cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of fetal liver growth in a model of diet restriction in the pregnant rat

Limited nutrient availability is a cause of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a condition that has important implications for the well being of the offspring. Using the established IUGR model of maternal fasting in the rat, we investigated mechanisms that control gene expression and mRNA translation in late-gestation fetal liver. Maternal fasting for 48 h during the last one-third of gestation was associated with a 10-15% reduction in fetal body weight and a disproportionate one-third reduction in total fetal liver protein. The fetal liver transcriptome showed only subtle changes consistent with reduced cell proliferation and enhanced differentiation in IUGR. Effects on the transcriptome could not be attributed to specific transcription factors. We purified translating polysomes to profile the population of mRNAs undergoing active translation. Microarray analysis of the fetal liver translatome indicated a global reduction of translation. The only targeted effect was enhanced translation of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins in IUGR, consistent with enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis. There was no evidence for attenuated signaling through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Western blot analysis showed no changes in fetal liver mTOR signaling. However, eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) phosphorylation was increased in livers from IUGR fetuses, consistent with a role in global translation control. Our data indicate that IUGR-associated changes in hepatic gene expression and mRNA translation likely involve a network of complex regulatory mechanisms, some of which are novel and distinct from those that mediate the response of the liver to nutrient restriction in the adult rat.
Factors that affect nurse practitioners' implementation of evidence-based practice.

Background and purpose Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a key recommendation to improve patient care outcomes. Factors that influence nurse practitioners’ (NPs) ability to implement EBP in the clinical setting have not been fully explored. The study sought to explore NPs’ practice, professional, and personal variables with self-reported ability to implement EBP. Methods The study was a correlational, cross-sectional design with a survey data collection methodology. A survey was mailed to 1200 randomly selected clinically practicing NPs, which included the Evidence-Based Education Questionnaire (EBEQ). A total of 480 surveys were returned, which represented a 40% response rate. Statistical analyses were performed to explore relationships between NPs’ demographics and EBEQ scores. Conclusions The DNP appears to have additive benefit for self-perceived ability to implement EBP in the clinical setting when compared to the master's degree educated NP. NPs’ gender, age, and number of hours worked weekly also correlated to EBEQ scores. NPs’ practice settings, such as Magnet status designation and employment at an academic center also significantly correlated to EBEQ scores. Other practice setting variables, such as where the practice is located, did not significantly correlate to EBEQ scores. Implications for practice The findings of this study provide foundational knowledge to enable increasing NPs’ EBP in the clinical setting.
Resolution of spatial patterns in three reservoirs with rapid profiling instrumentation

Rapid profiling instrumentation is used to resolve spatial patterns of temperature (T), specific conductance (SC), chlorophyll (Chl) and beam attenuation (c660), in three dimensional space for three water supply reservoirs (Pepacton, Rondout and Ashokan) located in New York State, U.S.A. Conspicuous patterns depict the operation of important processes that include the development of deep chlorophyll maxima, the entry of major tributary and tunnel inflows as interflows, and the development of benthic nepheloid layers. SC is demonstrated to be a valuable tracer of the interflow process in these reservoirs. Distinct longitudinal structures are documented for T in spring, SC, Chl and c660, along the major axes of Pepacton, Rondout, and one of the two (separated) basins of Ashokan. Substantial differences are demonstrated to prevail between the two basins of Ashokan; treatment as two basins in series is recommended for modeling purposes. Three-dimensional structures in SC and c660, apparently imparted from interflows, are documented for one of the basins of this impoundment. The needs of mechanistic model frameworks to accommodate the observed spatial patterns and processes are considered.
Transient Infantile Hypertonicity and Learning Disabilities

The neuromotor and developmental progress of 33 children who had transient hypertonicity during early infancy was analyzed and reported from the Stanley S. Lamm Institute, Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, NY.
Utility of a Phylogenetic Perspective in Structural Analysis of CYP72A Enzymes from Flowering Plants

Plant adaptation to external pressures depends on functional diversity in cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. CYPs contain structural domains necessary for the characteristic P450 fold that allows monooxygenation, but they also have great variation in substrate binding affinity. Plant genomes typically contain hundreds of CYPs that contribute to essential functions and species-specific metabolism. The CYP72A subfamily is conserved in angiosperms but its contribution to physiological functions is largely unknown. With genomic information available for many plants, a focused analysis of CYP subfamily diversity is important to understand the contributions of these enzymes to plant evolution. This study examines the extent to which independent gene duplication and evolution have contributed to structural diversification of CYP72A enzymes in different plant lineages. CYP72A genes are prevalent across angiosperms, but the number of genes within each genome varies greatly. The prevalence of CYP72As suggest that the last common ancestor of flowering plants contained a CYP72A sequence, but gene duplication and retention has varied greatly for this CYP subfamily. Sequence comparisons show that CYP72As are involved in species-specific metabolic functions in some plants while there is likely functional conservation between closely related species. Analysis of structural and functional domains within groups of CYP72As reveals clade-specific residues that contribute to functional constraints within subsets of CYP72As. This study provides a phylogenetic framework that allows comparisons of structural features within subsets of the CYP72A subfamily. We examined a large number of sequences from a broad collection of plant species to detect patterns of functional conservation across the subfamily. The evolutionary relationships between CYPs in plant genomes are an important component in understanding the evolution of biochemical diversity in plants.
Engagement of introductory biostatistics students in a novel hybrid course format

Background While online-only courses can be delivered without constraints of geography or synchronization of lecture times, traditional in-person lectures continue to be central to teaching and to student experiences at most universities. Hybrid learning courses fill the gap between, providing convenience and schedule flexibility while maintaining the traditional face-to-face experience. The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and Hunter College are urban campuses that draw working students from a wide commuting area, leading us to experiment with hybrid course formats that offer a maximum degree of flexibility to students. Methods Lectures and lab sessions were held on campus in a traditional lecture style, but streamed live over YouTube with remote attendees able to type questions and have them answered by the instructor in real time, and later made available for viewing. Results Through a post-course survey we found students to be divided in their preferences for in-person course formats (46%) versus synchronous and asynchronous online formats (35% and 19%, respectively). In the hypothetical scenario of retaking the course, the option of attending each lecture either in-person or online was preferred (69% for this hybrid format, 11% for in-person only and another 11% for online only). Although long commuting times, work and family responsibilities were common, interactivity and learning preference were the most important considerations for students regardless of their decision for online or in-person attendance. Analysis of YouTube viewing data showed a majority of online participation occurring during live lectures, with an additional peak of viewing of all lectures occurring immediately before exams. Conclusions We found this hybrid format to be a viable and popular way to accommodate diverse personal circumstances and learning preferences within the framework of a traditional lecture format.
Challenge Restraints and the Scope of the Patent

Patent rights are not the only important legal entitlements conferred by the Patent Act. It also vests “challenge rights” in third parties, permitting them to challenge granted patents as invalid or uninfringed, and potentially clearing a path for privileged competition. These classes of rights perform opposite policy functions, with patent rights providing an inducement for invention and challenge rights providing a check against unwarranted or overbroad patent enforcement. And, unlike patent rights, the Patent Act never suggests that challenge rights are alienable – i.e. that they may be transacted or suppressed through contract. It follows that “challenge restraints” – contractual provisions that bar or penalize the exercise of a party’s challenge rights – are not within “the scope of the patent.” This suggests not that they are categorically unlawful, but simply that they do not enjoy safe harbor from antitrust attack.Challenge restraints are used within a variety of different patent agreements – ranging from ordinary licensing deals to “reverse settlements” – with varying competitive effects. However, the courts have failed to recognize challenge restraints as a distinct antitrust issue. This brief article explains why they ought to be viewed as such. The analysis also helps to clarify the proper ambit of antitrust intervention in patent agreements.
HogWild++: A New Mechanism for Decentralized Asynchronous Stochastic Gradient Descent

Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) is a popular technique for solving large-scale machine learning problems. In order to parallelize SGD on multi-core machines, asynchronous SGD (Hogwild!) has been proposed, where each core updates a global model vector stored in a shared memory simultaneously, without using explicit locks. We show that the scalability of Hogwild! on modern multi-socket CPUs is severely limited, especially on NUMA (Non-Uniform Memory Access) system, due to the excessive cache invalidation requests and false sharing. In this paper we propose a novel decentralized asynchronous SGD algorithm called HogWild++ that overcomes these drawbacks and shows almost linear speedup on multi-socket NUMA systems. The main idea in HogWild++ is to replace the global model vector with a set of local model vectors that are shared by a cluster (a set of cores), keep them synchronized through a decentralized token-based protocol that minimizes remote memory access conflicts and ensures convergence. We present the design and experimental evaluation of HogWild++ on a variety of datasets and show that it outperforms state-of-the-art parallel SGD implementations in terms of efficiency and scalability.
Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasms of the Pancreas: A Surgical and Genetic Enigma

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas are rare tumors accounting for 1–2% of pancreatic exocrine neoplasms. This entity was first described by Dr. Frantz in 1959 and was defined by the World Health Organization in 1996 as “solid pseudopapillary tumor.” It is most often a benign neoplasm, but 10–15% of the cases are malignant. Over the past decades, the incidence of this tumor is increasing. However, many surgeons are still unfamiliar with this neoplasm and its unique characteristics, which can lead to pitfalls in the diagnosis and treatment. The correct diagnosis of SPNP is of utmost importance since it has a low malignant potential and with the appropriate treatment, patients have a long life expectancy. There are many genetic alterations, involving various signaling pathways that have been associated with SPNP and are very important in diagnosing the tumor. The cornerstone of SPNP treatment includes surgical excision of the tumor, preserving as much pancreatic tissue as possible. We review the information in the literature regarding more organ-preserving techniques and possible clinical features that might indicate a malignant potential, thus demanding a more radical intraoperative excision.
Appearance and overall acceptability of fresh-cut cantaloupe pieces from whole melon treated with wet steam process ☆

Minimally processed fresh-cut fruits have a limited shelf-life because of deterioration caused by spoilage microflora and changes in physiological processes. Whole melons was inoculated with 107 CFU/ml of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes to achieve 4.8, 4.5 and 4.1 log CFU/cm2, respectively on melon surfaces. The inoculated melons were treated with a wet steam processing unit for 180 s before fresh-cut preparation. Microbial safety was studied and the overall appearance and acceptability of the fresh-cut pieces were investigated by trained panelists. There were no visual signs of physical damage on all treated cantaloupe surfaces immediately after treatments and during storage. All fresh-cut pieces from treated cantaloupes were negative for bacterial pathogens while aerobic mesophilic bacteria were recovered. Appearance and overall acceptability of fresh-cut pieces from treated melons during 6 days at 5 °C were not significantly (p < 0.05) different from control pieces prepared from fresh melons but were significantly (p < 0.05) different from untreated pieces from day 0 under the same storage conditions for 14 days. The results of this study suggests that wet steam treatment of cantaloupes rind surfaces designated for fresh-cut preparation will enhance the microbial safety of fresh-cut pieces, and the overall acceptability of cut pieces.
Platelet testing to guide aspirin dose adjustment in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery.

Abstract Objectives Thrombosis is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Although aspirin commonly is used for thromboprophylaxis, the utility of laboratory-based tests that assess aspirin efficacy have not been evaluated. We sought to determine the relationship between platelet aggregation testing and aspirin dose adjustment on thrombosis rates in this population. Methods Pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery who received aspirin and underwent platelet testing were studied retrospectively. Patients were excluded if they were treated with multiple agents or experienced thrombosis before the initiation of aspirin. Thrombosis events within 30 days after initiation of aspirin were recorded. Associations between aspirin responsiveness and thrombosis rate and aspirin dose adjustment and thrombosis rate were assessed with the use of multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results Suboptimal platelet response to aspirin was detected in 64 of 430 patients (15%) and thrombosis was detected in 11 patients (2.6%). Lack of aspirin responsiveness on initial testing was a significant risk factor for thrombosis ( P P P Conclusions Current practice of weight-based aspirin dosing may lead to subtherapeutic platelet inhibition in some children. Aspirin unresponsiveness is associated with increased risk of thrombosis after specific pediatric cardiac surgical procedures. Aspirin dose increase in unresponsive patients is associated with reduced risk of thrombosis.
Report of the Working Group on Governance and Administration

Prepared by the Working Group on Governance and Administration from the November 1995 Georgetown conference sponsored by the Association of Medical School Psychologists, this paper delineates the various trends in health care that may impact upon organizational structures for psychologists within academic medical centers. Ten variables that describe various functional issues within academic medical centers or health science centers are defined. Finally, seven organizational guidelines and recommendations pertaining to governance of psychological services are detailed.
Fundamental computational constraints on the time course of perception and action

A cognitive system faced with contingent events that cause rapid changes in sensory data may (i) incrementally incorporate new data into the ongoing perceptual and motor processing; or (ii) restart processing on each new event; or (iii) sample the data and hold onto the sample until its processing is complete, while disregarding any contingent changes. We offer a set of computational first-principles arguments for a hypothesis, according to which any system that contends with certain classes of perception and behavioral control tasks must include the sample-and-hold option (possibly alongside the other two, which may be useful in other tasks). This hypothesis has implications for understanding the dynamics of perception and action. In particular, a sample-and-hold channel necessarily processes sensory data on some kind of cycle (which does not imply precise periodicity). Further, being prepared to face the world at all times requires that the sampling that initiates each cycle be triggered by every significant action on part of the agent itself, such as saccades. We survey a range of evidence for the sample-and-hold functionality, touching upon diverse phenomena such as attentional blink and backward masking, the yoking of olfaction to respiration, thalamocortical interactions, and metastable brain dynamics in perception and consciousness.
Sorghum: Its Unique Nutritional and Health-Promoting Attributes

Abstract Sorghum is a drought-tolerant cereal grain that serves as dietary staple in some dry regions of Africa. It is also increasingly used in gluten-free applications and products, targeting health conscious consumers. Sorghum provides a slow-digesting starch, which may benefit satiety and attenuate glycemic response. Sorghum also contains a unique array of polyphenols, that growing body of evidence associates with protection against chronic diseases linked to oxidative stress and inflammation. For example, evidence suggests that sorghum consumption may confer superior benefits against cancers of the gastrointestinal tract compared to other whole grains, due to its unique flavonoid profile. Other polyphenols, like tannins, could be used to reduce caloric impact of high protein/carbohydrate foods, whereas the rare sorghum pigments could provide an economical source of natural stable food coloring. Technologies that take full advantage of the wide range of functional and health benefits of sorghum are essential.
Abstract 654: The epigenetic landscape of T cell exhaustion

Exhausted T cells in cancer and chronic viral infection have distinctive patterns of gene expression, including sustained expression of the inhibitory receptor PD-1, but the regulation of gene expression in exhausted T cells is poorly understood. Here we define the accessible chromatin landscape in mouse and human exhausted CD8+ T cells and show that it is profoundly different from functional memory CD8+ T cells. Exhausted CD8+ T cells in a mouse model of chronic viral infection acquire an extensive, state-specific pattern of enhancers, which are organized into functional modules. One enhancer, -23.8kb from the Pdcd1 locus, is found only in exhausted T cells and other lymphocytes with sustained PD-1 expression. Genome editing shows it to be required for high PD-1 expression. Cas9-mediated in situ saturation mutagenesis of the enhancer pinpoints critical minimal sequences that correspond to bound transcription factor motifs for RAR, T-bet and Sox3 in exhausted CD8+ T cells. State-specific enhancer profiles identified in mouse exhausted CD8+ T cells are conserved in human exhausted antigen-specific CD8+ T cells responding to HIV and HCV infection. Detailed functional enhancer maps of T cell exhaustion reveal state-specific regulatory sequences and offer targets for genome editing that could alter gene expression preferentially in exhausted CD8+ T cells. Citation Format: Debattama Sen. The epigenetic landscape of T cell exhaustion [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 654. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-654
3D Printed Versus Conventionally Cured Provisional Crown and Bridge Dental Materials

Objectives To optimize the 3D printing of a dental material for provisional crown and bridge restorations using a low-cost stereolithography 3D printer; and compare its mechanical properties against conventionally cured provisional dental materials.
QT Prolongation, Torsades de Pointes, and Psychotropic Medications: A 5-Year Update

Background Some psychotropic medications have been associated with prolongation of the QT interval and QT prolongation, especially in those with medical illness, and are linked to lethal ventricular arrhythmias, such as Torsades de Pointes (TdP). In 2013, we published a review of QT prolongation, TdP, and psychotropic medications. Objective We provide an update over the past 5 years on the specific concerns most relevant to clinicians who see medically ill patients. Methods In this nonsystematic review, we aimed to carefully and intensively identify new articles by utilizing a structured PubMed search from 2012-present. Results QT prolongation remains an imperfect, though well-established marker of risk for TdP. Among antidepressant medications, citalopram does appear to prolong the QT interval more than other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, though the clinical significance of this prolongation remains unclear. Escitalopram appears to prolong the QT interval to a lesser extent. Haloperidol carries a risk for QT prolongation, but the assertion that intravenous haloperidol is inherently riskier may be confounded by its primary use in medically ill populations. Among atypical antipsychotic agents, ziprasidone—and possibly iloperidone—is associated with the greatest QT prolongation, whereas aripiprazole appears safest from this standpoint. Conclusions The evidence for clinically meaningful QT prolongation with most classes of psychiatric agents remains minimal. The most important risk-reducing intervention clinicians can make is undertaking a careful analysis of other QT risk factors when prescribing psychiatric medications.
Pentecostal Identity and Citizen Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa: New Evidence from Zambia

Since the 1980s, Pentecostal and other born again Christian movements have become increasingly prominent in the public spheres of many sub-Saharan African states. A dearth of reliable survey data has constrained investigation of the potential influence of these religious movements on political attitudes and participation. This article analyzes original survey data from Zambia, a majority-Christian nation. These data, from a stratified random sample of 1,500 Zambians, indicate that Pentecostals do in fact share partisan preferences and report higher levels of political interest and participation than other Christians. They are less likely, however, to contact elected officials—a finding that accords with ethnographic accounts of Pentecostal pastors as political interlocutors for their politically mobilized congregations. We further contextualize and explore the external validity of our findings using cross-national survey data collected by the Pew Forum (2010, N = 9,500). We conclude by underscoring the value of further survey research on religion and politics in the region.
Rapid Development and Testing of Behavioral Models

The advent of hardware description languages such as VHDL allows one to create behavioral models which accurately represent the functionality and timing of complex devices. However the coding and testing of complicated behavioral models is labor intensive and error prone. In this chapter we describe a system which can significantly speed up the development of error free models. Also, as the model is developed, tests which thoroughly exercise the model can be generated automatically.
Improved Design for a SSC Coil Assembly Suspension Connection

Close control of the alignment of magnets for the proposed Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) high energy physics research facility is essential for the success of this small bore accelerator. The connection of the magnet coil assembly to the cryostat suspension system presents many challenges to the cryostat designer. The resulting design must withstand shipping and seismic loads, allow axial contraction of the coil assembly, position the coil assembly center line within a 0.25 mm radius, provide rotational adjustment of the coil, resist axial quench loads, provide a bearing assembly which is tolerant to high vacuum, high radiation and cryogenic conditions, and fit within the stringent geometric constraints of the cryostat assembly. A coil assembly suspension connection which meets these criteria is described. Measurements of the effective friction coefficient, static load deflection, and component stresses are compared to the predicted performance. Experiences with a full length model of the coil assembly connection are presented.
Design of inorganic chemical oscillators

In a homogeneous chemical reaction maintained far from equilibrium where the reaction mechanism contains coupled feedback steps, oscillations in the concentrations of certain intermediates are possible. Until recently, the few known chemical oscillators were discovered accidentally, were variants of these reactions, or were extracted from biological systems. To provide new chemical oscillators for theoretical and experimental study, a program has been developed to design homogeneous oscillators based on reactions of inorganic compounds and ions. Mechanistic detail is presented for the chlorite-iodide-arsenite oscillator, and other newly designed oscillators are discussed more briefly. A classification scheme for grouping these and related oscillators is presented.
BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES TO THE ENVIRONMENT | Sleep in Fish

Although the physiological function of sleep remains an enigma, an important role of this behavior in the lives of animals and humans is unquestionable. Fish are no exception, spending long periods of time sleeping, demonstrating low activity levels, reduced arousal threshold, and specific adaptive behaviors that can keep them safe during this vulnerable state. Although sleep process in fish has notable differences from that in mammals, recent studies suggest that many elements of sleep-related physiology and biochemistry are evolutionarily well conserved.
Behavioral Pharmacology of Memory

Recent progress in understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms of conditioning make it timely to reevaluate interfaces between well-defined unitary cellular mechanisms and subtle, complex, multifactorial animal behaviors. The purpose of this chapter is to call attention to two robust phenomena observed during studies of the behavioral pharmacology of memory. We consider these phenomena to provide interesting possibilities for exploration at the cellular level. The first phenomenon is that pharmacological probes of memory in living organisms can have opposite effects. That is to say, a given drug in a given experimental paradigm can either enhance or impair memory, depending on dose. The second phenomenon is that several two-drug combinations exhibit powerful supraadditivity (as much as 20-fold) of memory-enhancing potency. The question is, can molecular and cellular approaches help to explain these two phenomena? The interfaces involve multiple interactions and functional linkages (Schmitt and Schneider, 1975). Atkinson (1975) has pointed out: Any discussion of biological processes must always involve oversimplification, because bio-molecular reactions are always part of a larger whole. Biomolecular processes may be of some interest in their own right, but their biological significance relates to their effects on a larger system. The black box approach, in which the intermediate mechanisms between a stimulus and its induced response are not considered, can lead, and has led, to much useful information in physiology and biophysics. It poses questions that a mechanistically oriented approach can then be used to resolve. However, this approach is limited and in a sense outmoded. In contrast, biochemists deal with small portions of large systems and frequently become so intrigued with the properties of these parts that they forget that they are, in situ, functioning elements within a complex interacting system.... These two basic approaches must be combined in order to obtain information that is biologically meaningful. Every aspect of an organism is designed by mutation and selection, but we must remember that while it is molecular detail that mutates, it is overall organismic function that is selected. Both the molecular and the black-box approaches must be used, but the area of real interest is in the linkage between them, the ways in which molecular detail is responsible for the overall response or for the living functioning organism.
Fibers for Short-Distance Applications

This chapter first reviews the current use of multimode fibers with short-wavelength VCSELS for short-distance applications. Standards are in place for 100 Gb/s applications based on 10 Gb/s optics and are being developed for ∼25 Gb/s optics. Light propagation in multimode fibers is briefly discussed to explain the DMD measurement and the metrics developed to qualify OM3 and OM4 fiber, including calculated effective modal bandwidth (EMBc). Bend-insensitive multimode fiber is presented, explaining how the new fiber achieves high bandwidth with low bend loss. New fibers for short-distance consumer applications and home networking are discussed. Finally, fibers designed for high-performance computing (HPC) are reviewed, including multicore fibers for optical interconnects.
Photoaging in Skin of Color

Chronological (intrinsic) aging is that associated with the passage of time and a consequent decline in biological functions. This form of aging has a signature in the skin, evident clinically as fine wrinkling and/or skin laxity. Photoaging occurs concurrently with chronological aging but only on sun-exposed sites, and is induced by repeated exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Chronically, sun-exposed skin has distinctive changes including coarse wrinkles, dyspigmentation, telangiectasias, and a propensity to develop precancerous lesions and subsequent skin cancer. Anecdotally, people of skin of color tend to “age better” than their white counterparts. At the same age, people with black skin are thought to have fewer wrinkles compared to those with lighter skin.1 Differences in the structure and physiology of skin of color may account for observed differences in incidence and presentation of photoaging in people of color. In darker skin, the melanosomes are larger, more oval, and nonaggregated and along with a higher total melanin content, may confer an increased natural photoprotection from UV radiation.2
Electron Density of States in Random Systems

The well-known result of Halperin and Lax for the tail of the density of an electron moving in a Gaussian random potential is reviewed. We then show that complete universality exists for the density of states near band edges for weak disorder in less than two dimensions and modified universality exists in more than two dimensions. Deep in the tail, non-universal behavior emerges as the localized states become sensitive to potential fluctuations on individual sites. This non-universal exponential behavior is responsible for the observed Urbach tails.
Multilayer flow modulator enhances vital organ perfusion in patients with type B aortic dissection

The majority of aortic dissection modeling efforts have focused on the maintenance of physiological flow using minimally invasive placed grafts. The multilayer flow modulator is a complex mesh cons...
Social Media and the High School Environment

The growth of social media over the past five years is staggering with around 1 in 3 people globally on some form of social media. Seventy-five percent of US high school students are on some social media and educators are starting to use the technology in the learning process. However, recent reports are beginning to question the benefits of social media on one’s well-being. The purpose of this study is to see how social media sites are being used in the high school environment and what is the impact on the learning process and social well-being of students. A review of four educational technology journals will guide the discussion to answering the research questions. Outcomes of this study include an analysis of how these technologies are being used in the classroom and what are the perceptions of using these technologies on learning and well-being.
The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer International Students: A Systematic Review

There is a significant research gap in understanding the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) international students. The purpose of this systematic review is to explore what we currently know about LGBQ international students, by synthesizing peer-reviewed and gray literature that focused on this intersection of sexual and cultural diversity. A total of 10 records met the inclusion criteria and were examined. Out of these 10 records, 6 were empirical studies. Findings from this analysis highlighted the salience of: (a) identity formation and migration, (b) the double barrier of being an international student and LGBQ, and (c) multi- layered discrimination and heteronormativity. We then provide suggestions for future research and implications for mental health professionals, educators, and university administrators.
Abstract # 3150 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training improves disease control and reduces reactivity in affective neurocircuitry in asthmatic individuals

Stress and emotion contribute to the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms. Yet, research directed toward understanding and managing the pathophysiology of asthma has neglected the brain almost entirely. Here, we examined changes in responsivity of emotion-related neural circuitry and asthma control produced by Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), relative to a wait-list control group (WL). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during an asthma-specific variant of the Stroop Task where participants identified the color of asthma-related, negative, and neutral words. Asthma control assessments combined self-reported symptoms with medication use and objective measures of lung function. In preliminary results, the MBSR group showed improvements in asthma control relative to controls. The MBSR group also showed a time x valence interaction in a region spanning the lateral orbitofrontal and inferior frontal gyri, such that response to asthma compared to neutral words decreased post-MBSR training. This region is thought to be a convergence zone for processing semantic and emotional content and is closely related to the function of its neighbor, the anterior insula. Across all participants, the greater the reduction in responsivity in this region, the greater the improvement in asthma control. These data may reflect a decrease in the salience intensity of asthma-related words as emotional reactivity abates and/or asthma control improves, and suggest a potential mechanism through which MBSR leads to improvements in asthma management.
142-P: ALLELES PROBLEMATIC THROUGH THE AGES

Aim The NMDP continually monitors the accuracy of HLA typing in the Be The Match Registry®. Because of the evolution of typing methods and increasing technical expertise, alleles typed in the early days of DNA technology are more likely to be incorrectly typed while alleles typed with recent technologies are more likely to be correctly assigned. There are, however, some infrequent alleles that continue to be incorrectly assigned with current typing strategies: A∗23:02, A∗24:08, A∗29:03, A∗68:12, B∗15:28, B∗78:02, and DRB1∗13:09. Methods Alleles that have been reported between 35 and 1500 times in the registry were evaluated for the accuracy of their assignments. Alleles selected for study included (1) alleles frequently reported soon after the initial description of the allele but with only few recent assignments, (2) alleles reported with either a consistent second allele or with a less common allele, and (3) alleles reported in individuals whose race/ethnicity was different than the individual carrying the originally described allele. Samples were retyped using SSOP high definition technology; a subset of alleles was typed using SBT to ensure accuracy of the SSOP method. 73 unique alleles were studied; seven of these alleles were found to be problematic with recent typing methods. Results [ Table 1 ]A majority of the original methods were SSOP but a few were SBT. Conclusions Although advanced DNA typing methods and laboratory expertise in these methods have improved the accuracy of HLA typing, there still exists cases where alleles calls are difficult and may be incorrect. Careful review of data and possibly confirmation with a 2 nd method may be warranted when a less common allele is identified.
A Multi-Agent System Concept for Rapid Energy Storage Development

Many energy storage systems that use technologies such as batteries are composed of power electronics conditioning systems and battery management systems. These are often produced by multiple manufacturers and require hardware and software integration for full grid functionality. This paper proposes an agent-based framework to support the development of an energy storage system with standardized communications. This framework can be utilized with different power conversion systems with an appropriate hardware interface.
Epidemiological Profile of Health and Behaviors in Middle Childhood.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we present an epidemiological profile of middle childhood (children aged 6–11 years) using the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children’s Health. METHODS: We used data from the 2016 and 2017 National Survey of Children’s Health, a national cross-sectional, address-based survey administered annually. The study sample included 21 539 children aged 6 to 11 years. Survey items chosen to create this profile of middle childhood described sociodemographic and family characteristics, health status, and behaviors. Weighted descriptive and bivariate analyses were applied to examine the population and differences by subgroups. RESULTS: Most children aged 6 to 11 years were in excellent or very good physical health (89%) and oral health (73%). More than 20% were considered to have special health care needs, and 20% had at least 2 health conditions. Allergies and asthma were the most prevalent physical conditions, whereas attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and behavioral or conduct problems were the most prevalent of emotional, behavioral, and/or developmental disorders. More than half of children participated in sports or other activities for at least 60 minutes per day, whereas more than one-third of children had ≥4 hours of parent-reported screen time per day, and nearly two-thirds received ≥9 hours of sleep per night. We found several significant differences in screen time and activity behaviors as children aged and by sex. CONCLUSIONS: The middle-childhood population is generally healthy, yet several patterns observed with respect to age and sex indicate a need to examine the emergence and progression of select health-risk behaviors. In this study, we highlight opportunities to implement targeted interventions at earlier ages and different points along the life course.
Analysis of dynamic hepatobiliary contrast-enhanced MRI signal intensity after Yttrium-90 radioembolization with glass microspheres for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

To analyze hepatobiliary specific contrast agent (HBA) dynamic MRI signal intensity (SI) differences between treated liver (TL) and untreated liver (UL) parenchyma in patients following transarterial radioembolization (TARE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using yttrium-90 containing glass microspheres. This was a single institution retrospective study of patients with HCC treated with lobar or segmental TARE who received pre- and post-treatment HBA multiphase MRI within a 3-year period. Patients with prior locoregional therapies or multiple TAREs were excluded. SI was obtained by drawing a 2D ROI on T1-weighted non-contrast, arterial (25 s.), portal venous (60 s.), transitional (180 s.), and hepatobiliary (HB) (1200 s.) phase sequences in the (TL) angiosome and UL. HB phase signal enhancement characteristics were correlated with TARE dose thresholds ( 190 Gy) using the medical internal radiation dose (MIRD) methodology. 282 patients received TARE using glass microspheres during the study period and 58 patients who met inclusion criteria were analyzed. Median dose was 141.5 Gy MIRD [IQR 122.0, 161.5; range 100–540 Gy]). Statistically significant differences were present between treated and non-treated liver on non-contrast (− 28.0, p = 0.003), arterial (38.5, p = 0.013), and HB phases (− 95.8, p ≤ 0.001). Median follow-up time to furthest post-treatment MRI was 6 months (range 3-11 months). There was no significant SI difference on portal venous or transitional phases. HB phase SI changes in the TL compared to UL were significant at all TARE dose thresholds (p < 0.05). SI differences between treated and untreated liver after TARE are most significant on the HB phase and present at all evaluated dose levels at a median of 6 months after treatment. These findings support the parenchymal ablative potential for TARE and the necessity to consider liver function loss within targeted liver volumes.
Materia: A Data Quality Control Embedded Domain Specific Language in Python.

Current solutions for data quality control (QC) in the environmental sciences are locked within propriety platforms or reliant on specialized software. This can pose a problem for data users when attempting to integrate QC into their existing workflows. To address this limitation, we developed an embedded domain specific language (EDSL), Materia, that provides functions, data structures, and a fluent syntax for defining and executing quality control tests on data. Materia enables developers to more easily integrate QC into complex data pipelines and makes QC more accessible for students and citizen scientists. We evaluate Materia via two metrics: productivity and a quantitative performance analysis. Our productivity examples show how Materia can simplify complex descriptions of tests in Pandas and mirror natural language descriptions of common QC tests. We also demonstrate that Materia achieves satisfactory performance with over 200,000 floating-point values processed in under three seconds.
Reimagining the Think Tank Post COVID-19

Frederick Kempe, President and CEO of the Atlantic Council, Washington, DC, explores the Future of Think Tanks and Policy Advice in the United States.
Effects of stream permanence on stonefly (Insecta, Plecoptera) community structure at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA.

Stoneflies (Plecoptera) are often associated with inhabiting cold perennial streams, but many species also inhabit intermittent streams that experience reduced or lack of flow during summer and autumn. In this study, the influence of stream permanence on stonefly assemblage composition and spatial distribution at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA, was addressed, based on a 14 month sampling regime from the fullest range of stream sizes and habitable flow regions available. Adult stoneflies were collected monthly from 43 sites at the Park plus an additional two sites at the near-adjacent Western Kentucky University Green River Preserve. Collections were done from December 2018–November 2019 using a standard timed protocol with beating sheets for adults and once in December 2019–January 2020 for larvae. Stream sites were assigned one of five category types: perennial spring runs, perennial spring seeps, upland perennial streams, perennial riverine and summer dry runs. In total, 34 species were collected. The most prominent difference in stonefly community structure was between spring runs, spring seeps and summer dry streams vs. upland perennial streams. Approximately 88% of species collected had univoltine-fast life cycles and 79% likely had an extended period of egg or larval diapause. Due to the predominance of small upland perennial and summer dry streams, species commonly typically found in larger lotic systems are fundamentally filtered out of the region due to the lack of available habitats. Species able to survive in intermittent habitats do so by life history adaptations including to survive desiccation as larvae or eggs.
Reliability and degradation mechanisms in high-power broad-area lasers with strained InGaAs-AlGaAs QW and InAs-GaAs QD active regions

High-power InGaAs-AlGaAs strained quantum well (QW) lasers are indispensable components for both terrestrial and space satellite communications systems. However, their degradation mode (catastrophic and sudden degradation) due to catastrophic optical damage is a major concern for space applications. Furthermore, these lasers predominantly degrade by a new failure mode due to catastrophic optical bulk damage (COBD). Also, InAs-GaAs quantum dot (QD) lasers have recently received much attention as an alternative to QW lasers especially for space applications, but their degradation mechanism is not well understood. For the present study, we investigated 9×× nm broad-area strained QW lasers and ~ 1 μm broad-area QD lasers. QW lasers were consisted of an InGaAs QW layer, while QD lasers were consisted of ten stacks of InAs QD layers. As part of our root causes investigation to understand degradation mechanisms in InGaAs-AlGaAs strained QW lasers as well as in InAs-GaAs QD lasers, we performed short-term and long-term life-tests, failure mode analyses, and physics of failure investigations using various techniques. First, we employed electroluminescence techniques to study the formation of dark line defects (DLDs) in degraded lasers. Second, time-resolved electroluminescence (TR-EL) techniques were employed to study the formation and propagation of dark spots and dark lines in window QW lasers in real time during aging. Third, we employed deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and time-resolved photoluminescence (TR-PL) techniques to study a role that electron traps and non-radiative recombination centers (NRCs) play in degradation of these lasers. Finally, we report our understanding on mechanisms responsible for degradation in high-power QW lasers and preliminary results from QD lasers.
The Importance, Opportunities, and Challenges of Empirically Assessing Character for the Promotion of Flourishing:

The article discusses the importance of quantitative empirical character assessment for better understanding the formation of character and for promoting virtue and thereby also human flourishing. ...