cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sub-regional snow cover distribution across the southern Appalachian Mountains

AbstractSnowfall in the Southern Appalachian Mountain region of the eastern US is characterized by much spatiotemporal variability. Annual snowfall totals vary by up to 75 cm, and variations in snowfall intensity can lead to large differences in the local snowfall distribution. Research has shown that the synoptic pattern associated with the snowfall strongly influences the regional-scale distribution of snow cover. However, topographic variability results in locally complex snow cover patterns that are not well understood or documented. In this study, we characterize the snow covered area (SCA) and fractional snow cover associated with different synoptic patterns in 14 individual sub-regions. We analyze 63 snow events using Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer standard snow cover products to ascertain both qualitative and quantitative differences in snow cover across sub-regions. Among sub-regions, there is significant variation in the snow cover pattern from individual synoptic classes. Further...
The Wyden–Ryan Proposal — A Foundation for Realistic Medicare Reform

Under the Wyden–Ryan proposal, instead of guaranteeing to pay for services as they are rendered, Medicare would give beneficiaries a subsidy to purchase coverage from one of multiple health plans, which would compete by providing necessary services cost-effectively.
Effect of insulator surface temperature on the flashover voltage of outdoor insulators

Contamination on power system insulation can cause flashovers and subsequent outages when moisture deposits on the surface of the insulators to form electrolytes. Fog and light drizzle have been observed to be the most conducive form of moisture leading to flashovers; whereas, rain will wash off most of the soluble contaminants on the insulation's surface. The initial wetting is therefore a critical stage in the flashover process of contaminated insulators. This paper describes flashover tests made in a fog chamber on dc energized suspension insulators. The test insulators were preheated and the effect of the insulator's relative surface temperature on the flashover voltage was noted. The test results indicate that if the insulator's body heat can keep the surface sufficiently dry through this critical wetting stage, there can be a significant increase in the flashover voltage: as high as four times that of an insulator with a surface temperature equal to the air temperature and under the same contamination and fog conditions. This finding could be applied to abate contamination problems on insulation at severe pollution sites. To generate the required heating, an impedance element can be embedded in an insulator with a castable dielectric body. Calculations indicate that the energy necessary to obtain this internal body heating effect will be comparable to the energy losses due to leakage current and partial arcing caused by the contaminant layer.
Heavy oil characteristics and origin discussion in Fengcheng of Junggar Basin

Analytical study of the physical and geochemical characteristics of the heavy oil in Fengcheng area of Junggar Basin shows that the heavy oil in this area has high viscosity,high density and high colloid content.The physical property of crude oil becomes better as depth increases.The physical property of Jurassic Badaowan formation is better than Qigu formation.The origin of the heavy oil in this area is discussed in respects of biodegradation,oxidation and water washing effect.This may guide further exploration and development in this area.
Caste and Religion-Based Wage Discrimination in the Indian Private Sector: Evidence from the Indian Human Development Survey

Using data from the Indian Human Development Survey, we examine evidence of caste and religion-based discrimination in the Indian private and public sector. Both Dalits and Adivasis show significant results of discrimination in the private sector, and benefit disproportionately from working in the public sector. This is strong evidence that at least some of the affirmative action policies in the public sector are proving effective. The policy implications are relevant: should similar affirmative action policies be implemented in the private sector? Further, this research suggests a path for further research to understand why protected castes do not benefit from affirmative action programs to the same extent as Dalits and Adivasis.
Glucose uptake in porcine carotid artery: relation to alterations in active Na+-K+ transport

In vascular smooth muscle (VSM), aerobic lactate production can account for as much as 30% of the basal rate of ATP production. Generally, glucose transport is thought to be the rate-limiting step for glycolysis in unstimulated VSM. In this work we provide evidence that the intracellular concentration of glucose is negligible in porcine carotid artery, indicating that glucose transport is rate limiting for its utilization. Since aerobic glycolysis appears to be coupled to active Na+-K+ transport in this tissue, we examined the effects of altering ion transport on glucose transport. Glucose uptake and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport were accelerated, though intracellular glucose remained negligible in artery rings that were incubated with 80 mM KCl, which is known to stimulate active Na+-K+ transport, as well as aerobic glycolysis and mechanical activity. On the other hand, inhibitors of active Na+-K+ transport (ouabain, Na+-free media), which also elicit mechanical activity, had little effect on sugar transport but significantly inhibited aerobic glycolysis and caused an intracellular accumulation of glucose. Our results indicate the following: 1) that glucose transport is regulated in VSM; 2) that the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ does not appear to regulate sugar transport, since changes in glucose and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport are not always seen in association with increased mechanical activity, and 3) that the decrease in aerobic glycolysis associated with the inhibition of active Na+-K+ transport is not due to a decrease in glucose transport but rather to an inhibition of glucose utilization.
Dr. Yanai’s Contributions to the Discovery and Science of the MJO

AbstractThis chapter reviews Professor Michio Yanai’s contributions to the discovery and science of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). Professor Yanai’s work on equatorial waves played an inspirational role in the MJO discovery by Roland Madden and Paul Julian. Professor Yanai also made direct and important contributions to MJO research. These research contributions include work on the vertically integrated moist static energy budget, cumulus momentum transport, eddy available potential energy and eddy kinetic energy budgets, and tropical–extratropical interactions. Finally, Professor Yanai left a legacy through his students, who continue to push the bounds of MJO research.
The Nitty Gritty: The Unexplored Role of Grit and Perseverance in Voter Turnout

In this paper we consider the role of general motivation, distinct from political motivation, in predicting voter turnout. Drawing on the large-scale, longitudinal Add Health dataset, we show that a measure of grit (i.e., tenacity or perseverance) measured in adolescence is a strong predictor of voter turnout in adulthood. This relationship exists independent of cognitive skills, personality measures, political interest, and many other observed and unobserved individual and contextual factors. To examine the mechanisms behind the observed relationship, we conduct a series of analyses including an original survey experiment that primes a gritty mindset. The results suggest that grittier individuals vote more because they are willing to overcome the obstacles that get in the way of voting. Compared to a control group, individuals primed to have a gritty mindset report a willingness to spend an average of 12 additional minutes waiting in line to vote and report higher levels of political efficacy.
Constructing a Schutzian Theory of Political Science

After a review of Schutz’s writing, as well as his experiencing and reading about matters political, the comments found scattered throughout the oeuvre are interpreted under the headings of “disciplinary definition,” “basic concepts,” and “distinctive methods” in order to show how political science could have been be developed as part of his philosophical theory of the cultural sciences. A review of some of Schutz’s influence in political science is appended.
On neo-colonialism and the colonisation of accounting research

While assertions of the colonisation of accounting research have occasionally been made in the accounting literature, not only has there been no systematic examination of the evidence that supports these conclusions, no evidence has yet been proffered. This paper explores whether accounting research has been colonised by considering sociologically the essential elements of colonisation and whether they can be applied to accounting research. A critical examination of the elements of colonisation - control over communication, capital, culture, and education; elitism; and English as the dominant language - finds that accounting research has been colonised by acts of symbolic violence, which has resulted in misrecognised class distinctions and neo-colonial dependency relationships within accounting research. It urges accounting researchers recognise the neo-colonial power relationships that have been imposed upon them by the cultural imperialism of the dominant research culture.
Flume-scale testing of an adaptive pitch marine hydrokinetic turbine

Abstract Modern marine hydrokinetic turbine blades are typically constructed from fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, which provide superior strength- and stiffness-to-weight ratios and improved fatigue and corrosion resistance compared to traditional metallic alloys. Furthermore, numerical studies have demonstrated the possibility of tailoring the anisotropic properties of FRP composites to create an adaptive pitch mechanism that can improve system performance, especially in off-design or varying flow conditions. Potential benefits of an adaptive pitch system include increased lifetime energy capture, reduced hydro-elastic instabilities, reduced risk of mechanical failure, and improved efficiency, load shedding, fatigue life, and structural integrity. In this work, static and dynamic testing results for a flume-scale marine hydrokinetic turbine system are presented. Two sets of adaptive composite blades are compared to neutral pitch composite and rigid aluminum designs. Static testing was used to quantify the mechanical load-deformation response of each blade type. Additionally, instantaneous blade and full system loading was measured during dynamic flume testing, allowing a multilevel analysis of adaptive blade performance. Experimental results show notable shifts in the power and thrust coefficients and significant load adjustments induced through passive pitch adaptation, suggesting that adaptive pitch composite blades could be a valuable addition to marine hydrokinetic turbine technology.
Gendered opportunities and constraints to scaling up: a case study of spontaneous adaptation in a pastoralist community in Mwanga District, Tanzania

There is a growing momentum within development circles for pro-active strategies to facilitate the climate change adaptation of pastoralist communities. However, where planned adaptation originates outside a community, it has the potential to alter or eclipse autonomous forms of local adaptation. This paper identifies the range of autonomous adaptive practices undertaken by a Maasai pastoralist community and examines existing opportunities and constraints to adaptation. Field data were collected at three complementary levels: community, household and individual. Results indicate that many adaptive practices used in this community have been modified from past risk management strategies drawn directly from pastoralists’ experience in dry-land environments. However, not all pastoralists are able to engage in these adaptive practices. Gender and wealth inequality pose a challenge to scaling up as they influence access to land and water for irrigation as well as financial assets required to access adaptive pra...
Teaching NeuroImages: Diagnosis: Meningioma and….

A previously healthy 64-year-old woman experienced rapidly progressing dysphasia, dementia, dystonia, and diplopia. A 4.5-cm frontotemporal meningioma was found on imaging (figure) and she was scheduled for surgery. Because her symptoms were not consistent with the meningioma location,1 imaging was reviewed further. Presumptive diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) was made and surgery for that afternoon was cancelled. Autopsy 1 month later demonstrated prion protein scrapie (PrPsc), confirming CJD. The meningioma presented a potential satisfaction-of-search error. Surgery would have risked infection to those exposed, as PrPsc is highly resistant to denaturation even at autoclave temperatures.2
Organische Stickstoffverbindungen – Stickstoff steigert die Reaktivität

Dem Element Stickstoff (N) kommt in der belebten Welt hohe Bedeutung zu, da es als zentraler Bestandteil von Aminosauren, Proteinen und Desoxyribonucleinsaure (engl. deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA) die Vielfalt des Lebens erst ermoglicht. Abbildung 18.1 zeigt wichtige Verbindungsklassen mit stickstoffhaltigen funktionellen Gruppen.
Interplay of hemilability and redox activity in models of hydrogenase active sites

The hydrogen evolution reaction, as catalyzed by two electrocatalysts [M(N2S2)·Fe(NO)2]+, [Fe-Fe]+ (M = Fe(NO)) and [Ni-Fe]+ (M = Ni) was investigated by computational chemistry. As nominal models of hydrogenase active sites, these bimetallics feature two kinds of actor ligands: Hemilabile, MN2S2 ligands and redox-active, nitrosyl ligands, whose interplay guides the H2 production mechanism. The requisite base and metal open site are masked in the resting state but revealed within the catalytic cycle by cleavage of the MS–Fe(NO)2 bond from the hemilabile metallodithiolate ligand. Introducing two electrons and two protons to [Ni-Fe]+ produces H2 from coupling a hydride temporarily stored on Fe(NO)2 (Lewis acid) and a proton accommodated on the exposed sulfur of the MN2S2 thiolate (Lewis base). This Lewis acid–base pair is initiated and preserved by disrupting the dative donation through protonation on the thiolate or reduction on the thiolate-bound metal. Either manipulation modulates the electron density of the pair to prevent it from reestablishing the dative bond. The electron-buffering nitrosyl’s role is subtler as a bifunctional electron reservoir. With more nitrosyls as in [Fe-Fe]+, accumulated electronic space in the nitrosyls’ π*-orbitals makes reductions easier, but redirects the protonation and reduction to sites that postpone the actuation of the hemilability. Additionally, two electrons donated from two nitrosyl-buffered irons, along with two external electrons, reduce two protons into two hydrides, from which reductive elimination generates H2.
An Introduction to Elderly Sexuality

Contrary to popular stereotypes, older adults as a group are more heterogeneous than both young and middle aged adults. In recognition of this diversity, clinicians should only expect that the sexuality expressed among their elderly patients will be as unique and varied.
Health Literacy, Glycemic Control, and Physician-Advised Glucose Self-Monitoring Use in Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective. To measure the association between health literacy and both patient-reported and clinical outcomes in patients with non–insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. Research Design and Methods. We surveyed patients with non–insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (n = 448) from 15 primary care practices. The association between health literacy and patient-reported and clinical outcomes, including numeracy of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) use, how often physicians advised patients to conduct SMBG testing, and glycemic control (as measured by A1C), was investigated. Results. Study participants included 448 patients with non–insulin-treated type 2 diabetes located within central North Carolina. Participants with limited health literacy had poorer glycemic control (A1C 7.7 ± 1.1% vs. 7.5 ± 1.0%, P = 0.016) despite using SMBG testing more frequently (daily SMBG testing 49.3 vs. 30.7%, P = 0.001) compared to individuals with adequate health literacy. The difference in how often physicians advised patients to conduct SMBG testing between limited and adequate health literacy groups was not significant (P = 0.68). Conclusion. Limited health literacy was associated with poorer glycemic control and an increased frequency of SMBG testing in patients with non–insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. There was no significant difference in how often physicians advised patients to conduct SMBG testing between patients with limited and adequate health literacy.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma with Intracaval Extension to the Right Atrium: Resection on Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Case Presentation A 28-year-old woman presented with dyspnea on exertion and elevated testosterone level. A 21 × 19 cm right adrenal mass was found invading the liver and inferior vena cava (IVC); tumor thrombus extended to the right atrium on transthoracic echocardiogram.
History of GI Stenting: Rigid Prostheses in the Esophagus

The evolution of esophageal stents has gone through stages over the last 125 years. Prior to the development of esophageal stents, surgery was the only option for relief of dysphagia due to esophageal cancer. Gastrostomy tube placement provided palliation for nourishment and hydration but did nothing for relief of dysphagia; some patients survived long enough to ultimately lose the ability to swallow secretions. Endoesophageal tubes (external-internal) were initially placed to provide nutrition without the need for surgery but again did not restore swallowing ability. Sir Charters Symonds was the first to successfully place an esophageal prosthesis across a malignant stricture. Although there were many modifications of rigid esophageal stents in which various materials (wood, metal, plastic, latex) and designs were used, it was not until Celestin designed a new prosthesis and, following its commercial availability in the 1970s, did the stent revolution accelerate. There were competing technologies, mainly Nd-YAG laser ablation for neolumen creation, and administration of radiation and chemotherapy. The rigid prosthesis (plastic and latex) was extensively used from the 1970s to the 1990s, but the complication rates and mortality associated with insertion-related perforations remained significant. In the early 1990s, self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) were developed for esophageal use a decade after their introduction into the vascular and biliary tree. Esophageal SEMS led to rapid and durable relief of dysphagia and became the primary modality for palliation of malignant dysphagia.
The local costs to ecological services associated with high seas global transport

This chapter describes how human mobility is the engine that has fueled the development of the global society as it is observed today. That society reflects human history over very recent geological time and the ability of humans to drastically alter the global ecosystem, a situation that has been accelerated by population growth and the globalization of economies. In contrast, the elements of the global ecosystem are a reflection of the interplay of evolution, planetary geology, and climate change over a time frame of tens of millions of years. In recent human decades we have begun to appreciate the cumulative and continuing destructive impacts of societal development on the global ecosystem. The chapter discusses how humans have always settled close to aquatic resources. The majority of current human populations reflect this historical trend of residing in close proximity to rivers, estuaries and continental coastlines because these remain avenues and termini of current global transport systems. Commercial shipping remains the dominant mechanism for the global transportation of commodities, and the scale of economy offered by current commercial shipping continues to mould national economies and the location of manufacturing of consumer goods on a global basis. Shipping and its transport needs have acted as both a disturbance to local ecosystems and a vector for biological invasions, thus influencing global biogeography for the entire human population. Coastal and estuarine ecosystem integrity and function have suffered cumulative abuse as a result of this process. This chapter focuses on temperate estuarine ecosystems and examines the contrasting time frames of individual species and community evolution over geological time (millions of years). The chapter gives examples from the Atlantic coastline of the United States, but these examples are generically applicable on a wider geographic scale. Temperate estuarine ecosystems serve as examples of wider cumulative impacts, particularly on rivers and coastal ecosystems, associated with human transport, settlement and societal development. Scaled, practical application of ecological engineering as the tool to effect restoration is also discussed. Ecological engineering is defined in this context as the produce of collaboration between biologists, who frame questions in terms of ecosystem function, engineers who provide tractable approaches of developing and implementing technical solutions, and politicians who provide a legal framework to regulate the process.
Genistein induces macrophage polarization and systemic cytokine to ameliorate experimental colitis

Mucosal changes in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are characterized by a prominent infiltration of inflammatory cells including lymphocytes, macrophages, T cells and neutrophils. The precise etiology of IBD is unknown but it involves a complex interplay of factors associated with the immune system, environment, host genotype and enteric commensal bacteria. As there is no known safe cure for IBD, natural alternative therapeutic options without side effects are urgently needed. To this end, Soy-based foods, which have been eaten for centuries in Asian countries, have potential benefits, including lowering the incidence of coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, type-2 diabetes, allergic response, and autoimmune diseases. This study describes the effect of Soy isoflavons 4', 5, 7 Trihydroxyisoflavone (genistein) on dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) induced experimental colitis. The extent and severity of disease was analyzed through body weight, histopathological analysis, cellular immune response, systemic cytokine levels, and inflammation score using a disease activity index. Genistein treatment significantly attenuated DSS-induced colitis severity and resulted in increase in body weight, colon length and reduction in inflammation score. Genistein also skews M1 macrophages towards the M2 phenotype. Further, gen also reduced the systemic cytokine levels as compared to vehicle control. This serves as the first detailed study towards natural soya based product that shows the polarization of M1 towards M2 macrophages, and reduction of systemic cytokine in part to attenuate the colitis symptoms. Thus, our work demonstrates that genistein, a soya compound, may be useful for the treatment of IBD.
Causal Effects of Alcohol Intoxication on Sexual Risk Intentions and Condom Negotiation Skills Among High-Risk Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)

Alcohol use is a key risk factor for HIV infection among MSM, in part because intoxication may interfere with the use of prevention methods like condoms. However, few studies have examined whether this is due to alcohol’s pharmacological or expectancy effects or explored the specific aspects of sexual decision-making that may be affected. In this study, high-risk, heavy drinking MSM (N = 121) were randomly assigned to receive either (1) alcohol beverages, (2) placebo beverages, or (3) control beverages, before navigating a video-based sexual risk scenario that assessed several aspects of sexual decision-making. Results showed that condom use intentions and negotiation behaviors were lower among alcohol and placebo participants compared with controls, but that few significant differences emerged between the alcohol and placebo groups. These findings contrast with similar past studies, and suggest that alcohol’s expectancy effects may play a role in sexual decision-making.
These Labels are Nuts: Challenges to Safe Product Identification for Nut-Allergic Consumers

Allergen information on food labels is not standardized, making allergen avoidance difficult for consumers. This study investigated the speed and accuracy of allergen identification on commercial packaging across different types of warning labels. The results identified packaging label characteristics significantly correlated with faster and more accurate identification of allergens. Standardizing warning and safe-to-consume labels may reduce risk of accidental allergen exposure for consumers managing food allergies.
Trajectories of cognitive decline differ in hippocampal sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is a prevalent cause of dementia in the oldest old but is generally misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to similarities in clinical presentation. To determine if clinical and cognitive features diverge over time, we compared results from longitudinal evaluations of participants in the University of California, San Diego, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center with autopsy-confirmed AD (n = 195), HS (n = 21), or both HS + AD (n = 18). Each group exhibited decline in all cognitive measures, with HS declining at a slower rate than AD on the Mini-Mental State Examination, immediate recall condition of a word-list learning test, and Dementia Rating Scale total and subtest scores (except memory). Five years before the final evaluation, more prominent semantic and visuospatial deficits were apparent in AD participants than in HS participants despite comparable global cognitive impairment. Groups did not differ on any measure of executive function. HS + AD differed from AD only on the Boston Naming Test. Overall, results suggest that HS dementia is associated with cognitive deficits that progress more slowly than, but generally mimic, those observed in AD.
Remembering Lost Landscapes in Cambodia

This chapter narrates a short history of agricultural and environmental change in the village of East Big Lake in southern Cambodia. Primarily based upon villagers’ memories of place, it explores the changing relationship between people and their local environment over the second half of the twentieth century, during which the country gained independence from France and then later became embroiled in civil war, genocide, and national reconstruction. People’s memories of the environmental past are retold through the landscape, drawing upon their personal experiences. The information retold in this historical narrative was learned through a yearlong ethnographic research project, in which the author carried out participant observation, interviews, and structured surveys with a group of 26 families. This chapter provides a local, village-based perspective on Cambodia’s agricultural and environmental history, about which relatively little has been written. It also demonstrates how place, memory, and landscape can contribute to environmental histories.
Seeing 21st Century Data Bleed through the 15th Century Wound Man

Are individuals at risk of "data bleedout" in 21st century environments saturated with wearable devices? Is there a good way of visualizing the range of wearables and related technology so that we can see the impact on both the human and their data? Wearable have been around for a long time ? eyeglasses date to the 13th century and artisans created wearable clocks in the 16th century. The wearable technologies of the 21st century are multiple and plentiful in many commercial markets. CCS Insight has updated its outlook on the future of wearable tech, indicating that 411 million smart wearable devices, worth a staggering $34 billion, will be sold in 2020 [1]. This estimate depends upon a strong growth in the sector; global wearable retail sales in 2017 reached 126 623 units [2]. Much of this growth is expected to come from young adult sectors; according to the Global Web Index, 71 percent of those ages 16 to 24 want "wearable tech," defined as a smart watch, smart wristband, or smart eyewear. Nearly two-thirds of global Internet users have worn a piece of technology already or are eager to do so in the future [3].
High-Contrast, Low-Cost, 3-D Visualization of Skin Cancer Using Ultra-High-Resolution Millimeter-Wave Imaging

The goal of this paper is to develop a new skin imaging modality which addresses the current clinical need for a non-invasive imaging tool that images the skin over its depth with high resolutions while offering large histopathological-like contrasts between malignant and normal tissues. We demonstrate that by taking advantage of the intrinsic millimeter-wave dielectric contrasts between normal and malignant skin tissues, ultra-high-resolution millimeter-wave imaging (MMWI) can achieve 3-D, high-contrast images of the skin. In this paper, an imaging system with a record-wide bandwidth of 98 GHz is developed using the synthetic ultra-wideband millimeter-wave imaging approach, a new ultra-high-resolution imaging technique recently developed by the authors. The 21 non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) specimens are imaged and compared with histopathology for evaluation. A programmable measurement platform is designed to automatically scan the tissues across a rectangular aperture plane. Furthermore, a novel frequency-domain imaging algorithm is developed to process the recorded signals and generate an image of the cancerous tissue. The high correlations achieved between MMWI images and histological images allow for rapid and accurate delineation of NMSC tissues. The millimeter-wave reflectivity values are also found to be statistically significant higher for cancerous areas with respect to normal areas. Since MMWI does not require tissue processing or staining, it can be performed promptly, enabling diagnosis of tumors at an early stage as well as simplify the tumor removal surgery to a single-layer excision procedure.
Passive Impedance Matching for Implanted Brain–Electrode Interfaces

We propose a new technique for matching the high impedance of sub-cranial electrodes to wireless brain implants that is passive, highly tolerant of the dc offset voltage caused by the electrochemical reaction in the recording electrode, and complemented by an improved external interrogator design that exhibits reduced phase noise. As compared to previous wireless and batteryless brain implants, the proposed approach offers a remarkable improvement in sensitivity by 25 times. The proposed system consists of an external interrogator and a neuro-recorder implanted under the scalp. For operation, the interrogator sends a 2.4-GHz carrier signal to turn on the implant. This carrier self-biases a PNP Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) that enables matching to the recording electrode at frequency $f_{neuro}$ in a batteryless manner. Concurrently, the recorded neuropotentials (at frequency $f_{neuro}$ ) pass through a Schottky diode that allows them to mix with the carrier and generate a 4.8 $\text{GHz}\pm f_{neuro}$ modulated signal. The latter is then transmitted back to the interrogator for demodulation. To verify the implant's operation, in-vitro measurements are presented. Measurement results demonstrate that emulated neuropotentials as low as 200 $\mu V_{pp}$ can be detected at a 33- $\text{k}\Omega$ electrode impedance. As such, the proposed system presents a game-changing capability for a wide range of applications.
Nicotine and marijuana attitudes among flavor-only vaping youth: New evidence from Monitoring the Future.

Abstract Background Vaping has become increasingly popular among youth and young adults in the last decade. At present, very little research has examined how vaping is associated with attitudes concerning the disapproval and perceived risk of using other substances. This paper examines the association between flavor-only vaping and attitudes concerning nicotine and marijuana use in a sample of high school students with no history of nicotine or marijuana use. Methods We employed negative binomial regression and logistic regression techniques to examine the associations between flavor-only vaping activity and attitudes concerning the risk and disapproval of nicotine and marijuana use utilizing data from the 2017 cohort of Monitoring the Future (MTF). Results The results suggest that, net of covariates, flavor-only vaping is not significantly associated with attitudes concerning traditional forms of nicotine use. However, flavor-only vaping does appear to be positively and significantly associated with the failure to disapprove and/or perceive the risk of vaping nicotine and regular marijuana use. Conclusions Flavor-only vaping is positively and significantly associated with the failure to disapprove and/or perceive the risk of vaping nicotine and regular marijuana use.
Proper Thermal Equilibration of Simulations with Drude Polarizable Models: Temperature-Grouped Dual-Nosé-Hoover Thermostat.

An explicit treatment of electronic polarization is critically important to accurate simulations of highly charged or interfacial systems. Compared to the iterative self-consistent field (SCF) scheme, extended Lagrangian approaches are computationally more efficient for simulations that employ a polarizable force field. However, an appropriate thermostat must be chosen to minimize heat flow and ensure an equipartition of kinetic energy among all unconstrained system degrees of freedom. Here we investigate the effects of different thermostats on the simulation of condensed phase systems with the Drude polarizable force field using several examples that include water, NaCl/water, acetone, and an ionic liquid (IL) BMIM+/BF4-. We show that conventional dual-temperature thermostat schemes often suffer from violations of equipartitioning and adiabatic electronic state, leading to considerable errors in both static and dynamic properties. Heat flow from the real degrees of freedom to the Drude degrees of freedom leads to a steady temperature gradient and puts the system at an incorrect effective temperature. Systems with high-frequency internal degrees of freedom such as planar improper dihedrals or C-H bond stretches are most vulnerable; this issue has been largely overlooked in the literature because of the primary focus on simulations of rigid water molecules. We present a new temperature-grouped dual-Nose-Hoover thermostat, where the molecular center of mass translations are assigned to a temperature group separated from the rest degrees of freedom. We demonstrate that this scheme predicts correct static and dynamic properties for all the systems tested here, regardless of the thermostat coupling strength. This new thermostat has been implemented into the GPU-accelerated OpenMM simulation package and maintains a significant speedup relative to the SCF scheme.
Strengths in numbers: Assessing the use of StrengthsFinder 2.0 in a pharmacy residency program

PURPOSE To quantify the trends of StrengthsFinder 2.0 domains and traits in pharmacy residents within a single residency program. To recognize and discuss the application of resident StrengthsFinder 2.0 traits within a residency program. METHODS This is a retrospective review of StrengthsFinder 2.0 domains and traits among first- and second-year postgraduate year (PGY) pharmacy residents over the past 6 years in a community-based health system. Perspectives on the utility of the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment within a residency program, from the viewpoints of a residency program director, a system director of pharmacy, and a current resident, were also obtained and recorded. RESULTS A total of 34 residents with 170 StrengthsFinder 2.0 traits were included in this data analysis. The top StrengthsFinder 2.0 domains of all pharmacy residents were Strategic Thinking and Relationship Building, being exhibited by 36% and 28%, respectively. Learner, Achiever, Harmony, Input, and Restorative were found to be the most frequently reported StrengthsFinder 2.0 traits among all pharmacy residents examined. Learner and Harmony were found to be the top traits of first-year pharmacy residents (11% and 9%), while Achiever and Learner were the most common traits found in the second-year pharmacy residents (13% and 10%). The system pharmacy director, residency program director, and current resident agreed that the assessment tool enhances the resident experience. However, each has their own perspective on the benefits of the StrengthsFinder assessment with respect to the residency program. CONCLUSION Overall, the top 5 StrengthsFinder 2.0 traits seen in pharmacy residents who have completed a PGY1 or PGY2 residency at Lee Health were: Learner (18%), Achiever (9%), Harmony (7%), Input (6%), and Restorative (6%). Achiever, Harmony, Learner, Input, and Restorative were found to be the most common traits across all categories reported. These trends are similar to those reported in previous studies of StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment of pharmacy students and residents. Evaluating individual StrengthsFinder 2.0 traits at the start of the residency year provides a framework for each resident to complete ongoing self-evaluations. In addition, familiarity with the common traits seen within residents allows residency leadership members to make more thoughtful decisions regarding resident assignments for learning experiences or committee appointments.
Domestic Health Assessment

Countries that resettle refugees have developed practice guidelines for the refugee domestic health assessment. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has established evidence-based guidelines for domestic health assessment of newly arrived refugees. This assessment includes disease conditions commonly seen in refugee populations. Parts of history taking, physical examination, laboratory testing, and preventive screening that have specific relevance for refugees are described in this chapter. In addition to an overview of recommendations for the domestic assessment of refugees in the United States, this chapter also reviews existing models of care and regulations governing refugee resettlement. The overseas screening medical examination is also discussed.
Perceived racial discrimination and polysubstance use among African American and Afro-Caribbean adults: Results from the National Survey of American Life.

This study examined the relationship between perceived racial discrimination (PRD) and patterns of substance use. Data come from the 2001–2003 National Survey of American Life (N = 3,589). PRD was ...
Integrated optical phased arrays for optical trapping

In this paper we propose and simulate a design for an optical phased array that can produces spot sizes small enough to be used in optical trapping processes in a micro-scale. Furthermore we attempt to combat the large grating lobes that are characteristic of optical phased arrays via an optimized non-uniform spacing profile of emitter elements. Using this optimized spacing profile we are able to reduce the peak side lobe level of a 10×10 array to 60% of the central lobe. We simulate that the full width half max of the central lobe of our 10×10 non-uniformly spaced array is 23 microns which is on the order of the spot size necessary for optical trapping.
Active Academic Integrity

Even in an introduction to computer science course, students commit academic misconduct. Traditional plagiarism detection software like MOSS fail to give great results for assignments whose solutions are only a few lines long. We change program variable names and then search student code for those variable names. If their code backups contain the variable names, they are flagged for cheating. Our tool was used in a CS1 course that had a Spring 2020 enrollment of 1800 students. We accused 164 students for the first homework, and enforced 142 penalties (86.6% of accused students) for the first homework. Over the semester we had 452 enforced cases of cheating on homeworks, labs, and projects out of 598 accusations (75.6% of accused students). In Summer 2020 we improved the tool to speed up response time and reduce false positive rate from 24.4% to 21.9%. We built open source software using Python that searches students' code for suspicious keywords and uploads it all to a spreadsheet. We also asked students to provide their past work at the beginning of the semester. This is important because it reduces student stress and reduces false positives. Our work helps the remedial nature of communicating to students they have been flagged for cheating by having the students know that someone is monitoring their work. Students are caught breaking the rules before they develop bad habits that hinder their learning and lead to persistent cheating.
Bootstrapping the Boundary between Research and Environmental Management: The TMDL as a Point of Engagement between Science and Governance:

Knowledge produced by environmental scientists is often inaccessible, intractable, or otherwise in need of reconfiguration for use in environmental regulation. Similarly, policy knowledge undergoes...
Heterogeneous material mapping methods for patient-specific finite element models of pelvic trabecular bone: A convergence study.

Abstract Patient-specific finite element (FE) models of bone require the assignment of heterogeneous material properties extracted from the subject's computed tomography (CT) images. Though node-based (NB) and element-based (EB) material mapping methods (MMMs) have been proposed, the sensitivity and convergence of FE models to MMM for varying mesh sizes are not well understood. In this work, CT-derived and synthetic bone material data were used to evaluate the effect of MMM on results from FE analyses. Pelvic trabecular bone data was extracted from CT images of six subjects, while synthetic data were created to resemble trabecular bone properties. The numerical convergence of FE bone models using different MMMs were evaluated for strain energy, von-Mises stress, and strain. NB and EB MMMs both demonstrated good convergence regarding total strain energy, with the EB method having a slight edge over the NB. However, at the local level (e.g., maximum stress and strain), FE results were sensitive to the field type, MMM, and the FE mesh size. The EB method exhibited superior performance in finer meshes relative to the voxel size. The NB method converged better than did the EB method for coarser meshes. These findings may lead to higher-fidelity patient-specific FE bone models.
Changing Russian Orthodox Landscapes in Post-Soviet Moscow

The religious landscape of Moscow has experienced some of its most dramatic changes in recent history. By 1917 there were close to 800 Orthodox churches, yet due to the harsh Soviet anti-religious policies, in 1985 there were only 54 functioning churches. With the end of the Soviet system, by 2007, that number increased to 725, an indication of yet another profound transformation of the area. This chapter first attempts to summarize post-Soviet changes by focusing on two, geographically contrasting, processes and trends. Typical of the 1990s were restitution of the previously nationalized church property, restoration of ruined Orthodox buildings and the construction of churches by/for political elites and powerful corporatist groups. These early post-Soviet processes were often driven by political motivations that have predominantly focused on the city center, thus paradoxically contributing to the Soviet geographical mismatch between where the churches are (downtown) and where the majority of people live (residential church-less outskirts with the standardized high rise residences). Lately plans have been announced to build 200 new inexpensive churches “within walking distance” on outskirts. This latest trend towards suburbanization of church buildings may further transform Russian Orthodox landscape in Moscow. This chapter pays particular attention to the effects of these processes and trends.
Movies, Model Ts, and Morality: The Impact of Technology on Standards of Behavior in the Early Twentieth Century

N THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY THE UNITED STATES WITNESSED BOTH moral and technological innovation. The divorce rate went from 8.8 per hundred in 1910 to 16.5 in 1928. The number of patents granted went from 208,000 in the decade ending 1890 to 421,000 in the decade ending 1930. Lipstick brightened the faces of young ladies; Edison lights illuminated homes and offices. Secretaries began typing; women began publicly smoking and drinking. Iceboxes kept food cool; jazz became a ‘‘hot’’ new dance craze. Although technology cannot force people to behave a certain way, it was not strictly coincidental that changes in perceptions of acceptable behavior accompanied the increasing use of technology. By examining the metaphysics engendered by living in a technologically oriented society and the specific outlooks fostered by two of its most pervasive technologies—the car and the motion picture—one can explore its influence on behavioral standards. Living in a technologically oriented society encourages a general outlook that is objective, temporal, separated, and youth-oriented; the automobile in particular encourages an upwardly leveled society, a ‘‘personal’’ world and a ‘‘suddenly happening’’ environment, and the motion picture specifically fosters group objectivity, sequence as rational and self-exposure over self-examination. Several prominent social scientists and scholars in the early twentieth century recognized that technology affected social behavior, even though they did not always clearly explain how. In 1929, influential political commentator, journalist, and philosopher Walter Lippmann 1
Mossy fiber growth and synaptogenesis in rat hippocampal slices in vitro

Hippocampal slices from early postnatal rat were used to study mossy fiber (MF) growth and synaptogenesis. The ability of MFs to form new giant synapses within isolated tissue slices was established by a series of experiments involving synapsin I immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and whole-cell recordings. When hippocampal slices from immature rats were cultured for up to 2 weeks, the distribution of giant MF terminals was similar to that found in vivo. Using a lesioning procedure, we determined that MFs in slices extend and form appropriate synaptic connections with normal target CA3 pyramidal cells. MF terminals were dispersed more widely than normal within the CA3 pyramidal layer after a lesion, but electron microscopy indicated that synaptic junctions were still primarily associated with pyramidal cell dendrites and not the somata. Establishment of functional synaptic input in vitro was confirmed by whole-cell recordings of MF-driven excitatory postsynaptic currents (50 pA to 1 nA) in pyramidal cells. The results establish for the first time that an MF projection with appropriate and functional synaptic connections can be formed de novo and not just maintained in excised hippocampal slices. The cellular dynamics underlying MF growth and synaptogenesis were examined directly by time-lapse confocal imaging of fibers selectively stained with a fluorescent membrane dye (Dil or DiO). MFs growing deep within isolated tissue slices were tipped by small (5–10 microns), active growth cones that advanced at variable rates (5–25 microns/hr). Furthermore, dynamic filopodial structures were seen at small varicosities along the length of developing MFs, which may identify nascent en passant synaptic contacts. The hippocampal slice preparations are shown to support normal development of MF connections and allow for direct visualization of the cellular dynamics of synapse formation in a mammalian CNS tissue environment.