cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Morphogen gradient with expansion-repression mechanism: Steady-state and robustness studies

Robust morphogen gradient formation is important for embryo development. Patterns of developmental tissue are encoded by the morphogen gradient that drives the process of cell differentiation in response to different morphogen levels. Experiments have shown that tissue patterning is robust with respect to morphogen overexpression. However, the mechanisms for this robust patterning remain unclear. The expansion-repression mechanism, which was proposed for achieving scaling of patterning with organ size, is a type of self-enhanced clearance through a non-local feedback regulation and may contribute to the robustness with respect to morphogen overexpression. In this paper, we study the role of the expansion-repression mechanism in morphogen gradient robustness through a two-equation model with general forms of feedback functions. We prove the existence of steady-state solutions, and, through model reduction and simplification, show that the expansion-repression mechanism is able to improve the robustness against changes in the morphogen production rate. However, this improvement is restricted by the biological requirement of multi-fate long-range morphogen gradient.
Influences of STATCOM on Critical Operating Limits of HVDC Transmission System

In order to investigate the effect of STATCOM on stability of HVDC power transmission system, we analyzed the influences of STATCOM with different capacities on operation limits of HVDC power transmission system. We developed a simulation model of HVDC power transmission system with STATCOM in PSCAD/EMTDC, and investigated the operation performances of HVDC power transmission system in the presence or absence of STATCOM under AC system fault at inverter side and weak receiving system scenarios. Moreover, we built a dual-infeed HVDC power transmission system in the presence of STATCOM. Then we researched the effect of STATCOM with different capacities on operation limits of dual-infeed HVDC system, and the impact of electrical distance among DC subsystems on STATCOM. The simulation results show that introducing STATCOM guarantee that the HVDC system can run steadily at a small short circuit ratio. The decline amount of short circuit ratio will reduce with the increase of STATCOM capacity. In multi-infeed HVDC system, the improvement effect of STATCOM on short circuit ratio for the remote subsystem will reduce with the increase of distance among HVDC subsystems.
Effects of Drought Stress Simulated by PEG on Seedling Stage of Different Mustard Varieties

Four different mustard varieties were selected for PEG6000-simulated drought stress experiments. Physiological indexes such as chlorophyll content,MDA content,proline content,the membrane penetrability content,soluble sucrose content,relative water content,Fv / Fm content were determined. The results showed that MDA,proline,the membrane penetrability,soluble sucrose,relative water content,Fv / Fm reached significant differences between mustard varieties with 10 % PEG treatment. Therefore,the six indexes can be used for determination of mustard drought resistance. In a word,a combination of the indexes showed that the sequence of mustard drought resistance was M100 M94 M133 M8.
Study of Economical Limits of Water Plugging

Many measures of increasing oil mass and decreasing quantity of water are implemented to old well in order to slow down oil production decline and control ineffective water injection and production. When some measure is implemented,it not only considers feasibility of technique,but also guarantees that this measure is advisable in the angle of economic.The economic limits of measure of water plugging was researched by using the method of combining the theory balancing the gain and loss and the analysis of the oil reservoir engineering. Based on development characteristics of old well of high water cut stage in the P block of D oilfield,the quantity of water plugging and increased oil production are studied under the condition of different oil price.
Pediatric Heart Transplantation

Pediatric heart transplantation dates back to December 1967, with Kantrowitz’s unsuccessful attempt at infant heart transplantation. Sixteen years later, Bailey ushered in the era of clinical infant heart transplantation after a failed xenotransplant attempt. Today, more than 700 pediatric heart transplants are performed annually, with average survival exceeding 90% at 1 year and, among infants, a median survival of more than 20 years. Major causes of death include graft failure, allograft vasculopathy, rejection, infection, and malignancy. With current preservation techniques, the incidence of early graft failure has been reduced to about 2%. About 40% of patients experience one or more rejection episodes in the first year. Antibody mediated rejection is much less common but when associated with hemodynamic compromise 50% of patients die within 5 years. Infection incidence is time-related, with bacterial infections most prevalent in the first 2 months. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease is caused by Epstein-Barr virus in over 80% of cases, and the greatest risk is between 6 and 12 months. Allograft vasculopathy, a manifestation of chronic rejection, affects 15% of patients by 5 years and 30% by 10 years. Allograft vasculopathy is the most common indication for retransplantation with expected graft survival only slightly worse than with the original graft.
Selected areas of health and health care utilization by immigrants living in the Czech Republic.

Objective This investigation examined to what extent a selected group of immigrants in the Czech Republic receive healthcare for primary prevention and inpatient care. A partial aim of the research was to confirm the connection between immigrant health and their social situation. Methods Using a quantitative study technique, 1,014 legally established immigrants (Vietnamese, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, and Slovak) between 18-65 years of age were interviewed. The selection of respondents was conducted using purposive selection. The stratification of the group was determined by nationality, age, and gender. Results Long-term illnesses were found significantly more frequently among Ukrainian immigrants and less frequently among Vietnamese immigrants. About half of the respondents had visited a GP and dentist in the previous year and 11.5% of respondents had been hospitalized in inpatient departments. Most of the surveyed immigrants had public health insurance (77.9%), one-fifth had contractual health insurance (19.6%) and 2.5% did not have health insurance. In statistical terms, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and Russian immigrants had commercial insurance more often than Polish and Slovak immigrants. The utilization of public health insurance and healthcare among immigrants grew significantly in correlation with length of residency. The use of GPs for preventive health care also grew in correlation with knowledge of the Czech language. We found that less than nine percent of immigrants reported needing hospitalization for an illness, but were not hospitalized. Conclusion Currently, immigration represents one of the most burning and sensitive global challenges. The outcome of this research clearly shows that improving immigrant Czech language skills and giving all legally established immigrants access to Czech public health insurance are important steps needed to increase access to healthcare for immigrants in the Czech Republic.
Quo vadis NOTES

BACKGROUND: The term NOTES® (Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery) summarizes new operation techniques, which are a synthesis of endoscopy and laparoscopy, and do not leave scars on patients' skin. METHODS: The article reviews the literature on the one hand and reflects our personal experience with experimental and clinical NOTES® cases on the other hand, discussing devices, approaches, tissue approximation techniques, prevention of infection, and risks. RESULTS: NOTES® has become a clinical reality. More than 300 human cases have been performed worldwide under IRB (Institutional Research Board) approval by July 2008. The results have been the same as if laparoscopy had been performed, with better cosmetic results. Some studies show a tendency towards lesser use of postoperative pain medication. It has to be proved if faster recovery is also an advantage of NOTES®. CONCLUSIONS: There is a future for flexible laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. NOTES® instruments provide better cosmetic results, leave the abdominal wall intact, and may have advantages for atraumatic surgery in the mediastinum. Patients and physicians can decide individually if the new available devices will be used in a transluminal or single port approach after intensive consideration of advantages and drawbacks of each access approach.
A framework for technology transfer potential assessment

This paper is motivated by a need to move research into application, specifically in the utility industry. There are many challenges facing the industry: an aging infrastructure, a growing population, and aggressive energy efficiency targets are just a few examples. Many technologies exist or are in development but the rate at which they are being adopted is slow. Despite a clear need to apply research results to the utility industry, a cursory review of how research proposals are evaluated within the utility industry confirms that technology transfer is only peripherally addressed. In addition, there is no mechanism to quantitatively assess the technology transfer potential of a research proposal. The goal of this paper is to develop an assessment model that can be used to identify the technology transfer potential of a research proposal. By doing so, an organization can select the proposals whose research outcomes are more likely to move into application.
All-atom MD indicates ion-dependent behavior of therapeutic DNA polymer

Understanding the efficacy of and creating delivery mechanisms for therapeutic nucleic acids requires understanding structural and kinetic properties which allow these polymers to promote the death of cancerous cells. One molecule of interest is a 10 mer of FdUMP (5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-O-monophosphate) – also called F10. Here we investigate the structural and kinetic behavior of F10 in intracellular and extracellular solvent conditions along with non-biological conditions that may be efficacious in in vitro preparations of F10 delivery systems. From our all-atom molecular dynamics simulations totaling 80 microseconds, we predict that F10's phosphate groups form close-range interactions with calcium and zinc ions, with calcium having the highest affinity of the five ions investigated. We also predict that F10's interactions with magnesium, potassium and sodium are almost exclusively long-range interactions. In terms of intramolecular interactions, we find that F10 is least structured (in terms of hydrogen bonds among bases) in the 150 mM NaCl (extracellular-like solvent conditions) and most structured in 150 mM ZnCl2. Kinetically, we see that F10 is unstable in the presence of magnesium, sodium or potassium, finding stable kinetic traps in the presence of calcium or zinc.
Multiplexing of adjacent vortex modes with the forked grating coupler

For vortex fiber multiplexing to reach practical commercial viability, simple silicon photonic interfaces with vortex fiber will be required. These interfaces must support multiplexing. Toward this goal, an efficient singlefed multimode Forked Grating Coupler (FGC) for coupling two different optical vortex OAM charges to or from the TE0 and TE1 rectangular waveguide modes has been developed. A simple, apodized device implemented with e-beam lithography and a conventional dual-etch processing on SOI wafer exhibits low crosstalk and reasonable mode match. Advanced designs using this concept are expected to further improve performance.
Mechanism of fluorescent silicon nanoparticles

Silicon (Si) is known to have an indirect bandgap transition, which means it has poor fluorescence properties. However, when engineered into sub-nm sized particles, Si nanoparticles become emissive due to quantum confinement. However, in unmodified Si particles, this effect is limited to generating red or near-infrared emission with low quantum yield. To resolve these limitations, surface-modification methods have successfully generated Si particles that emit in the blue, cyan, and green with quantum yields up to ~90%.1,2 These modifications have also made the Si nanoparticles watersoluble, making them promising in biological applications. To date, the mechanism of emission in these species is still unclear although it has been speculated that charge transfer of Si-O-N could be responsible. To investigate whether emission by these Si nanoparticles proceeds via a charge transfer mechanism, Stark spectroscopy is used. In this method, an external electric field is applied to the Si nanoparticles. Changes in the absorption and/or emission spectra due to the applied field can be taken as strong evidence for a charge transfer mechanism. From the results of Stark spectroscopy, Si nanoparticles are revealed to have ligand to metal charge transfer mechanism along with electric-field quenching, which is useful information for utilization into applications. Addition to the information found, a method of how to tune the emission maxima based on selection of ligands is prosed.
Is bone density associated with intervertebral disc pressure in healthy and degenerated discs

The coupling of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and vertebra as a biomechanical unit suggests that changes in the distribution of pressure within the IVD (intradiscal pressure, IDP) as a result of disc degeneration can influence the distribution of bone density within the vertebra, and vice versa. The goal of this study was to assess the correspondence between IDP and bone density in the adjacent vertebrae, with emphasis on how this correspondence differs between healthy and degenerated IVDs. Bone density of the endplates and subchondral bone in regions adjacent to the anterior and posterior annulus fibrosus (aAF and pAF, respectively) and nucleus pulposus (NP) was measured via quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in 61 spine segments (T7-9, T9-11, T10-12; 71±14years). IDP was measured in the aAF, NP, and pAF regions in 26 of the spine segments (68±16years) while they were tested in flexed (5°) or erect postures. Disc degeneration was assessed by multiple grading schemes. No correlation was found between bone density and IDP in either posture (p>0.104). Regional variations in IDP and, to a greater extent bone density, were found to change with advancing degeneration: both IDP (p=0.045) and bone density (p=0.024) decreased in the NP region relative to the aAF region. The finding of only a modest correspondence between degeneration-associated changes in IDP and bone density may arise from complexity in how IDP relates to mechanical force transmission through the endplate and from limitations of the available IVD grading schemes in estimating the mechanical behavior of the IVD.
Biological Sex, Gender, and Public Policy

Policy debates have focused on who can participate in or access single-sex activities or services. This article describes how science of the biology of sex is relevant to three major policy areas: parenting (including leaves), sports, and public spaces. We focus on what scientists know about sex and gender (and gender/sex, where gender and sex are intertwined), and the role of various biological factors, including hormones such as testosterone and estradiol as well as genetics, gonads, genitals, and more. The policies under debate often use “biological sex,” but this fails to account for scientific understandings of sex and gender, misrepresents sex as single-faceted and binary, and overlooks scientific consensus about the importance of gender and identity.
Cirrhosis Is Associated with Increased Mortality in Patients with Diverticulitis: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Diverticulitis in patients with cirrhosis has been associated with higher surgical mortality, but no prior studies evaluate non-surgical treatment results. Our aim was to compare the outcomes of hospitalization for diverticulitis in patients with and without cirrhosis. We utilized the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2007–2013) for patients with and without cirrhosis hospitalized for diverticulitis. Patients were further stratified by the presence of compensated versus decompensated cirrhosis. Validated ICD-9 codes captured patients and surgical procedures. Multivariate logistic regression models were fit. The primary outcomes of interest were mortality and surgical intervention rates. There were 1,555,469 patients hospitalized for diverticulitis without cirrhosis, and 7523 patients hospitalized for diverticulitis with cirrhosis. On multivariate analysis, patients with cirrhosis had an increased mortality rate (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.48–3.5). There were no significant differences in surgical interventions. Subgroup multivariate analyses of compensated cirrhosis (n = 6170) and decompensated cirrhosis (n = 1353) revealed that decompensated cirrhosis had an increased mortality rate (OR 4.99; 95% CI 2.48–10.03) when compared to patients without cirrhosis, whereas those with compensated cirrhosis did not (OR 1.67; 95% CI 0.96–2.91). Those with compensated cirrhosis underwent less surgical interventions (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.67–0.99) compared to those without cirrhosis. Patients with diverticulitis and cirrhosis had increased costs and lengths of hospitalization. Presence of cirrhosis in patients hospitalized for diverticulitis is associated with an increased mortality rate. These are novel findings, and future clinical studies should focus on improving diverticulitis outcomes in this group.
Anisotropic Etching of Hexagonal Boron Nitride and Graphene: Question of Edge Terminations.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been established as the most effective way to grow large area two-dimensional materials. Direct study of the etching process can reveal subtleties of this competing with the growth reaction and thus provide the necessary details of the overall growth mechanism. Here we investigate hydrogen-induced etching of hBN and graphene and compare the results with the classical kinetic Wulff construction model. Formation of the anisotropically etched holes in the center of hBN and graphene single crystals was observed along with the changes in the crystals’ circumference. We show that the edges of triangular holes in hBN crystals formed at regular etching conditions are parallel to B-terminated zigzags, opposite to the N-terminated zigzag edges of hBN triangular crystals. The morphology of the etched hBN holes is affected by a disbalance of the B/N ratio upon etching and can be shifted toward the anticipated from the Wulff model N-terminated zigzag by etching in a nitrogen buffer ...
Public key cryptography

This one-hour presentation provides a mathematical overview of current public key encryption algorithms. The motivation for using public key systems to augment symmetric systems is outlined, then two popular systems are described in detail, with special attention to the mathematical problems on which their security is based and the practical level of difficulty of solving these problems. A hands-on demonstration of one algorithm suitable for presentation to a general audience is provided. The talk closes with a survey of the uses to which public key systems are currently being put.
What’s in a Name? Journalistic Boundary Work and a High School Newspaper’s Effort to Ban “Redskin”:

A Pennsylvania high school newspaper published an editorial in Fall 2013 announcing its decision to cease using the name of the school’s sports teams, Redskins. That decision prompted the local sch...
Defining Early Social Communication Skills: a Systematic Review and Analysis

Several early social communication skills are theorized to be important for later more complex social behaviors. These skills, such as joint attention, social referencing, and social engagement, emerge very early in young children who are typically developing. For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays, these skills may not emerge naturally and may need specialized interventions. Luckily, early social communication skills are a growing area of research and there is a developing library of potentially effective practices for intervention on these skills. Across these studies, however, there is considerable variability in the terminology, topographies, and categorizations of these skills that can lead to under or over identification of evidence-based practices to address these skills. This systematic review of the literature presents 29 single-case and group design studies that target an early social communication skill and highlight the range of definitions of these pivotal skills. Results suggest that there are overlapping definitions of these early social communication skills that may leave specific skills unaddressed. Ideas for more cohesive definitions and assessment are offered as well as opportunities for future research.
Introducing Nursing Students to an Environmental Safety Assessment Through Simulation

Abstract In response to the Institute of Medicine report criticizing health care professionals' competence in providing safe patient care, health care educators were challenged to transform their nursing programs. One powerful tool in developing competent nurses, without endangering patients, is simulation. This article discusses advantages and disadvantages of using simulation as a teaching strategy and describes how to teach environmental safety concepts to beginning nursing students, through a simulated patient room using an environmental safety assessment.
Health Information Sources, Perceived Vaccination Benefits, and Maintenance of Childhood Vaccination Schedules.

Parental concerns over the safety or necessity of childhood vaccination have increased over the past decades. At the same time, there has been a proliferation of vaccine-related information availab...
Encoding of Interaural Level Differences for Sound Localization

One of the primary acoustical cues to the spatial location of a sound source in azimuth is the interaural level difference (ILD). The ILD cue results from the frequency- and direction-dependent modifications of the sound waves by the head and pinnae and is defined as the difference in sound pressure level of the signals arriving at the two ears as a function of frequency. The neurons comprising the lateral superior olive (LSO) are thought to be the most peripheral neurons in the ascending auditory pathway to encode the ILD cue. Although it has been known for decades that LSO neurons are sensitive to ILDs, the specific mechanisms for ILD selectivity have been elucidated only recently. Here we review the mechanisms of ILD processing by first discussing the physical bases of the ILD cue itself. Then we examine the anatomical, physiological, and biophysical specializations present in the neural circuitry through the neurons of the LSO that enable the encoding of ILDs. The specializations in the input neurons to the LSO permit the spectral and temporal attributes of the sound arriving at the two ears to be represented accurately while the specializations at the LSO allow ILDs to be encoded based on these representations on nearly a frequency-by-frequency and time-by-time basis. Comparative studies that have examined the functional role of the LSO through combined anatomical, physiological, and behavioral observations confirm that the LSO is necessary for sound source localization based on ILDs.
Introduction: Understanding How and Why People Learn Across Settings as an Educational Equity Strategy

People circulate across a broad range of learning environments as a routine matter of daily living. In the LIFE center, we have referred to this “learning across settings” phenomena as the “life-wide” dimension of learning—as people circulate from moments of elective family life, compulsory schooling, participation in online communities, or other patterned routines of daily practice (see Banks et al., 2007 for a detailed description). Many of the variations that exist in educational pathways and the associated educational inequalities relate to differences in these life-wide patterns of learning and associated consequences. For example, access to academic language in and out of school is a strong predictor of academic achievement (e.g., Suarez-Orozco, Suarez-Orozco, and Todorova 2008). Situational interests of children are often cultivated, recognized, and supported within the context of family life (e.g., Crowley & Jacobs, 2002). Moments of formal instruction can pique children’s interest and lead to subsequent learning outside of school (e.g., Reeve & Bell, 2009). In order to develop a theoretical understanding of the life-course outcomes of particular individuals, we need to better understand how they move and learn across a varied set of cultural niches with variable practices, materials, and evaluation systems that are used to gauge human behavior (Lee, 2008).
The Effect of Nano-Fillers on the In-Plane and Interlaminar Shear Properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite

In this study, the interlaminar region of a carbon fiber composites was reinforced with silica nano-particles, and its effect on the in-plane mechanical response was investigated. Also, the effect of particles on the dynamic interlaminar shear strength of composites was studied. Two batches of composite specimens, one batch made of only fiber and matrix and the other with nano-silica added as a third phase, were fabricated. The composite specimens were prepared through a high-temperature molding process, where the nanoparticles were dispersed on the surface of the prepreg layers before stacking. For in-plane properties, standard tensile test coupons were made with fibers oriented at a different angle relative to the loading direction. For interlaminar shear properties, a V-notch bending and three-point bending specimens were prepared. It was found that the nanoparticles have a sound influence on the in-plane mechanical response mainly on the in-plane shear property of the composite. On the other hand, the nano-filler has shown a significant effect on the dynamic interlaminar shear strength of the laminate.
Spinal Cord Perfusion MR Imaging Implicates Both Ischemia and Hypoxia in the Pathogenesis of Cervical Spondylosis.

Objectives Although a number of studies have implicated ischemia and hypoxia in the pathogenesis of cervical spondylosis, quantification remains difficult and the role of ischemia and hypoxia on disease progression and disease severity in human cervical spondylosis remains largely unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess spinal cord perfusion and oxygenation in human cervical spondylosis and examine the relationship between perfusion, degree of spinal cord compression, and neurological status. Methods Twenty-two patients with cervical spondylosis with or without myelopathy received a dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion MRI exam consisting of a novel spin-and-gradient echo echoplanar acquisition before, during, and following gadolinium-based contrast injection. Estimation of relative spinal cord blood volume (rSCBV), the reversible relaxation rate (R2a), and relative oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF = R2a/rSCBV) was performed at the site of compression and compared with anterior-posterior spinal cord diameter and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score, a measure of neurological impairment. Results rSCBV was linearly correlated with both anterior-posterior cord diameter (R2 = 0.4667, P = 0.0005) and mJOA (R2 = 0.2274, P = 0.0248). R2a was linearly correlated with mJOA (R2 = 0.3998, P = 0.0016) but not cord diameter (R2 = 0.055; P = 0.2950). Also, rOEF was correlated with both cord diameter (R2 = 0.3440, P = 0.0041) and mJOA (R2 = 0.4699, P = 0.0004). Conclusions Results support the hypothesis that spinal cord compression results in ischemia and hypoxia, and the degree of ischemia and hypoxia is proportional to the degree of neurological impairment.
Equivalent PROMIS Scores after Nonoperative or Operative Treatment of Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis.

Background: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores can quantify symptoms and limitations after upper extremity surgery. Our objective was to determine how these scores compare amongst patients with trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis treated either nonoperatively or operatively. Methods: In this retrospective comparative study, we compared PROMIS scores (upper extremity function [UEF], pain interference, and depression) between 43 patients who underwent nonoperative treatment (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/splinting/injections) and 33 patients who underwent trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (minimum 6-month recovery period) by 4 surgeons from 2014–2018. PROMIS scores were compared across all patients by Eaton-Littler staging. We used linear regression to assess correlations between time-since-surgery and each PROMIS domain. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify patient and disease factors independently associated with PROMIS scores. Results: Surgery was not associated with better UEF (37 vs. 40, P=0.23), less pain interference (58 vs. 56, P=0.42), or fewer symptoms of depression (47 vs. 46, P=0.59). Similarly, no differences were observed across all patient by Eaton-Littler stage for UEF (P=0.49), pain (P=0.48), or depression (P=0.90). For the operative group, greater time-since-surgery, or patient recovery period, correlated moderately with worse UEF (R=0.41) and increased pain (R=0.37). Conclusions: In small retrospective comparative cohorts, surgery was not associated with better UEF, pain, or depression scores compared with nonoperative treatment for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis.
Role Reversal: A Pro-metastatic Function of E-Cadherin.

Carcinoma cells often acquire mobility and invasiveness by undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and yet most metastatic lesions remain epithelial in nature. Recently, in Nature, Padmanaban et al. (2019) demonstrated that the quintessential epithelial marker E-cadherin promotes metastasis of invasive ductal breast carcinoma by enhancing the survival of tumor cells.
A randomized controlled trial of a combination of antiviral and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory treatment in a bovine model of respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Introduction Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a valid model for human RSV and an important bovine pathogen. Very early administration of ibuprofen and GS-561937, a fusion protein inhibitor (FPI), have separately been shown to decrease the severity of bovine RSV. Our aims were to determine how long after RSV inoculation ibuprofen and GS-561937 can be administered with clinical benefit and whether using both was better than monotherapy. Materials and methods We conducted a blinded randomized placebo controlled trial of ibuprofen, GS-561937 (FPI), or combinations of the two initiated at 3 or 5 days after artificial infection with bovine RSV in 36 five to six-week-old Holstein calves (Bos taurus). We measured clinical scores, respiratory rate, and viral shedding daily for 10 days following inoculation. We estimated the average effect for each drug and compared treatment arms using mixed effects models. Results We found a significant decrease in clinical scores only in the combined treatment arms. This benefit was greater when treatment was initiated at 3 days rather than 5 days post infection with decreased clinical scores and lower respiratory rates at both time points. Ibuprofen alone started on day 3 increased, and FPI with ibuprofen started on day 3 decreased, viral shedding. Conclusion Dual therapy with Ibuprofen and FPI, on average, decrease clinical severity of illness in a bovine model of RSV when started at 3 and 5 days after infection.
Congenital Upper-Extremity Differences: A Thematic Analysis of On-Line Discussion Boards.

Purpose On-line discussion boards (DBs) are used by patients and family members to pose questions and share experiences with a broader community. Systematic analysis of the text posted to DBs about congenital upper-extremity (UE) differences may allow physicians to identify and address patients’ questions and concerns better. Methods We used Google and Yahoo! Internet search engines to identify on-line DBs pertaining to congenital UE differences. Posts written between January 1, 2009 and January 1, 2019 were collected and analyzed. Each on-line post was coded by 2 researchers using 3 rounds of grounded theory: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. This allowed comprehensive, central themes of the DBs to emerge. Results We collected 521 posts and analyzed 420 posts from 152 threads. A total of 163 unique users contributed to posts. Parents of a child with a congenital UE difference accounted for the majority of users (65%), most of which were postnatal (91%). Of posts written by patients, 48% expressed negative emotions pertaining to their difference, whereas 17% conveyed a positive experience. Five selective codes were identified from posts written by non-administrators: (1) Connecting With Others, (2) Emotional Aspects, (3) Treatment, (4) Diagnosis, and (5) Function. Connecting With Others was the most frequently assigned selective code; users were looking to establish a connection in 73% of posts. Posts seeking information (n = 106) were more often technical in nature than were posts providing information (54% vs 44%). Posts providing information (n = 206) were more often emotional (18% vs 13%). Conclusions Individuals accessing on-line DBs are commonly searching for technical and emotional support from others. Through analysis and identification of the themes from these posts, we believe physicians should be proactive in addressing technical concerns through education and counseling, but should also validate emotional concerns and assist families and patients via support groups or connections to others. Clinical relevance Treating surgeons can improve their care of patients with congenital UE differences by better understanding the needs of patients and their families that may not be elucidated in a traditional patient encounter.
A physics-informed deep learning paradigm for car-following models

Abstract Car-following behavior has been extensively studied using physics-based models, such as Intelligent Driving Model (IDM). These models successfully interpret traffic phenomena observed in the real world but may not fully capture the complex cognitive process of driving. Deep learning models, on the other hand, have demonstrated their power in capturing observed traffic phenomena but require a large amount of driving data to train. This paper aims to develop a family of neural network based car-following models that are informed by physics-based models, which leverage the advantage of both physics-based (being data-efficient and interpretable) and deep learning based (being generalizable) models. We design physics-informed deep learning car-following model (PIDL-CF) architectures encoded with 4 popular physics-based models - the IDM, the Optimal Velocity Model, the Gazis-Herman-Rothery model, and the Full Velocity Difference Model. Acceleration is predicted for 4 traffic regimes: acceleration, deceleration, cruising, and emergency braking. The generalization of PIDL method is further validated using two representative neural network models: the artificial neural networks (ANN) and the long short-term memory (LSTM) model. Two types of PIDL-CF problems are studied, one to predict acceleration only and the other to jointly predict acceleration and discover model parameters. We also demonstrate the superior performance of PIDL with the Next Generation SIMulation (NGSIM) dataset over baselines, especially when the training data is sparse. The results demonstrate the superior performance of neural networks informed by physics over those without.
Modeling and Inverse Compensation of the Quasi-static Voltage-Strain Lonely Stroke and Hysteresis in Supercoiled Polymer Artificial Muscles

Supercoiled polymer (SCP) actuator is a recently developed thermally-driven artificial muscle that has shown large strain, high power density, and strong promise in robotics and intelligent systems. Termed as lonely stroke, the first cycle of SCP actuators is inconsistent with subsequent cycles that are repeatable and exhibit hysteresis. The lonely stroke not only affects SCP actuators' performances, but also presents coupling with hysteresis. It is thus crucial to capture the lonely stroke and hysteresis of SCP actuators to fully unleash their potential. However, the existing modeling and control strategies of SCP actuators fail to consider the lonely stroke nonlinearity. In this study, a modeling strategy is proposed to capture the quasi-static voltage-strain lonely stroke and hysteresis in SCP actuators. This is realized by expanding the input range of the Preisach operator, a widely used hysteresis model, to physically infeasible region to account for the lonely stroke. An iterative algorithm is proposed to compensate for the lonely stroke and hysteresis by approximately inverting the proposed model. For comparison purposes, a conventional Preisach operator and a polynomial model are considered. The modeling and control performance of the proposed approach is evaluated in experiments, and the superiority of the proposed scheme is demonstrated.
Protecting Children from Wildfire Smoke

The impacts of wildfires on the health of children are becoming a more urgent matter as wildfires become more frequent, intense and affecting, not only forested areas, but also urban locations. It is important that medical professionals be prepared to provide information to patients and families on how to minimize the adverse health effects on children of wildfire smoke and ash from wildfires.
GATM-Mediated Creatine Biosynthesis Enables Maintenance of FLT3-ITD–Mutant Acute Myeloid Leukemia

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with the most common mutation being internal tandem duplications (ITDs). The presence of FLT3-ITD in AML carries a particularly poor prognosis and renders therapeutic resistance. New druggable targets are thus needed in this disease. In this study, we demonstrate the effects of de novo creatine biosynthesis upregulation by FLT3-ITD on AML sustainability. Our data show that FLT3-ITD constitutively activates the STAT5 signaling pathway, which upregulates the expression of glycine amidinotransferase (GATM), the first rate-limiting enzyme of de novo creatine biosynthesis. Pharmacological FLT3-ITD inhibition reduces intracellular creatinine levels through transcriptional down-regulation of genes in the de novo creatine biosynthesis pathway. The same reduction can be achieved by cyclocreatine or genetic GATM knock down with shRNA and is reflected in significant decrease of cell proliferation and moderate increase of cell apoptosis in FLT3-ITD mutant cell lines. Those effects are at least partially mediated through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. This study uncovers a previously uncharacterized role of creatine metabolic pathway in the maintenance of FLT3-ITD mutant AML and suggests that targeting this pathway may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for FLT3-ITD positive AML. Implications: FLT3-ITD mutation in AML upregulates de novo creatine biosynthesis that we show can be suppressed to diminish the proliferation and survival of blast cells.
WEST NILE VIRUS EXPOSURE AND INFECTION AMONG HUNTER-HARVESTED RUFFED GROUSE COHORTS IN A STABLE POPULATION.

West Nile virus (WNV) was introduced to North America two decades ago, but for many species, including Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), the effects of WNV on individuals and populations remain poorly understood. Recent studies suggest the effect of WNV on Ruffed Grouse might vary among geographic regions, depending on habitat conditions. We studied WNV in Minnesota, US, during 2018-19, in a region known to have abundant Ruffed Grouse habitat and a population cycling around a stable long-term average. We worked with cooperating hunters to collect hearts, feathers, and blood on filter strips from birds harvested in the fall to examine exposure to the virus. We detected antibodies to WNV or a flavivirus (probably WNV) in 12.5% and 12.3% of birds in 2018 and 2019, respectively. However, we did not isolate the virus from any heart samples, indicating that exposed birds were not experiencing an active infection of WNV at the time of harvest. Our findings indicate that, although Minnesota Ruffed Grouse are exposed to WNV, some birds mount a successful immune response and survive. However, our sampling approach did not account for birds that might have become infected over the summer and died, so it is unknown how much WNV mortality occurred before the fall harvest. Birds lost to WNV over the summer could reduce the number of birds that hunters see in the fall, thus reducing the quality of their hunting experiences. Management options for mitigating WNV impacts and other stressors consist primarily of providing high-quality Ruffed Grouse habitat that produces birds in good condition that are more likely to recover from infection.
Vertical and horizontal variations in the physiological diversity of the aerobic chemoheterotrophic bacterial microflora in deep southeast coastal plain subsurface sediments.

Aerobic chemoheterotrophic bacteria were isolated from surface soils and coastal plain subsurface (including deep aquifer) sediments (depths to 265 m) at a study site near Aiken, S.C., by plating on concentrated and dilute media. Morphologically distinct colonies were purified, and their responses to 21 selected physiological tests were determined. These isolates were quite diverse; 626 physiologically distinct types (i.e., types with a unique pattern of responses to the 21 tests) were detected among the 1,112 isolates obtained. Physiologically distinct types were isolated on concentrated and dilute media (only 11% overlap between the groups); isolates from surface soils and subsurface sediments were also quite different (only 3% overlap). The surface soil isolates more readily utilized all but 1 of 12 carbon sources offered, and a significantly larger proportion of them hydrolyzed esculin and gelatin. Only 4% of the subsurface isolates fermented glucose, even though 82% of them could use it aerobically. l-Malate and d-gluconate were utilized by at least 75% of the subsurface isolates, and seven other carbon sources were used by at least 40% of them. Subsurface isolates from different geological formations (depths) and, to a lesser extent, from the same geological formation at different boreholes differed distinctly in their group responses to certain physiological tests. Moreover, sediments from different depths and boreholes contained physiologically distinct types of bacteria. Thus, considerable bacterial diversity was observed in coastal plain subsurface sediments, even within defined geological formations.
Morphology and Classification of Galaxies. Where Do We Stand

These concluding remarks note some of the high points of the workshop and offer some comments about the future of the morphology of galaxies.
Drying wheat in a spouted bed: On the continuous, moisture diffusion controlled drying of solid particles in a well-mixed, isothermal bed

Abstract The continuous drying of wheat in a spouted bed is idealizable as the drying of uniform, nearly spherical, solid particles in a well-mixed, isothermal bed, with the drying rate controlled by moisture diffusion within the particles and the diffusion coefficient independent of concentration. A rigorous mathematical solution to this general problem is developed. The non-isochronal diffusion equation giving the drying rate is shown to be where is the average, reduced free moisture content of the dryer product, Xr ≡ (S / V) √ (Dθr), S / V is the particle surface-to-volume ratio, D is the diffusion coefficient and θr is the weight-average residence time in the drying bed. Diffusion coefficients calculated by this equation from data on drying wheat in spouted beds agree closely with the established value D = 297 exp (− 21960 / RT). The effective surface moisture content at relative air humidities below about 40 per cent and grain temperatures above about 100 °F is a constant ms = 0·103 lb/lb, dry basis The critical grain temperature above which the baking qualities of wheat are thermally injured is given by the relation where m0 and are respectively the initial and final moisture contents in drying. The average heat of desorption of moisture from wheat is estimated to be 150 B.t.u/lb higher than the normal heat of vaporization from a free water surface. The correlations presented facilitate the prediction of drying rates, energy requirements and safe and economical limits of operation for spouted wheat dryers.
Electrical Modeling and Simulation With Matlab/Simulink and Graphical User Interface Software

Abstract : This paper describes modeling and simulation technologies used to simulate the electrical systems of Army vehicles using Matlab/Simulink coupled with graphical user interface software. The models were built using Mathworks' Matlab/Simulink software in conjunction with the SimPowerSystems Toolbox, a toolkit provided by Mathworks that provides models of basic electrical components such as capacitors and inductors in addition to more advanced components such as diodes and IGBT's. The current results of this ongoing effort are presented and discussed.
Insulin receptor in Aplysia neurons: characterization, molecular cloning, and modulation of ion currents

We have isolated the cDNA for a tyrosine kinase receptor that is expressed in the nervous system of Aplysia californica and that is similar to the vertebrate insulin receptor. Binding studies and immunocytochemical staining show that the receptor is abundant in the bag cell neurons. Application of vertebrate insulin to clusters of bag cell neurons stimulates the phosphorylation of the receptor on tyrosine residues, and exposure of isolated bag cell neurons to insulin produces an increase in height and a decrease in duration of the action potentials that can be detected within 15–30 min. These effects were not seen with insulin-like growth factor-1. In voltage-clamped neurons, insulin produces an increase in the amplitude of the voltage-dependent Ca2+ current that can be blocked by preincubation with herbimycin A, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases. Insulin also enhances a delayed K+ current. We suggest that insulin-like peptides regulate the excitability of the bag cell neurons.