cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The phtC-phtD Locus Equips Legionella pneumophila for Thymidine Salvage and Replication in Macrophages

The phagosomal transporter (Pht) family of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) is encoded by phylogenetically related intracellular gammaproteobacteria, including the opportunistic pathogen Legionella pneumophila. The location of the pht genes between the putative thymidine kinase (tdk) and phosphopentomutase (deoB) genes suggested that the phtC and phtD loci contribute to thymidine salvage in L. pneumophila. Indeed, a phtC+ allele in trans restored pyrimidine uptake to an Escherichia coli mutant that lacked all known nucleoside transporters, whereas a phtD+ allele did not. The results of phenotypic analyses of L. pneumophila strains lacking phtC or phtD strongly indicate that L. pneumophila requires PhtC and PhtD function under conditions where sustained dTMP synthesis is compromised. First, in broth cultures that mimicked thymidine limitation or starvation, L. pneumophila exhibited a marked requirement for PhtC function. Conversely, mutation of phtD conferred a survival advantage. Second, in medium that lacked thymidine, multicopy phtC+ or phtD+ alleles enhanced the survival of L. pneumophila thymidylate synthase (thyA)-deficient strains, which cannot synthesize dTMP endogenously. Third, under conditions in which transport of the pyrimidine nucleoside analog 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) would inhibit growth, PhtC and PhtD conferred a growth advantage to L. pneumophila thyA+ strains. Finally, when cultured in macrophages, L. pneumophila required the phtC-phtD locus to replicate. Accordingly, we propose that PhtC and PhtD contribute to protect L. pneumophila from dTMP starvation during its intracellular life cycle.
Reliability difference between spectral and entropic measures of erector spinae muscle fatigability

This study investigated back muscle fatigability of the erector spinae (ES) muscles during submaximal contractions with the use of surface electromyography (sEMG). It was important to confirm the reliability of measurements for characterizing neuromuscular alterations by establishing the difference between the Shannon (information) entropy and the power spectrum analysis in subjects with low back pain (LBP). The data was collected on two different days, one week apart, and the between-days reliability of these measures was examined. Thirty-two gender-matched subjects completed the modified Sorenson test; 16 of the subjects were female while 16 were male. The entropy of the sEMG signal was more reliable than either the median frequency (MF) or the slope of the MF. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was higher for the entropy than for the MF slope. The ICC values of entropy for between-day measurements were higher (0.82-0.85) than MF (0.54-0.64) and MF slope (0.26-0.30). The standard errors of measurement (SEM) values for entropy were lower (0.04-0.05) than MF (3.10-3.60) and MF slope (0.03-0.04). The Pearson correlation coefficients of the entropy were significantly higher (0.75-0.77) than those of the MF (0.38-0.47) and the MF slope (0.15-0.18). Therefore, the results of this study indicated that the entropy analysis could provide a reliable measure of muscle fatigability.
Business Services, Productivity, and Wages: Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Michigan Counties, 1977–1997

This article investigates the growth of business services (SIC73) in Michigan and models the relationship between the industry and local economic conditions in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. The research makes four conclusions. First, SIC73 measures explain variance in manufacturing productivity. Second, SIC73 indicators explain variation in manufacturing and overall wages. Third, these relationships vary between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. Despite growth in rural regions, SIC73 indicators more effectively predict wages and productivity in metropolitan counties. Hence, the localized benefits associated with SIC73 industries are more strongly associated with metropolitan economies. Fourth, the interdependencies that have developed between SIC73 industries and the manufacturing sector decrease over time in both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan contexts. The article concludes with suggestions for future research.
Effects of a Community Health Nursing Parent-Baby (Ad) Venture Program on Depression and Other Selected Maternal-Child Health Outcomes

This pilot study measured the effects of a community health nursing parent-baby (ad)venture program for first time mothers who were at risk for child abuse or neglect and depression. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used. Fifteen high-risk mothers in the program were compared with 15 similar mothers who received home visits from the community health nursing staff. Measures of depression, health behaviors, self-esteem, state anxiety, and maternal-infant adaptation were measured in both groups when the mothers were 4 and 16 weeks postpartum. After controlling for pretest differences, the findings showed that program mothers reported significantly higher levels of self-esteem at the three-month period than those receiving home visits (P < 0.013). In addition, over time these mothers had significantly decreased levels of depression (P < 0.009) and significantly improved their health habits (P < 0.003). Those who received home visits showed no significant changes over time.
A q-analog of the exponential formula

A q-analog of functional composition for Eulerian generating functions is introduced and applied to the enumeration of permutations by inversions and distribution of left-right maxima.
Multilingual literacies in transnational digitally mediated contexts: an exploratory study of immigrant teens in the United States

This study explores the literacy practices that are involved in transnational social and information networking among youths of immigrant backgrounds in the United States. In particular, it investigates the ways in which young migrants of diverse national origins in the United States are utilising digital media to organise social relationships with friends and families, and engage with news and media products across the United States and their native countries. Based on results of interviews with 35 adolescents of diverse national origins, and survey data with a larger group of youths, this paper shows that digital media have become major tools and avenues for these young people to maintain and develop relations with people, media, and events across territorial boundaries. Within their digital networks, the youths mobilise multiple languages to conduct interpersonal relationships and seek out ideas and information from various sources in their ‘home’ and ‘host’ societies, and sometimes across a larger dia...
Overview of ICRP Committee 1: radiation effects:

This paper does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The author passed away on 13 November 2015.Committee 1 of the International Commission ...
Behavior and the Child

One of the greatest but most rewarding challenges in the dental profession is that of providing oral health care to children. The behavior and emotional expressions of children can vary from affable, humorous, and inspiring to rebellious and taxing for parents and professionals. This chapter will investigate children’s behavior, important factors contributing to its expression, and set the stage for the introduction of pharmacological management of the child in the dental setting. Key concepts such as child temperament, age, anxiety and fear, and parents and their impact on child behavior will be discussed. In the end, the dentist importantly must fully embrace and constantly advocate for the child’s oral health and safety even in the face of extreme states of health, behavioral challenges, diversification, and adversity.
Treatment Modalities and Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiatives in the Management of Intra-Abdominal Infections

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) focus on improving the utilization of broad spectrum antibiotics to decrease the incidence of multidrug-resistant Gram positive and Gram negative pathogens. Hospital admission for both medical and surgical intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) commonly results in the empiric use of broad spectrum antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones, beta-lactam beta-lactamase inhibitors, and carbapenems that can select for resistant organisms. This review will discuss the management of uncomplicated and complicated IAIs as well as highlight stewardship initiatives focusing on the proper use of broad spectrum antibiotics.
Abstract TP154: Device Malfunction Related Adverse Events in Patients Undergoing Carotid Angioplasty and Stent Placement: An analysis of the FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database

Background: Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has emerged as a less invasive treatment alternative to carotid endarterectomy and the frequency of CAS is increasing. A large scale analysis of the device malfunction related adverse events associated with carotid stenting has not previously been undertaken. Methods: Adverse events reported to the United States FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience were analyzed. This data includes voluntary reporting of adverse events related to medical device use. We analyzed the characteristics of device related adverse events which included hypotension, bradycardia, hyperperfusion syndrome, transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, carotid artery spasm, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, and vessel dissection from 2010 to 2012 in the United States. Results: From 2010 to 2012, there were a total of 1211 adverse events reported to the FDA related to CAS. The most common adverse event was stroke, which represented 39.3% of the clinical adverse events. Adverse device deployment was most commonly affected by intraprocedural malfunction of the stent, which occurred in 22.0% of reported events, followed by incomplete coverage by the stent requiring a second stent, 15.5% of events. In addition, vessel tortuosity, 11.0% of events, and vessel calcification, 4.5%, played a role in adversely affecting stent deployment. The stents most commonly involved in intraprocedural malfunction were the Carotid Wall Monorail stent and the Acculink carotid stent, which represented 29.5% and 30.8% of the failures respectively. The clinical events associated with device malfunction were stroke (n=464), TIA (n=186), carotid artery spasm (n=30), and carotid dissection (n=8). Conclusions: This is the first large scale study to report on the device malfunction related adverse events associated with carotid stent placement. The most common device complication relates to intraprocedural malfunction of the stent, which represents 22% of reported failures.
Static Testing of Compliant Plate Seals

Self–correcting Compliant Plate Seals are being developed for various turbomachinery sealing applications including gas turbines, steam turbines, aircraft engines and oil & gas compressors. These seals consist of compliant plates attached to a stator in a circumferential fashion around the rotor. The compliant plates have a slot that extends radially inwards from the seal outer diameter, and an intermediate plate extends inwards into this slot from stator. This design is capable of providing passive hydrostatic feedback forces acting on the compliant plates that balance at a small tip–clearance. Due to this self–correcting behavior, this seal is capable of providing high differential pressure capability and low leakage within a limited axial span, and robust non–contact operation even in the presence of large rotor transients. In this paper we have described the testing of Compliant Plate Seals in a static leakage test rig (“shoebox” rig) to study the impact of different design parameters on leakage and vibration. A novel high–speed visualization set–up is described and the high–speed videos demonstrate robust non–contact operation for different assembly clearances, bridge–gaps and bridge–heights, for various differential pressure and pressure ratio conditions. The reported leakage results indicate that the leakage is relatively insensitive to assembly clearances due to the self–correcting behavior.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Nanotechnology and 3D bioprinting for neural tissue regeneration

Nanotechnology as a versatile vehicle to create biomimetic nanostructured tissue-engineered neural scaffolds provides great potential for the development of innovative and successful nerve grafts. Nanostructured conduits derived from traditional and novel tissue engineering techniques have been shown to be superior for successful neural function construction due to a high degree of biomimetic character. Meanwhile, 3D bioprinting, an emerging tissue manufacturing technology, has attracted increasing interest for neural tissue engineering applications. It can be used to fabricate biocompatible and bioactive scaffolds with precise control of spatially distributed cells and biomaterials to better address the complex nature of neural tissue. Physiologically relevant morphology with microstructural cues can be readily designed and fabricated through computer-aided design to better meet specific patient's needs. This chapter focuses on recent developments in nanotechnology and 3D bioprinting as they are applied to neural tissue engineering. We will discuss nanobiomaterials and 3D bioprinting techniques for the fabrication of biomimetic neural scaffolds in expediting neural tissue regeneration. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Self-Management of Chronic Illness

Publisher Summary Human beings inhabit the kingdoms of the well and the sick. For this reason, research continues to emphasize how one can contribute to his/her own health. The significance of mastery of self-management skills by all, not just those with chronic disorders, as well as increased self-efficacy, which is a consequence of such performance, cannot be overstated. There is a caveat to such a rubicund scenario: The philosophy and implementation of self-management for the control of chronic illness do not occur unless there is a major change in the health care system, particularly the way patients are treated by health care providers. The health care system currently used in developed countries is based on a model whereby medical personnel treat patients. The role of patients under these conditions requires that they adhere to whatever directions are given to them, not that they become active participants in making decisions and implementing actions regarding their own care. The current system is appropriate for the treatment and management of acute diseases.
Protozoan Cell Organelles

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on differences between host and parasite organelles, and concentrates on the protozoa. Fewer biological reagents, such as monoclonal antibodies, inhibitors, and cloned genes, are available for the study of sub-cellular compartmentalization in parasites than in higher eukaryotes.. Metabolic pathways within membrane-bounded organelles, molecular cloning, selected organinsms and organelle systems that point out unique aspect of parasite organelles have been focused in the chapter. The chapter also explains that protozoal parasites show many variations from the standard eukaryotic cell architecture and that all eukaryotes including parasitic protozoa possess a cytoskeleton. The mitotic spindles of protozoa show diverse organization and giardia possesses a unique structure, “the ventral disk.” The chapter further highlights the organelles involved in macromolecular trafficking and that most parasitic protozoa compartmentalize pathways of energy metabolism within organelles . The chapter concludes that the study of parasite organelles has revealed that the problem of compartmentalizing function within the eukaryotic cell has been solved in a variety of ways and has suggested that the distinctive properties and components of these organelles make them useful targets for anti-parasitic agents.
Optical and electronic properties of semiconducting Sn2S3

We report the electronic and optical properties of Sn2S3 as obtained from first principles calculations with the modified Becke-Johnson potential. The electronic structure shows that Sn occurs in both divalent and tetravalent forms. The fundamental band gap of 0.82 eV is indirect. The direct gap is 0.97 eV, but the onset of strong optical absorption is much higher at ∼1.75 eV. This is as a consequence of the Sn2+ s and Sn4+ s characters of the valence and conduction band extrema, respectively. We also find strong and different anisotropies for conduction in p- and n-type Sn2S3. This should be taken into account in device structures in order to obtain efficient charge collection. The thermopowers are reasonably high for both p- and n-type materials. p-type Sn2S3 shows complex corrugated isosurface sections, while the n-type material shows multiple band extrema.
Assessing the effectiveness of a hybrid-flipped model of learning on fluid mechanics instruction: overall course performance, homework, and far- and near-transfer of learning

ABSTRACTTo examine the impact of a hybrid-flipped model utilising active learning techniques, the researchers inverted one section of an undergraduate fluid mechanics course, reduced seat time, and engaged in active learning sessions in the classroom. We compared this model to the traditional section on four performance measures. We employed a propensity score method entailing a two-stage regression analysis that considered eight covariates to address the potential bias of treatment selection. First, we estimated the probability score based on the eight covariates, and second, we used the inverse of the probability score as a regression weight on the performance of learners who did not select into the hybrid course. Results suggest that enrolment in the hybrid-flipped section had a marginally significant negative impact on the total course score and a significant negative impact on homework performance, possibly because of poor video usage by the hybrid-flipped learners. Suggested considerations are also ...
The problem of quality of life in ministry

Studies reveal that ministers are at risk of developing high levels of stress, burnout, and depression, which are all related to low quality of life. However, studies also reveal that ministers hav...
The Freedom Schools: Student Activists in the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement

Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction: The Mississippi Freedom Schools 1. "The Pathway from Slavery to Freedom": The Origins of Education and the Ideology of Liberation in Mississippi 2. "There Was Something Happening": The Civil Rights Education and Politicization of the Freedom School Students 3. "The Student as a Force for Social Change": The Politics and Organization of the Mississippi Freedom Schools 4. "We Will Walk in the Light of Freedom": Attending and Teaching in the Freedom Schools 5. "We Do Hereby Declare Independence": Educational Activism and Reconceptualizing Freedom After the Summer Campaign 6. Carrying Forth the Struggle: Freedom Schools and Contemporary Educational Policy Epilogue: Remembering the Freedom Schools Fifty Years Later Notes Index
On detecting delay anomalies introduced by hardware trojans

A hardware Trojan (HT) detection method is presented that is based on measuring and detecting small systematic changes in path delays introduced by capacitive loading effects or series inserted gates of HTs. The path delays are measured using a high resolution on-chip embedded test structure called a time-to-digital converter (TDC) that provides approx. 25 ps of timing resolution. A calibration method for the TDC as well as a chip-averaging technique are demonstrated to nearly eliminate chip-to-chip and within-die process variation effects on the measured path delays across chips. This approach significantly improves the correlation between Trojan-free chips and a simulation-based golden model. Path delay tests are applied to multiple copies of a 90nm custom ASIC chip having two copies of an AES macro. The AES macros are exact replicas except for the insertion of several additional gates in the second hardware copy, which are designed to model HTs. Simple statistical detection methods are used to isolate and detect systematic changes introduced by these additional gates. We present hardware results which demonstrate that our proposed chip-averaging and calibration techniques in combination with a single nominal simulation model can be used to detect small delay anomalies introduced by the inserted gates of hardware Trojans.
Disequilibrium of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in Drill Cuttings from a Horizontal Drilling Operation

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in solid waste or “drill cuttings” produced from unconventional drilling for natural gas extraction wells potentially pose environmental contamination risks; however, the composition and mobility of NORM in these solid wastes are poorly understood. In this study, the composition of NORM, including uranium, thorium, radium, lead, and polonium isotopes, was evaluated in three samples of drill cuttings extracted from a well drilled into the Marcellus Shale formation. Leachability of NORM in drill cuttings was characterized by leaching the solid waste with dilute acetic acid at four different pH values. The uranium-series radionuclides in cuttings and leachate samples displayed isotopic disequilibrium, suggesting some environmental mobility of radionuclides in these shale formations. Our results indicate that isotopic analysis of uranium-series radionuclides is needed for a more complete understanding of the potential environmental contamination risks associate...
Abstract PL-2: Patient Derived Xenografts - Pre-Clinical Models for Prevention and Treatment of Metastasis

Twenty to thirty percent of breast cancer patients eventually develop metastasis despite receiving state-of-the-art therapies. Clearly, identifying better ways to eliminate micro-metastatic tumor cells is paramount to eradicating death from breast cancer. Unfortunately, history suggests that developing yet another drug to target yet another pathway involved in tumor progression will not cure breast cancer. We now know that every tumor is unique; each tumor is heterogenous; tumors hijack multiple, redundant pathways to survive and grow; dormant tumor cells are resistant to chemotherapy; and tumors evolve resistance under pressure of therapy. To better understand the problem of metastasis, and to develop better treatments, we must utilize in vivo models of metastasis that best recapitulate heterogenous human breast cancers. We have generated a collection of orthotopic patient-derived breast tumor xenograft (PDX) models from all of the major breast cancer subtypes. We found remarkable fidelity between PDX models and bona fide breast tumors, including the ability to metastasize and to evolve under pressure of treatment. This presentation will highlight the strengths and pitfalls of PDX models of breast cancer and how they might be utilized to develop new strategies for treatment. Citation Format: Alana L. Welm. Patient Derived Xenografts - Pre-Clinical Models for Prevention and Treatment of Metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PL-2.
Imiquimod Treatment Causes Systemic Disease in Mice Resembling Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in an IL-1 and IL-36 Dependent Manner

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a severe form of psoriasis that can be caused by missense mutations in the interleukin-36 (IL-36) receptor antagonist. In addition to neutrophil rich skin inflammation, GPP patients typically also experience anorexia, fever, malaise, and pain. The imiquimod-induced skin inflammation mouse model has rapidly become a popular way to study plaque psoriasis, which typically does not involve symptoms of systemic disease. In this model, neutrophil recruitment to the skin is dependent upon the inflammatory mediators IL-1, via its receptor IL-1R1, and IL-36α. Unexpectedly, we observed that mice also exhibited signs of anorexia (weight loss and decreased food intake), general malaise (decreased activity and loss of interest in building nests), and pain (nose bulging and hunched posture). A scoring system allowing quantitative comparisons of test groups was developed. Female mice were found to develop more severe disease than male mice. Furthermore, mice deficient in both IL-1R1 and IL-36α are nearly disease-free, while mice lacking only one of these inflammatory mediators have less severe disease than wild type mice. Hence, the imiquimod-induced skin inflammation mouse model recapitulates not only plaque psoriasis, but also the more severe symptoms, that is, anorexia, malaise, and pain, seen in GPP.
An Explanation of Oscillations Due to Wind Power Plants Weak Grid Interconnection

An existing wind power plant at ERCOT experienced poorly damped and undamped voltage oscillations under weak grid conditions. The oscillations became worse during high power outputs. This letter aims to find the root cause of such oscillations. Our research provides a linearized system model by combining the vector control of wind power plants and the weak grid interconnection. Using this model, this letter succeeds in explaining that the weak grid condition introduces a zero in right half plane for the open-loop system, which can lead to poorly damped or undamped oscillations.
Intestinal Permeability Biomarker Zonulin is Elevated in Healthy Aging

Introduction Increased gut permeability (“leaky gut”) has been proposed as a potential contributor to age-related inflammation and gut dysbiosis. However, information on the relationship between a leaky gut and inflammation and physical frailty during aging are limited.
Lesbians Over 60: Newer Every Day

An overview of current research on older lesbians is provided in this chapter drawing primarily from the research carried out in the USA. Topics include: (a) the “visibility” of older lesbians; (b) theories of lifespan development; (c) research on older lesbians; and (d) the impact of social contexts on lesbians over 60, such as personal relationships, minority stress and resilience, and race, ethnicity, and social class. In addition, the status of lesbian rights in other parts of the world and its impact on older lesbians is reviewed. Directions for future research on older lesbians are also explored.
Sir Philip Mitchell and the Indian Ocean, 1944–49

This article examines the strategic initiatives that Sir Philip Mitchell, governor of Kenya, brought to Great Britain’s Indian Ocean imperial and diplomatic policy in the years following the Second...
Adherence in Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic dermatologic condition requiring extended treatment times with topical application of medications. While atopic dermatitis treatments can be highly effective when used as directed, oftentimes patients do not respond as expected, raising concern for non-adherence versus non-response. This chapter aims to describe what is currently known about adherence in atopic dermatitis and to discuss strategies to improve adherence in order to improve treatment outcomes. Whether intentional or unintentional, non-adherence to treatment can limit patient outcomes of this disease for a variety of reasons. These include frustration with medication efficacy, inconvenience, and fear of side effects. Other factors include forgetfulness, financial burden of treatment, lack of trust in the physician, dislike of prescribed medication, or lack of understanding of disease or treatment. Several interventions have been studied with the aim of improving adherence in atopic dermatitis—such as educational workshops for patients and caregivers, earlier follow-up visits, and text messages reminders—however these are often limited by sample size and power. Further research is needed to study both specific patterns of nonadherence in atopic dermatitis, as well as methods to improve them.
An ensemble learning-based prognostic approach with degradation-dependent weights for remaining useful life prediction

Abstract Remaining useful life (RUL) prediction is crucial for the implementation of predictive maintenance strategies. While significant research has been conducted in model-based and data-driven prognostics, there has been little research reported on the RUL prediction using an ensemble learning method that combines prediction results from multiple learning algorithms. The objective of this research is to introduce a new ensemble prognostics method that takes into account the effects of degradation on the accuracy of RUL prediction. Specifically, this method assigns an optimized, degradation-dependent weight to each learner (i.e., learning algorithm) such that the weighted sum of the prediction results from all the learners predicts the RULs of engineered systems with better accuracy. The ensemble prognostics method is demonstrated using two case studies. One case study is to predict the RULs of aircraft bearings; the other is to predict the RULs of aircraft engines. The numerical results have shown that the predictive model trained by the ensemble learning-based prognostic approach with degradation-dependent weights is capable of outperforming the original ensemble learning-based approach and its member algorithms.
Change in Soil Organic Carbon after Five Years of Continuous Winter Wheat or Switchgrass

Perennial grasses have been promoted to supply cellulose for ethanol production but possible consequences on soil organic carbon (SOC) should be assessed before adoption in a given region. Specific objectives were to (i) compare above-ground biomass C production and depth distribution of SOC content of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), (ii) determine the contribution of switchgrass to SOC, and (iii) characterize soil C inventories under each crop across a wide range of precipitation regimes. A 6-yr (2008-13) field study with winter wheat and switchgrass cv. Blackwell was conducted near Adams, OR, U.S. Solid set sprinkler irrigation was used to create a productivity gradient of low, intermediate, and high precipitation levels. The contribution of switchgrass to SOC was identified with d13C measurements. Winter wheat had significantly higher 5-yr-average aboveground biomass C production than switchgrass across precipitation levels and winter wheat under high precipitation produced significantly higher aboveground biomass C than medium and low precipitation. After 6-yr, SOC did not change under switchgrass at any depth increment. Results of d13C indicated switchgrass contributed profile SOC of 5.99, 5.41, and 9.47 Mg C ha-1 at low, intermediate, and high precipitation levels. Soil organic carbon in dry cropland is resistant to a shift in crop species. Switchgrass does not increase SOC more than winter wheat in dry cropland of the semi-arid Pacific Northwest.
Dual-Energy CT for Abdominal and Pelvic Trauma

This review article provides readers with an overview of the technical principles and physics of dual-energy CT and describes the potential applications of dual-energy CT in patients with abdominal and pelvic trauma.
Additional Space Fillers and their Lattice Complexes

The primitive, body-centered, and face-centered lattices are the only isometric ones in three dimensions: their Dirichlet Domains—respectively, the cube, truncated octahedron, and rhombohedral dodecahedron—fill space; all three have the maximum symmetry. There are, in addition, interesting lattice complexes whose Dirichlet Domains also, of course, fill space. Since the environments of lattice-complex points are identical, but not necessarily oriented parallel, their Dirichlet Domains will combine in various orientations to fill space, and have lower symmetry than those of lattice points.
Impact of Perceived Risk, Perceived Controllability, and Security Self-Efficacy on Secure Intention from Social Comparison Theory Perspective

Information risk is an increasing concern for researchers and practitioners. By utilizing Technology Threat Avoidance and Social Comparison Theory, we examine the role of perceived risk, perceived risk controllability and self-efficacy secure intention. Findings indicate that users optimistically biased in their risk perceptions and controllability compared with their social counterparts.
Native American adolescent narrative written stories of stress.

OBJECTIVE(S) The purpose of this paper is to report study findings related to themes of stress and coping strategies experienced by non-reservation-based Native American adolescents as expressed by their written stories. DESIGN A qualitative descriptive narrative approach was used to capture written stories of stress. ANALYSIS Key concepts and themes were identified by using the consensual qualitative research (CQR) approach from the participant's stories of stress. RESULTS Written stories of stress were collected and analyzed from a convenience sample of 179 Native American adolescent's ages 13-18-years old. Five major themes related to experiences of stress emerged from the stories including (a) relationships, (b) responsibilities, (c) socioeconomic status, (d) negative coping strategies, and (e) positive coping through Native-Reliance. CONCLUSION The findings reveal the importance of understanding the types and response to stress experienced by Native American adolescents.
Diagnostic dissonance and negotiations of biomedicalisation: mental health practitioners' resistance to the DSM technology and diagnostic standardisation

Previous research demonstrates that biomedicalisation and diagnostic processes are intertwined in American mental health care, but few studies examine practitioners' negotiations. This study examines how Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) negotiate the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), diagnosis, standardisation and biomedicalisation-in-practice. Feminist grounded theory analysis of 42 semi-structured interviews with licensed adolescent MHPs reveals accounts of discursive, everyday resistance to the DSM technology and standardisation, which I regard as key aspects of biomedicalisation. Findings demonstrate MHPs seemingly practice what I term diagnostic dissonance: a deep conflict between their professional theoretical orientations and the biomedical model legitimated in the DSM technology and insurers' diagnostic standardisation. MHPs enact dissonance by undermining the DSM, working around standardisation and by coding the social. Coding the social refers to the employment of V-codes - illegitimate secondary diagnoses - which convey social and relational conditions of mental distress. MHPs' contestations of the DSM and standardisation are responses to a healthcare infrastructure that decontextualises mental health. Practitioner resistance to biomedicalisation-in-diagnosis is important because the biomedicalisation of mental health takes focus away from the social and relational conditions and solutions to individual and community health and illness.
Supervised Principal Component Analysis Via Manifold Optimization

High dimensional prediction problems are pervasive in the scientific community. In practice, dimensionality reduction (DR) is often performed as an initial step to improve prediction accuracy and in-terpretability. Principal component analysis (PCA) has been utilized extensively for DR, but does not take advantage of outcome variables inherent in the prediction task. Existing approaches for supervised PCA (SPCA) either take a multi-stage approach or incorporate supervision indirectly. We present a manifold optimization approach to SPCA that simultaneously solves the prediction and dimensionality reduction problems. The proposed framework is general enough for both regression and classification settings. Our empirical results show that the proposed approach explains nearly as much variation as PCA while outperforming existing methods in prediction accuracy.
A Survey of Taxi Ride Sharing System Architectures

The growing popularity of shared transportation enables researchers to explore a wide range of competing solutions. These propositions, in turn, uncover new challenges. Continuous research is done to design systems that are easy to scale and sustain. This survey categorizes ride sharing systems broadly into static and dynamic models. It also presents the system architectures for dynamic ride sharing systems such as central, distributed and hybrid design. This paper outlines the various algorithm designs adopted by the researchers over the years as well as provides an insight into the recent research conducted in this field. It also serves as a guide for potential future research directions towards identified open challenges.
Optically Controlled Millimeter Wave Phased Array Antennas.

This paper is concerned with recent developments related to optically controlled phased array antennas operating in the millimeter wave range. The antenna consists of three main elements: the central processing unit (CPU), the fiberoptic (FO) distribution system with optical signal processing capability, and the planar array. The antenna array is composed of a large number of distributed and independently powered transmit/receive (T/R) modules fabricated by monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) techniques. The function of the fiber optic distribution system is to distribute the carrier reference signals for the frequency synchronization of the T/R modules, to transmit the appropriate control signals for beam forming, and to route the information and data signals.
Patient and practitioner perspectives of psychological need support in physical therapy.

To examine strategies utilized by physical therapists that contributed to patient perceptions of basic psychological needs support articulated within Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Semi-structure...
A meta-analysis of ultra-high field glutamate, glutamine, GABA and glutathione 1HMRS in psychosis: Implications for studies of psychosis risk.

Abstract Ultra-high field proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) offers a unique opportunity to measure the concentration of neurometabolites implicated in psychosis (PSY). The extant 7 T 1HMRS literature measuring glutamate-associated neurometabolites in the brain in PSY in vivo is small, but a comprehensive, quantitative summary of these data can offer insight and guidance to this emerging field. This meta-analysis examines proton spectroscopy (1HMRS) measures of glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), glutamate+glutamine (Glx), gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutathione (GSH) across 255 individuals with PSY (121 first episode) and 293 healthy comparison participants (HC). While all five neurometabolites were lower in PSY as compared to HC, only Glu (Cohen's d = −0.18) and GSH (Cohen's d = −0.21) concentrations were significantly lower in PSY, whereas concentrations of Gln, Glx, and GABA did not significantly differ between groups. Notably, 1HMRS methodological choices and sample demographic characteristics did not impact study-specific effect sizes for PSY-related Glu or GSH differences. This review thus provides further evidence of neurometabolite dysfunction in first episode and chronic PSY, and thereby suggests that Glu and GSH abnormalities may additionally play a role in more incipient stages of the disorder: in clinical high risk stages. Additional 7 T neurochemical imaging studies in larger, longitudinal, and unmedicated samples and in youth at risk for developing psychosis are needed. Such studies will be critical for elucidating the neurodevelopmental and clinical time course of PSY-related neurometabolite alterations, and for assessing the potential for implicated metabolites to serve as druggable targets for decreasing PSY risk.
A brief educational intervention can improve nursing students' knowledge of the human papillomavirus vaccine and readiness to counsel

Provider recommendation is a primary reason for patient uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Most provider-focused educational interventions are focused on physicians, even though nurses are also important sources of vaccine-related information for their patients. This study examined whether a HPV educational intervention could improve nursing students' HPV knowledge, beliefs, and comfort with counseling. The same lecture on HPV and HPV vaccination was given to both medical and nursing students. To determine the effects of the lecture, students were asked to complete identical pre- and post-lecture tests with questions on demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and comfort with counseling on the HPV vaccine. Pre- and post-lecture test scores were compared between nursing and medical students to assess whether there were differences in pre-lecture test scores and/or changes in post-lecture test scores. On the pre-lecture tests, fewer nursing students responded correctly to knowledge questions, indicated positive attitudes or comfort with counseling about the HPV vaccine compared to medical students. However, similar frequencies of nursing and medical students responded correctly to knowledge questions and indicated a positive attitude, as well as a high comfort level with counseling on the post-lecture tests. Study results show that integrating lectures in a nursing program curriculum could be a feasible way to increase students' HPV knowledge. Having health-care providers with similar levels of knowledge, attitudes, and comfort with counseling on HPV vaccination is ideal, as all share the responsibility of recommending the vaccine to patients.
Plasma Linoleate Diols Are Potential Biomarkers for Severe COVID-19 Infections

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are metabolized into regulatory lipids important for initiating inflammatory responses in the event of disease or injury and for signaling the resolution of inflammation and return to homeostasis. The epoxides of linoleic acid (leukotoxins) regulate skin barrier function, perivascular and alveolar permeability and have been associated with poor outcomes in burn patients and in sepsis. It was later reported that blocking metabolism of leukotoxins into the vicinal diols ameliorated the deleterious effects of leukotoxins, suggesting that the leukotoxin diols are contributing to the toxicity. During quantitative profiling of fatty acid chemical mediators (eicosanoids) in COVID-19 patients, we found increases in the regioisomeric leukotoxin diols in plasma samples of hospitalized patients suffering from severe pulmonary involvement. In rodents these leukotoxin diols cause dramatic vascular permeability and are associated with acute adult respiratory like symptoms. Thus, pathways involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of these regulatory lipids should be investigated in larger biomarker studies to determine their significance in COVID-19 disease. In addition, incorporating diols in plasma multi-omics of patients could illuminate the COVID-19 pathological signature along with other lipid mediators and blood chemistry.
Evaluation of Bi-Layer Silk Fibroin Grafts for Tubular Ureteroplasty in a Porcine Defect Model.

Ureteral reconstruction with autologous tissue grafts is often limited by tissue availability and donor site morbidity. This study investigates the performance of acellular, bi-layer silk fibroin (BLSF) scaffolds in a porcine model of ureteroplasty. Tubular ureteroplasty with BLSF grafts in combination with transient stenting for 8 weeks was performed in adult female, Yucatan, mini-swine (N = 5). Animals were maintained for 12 weeks post-op with imaging of neoconduits using ultrasonography and retrograde ureteropyelography carried out at 2 and 4 weeks intervals. End-point analyses of ureteral neotissues and unoperated controls included histological, immunohistochemical (IHC), histomorphometric evaluations as well as ex vivo functional assessments of contraction/relaxation. All animals survived until scheduled euthanasia and displayed mild hydronephrosis (Grades 1-2) in reconstructed collecting systems during the 8 weeks stenting period with one animal presenting with a persistent subcutaneous fistula at 2 weeks post-op. By 12 weeks of scaffold implantation, unstented neoconduits led to severe hydronephrosis (Grade 4) and stricture formation in the interior of graft sites in 80% of swine. Bulk scaffold extrusion into the distal ureter was also apparent in 60% of swine contributing to ureteral obstruction. However, histological and IHC analyses revealed the formation of innervated, vascularized neotissues with a-smooth muscle actin+ and SM22α+ smooth muscle bundles as well as uroplakin 3A+ and pan-cytokeratin + urothelium. Ex vivo contractility and relaxation responses of neotissues were similar to unoperated control segments. BLSF biomaterials represent emerging platforms for tubular ureteroplasty, however further optimization is needed to improve in vivo degradation kinetics and mitigate stricture formation.
Optimizing chemical control for Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane

Abstract The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is the primary pest of sugarcane, Saccharum spp., in much of North and South America. Control of D. saccharalis can be obtained through judicious application of insecticides, but more research is needed to optimize chemical control strategies. A series of field trials evaluated the duration of protection and influence of application water volume on D. saccharalis control in Louisiana sugarcane from 2018 to 2020. Results across trials demonstrated superior control was achieved with chlorantraniliprole over novaluron and tebufenozide. Analysis of insecticide concentrations present in leaf sheath tissue of the target internode suggests chlorantraniliprole and novaluron are achieving systemic activity, but not tebufenozide. Chlorantraniliprole concentrations remained above lethal levels for more than 8 wk after application. The percentage of bored internodes was 1.3- and 1.9-fold greater following applications with a water volume of 18.7 L/ha relative to those made with 46.7 and 186.8 L/ha, respectively, across insecticides. Collectively, results suggest chlorantraniliprole applied early in the season with sufficient water volume can provide nearly season-long protection of sugarcane against D. saccharalis injury.
Factors related to sex differences in navigating a computerized maze

The aim of this study was to compare computerized maze navigation performance and strategy by sex, and to investigate the relationships between navigation variables and self-reported experiential or personality dimensions. Participants used a joystick to explore a maze and were told to learn the layout of the maze as well as the locations of six objects within the maze. Men outperformed women, but some of the sex differences decreased in magnitude when we accounted for video game experience. Men were more likely than women to report strategies consistent with using an allocentric perspective to solve the maze, whereas women were more likely than men to report strategies consistent with an egocentric approach. We report several factors associated with successful navigation in a computerized maze, some of which relate to real life navigation and may contribute to the sex differences often reported for measures of spatial cognition.