cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retooling CalEnviroScreen: cumulative pollution burden and race-based environmental health vulnerabilities in California.

The California Community Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen) advances research and policy pertaining to environmental health vulnerability. However, CalEnviroScreen departs from its historical foundations and comparable screening tools by no longer considering racial status as an indicator of environmental health vulnerability and predictor of cumulative pollution burden. This study used conceptual frameworks and analytical techniques from environmental health and inequality literature to address the limitations of CalEnviroScreen, especially its inattention to race-based environmental health vulnerabilities. It developed an adjusted measure of cumulative pollution burden from the CalEnviroScreen 2.0 data that facilitates multivariate analyses of the effect of neighborhood racial composition on cumulative pollution burden, net of other indicators of population vulnerability, traffic density, industrial zoning, and local and regional clustering of pollution burden. Principal component analyses produced three new measures of population vulnerability, including Latina/o cumulative disadvantage that represents the spatial concentration of Latinas/os, economic disadvantage, limited English-speaking ability, and health vulnerability. Spatial error regression analyses demonstrated that concentrations of Latinas/os, followed by Latina/o cumulative disadvantage, are the strongest demographic determinants of adjusted cumulative pollution burden. Findings have implications for research and policy pertaining to cumulative impacts and race-based environmental health vulnerabilities within and beyond California.
Midshaft humeral fracture following a proximal humeral fracture: a case report.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Proximal humeral fractures are relatively uncommon injuries. While previous research has led to effective clinical and diagnostic evaluation and treatment of proximal fractures, less is currently known regarding the typical evaluation and treatment of midshaft humeral fractures. The purpose of this case is to describe the clinical reasoning and utilization of diagnostic imaging in the physical therapy management of a midshaft humeral fracture, sustained during the course of rehabilitation of a proximal humerus fracture. CASE DESCRIPTION A 63-year-old female recreational tennis player presented to physical therapy, progressing well following a proximal humeral fracture, sustained 18 weeks prior. During the course of care, the patient had a significant regression in range of motion and function, with increased pain, following a seemingly trivial injury. Based on a cluster of subjective and objective flags, the therapist was concerned about a new fracture. The therapist communicated findings with a physician and recommended plain film radiographs before continuing therapy. OUTCOMES Radiographs showed an oblique displaced fracture extending through the midshaft of the humerus. The patient ultimately underwent surgical plating. At one-year post injury e-mail follow up, she had functional mobility of her left arm, and was playing tennis recreationally three times a week. DISCUSSION In this case, a patient who was progressing well following a proximal humeral fracture sustained a separate displaced fracture of the midshaft of the humerus, not associated with therapy. Her reported mechanism was not consistent with a typical injury. This highlights the need for clinicians, specifically physical therapists, to cluster subjective information, objective data, and the patient's medical history when interpreting patient appropriateness for therapy, and to optimize outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 5 (single case report).
Implications of aging research for society.

The success, until now, of the human species in controlling the resources of this planet for its own benefit is based on two features unique to man. The first of these is a brain capable of assimilating experience in memory, organizing such experience into abstract categories, making predictions based on regularities in nature, inventing structures (machines and societies) that have modified nature in man’s interest, and finally the communication of subjective experience between members of the species symbolically through written and spoken languages. The second uniquely human feature is a sufficiently long life-span to make the above-mentioned qualities of the human brain useful. We are the longest lived of the highly evolved animals.
Investigating Magnetic and Multiferroic Oxide Thin Films with Quantum Beam Techniques

Thin films of complex oxides show great promise for a wide range of functional properties, including magnetism and multiferroic behaviour, which can be induced and tuned by a careful choice of parameters such as epitaxial strain, stoichiometry, sample geometry (e.g. through artificial heterostructures), and applied electric and magnetic fields.
Chemical Functionalization of Helical Carbon Nanotubes: Influence of Sonication Time and Concentrations of Sulfuric and Nitric Acids with 3 : 1 Mixing Ratio

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with straight geometries have been widely studied for various engineering applications, and they are often treated or functionalized to improve their effectiveness, depending on their role and expected performance. However, helical configurations of CNTs (HCNTs) have not been sufficiently investigated, especially in their functionalized states for high-performance nanocomposite applications. The coil-shaped geometry of these HCNTs increases the mechanical entanglement of these nanotubes with a host resin system when they are used as reinforcements. This consequently has the potential to improve the mechanical, thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties of the polymeric matrix systems. A uniform dispersion of CNTs in the resin plays an important role in obtaining improved and consistent properties in the final nanocomposite part. To improve the homogeneous dispersion (individual suspension) of these nanotubes in the host resin and to enhance their interactions/bonds with the resin molecules, the surface of these nanotubes should be modified. This study investigates a sonication method for chemical functionalization of HCNTs using a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids with 3 to 1 mixing ratio [3 : 1], and it evaluates the effects of acid concentrations and sonication time on the severity of the functionalization process. To evaluate the effectiveness of the process parameters, the functionalized HCNTs (FHCNTs) were examined using several characterization instruments and techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), visual dispersion test, and Raman spectroscopy. The characterization results confirmed that the changes in process parameters were mostly effective and the atomic structures of the functionalized HCNTs were successfully altered. All FHCNT samples demonstrated higher dispersion uniformity, increase in Raman ID/IG ratios, and changes in the FTIR spectra compared to the pristine HCNTs. Most of the FHCNTs had a reduction in crystallinity, which was consistent with our expectation that functionalization generates more defects on the surface structure of HCNTs, thus leading to a lower intensity of the graphitic peak. The largest reduction in crystallinity was seen for HCNTs treated with a 16 molarity acidic solution; therefore, the HCNTs that were treated with lower molarity acids could be used for further studies and explored for their effective applications in improving the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of polymeric nanocomposites.
The number of certain integral polynomials and nonrecursive sets of integers, Part 1

Given r > 2, we establish a good upper bound for the number of multivariate polynomials (with as many variables and with as large degree as we wish) with integer coefficients mapping the cube with real coordinates from [-r,r] into [-t,t]. This directly translates to a nice statement in logic (more specifically recursion theory) with a corresponding phase transition case of 2 being open. We think this situation will be of real interest to logicians. Other related questions are also considered. In most of these problems our main idea is to write the multivariate polynomials as a linear combination of products of scaled Chebyshev polynomials of one variable.
Effect of Brassica crop-based biofumigation on soilborne disease suppression in woody ornamentals

Soilborne diseases are the most economically important problem for ornamental nursery producers in the southeastern United States. The use of cover crops selected based on their biofumigant activit...
Ethyl 3-(9-chloro-10-oxo-9,10-di-hydro-anthracen-9-yl)-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-carboxyl-ate.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C21H16ClNO4, contains two independent mol­ecules (A and B), each adopting a conformation wherein the isoxazole ring is roughly orthogonal to the anthrone ring. The dihedral angle between the mean plane of the isoxazole (all atoms) and the mean plane of the anthrone (all atoms) is 88.48 (3)° in one mol­ecule and 89.92 (4)° in the other. The ester is almost coplanar with the isoxazole ring, with mean-plane dihedral angles of 2.48 (15) and 8.62 (5)°. In both mol­ecules, the distance between the ester carbonyl O atom and the anthrone ketone C atom is about 3.3 A. The anthrone ring is virtually planar (r.m.s. deviations of 0.070 and 0.065 A) and adopts a shallow boat conformation in each mol­ecule, as evidenced by the sum of the six intra-B-ring torsion angles [41.43 (15) and 34.38 (15)° for molecules A and B, respectively]. The closest separation between the benzene moieties of anthrones A and B is 5.1162 (7) A, with an angle of 57.98 (5)°, consistent with an edge-to-face π-stacking inter­action. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N inter­actions link the mol­ecules, forming a three-dimensional network.
Globalization and the United States Constitution: How Much Can it Accommodate

Globalization "denotes a process of denationalization of clusters of political, economic and social activities."1 No longer may a country govern itself efficiently without considering its impact on the global community or the global community's impact on it. "[A]ll nation-states, including the United States..., are more vulnerable to actions and decisions rendered outside their respective borders than ever before."2 The search for the best means of developing national, regional, and world economies has led to supra-national organization on a regional scale. The European Union (E.U.) provides the most integrated and long-standing example of this phenomenon. Within it, Member States have submitted themselves to a different and higher jurisdiction of law that directly affects their sovereignty.3 By binding together economically, and now politically, on a regional level and establishing a program of integration, the countries of the E.U. aim to bring greater economic strength to themselves than they could have attained as individual states.4 The pursuit of the common European good has resulted in confrontations with the constitutions of some E.U. Member States. In this discussion, Germany will serve as the prime example of these confrontations because its federal governmental structure is similar to that of the United States.
A method to predict energy barriers in stress modulated solid–solid phase transitions

Abstract Stress can be applied to modulate solid-solid phase transitions because the stress changes the transition energy barrier which determines the phase transition rate. The lower the barrier, the higher the rate and more likely the phase transition occurs. This paper presents a new theoretical method – finite deformation Bell theory (FD-BT), which is developed based on the concept of the original Bell theory, for predicting transition barriers as a function of the applied stress field. The theory is applied to study the phase transitions of two model materials which exhibit distinct transition mechanisms: 2D MoTe2 from 2H phase to 1T′ phase, and silicon from diamond phase to β-tin phase. The theoretical predictions are compared with the atomistic simulation results obtained from the finite deformation nudged elastic band (FD-NEB) method, which has been recently developed to compute stress dependent barriers of the transitions under finite deformation.
Salen Zn complexes along with ZnO nanowires for dye sensitized solar cells

Zn Schiff based complexes with high conductivity were synthesized with a facile approach at low cost. As dye sensitizers, Zn complexes have been attempted to construct Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), along with vertically aligned ZnO nanowires as a scaffold and an electron transporting layer for more dye load and better electron transporting pathways. The power conversion efficiency was examined by the I-V curve. Compared with the solar devices based on conventional TiO2 nanoparticles with an efficiency of 0.815%, the solar cells with ZnO nanowires outperform greatly, with a much better efficiency of 3.68%, which holds a great potential for the widespread applications in dye sensitized solar cells devices.
Antibiotic-resistant pathogens associated with urinary tract infections in nursing homes: Summary of data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network Long-Term Care Facility Component, 2013-2017.

Objective: Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a growing and highly prevalent problem in nursing homes. We describe selected AR phenotypes from pathogens causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) reported by nursing homes to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Design: Pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility testing results for UTI events in nursing homes between January 2013 and December 2017 were analyzed. The pathogen distribution and pooled mean proportion of isolates that tested resistant to select antibiotic agents are reported. Setting and Participants: US nursing homes voluntarily participating in the Long-Term Care Facility component of the NHSN. Results: Overall, 243 nursing homes reported 1 or more UTIs: 121 (50%) were nonprofit facilities, median bed size was 91 (range: 9–801), and average occupancy was 87%. In total, 6,157 pathogens were reported for 5,485 UTI events. Moreover, 9 pathogens accounted for 90% of all reported UTIs; the 3 most frequently identified were Escherichia coli (41%), Proteus species (14%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae/oxytoca (13%). Among E. coli, fluoroquinolone, and extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance were most prevalent (50% and 20%, respectively). Although Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium represented <5% of pathogens reported, they had the highest rates of resistance (67% methicillin resistant and 60% vancomycin resistant, respectively). Multidrug resistance was most common in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11%). For the resistant phenotypes we assessed, 36% of all UTIs reported were associated with a resistant pathogen. Conclusions: This is the first summary of AR among common pathogens causing UTIs reported to NHSN by nursing homes. Improved understanding of the resistance burden among common infections helps inform facility infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship efforts.
Abstract B02: Combined inhibition of mTOR and Src family kinases enhances treatment effects in prostate cancer cells

Hyperactivated Akt/mTOR pathway and Src family kinases (SFKs) pathway commonly occur in prostate cancer that is highly associated with disease progression and poor prognosis. Therefore, small-molecule inhibitors targeting these pathways have been studied extensively for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Nevertheless, clinical observation suggests that individual treatment with either inhibitor only yields limited antitumor effects in patients. One possible interpretation is that these signaling pathways are redundant, such that blocking one pathway is not sufficient to yield considerable efficacies. In this regard, we combined mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and Src inhibitor dasatinib to detect functional behaviors in prostate cancer cells. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT, and clonogenic survival was tested by colony formation assay. Cell migration was assessed by “wound-healing” scratch assay. Protein expression was detected by Western blot analysis. We found that rapamycin plus dasatinib showed greater inhibition on cell proliferation and clonogenic survival than either single agent. Such combination effects were additive in PC-3 and synergistic in DU145 cells, respectively, as reflected by combination index calculation. In addition, cell migration was suppressed to a greater extent by combination treatment than either treatment alone. At the molecular level, co-targeting mTOR and SFKs leads to strong inhibition of not only phosphorylation of these two proteins but also their downstream components such as Akt, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), S6K and 4E-BP1. These data indicate that co-targeting mTOR and Src pathways is able to achieve enhanced tumor-suppressing effects in prostate cancer cells with overexpression of both kinases, suggesting that this combinative intervention modality may serve as a potential anticancer strategy that could be further tested in advanced prostate cancer models in vivo. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Yao Dai, Dietmar W Siemann. Combined inhibition of mTOR and Src family kinases enhances treatment effects in prostate cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling; 2018 Nov 30-Dec 8; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(10_Suppl):Abstract nr B02.
Indigenizing food sovereignty

First paragraph: It has been nearly 25 years since the international peasants’ movement La Via Campesina outlined a “food sovereignty” framework at the 1996 World Food Summit. Since that time, the broader food sovereignty movement continues to accelerate, drawing renewed attention as the escalating climate crisis and global pandemic lay bare the corporate food system’s production of environmental and racial injustices. Despite its institutionalization in a growing number of academic food studies pro­grams, however, food sovereignty’s theorization and praxis continue to be shaped in contexts typically absent of Indigenous voices. This is a starkly ironic reality considering that corporate food systems in settler-colonial societies like Canada and the United States are enabled by the ongoing hoarding of Indigenous ecological resources. . . .
Imaging topology of Hofstadter ribbons

Physical systems with non-trivial topological order find direct applications in metrology (Klitzing et al 1980 Phys. Rev. Lett. 45 494-7) and promise future applications in quantum computing (Freedman 2001 Found. Comput. Math. 1 183-204; Kitaev 2003 Ann. Phys. 303 2-30). The quantum Hall effect derives from transverse conductance, quantized to unprecedented precision in accordance with the system's topology (Laughlin 1981 Phys. Rev. B 23 5632-33). At magnetic fields beyond the reach of current condensed matter experiment, around 104 T, this conductance remains precisely quantized with values based on the topological order (Thouless et al 1982 Phys. Rev. Lett. 49 405-8). Hitherto, quantized conductance has only been measured in extended 2D systems. Here, we experimentally studied narrow 2D ribbons, just 3 or 5 sites wide along one direction, using ultracold neutral atoms where such large magnetic fields can be engineered (Jaksch and Zoller 2003 New J. Phys. 5 56; Miyake et al 2013 Phys. Rev. Lett. 111 185302; Aidelsburger et al 2013 Phys. Rev. Lett. 111 185301; Celi et al 2014 Phys. Rev. Lett. 112 043001; Stuhl etal 2015 Science 349 1514; Mancini et al 2015 Science 349 1510; An et al 2017 Sci. Adv. 3). We microscopically imaged the transverse spatial motion underlying the quantized Hall effect. Our measurements identify the topological Chern numbers with typical uncertainty of 5%, and show that although band topology is only properly defined in infinite systems, its signatures are striking even in nearly vanishingly thin systems.
Alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone and mephedrone self-administration produce differential neurochemical changes following short- or long-access conditions in rats.

Abstract Stimulant-induced neurochemical changes may occur at different times for different brain regions or neurotransmitter systems. This study sought to examine the behavioral and neurochemical effects of extended access to α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) and 4-methylmethcathinone (4MMC). Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer α-PVP (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) or 4MMC (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) through autoshaping, and then self-administered for 21 days during 1 h (short access; ShA) or 6 h (long access; LgA) sessions. Separate rats were assigned to a naive control group. Amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), striatum, and thalamus were extracted, and tissue was analyzed with electrochemical detection and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Rats acquired self-administration of α-PVP and 4MMC, and LgA rats showed more escalation of self-administration than ShA rats. Synthetic cathinone administration produced several effects on neurotransmitters. LgA self-administration of α-PVP increased 5-HIAA levels in all brain regions, compared to control. In contrast, both LgA and ShA 4MMC self-administration decreased 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels in most brain regions. LgA exposure to both synthetic cathinones increased DOPAC levels in hypothalamus and striatum, and increased HVA levels in striatum compared to control. LgA self-administration of either synthetic cathinone produced region-specific increases in NE levels, whereas ShA self-administration lowered NE levels in select locations compared to control. These alterations in neurotransmitter levels indicate that synthetic cathinone use may produce differential neurochemical changes during the transition from use to abuse, and that 21 days of self-administration only models the beginning stages of dysregulated drug intake.
States, Markets, and the Nonprofit Sector in South Asia: Judiciaries and the Struggle for Capital in Comparative Perspective

This Article explores the increasing tendency of nonprofit organizations to seek capital for expansion of operations and their struggle with national authorities to be able to attract such capital. In the developing world, attracting foreign capital (through donations) and attracting capital through commercial operations of various kinds are important such methods, but each often brings nonprofits into contact with governmental authorities seeking to regulate capital access by the nonprofit sector. And courts are often called upon to decide these complex and weighty disputes. This Article explores these conflicts in the context of South Asia and of two important cases, one involving the prominent Calcutta nonprofit Calcutta Rescue, the other involving the large Bangladeshi organization BRAC, in which prominent nonprofits sought access to donative and commercial capital.
Effects of implant rotational malposition on contact surface area after implantation of the augmented glenoid baseplate in the setting of glenoid bone loss.

Augmented glenoid baseplates are utilized in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in the setting of glenoid bone loss. These implants permit lateralization of the joint line and correction of bony version abnormalities. To allow bone preservation in the setting of abnormal bony version or deficiency, the backside of the augmented glenoid baseplate is not perpendicular to the axis of the central post/screw. Thus, if the baseplate is implanted with any rotational malposition, this could affect the backside contact area available for ingrowth. The purpose of this study was to assess if rotational malpositioning of a full-wedge augmented baseplate alongside the axis of the central screw significantly affects the glenoid implant backside contact area. Seven synthetic scapulas (Sawbones, Vashon, WA) were used to implant a 15° full-wedge glenoid baseplate (Wright Medical, Memphis, TN) according to the manufacturer’s technique. The contact pressure between the baseplate and the glenoid surface at rotational positions 5°, 10°, and 15° clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) from the central axis was measured with Extreme Low Fujifilm Prescale (Tekscan, Boston, MA). The data was analyzed digitally to obtain a percentage of contact surface area. To evaluate gross contact, a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed and manual measurements of contact between the glenoid and the baseplate were conducted using a standardized axial CT slice. The average contact area at zero degrees of malrotation was 37.26 ± 3.27%. Average contact areas for the simulated malposition cases were 13.99 ± 9.39% at 15° CCW, 24.89 ± 5.11% at 10° CW, and 19.32 ± 3.13% at 15° CW. Each of these results was significant (p < 0.003). On computed tomography, at 15° CCW, the contact area decreased by 39%; at 15° CW, the contact area decreased by 38%. The use of augmented glenoid baseplates presents a technical challenge. It is difficult to avoid implant malrotation along the axis of the central peg/screw, because the final rotation of the baseplate must be chosen while the implant is several centimeters away from the bone. This study found that 10° and 15° malrotation about the glenoid baseplate’s central axis leads to significant decreases in the implant-bone contact area. When implanting an augmented baseplate for total shoulder arthroplasty, it is important to minimize baseplate malrotation to decrease the risk of baseplate loosening.
An Integrated Management Paradigm for Skull Base Chordoma Based on Clinical and Molecular Characteristics.

Objective Previous work categorized skull base chordoma (SBC) into three genetic risk groups based on 1p36 and homozygous 9p21(p16) deletions, accounting for a wide variability in prognosis (A = low-risk, B = intermediate-risk, C = high-risk). However, it remains unclear how these groups could guide management. Study Design By integrating surgical outcome and adjuvant radiation (AdjXRT) information with genetic data on 152 tumors, we sought to develop an evidence-based management algorithm for SBC. Results Gross total resections (GTRs) were associated with improved progression free survival (PFS) in all genetic groups. For Group C tumors, GTR and AdjXRT independently contributed to PFS (multivariate Cox proportional hazard ratio [HR] = 0.14, p = 0.002, and HR = 0.40, p = 0.047, respectively). For Group B tumors, AdjXRT improved outcomes only when GTR was not feasible (log-rank p = 0.008), but not following GTR (log-rank p = 0.54). However, 24 of 25 Group A tumors underwent GTR, and AdjXRT for these did not confer any benefit (log-Rank p = 0.285). The high GTR rates in Group A could be explained by smaller tumor sizes (mean = 0.98cc/4.08cc/4.92cc for Group A/B/C, respectively, p = 0.031) and lack of invasiveness. Group A tumors were also more frequently diagnosed in young people ( p = 0.002) as asymptomatic lesions ( p = 0.001), suggesting that they could be precursors to tumors in higher risk groups. Conclusion Genotypic grouping by 1p36 and homozygous 9p21(p16) deletions can predict prognosis in SBC and guide management. GTR remains the cornerstone of SBC treatment and can be sufficient without AdjXRT in low and intermediate risk tumors. Low-risk tumors are associated with a less invasive phenotype, which makes them more amenable to GTR.
VentMon: An Open Source Inline Ventilator Tester and Monitor

Abstract Humanitarian engineers responded to the pandemic ventilator shortage of March, 2020 by beginning over 100 open source ventilator projects [Robert L. Read et al. COVID-19 Vent List. Oct. 2020. url: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1inYw5H4RiL0AC_J9vPWzJxXCdlkMLPBRdPgEVKF8DZw/edit#gid=0 , Joshua M. Pearce. A review of open source ventilators for COVID-19 and future pandemics. In: F1000Research 9 (2020).]. By ventilator, we mean both an invasive ventilator (requiring intubation of the patient) and non-invasive ventilator (generally supporting spontaneously breathing). Inexpensive ventilator test equipment can facilitate projects forced to be geographically distributed by lockdowns. The VentMon is a modular, open source, IoT-enabled tester that plugs into a standard 22 mm airway between a ventilator and a physical test lung to test any ventilator. The VentMon measures flow, pressure, fractional oxygen, humidity, and temperature. Data is stored and graphed at a data lake accessible to all devlopment team members, and, eventually, clinicians. The open source design of the VentMon, its firmware, and cloud-based software may allow it to be used as a component of modular ventilators to provide a clinical readout. The software system surrounding VentMon has been designed to be as modular and composable as possible. By combining new, openly published standards for data with composable and modifiable hardware, the VentMon forms the beginning of an open system or eco-system of ventilation devices and data. Thanks to grants, 20 VentMons have been given away free of charge to pandemic response teams building open source ventilators.
CB1 receptor neutral antagonist treatment epigenetically increases neuropeptide Y expression and decreases alcohol drinking.

Alcohol consumption is mediated by several important neuromodulatory systems, including the endocannabinoid and neuropeptide Y (NPY) systems in the limbic brain circuitry. However, molecular mechanisms through which cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptors regulate alcohol consumption are still unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the CB1 receptor-mediated downstream regulation of NPY via epigenetic mechanisms in the amygdala. Alcohol drinking behavior was measured in adult male C57BL/6J mice treated with a CB1 receptor neutral antagonist AM4113 using a two-bottle choice paradigm while anxiety-like behavior was assessed in the light-dark box (LDB) test. The CB1 receptor-mediated changes in the protein levels of phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element binding protein (pCREB), CREB binding protein (CBP), H3K9ac, H3K14ac and NPY, and the mRNA levels of Creb1, Cbp, and Npy were measured in amygdaloid brain structures. Npy-specific changes in the levels of acetylated histone (H3K9/14ac) and CBP in the amygdala were also measured. We found that the pharmacological blockade of CB1 receptors with AM4113 reduced alcohol consumption and, in an ethanol-naive cohort, reduced anxiety-like behavior in the LDB test. Treatment with AM4113 also increased the mRNA levels of Creb1 and Cbp in the amygdala as well as the protein levels of pCREB, CBP, H3K9ac and H3K14ac in the central and medial nucleus of amygdala, but not in the basolateral amygdala. Additionally, AM4113 treatment increased occupancy of CBP and H3K9/14ac at the Npy gene promoter, leading to an increase in both mRNA and protein levels of NPY in the amygdala. These novel findings suggest that CB1 receptor-mediated CREB signaling plays an important role in the modulation of NPY function through an epigenetic mechanism and further support the potential use of CB1 receptor neutral antagonists for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
Nightmare on Main Street: The Paramount Picture Horror Show

This article examines Delaware's plight in shareholder disregard. First, the article presents an overview of key Delaware Supreme Court decisions in the shareholder rights area handed down in the 1970s and 1980s. Although the initial impression of these cases may convey that the law of fiduciary duty is vigilant in Delaware, closer analysis reveals that laxity all too often prevails. The article then turns to the Delaware high court's decision in Paramount, presenting a critical analysis of the court's rationale. Last, the article posits that, although Delaware slights legitimate shareholder interests, it is more protective of those interests than a number of other states.
First inspire, then instruct to improve students’ creativity

Abstract Creativity is one of the most essential skills for success in life in our dynamic, complex world. For instance, we are currently facing major problems with the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires creative thinking for solutions. To increase the pool of creative thinkers, we need tools that can assess and support people's creativity. With advances in technologies, as well as in computer and learning sciences, we can create such support tools. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a creativity-support system that we developed in the level editor of an educational game called Physics Playground. Our goal was to improve college students' creativity. Participants (n = 114) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions and instructed to create as many creative game levels as possible in about two hours. The four conditions included: (1) Inspirational – with supports that provided access to a website with example levels, a brainstorming tool, and a remote association activity; (2) Instructional – with supports that provided specific instructions to first design as many levels as possible, then pick four of the levels, and enhance them using a tool called SCAMPER; (3) Both – with both inspirational and instructional supports; and (4) No Support, which did not include any creativity supports. The major finding from this research was that the Both condition was significantly more effective than the other conditions in improving students' creativity measured by the creativity of the game levels created by the students. Implications of the findings, limitations, and future research are discussed.
Probabilistic state-of-charge estimation of lithium-ion batteries considering cell-to-cell variability due to manufacturing tolerance

Abstract As lithium-ion batteries are gaining more attention in various industries, analysis of their performances especially state-of-charge becomes critical. Due to manufacturing tolerance, battery model parameters may deviate from the nominal parameters. Such a parameter mismatching issue could result in an inaccurate cell state-of-charge estimation. Conducting cell characterization test for each cell, however, is time consuming and economically not possible in reality. This paper proposes a probabilistic approach for battery state-of-charge estimation considering the cell-to-cell variability so that reliable state-of-charge estimation can be obtained for a batch of similar cells. Therefore, parameter characterization test for each cell is not required while ensuring the state-of-charge estimation reliability. The proposed method consists of two major technical components. Firstly, battery model parameters are calibrated and modeled as Gaussian processes over the state-of-charge domain to account for the cell-to-cell variability. Secondly, state-of-charge variability under any charging/discharging profile is effectively quantified through the seamless integration of the extended Kalman filter and an uncertainty quantification method. As such, confidence-based state-of-charge estimation can be produced. Accurate and efficient estimation of the state-of-charge uncertainty are demonstrated for four battery loading profiles.
A Latent Profile Analysis of Online Dating Patterns Among Single Young Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Despite the increased use of geosocial networking applications for finding sexual partners among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), few studies have examined the intricate patterns of online dating behaviors. In order to advance understanding of online dating patterns among YMSM, various factors, including how frequently and how much time is spent within partner-seeking sites, need to be examined concurrently. Therefore, we used latent profile analysis to identify online dating patterns and logistic regressions to examine their associations with sexual behaviors and relationship characteristics among single YMSM (N = 180; ages 18–24). We found three online dating patterns: discouraged users (N = 93, 52%), date seekers (N = 67, 37%), and instant lovers (N = 20, 11%). Discouraged users were less likely to seek sexual sensational activities, while date seekers were more likely to seek sexual sensational activities. Moreover, instant lovers were less likely to pursue committed romantic relationships, while they reported a higher number of condomless anal intercourse. Given that online dating patterns are not homogeneous, HIV prevention interventions may benefit from tailored approaches based on YMSM’s different online dating profiles.
Creative conflict in African American thought

Part I. Introduction: Consistency ... the Hobgoblin of Little Minds: 1. The meaning of struggle Part II. Frederick Douglass: The Individualist as Race Man: 2. Where honor is due: Frederick Douglass and representative man 3. Writing freely? Douglass's racialization, and desexualization 4. Frederick Douglass, superstar Part III. Alexander Crummell: the Anglophile as Afrocentrist: 5. Africa, Christianity, and civilization 6. Crummell and the new south 7. Crummell, Du Bois, and presentism Part IV. Booker Taliafero Washington: The Idealist as Materialist: 8. Booker T. Washington and the meaning of progress 9. Protestant ethic versus conspicuous consumption Part V. Burghardt Du Bois: The Democrat as Authoritarian: 10. Du Bois on religion and art 11. Du Bois and democracy: a tragic realism 12. Du Bois protestant perfectionism and progressive pragmatism Part VI. Marcus Moziah Garvey: The Realist as Romantic: 13. The birth of tragedy: Garvey's heroic struggles 14. Becoming history: Garvey and the genius of his age Part VII. Conclusion: Saving Heroes from their Admirers: 15. Reality, contradiction and the meaning of progress.
Women's decision making

Synopsis This exploratory study of 100 Northern Irish women in three age groups per family (grandmother, mother, daughter) making family decisions about marriage, children, education, and work found that there was unanimity among the three generations in both perceptions of the preeminence of women's decision making in society and the major differences between the processes of women and men's decision making. Respondents felt that, when making decisions, women (in contrast to men) take more factors into consideration; think and plan further ahead; are more logical and consider consequences of decision making; are more practical, realistic, and sensible; have a greater value for relationships; and are more flexible and willing to admit decision-making mistakes. These differences are precisely those which are currently being conceptualized to constitute excellence in leadership and management in the family, community groups, and broader sociopolitical roles.
An Analysis of Wave Interactions in Swept-Wing Flows

Crossflow instabilities dominate disturbance growth in the leading-edge region of swept wings. It is well known that streamwise vortices in a boundary layer strongly influence the behavior of other disturbances. Amplification of crossflow vortices near the leading edge produces a residual spanwise nonuniformity in the mid-chord regions where Tollmien-Schlichting (T-S) waves are strongly amplified. Should the T-S wave undero double-exponential growth because of this effect, the usual transition prediction methods would fail. Thus it is important to study interactions of this sort and to develop more realistic criteria for transition prediction.
Chapter 16 Condensed Matter Physics and the Nature of Spacetime

Abstract This essay considers the prospects of modeling spacetime as a phenomenon that emerges in the low-energy limit of a quantum liquid. It evaluates three examples of spacetime analogues in condensed matter systems that have appeared in the recent physics literature, indicating the extent to which they are viable, and considers what they suggest about the nature of spacetime.
Receptive field properties in the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus in the absence of on-center retinal input

In the cat, lateral geniculate neurons and retinal ganglion cells can almost all be categorized as on-center (excited by light stimuli) or off-center (excited by dark stimuli). We have investigated how these cells are affected when a drug is applied to the retina that, in the mudpuppy, inactivates on-bipolar cells (Slaughter, M. M., and R. F. Miller (1981) Science 211: 182-185). This drug, D,L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB), is an analogue of glutamate. After injecting APB into the vitreous of the eye, we could record in the optic tract from fibers of off-center retinal ganglion cells that appeared normal in their responses, but we could find no fibers from on-center cells in the injected eye. In the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), the outcome was similar. Of a sample of 144 cells studied quantitatively, 13 had extremely poor responses and could not be characterized as on-or off-center. The remaining 131 cells had off-centers and appeared largely normal. Their receptive field organization was unaltered: the field center was excited by dark (off) stimuli and inhibited by light, whereas the surround was inhibited by off stimulation. Of particular interest was the fact that the surrounds of many off-center cells could still be excited by light stimuli; thus, despite the probable inactivation of on-bipolar cells, not all on-responses in the LGN were abolished. As a group, off-center cells were somewhat less responsive then in control experiments. Except for this change, APB appeared to affect only on-center cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Diacetyl Production and Utilization by Lactobacillus Species

Abstract Single-strain cultures of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum accumulated detectable amounts of diacetyl when grown in milk culture at both 8 and 30C, but strains of Lactobacillus lactis and Lactobacillus brevis did not. Lactobacillus casei strains produced relatively large amounts of diacetyl under these incubation conditions, whereas L. plantarum accumulated this compound in levels of less than 1ppm. Significant differences in the production of diacetyl were noted between strains of a species. Diacetyl reductase activity was demonstrated in single-strain cultures of L. casei, L. lactis , and L. brevis . Diacetyl reductase could be induced in L. plantarum by growth in the presence of citrate. Growth in a milk medium supplemented with citrate resulted in a stimulation of diacetyl reductase activity with L. casei .
Do Unknown Risks Preclude Informed Consent

Allen Buchanan and Daniel Brock, in a widely influential account, Deciding for Others (1990), advocate a sliding scale approach to the determination of whether a patient is competent to make a decision regarding his/her health care. An analysis of two critiques of their position (Beauchamp and Childress (1994), Wicclair (1991 a,b)) reveals a tacit presumption by all of these authors that the greater cognitive challenge often posed by high risk therapies constitutes grounds for an elevated standard of competence. This presumption cannot be consistently maintained in cases where the patient's decision involves experimental therapies. It implies either that informed consent can never take place in such situations, or, perhaps even more counterintuitively, that a lower standard of competency should be used than when the patient is asked to choose only among standard therapies. This essay is available in Essays in Philosophy: http://commons.pacificu.edu/eip/vol4/iss2/5 Essays in Philosophy file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/gilm5276/Desktop/Essays%20HTML/rudge.html[9/18/2009 5:09:40 PM] Essays in Philosophy A Biannual Journal
Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of esophageal verrucous squamous cell cancer

Verrucous squamous cell cancer (VSCC) of the esophagus is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma. This rare entity has been described in only a handful of case reports in the literature. We sought to evaluate the endoscopic features, treatment, and outcomes related to esophageal VSCC. The medical records of all patients with esophageal VSCC seen at our institution from January 1995 to December 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 11 patients (6 men; mean age 66 years [range 57-75 years]) were identified, with a mean follow up of 4 years (range 0.5-10 years) available in nine patients after diagnosis. About half the patients smoked or consumed alcohol on a regular basis. The median time interval from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of esophageal VSCC was 2.5 years (range 1-20 years), with dysphagia being present in all patients. The majority of tumors (8 of 11) exhibited a white, warty, plaque-like appearance with superimposed Candida at endoscopy, which led solely to a diagnosis of Candida esophagitis on initial presentation. The disease was either extensive (n = 5) throughout the esophagus or localized (n = 6) often by tumor nodules or projections, with the lower third of the esophagus being most commonly involved. Initial pinch biopsies were nondiagnostic in eight (73%) of the patients. Six patients underwent esophagectomy; neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy was provided in two. In patients treated solely with surgery and who had a preoperative endoscopic ultrasound, the latter tended to overestimate staging of the lesion relative to surgical pathologic staging. Two patients were deemed to be poor operative candidates and received only chemoradiation treatment. One patient with a T2N0 tumor by endoscopic ultrasound staging was managed symptomatically with intermittent endoscopic dilation because of significant comorbidities that precluded surgery and oncologic therapy. There has been no evidence for residual or recurrent neoplastic disease in the eight patients who received treatment with surgery and/or chemoradiation therapy. Five of six patients who underwent surgery have required intermittent endoscopic dilation of anastomotic strictures during follow up. One of the two patients who received only chemoradiation therapy has required periodic endoscopic dilation for radiation-induced esophageal stricture. Two of the nine (22%) patients have died of causes unrelated to VSCC or its treatment at last follow up. In conclusion, a high index of suspicion for esophageal VSCC should be raised by the presence of long-standing symptoms coupled with white, warty esophageal lesions seen on endoscopic evaluation. Candida overgrowth can be expected to confound the diagnosis. Despite the long duration of symptoms, surgical resection typically shows relatively low-grade tumors, consistent with the rare propensity of this variant of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to metastasize.
Interlaminar Fracture Analysis of Composite Laminates Under Bending and Combined Bending and Extension

Interlaminar fracture or delamination is a primary damage mode in laminated composites. It is caused by high interlaminar stresses which are produced by local stress raisers such as holes, free edges, ply drops, and otherdefects and discontinuities which may be manufacturing related or service induced. Delaminations alter internal load paths and usually contribute to the ultimate failure of the structure. The present work is concerned with the development of a simple analytical model which permits the rapidly varying interlaminar stresses and energy release rate to be estimated by elementary means. Extensive numerical computations are avoided, and the results are obtained in closed form. The model is applied to the edge delamination specimen subjected to uniform bending and combined bending and extension loadings. Interlaminar stresses, total energy release rate, and energy release rate components are estimated.