cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical and Mechanical Rheometry of Semiflexible Main-Chain Thermotropic Liquid-Crystalline Polymers with Varying Pendant Groups

A specially designed flow cell was used to investigate birefringence in transient shear flow, ¢n + (A o ,t), of three semiflexible main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymers (TLCPs), poly((x)-p- phenylene 1,10-decamethylenebis(4-oxybenzoate)) (PxHQ10) with varying pendant side groups (x ) oxyethyleneethoxy, tert-butyl, or phenylsulfonyl). Also, shear rheometry was used to investigate the growth of shear stress U+(A o ,t) and first normal stress difference N1 +(A o ,t) during transient shear flow of the same TLCPs. Upon startup of shear flow, ¢n + (A o ,t) initially increases rapidly, follows two minor overshoots, and then levels off to attain a steady-state value ¢n in all three TLCPs. The steady-state value of ¢n for PSHQ10 (PxHQ10 with x ) phenylsulfonyl pendant side group) was found to be greater than that for PEHQ10 (PxHQ10 with x ) ethoxy pendant side group) and PTHQ10 (PxHQ10 with x ) tert-butyl pendant side group). This behavior is strongly correlated to the large van der Waals volume of phenylsulfonyl pendant side groups in PSHQ10 compared to that of ethoxy pendant side groups in PEHQ10 and tert- butyl pendant side groups in PTHQ10. It is also observed that N1 + (A o ,t) exhibits a very large overshoot followed by an oscillatory decay to attain a steady-state value N1, while U + (A o ,t) shows a very large overshoot followed by a rapid monotonic decrease to attain a steady-state value, U. The peak values of N1 + (A o ,t) and U + (A o ,t) for PSHQ10 were found to be 3-4 times greater than those for both PEHQ10 and PTHQ10, which we again attribute to the bulky phenylsulfonyl pendant side groups in PSHQ10. Only positive values of N1 + (A o ,t) and N1 were observed over the entire range of shear rates investigated. Variations of the ratio N1 +(A o ,t)/U+(A o ,t) with shear strain (A o t) were found to be very similar to variations of ¢n+(A o ,t) with A o t for all three TLCPs investigated, except for that the ratio N1 + (A o ,t)/U + (A o ,t) reached a steady state sooner than ¢n+(A o ,t). In steady-state shear flow, it is observed that the ratio N1/U overlaps ¢n over the entire range of temperatures investigated; specifically, both the ratio N1/U and ¢n remain constant at temperatures far below the clearing temperature (TNI), decrease gradually as the temperature approaches TNI, and drop precipitously to zero value at and near TNI.
Full STEAM Ahead: Creativity in Excellent STEM Teaching Practices

This article emphasizes the value of creativity and arts-based learning in the sciences (STEAM education), using one example from a recent research study of creative and effective classroom teachers. The future of innovative thinking in STEM disciplines relies on breaking down the distinction between disciplines traditionally seen as “creative” like the arts or music, and STEM disciplines traditionally seen as more rigid or logical-mathematical (Catterall, 2002). The most exceptional thinkers in fields like science or math are also highly creative individuals who are deeply influenced by an interest in, and knowledge of, music, the arts and similar areas (Caper, 1996; Root-Bernstein, 2003; Dail, 2013; Eger, 2013). In light of this, STEAM must become an essential paradigm for creative and artistically infused teaching and learning in the sciences. I recently conducted a study of creative teaching practices among highly effective teachers (winners/finalists of the National Teacher of the Year program). This article looks at a single case drawn from this study, and considers the arts-based science teaching/learning employed by one of these teachers, Michael Geisen, the 2008 National Teacher of the Year award winner, and a middle school science teacher. Author/Artist Bio Dr. Danah Henriksen is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Educational Psychology & Educational Technology program, in the Michigan State University College of Education. Her current work and research interests focus on several strands of research related to creativity and technology, such as evaluation schemas for creative work, trans-disciplinary thinking, and creative-cognitive skills for teaching and learning. She is part of the Deep-Play Research Group in the MSU College of Education, which focuses on research related to creativity, trans-disciplinary thinking, and 21st century issues of teaching and learning. Dr. Henriksen teaches a variety of courses in the area of educational psychology and learning technology, with focuses on issues of design/creativity, technology for teaching, and the psychology of learning in technology-rich contexts. More information on her work (and a complete vita) can be found at http://www.danah-henriksen.com.
Association of Childhood and Adolescent Anthropometric Factors, Physical Activity, and Diet with Adult Mammographic Breast Density

Early-life exposures may influence the development of breast cancer. The authors examined the association of childhood and adolescent anthropometric factors, physical activity levels, and diet with adult mammographic breast density, a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Women in the Minnesota Breast Cancer Family Study cohort who had undergone mammograms but had not had breast cancer (n ¼ 1,893) formed the sample. Information on adolescent exposures, including relative height, weight, and physical activity at ages 7, 12, and 18 years and diet at age 12–13 years, was self-reported during two follow-up studies (1990–2003). Mammographic percent density was estimated using a computer-assisted thresholding program. Statistical analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects models with two-sided tests. Positive associations with height at ages 7 (p < 0.001), 12 (p < 0.001), and 18 (p < 0.001) years and percent density were evident overall and within menopausal status categories. The minimum difference in percent density between the tallest and shortest girls was 3 percent, with a maximum of 7 percent. Weight at age 12 years (p ¼ 0.005) and adiposity at age 12 years (p ¼ 0.005) were both inversely associated with adult percent density. Adolescent physical activity and diet were unrelated to percent density. These results suggest that adolescent height, a known risk factor for breast cancer, is also associated with mammographic percent density. adiposity; anthropometry; breast; breast neoplasms; diet; exercise; mammography
Fe II Emission In Active Galactic Nuclei: The Role Of Total And Gas-Phase Iron Abundance

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have Fe II emission from the broad-line region (BLR) that differs greatly in strength from object to object. We examine the role of the total and gas-phase iron abundance in determining Fe II strength. Using AGN spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in the redshift range of 0.2 < z < 0.35, we measure the Fe/Ne abundance of the narrow-line region (NLR) using the [Fe VII]/[Ne V] line intensity ratio. We find no significant difference in the abundance of Fe relative to Ne in the NLR as a function of Fe II/H{beta}. However, the [N II]/[S II] ratio increases by a factor of 2 with increasing Fe II strength. This indicates a trend in N/S abundance ratio, and by implication in the overall metallicity of the NLR gas, with increasing Fe II strength. We propose that the wide range of Fe II strength in AGN largely results from the selective depletion of Fe into grains in the low ionization portion of the BLR. Photoionization models show that the strength of the optical Fe II lines varies almost linearly with gas-phase Fe abundance, while the ultraviolet Fe II strength varies more weakly. Interstellar depletions ofmore » Fe can be as large as 2 orders of magnitude, sufficient to explain the wide range of optical Fe II strength in AGNs. This picture is consistent with the similarity of the BLR radius to the dust sublimation radius and with indications of Fe II emitting gas flowing inward from the dusty torus.« less
Lithological and mineralogical investigation of the surface of Mars

IR colorimetry of Martian bright and dark areas indicates correlations with limonite terrestrial rocks and volcanic ash
Incidence and severity of annosus root rot in Loblolly pine plantations in Virginia

Fourteen plots of 25 loblolly pines each were excavated by bulldozers in order to determine incidence and severity of Heterobasidion annosus in asymptomatic loblolly pine in Virginia. Of the 350 trees sampled, 85% were infected with H. annosus. Basidiocarps were found on 9% of the sampled trees. The average frequency of roots infected per tree with H. annosus, for all measured trees (trees with > 1% infection evident), was 30% of the primary roots and 31% of the secondary roots. The average root length infected for all the measured trees was 14% for primary roots and 15% for secondary roots.
Scope of family planning services available in Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Abstract Objectives Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are a major and growing source of primary care for low-income women of reproductive age; however, only limited knowledge exists on the scope of family planning care they provide and the mechanisms for delivery of these essential reproductive health services, including family planning. In this paper, we report on the scope of services provided at FQHCs including on-site provision, prescription only and referral options for the range of contraceptive methods. Study Design An original survey of 423 FQHC organizations was fielded in 2011. Results Virtually all FQHCs reported that they provide at least one contraceptive method (99.8%) at one or more clinical sites. A large majority (87%) of FQHCs report that their largest primary care site prescribes oral contraceptives plus one additional method category of contraception, with oral contraception and injectables being the most commonly available methods. Substantial variation is seen among other methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), contraceptive implants, the patch, vaginal ring and barrier methods. For all method categories, Title-X-funded sites are more likely to provide the method, though, even in these sites, IUDs and implants are much less likely to be provided than other methods. Conclusion There is clearly wide variability in the delivery of family planning services at FQHCs in terms of methods available, level of counseling, and provision of services on-site or through prescription or referral. Barriers to provision likely include cost to patients and/or additional training to providers for some methods, such as IUDs and implants, but these barriers should not limit on-site availability of inexpensive methods such as oral contraceptives. Implications With the expansion of contraceptive coverage under private insurance as part of preventive health services for women, along with expanded coverage for the currently uninsured, and the growth of FQHCs as the source of care for women of reproductive age, it is critical that women seeking family planning services at FQHCs have access to a wide range of contraceptive options. Our study both highlights the essential role of FQHCs in providing family planning services and also identifies remaining gaps in the provision of contraception in FQHC settings.
Brachygnathia in horses: 20 cases (1979-1989)

The medical records of 20 horses admitted to the veterinary medical center with a diagnosis of brachygnathia over a 10-year period (1979 to 1989) were reviewed. The study included 18 foals and 2 adult horses. Males were affected 5.7 times more frequently than females. The amount of disparity between the mandible and premaxilla varied between 0.75 and 3 cm. Sixteen foals were treated surgically with the temporary application of premaxillary tension band devices. Thirteen of the 16 surgical cases were available for follow-up evaluation. All of the surgically treated animals had improved incisive occlusion, and 6 foals had complete resolution of the deformity with corrections ranging from 0.75 to 2.5 cm. Complete correction of the malocclusion was more likely to occur if foals were treated when they were less than or equal to 6 months old. The average amount of correction achieved in foals treated when they were less than or equal to 6 months old was 1.5 cm. (range, 0.75 to 2.5 cm). Foals treated, when they were 7 to 12 months old, had an average of 0.6 cm of reduction in the malocclusion (range, 0.25 to 1 cm). Implant failure was the most common complication and occurred in 9 of the 13 foals treated surgically.
Efficient multi-group formation and communication protocol for Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) has become almost a standard for peer-to-peer networking on smart devices. Typically, WFD allows a user to search for and connect to other devices, which results in creating a group of devices that can exchange data. In certain applications like alert dissemination in disaster areas, it is required to form groups dynamically and to share data across the group boundaries. However, these capabilities are not offered by the current WFD implementations. In this paper, we propose EMC, a novel protocol that allows WFD devices to dynamically cluster themselves into groups and appropriately elect group owners. EMC also allows members of distinct groups to communicate. EMC is validated through implementation on Android devices and through the realization of a chat application.
Should the Criminal Law Abandon the Actus Reus-Mens Rea Distinction?

Many criminal lawyers, judges, and professors see the distinction between actus reus and mens rea as one of the more basic of criminal law. Along with the offence-defence distinction, it helps us organize the way we conceptualize and analyse liability. It is said to be 'the corner-stone of discussion on the nature of criminal liability'. No doubt the actus reus-mens rea distinction is a logical and natural extension of the obvious empirical difference between a person's conduct, which we can directly observe, and his intention, which we cannot. The concepts of actus reus and mens rea adequately capture these two facts and note the empirical difference. The act requirement and the voluntariness requirement, frequently treated as a single actus reus requirement, are related but distinct doctrines. The objective elements of offence definitions typically are included in the 'actus reus' requirements. The actus reus requirement, in the narrow, actrequirement sense, is not a universal requirement.
“Aures habet et non audiet”: Sound Imagery in Victor Hugo's Quatrevingt-treize

In Quatrevingt-treize (1874), Victor Hugo appeals to his readers’ emotions through the use of repetitive aural imagery. The novel is set during the French Revolution's Vendee uprising of 1793, but many of the messages conveyed are of tolerance and national forgiveness, themes prevalent in French society in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War and the subsequent Paris Commune. Hugo sets up dichotomies of sound and silence to mirror the division between man and nature. The seemingly insurmountable gaps between these ideas reflect the chaos French society was experiencing at the time. Hugo creates an emotional link for his readers, using repetitive soundscapes to engender a sense of urgency and suspense as the opposing forces in the novel work toward their vision of France.
The Ties that Bind (the Igh Locus)

Immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus V(D)J recombination requires a 3D chromatin organization which permits widely distributed variable (V) gene segments to contact distant diversity (D) and joining (J) gene segments. A recent study has identified key nodes in the locus interactome, paving the way for new molecular insights into how the locus is configured for recombination.
Heat transport by long mean free path vibrations in amorphous silicon nitride near room temperature

We present measurements of thermal transport in 500-nm-thick, 35-$\ensuremath{\mu}$m-wide, and 806-$\ensuremath{\mu}$m-long micromachined suspended silicon nitride (Si-N) bridges over the temperature range of 77 to 325 K. The measured thermal conductivity of Si-N (for material grown by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition in two different furnaces) deviates somewhat from previously reported measurements and also shows surprising dependence on surface variation at these relatively high temperatures. Addition of discontinuous gold films causes the thermal conductance of Si-N bridges to drop through the entire measured temperature range, before rising again when thicker, continuous films are added. Similar effects occur when continuous but very low-thermal-conductivity alumina films are deposited. The reduction in thermal conductance upon modification of the Si-N surface is strong evidence that vibrational excitations with long mean free paths carry significant heat even at these high temperatures. By measuring a series of film thicknesses the surface-scattering effects can be mitigated, and the resulting experimental values of the thermal conductivity of alumina and Au thin films compare very well to known values or to predictions of the Wiedemann-Franz law. We also present a modified model for the phonon mean free path in thin-film geometries, and use it along with atomic force microsope scans to show that a very small population of phonons with mean free path on the order of 1 $\ensuremath{\mu}$m and wavelength much longer than the expected thermal wavelengths carry up to $50%$ of the heat in Si-N at room temperature.
Zone electrophoresis in a starch supporting medium.

Summary1. A procedure was described for the electrophoretic separation and isolation of materials employing various types of supporting media. 2. Starch proved particularly useful because of its low adsorption of proteins and peptides in aqueous buffers. 3. A comparison was made of the electroosmotic flow in various media under similar conditions. 4. The separation of 1-4 cc of serum with isolation of the components could be carried out employing the starch system. 5. The α and β-lipoproteins of serum could be determined quantitatively by phospholipid and cholesterol analyses of the serum fractions.
Gods and REMS: The implications of recent dream research for the psychology of religion

Throughout history dreams have been primarily the province of religion. People in many cultures have looked to dreams as sources of spiritual insight and divine revelation. The relationship between traditional religious views of dreams and modern psychological views of dreams has long interested psychologists of religion—for dreams are a uniquely fertile subject for comparing religious and psychological understandings of human experience. In recent years there have been many revolutionary discoveries in dream research, discoveries that have taken us far beyond the seminal works of Freud, Jung, and the early sleep laboratory researchers. This essay describes the work of three leading contemporary dream researchers (neurophysiologist J. Allan Hobson, psychologist Stephen LaBerge, and anthropologist Barbara Tedlock) and evaluates the implications of their findings for our understanding of the religious dimensions of dreams. The essay concludes with some reflections on the valuable role of dream study in the psychology of religion. The primary claim is that recent dream research can make important contributions to current psychology of religion discussions about such issues as interdisciplinary inquiry, hermeneutics, the cross-cultural study of religious experience, the cultural and religious context of modern psychology, and the practical concerns of pastoral counselors.
Spin glass dynamics at the mesoscale

The mesoscale allows a new probe of spin glass dynamics. Because the spin glass lower critical dimension ${d}_{l}g2$, the growth of the correlation length $\ensuremath{\xi}(t,T)$ can change the nature of the spin glass state at a crossover time ${t}_{\text{co}}$ when $\ensuremath{\xi}({t}_{\text{co}},T)=\ensuremath{\ell}$, a minimum characteristic sample length (e.g., film thickness for thin films and crystallite size for bulk samples). For thin films, and times $tl{t}_{\text{co}}$ such that $\ensuremath{\xi}(t,T)l\ensuremath{\ell}$, conventional three-dimensional dynamics is observed. When $tg{t}_{\text{co}}$, a crossover to $d=2$ behavior takes place. The parallel correlation length, associated with a ${T}_{g}=0$ transition, increases in time from the saturated value of the perpendicular correlation length $\ensuremath{\ell}$ to an equilibrium value of the parallel correlation length proportional to ${T}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\nu}}$. This results in a pancakelike correlated state, with a thickness $\ensuremath{\ell}$ and a temperature-dependent in-plane radius that increases with decreasing temperature. Activated dynamics is associated with these states. Measurements on Cu:Mn thin films are analyzed quantitatively within this framework. We extract a temperature-dependent activation energy from a fit to the frequency dependence of the dynamic susceptibility. The extrapolated temperature at which the activation energy would become large is close to the extrapolated glass transition temperature from ac susceptibility measurements. All known relevant experimental data are consistent with this approach. For polycrystalline materials, there is a distribution of length scales $\mathcal{P}(\ensuremath{\ell})$. For sufficiently broad distributions, a logarithmic time dependence is derived for the time decay of the thermoremanent magnetization ${M}_{\text{TRM}}(t,T)$ using an approach originally derived by Ma. Properties dependent upon an effective waiting time ${t}_{w}^{\mathrm{eff}}$ are derived that are consistent with experiment, and further measurements are suggested.
Dielectrophoretic applications for disease diagnostics using lab-on-a-chip platforms

Dielectrophoresis is a powerful technique used to distinguish distinct cellular identities in heterogeneous cell populations and to monitor changes in the cell state without the need for biochemical tags, including live and dead cells. Recent studies in the past decade have indicated that dielectrophoresis can be used to discriminate the disease state of cells by exploring the differences in the dielectric polarizabilities of the cells. Factors controlling the dielectric polarizability are dependent on the conductivity and permittivity of the cell and the suspending medium, the cell morphology, the internal structure, and the electric double layer effects associated with the charges on the cell surface. Diseased cells, such as those associated with malaria, cancer, dengue, anthrax and human African trypanosomiasis, could be spatially trapped by positive dielectrophoresis or spatially separated from other healthy cells by negative dielectrophoretic forces. The aim of this review was to provide a better and deeper understanding on how dielectrophoresis can be utilized to manipulate diseased cells. This review compiles and compares the significant findings obtained by researchers in manipulating abnormal or unhealthy cells.
Racializing Crimmigration: Structural Racism, Colorblindness, and the Institutional Production of Immigrant Criminality

Deporting “criminal aliens” has become the highest priority in American immigration enforcement. Today, most deportations are achieved through the “crimmigration” system, a term that describes the ...
“Infinite Mischief”: Robert Lowell’s Fiction of Desire in The Dolphin

Like Wallace Stevens in stanza XII of “An Ordinary Evening in New haven”—with his flying statues and newspapers—Robert Lowell resorts to a surrealistic anti-logic to characterize the inexorability of poetic love. In the 1972 The Dolphin, Lowell strategically “places” himself as a poet devoured by his own appetite: “the insatiable fiction of desire” (p. 35). he is overwhelmed by an historically laden form (the culturally predetermined and deindividualizing fantasy of Petrarchism) and victimized by a never satisfied and self-consuming sexuality (what Shakespeare calls the “perjured … extreme[s]”2 of carnality). In the sonnet series at the middle of the book, “Winter and London,” and one at the end of the book, “Flight to New York,” Lowell puts into practice the strange emanations of lyric desire he defined in the “Afterthought” of his 1970 Notebook.
Market Risk Modeling Framework Under Basel

Since the financial crisis of 2007–2008, market risk management has become more important than ever. Many advanced risk measures and capital charge for market risk are proposed in a comprehensive capital framework. This chapter focuses on the market risk modeling framework under Basel. The chapter starts with Basel II to set the major framework of market risk management. Then, its revision in Basel 2.5 is illustrated. Two widely used market risk measures and their pros and cons are explained. Finally, the latest revised minimum capital requirement for market risk published in January 2016 is briefly documented.
A Second Look at Injection of Vesical Neck Contractures with Triamcinolone

Adjuvant therapy for vesical neck contractures with triamcinolone injection has given good results with long-term followup but similar results have been obtained with transurethral resection alone in our current re-evaluation. Herein we review 220 consecutive vesical neck contractures treated by the aforementioned modalities.
Ambulatory care pharmacy: Realizing the potential for patient access and operational excellence.

Since the 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act, hospitals have undergone a paradigm shift in their operations. Previously able to bill Medicare retrospectively for the actual costs of the care provided, hospitals since then have received capitated payments under a prospective payment system (
Capacitive Sensing of Glucose in Electrolytes Using Graphene Quantum Capacitance Varactors.

A novel graphene-based variable capacitor (varactor) that senses glucose based on the quantum capacitance effect was successfully developed. The sensor utilizes a metal–oxide–graphene varactor device structure that is inherently compatible with passive wireless sensing, a key advantage for in vivo glucose sensing. The graphene varactors were functionalized with pyrene-1-boronic acid (PBA) by self-assembly driven by π–π interactions. Successful surface functionalization was confirmed by both Raman spectroscopy and capacitance–voltage characterization of the devices. Through glucose binding to the PBA, the glucose concentration in the buffer solutions modulates the level of electrostatic doping of the graphene surface to different degrees, which leads to capacitance changes and Dirac voltage shifts. These responses to the glucose concentration were shown to be reproducible and reversible over multiple measurement cycles, suggesting promise for eventual use in wireless glucose monitoring.
To B or not to B? The Journey of “Coding Autism” Toward the B Corp Certification:

This case is based on Coding Autism, a limited liability company founded in April 2017 and located in Westlake Village (California). The case features the decision process followed by the cofounder...
Distinguishing malignant from benign microscopic skin lesions using desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging

Detection of microscopic skin lesions presents a considerable challenge in diagnosing early-stage malignancies as well as in residual tumor interrogation after surgical intervention. In this study, we established the capability of desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) to distinguish between micrometer-sized tumor aggregates of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a common skin cancer, and normal human skin. We analyzed 86 human specimens collected during Mohs micrographic surgery for BCC to cross-examine spatial distributions of numerous lipids and metabolites in BCC aggregates versus adjacent skin. Statistical analysis using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operation (Lasso) was employed to categorize each 200-µm-diameter picture element (pixel) of investigated skin tissue map as BCC or normal. Lasso identified 24 molecular ion signals, which are significant for pixel classification. These ion signals included lipids observed at m / z 200–1,200 and Krebs cycle metabolites observed at m / z
Factors associated with serum alkaline phosphatase level

Serum alkaline phosphatase was measured in a large population of government employees and their dependents, aged 12 years and older. It was found that the concentrations of this enzyme were very high in early adolescence, fell to a low point after the completion of bone growth, and rose thereafter. The concentration was higher in males than females until the age of 50 years; after that it was higher in females. In employees and their spouses (aged 19 years and older), the greater the weight (or weight for height), the higher the concentration. The taller the person, the lower the level of this enzyme. The more cigarettes smoked per day, the higher the enzyme concentration. There was also a weak but statistically significant association of alkaline phosphatase with serum glucose concentrations and blood pressure but not with antihypertensive medications. Other factors were also considered. Some of these factors, particularly age and weight, are associated with substantial difference in the concentration of alkaline phosphatase and could conceivably affect the clinical interpretation of test results.
Comparison of gene expression between metastatic derivatives and their poorly metastatic parental cells implicates crucial tumor-environment interaction in metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Metastasis of human head and neck cancer is a multistep and highly heterogeneous process requiring activation and deactivation of multiple and specific genes. To identify these genes, we established highly metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines from poorly metastatic HNSCC cells through in vivo selection using a lymph node metastatic mouse model. The very close genetic relationship between these highly metastatic cell lines and the parental cell line provided an excellent model for differential gene expression analysis using cDNA microarrays. Comparison of 6 cell lines established individually from the lymph node metastases with their poorly metastatic parental cell line revealed 33 differentially expressed genes. Some of these genes are involved in cellular signal transduction and matrix modeling. Differences in expression of members of the tumor necrosis factor, interleukin, caspase, and matrix metalloproteinase families were also examined. We found that two upregulated genes participated in the NF-κB regulatory pathway. Furthermore, differences in gene expression between six cell lines derived from primary tumors and six cell lines derived from lymph node metastases in the mouse model were analyzed statistically. Tissue growth factor-β and tumor necrosis factor-related genes showed significantly altered expression in cells derived from lymph node metastases as compared with cells derived from primary tumors, suggesting that the differential growth advantage of metastatic cells requires more aggressive responses to their environment, such as a lymph node tissue.
Examining the Role of Affective Language in Predicting the Agenda-Setting Effect

Research investigating the media’s ability to influence the public agenda has been one of the most successful paradigms in political communication and psychology. However, with few exceptions the role of emotion in agenda-setting has been all but neglected (but see Miller, 2007). This research investigates how the level of emotionality, specifically arousal and valence, in news reports predicts agenda-setting effects, as well as how emotionality interacts with accessibility produced by the volume of news coverage on four issues. New York Times articles pertaining to the debt ceiling debate, Social Security, tax cuts, and gay marriage were content analyzed in the period spanning 2004 through the present, and weighted on two affective dimensions using the Affective Norms for English Words data set. Online searches using the Google Trends service were used as a proxy for agenda-setting behavior (see Ripberger, 2011; Gruszczynski and Wagner, N.d.). Both the level of arousal and valence in articles are shown to predict agenda-setting, even when controlling for news volume, and interact in meaningful ways to influence public uptake of an issue.
PET and fMRI scans of the cerebral cortex in humans and single neuron responses from SI in monkeys to rubbing embossed dot and grating patterns across a fingerpad

PET images averaged across nine humans and fMRI scans from single subjects showed activation of comparable regions in parietal cortex following stimulation of fingerpads with embossed dot and grating surfaces. Human magnitude estimates of roughness to an extended range of similar texture patterns matched linear, inverted U and plateau neural response functions to rubbing the same surfaces in monkey Sl cortex.
Veteran Treatments: PTSD Interventions

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has resulted in high social costs in terms of the lingering inability of veterans to adapt to societal norms. These costs accrue to individual veterans, their families, friends, and others. In addition, society suffers from the lost productivity of veterans. There is a need to pay greater attention to the extant literature regarding the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of various interventions. This study reviews the most relevant research regarding PTSD, veterans, interventions, treatment, counseling, job training and medication. Increasing awareness of the existing state of knowledge can lead to better targeting of resources and better health outcomes.
Design of broadband end-fire antenna array

A new method of designing a broadband end-fire antenna array is presented in this paper. Wideband radiating elements whose form factor is compatible with the end-fire array configuration are chosen to space along the end-fire axis. The array is adapted for operation over a 3:1 broadside impedance bandwidth and achieves a satisfactory end-fire performance.
TDP-43 shapeshifts to encipher FTD severity.

TDP-43 forms cytoplasmic aggregates in degenerating neurons of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients. Laferriere et al. now establish that TDP-43 assemblies from distinct FTD subtypes have different structures, neurotoxicities, and seeding activities, which correlate with FTD severity. Thus, distinct pathological TDP-43 assemblies akin to prion strains might underpin distinct FTD subtypes.
Nestling and adult sparrows respond differently to conspecific dialects

Baby birds prefer local dialects. Songbirds have predispositions to learn songs of their own species over others, but what about species that have regional dialects? And how different are responses of baby and adult birds? We show that golden-crowned sparrow chicks, before song learning, treat foreign songs like heterospecific songs. Adults, on the other hand, show graded responses to local, foreign and heterospecific songs. This study tells us how song responses change across life stages.
Predictors of Resilience Among Infants at Risk for Rapid Weight Gain

OBJECTIVE The study objective was to investigate factors associated with resilience to rapid weight gain (RWG) among predominantly bottle-fed infants. METHODS Data came from 1,353 mothers who participated in the Infant Feeding Practices Study 2. Mothers completed a prenatal questionnaire and monthly surveys of infant feeding and growth between birth and 12 months. Infants were classified as resilient if they were predominantly bottle fed but did not exhibit RWG between birth and the latter half of infancy (≥ +0.67 change in weight-for-age z score). RESULTS Thirty-five percent of the sample (n = 467) was predominantly bottle fed but did not exhibit RWG ("Resilient"), 17% (n = 228) was predominantly bottle fed and exhibited RWG ("Not Resilient"), and 49% (n = 658) was not predominantly bottle fed ("Low Risk"). Significant predictors of resilience to RWG were greater gestational age (P = 0.042) and weight (P < 0.001) at birth, lower frequency of adding cereal to the bottle (P = 0.022), lower frequency of infant-led bottle-emptying (P = 0.047), and greater frequency of maternal encouragement of bottle-emptying (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Associations between bottle-feeding and RWG may be moderated by infant characteristics and maternal feeding practices. The present study highlighted several characteristics of predominantly bottle-fed infants who were resilient to RWG, but further research is needed to identify a broader array of key targets for future intervention efforts.
WeNet: Weighted Networks for Recurrent Network Architecture Search

In recent years, there has been increasing demand for automatic architecture search in deep learning. Numerous approaches have been proposed and led to state-of-the-art results in various applications, including image classification and language modeling. In this paper, we propose a novel way of architecture search by means of weighted networks (WeNet), which consist of a number of networks, with each assigned a weight. These weights are updated with back-propagation to reflect the importance of different networks. Such weighted networks bear similarity to mixture of experts. We conduct experiments on Penn Treebank and WikiText-2. We show that the proposed WeNet can find recurrent architectures which result in state-of-the-art performance.
Low-loss chirped grating for vertical light coupling in lithium niobate on insulator

We report a vertical chirped grating coupler with high coupling efficiency (CE) fabricated on lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI). According to finite difference time domain simulations, loss in a uniform grating in LNOI comes from downward diffracted light, internal reflections, and mode mismatch between the single-mode fiber and the out-coupled light from the grating. A chirped grating coupler, whose parameters were optimized to reduce the mode mismatch loss and internal reflections, was fabricated with integrated waveguides through a single etch-step and exhibited insertion losses as low as 3.6 dB, 1.9 dB lower than a uniform grating fabricated in the same process. The demonstrated grating features high CE, ease of manufacturing, and the ability to vertically couple light—a fundamental characteristic required to facilitate the integration of on-chip laser sources and detectors.
Laparoscopic colectomies associated with decreased retrieval of 12 or more lymph nodes compared to open in elective colon cancer surgery

Background Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Lymph node (LN) retrieval is a key factor for pathologic staging and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Increase in number of LNs removal suggests improvement in tumour clearance and decrease in metastatic spread. Studies have suggested that excising 12 or more LNs during colectomy in patients with colon cancer is associated with improved survival. To date, there have been no studies to determine whether minimally invasive surgery affects the ability to retrieve 12+ LNs in elective colon cancer surgery. Therefore, we elected to determine whether a difference exists on the ability to retrieve 12+ nodes in elective colon cancer colectomies performed open versus laparoscopic. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Procedure Specific Colectomy database was analysed for the year 2014-2015. Inclusion criteria were colon cancer (ICD-9 Code 153.9), age greater than 18 years. Exclusion criteria were missing data. Data abstracted included patient demographics, type of operation performed and number of LNs retrieved. The patients were categorised based on their elective colon cancer colectomies such as laparoscopic or open. Binary logistic regression was used to identify confounding variables in the retrieval of 12+ LNs. Results After accounting for missing cases, a total of 18,792 patients with a diagnosis of colon cancer were analysed. Twelve or more LNs were retrieved in 88% (16,538) of patients, Among them, 2,516 patients underwent laparoscopic colectomy and 5,284 patients underwent open colectomy. The difference was not statistically significant for the average number of LNs retrieved among both the groups. Open operative approach compared to the laparoscopic approach was associated with 15% greater odds of retrieval of >12 LNs (OR 1.148; 95% CI (1.035-1.272); p = 0.008). Conclusion The majority of colectomies such as open or laparoscopic are able to retrieve 12 or more LNs. However, there are greater odds of retrieving more than 12 LNs with the open approach compared to the laparoscopic approach. By allowing for more LN retrieval, open colectomies suggest improvement in tumour clearance and decrease metastatic spread. Additional research is needed to further investigate the specific factors influencing the ability to retrieve an adequate number of LNs, such as viewing angles provided with an open approach versus laparoscopic approach.
Imperfect monitoring and informal insurance: The role of social ties

Abstract This paper examines whether social ties impact informal insurance in the presence of asymmetric information. Using games with residents of informal settlements in Kenya, I vary the observability of task completion and partners. While individuals are less likely to make transfers as a result of imperfect monitoring, socially close individuals are 30% more likely to make transfers. As a result, socially close individuals are 47% more likely to make transfers than socially distant individuals when task completion cannot be observed. I then explore the mechanisms by which social connections influence risk sharing. I find evidence that social connections increase participants’ motivation to work only when task completion cannot be observed, potentially due to social collateral and/or intrinsic motivation.
High-Stakes Assessment in an Elementary Teacher Preparation Program: A Case Study of Multiple Stakeholders

In response to increased accountability demands placed on teacher preparation programs across the US, some programs are using standardized teacher performance assessments, such as edTPA. A recent m...
Inversion-free subsampling Newton’s method for large sample logistic regression

In this paper, we develop a subsampling Newton’s method to efficiently approximate the maximum likelihood estimate in logistic regression, which is especially useful for large-sample problems. One distinct feature of our algorithm is that matrix inversion is not explicitly performed. We propose two algorithms which are used to construct iteratively a sequence of matrices which converge to the Hessian of the maximum likelihood function on the subsample. We provide numerical examples to show that the proposed method is efficient and robust.
Peddling Ignorance: A New Falsity Standard for Scientific Knowledge Fraud Cases

Attorneys general from New York, Massachusetts, and several other states are investigating whether Exxon Mobil Corp. misled investors and the public about climate change over the past four decades. The allegations against the oil company closely resemble schemes carried out by the tobacco, asbestos, chlorofluorocarbon, and leaded gasoline industries, among others. The scheme works like this: there is a product that is both profitable and destructive, and the companies selling it tell the public “the science is unsettled” when in fact the science is clear enough to know it poses a danger and greater regulation is needed. Distortions like these may, if all the elements are met, constitute fraud. But plaintiffs in fraud cases of this kind, where the alleged misrepresentation pertains to scientific knowledge, face far greater obstacles to proving the falsity element than typical plaintiffs. This is because scientific knowledge cannot generally be labeled unequivocally “true” or “false,” and there are many widely held prejudices and misconceptions about science that make it easier to get away with lying about it. Accordingly, the scale is tipped heavily in favor of industry defendants. Using the ExxonMobil investigation as a case study, this Article proposes a new falsity standard to level the playing field in scientific knowledge fraud cases.
No Racial Disparity in Outcome Measures After Endovascular Treatment for Stroke in the Elderly.

Background and Purpose: Despite the lower rates of good outcomes and higher mortality in elderly patients, age does not modify the treatment effect of mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlu...
Progress in micron-scale field emission models based on nanoscale surface characterization for use in PIC-DSMC vacuum arc simulations

3D Particle-In-Cell Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (PIC-DSMC) simulations of cm-sized devices cannot resolve atomic-scale (nm) surface features and thus one must generate micron-scale models for an effective "local" work function, field enhancement factor, and emission area. Here we report on development of a stochastic effective model based on atomic-scale characterization of as-built electrode surfaces. Representative probability density distributions of the work function and geometric field enhancement factor (beta) for a sputter-deposited Pt surface are generated from atomic-scale surface characterization using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Photoemission Electron Microscopy (PEEM). In the micron-scale model every simulated PIC-DSMC surface element draws work functions and betas for many independent "atomic emitters". During the simulation the field emitted current from an element is computed by summing each "atomic emitter’s" current. This model has reasonable agreement with measured micron-scale emitted currents across a range of electric field values.
Single-nucleotide-resolution mapping of m6A and m6Am throughout the transcriptome

N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modified base in eukaryotic mRNA and has been linked to diverse effects on mRNA fate. Current mapping approaches localize m6A residues to transcript regions 100-200 nt long but cannot identify precise m6A positions on a transcriptome-wide level. Here we developed m6A individual-nucleotide-resolution cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (miCLIP) and used it to demonstrate that antibodies to m6A can induce specific mutational signatures at m6A residues after ultraviolet light-induced antibody-RNA cross-linking and reverse transcription. We found that these antibodies similarly induced mutational signatures at N(6),2'-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am), a modification found at the first nucleotide of certain mRNAs. Using these signatures, we mapped m6A and m6Am at single-nucleotide resolution in human and mouse mRNA and identified small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) as a new class of m6A-containing non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).