away the broadcast and superposition properties fundamental to wireless propagation. The performance of computation in realistic wireless environments, therefore, remains unclear. In this thesis, I seek after near-optimal computation strategies under realistic wireless models. For both network coding and averaging consensus, cooperative communications plays a key role. For network coding, I consider two topologies: a single-layer network in which users may signal cooperatively, and a two-transmitter, two-receiver network aided by a dedicated relay. In the former topology, I develop a decode-and-forward scheme based on a linear decomposition of nested lattice codes. For a network having two transmitters and a single receiver, the proposed scheme is optimal in the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff; otherwise it provides significant rate gains over existing non-cooperative approaches. In the latter topology, I show that an amplify-and-forward relay strategy is optimal almost everywhere in the degrees-of-freedom. Furthermore, for symmetric channels, amplify-and-forward achieves rates near capacity for a non-trivial set of channel gains. For averaging consensus, I consider large networks of randomly-placed nodes. Under a path-loss wireless model, I characterize the resource demands of consensus with respect to three metrics: energy expended, time elapsed, and time-bandwidth product consumed. I show that existing consensus strategies, such as gossip algorithms, are nearly order optimal in the energy expended but strictly suboptimal in the other metrics. I propose a new consensus strategy, tailored to the wireless medium and cooperative in nature, termed hierarchical averaging. Hierarchical averaging is nearly order optimal in all three metrics for a wide range of path-loss exponents. Finally, I examine consensus under a simple quantization model, showing that hierarchical averaging achieves a nearly order-optimal tradeoff between resource consumption and estimation accuracy.
Young Adult Outcome of Hyperactive Children

Adaptive functioning of 149 hyperactive (H group) and 72 control children (CC group) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, followed for at least 13 years to young adulthood (mean 20 years, range 19-25), was evaluated by interviews with participants, employer ratings, and high school records, and reported by researchers from Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston; Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
Cumulative effect in the chronotropic effect in rat hearts caused by pulsed ultrasound

This study investigated the cumulative effect of a decreasing sequence of pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs) on the chronotropic effect via the application of 3.5-MHz pulsed ultrasound (US) on the rat heart. Two 3-mo-old female rat groups (n = 4 ea) were studied: control (US off) and PRF decrease. Rats were exposed to transthoracic ultrasonic pulses at ~0.25% duty factor at 2.0-MPa peak rarefactional pressure amplitude. Three PRF sequences were applied. The PRF started greater than that of the rat’s heart rate and was decreased sequentially in 1-Hz steps every 10 s (i.e., 6, 5 and 4 Hz—one sequence) for a total duration of 30 s. The total US exposure was 90 s (3-sequences). For the PRF decrease group, the ultrasound application resulted in an ~8% significant negative chronotropic effect after the first PRF sequence, ~9% significant negative chronotropic effect after the second PRF sequence, and ~10% significant negative chronotropic effect after the third PRF sequence. No significant changes were observe...
Novel Roles for Obscurin Proteins in Cardiac Muscle

Obscurin is a giant myofibrillar protein important for sarcomere structure, signaling, and maintenance of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) organization. Surprisingly, obscurin knockout mice develop normally and only show signs of a mild skeletal muscle myopathy. However, little is known about cardiac functions of obscurin. We characterized cardiac roles of obscurin and found no changes to cardiac physiology. One explanation for the lack of a cardiac phenotype in obscurin knockout mice is that other obscurin protein family members possess a functionally redundant role. We hypothesized that obscurin-like 1 (Obsl-1) is responsible for this redundancy, in part due to its shared ability to bind the sarcomeric proteins titin and myomesin. We generated double knockout (dKO) mice by crossing the obscurin-KO mice with a cardiac specific Obsl1-KO line to investigate the roles for these proteins in cardiac development and function. Although a majority of the dKO-mice died after 12 months of age, microscopic and ultrastructural analysis failed to reveal overt changes to sarcomere organization. Dramatic changes were observed, however, in SR structure and function. Specifically we observed: 1.) loss of SR structural integrity and apparent loss of SR content, and 2.) alterations to Ca2+ transients and in the levels of Ca2+ handling proteins in KO animals. The majority of these changes were more severe in dKO-mice. Furthermore, we employed serial blockface TEM technology to precisely measure the volume of the SR and mitochondria and noticed significant differences between KO and control animals. Physiologically, these mice develop a late onset cardiomyopathy characterized by increased systolic left ventricular internal dimension and alterations in hemodynamic properties at ∼12 mo. of age. Our data suggests that obscurin and Obsl1 are not critical for sarcomerogenisis, however are important for jointly organizing SR organization, cellular Ca2+ handling, and long-term survival in mice.
Introduction: Symposium on Globalization and International Approaches to Public Affairs Education

(2005). Introduction: Symposium on Globalization and International Approaches to Public Affairs Education. Journal of Public Affairs Education: Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 69-72.
Telepsychiatric Evaluation and Consultation in Emergency Care Settings

Telepsychiatric care in the emergency setting is a viable and accessible modality that helps address the needs of patients, families, and communities. An expanding literature base for telepsychiatry in multiple clinical settings has shown benefits, including increased access to care, equal efficacy to face-to-face encounters, cost efficiency, decreased wait-times, decreased unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations, and high levels of patient satisfaction. The evidence base for emergency telepsychiatry is growing for pediatric populations. Increased use of the modality is part of the solution to address high demand for pediatric psychiatric expertise in emergency rooms and to help bridge service gaps in parts of the country.
BIOTECHNOLOGY IN MEAT ANIMAL PRODUCTION | Genetically Modified Organisms in Meat Animal Production

As the world population grows, so does our demand for food. One way that we might meet this demand better is through the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This article explains how GMOs are produced, gives examples of current animal models and how these could be applied in meat production, and then finally provides an overview on the approval process that a GMO product must endure to enter the food supply.
Goodness-of-fit of the distribution of time-to-first-occurrence in recurrent event models.

Imperfect repair models are a class of stochastic models that deal with recurrent phenomena. This article focuses on the Block, Borges, and Savits (1985) age-dependent minimal repair model (the BBS model) in which a system that fails at time t undergoes one of two types of repair: with probability p(t), a perfect repair is performed, or with probability 1-p(t), a minimal repair is performed. The goodness-of-fit problem of interest concerns the initial distribution of the failure ages. In particular, interest is on testing the null hypothesis that the hazard rate function of the time-to-first-event-occurrence, λ(·), is equal to a prespecified hazard rate function λ0(·). This paper extends the class of hazard-based smooth goodness-of-fit tests introduced in Pena (1998a) to the case where data accrual is from a BBS model. The goodness-of-fit tests are score tests derived by reformulating Neyman's idea of smooth tests in terms of hazard functions. Omnibus as well as directional tests are developed and simulation results are presented to illustrate the sensitivities of the proposed tests for certain types of alternatives.
Hordeiviruses Biology and Pathology

Three viruses are presently classified as members of the hordeivirus group (Matthews, 1982): barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV), Lychnis ringspot virus (LRSV), and poa semilatent virus (PSLV). Their particles are rod-or tubule-shaped and lack envelopes (Francki, et al., 1985). Particle diameters range from about 19 to 25 nm and lengths extend from about 100 to over 165 nm. The genome of each virus consists of a single-stranded (ss) RNA and is believed to be tripartite. All three viruses are transmissible by mechanical inoculation. BSMV and LRSV are also transmitted through seed and pollen. LRSV and PSLV are distantly related to BSMV serologically. The type member of the hordeivirus group is BSMV which was first described in 1951 as barley false stripe mosaic virus (McKinney). Anthoxanthum latent bleaching virus (ALBV) is considered to be a possible member of this group (Catherall and Chamberlain, 1980). The name hordei was derived from the Latin hordeum, meaning barley. A thorough review of the hordeiviruses is given by Jackson and Lane (1981).
Rationale Approaches to Treating Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Giardia and Entamoeba

Treatment options for diarreal illness caused by intestinal protozoa differ depending on the particular protozoa. Cryptosporidium parvum, an important parasite among the immunocompromised and young children of developing nations remains refractory to all conventional therapies. Cyclospora cayetanensis, an emerging pathogen can be treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, however the discovery of alternative treatments remains hampered by the inability to cultivate the parasite or establish an animal model. Despite being a frequent cause of diarrheal illness throughout the world, relatively few agents outside of metronidazole are used in therapy against Giardia lamblia. While metronidazole is the agent of choice for the treatment of most amoebic infections, proper diagnosis is important to distinguish between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Entamoeba species.
The Comparative Psychology of Chunking

The ability to learn arbitrary sequences is crucial for intelligent action, both verbal and non-verbal. For more than a century, psychologists have investigated the organization of such sequences in experiments on the memorization of nonsense syllables (Ebbinghaus, 1964) and the mastery of various types of mazes (Small, 1900). The results of both types of experiment gave rise the classic theory that serially organized behavior can be represented as a linear sequence of associations.
Oil and Fat Binding Properties of Proteins

The importance of the functional property of fat binding depends on the type of food,e.g., fluid emulsions, powders, dairy foods, sausage products, dough and bread. Binding of fat with food components, in particular proteins and carbohydrates, influences the textural and other food quality properties. The ability of proteins to absorb and retain fat and to interact with lipids in emulsions and other food systems is important in food formulations. Measurements of fat binding may provide data for selecting a protein raw material. Many properties of foods involve the interactions of proteins and lipids: formation of emulsions, fat emulsification in meats, fat entrapment in sausage batters, flavor absorption, and dough preparation. Fat absorption of proteins is affected by protein source, processing conditions, composition of additive, particle size and temperature. Proteins of plant origin, for example sunflower proteins, contain numerous nonpolar side chains that bind hydrocarbon chains, thereby contributing to increased oil absorption. Lipid absorption and binding have been studied much less than water absorption and binding. Although the mechanism of fat absorption or fat binding has not been completely explained, fat absorption is mainly attributed to the physical entrapment of oil or fat by proteins.
Roles of hypoxia and blood flow in modulating VA/Q heterogeneity in the lungs.

The distribution of ventilation to perfusion ratio(VA/Q) within the lungs is heterogeneous due to the influence of gravity as well as local factors. VA/Q heterogeneity is critical in determining the efficiency of O2 transfer by the lungs. In recent years, data have been accumulated revealing a minimal role of gravity, with respect to both ventilation and perfusion. Other factors such as vascular resistance, airway resistance, lung compliance, hypoxic vasoconstriction, hypercapnic bronchodilation, etc., dominate. This report presents an accumulation of several experiments1,2,3,4 designed to assess the role of hypoxia and blood flow in regulating local VA/Q ratio.
The Synthetic and Secretory Behaviors (Nonsteroidal) of Ovarian Follicular Granulosa Cells: Parallels to Cells of the Endothelial Cell Lineage

The cells of the ovarian follicular granulosa are most frequently referred to as epithelial cells. In general, descriptions of these cells focus primarily on two principle functions. One of these functions is to nurture and help maintain the integrity of the oocyte, from the inception of the follicle up to the point of ovulation, and perhaps even slightly beyond. A second function attributed to these cells is the production of steroid hormones, principally progesterone, essential for maintaining the pregnancy, in the event that an ovulated egg(s) becomes fertilized. This second objective is accomplished following the successful transformation of the ovulated follicle into a functional endocrine gland, the corpus luteum, and integration of the structure into the systemic circulation. There is little doubt, at this point, that the cells of the ovarian follicular granulosa perform each of these functions but there is growing evidence that the breadth of the capabilities, activities and functions of these cells may be much broader than originally anticipated. As the number of factors known to be produced by ovarian granulosa cells continues to increase, it becomes progressively more difficult to imagine exactly how each newly identified activity fits in with the biology of these cells, at least as far as it is currently understood and portrayed. It would be a simpler matter, in some respects, if the cells of the follicular granulosa were largely nonresponsive secretory cells.
High School Engineering and Technology Education Integration through Design Challenges.

This study contextualized the use of the engineering design process by providing descriptions of how each element in a design process was integrated in an eleventh grade industry and engineering systems course. The guiding research question for this inquiry was: How do students engage in the engineering design process in a course where technology and engineering intersect? Data to address this question were collected during six weeks of observation and discussions with students at a suburban high school of 1500 students. Additional data were obtained from student and teacher generated documents, such as lesson plans, handouts, student journals, reports and presentations. This study assumed six critical elements of engineering design: problem definition, development of solutions, analysis/modeling, experimentation, decision making and teamwork. These six elements of an iterative process were derived from a review of engineering design literature and became a lens through which the classroom learning experiences were viewed. Nathan Mentzer, is an Assistant Professor in the Technology Leadership and Innovation Department at Purdue University. He can be reached at nmentzer@purdue.edu. 104 JOURNAL OF STEM TEACHER EDUCATION Evident in the observations was the theme of student transition from teacher driven problems with narrow boundaries, to student driven problem definition with wide boundaries. In this research, projects started as small individual activities early in the fall term. As the semester progressed, projects became more complex, and a necessity for teamwork emerged. Each activity in the fall provided students with experience and skills in areas of engineering design and material fabrication. This preparation provided a conceptual and practical foundation for the open-ended spring design challenge.
Outcomes of surgical correction of exotropia in children between 4 to 12 years of age

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the outcomes of surgical correction of exotropia in children between 4 to 12 years of age; and the factors associated with favorable surgical outcomes. Methods: In this prospective observational study, the surgical outcomes of 87 patients between 4 and 12 years of age, who underwent correction for primary exotropia (XT), by a single surgeon, were analyzed at 24 months. Results: Out of the total 87 patients, 46 (52.87%) were female and 41 (47.13%) were male. The mean age at surgery was 8.83 ± 3.26 years (range 4–12 years). There was a statistically significant reduction in preoperative prism bar cover test (PBCT), with PBCT at day: 1, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months after surgery (P = 0.00, ANOVA). Among the 42 patients analyzed for near stereoacuity (NSA), the change between preoperative and 24 months NSA was not statistically significant (P = 0.55, Chi-square test). Preoperative PBCT for distance was found to be a significant parameter associated with successful motor alignment at 24 months (P = 0.02, logistic regression). Other variables such as gender, age at surgery, preoperative best-corrected visual acuity, preoperative refractive status, and laterality of surgery were not significantly associated with successful motor alignment at 24 months. Conclusions: Surgical correction of exotropia in children between 4 to 12 years shows satisfactory ocular alignment at 24 months; although there was no significant improvement in NSA in the subgroup analyzed. The preoperative ocular deviation was the only significant factor associated with successful motor outcome at 24 months after surgery.
Two-Dimensional Electrocrystallization of PbCO3 and Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 on Lead Amalgam Electrodes in Sodium Carbonate and Bicarbonate Solutions.

The results of XRD and electrochemical measurements show that a layer of PbCO3 forms on lead amalgam electrodes in NaHCO3 solutions, and a layer of Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 in Na2CO3.
Identify Similarities in Diverse Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons of Asphaltenes and Heavy Oils Revealed by Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy: Aromaticity, Bonding, and Implications in Reactivity

Heavy oils are enriched with polycyclic (or polynuclear) aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH or PNA), but characterization of their chemical structures has been a great challenge due to their tremendous diversity. Recently, with the advent of molecular imaging with noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy (nc-AFM), molecular structures of petroleum has been imaged and a diverse range of novel PAH structures was revealed. Understanding these structures will help to understand their chemical reactivities and the mechanisms of their formation or conversion. Studies on aromaticity and bonding provide means to recognize their intrinsic structural patterns which is crucial to reconcile a small number of structures from AFM and to predict infinite number of diverse molecules in bulk. Four types of PAH structures can be categorized according to their relative stability and reactivity, and it was found that the most and least stable types are rarely observed in AFM, with most molecules as intermediate types in a subtle balance of kinetic reactivity and thermodynamic stability. Local aromaticity was found maximized when possible for both alternant and nonalternant PAHs revealed by the aromaticity index NICS (Nucleus-Independent Chemical Shift) values. The unique role of five-membered rings in disrupting the electron distribution was recognized. Especially, the presence of partial double bonds in most petroleum PAHs was identified and their implications in the structure and reactivity of petroleum are discussed.
Disease-Modifying Therapy Adherence and Associated Factors in a National Sample of Medicare Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Abstract Objectives Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) reduce relapse rates and disability progression for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Although 25% to 30% of all US patients with MS are Medicare beneficiaries, limited information exists on this population. This is the first study using national Medicare data to (1) describe characteristics of patients with MS using DMTs, (2) estimate adherence to DMTs over a 1-year and 3-year follow-up, and (3) examine factors associated with DMT adherence. Methods This retrospective claims analysis used 2011-2014 100% Medicare files. Monthly adherence to MS DMTs was defined as the proportion of days covered ≥0.80 with any DMT in each month for 1-year (n = 36 593) and 3-year (n = 17 599) follow-up samples of MS DMT users. Generalized estimating equation logistic regressions were used to estimate factors associated with adherence to DMTs. Results Over 90% of patients were eligible for Medicare owing to disability, and about three-quarters qualified for low-income subsidies. A downward trend in DMT adherence was observed over time in both samples. Monthly adherence dropped significantly between December of the prior year to January of the following year (from 76% to 65% in the 1-year follow-up sample and similar drops seen across all years in the 3-year follow-up sample). Multivariable regressions indicated characteristics such as being low-income, having a disability, and having high patient out-of-pocket DMT costs associated with poor adherence to DMTs. Conclusion Our study provides important insights into the characteristics and DMT adherence of Medicare patients with MS and highlights the need for interventions and policies mitigating barriers to adherence in this population.
Remediation and reassessment methods in pharmacy education: A systematic review.

Abstract Background Colleges of pharmacy are currently required to implement a remediation program within their curricula, but no specifications are provided on the ideal methodology. While the need for successful remediation strategies continues to grow, literature describing positive or negative outcomes of different approaches is significantly lacking. The objective of this literature review was to describe and evaluate remediation methodologies in pharmacy education. Methods This literature review was completed following PRISMA criteria. A search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, Academic Search Complete, PsycInfo, Scopus, and ProQuest Central databases was conducted in July 2019. Studies were included if they involved pharmacy student education and described either remediation or reassessment. Results The evaluated studies discussed a range of course types being remediated, a large variety of remediation strategies and timeframes, and differing overall outcomes. No studies provided comparison of remediation techniques or provided details on the implementation of their chosen approaches. A consistent finding within the evaluated studies was the inclusion of prevention strategies to attempt to avoid the need for remediation preemptively. Overall outcomes for each remedial program were inconsistent and no clear patterns were evident other than an improvement in student performance following remediation. Implications Remediation strategies included course repetition, summer restudy, reassessment, and individualized plans. Outcomes varied significantly between studies, making methodology comparisons difficult. Future studies that include more detail and consistency in the reported outcomes would be beneficial to students and help clarify remediation for colleges of pharmacy.
The Human Microbiome as a Focus of Antibiotic Discovery: Neisseria mucosa Displays Activity Against Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections are a serious global health problem. This organism has developed disturbing levels of antibiotic resistance, resulting in the need for new approaches to prevent and treat gonorrhea. The genus Neisseria also includes several members of the human microbiome that live in close association with an array of microbial partners in a variety of niches. We designed an undergraduate antibiotic discovery project to examine a panel of nonpathogenic Neisseria species for their ability to produce antimicrobial secondary metabolites. Five strains belonging to the N. mucosa species group displayed activity against other Neisseria in delayed antagonism assays; three of these were active against N. gonorrhoeae. The antimicrobial compound secreted by N. mucosa NRL 9300 remained active in the presence of catalase, trypsin, and HEPES buffer, and effectively inhibited a DNA uptake mutant of N. gonorrhoeae. Antimicrobial activity was also retained in an ethyl acetate extract of plate grown N. mucosa NRL 9300. These data suggest N. mucosa produces an antimicrobial secondary metabolite that is distinct from previously described antigonococcal agents. This work also serves as a demonstration project that could easily be adapted to studying other members of the human microbiome in undergraduate settings. We offer the perspective that both introductory and more advanced course-based and apprentice-style antibiotic discovery projects focused on the microbiome have the potential to enrich undergraduate curricula and we describe transferrable techniques and strategies to facilitate project design.
Chemical Control of Spin‐Orbit Coupling and Charge Transfer in Vacancy‐Ordered Ruthenium(IV) Halide Perovskites

Vacancy-ordered double perovskites are attracting significant attention due to their chemical diversity and interesting optoelectronic properties. With a view to understanding both the optical and magnetic properties of these compounds, two series of Ru IV halides are presented here; A 2 RuCl 6 and A 2 RuBr 6 , where A is K, NH 4 , Rb or Cs. We show that the optical properties and spin-orbit coupling (SOC) behaviour can be tuned through changing the A cation and the halide. Within a series, the energy of the ligand to metal charge-transfer increases as the unit cell expands with the larger A cation, and the band gaps are higher for the respective chlorides than for the bromides. The magnetic moments of the systems are temperature-dependent due to a non-magnetic ground state with J eff = 0 caused by SOC. Ru- X covalency and, consequently, the delocalization of metal d -electrons result in systematic trends of the SOC constants due to variations in the A cation and the halide anion.
Industry Clusters and the Geography of Portfolio Choice

We study the impact of local agglomeration economies on stock market participation. Using multiple datasets, we find that when the industry in which individuals work is locally agglomerated, they are more likely to participate in the stock market and, conditional on participation, allocate more to stocks. Further, we show that this relationship is especially strong among skilled workers. We find that the local agglomeration effect is not explained by risk tolerance, worker inertia, or a preference for stocks of firms that are in the same industry as the worker. Instead, our findings are consistent with local agglomeration enhancing human capital and in turn, raising workers' optimal allocations to risky assets. More generally, our analysis underscores the role of geography in shaping human capital and household financial decisions.
Prevalence and risk factors for tertiary hyperparathyroidism in kidney transplant recipients.

Abstract Background Tertiary hyperparathyroidism after kidney transplantation has been associated with graft dysfunction, cardiovascular morbidity, and osteopenia; however, its true prevalence is unclear. The objective of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Methods A prospective cohort of 849 adult kidney transplantation recipients (December 2008–February 2020) was used to estimate the prevalence of hyperparathyroidism 1-year post-kidney transplant. Tertiary hyperparathyroidism was defined as hypercalcemia (≥10mg/dL) and hyperparathyroidism (parathyroid hormone≥70pg/mL) 1-year post-kidney transplantation. Modified Poisson regression models were used to evaluate risk factors associated with the development of both persistent hyperparathyroidism and tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Results Among kidney transplantation recipients, 524 (61.7%) had persistent hyperparathyroidism and 182 (21.5%) had tertiary hyperparathyroidism at 1-year post-kidney transplantation. Calcimimetic use before kidney transplantation was associated with 1.30-fold higher risk of persistent hyperparathyroidism (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12–1.51) and 1.84-fold higher risk of tertiary hyperparathyroidism (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.25–2.72). Pre-kidney transplantation parathyroid hormone ≥300 pg/mL was associated with 1.49-fold higher risk of persistent hyperparathyroidism (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.19–1.85) and 2.21-fold higher risk of tertiary hyperparathyroidism (adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.25-3.90). Pre–kidney transplantation tertiary hyperparathyroidism was associated with an increased risk of post-kidney transplantation tertiary hyperparathyroidism (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.29–2.27), but not persistent hyperparathyroidism. Furthermore, 73.0% of patients with persistent hyperparathyroidism and 61.5% with tertiary hyperparathyroidism did not receive any treatment at 1-year post-kidney transplantation. Conclusion Persistent hyperparathyroidism affected 61.7% and tertiary hyperparathyroidism affected 21.5% of kidney transplantation recipients; however, the majority of patients were not treated. Pre–kidney transplantation parathyroid hormone levels ≥300pg/mL and the use of calcimimetics are associated with the development of tertiary hyperparathyroidism. These findings encourage the re-evaluation of recommended pre-kidney transplantation parathyroid hormone thresholds and reconsideration of pre-kidney transplantation secondary hyperparathyroidism treatments to avoid the adverse sequelae of tertiary hyperparathyroidism in kidney transplantation recipients.
Sum-of-Squares Geometry Processing

Geometry processing presents a variety of difficult numerical problems, each seeming to require its own tailored solution. This breadth is largely due to the expansive list of geometric primitives, e.g., splines, triangles, and hexahedra, joined with an ever-expanding variety of objectives one might want to achieve with them. With the recent increase in attention toward higher-order surfaces, we can expect a variety of challenges porting existing solutions that work on triangle meshes to work on these more complex geometry types. In this paper, we present a framework for solving many core geometry processing problems on higher-order surfaces. We achieve this goal through sum-of-squares optimization, which transforms nonlinear polynomial optimization problems into sequences of convex problems whose complexity is captured by a single degree parameter. This allows us to solve a suite of problems on higher-order surfaces, such as continuous collision detection and closest point queries on curved patches, with only minor changes between formulations and geometries.