cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of Broadband Dielectric Properties of 10% Formalin and 1,4 Dioxane using Dispersive Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

The broadband dielectric properties of 10 % formalin and 1,4 dioxane are presented in this paper. A variable temperature, variable thickness interferometer was assembled to perform dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopy on liquids. Using the two thickness method, the refractive index, absorption coefficient, real and imaginary permittivity, and loss tangent were obtained as a continuous function of frequency from 60 to 600 GHz (2-200 cm). Knowledge of these properties can facilitate future research in examining certain tissues and mixtures. Tests on chlorobenzene were also conducted as a calibration reference
Scheduling task parallelism on multi-socket multicore systems

The recent addition of task parallelism to the OpenMP shared memory API allows programmers to express concurrency at a high level of abstraction and places the burden of scheduling parallel execution on the OpenMP run time system. This is a welcome development for scientific computing as supercomputer nodes grow "fatter" with multicore and manycore processors. But efficient scheduling of tasks on modern multi-socket multicore shared memory systems requires careful consideration of an increasingly complex memory hierarchy, including shared caches and NUMA characteristics. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical scheduling strategy that leverages different methods at different levels of the hierarchy. By allowing one thread to steal work on behalf of all of the threads within a single chip that share a cache, our scheduler limits the number of costly remote steals. For cores on the same chip, a shared LIFO queue allows exploitation of cache locality between sibling tasks as well between a parent task and its newly created child tasks. We extended the open-source Qthreads threading library to implement our scheduler, accepting OpenMP programs through the ROSE compiler.We also present a comprehensive performance study of diverse OpenMP task parallel benchmarks, comparing seven different task parallel run time scheduler implementations on current generation multi-socket multicore systems: our hierarchical work stealing scheduler, a fully-distributed work stealing scheduler, a centralized scheduler, and LIFO and FIFO versions of the original Qthreads fully-distributed scheduler. In addition, we compare our results against OpenMP implementations from Intel and GCC. Hierarchical scheduling in Qthreads is competitive on all benchmarks. On several benchmarks, hierarchical scheduling in Qthreads demonstrates speedup and absolute performance superior to both the Intel and GCC OpenMP run time systems.
Spatio-temporal Flow Analysis in Bileaflet Heart Valve Hinge Regions: Potential Analysis for Blood Element Damage

Point-wise velocity measurements have been traditionally acquired to estimate blood damage potential induced by prosthetic heart valves with emphasis on peak values of velocity magnitude and Reynolds stresses. However, the inherently Lagrangian nature of platelet activation and hemolysis makes such measurements of limited predictive value. This study provides a refined fluid mechanical analysis, including blood element paths and stress exposure times, of the hinge flows of a CarboMedics bileaflet mechanical heart valve placed under both mitral and aortic conditions and a St Jude Medical bileaflet valve placed under aortic conditions. The hinge area was partitioned into characteristic regions based on dominant flow structures and spatio-temporal averaging was performed on the measured velocities and Reynolds shear stresses to estimate the average bulk stresses acting on blood elements transiting through the hinge. A first-order estimate of viscous stress levels and exposure times were computed. Both forward and leakage flow phases were characterized in each partition by dynamic flows dependent on subtle leaflet movements and transvalvular pressure fluctuations. Blood elements trapped in recirculation regions may experience exposure times as long as the entire forward flow phase duration. Most calculated stresses were below the accepted blood damage threshold. Estimates of the stress levels indicate that the flow conditions within the boundary layers near the hinge and leaflet walls may be more detrimental to blood cells than bulk flow conditions, while recirculation regions may promote thrombus buildup.
Expression of Opioid Receptors and Ligands in Pregnant Mouse Uterus and Placenta

The endogenous opioid system has been implicated in the regulation of hormonal secretion, pain perception, and uterine contractility during pregnancy, but there is only limited information about the cellular location of opioid receptor and opioid peptide gene expression in the pregnant rodent uterus and placenta. In this study, we have used in situ hybridization to identify expression sites of mRNAs encoding the delta (delta), kappa (kappa), and mu ( micro) opioid receptors as well as the endogenous opioid peptide precursors proenkephalin (PENK), prodynorphin (PDYN), and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in pregnant mouse uterus and placenta. Soon after implantation, all three opioid receptor genes as well as POMC and PENK, but not PDYN, were detected in the uterine environment. Each expressed gene exhibited a distinct expression pattern that was generally retained until late gestation. The delta receptor and POMC were coexpressed in the trophoblast giant cells, which remained the only cells of the placenta/uterus to express these two genes throughout gestation. Cells expressing kappa receptors were absent from the placenta but instead were found in the basal part of the decidualized uterine endometrium. While kappa and micro receptors were transiently expressed in the uterine myometrium (until embryonic day 8.5), substantial levels of PENK were continuously detected in this region until at least embryonic day 18. In addition, complementary expression of the micro receptor and PENK genes in the uterus was detected. Taken together, these results suggest multiple roles for the opioid receptors and opioid peptides in maternal adaptation to pregnancy and in supporting embryo growth.
Small Town Race: A Performance Text

During a research project designed to construct life stories for two students in a small town high school, an opportunity arose that promoted an examination of race relations in a rural context. From information gathered and autobiographical reflections, the author constructed a performance text as a means of presenting the material and promoting discussion of the issues raised. The compiled script includes four scenes showing specific events and characters focusing on the theme of race relations in a rural community. The scenes are punctuated with the words of various theorists to provide a critical perspective, and the author is included in the script as a character who provides narration during the performance. The script ends on a reflective note inviting discussion of the issues. After the script, in an epilogue to the piece, the author has included a brief discussion of the relevance and importance of alternate forms of research presentation.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum-Like Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

A 25-year-old man presented with a large, undermined, violaceous ulcer with hemorrhagic crust on his nose for 1 year. It began as a “pimple”. He had similar lesions on his scalp, abdomen and groin. His sister has Crohn’s and his mother has rheumatoid arthritis. Screening blood tests and CT scans revealed no underlying disease. The clinical impression was pyoderma gangrenosum. Biopsies from the nose and abdomen revealed dense superficial and mid-dermal perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate composed of enlarged, atypical lymphocytes with focal epidermotropism and epidermal necrosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed the infiltrate was primarily CD3 positive T-cells without deficiency of CD4, CD7 or CD8. CD30, TIA and Granzyme were not detected. A T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangement was detected. Flow cytometry was negative. This is a case of pyoderma gangrenosum-like cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of cutaneous lymphoma that clinically resembles PG, but histologically and immunohistochemically is cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Although rare, PG-like ulcers should be added to the list of atypical manifestations of CTCL. This case highlights the need to evaluate all atypical lymphocytic infiltrates thoroughly with immunohistochemistry and gene rearrangement. The diagnosis must be made with caution as proliferative clones of lymphocytes can be found in true PG.
Carbon accretion in unthinned and thinned young-growth forest stands of the Alaskan perhumid coastal temperate rainforest

Accounting for carbon gains and losses in young-growth forests is a key part of carbon assessments. A common silvicultural practice in young forests is thinning to increase the growth rate of residual trees. However, the effect of thinning on total stand carbon stock in these stands is uncertain. In this study we used data from 284 long-term growth and yield plots to quantify the carbon stock in unthinned and thinned young growth conifer stands in the Alaskan coastal temperate rainforest. We estimated carbon stocks and carbon accretion rates for three thinning treatments (basal area removal of 47, 60, and 73 %) and a no-thin treatment across a range of productivity classes and ages. We also accounted for the carbon content in dead trees to quantify the influence of both thinning and natural mortality in unthinned stands. The total tree carbon stock in naturally-regenerating unthinned young-growth forests estimated as the asymptote of the accretion curve was 484 (±26) Mg C ha−1 for live and dead trees and 398 (±20) Mg C ha−1 for live trees only. The total tree carbon stock was reduced by 16, 26, and 39 % at stand age 40 y across the increasing range of basal area removal. Modeled linear carbon accretion rates of stands 40 years after treatment were not markedly different with increasing intensity of basal area removal from reference stand values of 4.45 Mg C ha−1 year−1to treatment stand values of 5.01, 4.83, and 4.68 Mg C ha−1 year−1 respectively. However, the carbon stock reduction in thinned stands compared to the stock of carbon in the unthinned plots was maintained over the entire 100 year period of observation. Thinning treatments in regenerating forest stands reduce forest carbon stocks, while carbon accretion rates recovered and were similar to unthinned stands. However, that the reduction of carbon stocks in thinned stands persisted for a century indicate that the unthinned treatment option is the optimal choice for short-term carbon sequestration. Other ecologically beneficial results of thinning may override the loss of carbon due to treatment. Our model estimates can be used to calculate regional carbon losses, alleviating uncertainty in calculating the carbon cost of the treatments.
The UOSAT magnetometer experiment

The magnetometer aboard the University of Surrey satellite (UOSAT) and its associated electronics are described. The basic fluxgate magnetometer employed has a dynamic range of plus or minus 8000 nT with outputs digitized by a 12-bit successive approximation A-D converter having a resolution of plus or minus 2 nT. Noise in the 3-13 Hz bandwidth is less than 1 nT. A bias field generator extends the dynamic range to plus or minus 64,000 nT with quantization steps of 8000 nT. The magnetometer experiment is expected to provide information on the secular variation of the geomagnetic field, and the decay rate of the dipole term. Special emphasis will be placed on the acquisition of real time and memory data over the poles which can be correlated with that from Magsat.
Discriminating secondary from magmatic water in rhyolitic matrix-glass of volcanic pyroclasts using thermogravimetric analysis

Abstract Pyroclasts from explosive eruptions, such as the 1060 CE explosive Glass Mountain eruption of Medicine Lake volcano, California, contain large amounts of water. This may be the consequence of diffusive rehydration of the volcanic glass by meteoric (secondary) water after the eruption. Discriminating between magmatic and secondary water in the matrix glass of pyroclasts is important, because the degassing of magmatic water affects the intensity of volcanic eruptions. Such discrimination has remained a challenging problem, especially because some aspects of water diffusion in silicate glasses at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure remain poorly constrained. We used thermogravimetry to analyze the loss of water from natural volcanic glasses and glasses that were hydrated in the laboratory at magmatic temperatures and pressures. Numerical modeling of diffusive water loss during thermogravimetric analyses accounted for the interconversion of molecular water (H 2 O m ) and hydroxyls groups (OH), and indicates that Glass Mountain pumices contain 0.2–0.5 wt% primary water, but gained 1–2 wt% of meteoric water by diffusive rehydration during the past 950 years. These results confirm that the majority of magmatic water is lost from the magma during explosive eruptions. Furthermore, the integration of thermogravimetric analysis and numerical modeling facilitates discrimination between the magmatic and secondary water content of volcanic glasses.
R1507, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting IGF-1R, is effective alone and in combination with rapamycin in inhibiting growth of osteosarcoma xenografts.

Background. The combination of rapamycin and R1507, a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the IGF-1 receptor (IGF1R), in osteosarcoma xenograft tumors in vivo is evaluated in this report. Procedure. Six osteosarcoma xenograft tumor models were evaluated for growth inhibition after monotherapy with R1507, rapamycin, and the combination of both drugs. Phosphorylation of proteins involved in IGF-1R signaling is evaluated at various time points by immunoblotting. Results. IGF-1R was expressed in five of the six human osteosarcoma tumor lines. Objective responses to R1507 were seen in four of the six tumor lines (OS1, OS2, OS9, and OS17) including one complete response in OS1. IGF-1R protein levels did not predict degree of response to R1507 in the sensitive tumors. However, in one of the two R1507-resistant tumors (OS33), there was a minimal expression of IGF-1R. An increase in AKT phosphorylation was observed in all the osteosarcoma tumors treated with rapamycin. However, phosphorylation of AKT was inhibited when rapamycin was used in combination with R1507. In three of the xenograft tumor lines, there was an improvement in response when R1507 was used in combination with rapamycin. Conclusions. IGF-1R inhibition by R1507 induced tumor growth delays and improvement in event-free survival in four of six osteosarcoma xenograft tumor lines. R1507 negates increased signaling through AKT in response to mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition, suggesting that the combination is worthy of further evaluation in patients. As R1507 and other IGF-1R inhibitors advance in clinical trials, it will be important to understand biomarkers of response and pathways of resistance. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;55:67‐75. 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Selection of Young Broiler Breeders for Semen Quality Improves Hatchability in an Industry Field Trial

Abstract Previous laboratory research has shown that the sperm quality index (SQI) is predictive of broiler breeder fertility. The SQI is a tool to estimate overall semen quality by monitoring the number of times that sperm movement causes deflections within a light path. An industry field trial was undertaken to determine if life of flock hatchability could be improved by selecting young males for house placement based on the SQI. The SQI was used to select males at 26 wk of age. Males with an SQI in approximately the top 80% of the population were moved into two hen houses, whereas the lower 20% of the SQI population was culled. Two control houses received males selected solely on physical appearance. Life of flock hatchability was improved by 1.1% in the SQI-selected houses over that of males selected for house placement based on physical characteristics alone. The males selected for the SQI numerically outperformed the control males in 64% of the hatches with the greatest difference in hatch occurring during postpeak production. This increase in hatch resulted in 21,000 more chicks being produced in the two houses containing SQI-selected males. In conclusion, the SQI is a useful tool for accurately identifying the reproductive ability of broiler breeder roosters throughout a complete laying cycle.
Exact maximum likelihood estimation using masked system data

This work estimates component reliability from masked series-system life data, viz, data where the exact component causing system failure might be unknown. The authors extend the results of Usher and Hodgson (1988) by deriving exact maximum likelihood estimators (MLE) for the general case of a series system of three exponential components with independent masking. Their previous work shows that closed-form MLE are intractable, and they propose an iterative method for the solution of a system of three nonlinear likelihood equations. >
Variability of resistive switching memories and its impact on crossbar array performance

Metal oxide based resistive switching memories (also known as RRAM for Resistive Random Access Memory) often show large variability, due to the stochastic nature of the switching process. This paper discusses the variability of key RRAM parameters with the focus on the resistance variation. The dependence of resistance variation on operation conditions is analyzed, using Cu 2 O-based RRAM as an example. The impact of device variability on the sensing margin of crossbar RRAM arrays is studied by statistical modeling. The variability of the selected device contributes more to the signal degradation in crossbar arrays than the variability of unselected devices.
Reducing Heavy Drinking in Intercollegiate Athletes: Evaluation of a Web-Based Personalized Feedback Program

This study evaluated the efficacy of a Web-based personalized feedback program aimed at reducing drinking in freshman intercollegiate athletes. The program was offered through the Athletic Department freshman seminar at a NCAA Division I university. Seminar sections were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Web-based personalized feedback (WPF) or Web-based education (WE). Assessment measures were completed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months. Athletes were classified as high-risk or low-risk drinkers based on baseline reports of binge drinking. Results indicated for high-risk athletes, students in the WPF condition reported significantly greater reductions in drinking and changes in beliefs about peer drinking than those in the WE condition. In addition, reductions in drinking were related to reductions in peer drinking estimates for athletes in the WPF group. Findings provide initial support for the efficacy of Web-based personalized feedback for reducing the quantity and frequency of heavy drinki...
The relative impacts of native and introduced predatory fish on a temporary wetland tadpole assemblage

Understanding the relative impacts of predators on prey may improve the ability to predict the effects of predator composition changes on prey assemblages. We experimentally examined the relative impact of native and introduced predatory fish on a temporary wetland amphibian assemblage to determine whether these predators exert distinct (unique or non-substitutable) or equivalent (similar) impacts on prey. Predatory fish included the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus), flagfish (Jordanella floridae), and the introduced walking catfish (Clarias batrachus). The tadpole assemblage included four common species known to co-occur in temporary wetlands in south-central Florida, USA: the oak toad (Bufo quercicus), pinewoods treefrog (Hyla femoralis), squirrel treefrog (Hyla squirella), and eastern narrowmouth toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis). Tadpoles were exposed to different predators in wading pools under conditions similar to those found in surrounding temporary wetlands (particularly in terms of substrate type, the degree of habitat complexity, and temperature). Native predators were similar with respect to predation rate and prey selectivity, suggesting similar energy requirements and foraging behavior. Conversely, native fish predators, especially G. holbrooki, were distinct from the introduced C. batrachus. In contrast to expectations, C. batrachus were less voracious predators than native fish, particularly G. holbrooki. Moreover, survival of G. carolinensis and H. femoralis were higher in the presence of C. batrachus than G. holbrooki. We suggest that C. batrachus was a less efficient predator than native fish because the foraging behavior of this species resulted in low predator-prey encounter rates, and thus predation rate. In combination with a related field study, our results suggest that native predatory fish play a stronger role than C. batrachus in influencing the spatial distribution and abundance of temporary wetland amphibians in the landscape.
Effective Lateral Thermal Conductivity of Square-Cell Cores

The effective thermal conductivity of square-cell cores has been formulated for heat flow lateral to the principal axes of the cells. The formulation is based on a thermal model involving linearized radiation and solid conduction only, where the application is for cored mirrors in space-based optical systems. The formulation uses an effective view-factor correlation that allows a radiative conductance to be isolated as a component acting in parallel with a solid conductance. By analysis for both normal and diagonal global heat flow, relative to the cell pattern, sensitivity of effective thermal conductivity to lateral heat-flow orientation was found to be quite negligible. Nomenclature A = equivalent heat-flow area of diagonal model D = center-to-center cell web spacing E = cell lateral emissivity factor Ep = cell parallel emissivity factor Fe = cell lateral effective view factor Fp = cell parallel view factor k = cell web thermal conductivity ked — effective diagonal thermal conductivity ken = effective normal thermal conductivity kep = effective parallel thermal conductivity Kmn = thermal conductance from m to n L = equivalent heat-flow length of diagonal model / = cell depth parallel to principal cell axes QJ = ideal radiation heat flow qk = linear web conduction heat flow qr = equivalent radiation heat flow qT = total conduction-radiation heat flow Tm = mean absolute temperature of cell Tf = web temperature of unknown / x = equivalent web conduction width (Fig. 4) 5 = web thickness e .= web surface emissivity es = surface emissivity of sheets facing core a = Stefan-Boltzmann constant; 5.67 x 10~' 8 W/m2-K4
Immunological profiling in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps reveals distinct VEGF and GM‐CSF signatures during symptomatic exacerbations

SummaryBackground The mechanisms and immune pathways associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are not fully understood. Immunological changes during acute exacerbation of CRS may provide valuable clues to the pathogenesis and perpetuation of the disease. Objective To characterize local and systemic immune responses associated with acute worsening of sinonasal symptoms during exacerbation in CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) compared to controls. Methods This was a non-interventional prospective study of individuals with CRSwNP and normal controls. Subjects underwent a baseline visit with collection of nasal secretions, nasal washes, and serum specimens. Within 3 days of acute worsening of sinonasal symptoms, subjects underwent a study visit, followed by a post-visit 2 weeks later. The sinonasal outcome test-22 (SNOT-22) scores and immunological parameters in the specimens were analysed using a novel, unsupervised learning method and by conventional univariate analysis. Results Both CRSwNP patients and control subjects showed a significant increase in SNOT-22 scores during acute exacerbation. Increased nasal levels of IL-6, IL-5, and eosinophil major basic protein were observed in CRSwNP patients. A network analysis of serum specimens revealed changes in a set of immunological parameters, which are distinctly associated with CRSwNP but not with controls. In particular, systemic increases in VEGF and GM-CSF levels were notable and were validated by a conventional analysis. Conclusions CRSwNP patients demonstrate distinct immunological changes locally and systemically during acute exacerbation. Growth factors VEGF and GM-CSF may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of subjects with CRS and nasal polyps experiencing exacerbation.
Structural Characterization of Cyp51 from Trypanosoma Cruzi and Trypanosoma Brucei Bound to the Antifungal Drugs Posaconazole and Fluconazole

Background Chagas Disease is the leading cause of heart failure in Latin America. Current drug therapy is limited by issues of both efficacy and severe side effects. Trypansoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of Chagas Disease, is closely related to two other major global pathogens, Leishmania spp., responsible for leishmaniasis, and Trypansoma brucei, the causative agent of African Sleeping Sickness. Both T. cruzi and Leishmania parasites have an essential requirement for ergosterol, and are thus vulnerable to inhibitors of sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), which catalyzes the conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol. Clinically employed anti-fungal azoles inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis in fungi, and specific azoles are also effective against both Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites. However, modification of azoles to enhance efficacy and circumvent potential drug resistance has been problematic for both parasitic and fungal infections due to the lack of structural insights into drug binding.
Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer With TORC1/2 Inhibitors Sustains a Drug-resistant and Notch-dependent Cancer Stem Cell Population

Approximately 30% of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) harbor molecular alterations in PI3K/mTOR signaling, but therapeutic inhibition of this pathway has not been effective. We hypothesized that intrinsic resistance to TORC1/2 inhibition is driven by cancer stem cell (CSC)-like populations that could be targeted to enhance the antitumor action of these drugs. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which PI3K/mTOR inhibitors affect the stem-like properties of TNBC cells. Treatment of established TNBC cell lines with a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor or a TORC1/2 inhibitor increased the expression of CSC markers and mammosphere formation. A CSC-specific PCR array revealed that inhibition of TORC1/2 increased FGF1 and Notch1 expression. Notch1 activity was also induced in TNBC cells treated with TORC1/2 inhibitors and associated with increased mitochondrial metabolism and FGFR1 signaling. Notably, genetic and pharmacologic blockade of Notch1 abrogated the increase in CSC markers, mammosphere formation, and in vivo tumor-initiating capacity induced by TORC1/2 inhibition. These results suggest that targeting the FGFR-mitochondrial metabolism-Notch1 axis prevents resistance to TORC1/2 inhibitors by eradicating drug-resistant CSCs in TNBC, and may thus represent an attractive therapeutic strategy to improve drug responsiveness and efficacy.
Stem Cell, MicroRNA and Redox Cycling

Mobilization and homing of the hematopoietic stem cells appear to be regulated by mechanism involving redox cycling. Stem cells are localized inside bone marrow in a strictly hypoxic environment and must move to the injury site that is subjected to oxidative environment. Cytokines and adhesion molecules control stem cell mobilization through a redox-regulated process. The major hitch in stem cell therapy includes the life of the stem cells after the stem cell therapy; most cells do not survive beyond 24–72 h. Sudden exposure of the stem cells from the hypoxic melieu into the oxidative environment likely causes severe injury to the cells. FoxO-SirT network appears to be intimately involved in redox-regulated stem cell homeostasis, while their differentiation process is regulated by redox factor protein-1, Ref-1. Lack of oxygen [hypoxia], specifically controlled hypoxia can stimulate the growth of the stem cells in their niche, and HIF-1α plays a significant role in their maintenance and homing mechanism. Recently, resveratrol, a polyphenolic phytoalexin, prolonged the survival of the stem cells as evidenced by active proliferation and differentiation of the cells even after 4 months of cell therapy. The enhancement of stem cell survival was shown to be due to the ability of resveratrol to maintain a reduced tissue environment by over-expressing Nrf2 and Ref-1 in rat heart up to 6 months resulting in an enhancement of the regeneration of the adult cardiac stem cells as evidenced by increased cell survival and differentiation leading to improved cardiac function. Expression of stromal cell-derived factor (SDF) and myosin conclusively demonstrated homing of stem cells in the infracted myocardium, its regeneration leading to improvement of cardiac function.
Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency and Type 2C Muscle Fibers

Investigators at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, evaluated retrospectively clinical, laboratory, and muscle histochemistry and oxidative enzyme characteristics in 49 children with suspected mitochondrial disorders.
‘Tiny talks’ between colleagues: Brief narratives as mediation in teacher development:

During my third semester as a student pursuing a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) – which was also my second semester as an ESL teacher – I was encouraged by a professor of a graduate seminar to think outside the box about professional development (PD). After all, inquiry-based approaches to PD and teacher education emphasize reflection and collaboration instead of relying solely on ‘traditional’ methods that tend to favor theory over practice and can result in ‘fact-cramming’ (Warford, 2011). This challenge led me to ponder those quick moments of time that teachers spend walking and talking: between classes, on the way to their cars, catching up before a meeting. Could these short moments and the brief conversations that occur therein provide opportunities for serious reflection for a novice teacher? This project introduces ‘tiny talks’ as instances of narrative as mediation by examining four conversations between two colleagues (both teacher-students, but with different levels of ...
Synthesis, Guest Binding, and Metal Coordination of Functionalized Self-Folding Deep Cavitands

A simple method to introduce donor functions to the upper rim of self-folding benzimidazole-based deep cavitands is described. The upper rim donors allow controlled noncovalent binding of suitably sized guest species via both self-complementary hydrogen bonding and space-filling interactions, and metal-mediated self-folding is possible if bidentate coordinators are incorporated.
The “Blackness of Life”: The Function of Edwin O’Connor’s Comedy

"'Absurd,' Father Feeley said. 'Ludicrous. And yet typical: we live in the midst of a roaring farce."'" Father Feeley's observation, expressed in the novel I Was Dancing (1964), is not one which we would readily associate with the work of Edwin O'Connor, the author of such popular and conventionally realistic novels as The Last Hurrah (1956), The Edge of Sadness (1961), and All in the Family (1966). Certainly, O'Connor is not a practitioner of the Absurd or a pupil in the school of Black Humor, and he would have been quick to reject such classifications. However, Father Feeley's view of the farcical unpredictability and ubiquitous absurdity of human existence does provide a clue to the function of the comedy which plays such an important and entertaining part in O'Connor's novels. This comedy consists largely, though not entirely, in his creation of the hilarious caricatures that critic Hugh Rank calls "comic grotesques"2 and in his persistent underscoring of the ridiculous, the ludicrous, and the incongruous in an otherwise apparently rational world. O'Connor's selfacknowledged interest in vaudeville and his close working relationship with Fred Allen are reflected in such figures as General Walter "Beak" Blackburn of The Oracle (1951), the bumbling "elderly warrior" for whom the hydrogen bomb is just another weapon ("A big weapon, yes, but still a weapon"),3 or Billy Ryan of I Was Dancing, the quack "free lancer of medicine" who keeps dirty socks in his medical bag (IWD, p. 57). Although O'Connor occasionally evokes laughter by means of verbal wit or sarcasm, more often he utilizes his extraordinarily sensitive ear for speech to exaggerate character and to emphasize the ridiculous. Clearly, comedy is a major ingredient of O'Connor's fiction, and his sense of the comic is characterized by an awareness of the extent to which human existence is permeated by absurdity. Anyone who has read O'Connor's novels and has encountered the dozens of minor and not-so-minor comic figures which seem to spring up endlessly in his fiction will understand the charges that the author has not properly assimilated his materials and is indulging in a taste for the comic
Synthesis and Characterization of Luminescent Bis-Cyclometalated PlatinumIV Complexes

Presented is the synthesis and characterization of a series of luminescent heteroleptic bis-cyclometalated platinumIV complexes. An oxidation-facilitated cyclometalation is employed to convert platinumII pendant species into bis-cyclometalated platinumIV dichlorides, which are transformed into the tris-chelated diimine complexes through ligand substitution. The structure−property relationship is probed by judiciously varying substituents on both the C∧N and the N∧N ligands resulting in a family of complexes exhibiting blue emission, long excited-state lifetimes, and highly efficient oxygen quenching. Excited-state properties are corroborated by static and time-dependent density-functional theory calculations of both the singlet and the triplet state.
THE DIRECT EFFECTS OF NIFEDIPINE ON CHOLESTEROL CRYSTALLIZATION AND VULNERABLE PLAQUE’S

We have previously demonstrated that cholesterol expands when crystallizing from a liquid to a solid state forming sharp tipped crystals that can tear fibrous membranes. This model might provide insight into the mechanism of plaque rupture.The present study evaluated the potential direct effects of
POLYGENIC INHERITANCE OF A BEHAVIORAL PHENOTYPE: INTERSPECIFIC GENETICS OF SONG IN THE HAWAIIAN CRICKET GENUS LAUPALA.

The Hawaiian cricket genus Laupala (family Gryllidae) is one of several native genera of flightless crickets found in rain-forest habitat across the Hawaiian archipelago. Species in this genus are morphologically quite similar, but the songs produced by adult males are acoustically distinct. I examined the nature of song variation found within Laupala paranigra and between Laupala kohalensis and L. paranigra, both endemic to the island of Hawaii. Variation within and among species was most notable in the temporal structure of the song, as quantified by the pulse rate. The variation in pulse rate present in natural populations of L. paranigra bred true through the F1 laboratory generation, suggesting that the intraspecific variation in this species has a genetic basis. Interspecific hybridizations between L. kohalensis and L. paranigra successfully produced Fl, F2, and backcross generations. Hybrid F1 males from reciprocal crosses sang with significantly different pulse rates, implicating an X chromosomal contribution to the phenotypic difference between these species. Interspecific patterns of inheritance are most consistent with a type-I genetic ar- chitecture. Polygenic inheritance of the interspecific pulse-rate variation was observed, and approximately eight genetic factors were estimated to underlie the difference in pulse rate between L. kohalensis and L. paranigra.
Financing and Allocation of Student Unit Funding in Universities

Improving student unit funding standard is a major initiative to increase investment in education.We should be strict in accordance with the policy requirements,take extraordinary measures to raise funds actively,and meet the state target effectively.At the same time,we should properly deal with the various aspects of relationship,scientifically allocate student unit funding,and give full play to its regulation and guiding role to promote the sound and rapid development of higher education in our country.
Use of crumb rubber in lieu of binder grade bumping for mixtures with high percentage of reclaimed asphalt pavement

Use of recycled/reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) leads to economic as well as environmental benefits. However, increasing the percentage of RAP in a new asphalt pavement may hinder the economic benefits due to the necessity of expensive softer binders used to compensate for RAP stiffening effect. Alternatively, this problem may potentially be overcome by use of another recycled material: crumb rubber (CR). In this study, linear viscoelastic, thermal and fatigue cracking properties of mixtures prepared with different rubberised asphalt binders were compared with the soft binders. The scope of the testing included asphalt mixtures produced from the following binders; (i) devulcanised rubber, (ii) CR terminally blend, (iii) CR wet process, (iv) soft binder (PG 58-34) and (v) base (control) binder (PG 58-28). The results of the fatigue tests indicated that CR-modified asphalt mixtures made with the base binder (PG58-28) outperformed the mixture made with grade bumped (PG58-34) binder. Similar results were obs...
An Improved k-means Algorithm Based on Outliers and Original Clustering Center

The classic algorithm of k-means was discussed,that was one of the most widespread methods in clustering,including both strongpoints and shortages.Not only is it sensitive to the original clustering center,but also it may be affected by the outliers.Given these shortages,an improved algorithm is discussed,which makes improvements in outliers and selection of original clustering center.The outlier detection is based on the distance method.To select original clustering center is assimilated based on the nearest neighbour.Experiment is checked,which indicates the improved one is more stable,more accurate.
Screening effective insecticides for controlling mosquito,fly and cockroach

Objective The effect of four kinds of insecticides against Culex pipiens pallens,Musca domestica and Blattella germanica were determined,in order to provide scientific data for vector control.Methods Under laboratory conditions,using soaking,topical application and residual smearing methods.Results The LC50 of delta-methrin to mosquito was 0.009 1 mg/L,and the toxicity was the highest.The toxicity of lambda-cyhalothrin was the second and its LC50 to mosquito was 0.012 6 mg/L.The toxicity of tetramethrin was the lowest.The LD50 of lambda-cyhalothrin was 0.008 3 μg/♀ to fly.Propoxur was the lowest toxicity.For cockroach,the KT50 of lambda-cyhalothrin,delta-methrin and fenobucarb were 10.24,10.85 and 12.96 min respectively.Conclusion For fly and cockroach,the toxicity of lambda-cyhalothrin was the highest.The toxicity of delta-methrin to mosquito was the strongest.The control effect of beta-cyfluthrin was the best of them.
Contemporary Capitalistic New Revolution in Military Affairs

The new revolution in military affairs originated after World War II is an unprecedented all-directional,all-area,and all-system military revolution and social phenomenon.Compared with its predecessors,the new revolution in military affairs features entirety,extensivity,initiative,rapidity,imbalance,and profundity while manifests in military theory,military technological innovation,system construction for weapons and equipment,organizational transformation of the armed forces,and generation mechanism for high quality personnel.The new revolution in military affairs greatly and profoundly influences not only the military field,but also international strategic structure and security environment.
Design and Evaluation of Shape-Changing Haptic Interfaces for Pedestrian Navigation Assistance

Shape-changing interfaces are a category of device capable of altering their form in order to facilitate communication of information. In this work, we present a shape-changing device that has been designed for navigation assistance. ‘The Animotus’ (previously, ‘The Haptic Sandwich’ ), resembles a cube with an articulated upper half that is able to rotate and extend (translate) relative to the bottom half, which is fixed in the user's grasp. This rotation and extension, generally felt via the user's fingers, is used to represent heading and proximity to navigational targets. The device is intended to provide an alternative to screen or audio based interfaces for visually impaired, hearing impaired, deafblind, and sighted pedestrians. The motivation and design of the haptic device is presented, followed by the results of a navigation experiment that aimed to determine the role of each device DOF, in terms of facilitating guidance. An additional device, ‘The Haptic Taco’, which modulated its volume in response to target proximity (negating directional feedback), was also compared. Results indicate that while the heading (rotational) DOF benefited motion efficiency, the proximity (translational) DOF benefited velocity. Combination of the two DOF improved overall performance. The volumetric Taco performed comparably to the Animotus’ extension DOF.
The Product-Market Report: A Term Project for the Principles of Marketing Course

(1991). The Product-Market Report: A Term Project for the Principles of Marketing Course. Marketing Education Review: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 31-36.
Cytochrome P450 interacting medication use in adult advanced solid tumor and phase I trial patients.

2591 Background: Cancer patients often take multiple medications increasing the potential for drug-drug interactions. There is limited data regarding the frequency of cytochrome P450 (CYP) medicati...
Investment in an unlicensed spectrum market with contracts

Unlicensed access to spectrum has the potential to increase competition in spectrum access and encourage innovations by lowering barriers to entry. However, early provider offering service in such a band might use customer contracts which impose a penalty on customers for switching to other providers as a way of creating new entry barriers. Given such contracts, entrant providers must weigh the likelihood of customers switching to them when deciding how much to invest in the development of new technology. Furthermore, there may be information asymmetries between an entrant and an existing provider with regard to the potential efficiency of any new technology. We use a game theoretic model to study such issues and characterize the resulting impact of contracts on the overall economic welfare.
Outcomes of PCI in Relation to Procedural Characteristics and Operator Volumes in the United States

Abstract Background Professional guidelines have reduced the recommended minimum number to an average of 50 percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures performed annually by each operator. Operator volume patterns and associated outcomes since this change are unknown. Objectives The authors describe herein PCI operator procedure volumes; characteristics of low-, intermediate-, and high-volume operators; and the relationship between operator volume and clinical outcomes in a large, contemporary, nationwide sample. Methods Using data from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry collected between July 1, 2009, and March 31, 2015, we examined operator annual PCI volume. We divided operators into low- ( 100 PCIs per year) volume groups, and determined the adjusted association between annual PCI volume and in-hospital outcomes, including mortality. Results The median annual number of procedures performed per operator was 59; 44% of operators performed Conclusions Many PCI operators in the United States are performing fewer than the recommended number of PCI procedures annually. Although absolute risk differences are small and may be partially explained by unmeasured differences in case mix between operators, there remains an inverse relationship between PCI operator volume and in-hospital mortality that persisted in risk-adjusted analyses.
Perioperative outcomes of syndromic paraganglioma and pheochromocytoma resection in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, or neurofibromatosis type 1.

Background Pheochromocytoma and/or paraganglioma associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A, and von Hippel-Lindau disease have different catecholamine biochemical phenotypes. We examined perioperative outcomes of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma resection in 3 syndromic forms. Methods Retrospective review of patients undergoing resection of syndromic pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma from 2000 through 2016. Results Eighty-one patients underwent pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma resection (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A, n = 36; neurofibromatosis type 1, n = 26; von Hippel-Lindau disease, n = 19). Tumor size differed across groups; patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and von Hippel-Lindau disease had the largest tumors ( P = .017). Larger tumor volumes correlated with higher urine 24-hour total metanephrine ( r = 0.94, P r = 0.67, P = .033; and r = 0.89, P P = .036). However, when comparing postoperative outcomes across 3 groups in those who had laparoscopic resection, there was no significant difference ( P = .955). Conclusion Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 had the most volatile intraoperative hemodynamic course and more severe postoperative complications. These complications are related to large tumors associated with abundant catecholamine secretion and the fact that a high proportion underwent open resection. Among only patients who underwent laparoscopic procedures, there were no differences in postoperative outcomes across syndromic groups.
Outcomes of diabetes mellitus in Asian Americans.

A recent study of health outcomes among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with diabetes mellitus demonstrates that use of broad racial categories can mask important differences in risks among ethnic subgroups and emphasizes the importance of appropriate classifications as a strategy for improving our understanding of health outcomes among ethnic minority groups.
Future of privacy and security – the Four Horsemen

ABSTRACTIn this article, the author focuses on four key issues that are expected to impact the future of privacy and security. These have been labeled — the Four Horsemen, for obvious reasons. In o...
Fusion Proteins of NKG2D/NKG2DL in Cancer Immunotherapy

NKG2D (natural killer group 2, member D) is an important activating receptor in natural killer (NK) cells and some T cells. NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) are specifically expressed on most tumor cells. The engagement of these ligands on tumor cells to NKG2D on NK cells will induce cell-mediated cytotoxicity and have target cells destroyed. This gives NKG2D/NKG2DLs great potential in cancer therapeutic application. The creation of NKG2D/NKG2DL-based multi-functional fusion proteins is becoming one of the most promising strategies in immunotherapy for cancer. Antibodies, cytokines, and death receptors have been fused with NKG2D or its ligands to produce many powerful fusion proteins, including NKG2D-based chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). In this article, we review the recent developments of the fusion proteins with NKG2D/NKG2DL ligands in cancer immunotherapy.
John Sulston (1942–2018)

Sir John Sulston, a pivotal figure in the Human Genome Project, died on 6 March 2018. He was 75. His extraordinary ability to tackle and solve biological problems of immense scale and vision, coupled with his lifelong commitment to ethics, shaped the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode and human genome communities. Sulston shared the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries in organ development and programmed cell death. In addition to his earlier work, Sulston will be remembered for leading the British effort to sequence the human genome and defending free access to the data.