cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning From the Best: The Benefits of a Structured Health Policy Fellowship in Developing Nursing Health Policy Leaders:

This article describes the experience of a nurse leader engaged in a state Health Policy Fellowship instituted in North Carolina by the North Carolina Center for Nursing (NCCN). This Health Policy Fellowship is designed to provide a focused practicum in major aspects of state-level health policy with emphasis on the role of the nurse leader. The program design includes exposure to experienced mentors with diverse areas of focus to learn from observation and interaction. This article describes the experience of a state Health Policy Fellow and includes discussion of understandings derived from interacting with key state stakeholders in the health policy arena and pearls of wisdom from the policy fellowship experience.
Transvaginal organ extraction: potential for broad clinical application

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery procedures have evolved over the past few years. A transvaginal approach is a promising alternative for intraperitoneal procedures. Our objective was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transvaginal organ extraction. This institutional review board-approved protocol involved retrospective review of an ongoing prospective study. Female subjects who presented to our hospital for elective cholecystectomy, appendectomy, or sleeve gastrectomy were offered participation in the study. Eligible patients met the following criteria: age between 18 and 75, diagnosis of gallbladder disease, acute appendicitis, or morbid obesity who desired surgical treatment. A hybrid transvaginal natural orifice approach was used in this series. Thirty-four women underwent transvaginal organ extraction between September 2007 and January 2012. The mean age was 40 ± 12.1 years (range 23–63 years). The mean body mass index was 27 ± 6.4 kg/m2 (range 16–43 kg/m2). All patients had an American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of two or below. The mean operative time for cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and sleeve gastrectomy was 90, 71, and 135 min, respectively. There were no conversions to open operation and no intraoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was 2 days for all cases. Patients were followed for a mean of 24 months (range 1–61 months). There were two pregnancies and two successful vaginal deliveries. Six patients (18 %) had minor complaints of spotting or heavy menses in the immediate postoperative period that resolved with conservative measures. There were no abdominal wall complications. There were no long-term complications and no mortalities. This initial experience suggests that this surgical approach is safe, does not increase length of stay, and has no long-term vaginal complications. Given this attractive profile, a transvaginal approach may prove to be a superior mode of organ extraction, although randomized studies and long-term follow-up are needed.
Biosynthesis of cembratrienols in cell-free extracts from trichomes of Nicotiana tabacum

Abstract Biosynthesis of α- and β-2,7,11-cembratriene-4-ol from all-trans-[1-3H]geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was observed in cell-free extracts prepared from leaf midvein epidermal peels bearing trichome glands and isolated glands of several cembranoid producing tobacco cultivars. The activity yielded both cembratriene-4-ol diastereomers and resembled other plant terpene cyclase activities in solubility, molecular weight, pH optimum and dependence on the divalent cation Mg2+. Partial purification of the activity indicates that the enzyme consists of a single polypeptide of 58 kDa. It is concluded that cembratriene-4-ols rather than cembrene are products of the cyclization of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, and that cembratriene-4-ols are probable precursors of cembratriene-4,6-diols in vivo. The putative enzyme that hydroxylates the mono-alcohols to form the diols is apparently inactivated during detachment and recovery of trichome glands.
Skeletal Muscle-Selective Knockout of LKB1 Increases Insulin Sensitivity, Improves Glucose Homeostasis, and Decreases TRB3

LKB1 is a tumor suppressor that may also be fundamental to cell metabolism, since LKB1 phosphorylates and activates the energy sensing enzyme AMPK. We generated muscle-specific LKB1 knockout (MLKB1KO) mice, and surprisingly, found that a lack of LKB1 in skeletal muscle enhanced insulin sensitivity, as evidenced by decreased fasting glucose and insulin concentrations, improved glucose tolerance, increased muscle glucose uptake in vivo, and increased glucose utilization during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. MLKB1KO mice had increased insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and a >80% decrease in muscle expression of TRB3, a recently identified Akt inhibitor. Akt/TRB3 binding was present in skeletal muscle, and overexpression of TRB3 in C2C12 myoblasts significantly reduced Akt phosphorylation. These results demonstrate that skeletal muscle LKB1 is a negative regulator of insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. LKB1-mediated TRB3 expression provides a novel link between LKB1 and Akt, critical kinases involved in both tumor genesis and cell metabolism.
Affirmative Districting and Four Decades of Redistricting: The Seats/Votes Relationship 1972‐2008

How has the partisan seat/vote relationship in U.S. congressional elections changed in the four reapportionment cycles since 1970? Concern about a biased and unresponsive districting system and “vanishing marginals” has increased because of the affirmative districting to create minority-majority districts after 1990. The 1990 redistricting cycle did not give Republicans an unfair advantage in the seat/vote relationship nationwide or in the southern states, but it may have reduced a previous Democratic bias. The 2000 cycle may have given the GOP a slight advantage. More recent districting cycles with affirmative districting have increased both the responsiveness of congressional elections and the number of opposed contests. ?Cuanto ha cambiado la relacion asiento/voto en las elecciones estadounidenses al congreso en los cuatro ciclos de redistritacion desde 1970? La preocupacion de que emerja un sistema de redistritacion poco conducente a la responsabilidad legislativa ante el electorado ha incrementado a causa de rediseno afirmativo de distritos mayoria-minoria despues de 1990. El ciclo de redistritacion de 1990 no les brindo a los Republicanos una ventaja injusta en la relacion asiento/voto a nivel nacional o en los estados surenos, pero pudo haber reducido la inercia electoral que venia favoreciendo a los Democratas. El ciclo del ano 2000 pudo haberle dado al Partido Republicano una leve ventaja. A partir de estos hallazgos sostenemos que ciclos de redistritacion reciente, con un rediseno afirmativo, han incrementado tanto la responsabilidad legislativa ante el electorado, como el numero de los contendientes electorales.
The utility of geometrical and chemical restraint information extracted from predicted ligand-binding sites in protein structure refinement

Exhaustive exploration of molecular interactions at the level of complete proteomes requires efficient and reliable computational approaches to protein function inference. Ligand docking and ranking techniques show considerable promise in their ability to quantify the interactions between proteins and small molecules. Despite the advances in the development of docking approaches and scoring functions, the genome-wide application of many ligand docking/screening algorithms is limited by the quality of the binding sites in theoretical receptor models constructed by protein structure prediction. In this study, we describe a new template-based method for the local refinement of ligand-binding regions in protein models using remotely related templates identified by threading. We designed a Support Vector Regression (SVR) model that selects correct binding site geometries in a large ensemble of multiple receptor conformations. The SVR model employs several scoring functions that impose geometrical restraints on the Cα positions, account for the specific chemical environment within a binding site and optimize the interactions with putative ligands. The SVR score is well correlated with the RMSD from the native structure; in 47% (70%) of the cases, the Pearson's correlation coefficient is >0.5 (>0.3). When applied to weakly homologous models, the average heavy atom, local RMSD from the native structure of the top-ranked (best of top five) binding site geometries is 3.1A (2.9A) for roughly half of the targets; this represents a 0.1 (0.3)A average improvement over the original predicted structure. Focusing on the subset of strongly conserved residues, the average heavy atom RMSD is 2.6A (2.3A). Furthermore, we estimate the upper bound of template-based binding site refinement using only weakly related proteins to be ∼2.6A RMSD. This value also corresponds to the plasticity of the ligand-binding regions in distant homologues. The Binding Site Refinement (BSR) approach is available to the scientific community as a web server that can be accessed at http://cssb.biology.gatech.edu/bsr/.
Adjusted Supremum Score‐Type Statistics for Evaluating Non‐Standard Hypotheses

Supremum score test statistics are often used to evaluate hypotheses with unidentifiable nuisance parameters under the null hypothesis. Although these statistics provide an attractive framework to address non-identifiability under the null hypothesis, little attention has been paid to their distributional properties in small to moderate sample size settings. In situations where there are identifiable nuisance parameters under the null hypothesis, these statistics may behave erratically in realistic samples as a result of a non-negligible bias induced by substituting these nuisance parameters by their estimates under the null hypothesis. In this paper, we propose an adjustment to the supremum score statistics by subtracting the expected bias from the score processes and show that this adjustment does not alter the limiting null distribution of the supremum score statistics. Using a simple example from the class of zero-inflated regression models for count data, we show empirically and theoretically that the adjusted tests are superior in terms of size and power. The practical utility of this methodology is illustrated using count data in HIV research.
The 2004 MIT Lincoln Laboratory speaker recognition system

The MIT Lincoln Laboratory submission for the 2004 NIST speaker recognition evaluation (SRE) was built upon seven core systems using speaker information from short-term acoustics, pitch and duration prosodic behavior, and phoneme and word usage. These different levels of information were modeled and classified using Gaussian mixture models, support vector machines and N-gram language models and were combined using a single layer perceptron fuser. The 2004 SRE used a new multi-lingual, multi-channel speech corpus that provided a challenging speaker detection task for the above systems. We describe the core systems used and provide an overview of their performance on the 2004 SRE detection tasks.
The Potential Role of Amygdaloid MicroRNA-494 in Alcohol-Induced Anxiolysis.

Abstract Background The antianxiety effects of ethanol appear to be a crucial factor in promoting alcohol intake. Regulation of gene expression by microRNA (miRNA) is an important epigenetic mechanism that affects neuronal pathways and behaviors. We investigated the role of miRNAs underlying the mechanisms of ethanol-induced anxiolysis. Methods Acute ethanol-induced anxiolysis was measured in adult rats, and amygdaloid tissues were used for miRNA profiling by microarray analysis. The expression of miR-494 and its target genes in the amygdala was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The direct role of miR-494 in the anxiety phenotype was also investigated via infusion of a miR-494 antagomir into the central nucleus of amygdala. Results Microarray profiling of miRNAs in the amygdala showed significant alteration of several miRNA expression levels by acute ethanol exposure. Expression of miR-494 was significantly decreased, whereas expression of the binding protein of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein ( CBP ), p300 , and Cbp/p300-interacting transactivator 2 ( Cited2 ) was increased in the amygdala during ethanol-induced anxiolysis. Inhibition of miR-494 in the central nucleus of amygdala, through infusion of a specific antagomir, provoked anxiolysis, mimicking the action of ethanol. Also, expression of Cited2 , CBP , and p300 as well as histone H3-lysine 9 acetylation was significantly increased by miR-494 antagomir infusion, indicating their regulation by miR-494 in the amygdala. Conclusions These novel results suggest that acute ethanol-induced reduction in miR-494 expression in the amygdala can serve as a key regulatory mechanism for chromatin remodeling possibly leading to anxiolysis.
Complex wireframe DNA origami nanostructures with multi-arm junction vertices

A design approach for engineering wireframe DNA nanostructures, in which each vertex and line segment can be individually controlled, can be used to fabricate complex structures including quasicrystalline two-dimensional patterns and reconfigurable three-dimensional Archimedean solids.
Trypsin, Tryptase, and Thrombin Polarize Macrophages towards a Pro-Fibrotic M2a Phenotype

For both wound healing and the formation of a fibrotic lesion, circulating monocytes enter the tissue and differentiate into fibroblast-like cells called fibrocytes and pro-fibrotic M2a macrophages, which together with fibroblasts form scar tissue. Monocytes can also differentiate into classically activated M1 macrophages and alternatively activated M2 macrophages. The proteases thrombin, which is activated during blood clotting, and tryptase, which is released by activated mast cells, potentiate fibroblast proliferation and fibrocyte differentiation, but their effect on macrophages is unknown. Here we report that thrombin, tryptase, and the protease trypsin bias human macrophage differentiation towards a pro-fibrotic M2a phenotype expressing high levels of galectin-3 from unpolarized monocytes, or from M1 and M2 macrophages, and that these effects appear to operate through protease-activated receptors. These results suggest that proteases can initiate scar tissue formation by affecting fibroblasts, fibrocytes, and macrophages.
Anatomy of the Face for Cosmetic Purposes

The anatomy of the face is of utmost importance in cosmetic procedures. In this chapter we will review relevant anatomical structures of the face that will be well supported by anatomical drawings.
Science Education as Driver of Cyberspace Technology Development

Educational applications of networking technologies are becoming increasingly prevalent (National Center for Education Statistics, 1996; Riley et al., 1996). But “applications” are too often treated as infusions of technology into society, not drivers of new technological or research developments. One premise of the Learning through Collaborative Visualization (CoVis) Project challenges that common belief (Pea, 1993). Extending media-rich and highly interactive learning and teaching activities beyond single classrooms makes demanding requirements for new applications. We set out to create “distributed multimedia learning environments” to serve the emerging needs of precollege science education, which highlight learning through guided inquiry and affiliated new roles for teachers (National Research Council, 1996).
Avid Medical, Inc.

This case describes the rapid growth of a start-up company which benefited from the identification of a specific market niche. The company, over a short time, became positive in EBITDA and then PAT. The case is rich in operational details regarding scheduling, inventories, workforce planning, capacity expansion, and customer service. The strategic issue in the case involves the looming decision to carry the company through its next stage of expansion.
Articulations of Fracking Fields: State Diplomacy, Corporate Energy and Environmental Movements Across the European Union and USA

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a technology that allows commercially viable retrieval of previously inaccessible hydrocarbons. Its more recent applications to shale formations have allowed energy producers to generate natural gas in measures and places unforeseen. Fracking’s widespread embrace in the United States has transformed America’s position in the post WWII energy world, generating a new, if variable, level of public discourse around energy and environment. Assessing fracking’s risk to the environment has been constituted into a clear field in the USA, but that same influence in environmental debate has trouble traveling, especially to Europe. There, fracking is implicated in a different kind of energy field, one linked closely to security and transnational geopolitical solidarity, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Energy security and environmental security wind up being debated in distant fields. Their articulation could be enhanced, however, by introducing temporality more explicitly into the discussion.
Nucleosome repositioning underlies dynamic gene expression

Nucleosome repositioning at gene promoters is a fundamental aspect of the regulation of gene expression. However, the extent to which nucleosome repositioning is used within eukaryotic genomes is poorly understood. Here we report a comprehensive analysis of nucleosome positions as budding yeast transit through an ultradian cycle in which expression of >50% of all genes is highly synchronized. We present evidence of extensive nucleosome repositioning at thousands of gene promoters as genes are activated and repressed. During activation, nucleosomes are relocated to allow sites of general transcription factor binding and transcription initiation to become accessible. The extent of nucleosome shifting is closely related to the dynamic range of gene transcription and generally related to DNA sequence properties and use of the coactivators TFIID or SAGA. However, dynamic gene expression is not limited to SAGA-regulated promoters and is an inherent feature of most genes. While nucleosome repositioning occurs pervasively, we found that a class of genes required for growth experience acute nucleosome shifting as cells enter the cell cycle. Significantly, our data identify that the ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling enzyme Snf2 plays a fundamental role in nucleosome repositioning and the expression of growth genes. We also reveal that nucleosome organization changes extensively in concert with phases of the cell cycle, with large, regularly spaced nucleosome arrays being established in mitosis. Collectively, our data and analysis provide a framework for understanding nucleosome dynamics in relation to fundamental DNA-dependent transactions.
Spatiotemporal pH dynamics in concentration polarization near ion-selective membranes.

We present a detailed analysis of the transient pH dynamics for a weak, buffered electrolyte subject to voltage-driven transport through an ion-selective membrane. We show that pH fronts emanate from the concentration polarization zone next to the membrane and that these propagating fronts change the pH in the system several units from its equilibrium value. The analysis is based on a 1D model using the unsteady Poisson–Nernst–Planck equations with nonequilibrium chemistry and without assumptions of electroneutrality or asymptotically thin electric double layers. Nonequilibrium chemical effects, especially for water splitting, are shown to be important for the dynamical and spatiotemporal evolution of the pH fronts. Nonetheless, the model also shows that at steady state the assumption of chemical equilibrium can still lead to good approximations of the global pH distribution. Moreover, our model shows that the transport of the hydronium ion in the extended space charge region is governed by a balance betw...
The last surge of the nautiloid cephalopods.

Recently it has been my privilege to make a general survey of the Tertiary nautiloids of the Americas and to study some large collections of comparable specimens from eastern and west-central Africa. As a result of this work, certain generalizations in regard to the postCretaceous development of these animals have become apparent, and in the following paragraphs I hope to outline them. Also it seems apropos for me to preface my remarks on this subject with a brief summary of the present beliefs in regard to the evolution of the nautiloids during the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic.
A striking cocaine-tyramine antagonism.

Pharmacologically, tyramine and epinephrine appear to be similar, but not identical, in several directions. They are, of course, closely related chemically. A difference between the two drugs can b...
Central Nervous System Toxicity after Liver Transplantation

We describe severe central nervous system (CNS) toxicity, manifested by confusion, cortical blindness, quadriplegia, seizures, and coma, associated with cyclosporine treatment in three patients undergoing liver transplantation. CT and magnetic resonance studies disclosed a severe, diffuse disorder of the white matter. All side effects and radiographic findings were reversed with discontinuation or a reduction in the dose of cyclosporine. We also observed an inverse association between CNS side effects and total serum cholesterol levels after transplantation. A retrospective analysis of 54 liver transplantations performed in 48 patients revealed that 13 patients had symptoms of CNS toxicity associated with the use of cyclosporine. These patients' total serum cholesterol levels in the first week after transplantation were reduced as compared with those in patients without symptoms (mean +/- SE, 94 +/- 4 mg per deciliter vs. 132 +/- 6, or 2.44 +/- 0.10 mmol per liter vs. 3.43 +/- 0.16). We conclude that cyclosporine therapy for immunosuppression in liver transplantation may cause a syndrome of encephalopathy, seizures, and white-matter changes and that this is most likely to occur in patients with low total serum cholesterol levels after transplantation.
Christianity’s Jewish Origins Rediscovered: The Roles of Comparison in Early Modern Ecclesiastical Scholarship

The history of early Christianity began in comparison: comparison of Christian practices with what was known about the practices of ancient Roman priests, and with what was known — or thought to be known — about the practices of Jews in the Second Temple. These comparisons helped to inspire the larger enterprise of comparative study of religion in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. But they also helped to inspire ecclesiastical historians to look directly and seriously at the Jewish world in which Jesus lived and worked. As knowledge of rabbinical Judaism grew, comparison also led to a growing awareness that Christianity grew from Jewish roots, and that it had incorporated into its core practices many elements of Jewish worship.
Investigation of sanitary status on centralized disinfected tableware in Tongxiang city

Objective:To investigate the sanitary status of disinfected tableware in centralized sterilization companies in Tongxiang city and provide technical basis for supervision and management.Methods:Sterilized tableware was sampled randomly from part of tableware sterilization companies,and coliform and alkyl sodium sulfonate were detected.Results: 406 samples from kinds of disinfected tableware were detected,with the total qualified rate of 82.76%.The qualified rate for coliform was 79.76%,there were no remarkable differences among rates of all kinds of disinfected tableware(P0.05).The qualified rate for alkyl sodium sulfonate was 97.14%,there were remarkable differences between the qualified rates of chopsticks and other disinfected tablewares(P0.05),and residue of alkyl sodium sulfonate for chopsticks was 0.061 mg/100 cm2,nearly 2 times of other disinfected tableware.Conclusion: There are still sanitary problems for disinfected tableware in centralized sterilization companies in Tongxiang city.The health supervision and management should be further strengthened.
Simultaneous Determination of Phenoxyacid Herbicides in Rice by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method has been developed for simultaneous determination of 13 phenoxyacid herbicides in rice.Phenoxyacid herbicides was extracted with acetonitrile-water,acidified with HCl,then cleaned up with SCX dispersive solid phase extraction,and finally analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)-mass spectrometry(MS).Sample preparation and HPLC-MS analytical conditions were critically examined and optimized in this paper.The method showed good linearity over the range of 0.02-1.0 mg/L for 13 phenoxy-acid herbicides with correlation coefficients of 0.995 4-0.999 8.The average recoveries of 13 phenoxy acid herbicides in spiked rice ranged from 77% to 99%,and the relative standard deviations were between 0.9% and 14.9%.
“The labels don't work very well”: Transgender individuals' conceptualizations of sexual orientation and sexual identity

ABSTRACTThe conceptualization and measurement of sexual orientation for transgender individuals is uniquely complicated by the way sexual orientation is rooted in dichotomous notions of sex and gender. The present research investigates the conceptualization of sexual orientation among transgender individuals by exploring the sexual identity labels they choose, the descriptions they provide for these labels, and their general descriptions of their sexuality. Participants included 172 adult U.S. residents, ranging in age from 18 to 65, who self-identified as transgender, transsexual, gender variant, or having a transgender history. Participants individually completed an online survey. Qualitative responses were analyzed via thematic analysis. Six themes were identified related to transgender individuals' descriptions of their sexuality: (1) trans sexuality as complex; (2) shifts in trans sexuality; (3) focus on beloved; (4) relationship style and status; (5) sexuality, bondage & discipline / domination & su...
Ferroportin1-Deficient Zebrafish Treated with Iron Dextran Develop Anemia Despite Increased Macrophage Iron Stores.

Patients with type 4 hemochromatosis exhibit iron accumulation in the reticuloendothelial system and a tendency to develop anemia following venesection. These patients are heterozygous for mutations in the intestinal and macrophage iron exporter, ferroportin1 (fpn1), however it is not known whether these mutations cause a gain or loss of function. Of current animal models, only the Tp85c allele of the zebrafish anemia mutant weissherbst (weh) encodes a missense mutation (L167F) in the conserved region of fpn1, between transmembrane helix 3 and 4, where several missense mutations have been identified in individuals with type 4 hemochromatosis. Tp85c homozygote zebrafish die within 10–14 days post-fertilization, however administering iron dextran injections allows them to survive. To explore the effects of fpn1 deficiency on blood development and iron homeostasis in adult zebrafish, we raised Tp85c homozygotes along with control cohorts of injected and uninjected heterozygotes and wild types. Iron dextran injections were discontinued at 4 months of age in all cohorts. Although iron accumulation was observed in all iron-injected fish, only homozygotes exhibited iron accumulation in the intestinal epithelium on Perl’s staining, consistent with a block in enterocyte export. At 6 months of age, none of the cohorts were anemic, however at 12 months of age, only the homozygotes developed hypochromic anemia, characterized by reduced levels of hemoglobin per erythrocyte and impaired late erythroid maturation. Histologic evaluation of the anemic homozygotes revealed increased numbers of iron-loaded macrophages in the liver and in the kidney, the zebrafish bone marrow equivalent. Quantitative realtime rt-PCR, performed on liver and intestinal tissues at 1 year of age, revealed that homozygotes had increased intestinal expression of fpn1 compared to the other cohorts. Hepatic transcript levels of the secreted iron-regulator hepcidin were profoundly decreased in homozygotes, consistent with response to anemia. In contrast, hepatic transcript levels for transferrin, fpn1, and DMT1 were not significantly different among the cohorts. In summary, we provide evidence that Tp85c is a loss of function mutation affecting enterocytes and macrophages. After iron dextran injections were discontinued, Tp85c homozygotes developed anemia, despite increased macrophage iron stores. These studies support the hypothesis that fpn1-deficiency impairs iron cycling and suggest this as a possible mechanism in type 4 hemochromatosis.
Pre-clinical and clinical investigations of metabolic zonation in liver diseases: The potential of microphysiology systems:

The establishment of metabolic zonation within a hepatic lobule ascribes specific functions to hepatocytes based on unique, location-dependent gene expression patterns. Recently, there have been si...
Analyzing the Performance of Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Systems With Dynamic PU Activity

In this letter, we study the performance of the energy detector for opportunistic spectrum access (OSA) by a secondary user (SU) in dynamic scenarios, where a primary user (PU) switches from active to inactive at random time instances. Specifically, we model the PU activity using a two-state Markov chain and derive analytical expressions for the probabilities of detection and false alarm that explicitly consider the changes in the PU signal that may occur during the sensing interval by the SU. The expressions obtained are corroborated with numerical results obtained from simulations.
Moralizing regulation: the implications of policing “good” versus “bad” immigrants

ABSTRACTRecently, the US has dramatically expanded immigration enforcement. At the same time, some advocates have sought to support “good” immigrants. This paper considers how the resulting good/bad binaries affect undocumented immigrants. I examine a case study in Los Angeles, where policing intertwined with protection. Based on participant observation and interviews, I show that respondents believed state agents classified them either as “bad” criminals or “good”, immigrants. To the extent immigrants identified as “good”, they credited the US with offering them “freedom” and hoped for political inclusion. At the same time, in what I call moralizing regulation, they also performed “good” behaviour and distinguished themselves from those seen as “bad”. Some also tied “good” behaviour to femininity and “acting white”. At the extreme, they blamed other migrants for inviting state mistreatment. The effects were ambivalent: while immigrants appreciated US support, they also adopted and adapted to the state’s ...
Genetic architecture drives seasonal onset of hibernation in the 13-lined ground squirrel

Hibernation is a highly dynamic phenotype whose timing, for many mammals, is controlled by a circannual clock and accompanied by rhythms in body mass and food intake. When housed in an animal facility, 13-lined ground squirrels exhibit individual variation in the seasonal onset of hibernation, which is not explained by environmental or biological factors, such as body mass and sex. We hypothesized that underlying genetic architecture instead drives variation in this timing. After first increasing the contiguity of the genome assembly, we therefore employed a genotype-by-sequencing approach to characterize genetic variation in 153 13-lined ground squirrels. Combining this with datalogger records, we estimated high heritability (61-100%) for the seasonal onset of hibernation. After applying a genome-wide scan with 46,996 variants, we also identified 21 loci significantly associated with hibernation immergence, which alone accounted for 54% of the variance in the phenotype. The most significant marker (SNP 15, p=3.81x10−6) was located near prolactin-releasing hormone receptor (PRLHR), a gene that regulates food intake and energy homeostasis. Other significant loci were located near genes functionally related to hibernation physiology, including muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M2 (CHRM2), involved in the control of heart rate, exocyst complex component 4 (EXOC4) and prohormone convertase 2 (PCSK2), both of which are involved in insulin signaling and processing. Finally, we applied an expression quantitative loci (eQTL) analysis using existing transcriptome datasets, and we identified significant (q
Female runners and secondary amenorrhea: correlation with age, parity, mileage, and plasma hormonal and sex-hormone-binding globulin concentrations * †

Twenty-three white women, ages 18 to 42, with normal menses prior to running were studied. Miles per week varied from 10 to 70 for a period of 1 to more than 10 years. Of these, 6 were amenorrheic (AM), 14 had regular cycles (REG), and 3 with regular cycles became amenorrheic during the course of this study. The incidence of amenorrhea was higher in those less than 30 years of age (66.6%) than in the older group (9.0%); in those who ran 40 miles/week or less (37.5%) than in those who ran more (26.6%); and in the nulliparous (46.6%) than in the parous runners (25.0%). The age of menarche was significantly higher in the AM (13.8±0.5 years) than in the REG (122±0.3 years). Blood samples were collected between 12 and 24 hours after the last run for hormonal and sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) measurements. Plasma estradiol (E 2 ), SHBG, and LH were significantly lower in the AM than in the REG group. Furthermore, E 2 , LH, and prolactin were significantly lower in the AM group than in the control group. These results suggest that the incidence of secondary amenorrhea is higher in younger, nulliparous female runners and may be related to delayed onset of menarche.
Highly Ductile Limits for Deep Steel Columns

AbstractThe collapse behavior of individual deep columns subjected to realistic loading and boundary conditions is investigated in this study. Loading protocols that are representative of seismic d...
Measuring gratitude at work

The role of gratitude in the workplace is understudied, despite its potential for promoting well-being and achievement in organizational contexts. We developed and evaluated a measure of workplace-...
Jacobian-Based Task-Space Motion Planning for MRI-Actuated Continuum Robots

Robot-assisted medical interventions, such as robotic catheter ablation, often require the robot to perform tasks on a tissue surface. This letter presents a task-space motion planning method that generates actuation trajectories that steer the end-effector of the MRI-actuated continuum robot along desired trajectories on the surface. The continuum robot is modeled using the pseudo-rigid-body model, where the continuum body of the robot is approximated by rigid links joined by flexible joints. The quasistatic motion model of the robot is formulated as a potential energy minimization problem. The Jacobian of the quasistatic motion model is used in calculating the actuations that steer the tip in the desired directions. The proposed method is validated experimentally in a clinical 3-T MRI scanner.
The Autonomy of Solidarity

This chapter combines an overview of American support for the Polish opposition during the 1980s with a specific exploration of the Solidarnośc’s trade union’s independence from Washington and its ability to mould its relationship with policy makers in the US. Three key factors are essential for understanding the Polish-American relationship. First, the purveyors of American democracy aid consistently voiced trust for the Poles to determine their own path forward. Second, limitations on American control of how Congressional money was expended in Poland placed limits on US oversight. Finally, the Solidarnośc leadership exercised notable influence in Washington on how and for what purposes American money was allocated to the Polish opposition. As this case study illustrates, the vectors of power in democracy promotion were not mono-directional. Rather, democracy promotion had positive outcomes when the United States provided resources to equal partners who independently determined how best to use those funds in their indigenous pursuit to create more pluralistic and democratic societies.
BP Fluctuations and the Real-Time Dynamics of Renal Blood Flow Responses in Conscious Rats.

Background Renal autoregulation maintains stable renal function despite BP fluctuations and protects glomerular capillaries from hypertensive injury. However, real-time dynamics of renal autoregulation in conscious animals have not been characterized. Methods To develop novel analytic methods for assessing renal autoregulation, we recorded concurrent BP and renal blood flow in conscious rats, comparing animals with renal autoregulation that was intact versus impaired (from 3/4 nephrectomy), before and after additional impairment (from the calcium channel blocker amlodipine). We calculated autoregulatory indices for adjacent short segments of increasing length (0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 seconds) that exhibited a mean BP difference of at least 5 mm Hg. Results Autoregulatory restoration of renal blood flow to baseline after BP changes in conscious rats occurs rapidly, in 5-10 seconds. The response is significantly slower in states of impaired renal autoregulation, enhancing glomerular pressure exposure. However, in rats with severe renal autoregulation impairment (3/4 nephrectomy plus amlodipine), renal blood flow in conscious animals (but not anesthetized animals) was still restored to baseline, but took longer (15-20 seconds). Consequently, the ability to maintain overall renal blood flow stability is not compromised in conscious rats with impaired renal autoregulation. Conclusions These novel findings show the feasibility of renal autoregulation assessment in conscious animals with spontaneous BP fluctuations and indicate that transient increases in glomerular pressure may play a greater role in the pathogenesis of hypertensive glomerulosclerosis than previously thought. These data also show that unidentified mechanosensitive mechanisms independent of known renal autoregulation mechanisms and voltage-gated calcium channels can maintain overall renal blood flow and GFR stability despite severely impaired renal autoregulation.
Invertebrate Metaxins 1 and 2: Widely Distributed Proteins Homologous to Vertebrate Metaxins Implicated in Protein Import into Mitochondria

Metaxin 1 and 2 genes, previously investigated in vertebrates, are shown to be widely distributed among invertebrates. But metaxin 3 is absent. The predicted proteins of the invertebrate metaxins were initially identified by homology with human metaxin 1 and 2 proteins, and by the presence of characteristic GST_Metaxin protein domains. Invertebrate metaxins were revealed for a variety of phyla, including Echinodermata, Cnidaria, Porifera, Chordata, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Brachiopoda, Placozoa, and Nematoda. Metaxins were also found in insects (Arthropoda) of different taxonomic orders: Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, and Blattodea. Invertebrate and human metaxin 1 proteins have about 41% identical amino acids, while metaxin 2 proteins have about 49% identities. Invertebrate and vertebrate metaxins share the same characteristic protein domains, further strengthening the identification of the invertebrate proteins as metaxins. The domains are, for metaxin 1, GST_N_Metaxin1_like, GST_C_Metaxin1_3, and Tom37. For metaxin 2, they are GST_N_Metaxin2, GST_C_Metaxin2, and Tom37. Phylogenetic trees show that invertebrate metaxin 1 and metaxin 2 proteins are related, but form separate groups. The invertebrate proteins are also closely related to vertebrate metaxins, though forming separate clusters. These phylogenetic results indicate that all metaxins likely arose from a common ancestral sequence. The neighboring genes of the invertebrate metaxin 1 and 2 genes are largely different for different invertebrate species. This is unlike the situation with vertebrate metaxin genes, where, for example, the metaxin 1 gene is adjacent to the thrombospondin 3 gene. The dominant secondary structures predicted for the invertebrate metaxins are alpha-helical segments, with little beta-strand. The conserved pattern of helical segments is the same as that found for vertebrate metaxins 1, 2, and 3.
Immune-Based Approaches for the Treatment of Pediatric Malignancies.

Immune-based therapies have now been credentialed for pediatric cancers with the robust efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for pediatric B cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), of...
Jumping Performance of Elite NCAA Division 1 Student-athletes: The Effect of Basketball Shoe Design – Part I

Background: Assessment of basketball shoes as personal protection equipment (PPE) at the collegiate level is unique. Objective: The purpose of Part I in this pilot study was to examine the effect of shoe design on jump height in elite male and female National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 basketball student-athletes. Method: Each team selected two pairs of AdidasTM branded shoes. The male student-athletes selected the AdidasTM Harden Vol. 3 and the AdidasTM SM Pro basketball shoes. The female student-athletes selected the AdidasTM Harden Vol. 3 and the AdidasTM Captain Marvel basketball shoes. A total of sixteen basketball student-athletes (six males, ten females) performed an acute series of four styled basketball jumps on two ForceDecksTM Force Platforms while trying to maximize jump height by tapping VertecTM Jump Vanes. Two trials were performed in each shoe and for each type of jump which included a countermovement jump, drop jump from 30cm, step and jump, and a series of plyometric jumps. Results: The results of this pilot study indicated a non-significant effect of basketball shoe design on jump height while performing an acute series of basketball style jumps for either the male or female basketball student-athletes. However, there were significant differences in jump height and peak power between the male and female basketball student-athletes (p = 0.001). Conclusion: In addition to the results, the use of quantitative performance testing on the effectiveness of basketball shoe designs as PPE may assist in the mitigation of non-contact ankle and lower limb injuries.
Breaking up forces stem cells to come together

Microfracture surgery followed by local delivery of therapy induces stem cells to rebuild cartilage in osteoarthritis.
Parameter Development via In Situ Residual Stress Measurement and Post-deposition Analysis of Cold Spray CuNi Coatings

Developing dense, well-adhered coatings with minimal heterogeneity via cold spray deposition has been a challenge because in-flight and layer-by-layer diagnostics has not yet been adequately adapted to complement existing post-deposition analyses and parameter process mapping. This study presents an empirical and analytical approach for development and optimization of requisite spray parameters via the cold spray solid-state consolidation process using the in situ beam curvature technique to assess particle dynamics during deposition, in conjunction with post-deposition analyses. Here, CuNi (62/38) powder was deposited onto CuNi (70/30) substrates and monitored with an in situ beam curvature sensor to provide real-time feedback of the coating’s evolving stress states during the deposition process and subsequent residual stress determination immediately after deposition. The resulting beam curvature compressive and tensile stress amplitudes detected layer-by-layer coating variations during deposition resulting from adjusted carrier gas flow rates, substrate surface preparations, nozzle deposition angle, robot raster speeds, powder feed rate, substrate preheat, as well as identifying nozzle clogging. The acquired stress-state data enhanced post-deposition analyses that directed and accelerated the downselection process to define and optimize cold spray parameters, as it pertained to coating adhesion, cohesion, and the corresponding microstructure.
Analyzing Large Collections of Open-Ended Feedback From MOOC Learners Using LDA Topic Modeling and Qualitative Analysis

There is a large variation in background and purpose of massive open online course (MOOC) learners. To improve the overall MOOC learning experience, it is important to identify which MOOC characteristics are most important for learners. For this purpose, in this article, we analyzed about 150 000 open-ended learner responses from 810 MOOCs to three postcourse survey questions about their learning experience: (Q1) What was your most favorite part and why? (Q2) What your least favorite part and why? (Q3) How could the course be improved? We used the latent Dirichlet allocation topic model to identify prominent topics present in learner responses to each question. We determined the theme of each identified topic through qualitative analysis. Our results show that the following aspects of MOOCs can significantly impact the learning experience: quality of course content, accurate description of prerequisites and required time commitment in course syllabus, quality of assessment and feedback, meaningful interaction with peers and educators, engaging instructor and videos, accessibility of learning materials, and usability of platform.
The Impacts of Weather, Weather Fluctuations, and Natural Disasters on Economic Growth

The relationship between prevailing climate and economic growth has been studied rigorously over the past century. This is partially because reverse causation is unlikely (the state of the economy has no effect on weather) and weather is exogenous to a country in the short run, so it is much easier to determine causal links between the two. In this paper, I assume that a country’s policymakers and inhabitants make some decisions that are both pertinent to the economy and based at least partially off of their expectations of weather. With this assumption, and additionally assuming that these policymakers and inhabitants use past weather to predict future weather, I can use historical data on weather and GDP growth to determine relationships between economic development and three types of explanatory variables: weather, weather fluctuations, and natural disasters. In this study, panel data collected on 216 countries over a period of 54 years is used to determine whether or not there are any statistically and economically significant links between these variables and economic growth.
Planning with Sensing Actions and Incomplete Information Using Logic Programming

We present a logic programming based conditional planner that is capable of generating both conditional plans and conformant plans in the presence of sensing actions and incomplete information. We prove the correctness of our implementation and show that our planner is complete with respect to the 0-approximation of sensing actions and the class of conditional plans considered in this paper. Finally, we present preliminary experimental results and discuss further enhancements to the program.
Unidirectional wireless power transfer using near-field plates

One of the obstacles preventing wireless power transfer from becoming ubiquitous is their leakage of power: high-amplitude electromagnetic fields that can interfere with other electronic devices, increase health concerns, or hinder power metering. In this paper, we present near-field plates (NFPs) as a novel method to tailor the electromagnetic fields generated by a wireless power transfer system while maintaining high efficiency. NFPs are modulated arrays or surfaces designed to form prescribed near-field patterns. The NFP proposed in this paper consists of an array of loaded loops that are designed to confine the electromagnetic fields of a resonant transmitting loop to the desired direction (receiving loop) while suppressing fields in other directions. The step-by-step design procedure for this device is outlined. Two NFPs are designed and examined in full-wave simulation. Their performance is shown to be in close agreement with the design predictions, thereby verifying the proposed design and operation. A NFP is also fabricated and experimentally shown to form a unidirectional wireless power transfer link with high efficiency.