cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of peripatellar retinaculum in transmission of forces within the extensor mechanism.

Background: The role of the peripatellar retinaculum as a frontal plane stabilizer of the patellofemoral joint has been well established. However, as a result of its unique orientation, the retinaculum also may influence the distribution of forces within the extensor mechanism. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which the peripatellar retinaculum affects the magnitude of forces experienced by the patellar tendon. Methods: Ten cadaver knees were used in this investigation. Each was mounted on a custom test apparatus that was fixed to an Instron frame. The extensor mechanism was loaded by applying forces through the individual heads of the quadriceps femoris. Patellar tendon tension was measured at 0°, 20°, 40°, and 60° of knee flexion with use of a buckle transducer under two conditions: (1) with the peripatellar retinaculum intact, and (2) with the peripatellar retinaculum removed. Patellar tendon tension was compared between the two conditions across the knee flexion angles. Results: At each knee flexion angle, the patellar tendon tension was greater with the retinaculum removed than it was with the retinaculum intact. However, the difference was significant only at 0° and 60°, at which positions the force transmitted to the patellar tendon was increased by 16.6% and 9.6%, respectively. Conclusions : The observed increases in patellar tendon tension after removal of the peripatellar retinaculum is an indication of the load-sharing function of that structure as a part of the extensor mechanism. Clinical Relevance: Our results suggest that compromise of the peripatellar retinaculum may alter patellar tendon and/or patellofemoral joint forces.
Subglottic stenosis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), now termed juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), is a well-described group of arthritides in the pediatric population with known associations with airway compromise. Subclasses are based on associated symptoms and number of joints involved, namely pauciarticular, polyarticular, and systemic onset JRA. Cricoarytenoid arthritis (CA), as a cause of airway compromise, is rarely associated with JRA as compared to adult onset rheumatoid arthritis, however, there are reports of CA with JRA. Additionally, JRA is associated with other rheumatologic diseases, which include a reported case of Wegener's granulomatosis. Wegener's granulomatosis has a well-established association with subglottic stenosis. Described below is the case study of an 18 year-old African American female with a 5-year history of pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis developed worsening shortness of breath, orthopnea, and stridor over a 1-month period. The patient had a firm circumferential subglottic mass obstructing approximately 80% of the lumen and requiring tracheostomy tube placement. Biopsies of the mass revealed only acute and chronic inflammation. There was no evidence of rheumatoid nodules, granulomas, acid fast, or fungal organisms. To our knowledge, this is the first case history reported of a patient with JRA and idiopathic subglottic stenosis; this potentially establishes an association between the two disease processes.
A Survey on Energy-Efficient Routing Techniques with QoS Assurances for Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks

The recent technological advances in micro electro-mechanical systems have promoted the development of a powerful class of sensor-based distributed intelligent systems capable of ubiquitously retrieving multimedia information, namely Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks (WMSNs). WMSNs are gaining more popularity day by day as they are envisioned to support a large number of both non-real time and real-time multimedia applications. However, satisfying the stringent quality of service (QoS) requirements of multimedia transmission in a resource-constrained sensor network environment places new challenges to routing. As an outcome, optimal energy and application-specific QoS aware routing for WMSNs has gained considerable research attention recently. In this paper, current state-of-the-art in energy-efficient routing techniques for WMSNs is surveyed together with the highlights of the performance issues of each strategy. We outline the design challenges of routing protocols for WMSNs followed by the limitations of current techniques designed for non-multimedia data transmission. Further, a classification of recent routing protocols for WMSNs and a discussion of possible future research trends are presented.
Analysis of the Complex Relationship between Nuclear Export and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Gene Regulation

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) contains signals for both nuclear import and nuclear export (NES). The purpose of the studies in this report was to determine the relationship between the nuclear export of the AHR and AHR-mediated gene regulation. Blockage of nuclear export in HepG2 cells with leptomycin B (LMB) resulted in increased levels of AHR-AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT) complex in the nucleus and correlative reductions in agonist-stimulated AHR degradation. However, LMB exposure inhibited agonist-mediated induction of numerous AHR-responsive reporter genes by 75 to 89% and also inhibited induction of endogenous CYP1A1. LMB did not transform the AHR to a ligand binding species or affect activation by TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin). Mutagenesis of leucines 66 and 71 of the putative AHR NES resulted in a protein with reduced function in dimerization to ARNT and binding to DNA, while alanine substitution at leucine 69 (AHRA69) resulted in an AHR that bound with ARNT and associated with DNA. AHRA69 protein injected directly into the nuclei of E36 cells remained nuclear following 6 h of agonist stimulation. In transient-transfection assays, AHRA69 accumulated within the nucleus was not degraded efficiently following agonist exposure. Finally, AHRA69 supported induction of AHR-responsive reporter genes in an agonist-dependent manner. These findings show that it is possible to generate an AHR protein defective in nuclear export that is functional in agonist-mediated gene induction. This implies that the negative effect of LMB on agonist-mediated gene induction is independent of the nuclear export of the AHR.
Properties and protective value of the secondary versus primary T helper type 1 response to airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice

Mice immunized against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection by curing them of a primary lung infection were compared with naive mice in terms of the ability to generate a Th1 cell immune response and to control growth of an airborne Mtb challenge infection. Immunized mice generated and expressed Th1 cell immunity several days sooner than naive mice, as demonstrated by an earlier increase in the synthesis in the lungs of mRNA for Th1 cytokines and for inducible nitric oxide synthase, an indicator of macrophage activation. This Th1 cytokine/mRNA synthesis was accompanied by an earlier accumulation of Mtb-specific Th1 cells in the lungs and the presence of CD4 T cells in lesions. An earlier generation of immunity was associated with an earlier inhibition of Mtb growth when infection was at a 1-log lower level. However, inhibition of Mtb growth in immunized, as well as in naive, mice was not followed by resolution of the infection, but by stabilization of the infection at a stationary level. The results indicate that there is no reason to believe that the secondary response to an Mtb infection is quantitatively or qualitatively superior to the primary response.
132. The effects of temporal and spatial distractors on working memory function in schizophrenia

ipsilaterally and olfactory measures can be administered non-invasively. Since olfactory pathways overlap with those implicated in schizophrenia (SZ), olfactory assessment has been suggested as a tool for examining the pathophysiology of the disorder. The Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) is commonly used as a measure of OID ability in SZ, with patients demonstrating reduced accuracy on the test. OID impairment in SZ is not secondary to olfactory epithelial pathology and is associated with hypoperfusion of frontolimbic brain regions. Thus, the deficit likely reflects an olfactory agnosia in this patient population. However, other factors may account for the UPSIT score reductions witnessed in these patients. For example, target scents differ in intensity, pleasantness, and familiarity. Further, the test is multiple-choice in format with items repeated throughout. Thus, olfactory acuity, odor discriminability, and executive function might each contribute to UPSIT errors in SZ. Preliminary findings suggest that 24 UPSIT items, of varying difficulty, discriminate SZ patients from normals. This study uses Rasch analysis to evaluate these items for accuracy of presentation and relevance of “wrong” answers (i.e. distracter analysis) among SZ patients. It speaks to the UPSIT’s capacity to accurately measure OID and, by extension, the integrity of the orbitofrontal cortex in SZ.
Interference analysis of filtered multitone modulation over time-varying fading channels

We consider in this paper filtered multitone (FMT) modulation over frequency-selective time-varying fading channels. Due to the phase and amplitude distortion introduced by the fading channel, not only is the orthogonality among different subcarriers destroyed, but also the perfect Nyquist sampling condition of the baseband matched filters is no longer valid. Consequently, interchannel as well as intersymbol interference will cause distortions to the transmitted signals. In this paper, the interference caused by the time-frequency dispersive channel is quantified by analyzing the demodulated signals at the receiver under several different fading channels conditions. An analysis of the average carrier to interference (C/I) ratio of the filtered multitone system is provided in order to demonstrate the underlying trade-off between spectral efficiency and system performance. For comparison purposes with other multicarrier communication systems (or modulation techniques), the C/I ratio of the conventional OFDM system is also provided and compared with that of the FMT system under the same channel conditions and spectral efficiency. Finally, numerical and simulation results are given that confirm the C/I ratio results obtained
Hidroacanthoma simplex—a review of 15 cases

SUMMARY Hidroacanthoma simplex was first described in 1956, but because of its rarity there is still confusion regarding the nomenclature of this and similar entities. The histological features of fifteen cases are presented and the literature is reviewed.
Comminuted C2 articular pillar fracture in a patient with multiple sclerosis and recurrent falls

The patient was a 60-year-old woman, with long-standing balance deficits due to multiple sclerosis, referred to physical therapy by her primary care physician secondary to increasing fall frequency. Following evaluation, the physical therapist escorted the patient to her primary care physician's office, where a computed tomography scan was immediately performed, revealing a comminuted C2 articular pillar fracture.
Applied Longitudinal Analysis, 2nd Edition, by Garrett M. Fitzmaurice, Nan M. Laird, and James H. Ware, John Wiley & Sons, 2011

Applied Longitudinal Analysis, based on the popular Harvard School of Public Health course of the same name, is a comprehensive and accessible treatment of modern statistical methods for analysis o...
Recovering Collectivity: Group Rights to Intellectual Property in Indigenous Communities

Addressing rampant violation of indigenous groups’ cultural property rights, this paper contends that a group rights model of ownership of intangible property will protect the works of indigenous peoples from an ever-encroaching dominant society. This article discusses the historical foundation of Western legal systems intellectual property doctrine, and outlines the limitations of the Copyright Act in the United States to address group property rights of indigenous peoples. Ultimately, this article posits that there must be a full recognition of communal property rights for indigenous peoples with in the intellectual property regime.
The Myosin Duty Ratio Tunes the Calcium Sensitivity and Cooperative Activation of the Thin Filament

In striated muscle, calcium binding to the thin filament (TF) regulatory complex activates actin–myosin ATPase activity, and actin–myosin kinetics in turn regulates TF activation. However, a quantitative description of the effects of actin–myosin kinetics on the calcium sensitivity (pCa50) and cooperativity (nH) of TF activation is lacking. With the assumption that TF structural transitions and TF–myosin binding transitions are inextricably coupled, we advanced the principles established by Kad et al. [Kad, N., et al. (2005) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102, 16990–16995] and Sich et al. [Sich, N. M., et al. (2011) J. Biol. Chem. 285, 39150–39159] to develop a simple model of TF regulation, which predicts that pCa50 varies linearly with duty ratio and that nH is maximal near physiological duty ratios. Using in vitro motility to determine the calcium sensitivity of TF sliding velocities, we measured pCa50 and nH at different myosin densities and in the presence of ATPase inhibitors. The observed effects of...
Conversion of Acetate-2-14 to 14CO2 and 14C-Fatty Acids in the Partially Hepatectomized Rat

SummaryPartially hepatectomized (67%) rats were injected with acetate-2-14C at various times postoperative and the expired 14CO2 and CO2 measured for 3 hr. Liver 14C-nonsaponifiable lipids, 14C-fatty acids, and total fatty acid content were determined. Plasma triglycerides, phospholipids, free fatty acids, and 14C-lipids were determined. The recovery of 14CO2 showed no significant difference from sham-operated controls except during the 72-75-hr postoperative period when an increased excretion was noted. The specific activity of the expired CO2 of the partially hepatectomized rat was increased as a result of a lower CO2 production. The lower CO2 production was attributed to an increased lipid oxidation by the partially hepatectomized rat. The appearance of 14C as plasma lipids was proportional to the mass of the regenerating liver. Recovery of 14C as liver fatty acids was comparable to shamoperated and nonoperated control values. The results suggest that, in addition to deposition via transport, the fatty...
A Subtyping System for Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae Based on Outer-Membrane Proteins

Outer-membrane proteins from 48 isolates of nontypable Haemophilus influenzae from adults and children were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the biotypes were determined. Each strain had two principal outer-membrane proteins in the 32,000-42,000 molecular-weight range. Eight subtypes were identified based on the differences in molecular weights of the two principal outer-membrane proteins. The lower molecular-weight protein of those two major proteins was heat modifiable. There was no definite relationship between subtype and biotype. Future studies on the pathogenesis and epidemiology of infections due to nontypable H. influenzae must take into account the differences in outer-membrane proteins among various strains. A subtyping system based on major outer-membrane proteins may provide a basis for such studies.
Changes in Distributive Institutions

Massive changes are taking place among firms in the distributive industries. These changes are as much qualitative as quantitative and defy objective appraisal on the basis of conventional data sources. The author identifies six major interrelated changes and comments about their managerial and research implications.
HCV prevalence in methadone maintenance: self-report versus serum test.

OBJECTIVES To assess hepatitis C virus (HCV) serostatus, risk factors, and desire for education about HCV among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients. METHODS We surveyed 200 MMT patients and reviewed charts for 276 patients. RESULTS The self-report HCV seroprevalence was 34%, adjusted to 52%. The chart review HCV seroprevalence was 70%. Most participants had risk factors for contracting or spreading HCV. CONCLUSIONS There is discrepancy in HCV seroprevalence by self-report versus serum test results among MMT patients. Some HCV+ MMT patients engage in high-risk behaviors for HCV transmission and may not disclose HCV+ status. MMT patients want HCV education.
Epidermolysis bullosa of the Weber-Cockayne type with macular amyloidosis.

Various forms of epidermolysis bullosa have been rarely associated with amyloidosis. A case is presented of a child with epidermolysis bullosa of the Weber- Cockayne type and macular amyloidosis. A possible mechanism for both diseases may involve basal cell lysosomal activation.
On Uchimura's connection between partitions and the number of divisors

A combinatorial proof is given for Uchimura’s identity As a corollary to this proof we derive a formula for the sum of the nth powers of the divisors of m in terms of partitions of m.
Spatial and rotational quality assurance of 6DOF patient tracking systems.

Purpose: External tracking systems used for patient positioning and motion monitoring during radiotherapy are now capable of detecting both translations and rotations. In this work, the authors develop a novel technique to evaluate the 6 degree of freedom 6(DOF) (translations and rotations) performance of external motion tracking systems. The authors apply this methodology to an infrared marker tracking system and two 3D optical surface mapping systems in a common tumor 6DOF workspace. Methods: An in-house designed and built 6DOF parallel kinematics robotic motion phantom was used to perform motions with sub-millimeter and subdegree accuracy in a 6DOF workspace. An infrared marker tracking system was first used to validate a calibration algorithm which associates the motion phantom coordinate frame to the camera frame. The 6DOF positions of the mobile robotic system in this space were then tracked and recorded independently by an optical surface tracking system after a cranial phantom was rigidly fixed to the moveable platform of the robotic stage. The calibration methodology was first employed, followed by a comprehensive 6DOF trajectory evaluation, which spanned a full range of positions and orientations in a 20 × 20 × 16 mm and 5° × 5° × 5° workspace. The intended input motions were compared to the calibrated 6DOF measured points. Results: The technique found the accuracy of the infrared (IR) marker tracking system to have maximal root-mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.18, 0.25, 0.07 mm, 0.05°, 0.05°, and 0.09° in left–right (LR), superior–inferior (SI), anterior–posterior (AP), pitch, roll, and yaw, respectively, comparing the intended 6DOF position and the measured position by the IR camera. Similarly, the 6DOF RSME discrepancy for the HD optical surface tracker yielded maximal values of 0.46, 0.60, 0.54 mm, 0.06°, 0.11°, and 0.08° in LR, SI, AP, pitch, roll, and yaw, respectively, over the same 6DOF evaluative workspace. An earlier generation 3D optical surface tracking unit was observed to have worse tracking capabilities than both the IR camera unit and the newer 3D surface tracking system with maximal RMSE of 0.69, 0.74, 0.47 mm, 0.28°, 0.19°, and 0.18°, in LR, SI, AP, pitch, roll, and yaw, respectively, in the same 6DOF evaluation space. Conclusions: The proposed technique was found to be effective at evaluating the performance of 6DOF patient tracking systems. All observed optical tracking systems were found to exhibit tracking capabilities at the sub-millimeter and subdegree level within a 6DOF workspace.
Relation analysis between plant protection and agricultural sustainable development

This paper analyzes relation between plant protection and agricultural sustainable development,considers that their relationship are complement each other and dialectical unity,reinforce that plant protection is fundamental premise of realizing agricultural sustainable development,agricultural sustainable development is propitious to promote protection of plant resources.Finally,the article raises advices of pushing forward agricultural sustainable development that how to reinforce plant protection in connection with their dialectical relationship.
Simultaneous Determination of Twelve Kinds of Food Preservatives in Cold Drink by Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography

Objective To establish a simultaneous test method for the determination of twelve kinds of food preservatives in cold drink by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC). Methods After diluting,the samples were tested by UPLC with a diode array detector and then separated by WATERS ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column(particle size: 1.7μm,length multiply diameter of column: 2.1 mm ×50mm).Phosphate buffer(pH=5.0) and acetonitrile were used as the mobile phase.Gradient elution analysis was conducted.The flow rate was 0.2 ml/min.The detective wavelength was 230 nm. Results Twelve kinds of sweeteners could be well separated within 16 min.The linear range was 0.10～50.00 mg/L.The minimum detectable concentration was 0.5 mg/kg.The average recovery rate was 91.6%～103.6%.RSD was below 3%. Conclusions This method is simple and quick,and with high sensitivity.It is an effective way to determine twelve kinds of food preservatives in cold drink simultaneously.
Automated platform for recording high quality short Scientific Videos

Videos are becoming the preferred form of online content. A rich multimedia format can help scientists disseminate their work and better engage online audiences. However, current recording platforms to produce high quality videos are cost and resource intensive. Here, we present an automated recording platform that balances cost, mobility, and quality. The Scientific Video Lab launched the automated registration, video recording, and video peer-review platform at the 2016 American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Diego. Selected oral presenters were invited to use the automated video recording platform with over 50 recordings completed. Based in the survey result, 98% of the respondents said the automated recording booth is simple or very simple to use, while 95% said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience.
Supply Side Incidence of Commodity Taxes

I investigate the supply side incidence of commodity taxes. My empirical analysis employs a unique panel dataset of nearly 35,000 retail establishments that directly captures pricing behavior (markup) and profits generated from cigarette sales. Higher cigarette taxes drive down profits of convenience stores but not of grocery, drug, and liquor stores. Because a higher proportion of convenience stores are small businesses, my findings suggest that cigarette taxes are regressive on the supply side of the retail market.
Stress-sensing thermoset polymer networks via grafted cinnamoyl/cyclobutane mechanophore units in epoxy

The incorporation of mechanophores into networked thermoset polymers, such as epoxy, is notably missing from the mechanochemistry literature, which focuses more on traditional thermoplastic and elastomeric polymers. In this work, we develop novel approaches for direct covalent grafting of photoactive mechanophore units into an epoxy matrix (a two-part network polymer), to create a self-sensing thermoset network nanocomposite, linked by both epoxide and mechanophore bonds. Two routes of grafting mechanophore units into an epoxy system to form a self-sensing nanocomposite were explored, including grafting of the mechanophore precursor molecule cinnamamide to the epoxy resin, with subsequent hardener addition and ultraviolet curing to form the mechanically sensitive cyclobutane rings, and the separate grafting of the solution-made mechanophore di-cinnamamide to the epoxy resin to allow for maximum cyclobutane concentration in the formed nanocomposites. Under a compressive force, the cyclobutane rings in the mechanophore units break, increasing the overall fluorescence, which can then be correlated with the applied stress. The goals of this work included detecting early damage by fluorescence spectroscopy, environmental robustness, and retention of the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite. Overall, there was successful formation of self-sensing nanocomposites and achievement of the early damage detection functionality. This systematic work additionally aims to provide further fundamental understanding of mechanochemistry as a whole.
Breeding systems, mating systems, and genomics of gender determination in angiosperm trees.

Angiosperm trees and non-woody plants differ in the prevalence of different genetic transmission systems with the potential to result in categorical differences in adaptive capacity and genomic structure. Decades of careful investigations have revealed that although most tree species are hermaphroditic (perfect flowers), dioecy (unisexual individuals) is more common than throughout the angiosperms, and self-fertilization is exceedingly rare. These patterns indicate that the benefits of outcrossing are strong drivers of the evolution of angiosperm trees. Moreover, patterns of the evolution of genetic sex determination regions in dioecious trees are highly dynamic, including differences between closely related species and genera in the genetic characteristics and location of sex determination regions and which sex is heterogametic (XY vs. ZW). This short review emphasizes that investigations of factors influencing genetic transmission are likely to provide answers to fundamental questions regarding genomic and phenotypic evolution in angiosperm trees.
Robust Planning Decision Model for an Integrated Water System

AbstractA critical issue faced by the water industry is to efficiently manage limited water supplies to satisfy water demand from different sections (e.g., industrial, agricultural, energy and resi...
Analysis of Ephemeral Flow in Aridlands

An important parameter is found to be the flow duration, which describes the opportunity for natural recharge. Arid-land hydrology is, in effect, characterized by the absence of base flow, special precipitation patterns, and scarcity of data. A stochastic model of flow duration is developed for a stream near Tucson, AZ, using a regional model of rainfall. The number of flow events per summer seems to follow a Poisson distribution and that in winter, a geometric distribution, whereas the flow duration per event seems to follow a negative binomial distribution in both cases. Time series estimates of monthly streamflow of the Rillito Creek, AZ, are given to illustrate the correlation between various months and the difficulty of interpreting such time-lumped data.
An analytical framework to model uncertainty in urban network dynamics using Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams

Abstract: Recent studies have proposed using well-defined relationships between network productivity and accumulation—otherwise known as Network or Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams (MFDs)—to model the dynamics of large-scale urban traffic networks. This provides a computationally efficient way to study these complex systems and facilitates the design and control of novel large-scale traffic management strategies. However, empirical and simulation evidence suggests that MFDs are rarely well-defined. Instead, they exhibit large amounts of scatter and uncertainty, which suggests a range of network productivities may be observed for any given accumulation. This paper examines the impact of this MFD uncertainty and uncertainty in aggregate-level vehicle demands (i.e., vehicle exit and entry rates) on large-scale network behavior. It is shown that these uncertainties can cause fundamentally different aggregate network behaviors than would be expected if they were ignored, including unexpected congestion or gridlock. An analytically derived Markov Chain framework is proposed that can be used to model aggregate network dynamics while explicitly accounting for these types of uncertainties, which are very likely to arise on realistic urban networks. Comparison between the analytical predictions and numerical simulations suggest that the Markov Chain framework can accurately predict traffic dynamics under uncertainty for both single- and multi-region networks. Since this framework relies on the careful discretization of both time and accumulation within individual regions within a network, guidance is also provided on how to best select these discretization parameters for the most accurate results.
Urodynamic Studies: Types and Indications

Urodynamics (UDS) consist of a number of studies, which individually or collectively provide information about the function of the lower urinary tract. It is critical to understand how UDS can be practically used in the evaluation of patients with specific symptoms or conditions. Furthermore it is important to understand terminology, methods, and means of interpretation of the varied tests that comprise these studies. This chapter provides a brief overview of urodynamic studies including post void residual, uroflowmetry, pelvic floor electromyography, cystometry pressure-flow UDS, urethral pressure profilometry, and videourodynamics. We then dive into the indications for various aspects of the UDS studies focusing on how these tests are used in aspects of urinary incontinence, neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, lower urinary tract symptoms, and other urologic conditions.
Metal-Insulator Transition in Thin Film Vanadium Dioxide

Recent advances in thin film growth of transition metal oxides coupled with the discovery of fascinating phenomena such as superconductivity and colossal magneto-resistance has caused an enormous interest in correlated electron effects from technological and fundamental science perspectives. Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is one of the most studied correlated electron systems that exhibits a dramatic metal–insulator transition (MIT) near room temperature. The study of this unique material offers prospects of developing a novel kind of electronics with advanced functionality and advancing fundamental science of correlated electron effects. A review of the properties of VO2 is given with special attention to the MIT. Growth conditions for synthesis of high quality VO2 are described, the crystal structure of the material is elucidated, and the relationships between electrical parameters and material morphology are defined. X-ray absorption and photoemission experiments revealed the changes in the energy band structure upon the crossing of the MIT. The analysis of near-Fermi level density of states, the correlation between the band structure and electron transport parameters, and the dispersion of the infrared reflectance of VO2 thin films help understanding the physics behind the MIT. Hall effect experiments provide the data on the carrier density and electron mobility across the MIT – important parameters in the Mott theory of MIT. VO2 devices and possible applications in electronics are discussed.
Oxidative stress in the choroid plexus contributes to blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier disruption during sepsis development

Abstract Background The choroid plexus (CP), main component of blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), protects the brain from peripheral inflammation similar to the blood–brain barrier. Thus, CP is considered a critical target site of oxidative damage, which in sepsis oxidative stress is likely to be a major step in the development of brain damage. Functional alterations in CP may be associated with sepsis-induced brain injury. However, there is no description on the mechanisms associated with BCSFB disruption during sepsis development. Materials and methods To test this hypothesis, we examined time-dependent oxidative stress markers in CP and permeability of BCSFB in rats submitted to polymicrobial sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham surgery (control). We assessed albumin cerebrospinal fluid/plasma concentration quotient (Qalb), an index of BCSFB dysfunction and in CP samples, the oxidative damage in lipids, proteins, antioxidant enzymes and nitrite/nitrate (N/N) concentration in 12, 24 and 48 h after CLP. Results The increase of BCSFB permeability is time-related to the increase of N/N concentration, oxidative damage to lipid and proteins, and decrease of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase activity at 12 h in the CP; and decrease of catalase activity in 12 and 24 h. Conclusions In experimental sepsis the BCSFB dysfunction occurs and oxidative stress seems to be a major step in this dysfunction.
Utilizing a novel lattice orientation based stress characterization method to study stress fields of shear bands

Abstract A new framework for evaluating stress fields from distributions of crystallographic orientation is presented. The framework employs the kinematics of crystal plasticity and field dislocation mechanics to connect measured lattice orientation, crystallographic slip, and geometrically necessary dislocations to recover the elastic deformation field present, and subsequently determine the stress using a finite-element scheme. As a demonstration of the framework’s utility, stress fields generated by the formation of shear bands in a copper single crystal are studied, including how these bands’ stress fields drive secondary slip. The results indicate that small amounts of secondary slip shielded stresses produced by the shear bands and that the bands were oriented in a low-energy configuration, stabilizing their structure.
Colloidal quantum dots for thermal infrared sensing and imaging

Colloidal quantum dots provide a powerful materials platform to engineer optoelectronics devices, opening up new opportunities in the thermal infrared spectral regions where no other solution-processed material options exist. This mini-review collates recent research reports that push the technological envelope of colloidal quantum dot-based photodetectors toward mid- and long-wavelength infrared. We survey the synthesis and characterization of various thermal infrared colloidal quantum dots reported to date, discuss the basic theory of device operation, review the fabrication and measurement of photodetectors, and conclude with the future prospect of this emerging technology.
What Makes Customers Satisfied with the Local Government Agency: A Case Study in Rural Michigan

The purpose of this paper is to report on how a local government agency in rural Michigan, USA, tried to understand residents’ perceptions of the community features, facilities, and services available to them, in order to better leverage customer value to benefit its current and potential customers and increase customer satisfaction with the city as a whole. A total of 705 questionnaires were completed, collected, and analyzed using SPSS. The results suggested that although customers and residents were satisfied with most of the services currently provided, they had concerns about several amenities made available by the provider. In addition, bivariate correlation analysis showed that 13 variables were significantly related to overall satisfaction with the local authority. These findings have important implications for research and practice. Recommendations are to the local authority are offered for remaining relevant to customers in the provision of services. Keywords: Customer satisfaction, resident satisfaction, local government, small town development, rural local government ---------------------------------------------- Etude de cas : Ce qui rend les clients satisfaits de l’organisme gouvernemental local: une etude de cas dans le Michigan rural Resume Le but de cet article est de rendre compte de la maniere dont un organisme gouvernementale local du Michigan rural, aux Etats-Unis, a tente de comprendre la perception qu'ont les residents des caracteristiques, des installations et des services communautaires a leur disposition, afin de mieux tirer parti de la valeur client au profit de ses clients actuels et potentiels ainsi que d’augmenter la satisfaction des clients avec la ville dans son ensemble. Au total, 705 questionnaires ont ete remplis, collectes et analyses a l'aide de SPSS. Les resultats suggerent que meme si les clients et les residents etaient satisfaits de la plupart des services actuellement fournis, ils avaient des inquietudes au sujet de plusieurs equipements mis a disposition par le fournisseur. De plus, une analyse de correlation bivariee a montre que 13 variables etaient significativement liees a la satisfaction globale a l'egard de l'autorite locale. Ces resultats ont des implications importantes pour la recherche et la pratique. Des recommandations sont adressees aux autorites locales pour que la prestation de services aux clients demeure pertinente. Mots-cles: Satisfaction des clients, satisfaction des residents, gouvernement local, developpement de petites villes, gouvernement local rural
SEROLOGICAL STUDIES OF ENZYMATICALLY FRAGMENTED IgG GLOBULINS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses serological studies of enzymatically fragmented IgG globulins. A study was undertaken to demonstrate that the Fab agglutinators will restore to the Fab fragment of a complement binding hemagglutinating antibody, the ability to bring about immune hemolysis. A complement binding rabbit anti-human erythrocyte antibody hydrolyzed with papain and rabbit papain agglutinators were used for this study because it was difficult to obtain a comparable human system. The chapter shows the result of this study. The immune rabbit serum showed both IgG and IgM anti-erythrocyte antibodies. However, only the IgM antibody caused hemolysis of the erythrocytes. Two normal rabbit sera were selected, one with a very high titer of papain agglutinators and one with very little papain agglutinator activity. The IgG fraction of the immune rabbit serum was hydrolyzed with papain and it was demonstrated that the Fab fragments readily coated the human red blood cells. The Fab-coated cells were hemolyzed in the presence of IgM papain agglutinators but not in the presence of the IgG agglutinator although the IgG agglutinator clumped the coated cells. There was no hemolysis when the whole serum of a non-agglutinator rabbit was substituted for the IgM agglutinator.
Ultra-Flexible and Durable Textile Capacitors with Piezoelectric PVDF Dielectrics for Wearables

We present on the design and use of wearable capacitive patches with piezoelectric dielectrics for tracking motion, impact, posture, acoustic feedback and general biomedical health. The capacitive elements are based on ultra-flexible and durable textile electrodes and silicone dielectrics augmented with polyvinylidene fluoride - trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) fillers up to 30% w/v ratio. The resulting patches, deployed on appropriate locations and geometries, can capture critical information on the type, strength and duration between specific episodes of movements in the limbs as well as impact and acoustic response from the torso. This is possible due to the piezoelectric response ($d _{33} =24 \pm 1$ pC/N) induced by the PVDF-TrFE/Silicone composite dielectric layer. Moreover, the periphery of the patch allows for additional compact commercial sensors to be integrated along with a bluetooth-capable micro-controller platform. Consequently, the proposed piezoelectric capacitive patches with integrated arrays of sensors are ideally suited to pursue compact, cost-effective, power-efficient solutions in the emerging era of sensor fusion for complex performance monitoring, realistic worker training and for high-risk patients.
Integrated functional neuronal network analysis of 3D silk-collagen scaffold-based mouse cortical culture.

Summary Bioengineered 3D tunable neuronal constructs are a versatile platform for studying neuronal network functions, offering numerous advantages over existing technologies and providing for the discovery of new biological insights. Functional neural networks can be evaluated using calcium imaging and quantitatively described using network science. This protocol includes instructions for fabricating protein-based composite scaffolds, 3D in vitro culture of embryonic mouse cortical neurons, virally induced expression of GCaMP6f, wide-field calcium imaging, and computational analysis with open-source software and custom MATLAB code. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Dingle et al. (2020) .
Simultaneous thickness and thermal conductivity measurements of thinned silicon from 100 nm to 17 μm

Studies of size effects on thermal conductivity typically necessitate the fabrication of a comprehensive film thickness series. In this Letter, we demonstrate how material fabricated in a wedged geometry can enable similar, yet higher-throughput measurements to accelerate experimental analysis. Frequency domain thermoreflectance (FDTR) is used to simultaneously determine the thermal conductivity and thickness of a wedged silicon film for thicknesses between 100 nm and 17 μm by considering these features as fitting parameters in a thermal model. FDTR-deduced thicknesses are compared to values obtained from cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy, and corresponding thermal conductivity measurements are compared against several thickness-dependent analytical models based upon solutions to the Boltzmann transport equation. Our results demonstrate how the insight gained from a series of thin films can be obtained via fabrication of a single sample.
Dual-Slope Optical Measurements of Cerebral Blood Flow and Autoregulation During Hypercapnia

We present a new dual-slope (DS) method for frequency-domain NIRS measurements of cerebral blood flow and autoregulation. Initial human measurements show the differential sensitivity of DS intensity and DS phase to cerebral hemodynamics during hypercapnia.
Minimum-correction second-moment matching: theory, algorithms and applications

We address the problem of finding the closest matrix $$\tilde{\varvec{U}}$$ to a given $$\varvec{U}$$ under the constraint that a prescribed second-moment matrix $$\tilde{\varvec{P}}$$ must be matched, i.e. $$\tilde{\varvec{U}}^{\mathrm {T}}\tilde{\varvec{U}}=\tilde{\varvec{P}}$$ . We obtain a closed-form formula for the unique global optimizer $$\tilde{\varvec{U}}$$ for the full-rank case, that is related to $$\varvec{U}$$ by an SPD (symmetric positive definite) linear transform. This result is generalized to rank-deficient cases as well as to infinite dimensions. We highlight the geometric intuition behind the theory and study the problem’s rich connections to minimum congruence transform, generalized polar decomposition, optimal transport, and rank-deficient data assimilation. In the special case of $$\tilde{\varvec{P}}=\varvec{I}$$ , minimum-correction second-moment matching reduces to the well-studied optimal orthonormalization problem. We investigate the general strategies for numerically computing the optimizer and analyze existing polar decomposition and matrix square root algorithms. We modify and stabilize two Newton iterations previously deemed unstable for computing the matrix square root, such that they can now be used to efficiently compute both the orthogonal polar factor and the SPD square root. We then verify the higher performance of the various new algorithms using benchmark cases with randomly generated matrices. Lastly, we complete two applications for the stochastic Lorenz-96 dynamical system in a chaotic regime. In reduced subspace tracking using dynamically orthogonal equations, we maintain the numerical orthonormality and continuity of time-varying base vectors. In ensemble square root filtering for data assimilation, the prior samples are transformed into posterior ones by matching the covariance given by the Kalman update while also minimizing the corrections to the prior samples.
Faculty Engagement with Learning Analytics: Advancing a Student Success Culture in Higher Education

Universities across the globe are quickly moving toward the use of learning analytical tools for the improvement of student performance and success. In this chapter we discuss how faculty engagement with learning analytics is critical to its appropriate use within departments and academic programmes. Faculty care deeply about their students and are the most knowledgeable about the courses they teach and the curricula of their departments. Learning analytics provides a new window on student behaviours and the choices students make on their pathway toward graduation. Often the data analysis dispels anecdotal myths that faculty have been telling each other for years about their students. Such awareness provides an opportunity for faculty to rethink what they understand about their students, their teaching practices and their curricula. Once faculty have gained these new insights, they have the obligation to create course interventions or curriculum changes that can enhance student performance and help all students become more successful. The central focus of this chapter is our Learning Analytics Fellows Programme, and how we are using it to establish a student success culture at our institution. We discuss the data infrastructure, staffing requirements and administrative support necessary to implement such a programme and some early results from the initiative.
Organizational Benefits of Onboarding Contingent Workers: an Anchoring Model Approach

Organizations rarely invest in contingent employees, at least relative to the human resources efforts commonly afforded to permanent workers — but should they? Traditional social exchange theory suggests that motivation and loyalty should be difficult to cultivate in short-term, fixed-term relationships like contingent employment. However, a novel social exchange model (i.e., the anchoring model) suggests that socioemotional exchange relationships can develop quickly in response to highly salient “anchoring events.” We position employee onboarding as a positive anchoring event that can quickly and durably drive contingent workers’ socioemotional exchange in the form of work engagement, self-reported task performance, and intent to return to the employing organization. Specifically, we develop and test a temporally grounded process model based on the three proposed stages of the anchoring model. Our model was supported across two studies, an initial cross-sectional evaluation of the basic model within a heterogenous sample of contingent workers (n = 121), followed by a three-wave evaluation of the more detailed process model among an organizational sample of seasonal workers (n = 378). Findings provide evidence that the anchoring model, including the expanded framework developed here, explains contingent workers’ attitudinal and behavioral responses to human resources initiatives in a way that traditional organizational theories have not fully achieved. Finally, recommendations for effectively managing contingent workers, through onboarding as well as through other efforts such as training and development, are also discussed.