cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endothelium Dependent Constriction by Angiotensin II Demonstrated In Vivo in Mouse Brain Arterioles

Pial arterioles 30-50 μ m wide were monitored in vivo using a television - microscopy -image splitting technique. Topical angiotensin II constricted the vessels in dose dependent manner. Selective endothelial injury with a helium neon laser/Evans blue technique abolished modest responses to All and greatly reduced larger responses. Thus, All produces endothelium dependent constriction of arterioles in vivo in this portion of the brains micro vascular tree.
Temporal vegetation dynamics and recolonization mechanisms on different-sized soil disturbances in tallgrass prairie.

Assessing the various mechanisms by which plants revegetate disturbances is important for understanding the effects of disturbances on plant population dynamics, plant community structure, community assembly processes, and ecosystem function. We initiated a 2yr experiment examining temporal vegetation dynamics and mechanisms of recolonization on different-sized soil disturbances created to simulate pocket gopher mounds in North American tallgrass prairie. Treatments were designed to assess potential contributions of the seed rain, soil seed bank, clonal propagation from the edges of a soil mound, and regrowth of buried plants. Small mounds were more rapidly recolonized than large mounds. Vegetative regrowth strategies were the dominant recolonization mechanisms, while the seed rain was considerably less important in maintaining the diversity of forbs and annuals than previously believed. All recolonization mechanisms influenced plant succession, but stem densities and plant mass on soil mounds remained significantly lower than undisturbed controls after two growing seasons. Because natural pocket gopher mounds are indistinguishable from undisturbed areas after two seasons, these results suggest that multiple modes of recruitment concurrently, albeit differentially, contribute to the recolonization of soil disturbances and influence tallgrass prairie plant community structure and successional dynamics.
Recounting the Number of Rises, Levels, and Descents in Finite Set Partitions

A finite set partition is said to have a descent at i if it has a descent at i in its canonical representation as a restricted growth function (and likewise for level and rise). In this note, we provide direct combinatorial proofs as well as extensions of recent formulas for the total number of rises, levels, and descents in all the partitions of an n-set with a prescribed number of blocks. In addition, we supply direct proofs of formulas for the number of partitions having a fixed number of levels.
The Evolution of Commuting Patterns in the New York City Metro Area

Has the migration of jobs to the suburbs changed the commuting patterns in the New York City metro area? An analysis of current commuting trends suggests that Manhattan remains the region's undisputed employment center and that workers are actually traveling farther to their jobs. Two factors appear to account for the longer commutes: the dispersion of people and jobs and a greater tolerance for long-distance travel among employers and employees.
DFT-MSN: The Delay/Fault-Tolerant Mobile Sensor Network for Pervasive Information Gathering

This paper focuses on the Delay/Fault-Tolerant Mobile Sensor Network (DFT-MSN) for pervasive information gathering. We develop simple and efficient data delivery schemes tailored for DFT-MSN, which has several unique characteristics such as sensor mobility, loose connectivity, fault tolerability, delay tolerability, and buffer limit. We first study two basic approaches, namely, direct transmission and flooding. We analyze their performance by using queuing theory and statistics. Based on the analytic results that show the tradeoff between data delivery delay/ratio and transmission overhead, we introduce an optimized flooding scheme that minimizes transmission overhead in flooding. Then, we propose a simple and effective DFT-MSN data delivery scheme, which consists of two key components for data transmission and queue management, respectively. The former makes decision on when and where to transmit data messages based on the delivery probability, which reflects the likelihood that a sensor can deliver data messages to the sink. The latter decides which messages to transmit or drop based on the fault tolerance, which indicates the importance of the messages. The system parameters are carefully tuned on the basis of thorough analyses to optimize network performance. Extensive simulations are carried out for performance evaluation. Our results show that the proposed DFT-MSN data delivery scheme achieves the highest message delivery ratio with acceptable delay and transmission overhead.
Modeling Plasticity in Nanostructured Materials

The definition and magnitude of the intrinsic length scale are keys to the development of the theory of plasticity that incorporates size effects. Gradient plasticity theory with a material length scale parameter is successfully in capturing the size dependence of material behavior at the micron scale. However, a fixed value of the material length-scale is not always realistic and that different problems could require different values. Moreover, a linear coupling between the local and non-local terms in the gradient plasticity theory is not always realistic and that different problems could require different couplings. A generalized gradient plasticity model with a non-fixed length scale parameter is proposed. This model assesses the sensitivity of predictions in the way in which the local and non-local parts are coupled. The proposed model gives good predictions of the size effect in microbending tests of thin films and micro-torsion tests of thin wires
A New Look at the Stability Analysis of Delay-Differential Equations

It is shown that the method of steps for linear delay-differential equations combined with the Laplace-transform can be used to determine the stability of the equation. The result of the method is an infinite dimensional difference equation whose stability corresponds to that of the transcendental characteristic equation. Truncations of this difference equation are used to construct numerical stability charts. The method is demonstrated on a first and second order delay equation. Correspondence between the transcendental characteristic equation and the difference equation is proved for the first order case.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Numerical simulation of the head/disk interface for bit patterned media

This investigation presents a numerical model and air bearing simulations of a femto-type slider flying over bit patterned media. It analyzes the characteristics of the air bearing pressure profile and the air bearing pressure gradient over the bit patterned area. The effect of the dimensions of the bit pattern on the flying characteristics of a typical femto-type slider is studied.
Electron Acceleration Using High Gradient Single Cell Resonators

The production of intense low emittance el ectron beams for Free Electron Laser operation requires new approaches to linear accelerator design. An example is the use of high gradient single cell resonators instead of the conventional multi-cavity structure. The advantages and special problems of single cell resonators will be discussed, using a low power accelerator producing a 1 mA beam and a high power accelerator producing a 1 ampere beam as examples.
Thermal Compensation Method for CMOS Digital Integrated Circuits Using Temperature-Adaptive DC–DC Converter

A cost-effective thermal compensation technique for CMOS digital integrated circuits (ICs) is proposed. The technique features a temperature-adaptive dc-dc converter serving as both temperature detector and variable power supply. The converter adopts a delay-line-based analog-to-digital converter to translate the temperature information into digital signals. By adjusting the output voltage, the dc-dc converter can help stabilize the ICs' operating frequency. The system was fabricated with a standard 1.5-mum digital CMOS process. With a supply of 3.3 V, the converter is capable of providing a variable supply voltage of 1.1-2.0 V with a maximum power efficiency of 92.1%. With this compensation technique, the temperature sensitivity of ICs is reduced from 4046 to 74 ppm/degC within a temperature range of 0-110degC
In the weeds: a baseline view of cannabis use among legalizing states and their neighbours.

Aims To describe patterns of cannabis use, the degree of overlap between medicinal and recreational users, and their differential use patterns, modes of consumption and sources of cannabis. Design An ongoing probability-based internet panel maintained by the market research firm GfK Group. Setting Households in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and New Mexico, USA. Participants A total of 2009 individuals from Washington (n = 787), Oregon (n = 506), Colorado (n = 503) and New Mexico (n = 213). Post stratification sampling weights were provided so that estimates could be made representative of the household population in each of these states. Respondents were aged between 18 and 91 years, with a mean age of 53 years. Methods We compare patterns of cannabis consumption for medicinal and recreational users as well as simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis. We also examine the extent to which patterns of use differ across states that chose to legalize (Washington and Colorado) and those that did not (New Mexico and Oregon). Findings Rates of life-time medical cannabis use are similar in Colorado and Washington (8.8% and 8.2%) but lower in Oregon and New Mexico (6.5% and 1%). Recreational use is considerably higher than medical use across all states (41%), but highest in Oregon and Washington. Approximately 86% of people who report ever using cannabis for medicinal purposes also use it recreationally. Medical users are more likely to vaporize and consume edibles and report a higher amount (in grams) consumed, and spend more money per month than recreational users. Individuals who use cannabis do not commonly use it with alcohol, irrespective of whether they are consuming cannabis recreationally or medically. Fewer than one in five recreational users report simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis most or all of the time and fewer than 3% of medicinal users report frequent simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis. Conclusions In the United States, the degree of overlap between medicinal and recreational cannabis users is 86%. Medicinal and recreational cannabis users favor different modes and amounts of consumption. Only a small proportion (12%) of cannabis users usually consume cannabis and alcohol simultaneously, while concurrent use is common among recreational users.
Three-Dimensional Modeling and Experimental Verification of Off-Centered Crane Lifts

When cranes lift heavy payloads off the ground, the payload may slide or swing sideways unexpectedly. This dangerous motion occurs when the payload is not directly beneath the overhead suspension point of the hoist cable. Given that cable suspension points are usually tens of feet, and perhaps hundreds of feet above the payload, it is very difficult for crane operators to know if the hoist cable is perfectly vertical before they start to lift the payload off the ground. Inevitably, some horizontal motion of the payload will occur at lift off. If an off-center lift creates substantial horizontal motion, then it can create significant hazards for the human operators, the crane, the payload, and the surrounding environment. This paper develops a three-dimensional dynamic model of off-centered lifts. The accuracy of the model is experimentally investigated using a 10-ton bridge crane.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Predicting High-Flow Spinal CSF Leaks in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension Using a Spinal MRI-Based Algorithm: Have Repeat CT Myelograms Been Reduced?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We adopted an imaging algorithm in 2011 in which extradural fluid on spinal MR imaging directs dynamic CT myelography. We assessed algorithm compliance and its effectiveness in reducing repeat or unnecessary dynamic CT myelograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT myelograms for CSF leaks from January 2011 to September 2014 were reviewed. Patients with iatrogenic leaks, traumatic brachial plexus injuries, or prior CT myelography within 2 years were excluded. Completion and results of spinal MR imaging, CT myelographic technique, and the need for repeat CT myelography or unnecessary dynamic CT myelograms were recorded. RESULTS: The algorithm was followed in 102 (79%) of 129 patients. No extradural fluid was detected in 75 (74%), of whom 70 (93%) had no leak, 4 (5%) had a slow leak, and 1 (1%) had a fast leak. Extradural fluid was detected in 27 (26%): 24 (89%) fast leaks, 1 (4%) slow leak, and 2 (7%) with no leaks. When the algorithm was followed, 1 (1%) required repeat CT myelography and 3 (3%) had unnecessary dynamic CT myelograms. The algorithm was breached in 27 (21%) cases, including no pre-CT myelogram MR imaging in 11 (41%), performing conventional CT myelography when extradural fluid was present in 13 (48%), and performing dynamic CT myelography when extradural fluid was absent in 3 (11%). Algorithm breaches resulted in 4 (15%) repeat CT myelograms and 3 (12%) unnecessary dynamic CT myelograms, both higher than with algorithm compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Using spinal MR imaging to direct CT myelography resulted in significant reduction in repeat CT myelograms to localize fast leaks with minimal unnecessary dynamic CT myelograms.
Comparative Error Analysis of Dialog State Tracking

A primary motivation of the Dialog State Tracking Challenge (DSTC) is to allow for direct comparisons between alternative approaches to dialog state tracking. While results from DSTC 1 mention performance limitations, an examination of the errors made by dialog state trackers was not discussed in depth. For the new challenge, DSTC 2, this paper describes several techniques for examining the errors made by the dialog state trackers in order to refine our understanding of the limitations of various approaches to the tracking process. The results indicate that no one approach is universally superior, and that different approaches yield different error type distributions. Furthermore, the results show that a pairwise comparative analysis of tracker performance is a useful tool for identifying dialogs where differential behavior is observed. These dialogs can provide a data source for a more careful analysis of the source of errors.
Executive Compensation and Retention Outcomes Associated with TARP Participation

This study provides evidence regarding executive compensation and retention outcomes associated with banks’ participation in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). I find that TARP participation is associated with lower levels of total compensation, consistent with TARP’s regulations constraining not only the structure but also the level of executive pay. I also find TARP participation to be positively associated with executive departure rates after controlling for firm performance and determinants of TARP participation. Executive turnover rates at TARP participants are positively associated with executives’ pre-TARP levels of compensation. Supplemental tests suggest that the higher incidence of SEO resignations among TARP participants is driven primarily by voluntary turnover rather than forced terminations. Overall, my results are consistent with the view that TARP’s pay restrictions increased the deadweight costs of compensation and reduced the efficiency of the executive pay-setting process.
A Method for Sequencing Inspection Activities Subject to Errors

Abstract A method is presented for determining an optimum sequencing inspection plan for a group of inspectors operating at different skill and cost levels. Production and inspection costs for both accepted and rejected items are considered, and dependencies among successive inspections are permitted. A branch-and-bound technique is used to determine the optimum plan. Results are demonstrated by a numerical example.
New Tropical Fungi

Shropshiria Stevens, gen. nov. Sori on the periphery of sclerotioid stromata, open, bordered by sterile peridia; conidiophores long, simple, bearing the conidia laterally. Conidia 1-celled, globose, smoky. Named in honor of Mr. J. B. Shropshire in recognition of his helpful interest in the biologic sciences in the Panama Canal Zone. Shropshiria Chusqueae Stevens, sp. nov. Sporiferous stromata caulicolous, globose, or subglobose to irregularly oblong, brown to gray or black, 3-8 mm. in diameter, roughened over the entire surface by the projecting spore columns. Sporogenous cups about 15O-180 ll wide at the open mouth, about 230 ll deep, and dark bordered on sides and bottom. Sterile space between cups 150-230 ll. The rind between the sori in surface view, microscopically, is light brown in color and made up of cells of quite uniform size, about 3-4 ll in diameter and having a pseudo-parenchymoid appearance. Conidiophores arising from the brown base of the cup, hyaline, parallel and straight, slender, simple, septate, about 2 ix thick, 250 jx long. The spores are borne laterally on the distal ends of the conidiophores. Conidia smoky, globose, dark in mass, 3 ll m diameter. On Chusquea simpliciflora. Panama. Brazos Brook reservoir, 9-22-1924. No. 697 (type); Culebra, 10-2-1924. No. 939; Las Cruces trail, 9-28-1924. No. 876.
NOTES ON BOLETES. XIII

On a previous occasion (5, p. 375-377), we noted the very unusual occurrence of Suillus granulatus (L. ex Fr.) Kuntze subsp. Snellii Singer and S. subluteus (Pk.) Snell apud Slipp & Snell growing in pure stands of Pinus rigida on Cape Cod, Mass., in very rainy weather. We have a similar report with regard to the former species, except that the weather conditions had been only moderately wet instead of unusually rainy. The situation was a grassy roadside, again on Cape Cod in North Falmouth not far from Old Silver Beach in September, 1957. The trees up the bank and making up the woods were pitch pines 15-25 years old with a sprinkling of oaks, except for one interruption of 100 yards or more, which was only oaks except for one 25-year-old white pine in about the middle. Over a distance of a half-mile of this grassy roadside were found a half-dozen boleti that one would expect in association with the oaks and pitch pines, but the noteworthy occurrence was 100 or more carpophores of S. granulatus subsp. Snellii. A few of the specimens were in their expected place near the single white pine, and the remaining scores were rather evenly distributed along the two stretches of pitch pine entirely devoid of white pine. In September, 1959, at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, the first author found the same subspecies under spruce. The stand was young, thick with seedlings and young trees up to 5 feet high, with no balsam firs as far as observed and without a single white pine. We find it difficult to explain the first of these situations. Most of the fruit bodies were far from the only white pine and it is very doubtful that white pines ever grew in quantity in this spot. White pine probably never grew in stands of more than a few trees anywhere on Cape Cod, at least east of Buzzard's Bay. Suillus granulatus subsp. Snellii in the stand of young spruce is more easily explained if we make a guess-namely, that the area was originally
Police officer integrity: a partial replication and extension

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to partially replicate and extend the work of Klockars et al. and others on police integrity by examining how individual, organizational, and ecological factors affect police supervisors’ perceptions of police misconduct and willingness to report fellow officers’ misconduct. Design/methodology/approach – Surveys containing 17 scenarios developed by Klockars et al. (2000, 2004, 2006) were administered to 553 ranking officers attending training at the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas from June 1, 2009 to March 1, 2010 and employed by municipal police departments, county sheriff’s departments, and constable agencies. Findings – Results suggest that individual and organizational factors affect supervisor willingness to blow the whistle on underling misconduct, although their effects varied by seriousness of the behavior. Originality/value – The current project partially replicates and extends prior studies of factors affecting police integrity...
Analysis on epidemiological characteristics of public health emergencies of communicable diseases in cross border area of Yunnan Province from 2009-2013

[Objective]To understand the epidemiologic characteristics of public health emergencies of communicable diseases in cross border area of Yunnan Province, guide the prevention and control of communicable diseases in cross border area.[Methods]The data of public health emergencies of communicable diseases in cross border area of Yunnan Province from2009-2013, which were collected from the China disease prevention and control information system, were analyzed by descriptive epidemiology.[Results]Totally 110 public health emergencies of communicable diseases were reported in 25 border counties/cities, accounting for 16.72% of total events in Yunnan Province. 74.55% of the emergencies were general events(grade Ⅳ), there were 7 086 patients and 15 death cases, 446 213 people were involved, and the attack rate was 1.59%. There were 4 events of category A communicable disease, 46 events of category B communicable disease, 33 events of category C communicable disease and 27 events of other communicable disease, which respectively accounted for 3.64%, 41.82%, 30.00% and 24.54%. The peak seasons appeared March to May and September to December, most of cases were respiratory infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, and the events mainly occurred in schools. There were 6 foreign imported events, and all were from Burma.[Conclusion]Imported communicable disease events, especially public health emergencies of category A communicable diseases,are the key point and difficulty of disease prevention and control in cross border area of Yunnan Province.
The analysis of fatalness for city windpipe leaking

windpipe leaking seriously affecting the normal production,not only result enormous economy lose and polluted the environment.This text through put forward windpipe leaking calculation formula and leaking speed calculation formula point out the result and provide to department some informationses of leakiness sequent.
Performance and Methods of Quality Assessment of Routine Immunization Coverage Surveillance

Routine immunization surveillance and quality assessment can reflect the quality and impact of the routine immunization program. We analyzed existing problems in the process of reporting,investigating and evaluating routine immunization coverage. We summarize the methods and practices of the immunization data quality audit( DQA) and the immunization data quality self-assessment( DQS) tools recommended by WHO. In addition,we make suggestions about applicability of DQA and DQS to evaluate the quality of routine immunization coverage.
Having a thought.

(1970). Having a Thought. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 170-184.
Specificity and affinity of binding of phosphate-containing compounds to CheY protein

1H- and 31P-n.m.r. have been used to study the interaction of the bacterial chemotaxis protein, CheY, with ATP and a variety of other phosphates in the presence and absence of bivalent metal ions. In the metal-bound conformation, CheY will bind nucleotide phosphates and phosphates in general, while in the metal-free conformation CheY loses its affinity for phosphates. In the presence of low concentrations of nitroxide-spin-labelled ATP (SL-ATP), specific proton resonances of metal-bound CheY are suppressed, indicating that ATP binds to a specific site on this metal-bound form of the protein. These studies also show that the same resonances are affected by the binding of SL-ATP and Mn2+, indicating that the phosphate- and metal-binding sites are close to each other and to Asp-57 (the site of phosphorylation in CheY). 1H- and 31P-n.m.r. studies using ATP, GTP, TTP, UTP, ADP, AMP and inorganic phosphates show that the binding is not specific for adenine, and does not involve the base directly, but is mediated primarily by the phosphate groups. Experiments with a phosphorylation mutant (Asp-13-->Asn) suggest that the observed phosphate binding and activation of CheY by phosphorylation may be related. Our results indicate that the conformational change and charge interactions brought about by the binding of a metal ion at the active site are required for CheY to interact with a phosphate. These studies also demonstrate the utility of spin-label-induced relaxation in conjunction with two-dimensional-n.m.r. measurements for exploring ligand-binding sites.
Introduction: Global Fugitives — Outside the Law and the Cold War ‘Consensus’

What do Jean Gabin, Stanley Baker, Silvana Mangano and Toshiro Mifune have in common? This book will argue that all four actors, in their participation in a form defined as International Film Noir, played characters who fell afoul of the law and who represented working- and middle-class frustration and dissatisfaction at the way the post-war world was being organized. Until now film noir has been almost solely considered an American phenomenon, consisting, in its classical phase, of dark, seedy, low-budget crime films of the 1940s where the criminal everyman, and woman, was the center of attention. In the contemporary era, noir is recognized as a global form, albeit one that has migrated out from the Hollywood center to the periphery, with other countries and regions (in the present particularly prominent are Mediterranean and Scandinavian noir) adapting the Hollywood form to their own uses. Noir is acknowledged as having international roots in 1920s German Expressionism and 1930s French Poetic Realism, but the form itself is then seen to come to fruition in Hollywood with only scant attention paid to any complementary and parallel expression, and, if so, only in Britain and France.
Influence of Interparticle Structure on the Steady-State and Transient Current within Arrays of Thiocyanate-Treated PbS Nanocubes

This paper describes the dependence of the DC conductivity, film charging dynamics, and transient photocurrent dynamics of quasi-two-dimensional arrays of thiocyanate-capped PbS nanocubes (NCs) on the edge length of the NC. Arrays were prepared monolayer-by-monolayer using self-assembly at a liquid–air interface. Across-film conductivity increases with NC size with a dependence consistent with a simple diffusional hopping model. Upon application of a constant source-drain bias, the measured dark current decays exponentially to a nonzero steady-state value as immobile hole traps fill. Illumination with 532-nm light produces a repeatable photoresponse, which also fits to an exponential function. The lifetimes associated with decay of the dark current and growth of the photocurrent both increase with increasing NC size. Comparison of the electrical data with electron microscopy images reveals that this trend is related to the connectivity of the percolation networks within the film, which depends on the inte...
Sacubitril-valsartan in heart failure: Why are more physicians not prescribing it?

Sandhu and colleagues' article supports the cost-effectiveness of sacubitril–valsartan in the treatment of heart failure. The editorialists review the evidence for the benefits of this newer drug a...
An Investigation of Factors Impacting the Wellness of Academic Library Employees

The term “wellness” is fast garnering attention on how it affects one’s professional and personal life. This study explores the multi-dimensions of wellness and investigates factors that might impact the “wellness” of employees in academic libraries. The research topic was addressed through quantitative analyses of responses to multiple choice, ranking and qualitative analyses of responses to open-ended items. With a total of 1123 respondents, key findings include: there are statistical relationships between how respondents characterize themselves and how often they felt overwhelmed; the respondents’ age and how often they felt overwhelmed; the respondents’ age and how important they feel eating healthy is; the respondents’ current position and how important is being optimistic is to them.
Analytical/Numerical Solution for the Lagrangian Flamelet Model Equations

In the last years, the understanding of the combustion processes has been facilitated through the progress of asymptotic methods in applied mathematics, of the computation and of experimental techniques. The aim of this work is to obtain and compare analytical/numerical results with experimental data for a confined jet diffusion flame. All thermochemical variables are determined by mixture fraction because the Sandia Flame D, used to check the results, is close to equilibrium. The developed method, based on the low Mach number formulation, allows to decrease the time needed to obtain reasonable results for confined jet diffusion flame. The analytical/numerical results compare well with the experimental data available in the literature.
In Vitro Toxicology Testing: It’s Time to Report the Sex of Cells

In light of evidence taken from numerous fields indicating that males are routinely used more than females as test subjects,1-3 and the resulting poor outcomes of such practice,4,5 a conversation on balancing the sex of sample sets is not a new one. In a 2014 meta-analysis of nearly 300 studies, Prendergast and colleagues discovered that females have erroneously been considered more variable owing to their estrous cycle; instead, males were found to be more inconsistent under some experimental conditions.6 These results were subsequently confirmed by meta-analysis of microarray datasets.7 If we are to agree that sex of the subject (be it animal or human) is important to disclose, then the lack of representation to this day is troubling – and it is furthermore troubling that many studies fail even to report the sex of tissues or cells, meaning we have no idea as to the relevance of sex to measured outcomes. There have been several calls to action on this point in the biomedical field,3 yet we as a toxicology community have not yet been fully persuaded of our failure.
“Nanny State” Politics: Causal Attributions About Obesity and Support for Regulation:

We posit that individuals develop causal stories to explain the world around them, including events, behaviors, and conditions in society. These are narratives that attribute causes to controllable components, such as individual choices, or uncontrollable components, such as broader forces in the environment. We use attribution theory to understand how group identity and individual characteristics may shape causal attributions about obesity. Based on previous empirical findings, we argue that attributions and identity can explain policy preferences. We test our hypotheses using individual-level data from a unique national survey of American adults. Our findings suggest that partisan and weight identities predispose people to make certain attributions about obesity, and these attributions influence policy preferences related to obesity. We suggest policymakers need to consider public attributions about obesity and future research should develop more refined measures of attributions.
Reduced FAK-STAT3 signaling contributes to ER stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and death in endothelial cells

Excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress leads to cell loss in many diseases, e.g., contributing to endothelial cell loss after spinal cord injury. Here, we determined whether ER stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction could be explained by interruption of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-mitochondrial STAT3 pathway we recently discovered. ER stress was induced in brain-derived mouse bEnd5 endothelial cells by thapsigargin or tunicamycin and caused apoptotic cell death over a 72h period. In concert, ER stress caused mitochondrial dysfunction as shown by reduced bioenergetic function, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mitophagy. ER stress caused a reduction in mitochondrial phosphorylated S727-STAT3, known to be important for maintaining mitochondrial function. Normal activation or phosphorylation of the upstream cytoplasmic FAK was also reduced, through mechanisms that involve tyrosine phosphatases and calcium signaling, as shown by pharmacological inhibitors, bisperoxovanadium (bpV) and 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane (APB), respectively. APB mitigated the reduction in FAK and STAT3 phosphorylation, and improved endothelial cell survival caused by ER stress. Transfection of cells rendered null for STAT3 using CRISPR technology with STAT3 mutants confirmed the specific involvement of S727-STAT3 inhibition in ER stress-mediated cell loss. These data suggest that loss of FAK signaling during ER stress causes mitochondrial dysfunction by reducing the protective effects of mitochondrial STAT3, leading to endothelial cell death. We propose that stimulation of the FAK-STAT3 pathway is a novel therapeutic approach against pathological ER stress.
Total ionizing dose effects in commercial floating-gate-alternative non-volatile memories

The total dose response of commercially-available floating-gate-alternative non-volatile memories is characterized. The response of MRAM, FRAM, CBRAM, ReRAM, SONOS, and PCRAM devices are compared to a relatively radiation tolerant NAND flash.
Clean Financial Separation

The need for carve-out financial statements is driven by a company’s decision to separate a part of its operations either through a sale to a third party, a spin-off to its current shareholders in a taxable or tax-free transaction, or a divestiture. Each of these types of transactions has unique financial statement requirements. In general, the financial statements will include a balance sheet, an income statement, a cash flow statement, and a statement of equity for a certain number of years based on how and by whom the financial statements will be used. This chapter will focus on the creation of carve-out financial statements used in connection with a spin-off that are compliant with regulations from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP); however, we will also discuss considerations when full carve-out financial statements are not required.
Technology and Teacher–Student Interactions: A Review of Empirical Research

As technology becomes ubiquitous in education, it is critical to understand the ways in which technology influences interactions between teachers and their students. The overarching research questi...
The Autoxidation of Polyunsaturated Lipids

The gradual accumulation of oxygen which accompanied the evolution of photosyn-thetic organisms approximately 1.5 billion years ago was most significant in that an appropriate environment had been provided for the genesis of aerobic organisms. Along with the evolution of respiratory organisms emerged a most interesting irony. The very molecular oxygen which had always been an agent of biological degradation became a vital commodity to the sustainment of life. That which had supported the lives of respiring organisms was also toxic to them, and it was only by virtue of the development of elaborate defense mechanisms that survival was made possible.
The Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Technique and Protocol

The videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) is the current gold standard for the diagnosis and management of oropharyngeal dysphagia. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of the oral, palatal, pharyngeal, and pharyngo-esophageal segments of deglutition.This chapter will provide a comprehensive description of our VFSS technique and protocol.
Assessing assault self-reports by batterer program participants and their partners

Self-reports on domestic violence inventories remain the basis of court and clinical decision-making and program outcome evaluations, but little research has investigated the reliability and validity of these self-reports with clinical populations. We investigated the most widely used self-report inventory, the Conflict Tactics Scale, using a multisite database of men admitted to batterer programs and their female partners (n = 840). Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing batterer and victim reports to police incident reports at program intake (n = 145). Victims (29%) were more likely than batterers (19%) to report no assault when the police reports indicated an assault. Batterers were, however, more likely to minimize the severity of assaults than their victims. Reliability was assessed by comparing agreement between men and women at intake and at 12-month follow-up (n = 558). Overall man–woman agreement was higher at follow-up (74%) than at intake (64%). However, occurrence agreement declined substantially (from 61 to 17%), and male underreport and male denial markedly increased. Based on the men's and women's descriptions of the assaults, the women who underreport appear to do so primarily to preserve the relationship and men do so in outright denial. The findings imply the need to collect both men's and women's reports at intake and contradict the notion that agreement increases as a result of the batterer's sensitization to violence in a program.
Incorporating Evidence Into Health Policy Decisions

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been described as the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values (1). Other chapters in this book have provided an overview of EBM, especially as it relates to clinical practice; in this chapter, we will take a slightly different approach and look at the intersection between EBM and health policy.
A Brief Historical Review of Surgical Treatment of Hernia

History of surgical treatment of hernias of the abdominal wall includes the first treatments with cautery and golden stitch, the first anatomical reparation of Purman and von Czerny, and the modern era of the herniorrhaphies with Bassini that represented a new approach in the treatment of inguinal hernias. Anatomical surgeons such as Halsted, McVay, and Shouldice described reparations of inguinal hernia. At the same time, with regard to ventral hernia, Grynfelt, Petit, Stoppa, Rives, and other surgeons have described famous techniques used even today. A new era for reparations of abdominal hernias started with the introduction of meshes. Usher used a polypropylene mesh for inguinal hernia. Other materials have been used. PTFE-e is a mesh which allows direct contact with intra-abdominal viscera and is used in the laparoscopic approach to hernias. The laparoscopic approach started with surgeons such as Toy and LeBlank, who used PTFE-e meshes. Ventral hernia laparoscopic repair is a reality used globally. Inguinal hernia laparoscopic treatment has extended to all centers with experience in hernia repair because of its advantages and its results. New devices and technologies are on the horizon (single port, robotic, new material, fixation, and others).
Lipoxin A4 restrains mast cell function and inhibits type 2 mediated cutaneous inflammation

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a frequently occurring allergic inflammatory disease. In AD, IgE-activated dermal mast cells amplify type 2 immune responses. Current MC-therapies have limited success, necessitating exploration of MC-targeting agents for AD treatment. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is an immunoresolvin family member derived from arachadonic acid that signals primarily through the formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2). Limited reports investigate the relationship between LXA4, MCs and cutaneous inflammation. Here, we tested the hypotheses that LXA4 downregulates MC function and cutaneous inflammation utilizing bone marrow derived (BM)MCs and the murine type 2 skewed, MC-dependent, FITC-contact hypersensitivity model (CHS), respectively. In resting BMMCs, antagonism of FPR2 and pharmacological inhibition of LXA4 synthesis increased IL-6 and IL-13 release, suggesting that resting BMMCs generate LXA4. Exogenous LXA4 inhibited IgE-initiated MC activation, blocking degranulation and IL-13, TNF, and IL-6 release. Mechanistically, exogenous LXA4 blocked STAT5B and NFkB nuclear translocation and reduced mRNA for STAT5 and NFkB transcribed genes. FPR2 antagonists failed to reverse the effects of exogenous LXA4, suggesting that a second inhibitory receptor may be activated by LXA4 in BMMCs. In vivo, LXA4 reduced ear swelling in the MC-dependent FITC-CHS model. Collectively, these data suggest that LXA4 restrains MC function and may be therapeutically beneficial in AD.
Deficiency of the pattern-recognition receptor CD14 protects against joint pathology and functional decline in a murine model of osteoarthritis

Objective CD14 is a monocyte/macrophage pattern-recognition receptor that modulates innate inflammatory signaling. Soluble CD14 levels in knee OA synovial fluids are associated with symptoms and progression of disease. Here we investigate the role of this receptor in development of OA using a murine joint injury model of disease.
Ensuring Gender-Affirming Care in Nephrology: Improving Care for Transgender and Gender-Expansive Individuals.

Transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) people face unique sociopolitical and health-related challenges, including access to high-quality health care ([1][1],[2][2]). TGE people have a gender identity that differs from the sex assigned to them at birth (usually female or male) ([3][3]). Sex is often
Effects of Delaying College-Level Mathematics Course Enrollment for Remedial Students:

Mathematics has been a barrier for degree attainment. Research has focused on mathematics generally and not the transition from remedial to college-level coursework. This study examined the effects...
A Critique of “STEM” Education

While a mutually agreed-upon definition of STEM education remains elusive, there is no doubt that instructional models and ideas put forward with the STEM label have had a tremendous impact on thinking, debate, and practice in schools worldwide. At issue is the degree to which some or all the STEM disciplines must be taught in a concurrent or combined way, so curricula can qualify for the STEM education label. In this manuscript, we unpack the various perspectives of STEM that have evolved recently and propose the acronym I-STEM for any integrated instructional blending of the individual STEM elements. We examine some problematic issues related to what seems a premature acceptance of I-STEM and conclude with some suggestions for the science education community relative to the emergence of STEM. This article is written from the perspective of improving the teaching and learning of science, and if I-STEM can be shown to further advance that aim, it would be foolish not to embrace it. However, if I-STEM is being promoted on the tenuous empirical and philosophical foundation we see presently, we must slow down. We must ensure that we really want this revolution in science education to succeed. We worry that science content and process learning opportunities might too easily be lost in a rush to teach STEM in a manner that gives substantial instructional time and energy to all of the disciplines regardless of the context of the classroom in which it is taught.
Reliability Characteristics of a High Density Metal- Insulator-Metal Capacitor on Intel’s 10+ Process

We present a high density MIM decoupling capacitor that enables improved microprocessor performance by providing robust on-chip power supply droop reduction. The MIM dielectric is fabricated using ALD-deposited HfO 2 -Al 2 O 3 and HfO 2 -ZrO 2 high-k dielectrics with PVD TiN electrodes. We achieve single MIM-cap densities of 37 fF/μm2 and 52 fF/μm2 that meet reliability requirement for both 1.98 V and 1.26 V use conditions. The reliability of the HfO 2 -ZrO 2 capacitor shows minimal voltage polarity dependence, which enables the use of multi-plate MIM-caps to increase capacitance density. We achieved a capacitance density of 141 fF/μm2 with a four-plate configuration, representing a 3.5× improvement over the reported capacitance density on Intel’s 14 nm process. In addition, the stack meets environmental stress tests. This MIM- cap improves the on-chip power delivery network, leading to an increase in maximum frequency of microprocessors and is now shipping in volume.
Three reasons to use annual payments in contingent valuation surveys: Convergent validity, discount rates, and mental accounting ☆

Abstract We present three arguments for using ongoing annual payments in contingent valuation (CV) surveys that estimate the benefit of a long-lasting environmental improvement. First, by matching the duration of the payments with the duration of the environmental benefits, survey respondents are spared from performing complicated present value calculations. Second, willingness to pay (WTP) estimates from CV surveys that include ongoing annual payments best match WTP estimates obtained using travel cost surveys. Third, respondents are less likely to face binding mental budget constraints with ongoing annual payments than with a larger one-time payment. In addition, respondents’ discount rates may be estimated by collecting non-hypothetical, individual time preference data as part of the valuation survey.
The Impact of Culture on Ethical Business Decision-Making

Battels (1967) proposed that values and customs, religion, laws, patriotism, respect for individuality, and properly rights were factors influencing ethics decisions. Ferrell and Gresham (1985), in their contingency framework for understanding ethical decision- making, recognize that the social/cultural environment influences ethical behavior. Hunt and Vitell (1986, 1992) contend that the resolution of an ethical dilemma depends on the philosophical perspective the decision maker employs and postulate that the cultural environment (religion, legal system, and political system) is one of the important predictors of an individual’s ethical decision-making process. Unfortunately, these theoretical models of ethical decision-making do not tell us how culture influences ethical decision-making (Vitell, Nwachykwu, and Barnes 1993).