cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research on Unproctored Internet Testing

BEN-ROY DORoosevelt UniversityThis article will focus on two areas ofresearch:measurementequivalenceofproc-tored and unproctored administration ofcognitive measures and the effect of cheat-ing through the use of item preknowledgeand two-step testing.Score Equivalence andMeasurement EquivalencePrior research on the score equivalence ofInternettestingacrossproctoredandunproc-toredsettingsgivesussomewhatinconsistentresults.Onegroupofresearchersfoundcom-parable results across proctored and unproc-toredconditions. Oswald, Carr, and Schmidt(2001) found no differences in internal struc-ture or mean test scores for cognitive ability,although they found differences for noncog-nitive measures. Other researchers foundhigher mean scores in unproctored than inproctored conditions (e.g., Beaty, Fallon,Shepherd, & Barrett, 2002; Do, Shepherd, &Drasgow, 2005).Yet, other researchers found that althoughthere was signiﬁcant score difference, theproctored condition, not the unproctoredcondition, has better scores. For instance,Shepherd, Do, and Drasgow (2003) foundthat proctored participants scored higher onthe working with information scale thanunproctored participants, with a small effectsize. In another study using two-step testingwhere qualified unproctored participantswereinvitedtoparticipateinaproctoredcon-firmation test, Nye, Do, Drasgow, and Fine(2008) found that participants in the proc-tored condition scored higher than those inthe unproctored condition, with small tomoderate effect sizes.How do we reconcile the inconsistencyamong those three groups of results? Inunproctored Internet tests (UITs), althoughjob applicants may cheat with help froma smart friend or experienced worker toreceive higher test scores, they may also besubject to distractions in a nonstandardizedenvironment and thus obtain lower testscores. These factors could be the reasonweareseeinginconsistentresultsfromthosethree groups of studies.To ensure test results from UITare compa-rabletoproctoredcounterparts,itisimportantto look beyond score equivalence and focusonthepsychometricproperties ofthetestanditemsacrosstestadministrationmodes.Absentrandom assignment of people to conditions,observed mean score differences may reﬂectactual sample differences of the groups, asopposed to measurement nonequivalence orthe presence of some effect across groups. Inaddition, it is important to ensure that testingconditions exhibit no bias, such that a test oritem does not unfairly favor one group ofexamineesoveranother.Measurementequiv-alence is one way to address these issues.
Demographic Observations of Mountain Nyala Tragelaphus Buxtoni in aControlled Hunting Area, Ethiopia

The highlands of Ethiopia are inhabited by the culturally and economically significant mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni, an endemic spiral horned antelope. The natural range of this species has become highly fragmented with increasing anthropogenic pressures; driving land conversion in areas previously considered critical mountain nyala habitat. Therefore, baseline demographic data on this species throughout its existing range are needed. Previous studies on mountain nyala demographics have primarily focused on a confined portion of its known range where trophy hunting is not practiced. Our objectives were to estimate group size, proportion of females, age class proportions, and calf and juvenile productivity for a sub-population of mountain nyala where trophy hunting is permitted and compare our results to recent and historical observations. We collected four years of demographic data using direct point counts in a controlled hunting area and summarized the data using the R statistical software. Our results show that estimated proportion of females (0.63; 0.56-0.69) was similar to recent studies of non-hunted populations, but group size (3.74; 3.34-4.13), juvenile productivity (0.47; 0.35-0.62) and age class proportions (calves: 0.17 juveniles: 0.19 adults: 0.64) were considerably different. Our results are more similar to historical accounts than those in a national park. We demonstrate that the mountain nyala's population structure and health varies across its range and may relate to the different management strategies and policies. We recommend using similar methods for remaining under surveyed sub-populations of mountain nyala to inform conservation actions at the landscape scale.
Chronic monoacylglycerol lipase blockade causes functional antagonism of the endocannabinoid system

Prolonged exposure to drugs of abuse, such as cannabinoids and opioids, leads to pharmacological tolerance and receptor desensitization in the nervous system. We found that a similar form of functional antagonism was produced by sustained inactivation of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), the principal degradative enzyme for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol. After repeated administration, the MAGL inhibitor JZL184 lost its analgesic activity and produced cross-tolerance to cannabinoid receptor (CB1) agonists in mice, effects that were phenocopied by genetic disruption of Mgll (encoding MAGL). Chronic MAGL blockade also caused physical dependence, impaired endocannabinoid-dependent synaptic plasticity and desensitized brain CB1 receptors. These data contrast with blockade of fatty acid amide hydrolase, an enzyme that degrades the other major endocannabinoid anandamide, which produced sustained analgesia without impairing CB1 receptors. Thus, individual endocannabinoids generate distinct analgesic profiles that are either sustained or transitory and associated with agonism and functional antagonism of the brain cannabinoid system, respectively.
Open sesame: The endothelin (B) receptor mediates the tumor endothelial barrier to T-cell homing

The success of immune therapy partly depends on the ability of effector cells to infiltrate tumors. The mechanisms governing homing of effector cells into tumors remain poorly understood. In particular, the role of tumor endothelium in tumor immunotherapy has not been investigated to date. Because of the clear dichotomy between presence or absence of intraepithelial TIL, we hypothesized that ovarian cancer is a suitable model to investigate the role of tumor endothelium in regulating T cell homing. Transcriptional profiling of microdissected tumor endothelial cells from human ovarian cancers revealed the molecular signature of endothelium associated with the absence of intraepithelial tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). The endothelin B receptor (ETBR) was associated with absence of TIL and short survival. ETBR blockade by BQ-788 increased T cell adhesion to human endothelium, an effect countered by ICAM-1 blockade or NO donors in vitro . In the mouse, ETBR neutralization by BQ-788 enabled tumor response to immune therapy in vivo , including vaccine therapy and adoptive lymphocyte therapy. This was mediated by increased homing of effector T cells to tumors, without changes in systemic antitumor immune response, and was attenuated by ICAM-1 blockade. These findings provide a novel molecular mechanism that can be pharmacologically manipulated to enhance the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy in humans. Because ETBR inhibitors are available for immediate clinical testing, our findings provide a new immediate therapeutic opportunity for cancer combinatorial therapy. This abstract was published in Cancer Immunity , a [Cancer Research Institute][1] journal that ceased publication in 2013 and is now provided online in association with Cancer Immunology Research . [1]: http://cancerresearch.org/
Area-efficient and power-efficient binary to BCD converters

This paper presents four novel circuits for 7-bit Binary to BCD conversion. The first and second designs are modification of 3-3-1[1] algorithm with novel building blocks, which makes it area and delay efficient in comparison with previous design. The third circuit is the novel implementation of the shift-add algorithm that makes this design area efficient in compare with existing architectures. The final architecture presented is the implementation of the novel algorithm, which we called Range Detection Algorithm in this paper. This Range Detection circuit is power efficient in comparison with existing architectures. Simulation results specify that these Shift-add and Range Detection designs are area-efficient and power-efficient as there is a significant decrease in area, power, and power-area product.
Using Buckling-Restrained Braces on Long-Span Bridges. II: Feasibility and Development of a Near-Fault Loading Protocol

Buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) are reliable energy-dissipating axial members that recently became popular in the seismic design of buildings. Using the Vincent Thomas Bridge (VTB) as a case study, this research investigates the feasibility of using BRBs for seismic response mitigation of long-span bridges, especially those located adjacent to seismic faults. A satisfactory set of BRBs was identified through a parametric study using a finite-element model of the bridge. Simulated deformational demands on the BRB elements included loading features that are not reflected in current BRB design and testing provisions. Therefore, two new BRB loading protocols were developed for physical testing and prequalification. The simulated seismic response of the bridge was improved by using BRB parameters consistent with those that are commercially available. Therefore, the use of existing BRB technology was deemed feasible as a relatively maintenance-free seismic response mitigation system for long-span bridges near seismic faults. A companion paper discusses a testing program of full-scale BRBs subjected to these new protocols along with the implications for seismic-capacity-based design and testing procedures.
Seeded Solid-Phase Epitaxy of Atomic Layer Deposited Aluminum Oxide

We report the intentional seeding and crystallization of atomic layer deposited (ALD) aluminum oxide thin films. By decorating amorphous films with sapphire seeds and annealing to temperatures in the range of 950–1050 °C, lateral crystallization within the film plane resulted in monocrystalline regions up to several micrometers in width. Electron backscatter diffraction measurements indicated that the crystallized regions were α-Al2O3. The shape of the crystallized domains was correlated with crystal orientation, reflecting the anisotropic growth rates of α-Al2O3, in which the basal plane growth directions were found to have the largest growth rates. Lateral growth rates were not constant and decayed to near zero after 8 and 40 h for samples annealed at 950 and 1050 °C, respectively, which was attributed to solid-state reaction with the SiO2 substrate or other changes in the amorphous regions. We also demonstrate that a large fraction of the film area can be crystallized using a dense array of seed crysta...
Ionotropic Crustacean Olfactory Receptors

The nature of the olfactory receptor in crustaceans, a major group of arthropods, has remained elusive. We report that spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, express ionotropic receptors (IRs), the insect chemosensory variants of ionotropic glutamate receptors. Unlike insects IRs, which are expressed in a specific subset of olfactory cells, two lobster IR subunits are expressed in most, if not all, lobster olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), as confirmed by antibody labeling and in situ hybridization. Ligand-specific ORN responses visualized by calcium imaging are consistent with a restricted expression pattern found for other potential subunits, suggesting that cell-specific expression of uncommon IR subunits determines the ligand sensitivity of individual cells. IRs are the only type of olfactory receptor that we have detected in spiny lobster olfactory tissue, suggesting that they likely mediate olfactory signaling. Given long-standing evidence for G protein-mediated signaling in activation of lobster ORNs, this finding raises the interesting specter that IRs act in concert with second messenger-mediated signaling.
Characterisation of Low Energy Boron Implantation and Fast Ramp-Up Rapid Thermal Annealing

The effects of ramp-up rate during rapid thermal processing of ultra-shallow boron implants have been investigated. Ramp-up rates were varied between 25 °C and 200 °C for two types of anneals: soak anneals and spike anneals. It was found that the ramp-up rate had very little influence on junction depth or electrical activation for both types of anneals. Spike anneals did produce shallower profiles than soak anneal for a comparable electrical activation and may be an option for future processes.
Exponential distance dependence of photoinitiated stepwise electron transfer in donor-bridge-acceptor molecules: implications for wirelike behavior.

Donor–bridge–acceptor (D–B–A) systems in which a 3,5-dimethyl-4-(9-anthracenyl)julolidine (DMJ-An) chromophore and a naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NI) acceptor are linked by oligomeric 2,7-fluorenone (FNn) bridges (n = 1–3) have been synthesized. Selective photoexcitation of DMJ-An quantitatively produces DMJ+•-An–•, and An–• acts as a high-potential electron donor. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in the visible and mid-IR regions showed that electron transfer occurs quantitatively in the sequence: DMJ+•-An–•–FNn–NI → DMJ+•-An–FNn–•–NI → DMJ+•-An–FNn–NI–•. The charge-shift reaction from An–• to NI–• exhibits an exponential distance dependence in the nonpolar solvent toluene with an attenuation factor (β) of 0.34 A–1, which would normally be attributed to electron tunneling by the superexchange mechanism. However, the FNn–• radical anion was directly observed spectroscopically as an intermediate in the charge-separation mechanism, thereby demonstrating conclusively that the overall ...
Optimization principles and methods for membrane separation technology based on the "solution structure" feature of Chinese herbal active small molecule groups

Thousands years of experiences reveal that the water extract is the safest and effective carrier for traditional Chinese medicine.Membrane technology is a powerful tool for the cluster-screening of the small molecules from Chinese herbal.However,the lack of microscopic understanding of the water extracts of traditional Chinese medicine restricted the advantages of membrane technology.In this study,the key technologies to address these issues: the "solution structure" of traditional Chinese medicine chemical composition(ie: the microstructure and macroscopic properties of the solvent material in solution) and the pore steric hindrance,a variety of index components of Huanglianjiedutang(HLJDT) as a model drug,by a) atomic force microscopy,dynamic laser light scattering,high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance of molecular biophysics and other means of compound Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients of the "solution structure" characteristics;b) elaborating the mechanism of competitive filtration behavior by learning principles of solvent effects arising from the ultrafiltration membrane mass transfer process;c) exploring the correlation betwwen "solution structure" of the chemical medicine system and the membrane material micro-structure by using the computer technology.The purpose of this study is: a) deepening overall concept-based modern research of Chinese herbal compound by integrating of a multidisciplinary approach;b) establishing a specific membrane separation technology which can obtain small molecule groups from traditional Chinese medicine;c) providing a theoretical basis for new Chinese medicine;d) solving the key problems of Chinese herbal compound preparation and promoting the development of membrane science and technology.
Seven Decades of “Advances”

The field of carbohydrate science, as documented in the 70 volumes of Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry (and Biochemistry) during the years 1944 through 2014, is surveyed. Subject areas detailed in individual volumes cover a broad range to include fundamental structural studies, synthesis, reactivity, mechanisms, analytical methodology, enzymology, biological and medicinal applications, food technology, and industrial and commercial aspects. The contributions of many prominent research leaders in the carbohydrate field are recorded in biographical memoirs. Stages in the development of internationally accepted systems for naming carbohydrate structures and for their graphical depiction are noted, and indexing questions for retrieval of data are addressed.
Sex Hormones and Cognitive Aging

Sex steroid hormones influence cognition and affect at many points in life. Steroid hormones have organizational effects during the prenatal and neonatal periods. They have maturational effects during various stages of development, including activational effects at puberty, variation during the menstrual cycle and across seasons, and possibly effects at menopause and beyond. In this chapter, we will focus on hormone effects on behavior during adulthood. We begin with a discussion of menstrual cycle variation effects on cognition, affect, and neural activity. We next discuss the major focus of this chapter, that is, effects of estrogen in relation to age-related cognitive decline and risk for dementia in postmenopausal women, followed by a brief discussion of the more limited information on testosterone effects on cognition, emphasizing effects in older men. Finally, we highlight several important areas for future research.
Absorbed Dose Estimates with a High Resolution Voxel-Based Head Phantom

This work describes a high resolution voxel-based computer model of a human head and its use for calculating absorbed doses to the structures of the brain. Particularly, we are interested in knowing if such structure doses can be used for optimizing the neutron field of the accelerator-based neutron source1 that is being designed at The Ohio State University (OSU). We are also investigating the uses of structure doses for evaluating BNCT treatment plans.
Why Do Automakers Initiate Recalls? A Structural Econometric Game

Are automakers averse to consumer complaints or to the government recalls they attract? We study this question with 8,439 manufacturer recalls, 5,685 government recalls, and 976,062 SaferCar complaints. The government's SaferCar program enables consumers to report quality issues. Mining the text of these reports, we generate 48 dynamic defect variables, such as Crash, Fire, and Injury. We find our variables significantly predictive of the recall decisions. We model the agents' joint recall decisions as an asymmetric dynamic discrete choice game. We estimate each agent's underlying recall, preemption, and defect cost parameters. Our structural estimates imply (i) there is a little overlap in the sets of products the agents recall and in the types of complaints they respond to, (ii) the cost of a recall does not depend on who initiates it, and (iii) auto manufacturers recall faulty products to avoid receiving defect reports but not to preempt anticipated government recalls.
Critique as the Epistemic Framework of the Critical Social Sciences

This chapter explores the different features of the critical method as an epistemological and methodological underpinning for the critical social sciences and for critical theory more generally, and furthermore calls into question the prevailing methodological assumptions and theses that underpin the mainstream contemporary social sciences. It argues that critique as a method of knowledge production breaks with the most basic and deeply entrenched methodological assumptions and logics of the mainstream social sciences. The author explores the basic pillars of the critical method: the nature of reality as dynamic and processual rather than discrete and static, the nature of the unification of “factual” knowledge claims and “normative” or “evaluative” knowledge claims, and the relation between essence and appearance in the comprehension of social facts and social reality more generally. The chapter concludes with a consideration of the nature of critical judgment as an essential aim of critical theory or critical social sciences.
Report of the Clinical and Functional Primary Outcomes in Men of the ACL-SPORTS Trial: Similar Outcomes in Men Receiving Secondary Prevention With and Without Perturbation Training 1 and 2 Years After ACL Reconstruction

Background Athletes often are cleared to return to activities 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction; however, knee function measures continue to improve up to 2 years after surgery. Interventions beyond standard care may facilitate successful return to preinjury activities and improve functional outcomes. Perturbation training has been used in nonoperative ACL injury and preoperative ACL reconstruction rehabilitation, but has not been examined in postoperative ACL reconstruction rehabilitation, specifically return to sport rehabilitation.
Structure of a pentameric virion-associated fiber with a potential role in Orsay virus entry to host cells.

Despite the wide use of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, the first virus naturally infecting this organism was not discovered until six years ago. The Orsay virus and its related nematode viruses have a positive-sense RNA genome, encoding three proteins: CP, RdRP, and a novel δ protein that shares no homology with any other proteins. δ can be expressed either as a free δ or a CP-δ fusion protein by ribosomal frameshift, but the structure and function of both δ and CP-δ remain unknown. Using a combination of electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, computational and biophysical analyses, here we show that the Orsay δ protein forms a ~420-A long, pentameric fiber with an N-terminal α-helical bundle, a β-stranded filament in the middle, and a C-terminal head domain. The pentameric nature of the δ fiber has been independently confirmed by both mass spectrometry and analytical ultracentrifugation. Recombinant Orsay capsid containing CP-δ shows protruding long fibers with globular heads at the distal end. Mutant viruses with disrupted CP-δ fibers were generated by organism-based reverse genetics. These viruses were found to be either non-viable or with poor infectivity according to phenotypic and qRT-PCR analyses. Furthermore, addition of purified δ proteins to worm culture greatly reduced Orsay infectivity in a sequence-specific manner. Based on the structure resemblance between the Orsay CP-δ fiber and the fibers from reovirus and adenovirus, we propose that CP-δ functions as a cell attachment protein to mediate Orsay entry into worm intestine cells.
Strata: Fine-Grained Acoustic-based Device-Free Tracking

Next generation devices, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and smart appliances, demand a simple and intuitive way for users to interact with them. To address such needs, we develop a novel acoustic based device-free tracking system, called Strata, to enable a user to interact with a nearby device by simply moving his finger. In Strata, a mobile (e.g., smartphone) transmits known audio signals at inaudible frequency, and analyzes the received signal reflected by the moving finger to track the finger location. To explicitly take into account multipath propagation, the mobile estimates the channel impulse response (CIR), which characterizes signal traversal paths with different delays. Each channel tap corresponds to the multipath effects within a certain delay range. The mobile selects the channel tap corresponding to the finger movement and extracts the phase change of the selected tap to accurately estimate the distance change of a finger. Moreover, it estimates the absolute distance of the finger based on the change in CIR using a novel optimization framework. We then combine the absolute and relative distance estimates to accurately track the moving target. We implement our tracking system on Samsung Galaxy S4 mobile phone. Through micro-benchmarks and user studies, we show that our system achieves high tracking accuracy and low latency without extra hardware.
Identification of ATIC as a Novel Target for Chemoradiosensitization.

Purpose Mutations in the gene encoding 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/IMP cyclohydrolase (ATIC), a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the final 2 steps of the purine de novo biosynthetic pathway, were identified in a subject referred for radiation sensitivity testing. Functional studies were performed to determine whether ATIC inhibition was radiosensitizing and, if so, to elucidate the mechanism of this effect and determine whether small molecule inhibitors of ATIC could act as effective radiosensitizing agents. Methods and Materials Both small interfering RNA knockdown and small molecule inhibitors were used to inactivate ATIC in cell culture. Clonogenic survival assays, the neutral comet assay, and γH2AX staining were used to assess the effects of ATIC inhibition or depletion on cellular DNA damage responses. Results Depletion of ATIC or inhibition of its transformylase activity significantly reduced the surviving fraction of cells in clonogenic survival assays in multiple cancer cell lines. In the absence of ionizing radiation exposure, ATIC knockdown or chemical inhibition activated cell cycle checkpoints, shifting cells to the more radiosensitive G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and depleted cellular adenosine triphosphate but did not result in detectable DNA damage. Cells in which ATIC was knocked down or inhibited and then treated with ionizing radiation displayed increased numbers of DNA double-strand breaks and a delay in the repair of those breaks relative to irradiated, but otherwise untreated, controls. Supplementation of culture media with exogenous adenosine triphosphate ameliorated the DNA repair phenotypes. Conclusions These findings implicate ATIC as an effective, and previously unrecognized, target for chemoradiosensitization and, more broadly, suggest that purine levels in cells might have an underappreciated role in modulating the efficiency of DNA damage responses that could be exploited in radiosensitizing strategies.
REAL-WORLD, PRACTICAL LEARNING: DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE MODEL IN THE LAND-GRANT TRADITION

In The Engaged Institution, the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Institutions posits that “one of the best ways to prepare students for the challenges life will place before them lies in integrating the community with their academic experiences” (February 1999, p. viii).
Gas Breakdown in Microgaps With a Surface Protrusion On the Electrode

This paper summarizes our recent studies on a gas breakdown in microgaps with a surface protrusion on the electrode with more detailed information. The breakdown voltages are quantified when the discharge enters into the subnormal glow region with negative differential resistance, using a 2-D fluid model. The breakdown characteristics are evaluated with the effects of the protrusion geometries, such as protrusion size and aspect ratio, as well as the discharge polarity. It is found that in an atmospheric-pressure microgap, the protrusion size has a more profound effect on the breakdown voltage than its aspect ratio, which is due to the competition between the current density enhancement and the effective cathode emission area. As gas pressure varies, the surface protrusion on the electrode results in a combined Paschen’s curve, which transits from long-gap behavior at low pressure to short-gap behavior at high pressure. The key parameters on the breakdown characteristics with the surface protrusion are elucidated.
Pakistani Nuclear Forces, 2009:

Pakistan is enhancing its nuclear weapon capabilities across the board bydeveloping and deploying new nuclear-capable missiles and expanding its capacityto produce fissile materials for use in weapons.
Colorizing self-esteem among African American young women: Linking skin tone, parental support, and sexual health

Issues around skin tone and colorism have generated much discussion in popular culture outlets and empirical research. This work has focused primarily on the continued significance of skin tone across the life course for women of color. Yet, few studies have examined the implications of skin tone on sexual health. Using data from a longitudinal study of 397 African American young women, we examined a prospective model in which self-esteem was a psychological mediator through which skin tone influenced negative sexual behavior and sexual health outcomes. In addition, we investigated parental support and racial identity as moderators that act as protective factors to buffer the effects of an individual’s skin tone on self-esteem thus influencing sexual health outcomes. Results indicated that skin tone was linked to sexual behavior and negative sexual health outcomes indirectly through its association with self-esteem. Further, when parental support was high, a weaker link emerged between skin tone and self-esteem. Findings suggest high parental support may be advantageous for darker skin young women because it serves as a protective factor that buffers the impact of skin tone on self-esteem. Results, however, showed no evidence of moderation for racial identity. Future research on African American young women should focus on the effects of skin tone alone or in combination with self-esteem and parental support given its link to sexual health.
Seminary Sexuality Education Survey: Current Efforts, Perceived Need and Readiness in Accredited Christian Institutions

This study assessed sexuality education for clergy students provided by Christian accredited seminaries and theological schools in the US. The purpose was to identify perceived need, to quantify support and readiness, and ultimately to assist theological institutions with the process of sharing, implementing, or restructuring sexuality education and formation efforts within their professional education. To determine how and whether clergy students are being prepared to address sexuality concerns of their congregants, data were sought from all 183 graduate-level seminaries accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the US. Sixty-nine schools (37%) responded. Questions included: What educational and developmental experiences related to human sexuality are currently being offered? What sexuality-related experiences were offered in the past and if no longer offered, why not? How important is sexuality education as an aspect of formation within the mission of the seminary? How ready is the institu...
Nutritional status in irritable bowel syndrome: A North American population‐based study

Background and aim Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 12% of the population, and the evidence supporting current medical interventions is poor. There is increasing focus on the therapeutic benefit of diet and supplementation. We aim to compare dietary composition and hematologic and biochemical markers in those with and without IBS to determine potential targets for therapeutic supplementation. Methods All 17 national surveys between 1959 and 2019 were screened, and only 1, the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) (1976-1980), provided comprehensive data on IBS. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of hematologic and biochemical markers and dietary composition of 12 295 individuals, aged 18-74, in NHANES II. Results Individuals with IBS had significantly higher copper-zinc ratios (1.70 vs 1.55, P = 0.048) and were more likely to have ratios above 1.8 (odds ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.02-3.13), indicative of underlying copper-zinc imbalance. While more likely to report dietary avoidances, they had no other evidence of nutritional deficiencies. In addition, dietary recall showed that those with IBS consumed more calories (P = 0.02), were more likely to take vitamin supplements (P = 0.003), and that their macro and micronutrient intake was not significantly different. Conclusions The findings suggest that individuals with IBS should be screened for copper-zinc imbalance. Given zinc's role in the immune system, the "brain-gut" axis, and the gastrointestinal barrier, the identified copper-zinc imbalance may play a role in perpetuating the underlying pathophysiology of IBS. Further studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis and the potential role of therapeutic zinc supplementation.
Problems with the Baade Wesselink Method

It is well known that the Baade-Wesselink method leads to different radii for Cepheids depending on which colors are used to determine the effective temperatures. We try to find the reasons for this discrepancy. We employ yet another version of this method using only maximum and minimum radii, thereby circumventing uncertainties in the phase relations between radial velocities and colors. This has essentially no influence on the derived radii. One major uncertainty is the relation between the photospheric expansion velocity and the measured radial velocity. The main reason for the discrepant results obtained by using different colors appears to be an inconsistency in the difference in the applied temperature-color calibrations. Small changes in the d(log T eff )/d(color) can cause major changes in the derived radii.
Prediction of Weyl semimetal and antiferromagnetic topological insulator phases in Bi 2 MnSe 4

Three-dimensional materials with strong spin–orbit coupling and magnetic interactions represent an opportunity to realize a variety of rare and potentially useful topological phases with broken time-reversal symmetry. In this work, we use first principles calculations to show that the recently synthesized material Bi2MnSe4 displays a combination of spin–orbit-induced band inversion, also observed in non-magnetic topological insulator Bi2PbSe4, with magnetic interactions, leading to several topological phases. In bulk form, the ferromagnetic phase of Bi2MnSe4 has symmetry protected band crossings at the Fermi level, leading to either a nodal line or Weyl semimetal, depending on the direction of the spins. Due to the combination of time reversal symmetry plus a partial translation, the ground state layered antiferromagnetic phase is instead an antiferromagnetic topological insulator. The surface of this phase intrinsically breaks time-reversal symmetry, allowing the observation of the half-integer quantum anomalous Hall effect. Furthermore, we show that in thin film form, for sufficiently thick slabs, Bi2MnSe4 becomes a Chern insulator with a band gap of up to 58 meV. This combination of properties in a stoichiometric magnetic material makes Bi2MnSe4 an excellent candidate for displaying robust topological behavior.
An Affordable, Accessible Human Motion Controlled Interactive Robot and Simulation through ROS and Azure Kinect

We integrate a low-cost, open-source system to create a human-machine interface to control a robot by tracking human motion. Controlling a robot with human motion is intuitive and can readily be used to perform tasks that require precise control. We envision using this system will provide an interactive learning experience to students during the stay-at-home period. Existing solutions require an expensive and precise setup which is not portable. We use open-source components such as Robotics Operating System (ROS) and OpenMANIPULATOR-X and low cost commercially available Azure Kinect DK to create an accessible and portable motion-controlled human-machine interface.
Robotic Hepatic Lobectomies

Robotic hepatectomies have been demonstrated to be feasible since the introduction of the robotic platform. The robot allows a fine dissection of the liver hilum, enhanced means of intraoperative biliary anatomy assessment, a safe selective suturing during the hepatocaval dissection, and a seamless biliary anastomosis creation. Three clear phases of the surgery are identified for the hepatectomy: hilum dissection, hepatocaval dissection, and parenchymal transection. There are important technical considerations along the surgery that are described with useful tips and tricks by an expert robotic surgeon.
A Rare Case of Cardiac Mesenchymal Hamartoma and Comprehensive Review of the Literature With Emphasis on Histopathology.

Hamartomas are primary, benign neoplastic lesions that most commonly derive from a single variably differentiated cell lineage. Here, we report an unusual case of a cardiac hamartoma. A 62-year-old...
Social class discrimination as a predictor of first cigarette use and transition to nicotine use disorder in Black and White youth.

To characterize the association of social class discrimination with the timing of first cigarette use and progression to DSM-IV nicotine dependence (ND) in Black and White youth, examining variation by race, parent vs. youth experiences of discrimination, socioeconomic status (SES), and stage of smoking. Data were drawn from 1461 youth (55.2% Black, 44.8% White; 50.2% female) and mothers in a high-risk family study of alcohol use disorder and related conditions. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were conducted, using youth’s and mother’s social class discrimination to predict first cigarette use and progression to ND, stratifying by race. Interactions between discrimination and SES indicators (parental education and household income) were tested. Adjusted models included psychiatric covariates. In the adjusted first cigarette use models, neither youth’s nor mother’s social class discrimination was a significant predictor among Black youth, but mother’s discrimination was associated with increased risk [HR = 1.53 (1.18–1.99)] among White youth. In the adjusted ND models, mother’s discrimination was associated with reduced ND risk for Black youth in middle-income families [HR = 0.29 (CI 0.13–0.63)], but neither youth’s nor mother’s discrimination predicted transition to ND among White youth. The observed race and smoking stage-specific effects suggest that social class discrimination is more impactful on early stages of smoking for White youth and later stages for Black youth. The robustness of links with mother’s discrimination experiences further suggests the importance of considering family-level effects and the need to explore possible mechanisms, such as socialization processes.
Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Pressure Injury Prevention Practices: A Descriptive Survey.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to explore neonatal nursing practices for neonatal pressure injury (PI) risk assessment, pressure redistribution surface use, and moisture management. DESIGN A descriptive survey. SUBJECT/SETTINGS A sample of 252 neonatal nurses mainly from the United States responded to a survey distributed electronically through the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, the Academy of Neonatal Nurses, and on the Wound Source Web site. METHODS Nurses responded to questions that explored what neonatal nurses used to assess PI risk, types of pressure redistribution surfaces used for neonates, and what moisture management strategies were used to prevent PIs. Descriptive statistics were used to describe nurses' practices. RESULTS When assessing risk, 78% (n = 197/252) reported using a risk assessment scale: the 2 most common scales were the Neonatal Skin Risk Assessment Scale and the Braden Q Scale. Sixty-nine percent (n = 174/252) reported using a rolled blanket or small soft object as pressure redistribution surfaces. In addition, 15% (n = 39) reported the use of different types of positioners such as a fluidized positioner as pressure redistribution surfaces; however, these are marketed as a positioning devices. It appears that these interventions were considered redistribution surfaces by the nurses. For moisture management, petrolatum-based products (6.7%; n = 17/252) and ostomy powders (6%; n = 16/252) were most frequently used. CONCLUSIONS Practices for PI prevention are different for neonatal patients due to their gestational age, size, and level of illness. Findings from this study create a beginning knowledge of and an opportunity for further research to determine how these practices affect outcomes such as PI incidence and prevalence.
Towards Comprehensive Exploration of the Physisorption Space in Porous Pseudomaterials Using an Iterative Mutation Search Algorithm

We describe an ­­­­updated algorithm for efficiently exploring structure-property spaces relating to physisorption of gases in porous materials. This algorithm uses previously described "pseudomaterials," which are crystals of randomly arranged and parameterized Lennard-Jones spheres, and combines it with a new iterative mutation exploration method. This algorithm is significantly more efficient at sampling the structure-property space than previously reported methods. For the sake of benchmarking to prior work, we apply this method to exploring methane adsorption at 35 bar (298 K) and void fraction as the main structure-property combination. We demonstrate the effect and importance of the changes that were required to increase efficiency over prior methods. The most important changes were (1) using "discrete" mutations less often, (2) decreasing degrees of freedom, and (3) removing biasing from mutations on bounded parameters.
Evaluating Econometric Models And Forecasts

By validation I mean comparing values generated by a model with actual values to determine how well the model reproduces what it was intended to re produce. Clearly evaluation involves more than this. Evaluation involves judging the appropriateness of the estimation procedures and judging the use made of prior econotnic knowledge in constructing the model. A model can be validated by determining its performance during the sample period, or by deter mining its predictive performance in the post-sample period.
Functional Implications Of Inferior Olivary Response Properties

The climbing fibre and mossy fibre systems supply afferent information to the cerebellum. To understand how these systems contribute to the control of movement, we must analyze the nature of the information that they transmit. The inferior olivary nucleus is a particularly attractive structure for such an analysis since it is the sole source of climbing fibres. Climbing fibres share many distinctive physiological properties and project to every part of the cerebellum. It seems likely that the functional significance of climbing fibre input will be similar for all parts of the cerebellum and of basic importance to cerebellar action.
PET/CT correlation with histopathology in patients suspected with lung cancer

2068 Objectives PET/CT is being increasingly utilized for the diagnosis staging and follow up of patients with lung cancers. We have correlated suspicious lesions on PET/CT with subsequent histopathology in the Veterans population referred to our VA Medical center. Methods Retrospective analysis of medical records of all patients undergoing FDG PET scans with subsequent biopsies of suspicious lung parenchymal lesions identified on PET scans over the past two years in our institution at the VA Medical Center. The PET scans and histopathology were reviewed by an experienced nuclear medicine physician and a pathologist respectively. All abnormalities on PET scans within the lungs demonstrating intensity greater than the mediastinal activity on visual evaluation were considered positive/suspicious for malignancy. In addition semi quantitative SVU values of the abnormalities were also obtained. All lesions greater than SUVmax 2.5 were considered malignant. Visual and semi quantitative findings on PET were correlated with reported histopathology. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Excel software package for basic statistical indices such as sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, NPV. Results A total of 37 PET identified lung lesions were biopsied in 31 patients. See Table 1 below. Conclusions Our sensitivity was comparable to those quoted in the literature, however the specfificity and positive predicted values for both visual as well as semi quantitative SUV index of lung cancer in our series were found to be significantly lower than reported in literature. Possible reasons being our referral veteran population comes from endemic areas with high incidence of chronic inflammatory/ granulomatous diseases
The Linkage between Ligand Occupation and Response of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on a still-emerging area of study on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, that of the relationship between receptor occupation by ligands and the physiologic or pharmacologic response. It is the linkage between occupation and response, which confers the unique transduction capacities to receptor molecules as well as dictates their pharmacologic specificity for agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists. Since agonists can induce both an open channel and a desensitized state of the receptor and combinations of ligands can alter the character of the open channel state, analysis of the response itself is complex. It is evident that the receptor can exist in various states, which differ in their affinity for ligands, conductance behavior, and conformation. Hence, the analysis include a comparison of ligand binding functions with functions of receptor state. With the knowledge of receptor structure and the understanding of its channel properties in biophysical terms, both developing to a relatively advanced stage, it is becoming possible to relate functional behavior to molecular details on structure.
Immune Competence of Cells Derived from Hemopoietic Liver after Traffic to Thymus

We have shown in a previous communication that hemopoietic liver cells from 17–19 old mouse embryos are capable of migration to thymus and bone marrow (l). Since a similar traffic pattern has been demonstrated for bone marrow cells (2) it seemed of interest to study the behavior of the embryonic cells in more detail, since the liver is a major source of hemopoietic elements during early embryonation and first days after birth in the mouse (3). Interest in these studies resided in the possibility that traffic to and from the thymus represented a true maturation process, leading to the production of immunocompetent cells.
Conformational Order in Biomembranes: Quantitative Determination by Infrared Spectroscopy

Development of methods for the quantitative determination of conformational order in biological membranes has been undertaken for several reasons. First, it will permit an elaboration of the fluid mosaic model of membrane structure. This model, since it’s description over two decades ago by Singer and Nicolson1 has been widely accepted, yet it is sorely lacking in details at the molecular level. Second, experimental determination of conformational states available to the lipid acyl chains will serve as a useful guide and checkpoint for statistical mechanical theories of bilayer structure. Finally, the precise determination of a conformational disordering will lead to a detailed understanding of parameters derived from other techniques, such as 2H NMR order profiles.
The Emergence of Musical Copyright in Europe from 1709 to 1850

This paper, written for a conference of the Society for Economic Research on Copyright Issues, explores the history of copyright protection for musical compositions. The first modern copyright law did not cover musical works. The role of Johann Christian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johann Neopmuk Hummel in securing legal changes is traced. How Giuseppe Verdi exploited the new copyright law in Northern Italy is analyzed. The paper argues that Verdi, enriched by copyright protection, reduced his compositional effort along a backward-bending supply curve. However, his good fortune may have had a demonstration effect inducing other talented individuals to become composers. An attempt to determine the impact of legal changes on entry into composing is inconclusive. The paper shows, however, that a golden age of musical composition nevertheless occurred in nations that lacked copyright protection for musical works.
Prediction of Temperature in Rivers and Reservoirs

Procedure is presented for predicting temperature of various water bodies from weather records, inflow and outflow characteristics, and surface area and volume of body of water; method can be applied to shallow lakes, flowing streams, and detention reservoirs, in which thermocline is absent and water is so stirred by wind or current that temperatures are uniform; example is given of use of method, which is easily adaptable to machine computation.