cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continental-scale net radiation and evapotranspiration estimated using MODIS satellite observations

article Evapotranspiration (ET) is a major pathway for water loss from many ecosystems, and its seasonal variation affects soil moisture and net ecosystem CO2 exchange. We developed an algorithm to estimate ET using a semi-empirical Priestley-Taylor (PT) approach, which can be applied at a range of spatial scales. We estimated regional net radiation (Rnet) at monthly time scales using MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) albedo and land surface temperature. Good agreement was found between satellite-based estimates of monthly Rnet and field-measured Rnet, with a RMSE of less than 30 Wm −2 .A n adjustable PT coefficient was parameterized as a function of leaf area index and soil moisture based on observations from 27 AmeriFlux eddy covariance sites. The biome specific optimization using tower-based observations performed well, with a RMSE of 17 Wm −2 and a correlation of 0.90 for predicted monthly latent heat. We implemented the approach within the hydrology module of the CASA biogeochemical model, and used it to estimate ET at a 1 km spatial resolution for the conterminous United States (CONUS). The RMSE of
Replicative senescence and cancer.

Replicative senescence appears to be a form of protection against cancer, but the means by which it may have this action are not yet clear. More research is needed to understand the fate of cells with short telomeres in tissues during aging, to understand the effects on neoplasia of telomere shortening in tissues in vivo, to understand whether telomere shortening results in the accumulation of senescent cells in tissues, and, if so, what effects this may have on tissue function.
Redefining the Mathematics Major

Mathematical methods and thinking permeate virtually all aspects of business, government, and academia today to an extent few could have imagined a generation ago. This growth is manifested in the omnipresent role of computers in today’s world and in the use of mathematical models and statistical analysis to plan everything from medical treatment to political speeches. Mathematical terms, such as “parameter,” “hypothesis,” and “unknown variables,” have become part of the business jargon. It used to be that most college students took mathematics courses solely for the intellectual discipline of studying mathematics. (Many schools required every student to take either two years of mathematics or two years of a foreign language.) Today, courses in the mathematical sciences are an integral part of most college majors. Business students, for example, are frequently required to study statistics, linear programming, and calculus because this mathematics and its associated modes of reasoning are widely used in management.
Generation of cDNA Probes by Reverse Translation of Amino Acid Sequence

A common approach to cDNA clone isolation involves the use of a consensus oligonucleotide probe corresponding to the protein amino acid sequence (1). A correct selection of the oligonucleotide probe is difficult since the genetic code is degenerate (2). Oligonucleotide probes lacking complementarity to their target sequences generate spurious hybridization signals and fail to identify authentic clones, rendering cDNA library screening a complicated and frequently an unproductive process (3,4). Strategies designed to overcome these problems involve the selection of multiple oligonucleotide probes, inclusion of the most frequently used codons (5–7) and replacement of ambiguous nucleotides with deoxyinosine and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (8,9). These approaches are frequently unsatisfactory since actual codon use in the target sequence is quite heterogeneous, thus lowering the likelihood of a perfect match with the synthetic oligonucleotide probe.
Diamond Nucleation During Biased Chemical Vapor Deposition

The initial stages of bias-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of diamond were investigated in a microwave-plasma system. Samples were characterized with TEM and concurrent electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to characterize chemical bonding in the deposited material. The results show that a thin amorphous carbon film is deposited during biasing, and that diamond nucleation occurs on this amorphous film. Isolated regions of crystalline SiC within the amorphous layer were also observed at longer bias times. These regions apparently form by a reaction between the amorphous carbon layer and the silicon substrate.
Béowulf and King Hygelác in the Netherlands

(1954). Beowulf and King Hygelac in the Netherlands. English Studies: Vol. 35, No. 1-6, pp. 193-204.
Protected species and development control: the merits of widespread invertebrate species in the European Habitats Directive and UK legislation

Nature conservation legislation affords different degrees of protection to specifically named species, ranging from recognition within the planning system to strict protection from harm and habitat loss. This review considers two groups of species that do not have strict protection but are recognised within ‘development control’ (the process that regulates the planning of land use and new buildings), namely Annex II species of the Habitats Directive (HD) and Species of Principal Importance identified under UK legislation and policy. A critical point often forgotten by the HD's detractors is that Annex II is not only a list of species that require protection but also a list of species that represent criteria for the designation of protected sites. It is not feasible for all threatened species to be protected due to administrative and legal ramifications, so the subset of species listed need to have wider merit as umbrella species. The selection of widespread species on Annex II results in the creation of a better network of Special Areas of Conservation than if geographically localised or endemic species are used, and benefits a suite of rare and scarce species beyond those named in Annex II. Species of Principal Importance enable recognition of invertebrates in the UK planning system even though many of them are not directly threatened with national loss. Given the intense scrutiny to which nature conservation legislation is exposed, it is important for critics to understand the function of legislation and its application in the sociopolitical arena.
Analysis on influencing factors of knowledge-attitude-practice about occupational hazards in enameled wire enterprises of Tongling City

[Objective]To investigate the influencing factors of knowledge-attitude-practice(KAP) about occupational hazards in enameled wire enterprises of Tongling City, provide basic data for carrying out the health education and intervention measures of occupation hazards. [Methods]337 workers from two representative enameled wire enterprises were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire survey was used to collect the information, two people input the data by Epi Data 3.1 statistical software, and the survey data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 statistical software. [Results]The total awareness rate of knowledge about occupational hazards was 67.95%,and the scores in groups of women,higher educational level,other workshops and other jobs(mainly technical jobs)were significantly higher than those in other groups(P0.01). The scores of attitude in groups of other workshops,women, personal monthly income below 2000 yuan, and people who have gotten sick in recent two weeks were significantly higher than those in other groups(P 0.05 or P 0.01). The scores of practice in group of workers who were exposed to occupational hazards in less than two years were significantly higher than those in group of exposure length more than two years(P 0.05).[Conclusion] The total awareness rate of knowledge about occupational hazards is low among workers in enameled wire enterprises of Tongling City, and the factors influenced the KAP about occupational hazards include workshops, jobs, sex,educational level,personal income,and exposure length. It is recommended to carry out the targeted the occupational health education and health promotion in enameled wire enterprises,to improve the self-protection awareness of workers.
Real-time and Multitask Software Design Based on Labwindows in Master of the Loading Trial System

According to the trait that real-time parameter measurement and system control are needed in the landing gear electro-hydraulic load trial,real-time and multitask system controller software is designed based on multithread programming and Labwindows/CVI platform.This design is applied in the actual trial system successfully.The application is met the system's demand of reliability and real-time measurement.
Study on the Analysis and Construction of Network Security in the Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences

This paper has analyzed the main network security issues in the Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences,and put forward solution measures for the design principles of the network security program and the objectives of network security construction.
Chondromyxoid fibroma of the sacrum: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is an extremely rare, benign cartilaginous tumor that makes up <0.5% of all bone tumors, typically presenting in the second or third decade of life. CMF of the sacrum is exceedingly rare, with only seven documented cases reported in the neurosurgical literature. CASE DESCRIPTION We report a case of a 35-year-old female with a 3 month history of lower back pain after sustaining a fall on her sacrum/coccyx presenting with a progressive complaint of localized lower back pain, occasional urinary retention without incontinence, gluteal hypesthesia, and pressure below the gluteal crease. Imaging demonstrated a large, expansile enhancing soft-tissue lesion involving the sacrum, distal to the S2-3 disc space. The tumor was removed with partial sacrectomy for open en bloc resection with partial nerve sparing. The patient was found at 1.5-year follow-up with the improvement of symptoms, no recurrence, and no residual neurologic dysfunction. CONCLUSION Sacral CMF is a rare clinical entity that may mirror more aggressive sacral pathology, including chordoma, in both clinical presentation and imaging characteristics. A review of the available literature regarding diagnosis, surgical management options, and prognosis for sacral CMF is provided.
Accessory Gene Regulator-1 Locus Is Essential for Virulence and Pathogenesis of Clostridium difficile

ABSTRACT Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is responsible for most of the definable cases of antibiotic- and hospital-associated diarrhea worldwide and is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in older patients. C. difficile, a multidrug-resistant anaerobic pathogen, causes disease by producing toxins A and B, which are controlled by an accessory gene regulator (Agr) quorum signaling system. Some C. difficile strains encode two Agr loci in their genomes, designated agr1 and agr2. The agr1 locus is present in all of the C. difficile strains sequenced to date, whereas the agr2 locus is present in a few strains. The functional roles of agr1 and agr2 in C. difficile toxin regulation and pathogenesis were unknown until now. Using allelic exchange, we deleted components of both agr loci and examined the mutants for toxin production and virulence. The results showed that the agr1 mutant cannot produce toxins A and B; toxin production can be restored by complementation with wild-type agr1. Furthermore, the agr1 mutant is able to colonize but unable to cause disease in a murine CDI model. These findings have profound implications for CDI treatment because we have uncovered a promising therapeutic target for the development of nonantibiotic drugs to treat this life-threatening emerging pathogen by targeting the toxins directly responsible for disease. IMPORTANCE Within the last decade, the number of cases of C. difficile infections has been increasing exponentially in the United States, resulting in about 4.8 billion U.S. dollars in health care costs annually. As a multidrug-resistant, spore-forming, anaerobic pathogen, C. difficile overpopulates the colon after the gut microbiota has been altered by antibiotic therapy. With increasing resistance to antibiotic treatment of C. difficile infections, patients are experiencing higher costs of health care and a lower quality of life as treatment options decrease. During infection, C. difficile produces toxins A and B, which directly cause disease. As a result, the toxins have become promising nonantibiotic treatment targets. Here, we have identified a pathway responsible for activating the production of the toxins. This important finding opens up a unique therapeutic target for the development of a novel nonantibiotic therapy for C. difficile infections.
E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b activates the p53 pathway by targeting Siva1, a negative regulator of ARF, in FLT3 inhibitor-resistant acute myeloid leukemia.

E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b activates the p53 pathway by targeting Siva1, a negative regulator of ARF, in FLT3 inhibitor-resistant acute myeloid leukemia
On Strong Tree-Breadth

In this paper, we introduce and investigate a new notion of strong tree-breadth. We say that a graph G has strong tree-breadth \(\rho \) if there is a tree-decomposition T for G such that each bag B of T is equal to the complete \(\rho \)-neighbourhood of some vertex v in G, i. e., \(B = N_G^\rho [v]\). We show that it is NP-complete to determine if a given graph has strong tree-breadth \(\rho \), even for \(\rho = 1\); if a graph G has strong tree-breadth \(\rho \), then we can find a tree-decomposition for G with tree-breadth \(\rho \) in \(\mathcal {O}(n^2m)\) time; with some additional restrictions, a tree-decomposition with strong breadth \(\rho \) can be found in polynomial time; some graph classes including distance-hereditary graphs have strong tree-breadth 1.
Molecular Interactions between Graphene and Biological Molecules

Applications of graphene have extended into areas of nanobio-technology such as nanobio-medicine, nanobio-sensing, as well as nanoelectronics with biomolecules. These applications involve interactions between proteins, peptides, DNA, RNA etc. and graphene, therefore understanding such molecular interactions is essential. For example, many applications based on using graphene and peptides require peptides to interact with (e.g., noncovalently bind to) graphene at one end, while simultaneously exposing the other end to the surrounding medium (e.g., to detect analytes in solution). To control and characterize peptide behavior on a graphene surface in solution is difficult. Here we successfully probed the molecular interactions between two peptides (cecropin P1 and MSI-78(C1)) and graphene in situ and in real-time using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. We demonstrated that the distribution of various planar (including aromatic (Phe, Trp, Tyr, and ...
Cutlass: Objects Toward a Theory of Representation

This chapter traces the cutlass, a plantation tool that Indian men sometimes used to harm their partners, across contemporary Indo-Caribbean feminist writing and arts. It thinks across black feminist and Indo-Caribbean feminist thought in order to offer a materialist history of “wife murders” in the post-emancipation period. In Coolie Woman, Gaiutra Bahadur reproduces the spectacular violence in the colonial archive by recounting “wife murders” in stark detail. In contrast, Andil Gosine’s metal brooch “Cutlass” revises the colonial narrative of “wife murders” as Gosine invokes his grandmother’s domestic work with the cutlass. Through these readings, this chapter poses a dougla feminist theory of representation, which understands Indian women’s desires and sex work in the context of African wage labor and Indian indentureship.
Progress and Backlash in the Wake of Obergefell: Reaching Conservative Southern Teachers Through the Power of Literature

ABSTRACTThis paper uses a mixed narrative and quantitative analysis to examine how a graduate class of predominantly politically and religiously conservative (self-identified), elementary teachers in the South made discursive sense of gender and sexually diverse (GSD) young adult and children's literature in the context of concurrent, relevant national events, especially the U.S. Supreme Court's legalization of gay marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges. Using narrative data, supplemented with quantitative pre- and postsurveys, this study provides fruitful insights into conservative professionals' attitudes and practices regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth and adults. Our findings suggest effective ways to help prepare conservative professionals to sensitively address GSD issues in elementary school settings.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Figure 1. Transmission electron microphotographs of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are shown. In Panel A, four viruses are shown budding from the surface of a cultured human lymphoma cell (×63,000). Like other enveloped viruses, HIV is unable to make lipids. The virus uses the lipid component of the membrane of the host cell as part of its envelope. During assembly at the cell surface, the viral envelope incorporates viral glycoprotein into the cell membrane. The membrane proteins of the cell are left behind when the virus buds off. Mature viruses are shown in Panel B (×50,000). The central dark . . .
Single-site robotic-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children and adolescents: a report of 20 cases

Single-site laparoscopy is increasingly popular for straightforward operations like appendectomy. Due to limited triangulation and maneuverability, single-site cholecystectomy is riskier and more difficult. Robotics offer to make it easier and safer. Twenty children and adolescents underwent robotic-assisted single-site cholecystectomy at a large academic children’s hospital. Patients were not randomized; patients were offered the option of robotic-assisted single-site (SSR) or standard four-incision laparoscopic (LAP) cholecystectomy. Demographics and perioperative details were compared with those of a comparable cohort who underwent LAP during the same period. The two groups were similar in physical characteristics and indications for operation. The robotic operations took longer but both groups received similar PRN doses of parenteral opiates. Patients in the SSR group were all discharged on the first postoperative day. There were no major complications in either group but a slightly higher incidence of minor wound complications in the SSR group. Robotic-assisted single-site cholecystectomy appears to be a safe alternative to standard laparoscopy with a similar postoperative pain profile, short postoperative lengths of stay, and, for some, a superior cosmetic result. Nevertheless, it comes with longer set-up and operative times, a higher incidence of minor wound complications, an unknown but possibly higher risk of incisional hernia, and higher costs.
Safety and efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy for weight loss: a review

Photobiomodulation therapy uses light from a laser and is, therefore, a non-invasive, non-thermal treatment that is effective in reducing chronic pain and inflammation, stimulating wound healing and tissue regeneration. Due to its accessibility and ease of use, it is also being explored as an alternative to lipoplasty for fat removal. This review covers literature focusing on the applications of photobiomodulation therapy, with particular emphasis on the safety and efficacy of this therapy on fat loss. Based on the studies reported, photobiomodulation therapy is a safe technique that showed promising results in reducing the circumference of treated body parts. Also, photobiomodulation therapy is particularly effective when used in combination with exercise and physical therapy. The mechanism of action of how photobiomodulation therapy removes fat from the cells is controversial and requires further investigation. Very little scientific indication endures in support of the claims that infrared light, whether dispensed by laser, lamp, or while in a body wrap, can assist people to lose extra weight or shape their physique. Moreover, additional studies demonstrating the efficacy of photo modulation therapy in larger groups would be helpful in establishing this technique for regular clinical use.
Neural substrates of fear-induced hypophagia in male and female rats

Cessation of eating under fear is an adaptive response that aids survival by prioritizing the expression of defensive behaviors over feeding behavior. However, this response can become maladaptive when persistent. Thus, accurate mediation of the competition between fear and feeding is important in health and disease; yet, the underlying neural substrates are largely unknown. The current study identified brain regions that were recruited when a fear cue inhibited feeding in male and female rats. We used a previously established behavioral paradigm to elicit hypophagia with a conditioned cue for footshocks, and Fos imaging to map activation patterns during this behavior. We found that distinct patterns of recruitment were associated with feeding and fear expression, and that these patterns were similar in males and females except within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In both sexes, food consumption was associated with activation of cell groups in the central amygdalar nucleus, hypothalamus, and dorsal vagal complex, and exposure to food cues was associated with activation of the anterior basolateral amygdalar nucleus. In contrast, fear expression was associated with activation of the lateral and posterior basomedial amygdalar nuclei. Interestingly, selective recruitment of the mPFC in females, but not in males, was associated with both feeding and freezing behavior, suggesting sex differences in the neuronal processing underlying the competition between feeding and fear. This study provided the first evidence of the neural network mediating fear-induced hypophagia, and important functional activation maps for future interrogation of the underlying neural substrates.
Ovarian Dysgenesis and Related Genetic Disorders

Individuals with ovarian dysgenesis lack germ cells. Although showing a female phenotype, they lack secondary sexual characteristics and have streak gonads in lieu of normal gonads. These features usually result from either sex chromosomal abnormalities or mutant genes.
Excerpts from Bayesian Spectrum Analysis and Parameter Estimation

Bayesian spectrum analysis is still in its infancy. It was born when E. T. Jaynes derived the periodogram2 as a sufficient statistic for determining the spectrum of a time sampled data set containing a single stationary frequency. Here we extend that analysis and explicitly calculate the joint posterior probability that multiple frequencies are present, independent of their amplitude and phase, and the noise level. This is then generalized to include other parameters such as decay and chirp. Results are given for computer simulated data and for real data ranging from magnetic resonance to astronomy to economic cycles. We find substantial improvements in resolution over Fourier transform methods.
The effect of sex on immune cells in healthy aging: elderly women have more robust natural killer (NK) lymphocytes than do elderly men

Gender differences in blood leukocytes and immune responses have been reported, but there is limited knowledge of gender differences in elderly humans. We compared monocyte and lymphocyte subsets, along with soluble immune mediators in healthy men and women over the age of 70. We also measured natural killer (NK) lymphocyte cytotoxic granule exocytosis, chemokine synthesis, and cytokine synthesis in response to a variety of stimuli. We found that elderly women had significantly more circulating B cells than men, whereas men had more CD4 central memory T cells. Men also had higher monocyte levels. Women had a higher ratio of immature CD56 bright NK cells to mature CD56 dim NK cells, indicating a gender difference in NK cell maturation in the elderly. Moreover, compared with NK cells from men, mature NK cells from women had more vigorous cytotoxic granule responses to K562 leukemia cells and IFN-g responses to NKp46 crosslinking. Female mature NK cells were also more likely to produce MIP-1b than male mature NK cells in response to a variety of stimuli. We also measured soluble factors that affect immune cells or are produced by immune cells. Plasma adiponectin levels were higher in women, plasma levels of retinol-binding protein 4 were higher in men, but there was no significant gender difference in C-reactive protein, IL-15, or sphingosine-1-phosphate. These data support the hypothesis that gender influences immunity in general, and NK cell activity in particular, in elderly humans.
Effectiveness of dense Gd-doped ceria barrier layers for (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3 cathodes on Yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolytes

Abstract This paper presents a detailed study of the effectiveness of Gd-doped Ceria (GDC) barrier layers for preventing reactions between La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) cathodes and Yttria-stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes. The GDC barrier layers, which are reasonably dense as produced by a novel process where the GDC and YSZ are co-fired at 1250 °C, were varied in thickness from 1.5 to 6 μm. No measureable Sr transport occurs across the GDC layer of any thickness for a relatively low LSCF firing temperature of 1000 °C, or for thickness ≥ 4.5 μm at any firing temperature. Sr was detected at the GDC/YSZ interface for thinner barriers and higher firing temperatures, in the form of a discontinuous SrZrO3 phase. This zirconate phase forms preferentially at pores and grain boundaries in the GDC layer, probably indicating that these were pathways for relatively fast Sr transport. Atom probe tomography results indicated segregation of impurities to grain boundaries near the GDC/YSZ interface.
Twitteo, ¿luego resisto? Movilización popular y redes sociales en Chile: La marea roja de Chiloé (2016)

espanolResumen:El presente estudio propone explorar la relacion entre movilizaciones populares y uso de redes sociales, desde una perspectiva critica. Para tales efectos se analiza la cobertura que se hizo en Twitter sobre el conflicto de la marea roja de Chiloe (isla al sur de Chile), ocurrido durante abril del ano 2016. Los resultados indican que el uso de redes sociales, en el caso de estudio, pasa principalmente por la difusion de informacion, por sobre la promocion o instruccion a desarrollar acciones politicas concretas. EnglishAbstract:The present study aims to explore the relation between popular mobilization and social media use, from a critical perspective. In order to achieve this objective, Twitter’s coverage about the red tide conflict in Chiloe, an island in the south of Chile, in April 2016 is analyzed. The findings suggest that social media use, in this case study, is mostly directed at sharing information rather than promoting or instructing Twitter users to perform concrete political actions.
Synthesis of Precision Gold Nanoparticles Using Turkevich Method

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit unique size-dependent physiochemical properties that make them attractive for a wide range of applications. However, the large-scale availability of precision AuNPs has been minimal. Not only must the required nanoparticles be of precise size and morphology, but they must also be of exceedingly narrow size distribution to yield accurate and reliable performance. The present study aims to synthesize precision AuNPs and to assess the advantages and limitations of the Turkevich method-one of the common chemical synthesis technique. Colloidal AuNPs from 15 nm to 50 nm in diameter were synthesized using the Turkevich method. The effect of the molar ratio of the reagent mixture (trisodium citrate to gold chloride), the scaled-up batch size, the initial gold chloride concentration, and the reaction temperature was studied. The morphology, optical property, surface chemistry, and chemical composition of AuNPs were thoroughly characterized. It was determined that the as-synthesized AuNPs between 15 nm and 30 nm exhibit well-defined size and shape, and narrow size distribution (PDI < 0.20). However, the AuNPs became more polydispersed and less spherical in shape as the particle size increased.
The Study of Stream Litter Accumulation as a Model for Cross-Disciplinary, Transformative, Affordable, and Scalable Undergraduate Research Experiences in STEM

Undergraduate learning in STEM is enhanced by participation in tractable and relevant research projects. Simultaneously, it is challenging to design meaningful research opportunities that remain affordable, engage students in most aspects of the scientific process, and offer opportunities for transformative learning experiences. We designed a collaborative 12-week undergraduate research project based on the quantification of litter along two urban streams in the Oklahoma City (United States) metropolitan area, addressing a regional issue with global implications. This study engaged six undergraduate students at a low cost with commonly available equipment. Three faculty involved brought expertise in physical stream characterization, ecology, statistics, and mathematical modeling, allowing students to approach data analysis from multidisciplinary and collaborative perspectives. Students participated in nearly all stages of scientific research, including a brief literature survey, data collection and analysis toward addressing research questions, interpretation of results, and presentation at a scientific meeting. Post-project surveys revealed that students held highly favorable perceptions in relation to overarching project goals, including improvements in data management and quantitative analysis, in comprehension of scientific abstracts, in grasping the scientific process, and in skill development toward future career goals. Student perceptions regarding the importance of participation in generating data, interest in future data analysis, and the importance of receiving financial compensation for participation were less favorable and varied. Despite increased interest in conducting future field work, interest in pursuing a career in research was slightly diminished after participation in the project. Evidence of transformative learning existed in the targeted areas of scholarly activity and health and wellness. We discuss the benefits of our study design, including suggestions for improvement and the adaptability of this study for other educational contexts.
Impact of cancer type on the incidence of cutaneous toxicities after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A population-level analysis.

e14553Background: Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAEs) from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy are increasing as these drugs are more widely used. Population-level studies are la...
Targeting KIT by frameshifting mRNA transcripts as a therapeutic strategy for aggressive mast cell neoplasms.

Activating mutations in c-KIT are associated with the mast cell (MC) clonal disorders cutaneous mastocytosis and systemic mastocytosis and its variants, including aggressive systemic mastocytosis, MC leukemia, and MC sarcoma. Currently, therapies inhibiting KIT signaling are a leading strategy to treat MC proliferative disorders. However, these approaches may have off-target effects, and in some patients, complete remission or improved survival time cannot be achieved. These limitations led us to develop an approach using chemically stable exon skipping oligonucleotides (ESOs) that induce exon skipping of precursor (pre-)mRNA to alter gene splicing and introduce a frameshift into mature KIT mRNA transcripts. The result of this alternate approach results in marked downregulation of KIT expression, diminished KIT signaling, inhibition of MC proliferation, and rapid induction of apoptosis in neoplastic HMC-1.2 MCs. We demonstrate that in vivo administration of KIT targeting ESOs significantly inhibits tumor growth and systemic organ infiltration using both an allograft mastocytosis model and a humanized xenograft MC tumor model. We propose that our innovative approach, which employs well-tolerated, chemically stable oligonucleotides to target KIT expression through unconventional pathways, has potential as a KIT-targeted therapeutic alone, or in combination with agents that target KIT signaling, in the treatment of KIT-associated malignancies.
Food insecurity is adversely associated with psychological distress, anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early COVID-19 pandemic data showed a spike in both food insecurity and poor mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and mental health outcomes nine months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A national survey of adults 18 years and older was administered in December 2020 (N = 8,355). Multivariable logistic models and post-estimation margins commands were used to show the predicted probability of mental health outcomes (psychological distress, anxiety, and depression) by food security status. The majority of participants (68.5%) reported high/marginal food security, 15.5% had low food security, and 16.0% had very low food security. There was a strong dose response relationship between food insecurity and higher psychological distress, anxiety and depression. Fewer than one in five adults with high/marginal food security screened positive for all three mental health outcomes, while more than two in five adults with low food security screened positive for psychological distress (39.9%), depression (41.7%) and anxiety (41.3%). Among adults with very low food security, nearly half screened positive for psychological distress (47.7%), depression (48.1%) and anxiety (49.4%). Younger adults had higher prevalence of psychological distress compared to older adults regardless of food security status. Food insecure adults, particularly young adults, have higher rates of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression than their food secure counterparts. Facilitating opportunities to connect at risk populations with food assistance and affordable mental healthcare should be prioritized as the pandemic continues and beyond.
The HEART Camp Exercise Intervention Improves Exercise Adherence, Physical Function, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure

Abstract Background Despite exercise being one of few strategies to improve outcomes for individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), exercise clinical trials in HFpEF are plagued by poor interventional adherence. Over the last 2 decades, our research team has developed, tested, and refined Heart failure Exercise And Resistance Training (HEART) Camp, a multicomponent behavioral intervention to promote adherence to exercise in HF. We evaluated the effects of this intervention designed to promote adherence to exercise in HF focusing on subgroups of participants with HFpEF and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and Results This randomized controlled trial included 204 adults with stable, chronic HF. Of those enrolled, 59 had HFpEF and 145 had HFrEF. We tested adherence to exercise (defined as ≥120 minutes of moderate-intensity [40%–80% of heart rate reserve] exercise per week validated with a heart rate monitor) at 6, 12, and 18 months. We also tested intervention effects on symptoms (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 and dyspnea-fatigue index), HF-related health status (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire), and physical function (6-minute walk test). Participants with HFpEF (n = 59) were a mean of 64.6 ± 9.3 years old, 54% male, and 46% non-White with a mean ejection fraction of 55 ± 6%. Participants with HFpEF in the HEART Camp intervention group had significantly greater adherence compared with enhanced usual care at both 12 (43% vs 14%, phi = 0.32, medium effect) and 18 months (56% vs 0%, phi = 0.67, large effect). HEART Camp significantly improved walking distance on the 6-minute walk test (η2 = 0.13, large effect) and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall (η2 = 0.09, medium effect), clinical summary (η2 = 0.16, large effect), and total symptom (η2 = 0.14, large effect) scores. In the HFrEF subgroup, only patient-reported anxiety improved significantly in the intervention group. Conclusions A multicomponent, behavioral intervention is associated with improvements in long-term adherence to exercise, physical function, and patient-reported outcomes in adults with HFpEF and anxiety in HFrEF. Our results provide a strong rationale for a large HFpEF clinical trial to validate these findings and examine interventional mechanisms and delivery modes that may further promote adherence and improve clinical outcomes in this population. Clinical Trial Registration : URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT01658670
Thyroglossal Duct Cyst

Thyroglossal duct cysts are one of the most common causes of midline anterior neck masses in children. These are remnants of the thyroglossal duct. Most thyroglossal duct anomalies present as cysts but draining sinuses can also occur. Although they are congenital, most do not present until childhood or early adolescence.
Hydrostatic airflow over mountains

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the hydrostatic airflow over mountains. The flow of a density stratified fluid over an obstacle has been widely studied because of its application to atmospheric airflow over the irregular terrain of the earth's surface. Theories of vertically propagating waves, wave breaking, flow splitting, and wake eddies are discussed. The knowledge of these phenomena is used to construct an approximate regime diagram depicting how the nature of mountain-induced flow disturbance depends on the control parameters of the problem. The starting point for the discussion is the set of governing equations for a stratified Boussinesq fluid. It is found that on the top, lateral, and downstream boundaries, radiation or free-advection conditions might have to replace decay conditions due to the lack of dissipative mechanisms in equations. It is found that the turbulence and dissipation associated with wave breaking can significantly alter the flow field everywhere, not just in the breaking region. The modifications to the regime diagram caused by vertical shear and vertical variations in static stability are also elaborated.
Colloid Stability of Ceramic Suspensions

This chapter discuses the various aspects of colloidal stability as it pertains to ceramic suspensions. After a ceramic powder acquires an adsorbed layer to prevent re-agglomeration, its colloid stability must be established. Some types of ceramic powder processing require stable colloidal systems and others require flocculated systems. When ions adsorb on the surface of the powder, electrostatic stabilization occurs. When polymers and surfactants adsorb on the surface, steric stabilization dominates. Once colloidally stabilized, a ceramic suspension can be processed. The rheology of this suspension is very important to determine its processing properties. For composites, the constituents of the suspension must be prevented from segregating. This is commonly performed by inducing flocculation in the suspension, thereby locking the well-mixed nature of the suspension into the flocc structure. The structure of these large aggregates is discussed in terms of the various aggregation mechanisms. Finally, these factors of colloidal stability are applied to the processing of ceramic suspensions.
Effects of explant size, pretreatment, and light intensity on shoot regeneration from in vitro-grown apple leaves

The effects of explant size, pretreatment, and light intensity on shoot regeneration of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) were investigated using the rootstock genotype Mailing 7a. Young leaves were harvested from in vitro proliferating shoot cultures, sliced into sections or minced into small pieces, dipped in either sterile distilled water or liquid regeneration medium, and placed onto a medium consisting of half-strength Murashige and Skoog salts, Staba vitamins, 20 μ m thidiazuron, and 2.7 μ M tα -naphthaleneacetic acid. During the first four weeks of culture, explants were exposed to various light treatments: continuous darkness, two weeks of darkness followed by two weeks of low-light (15 μ mol m-2 s-1), continuous low-light, two weeks of low-light followed by two weeks of high-light (100 μ mol m-2 s-1), or continuous high-light. The regeneration frequency observed increased with decreasing light intensity and light duration. Mincing leaves and dipping explants in a liquid regeneration medium prior to culture also resulted in an increase in the number of shoots produced per leaf but did not significantly influence the regeneration frequency. The highest regeneration frequency (92%) was obtained when explants were sectioned, dipped in a liquid regeneration medium, and cultured in darkness for 4 weeks. However, the highest number of shoots (59.8 per leaf) was observed on minced explants cultured under the same conditions. A significantly higher regeneration frequency was obtained for five apple genotypes tested when leaves were minced rather than sectioned.
Chemical contaminants in surficial sediment in Coral and Fish Bays, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Land based sources of pollution have the potential to negatively impact coral reef ecosystems. Many coral systems, including environmentally sensitive marine protected areas, do not have assessments of their chemical contaminant status (magnitude and extent). Without a status assessment, it is impossible to measure change in a system. This study presents surficial sediment data from Coral and Fish Bays (St. John, US Virgin Islands (USVI)). Portions of these bays are included in Virgin Islands National Park, and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. A suite of analytes (PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, heavy metals, butyltins) was quantified and compared against other regional data and against previously published sediment quality guidelines (SQG). Contamination from toxic contaminants in the system was generally low when compared to other similar studies and potential toxicity thresholds (SQG). Exceptions to this were copper and total chlordane which exceeded the Effects Range Low (ERL) sediment quality guideline, indicating possible sediment toxicity. This assessment will be useful to coastal managers for tracking environmental change, and ensuring that this marine protected area remains relatively free from toxic contamination.
(2.2.2-Cryptand)potassium tetra­kis­(η2-ethyl­ene)cobaltate(−I)

The title salt, [K(C18H36N2O6)][Co(C2H4)4], is one of only two known homoleptic ethyl­enemetalates. The cation and anion are well separated, which gives an unperturbed tetra­hedral anion as is expected for a formally Co−I d10 metal center. The considerable elongation of the C=C bonds of the ethyl­ene ligands [average 1.401 (6) A], relative to that of free ethyl­ene (1.333 A), is consistent with metal→π* back-bonding models. One arm of the 2.2.2-cryptand (4,7,13,16,21,24-hexa­oxa-1,10-diaza­bicyclo­[8.8.8]hexa­cosa­ne) complexant is disordered and was modeled over two positions with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.559 (2):0.441 (2). In the crystal, the cationic K(2.2.2-cryptand) units are linked via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers. There are no other significant inter­molecular inter­actions in the crystal structure.
Prospects for growing normal human melanocytes in vitro.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the prospects for growing normal human melanocytes in vitro . Two biological characteristics of the human pigment cell system are known to affect adversely the growth of normal melanocytes in an artificial environment. First, melanocytes in vivo are not arranged in homogeneous clusters but they are scattered individually throughout the entire epidermal sheet. This distribution pattern interferes with the segregation and plating of homogeneous populations. The melanocytes in vitro maintained their usual dendritic shape and melanin content during the early stages of culture but, as the preparations aged, the number of dendrites decreased and the cells assumed a bipolar configuration. The pigment cells move out from the explants less rapidly than the adjacent keratinocytes. No pigment cells are seen in mitosis. Melanocytes were isolated from the mixed-cell preparations and replated. The enormous capacity for growth of the embryonic materials is indicated by the fact that the pigment cell strains were successfully passed up to 27 times.
Without contraries is no progression

SUMMARY Some lesbians subject other queer women to a type of purity test, stereotyping bisexuals, transsexuals, and leatherwomen as threats to the lesbian and feminist movements. Such attitudes frequently reveal rigid, binary, either-or thinking and an intolerance of difference. This essay, by contrast, argues in favor of an embrace of diversity within the queer women's community and examines the way bisexuals, transsexuals, and leatherwomen exhibit a resistance to binary thinking and a "tolerance for ambiguity."
Lactic acid sprays reduce bacterial pathogens on cold beef carcass surfaces and in subsequently produced ground beef.

Organic acids have been shown to be effective in reducing the presence of pathogenic bacteria on hot beef carcass surfaces; however, application for decontaminating chilled carcasses has not been fully evaluated. In this study, a postchill, 30-s lactic acid spray (500 ml of 4% l-lactic acid, 55°C) was applied onto outside rounds that had been contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium, subsequent to prechill hot carcass treatments consisting of water wash alone or water wash followed by a 15-s lactic acid spray (250 ml of 2% l-lactic acid, 55°C). The prechill treatments reduced both pathogens by 3.3 to 3.4 log cycles (water wash alone) to 5.2 log cycles (water wash and lactic acid). In all cases, the postchill acid treatment produced an additional reduction in E. coli O157:H7 of 2.0 to 2.4 log cycles and of 1.6 to 1.9 log cycles for Salmonella Typhimurium. The counts of both pathogens remained significantly lower in ground beef produced from the outside rounds that received prec...
A Review of “The Wealth and Poverty of Regions: Why Cities Matter”

Economic geography is becoming increasingly popular outside academic and policy circles, probably due in no small part to the success of Richard Florida's popular writings, which strike a conversat...
Identifying faculty motivations to increase technology use in pedagogy at a midwestern university

The purpose of this qualitative study was to make meaning of the experiences of six faculty members at Midwestern University and how they make sense of the combined use of technology, pedagogy, and content within the classroom. One way this study expanded the available knowledge base and filled the gap in the literature was to provide a voice for the six faculty members. Through interviews and document analysis, meaning was connected for the six faculty members. The focus during data analysis was the phenomenon of the use of technology in pedagogy practices of the faculty members. Focusing on the phenomenon supported the process of making meaning of the combined experiences of the six faculty members interviewed. Listening to the faculty members make meaning of how the benefits and barriers of using technology in the classroom drive their decision making about technology integration provided needed insight into the following themes that emerged; technology and pedagogy are inseparable, pedagogy and technology, benefits and barriers of using technology and support. Suggestions for practice would be to have faculty meet with a learning technology specialist to determine individual technology needs of faculty using the TPACK Technology Tool first. Learning technology specialists then need to select faculty who are lone rangers to begin teaching technology-by-design projects in their classes so other faculty will see successful technology adoption across campus by their colleagues that could spread a diffusion of innovation.