cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disproportionating versus nondisproportionating solvent effect in the SET‐LRP of methyl acrylate during catalysis with nonactivated and activated cu(0) wire

The disproportionating solvent effect on the kinetics of single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) during catalysis with nonactivated Cu(0) wire coated with Cu2O and activated Cu(0) wire free of Cu2O was studied. In solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, MeOH and ethylene carbonate that in conjunction with Me6-TREN promote extensitve disproportionation of Cu(I)X, faster polymerizations were achieved upon switching from nonactivated Cu(0) wire to activated Cu(0) wire. The results showed that the substantial rate enhancement was accompanied with excellent control of molecular weight evolution and distribution, and high fidelity of chain-end functionality. This can be attributed to a more effective equilibrium between activation and deactivation in the presence of Cu(0) free of Cu2O. In nondisproportionating solvents, the kinetics of SET-LRP of methyl acrylate catalyzed by activated Cu(0) wire resembled that of the polymerizations catalyzed by nonactivated wire. This is the result of a competing effect between rapid activation and insufficient disproportionation. The absence of disproportionation effectively leads to the lack of first order kinetics, broad molecular weight distribution, significant loss of bromide chain-end functionality, and therefore, the absence of a living polymerization. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
The influence of squat depth on maximal vertical jump performance

An increase in the period over which a muscle generates force can lead to the generation of greater force and, therefore, for example in jumping, to greater jump height. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of squat depth on maximum vertical jump performance. We hypothesized that jump height would increase with increasing depth of squat due to the greater time available for the generation of muscular force. Ten participants performed jumps from preferred and deep squat positions. A computer model simulated jumps from the different starting postures. The participants showed no difference in jump height in jumps from deep and preferred positions. Simulated jumps produced similar kinematics to the participants' jumps. The optimal squat depth for the simulated jumps was the lowest position the model was able to jump from. Because jumping from a deep squat is rarely practised, it is unlikely that these jumps were optimally coordinated by the participants. Differences in experimental vertical ground reaction force patterns also suggest that jumps from a deep squat are not optimally coordinated. These results suggest there is the potential for athletes to increase jump performance by exploiting a greater range of motion.
Leaks, Lumps, and Lines: Stigma and Women’s Bodies

Women’s bodies have often been positioned in art and popular culture as monstrous or defiled and women’s bodily products (e.g., menstrual fluid, breast milk) as disgusting. This framing has led to the stigmatization of aspects of women’s bodies (e.g., leaking fluids, lumps of fat, and lines in the skin that indicate aging), especially those aspects that are perceived as threats to culture and society. In this article, the author draws on feminist theory, stigma theory, and terror management theory to explain the positioning of menstruating, fat, and old women as threatening and stigmatized. Evidence for the stigma is discussed, as are the effects of stigma on the stigmatized and the stigmatizers. Ways of resisting, reframing, and coping with stigma are suggested.
Changes in enzymic activity during cultivation of human cells in vitro

Abstract The composition of chromatin, its template activity and the activity of certain chromatin-associated enzymes, including DNA polymerase (DP) and soluble RNase, DNase, DP and seryl tRNA synthetase, were examined in early and late passage of WI-38 cells and of WI-38VA13 cells. No significant changes in soluble RNase, DNase, seryl tRNA synthetase or soluble and chromatin-associated DP were found with increasing passage of WI-38 cells. The activity of seryl tRNA synthetase and DP in WI38VA13 cells was, however, significantly higher than WI-38 cells in all passages. A decline in RNA synthesizing activity of chromatin, an increase in the proportion of RNA and histone in chromatin, as well as an increase in the activities of ‘chromatin-associated enzymes’ (RNase, DNase, protease, nucleoside triphosphatase, DPN pyrophosphorylase) were noted in WI-38 cells with increasing passages. Although RNA synthesizing activity of chromatin from WI38VA13 cells was lower than that from WI-38 cells, the former also were much lower in ‘chromatin-associated enzymes’. An increase of chromatin-associated enzymes responsible for RNA, DNA and protein degradation in WI-38 cells in successive passages, and a much lower activity of these enzymes in WI-38VA13 cells (which have an indefinite doubling potential in vitro) suggests that an elevation in the activity of these enzymes, which would seriously interfere with the chromatin function, could result in ‘aging’ of WI-38 cells.
Plasmonic enhancement of third order nonlinear optical effects: Figures of merit

We describe a rigorous and physically transparent theory of enhancement of third order nonlinear optical processes achieved in plasmonic structures. The results show that while the effective nonlinear index can be enhanced by many orders of magnitude, due to high metal losses the most relevant figure of merit, the amount of phase shift per one absorption length remains very low.
Signs of epistemic disruption: Transformations in the knowledge system of the academic journal

This article is an overview of the current state of scholarly journals, not (just) as an activity to be described in terms if its changing processes, but more fundamentally as a pivotal point in a broader knowledge system. After locating journals in what we term the process of knowledge design, the article goes on to discuss some of the deeply disruptive aspects of the contemporary moment, which not only portend potential transformations in the form of the journal, but possibly also the knowledge systems that the journal in its heritage forms has supported. These disruptive forces are represented by changing technological, economic, distributional, geographic, interdisciplinary and social relations to knowledge. The article goes on to examine three specific breaking points. The first breaking point is in business models—the unsustainable costs and inefficiencies of traditional commercial publishing, the rise of open access and the challenge of developing sustainable publishing models. The second potential breaking point is the credibility of the peer review system: its accountability, its textual practices, the validity of its measures and its exclusionary network effects. The third breaking point is post-publication evaluation, centred primarily around citation or impact analysis. We argue that the prevailing system of impact analysis is deeply flawed. Its validity as a measure of knowledge is questionable, in which citation counts are conflated with the contribution made to knowledge, quantity is valued over quality, popularity is taken as a proxy for intellectual quality, impact is mostly measured on a short timeframe, ‘impact factors’ are aggregated for journals or departments in a way that lessens their validity further, there is a bias for and against certain article types, there are exclusionary network effects and there are accessibility distortions. Add to this reliability defects—the types of citation counted as well as counting failures and distortions—and clearly the citation analysis system is in urgent need of renewal. The article ends with suggestions towards the transformation of the academic journal and the creation of new knowledge systems: sustainable publishing models, frameworks for guardianship of intellectual property, criterion-referenced peer review, greater reflexivity in the review process, incremental knowledge refinement, more widely distributed sites of knowledge production and inclusive knowledge cultures, new types of scholarly text and more reliable use metrics.
Law, state power, and taxation in Islamic history

Abstract The ruler's power varied greatly in Islamic history over time and space. We explain these variations through a political economy approach to public finance, identifying factors affecting economic power and its constraints. An influential interest group capable of affecting the ruler's power was the legal community (‘ulamā’). This community could increase the ruler's ability to extract a surplus from the citizenry by conferring legitimacy, thereby lowering the cost of collecting taxes. It could also limit power through legal constraints on taxation. We show how changes in legitimacy and legal constraints affected the economic power of rulers in representative episodes of Islamic history and identify general trends and dynamic processes underlying the relationship between the state and the legal community.
Hydrocortisone as a Modulator of Cell Division and Population Life Span

Previous work in our laboratory on acid phosphatase and β glucuronidase activities in crude homogenates of human diploid cell cultures showed an increase in the specific activity of these enzymes during cellular aging (1). Since these enzymes are typically marker enzymes for lysosomes, the findings implied that older cells contained more lysosomes, a conclusion that has since been documented by electron microscopic studies in our lab and by others (2–4).
When psychopathology matters most: identifying sensitive periods when within‐person changes in conduct, affective and anxiety problems are associated with male adolescent substance use

Background and aims There is a documented link between common psychiatric disorders and substance use in adolescent males. This study addressed two key questions: (1) is there a within-person association between an increase in psychiatric problems and an increase in substance use among adolescent males and (2) are there sensitive periods during male adolescence when such associations are more evident? Design Analysis of longitudinal data collected annually on boys selected randomly from schools based on a comprehensive public school enrollment list from the Pittsburgh Board of Education. Setting Recruitment occurred in public schools in Pittsburgh, Pennysylvania, USA. Participants A total of 503 boys assessed at ages 13–19 years, average cooperation rate = 92.1%. Measurements Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-oriented affective, anxiety and conduct disorder problems were measured with items from the caregiver, teacher and youth version of the Achenbach scales. Scales were converted to t-scores using age- and gender-based national norms and combined by taking the average across informants. Alcohol and marijuana use were assessed semi-annually by a 16-item Substance Use Scale adapted from the National Youth Survey. Findings When male adolescents experienced a 1-unit increase in their conduct problems t-score, their rate of marijuana use subsequently increased by 1.03 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01, 1.05], and alcohol quantity increased by 1.01 (95% CI = 1.0002, 1.02). When adolescents experienced a 1-unit increase in their average quantity of alcohol use, their anxiety problems t-score subsequently increased by 0.12 (95% CI = 0.05, 0.19). These associations were strongest in early and late adolescence. Conclusions When adolescent boys experience an increase in conduct disorder problems, they are more likely to exhibit a subsequent escalation in substance use. As adolescent boys increase their intensity of alcohol use, they become more likely to develop subsequent anxiety problems. Developmental turning points such as early and late adolescence appear to be particularly sensitive periods for boys to develop comorbid patterns of psychiatric problems and substance use.
Why Countries Trade: The Theory of Comparative Advantage

This note explains the basic concept of comparative advantage and the gains from trade with an example of Ricardian technology differences. The note also laysout three basic theorems of the Hackscher-Ohlin Theory of international trade.
Smoluchowski Equation Approach in Channel-Facilitated Transport Problems: Counter-Intuitive Analytical Results and Supporting Experiments

When transport occurs in quasi one-dimensional confining structures, it is intuitively appealing to introduce an effective one-dimensional description, where the spatial constraints are accounted for by entropy potentials. In equilibrium, the effect of entropic contribution is not different from that of the bona fide potential of mean force. However, for transport problems the situation can be different. We analyze the problem within the framework of a continuous diffusion model using the Smoluchowski equation (for a recent recapitulation see Berezhkovskii and Bezrukov. On the applicability of entropy potentials in transport problems. European Physical Journal - Special Topics, 2014, 223:3063-3077). Several of our analytical findings are quite counter-intuitive. Three of the examples to be discussed are: (i) “Sticking” to the channel slows down translocation (a particle spends more time in the channel) but increases the particle flux; (ii) “Up-hill” and “downhill” particle translocation times (and their distributions) are identical; (iii) An optimal channel should exhibit the most pronounced binding on the side that is opposite to the side of the oncoming particles. Some supporting experiments and applications of the theory to particular channels will be discussed.
Arthur Conan Doyle's Pig, and Yours: A Challenge

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, The Strand Magazine printed Arthur Conan Doyle’s byline many, many times — on dozens of Sherlock Holmes stories, and also on a wide range of other works. Only once, however, did the magazine publish a Doyle-signed work that was purely graphical: the pig (yes, it is a pig) pictured above. He drew the pig in response to a challenge The Strand issued to several Victorian-era celebrities. Full details are given in an article — “Pigs of Celebrities,” by Gertrude Bacon — published by The Strand in March 1899. The gist of the challenge is easily summarized: Lift a pen and close your eyes. Keep them closed while drawing a pig. Autograph your work and send it to us. The Green Bag is renewing that challenge. It is open to all our readers, every one of whom is a celebrity in the eyes of the Bag’s editors. Please use the form (and follow the rules) on page 547 below. We will: (1) post on our website all, or at least most, pigs submitted in accordance with the rules (we reserve the right to exclude mean-spirited and copyright-infringing pigs), and (2) publish some exemplary pigs in a future Almanac & Reader, or issue of the Green Bag itself, or perhaps both.
Modeling and in-flight imaging of transverse gas jets injected behind a rearward-facing step

A model is developed and in-flight experiments are performed to study the behavior of a transverse jet injected behind a rearward-facing step in supersonic flow. The model for jet behavior places emphasis on the dynamics of the vortical structures observed to dominate jet cross-section, as done in prior models. The complex flowfield formed downstream of the step is represented by a combination of empirical and analytical correlations. In-flight experiments to study this flowfield are conducted at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center using a flight test fixture situated under the fuselage of an F-104G aircraft. Model predictions for jet trajectory are compared with prior wind tunnel experiments as well as with results from the present in-flight experiments. Reasonable comparisons are obtained between model and experiments, indicating that this simple phenomenological model could be useful as a design tool in optimizing transverse jet penetration and mixing.
Competition among Bark-Foraging Birds in Central Illinois: Experimental Evidence

competition in structuring avian communities. Even if niches were arranged randomly with respect to one another, differences would exist. Observational studies can reveal very little about how avian species influence one another except when direct aggressive interactions are observed. Experimental evidence is needed to more fully understand community organization as suggested by Reynoldson and Bellamy (1974), Colwell and Fuentes (1975) and Connell (1975). Thus, observation is useful as a first step to suggest hypotheses, which then need to be tested.
Washing Machine Races, Gulag Pizza, and McLenin Kitsch-ifcation in Post-Socialist Hungary

ABSTRACTDuring the cold war, material culture could symbolically mark conflicts between the East and West. Lenin, Marx, the sickle and hammer symbolized communist strength. Household items and electronics were marvelled at as new and advanced in contrast to the Western capitalist exotic ‘Other’. In Hungary today, these symbols become Communist kitsch that can undermine former tensions and illustrate a collective ambivalence towards the post-socialist condition by (1) reinterpreting time and space, (2) symbolizing the cold war ‘other’, (3) creating fantasized spaces, (4) and by representing a generational divide. Making former symbols of Communist strength ‘kitschy’ illustrates a mockery of the past, which becomes fodder for humour much like Bahktin's discussion of inverse of power. The kitschification of Communism evokes various understandings of nostalgia in material form that underscores reinvented commentaries on the past as well as a response to an uncertain present and in the process neutralizes poli...
Polyanhydrides: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

This review focusses on polyanhydrides, a fascinating class of degradable polymers that have been used in and investigated for many bio-related applications because of their degradability and capacity to undergo surface erosion. This latter phenomenon is driven by hydrolysis of the anhydride moieties at the surface and high hydrophobicity of the polymer such that degradation and mass loss (erosion) occur before water can penetrate deep within the bulk of the polymer. As such, when surface-eroding polymers are used as therapeutic delivery vehicles, the rate of delivery is often controlled by the rate of polymer erosion, providing predictable and controlled release rates that are often zero-order. These desirable attributes are heavily influenced by polymer composition and morphology, and therefore also monomer structure and polymerization method. This review examines approaches for polyanhydride synthesis, discusses their general thermomechanical properties, surveys their hydrolysis and degradation processes along with their biocompatibility, and looks at recent developments and uses of polyanhydrides in drug delivery, stimuli-responsive materials, and novel nanotechnologies.
Online diagnosis of interturn short circuit for large turbine generator’s rotor

The relationship between the vibration and the field current of rotor with ISC(Interturn Short Circuit) is analyzed for turbine generator and its positive correlation is proved theoretically,based on which,the online diagnosis of rotor ISC fault,without any interference with the normal operation of generator,can be conducted by merely analyzing the correlation curve of rotor vibration and field current.The curve exists in the distributed control system of power plant.The proposed online diagnosis scheme for rotor ISC fault is simple and independent.
Research Progress in Toughening Modification of Polypropylene

The toughening modification mechanism of polypropylene is introduced.The blending systems of rubber elastomers and the influence of composition,compatibility,interface state and blending technology condition of the blending systems on toughening effect of polypropylene are emphatically discussed.
Beta extensions and cuspidal types for p-adic spin groups

Let $$\widehat{G}$$ be a spin group over a locally compact non-archimedean local field F of odd residual characteristic. When F has characteristic zero we define $$\beta $$ -extensions of the semisimple characters for $$\widehat{G}$$ . Then we contruct cuspidal types for many new supercuspidal representations of $$\widehat{G}$$ .
Religious Group Characteristics, Endogamy, and Interfaith Marriages

This study makes two contributions to knowledge about religious affiliation and marriage. First, endogamy and exogamy are considered as separate categories of events. Second, the effects of religious group characteristics on endogamy and exogamy are evaluated. Using tabulations from the 1981 Canadian Census, analysis shows a strong tendency toward endogamy. Group size has conflicting effects on endogamy: structural properties create a positive association, but group cohesiveness creates a negative association between size and endogamy. Other group properties such as regional distribution, ethnic composition, socioeconomic status, and gender ratio have only modest effects on endogamy or exogamy.
Establishment of Patient-Derived Tumor Xenograft Models of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer for Preclinical Evaluation of Novel Therapeutics

Purpose: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy in the United States, with high rates of recurrence and eventual resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Model systems that allow for accurate and reproducible target discovery and validation are needed to support further drug development in this disease.Experimental Design: Clinically annotated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were generated from tumor cells isolated from the ascites or pleural fluid of patients undergoing clinical procedures. Models were characterized by IHC and by molecular analyses. Each PDX was luciferized to allow for reproducible in vivo assessment of intraperitoneal tumor burden by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Plasma assays for CA125 and human LINE-1 were developed as secondary tests of in vivo disease burden.Results: Fourteen clinically annotated and molecularly characterized luciferized ovarian PDX models were generated. Luciferized PDX models retain fidelity to both the nonluciferized PDX and the original patient tumor, as demonstrated by IHC, array CGH, and targeted and whole-exome sequencing analyses. Models demonstrated diversity in specific genetic alterations and activation of PI3K signaling pathway members. Response of luciferized PDX models to standard-of-care therapy could be reproducibly monitored by BLI or plasma markers.Conclusions: We describe the establishment of a collection of 14 clinically annotated and molecularly characterized luciferized ovarian PDX models in which orthotopic tumor burden in the intraperitoneal space can be followed by standard and reproducible methods. This collection is well suited as a platform for proof-of-concept efficacy and biomarker studies and for validation of novel therapeutic strategies in ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(5); 1263-73. ©2016 AACR.
Value propositions of mHealth projects

While mHealth holds great potential for addressing global health disparities, a majority of the initiatives never proceed beyond the pilot stage. One fundamental concern is that mHealth projects are seldom designed from the customer's perspective to address their specific problems and/or create appreciable value. A customer-centric view, where direct tangible benefits of interventions are identified and communicated effectively, can drive customer engagement and advance projects toward self-sustaining business models. This article reviews the business models of 234 mHealth projects to identify nine distinct value propositions that solve specific problems for customers. Each of these value propositions is discussed with real-world examples, analyses of their design approaches and business strategies, and common enablers as well as hurdles to surviving past the pilot stage. Furthermore, a deeper analysis of 42 mHealth ventures that have achieved self-sustainability through project revenue provides a host of practical and poignant insights into the design of systems that can fulfil mHealth's promise to address healthcare challenges in the long term.
AGAINST KANT: toward an inverted transcendentalism or a philosophy of the doctrinal

F.W.J. Schelling’s late distinction between negative and positive philosophy correlates negative philosophy with critical philosophy, which delimits what could be said of things without yet actually being able to do so. Positive philosophy, however, is able to make assertions about the actual existence of such objects without transgressing Kant’s prison of finitude, i.e., without moving from an immanent, subjective and transcendental position to a transcendent (read: noumenal) object. Schelling’s later positive philosophy rather asserts that one begins outside Kant’s prison. This is not a dogmatism or, more properly, a dogmatizing philosophy, that attempts to reach the transcendent from an immanent locus, transcendental subjectivity, but it is a “doctrinal philosophy” that begins in transcendence and then has as its task the consequent construction of the domain of transcendental subjectivity. By this means, Schelling’s positive philosophy, which he also deems a “historical” and “progressive” phil...
Low-carbon “drop-in replacement” transportation fuels from non-food biomass and natural gas

Abstract We assessed the technical and economic viability of small-scale plants producing “drop-in replacement” transportation fuels from non-food biomass and capturing and storing byproduct CO2 in spent shale-gas wells. Additional designs considered co-processing of natural gas — the least carbon-intensive fossil fuel — to increase liquid-fuel yields and plant efficiency, with some penalty in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions footprint. For fuels from first-of-a-kind facilities to be cost-competitive with petroleum-derived fuels when crude oil costs $100/bbl, an effective GHG emissions price in excess of $250/tCO2,eq would be required. If lower production costs are achieved in successive facilities via innovation and experience, fuels from future plants may become cost-competitive at crude oil prices as low as $85/bbl in the absence of any GHG emissions price, and at $50/bbl with a GHG emissions price of $135/tCO2,eq, which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests is an emissions price level needed before 2050 to induce the emissions reductions needed to limit global warming to 2 °C.
Understanding Smart Shopper Feeling From Consumers' Perspective

Smart shoppers in marketing literature are often connoted with deal-prone consumers (Schindler, 1998). They tend to invest considerable time and effort to seek for promotion-related information and participate in price promotions for economic value (Mano and Elliot, 1997). However, it is unclear how consumers perceive “smart shoppers” as their lived experiences in everyday life. Almost no research has examined what smart shopper means from the consumers’ perspective. The purpose of this study is to understand what a smart shopper feeling is like.
Metal oxide gas sensing characterization by low frequency noise spectroscopy

This work demonstrates a new method for selective identification of low ppb concentrations of O 3 . Atomic layer deposited thin film SnO 2 was used as a sensing layer. SnO 2 sensitized quartz crystal microbalances (QCM) demonstrate expected mass loading behavior as well as unique frequency domain response towards synthetic air, O 3 , and NO 2 at room temperature. Power spectral densities (PSD) of the response of each gas were calculated and contain peaks at different normalized frequencies. These PSD peaks are found to have significant differences in magnitude for each analyte and provide evidence of selective room temperature adsorption of gases on SnO 2 .
Centris dirrhoda (Anthophoridae), the bee visiting West lndian cherry flowers ( Malpighia punicifolia )

The very substantial set of West Indian cherries ( Malpighia punicifolia ) in Jamaican orchards is apparently due to the numerous visits by the anthophorid bee ( Centris dirrhoda ). This relationship is typical of the need of members of the Malpighiaceae to be visited by their specialist pollinators. In Hawaii, where the fruit was introduced from the Caribbean region, the yields were poor and they did not increase when colonies of honey bees were placed in the orchards.
Fuel Economy 2.0

Motor vehicle fuel-economy standards have long been a cornerstone of U.S. policy to reduce fuel consumption in the light-duty vehicle fleet. In 2011 and 2012 these standards were significantly expanded in an effort to achieve steep reductions in oil demand and greenhouse gas emissions through 2025. In 2018, following a review of the standards, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed to instead freeze the standards at 2020 levels, citing high program costs (and potential safety issues). The current debate over the future of U.S. efficiency standards provides an opportunity to consider whether the existing approach could be improved to achieve environmental goals at a lower cost. The current policy prescribes standards that focus on efficiency alone, as opposed to lifetime consumption, and treats vehicle categories differentially, meaning that it imposes unnecessarily high costs and does not deliver guaranteed petroleum/greenhouse gas (GHG) savings. On the basis of a commitment to cost-benefit analysis, defining U.S. regulatory policy for more than 30 years, we propose a novel reform that has three main features: 1) the regulation of expected fuel consumption/GHG emissions directly without consideration of the type or size of the vehicle; 2) use of existing data to assign lifetime fuel consumption/GHG emissions to each model; and 3) creation of a robust cap-and-trade market for automakers to reduce compliance costs. We show that this approach would increase the certainty of reductions in fuel consumption/GHG emissions in transportation and do so at a far lower cost per gallon/ton of GHG avoided. Such an approach would be consistent with existing statutory authorities at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation.
Increase in the Frequency of Tropical Deep Convective Clouds with Global Warming

Abstract. Deep Convective Clouds (DCC) are extreme rain events associated with large thunderstorms. They form in 0.6 % of the area of the tropical oceans. As the tropical oceans warm in a future climate, the frequency of occurrence of DCC may change. Between 2003 and 2016 the yearly mean temperature of the tropical ocean varied by almost 1 K. We use Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data for this time period to derive the probability of the DCC process as function of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST). The onset of the DCC process shifts about 0.5 K per 1 K of warming of the mean tropical SST. When these results are applied to the temperature distribution predicted by CMIP5 climate models for the end of this century, we find that the frequency of DCC, i.e. the percent of the area of the tropical oceans associated with DCC, which is 0.6 percent in the current climate, increases to 0.9 %, close to a 50 % increase.
A Model and Satellite-Based Analysis of the Tropospheric Ozone Distribution in Clear Versus Convectively Cloudy Conditions

Satellite observations of in-cloud ozone concentrations from the OMI and MLS instruments show substantial differences from background ozone concentrations. We develop a method for comparing a free-running chemistry-climate model (CCM) to in-cloud and background ozone observations using a simple criterion based on cloud fraction to separate cloudy and clear-sky days. We demonstrate that the CCM simulates key features of the in-cloud versus background ozone differences and of the geographic distribution of in-cloud ozone. Since the agreement is not dependent on matching the meteorological conditions of a specific day, this is a promising method for diagnosing how accurately CCMs represent the relationships between ozone and clouds, including the lower ozone concentrations shown by in-cloud satellite observations. Since clouds are associated with convection as well as changes in chemistry, we diagnose the tendency of tropical ozone at 400 hPa due to chemistry, convection and turbulence, and large-scale dynamics. While convection acts to reduce ozone concentrations at 400 hPa throughout much of the tropics, it has the opposite effect over highly polluted regions of South and East Asia.
Analysis on repetitive pulsed overcurrent operation of GaN power transistors

Gallium Nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) are a new technology that is of great interest in pulsed power and power electronics application due to the demonstrated capabilities of Silicon Carbide (SiC) transistors. As there are further advances in development of GaN power semiconductors, an interest in the evaluation of repetitive pulsed overcurrent operations that can happen in power electronic applications are of demand due to the devices being new. The device tested is a GaN HEMT GS61008P rated for 100 V and 90 A manufactured by GaN Systems. This device was evaluated in a pulsed ringdown test bed using peak currents up to 265 A (almost 3x the maximum continuous current) at frequencies over 75 Hz. Measurements of the device's electrical characteristics such as the forward I-V curve, transconductance, and voltage breakdown were performed throughout testing which demonstrated no significant degradation. Along with those measurements, the device's switching energy as a function of time was recorded. The data that was gathered based on these measurements and their results show the robustness of the GaN HEMT device and their ability to handle repeated transient overcurrent operations that is normally common in many power semiconductor device applications.
Filopodia as detectors of environmental cues: signal integration through changes in growth cone calcium levels.

Publisher Summary This chapter examines a selected series of environmental stimuli that are known to interact with growth cones and examines how these stimuli are translated by the second messenger systems intrinsic to the growth cone proper. In particular, this chapter emphasizes the role of intracellular calcium ions as the messenger translating extracellular environmental cues into changes in neuronal growth cone behavior. The effects of two distinctive classes of external cues are examined: neurotransmitters and membrane protein NI-35, derived from central nervous system oligodendrocytes. The discussion also describes how these two sets of stimuli interact with intracellular systems within the cell. The text also provides a description of what is now termed the calcium hypothesis for the control of growth cone behavior. Finally, discussion examines an extended set of roles for intracellular calcium and how individual components of the growth cone interact. In doing so, the chapter presents the antennae amplifier model of filopodia/growth cone interaction and how this model incorporates changes in intracellular calcium from distant filopodia into a graded set of actions within the growth cone proper.
Transdermal Nicotine for the Treatment of Mood and Cognitive Symptoms in Nonsmokers With Late-Life Depression

OBJECTIVE Late-life depression (LLD) is characterized by poor antidepressant response and cognitive dysfunction. This study examined whether transdermal nicotine benefits mood symptoms and cognitive performance in LLD. METHODS In a 12-week open-label outpatient study conducted between November 2016 and August 2017, transdermal nicotine was given to 15 nonsmoking older adults (≥ 60 years of age). Eligible participants met DSM-IV-TR criteria for major depressive disorder with ≥ 15 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating scale (MADRS) and endorsed subjective cognitive impairment. Transdermal nicotine patches were applied daily and titrated in a rigid dose escalation strategy to a maximum dose of 21.0 mg/d, allowing dose reductions for tolerability. The primary mood outcome was MADRS change measured every 3 weeks, with response defined as ≥ 50% improvement from baseline and remission as MADRS score ≤ 8. The primary cognitive outcome was the Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT), a test of attention. RESULTS Robust rates of response (86.7%; 13/15 subjects) and remission (53.3%; 8/15 subjects) were observed. There was a significant decrease in MADRS scores over the study (β = -1.51, P < .001), with improvement seen as early as 3 weeks (Bonferroni-adjusted P value = .004). We also observed improvement in apathy and rumination. We did not observe improvement on the CPT but did observe improvement in subjective cognitive performance and signals of potential drug effects on secondary cognitive measures of working memory, episodic memory, and self-referential emotional processing. Overall, transdermal nicotine was well tolerated, although 6 participants could not reach the maximum targeted dose. CONCLUSIONS Nicotine may be a promising therapy for depressed mood and cognitive performance in LLD. A definitive placebo-controlled trial and establishment of longer-term safety are necessary before clinical usage. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02816138​.
3D Electromagnetic Modelling of Connector to PCB Via Transitions

This paper examines methods to electromagnetically model a hybrid land grid array (HLGA) connector and its associated printed circuit board (PCB) via individually with the goal of achieving the best correlation between their cascade and when modelled together as a single structure. The transition between the connector and the PCB via is of utmost importance as this is the location where the segmentation takes place. In this activity, the segmentation takes place on or close by the solder ball transitioning a signal between the two components. The solder ball location and any associated pads and/or dog-bone traces are becoming more worthy of attention as signal rise times decrease and data rates increase. Different excitation port setup techniques are considered at the transition. The signal integrity (SI) metrics of the cascaded models generated from each method tested are compared against a reference merged model. Due to differences observed between the cascaded and the merged models for one of the conventional modelling methods, a modelling correction method is investigated to achieve a closer match between cascaded and merged models.
Land Tenure Issues in the Third World

This paper highlights some of the major rural and urban land tenure issues in the third world. Traditional rural land tenure systems are reconsidered in light of the suggestion that they be replace...
Screening and evaluating potential merger or acquisition candidates: Some suggestions for a critical process

Corporate growth through merger and acquisition is one of the many growth strategies open to the firm. Such a growth strategy can be divided into three stages: formulating the merger/acquisition strategy; screening and evaluating potential candidates; and implementing and integrating the merger/acquisition. In this article, the second in a series of three, the focus is on the second stage. Research findings into the evaluation practices utilized by twenty acquisition intensive South African companies are reported. Broadly speaking, evaluation in the South African context is seen primarily as a team effort, and the domain of top management, assisted by staff personnel where necessary. Taking between one to three months to complete, the evaluation practices of organizations represented display considerable variance. Some adopt a structured approach, and utilize formally developed evaluation checklists, while others rely on an ad hoc , informal approach. While several methods to evaluate managerial competence were suggested, no process to evaluate either managerial compatibility or the culture of potential candidates were discovered. Understanding of the concept of organizational culture was found to be minimal, though the research findings indicate a contingent role for organizational culture in the merger/acquisition process. The article is concluded by making some suggestions which, while not guaranteeing transaction success, should lessen the chance of failure being attributable to inadequate candidate evaluation.
Buprenorphine initiation to treat opioid use disorder in emergency rooms

Emergency rooms across the United States regularly treat patients with opioid use disorder and patients experiencing opioid overdose. Four to six million people in the US are estimated to have opioid use disorder. Over half of overdose related deaths in 2016 resulted from the use of opioids. The majority of deaths involved the use of fentanyl. There is an opioid epidemic plaguing the nation and with emergency rooms at the forefront of the proverbial battlefield; they can potentially play a key role in addressing the problem. Currently, there are three FDA approved, evidence-based medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder. These are buprenorphine, methadone and extendedrelease naltrexone. Buprenorphine induction in emergency room settings has shown great promise. Research suggests that it is an effective, safe and cost-effective treatment to initiate in emergency rooms. In order to successfully treat opioid use disorder and overdose in emergency rooms, they must have waivered providers and they must be equipped with the necessary resources. The VA Connecticut has been able to overcome some of the challenges to initiating buprenorphine in the emergency room setting and has established a feasible model for treating opioid overdose and managing opioid use disorder.
State of the Union on Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in 2020: Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes

There has been a marked increase in the number of ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions performed annually and an associated increase in the amount of recent literature published. It is paramount that surgeons remain up to date on the current literature, as modern indications and surgical techniques continue to improve clinical outcomes. Our understanding of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries, treatment indications, and surgical techniques for UCL reconstruction continues to evolve. Despite the rapidly increasing amount of published literature on the topic, a clear and concise surgical algorithm is lacking. Studies have suggested a trend towards improved clinical outcomes and decreased complications with various modifications in UCL reconstruction techniques. Current sport-specific outcome studies have reported conflicting results regarding the effect of UCL reconstruction on an athlete’s performance upon returning to sport. With the rising incidence of UCL reconstruction and growing media attention, UCL injuries, reconstruction techniques, and return to sport following UCL surgery are timely topics of interest to clinicians and overhead throwing athletes. Several technique modifications have been reported, and these modifications may lead to improved outcomes and lower complication rates. Studies assessing sport-specific outcome measures will be necessary to provide a more critical and informative analysis of outcomes following UCL reconstruction.
Iodinated Contrast Agents

In neuroimaging, iodine-based contrast agents are administered intravenously when acquiring CT images mainly for evaluating infectious and inflammatory conditions and tumors. Intravenous administration of iodine-based contrast agents are also an essential part of CT and conventional catheter angiography and CT perfusion studies. Iodine contrast agents can also be administered at different concentrations intrathecally into the subarachnoid space for performing myelography or cisternography and into the ventricular system for performing ventriculography.
Cervical Spine and Craniocervical Junction Reconstruction with a Vascularized Fibula Free Flap

Background Long-term stabilization of the cervical spine after extensive multilevel tumor resection is difficult to achieve. The current standard approach of instrumentation combined with allograft or nonvascularized autograft is limited in settings of increased risk of nonunion or delayed union (i.e., prior radiation therapy or poorly vascularized wound beds). Case Description We report the first time to our knowledge that a vascularized fibular free flap has been used to reconstruct the cervical column across 5 vertebral levels, from the craniocervical junction to the lower cervical spine. We describe a transoral approach to the area and compare this method with other reconstructive options. Conclusions Vascularized bone grafting is a viable alternative to achieve lasting stability because of hastened fusion time, limited reliance on osseous remodeling, and incorporation into the axial skeleton with strut strength.
In cancer-associated VTE, apixaban was noninferior to dalteparin for recurrence and did not increase major bleeding.

SOURCE CITATION Agnelli G, Becattini C, Meyer G, et al. Apixaban for the treatment of venous thromboembolism associated with cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1599-607. 32223112.
The Predictive Power of College Football Spreads: Regular Season Versus Bowl Games:

This paper compares the predictive accuracy and efficiency of college football point spreads for regular and bowl games. We find that the betting line spread is more accurate as a predictor of the ...
Overview of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in children

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous organisms in our surrounding environment. Four distinct clinical syndromes associated with NTM infection have been described: skin and soft tissue disease, lymphadenitis, disseminated disease and pulmonary disease. In children, lymphadenitis is the most common NTM clinical entity, particularly affecting those aged 1-5 years who have no known risk factors for disease. Optimal management of NTM lymphadenitis is not entirely clear, although surgical intervention is likely a definitive therapy. Disseminated NTM disease is uncommon and only seen in the setting of immunocompromise. In previously well children, this presentation should always lead to consideration of an underlying immune defect, such as Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease. Identification of the underlying cause enables more targeted therapy and better prognostic understanding. Pulmonary NTM disease is fundamentally different to the other clinical syndromes, presenting in different hosts, who have different comorbidities, and follow a different clinical course.
Citizen Ken: Branagh, Shakespeare, and the movies:

As Kenneth Branagh turns sixty, he finds himself honoured by the English theatrical world as the restored heir to its tradition of the actor-manager, having created a theatre and film career unlike...