cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Fuel Properties of Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) Seed Oil Ethyl Esters and Blends with Ultralow-Sulfur Diesel Fuel

Field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is a widely distributed winter annual with a high seed oil content (36%) and is suitable as an off-season rotational crop in the midwestern United States. Erucic [(13Z)-docosenoic] acid (36.2%) is the most abundant constituent in the oil, with unsaturated and very long-chain (20+ carbons) fatty acids comprising most of the remaining content. In a previous study, we described field pennycress seed oil methyl esters (FPMEs). Here, we report field pennycress seed oil ethyl esters (FPEEs) along with the properties of blends of FPMEs and FPEEs (B2–B20) in petrodiesel. These results are compared to American and European biodiesel and petrodiesel fuel standards. FPEEs were characterized by excellent low-temperature properties (cloud point of −15 °C), high cetane number (61.4), high kinematic viscosity (5.65 mm2/s), and low oxidative stability (induction period of 4.6 h). Both kinematic viscosity and oxidative stability did not meet EN 14214 limits but were within the ranges ...
Biogeochemical sulfur cycling during Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events: A comparison of OAE1a and OAE2

Biogeochemical sulfur cycling has varied widely over geologic time, mainly in response to changes in primary productivity and organic carbon burial, volcanism, weathering, and evaporite deposition. Several of these processes are explicitly linked to discreet (<1.2 Ma) intervals of widespread organic carbon burial, termed oceanic anoxic events (OAEs). During the Cretaceous, there is a highly distinctive ~4‰ negative excursion in the sulfur isotope composition of seawater sulfate (δ34SSO4) that is bracketed by the two most prominent OAEs (OAE1a and OAE2). This excursion lasted for ~25 Ma and has been variously attributed to enhanced volcanism, changes in weathering, evaporite burial, and/or changes in modes of organic carbon remineralization. We present new high-resolution carbon and sulfur isotope records from carbonate-associated sulfate and pyrite for OAE1a and OAE2. OAE1a is characterized by a monotonic decrease in δ34SSO4 values. Both negative and positive δ34SSO4 excursions are associated with OAE2. To refine hypotheses for the observed changes in biogeochemical sulfur cycling associated with these events, we use a simple sulfur isotope box model. Both empirical and modeling results indicate that δ34SSO4 variability was dominated by input fluxes during OAE1a, whereas enhanced volcanism, weathering, and pyrite burial controlled δ34SSO4 records during OAE2. Our analysis supports the conclusion that Cretaceous marine sulfate concentrations were much lower than modern concentrations and indicates that increases in marine sulfate occurred at the onset of both events. We conclude that increases in marine sulfate from low background concentrations, in conjunction with other environmental characteristics, contributed to the development of OAEs.
Cave millipeds of the United States. XI. Opiona graeningi, n. sp., a troglomorphic caseyid milliped from Siskiyou County, California, with comments on the genus Opiona Chamberlin 1951 (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Caseyidae)

The new species Opiona graeningi is described from caves in the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou Co., California, as the first troglomorphic species of Opiona, the first troglobiont from the globally important Klamath Siskiyou ecoregion, and possibly the first troglobiotic caseyid. Notes are provided on the composition of the genus Opiona and on the interpretation of the gonopods. Opiona, with 13 described species, may not be monophyletic.
Small letter contrast sensitivity: an alternative measure of visual resolution for aviation candidates.

Exceptional vision is needed to maintain high levels of aviation performance. Current standards for helicopter pilot training include superior visual acuity with minimal refractive error. Despite these demanding criteria, it is likely that visual ability varies among those who meet the standards for pilot training. A more complete knowledge of visual capabilities in these individuals will allow us to better correlate vision with performance and to develop more incisive criteria for selection. The purpose of this study was to investigate an alternative test of visual resolution for aviation candidates using small letter contrast sensitivity (SLCS). Computer-generated letter charts were used to measure visual acuity (VA) and SLCS in 16 candidates who had satisfied military vision standards for pilot training. The acuity and contrast charts varied, by line, in equal log steps such that the letter recognition task was comparable for the two types of measurement. VA and SLCS were highly correlated in these subjects, indicating that the two tests measure similar aspects of visual resolution. Scores were distributed across two lines on the acuity chart, but across four lines on the contrast chart, suggesting that SLCS offers a more discriminating test of resolution. This assumption was confirmed in that SLCS was more highly correlated with small amounts of refractive error in the candidates tested. SLCS offers a sensitive, adjunctive measure of visual resolution which may be useful for identifying the unique visual abilities required for aviation. Language: en
Recent Advances in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Contemporary risk-directed therapy has advanced the cure rate for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia to near 80%. Molecular genetic analyses of leukemic cells, pharmacodynamic studies of antileukemic agents, and pharmacogenetic studies of the host's drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and drug targets are providing a rational base for further improvement of treatment efficacy and the reduction of complications. Early treatment response, as defined by the measurement of minimal residual disease, which reflects both the drug responsiveness of leukemic cells and host pharmacodynamics/pharmacogenomics, is the most reliable prognostic indicator for gauging the intensity of treatment. Recent advances in high-throughput biotechnology, including gene expression profiling, proteomics and gene silencing promise to identify molecular targets for specific treatment. The ultimate goal is to elucidate central mechanisms of leukemogenesis so that preventive measures can be devised.
Synthesis of Octyl Dihydrocaffeate and Its Transesterification with Tricaprylin Catalyzed by Candida antarctica Lipase

This work aimed at producing a phenolic ester from dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA), besides carrying out transesterification reactions of this ester with tricaprylin. The esterification reaction was performed in two ratios (1:1 and 1:3 DHCA:octanol), and the transesterification was done in four ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:5, and 1:10) between the produced ester and tricaprylin. In the last, a Central Composite Rotatable Design was employed, varying the amount of enzyme (1.6–18.4%), reaction time (9.9–35.1 h), and temperature (43.2–76.8 °C) on reagent consumption percentage. Novozym 435 was the catalyst in all reactions. The highest ester yield (50%) occurred in 8 days. In transesterification reactions, higher consumption of the produced ester was achieved at ratios 1:5 and 1:10, obtaining, respectively, 29.6% and 21.1% of octyl dihydrocaffeate residual, in 24 h. At higher temperatures and time above 26 h, there was less octyl dihydrocaffeate residual (18.7%). Three different phenolic compounds were identified.
NTCT-12UPDATED SAFETY ANALYSIS OF BEVACIZUMAB PLUS ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT MALIGNANT GLIOMAS

BACKGROUND: Bevacizumab and NovoTTF Therapy are treatments approved by the FDA for recurrent glioblastoma. We updated our single-institution experience in using this combination for patients with recurrent malignant gliomas. METHODS: We identified from January 2012 to May 2015 the side effects experienced by patients while on bevacizumab and NovoTTF Therapy, together with their dexamethasone usage. Overall survival (OS) was also tabulated. RESULTS: Out of 53 patients in the cohort, there were 25 men and 13 women who received both treatments. Their median age was 54 (range 29-76). All had Karnofsky Performance Score of 60 or above. The median on-treatment time was 3.3 (range 0.2-31.7) months. Adverse events include minor scalp rash (9), electric shock sensations (5), liquefied hydrogels from high ambient temperature (5), array removal during sleep (3), vivid dreams (2), scalp ulcers (2), confusion with connector ports (2), scalp pruritis (1) and meningitis from contemporaneous craniotomy (1). Seven (18%) required treatment interruption, but only one grade 3 scalp rash (3%) and one grade 4 meningitis (3%) resulted in prolonged treatment interruption or cessation. No hemorrhagic complication or thromboembolism was seen. The concurrent use of bevacizumab enabled a majority to lower dexamethasone usage below 4 mg/day and the median on-treatment duration was 4.2 months in patients who used 4 mg/day, respectively (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No additive or synergistic side effects were observed and the addition of bevacizumab helped to lower dexamethasone requirement among patients treated with NovoTTF Therapy. Future prospective evaluation will be needed to assess both side effects and efficacy of this treatment combination.
Evaluation on platelet parameters and coagulation indicators in children with severe pneumonia

Objective To study the changes and clinical value of platelet(PLT)parameters and coagulation indicators in children with severe pneumonia.Methods 97 children were divided into severe pneumonia groupⅠ and severe pneumonia groupⅡ according to whether children were associated with other diseases besides severe pneumonia,and 30 healthy children were in control group.The levels of PLT count,mean platelet volume(MPV),prothrombin time(PT),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),fibrinogen(FIB),antithrombin-Ⅲ(AT-Ⅲ),and D-dimer(DD)among three groups were compared.Results The differences of PLT,MPV,DD and AT-Ⅲ activities were all significant among three groups(all P0.05).PLT,MPV and DD levels in group Ⅰwere all significantly higher than those of control group([454.00±157.00]×109/L vs[300.00±63.00]×109/L;[9.66±1.24]fL vs[8.90±0.37]fL;[0.47±0.37]mg/L vs[0.27±0.06]mg/L,respectively);AT-Ⅲ activity in groupⅠ was lower than control group([79.91±20.34]% vs[107.03±8.11]%)(both P0.05).AT-Ⅲactivity and PLT level in groupⅡwas(66.11±11.12)%and(279.00±185.00)×109/L respectively,which were both significantly lower than groupⅠ,MPV and DD level was(10.37±1.51)fL and(0.70±0.46)mg/L respectively,which were both higher than groupⅠ(both P0.05).Conclusion There is obvious coagulation dysfunction in children with severe pneumonia.The changes in PLT,MPV,AT-Ⅲ and DD levels are associated with the severity of pneumonia.
CORROSION FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION LIFE OF AN ALUMINUM ALLOY UNDER VARIABLE AMPLITUDE LOADING

Corrosion fatigue crack initiation(CFCI) life of LY12CZ aluminum alloy notched specimens in 3.5% NaCl solution under variable amplitude loading block spectra was investigated experimentally. It was shown that overloading in the spectrum made the CFCI life longer considerably, and the loading sequence and the overloading type had a significant effect. So the overloading effect must be considered in the prediction of the CFCI life under variable amplitude loading. According to the CFCI life curves that revealed the overloading and corrosion effect, a study was made on applying Miner's accumulative damage rule to predict CFCI life under variable amplitude loading. A model was established and was thereafter used to predict the CFCI life under the selected spectra. The predicting results showed good agreement with the testing. The distribution of the CFCI life under one spectrum was determined by using ranking methods. Corrosion effect on CFCI under variable amplitude loading was also discussed.
Harmonic Transfer Characteristic of Capacitor Voltage Transformer

Synthetically considering the impacts of such factors as stray capacitance and so on, an equivalent circuit model of harmonic transfer characteristic of capacitor voltage transformer(CVT) is established, based on this model and in the manner of stepwise calculating equivalent impedances and transfer functions of different orders in the established model, the harmonic transfer characteristic of CVT is calculated and analyzed in depth. Based on Matlab/Simulink the simulative verification of the harmonic transfer characteristic of CVT is performed, and based on actual CVT the practical physical experiment and research on the harmonic transfer characteristic of CVT and the measuring error are carried out, and there is a better consistency between results from experiments and simulative analysis. It is found out that not only the working point deviation of series resonant circuit is the factor impacting the harmonic transfer characteristic of CVT, but also the stray capacitance at primary side of the intermediate transformer and the stray capacitance of compensation reactor greatly affect the harmonic transfer characteristic of CVT, and they make the amplitude-versus-frequency curve of the transfer function appearing spike effect and valley effect and lead to a larger measuring error.
From Tucking to Twisting; A Case of Self-induced Testicular Torsion in a Cross Dressing Male

A self-induced, non-traumatic testicular torsion is a rare entity that to our knowledge has not been reported in the literature. We report the case of a 28-year-old male who caused a self-induced testicular torsion during acts associated with cross dressing. Differential diagnosis of the acute scrotum in an adult should always include testicular torsion, as outcomes in this population are worse than in younger populations. Additional unusual causes of testicular torsion are reviewed.
Peter the Great: The regency of Sofia, 1682–1689

The death of Tsar Fyodor on 27 April 1682, came in the middle of the young tsar's attempts to strengthen his political position by his marriage and new Duma appointments. His disappearance from the scene cut that process short, leaving his favorites, Golitsyn, the Iazykovs, and the Likhachevs, high and dry. The plans to ally with the Naryshkins and return Matveev to Moscow were still in the early stages, and even the briefly influential V. B. Sheremetev had died three days before the tsar himself. This was an explosive situation among the great boyars, for the court was still in flux, and there was no reason to believe that Matveev or the Naryshkins would forgive their enemies after the ordeals of 1676–77. At the same time, trouble was brewing among the musketeers, trouble that would soon lead to a bloody revolt and reorganization of power at the Russian court. The reorganization of power was the result of the revolt, not its aim or its cause. The revolt of the musketeers was the outcome of basic social and military discontent among them, resentment of their exploitation by some of the colonels for private purposes, and the indifference of the government authorities to this exploitation.
Robust Segmentation and Volumetric Registration in a Multi-view 3D Freehand Ultrasound Reconstruction System

In this paper, we present a new reconstruction method with volumetric registration and semi-automatic segmentation in a multi-view 3D freehand ultrasound imaging system. The new volumetric registration approach is performed on binarized walls using non-linear least squares. It can provide accurate multi-view reconstructions despite significant rigid target motion between different acoustic window acquisitions. A hybrid adaptive gradient vector flow (GVF) geometric active contour (GAC) model is used for image sequence segmentation. It allows for relatively simple initialization of the deformable model, while avoiding edge leaking at poor edges and small boundary gaps. The algorithms were validated on four ultrasound phantom data sets (eight sequences of a total of 336 images) and two echocardiography data sets (four sequences for a total of 75 images). Quantitative evaluation shows that automatic segmentation is comparable with manual segmentation. Using breath-holding and cardiac gating, volume estimates from multi- view reconstructions of the left-ventricle were found to be in better agreement with clinical estimates than volumes estimated from single view reconstructions.
Interfacial engineering of phthalocyanine molecules on graphitic and metal substrates

Metal porphyrin and phthalocyanine have found variety of applications in catalysis, electronic and spintronic devices and photovoltaic cells, many of which rely on accurate position of the molecule...
Comparison of Arctic and Amazon regional governance mechanisms

ABSTRACTThe Amazon and Arctic regions share many characteristics and governance challenges, despite their unique features. Both are delicate ecosystems, yet rich in natural resources, which fosters exploitation and habitation. Sustainable development is therefore critical for the long-term prosperity of local populations and global environmental and human health. This paper provides a comparison of the governance systems in each region in order to glean lessons learned for decision makers to advance stated sustainable development goals. We first discuss the structure and intended organizational impact on sustainable development of the primary multilateral governance bodies, the Arctic Council and Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization. Next, we present other regional and global organizations, including those from the private sector. Lastly, we assess specific examples of sustainable development efforts by these organizations in each region. From this analysis, three broad lessons emerge to advance sustain...
Bioinspired, high-stability, nonaqueous redox flow battery electrolytes

Using natural selection as a toolkit we have elucidated an active material for nonaqueous redox flow batteries (NRFB) that is stable to deep cycling, both under static cell conditions and in an operating flow battery, even in the presence of water. The compound is an analogue of molecules biosynthesized by Amanita mushrooms and was chosen as a molecular scaffold for a new family of NRFB due to its redox reversibility, ease of synthesis and extraordinary stability.
Substance use education in US schools of pharmacy: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: The authors sought to systematically review the quantity and quality of literature describing substance use disorders (SUDs) education in US schools of pharmacy and determine the effect...
New frontiers in metabolomics: from measurement to insight.

Metabolomics is the newest addition to the “omics” disciplines and has shown rapid growth in its application to human health research because of fundamental advancements in measurement and analysis techniques. Metabolomics has unique and proven advantages in systems biology and biomarker discovery. The next generation of analysis techniques promises even richer and more complete analysis capabilities that will enable earlier clinical diagnosis, drug refinement, and personalized medicine. A review of current advancements in methodologies and statistical analysis that are enhancing and improving the performance of metabolomics is presented along with highlights of some recent successful applications.
Twenty-three-year timeline of ecological stable states and regime shifts in upper Amazon oxbow lakes

Regime shifts in shallow lakes are often associated with anthropogenic impacts, such as land-use change, non-point source nutrient loading, and overfishing. These shifts have mostly been examined in lakes in temperate and boreal regions and within anthropogenically disturbed basins. Here, it is demonstrated that tropical floodplain lakes in a region of virtually no human disturbance naturally undergo frequent regime shifts. We demonstrate this using satellite imagery to provide a 23-year time series of 22-oxbow lakes or “cochas” along 300 km of the Manu River in SE Peru. In any year, a majority of these lakes is in a macrophyte-free, phytoplankton-dominated state. However, over the 23 years covered by images, roughly a third of the lakes experienced abrupt shifts to a floating macrophyte state. Macrophyte cover persisted for ≤ 3 year. Analysis of water level fluctuations sampled on a subset of the lakes for 1 year suggests that lake isolation from streams and the main river facilitates regime shifts. Multiple forcing factors, both internal and external to the lakes themselves, could drive the observed regime shifts, but insufficient data exist from this remote region to identify the key processes.
Late Triassic Terrestrial Tetrapods: Biostratigraphy, Biochronology and Biotic Events

The fossil record of Late Triassic tetrapods can be organized biostratigraphically and biochronologically into five, temporally successive land-vertebrate faunachrons (LVFs) that encompass Late Triassic time (in ascending order): Berdyankian, Otischalkian, Adamanian, Revueltian and Apachean. An up-to-date review of the age constraints on Late Triassic tetrapod fossil assemblages and correlation within the framework of the LVFs is presented. This makes possible a much more accurate evaluation of the timing of biotic events of Late Triassic tetrapod evolution, including: (1) Otischalkian, HO (highest occurrence) of almasaurids and chroniosuchians?, LOs (lowest occurrences) of crocodylomorphs and dinosaurs; (2) Adamanian, HO of mastodonsaurids and trematosaurids, LO of mammals; (3) Revueltian, HOs of capitosaurids, rhynchosaurs and dicynodonts; and (4) Apachean, HOs of metoposaurids, plagiosaurids and aetosaurs. The LO of turtles is Early Triassic or older, and the HO of phytosaurs is an Early Jurassic record. There is no compelling evidence of tetrapod mass extinctions at either the Carnian-Norian or the Triassic-Jurassic boundaries.
Surface and interface properties of polar thin films on a ferroelectric substrate: ZnO on LiNbO3 (0001) and (000 1¯)

The impact of ferroelectric polarization on film growth has been studied through the deposition of polar ZnO thin films on ferroelectric LiNbO3 (0001) and (000 1¯) surfaces. The growth was monitored by reflection high energy electron diffraction and characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), x-ray diffraction, and x-ray reflectivity. The evolution of the XPS peak intensities and x-ray reflectivity data suggest that the growth was Stranski–Krastanov with a two-dimensional to three-dimensional transition and a small degree of roughness at the interface. The film maintained the substrate surface crystallography initially, then transitioned to an ordered ZnO (0001) phase after passing through a disordered regime. Higher Zn 2p XPS core level binding energies were observed on positively poled LiNbO3 and were attributed to the negative compensating charges at the positive surface n doping the ZnO film, thereby the Fermi level is pinned at the bottom of the ZnO conduction band. In addition, the reac...
Validating Key Results Linkages in the Baldrige Performance Excellence Model

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria for Performance Excellence represent a framework for high-performance management systems. Although the criteria have evolved based on the collec...
Hematological and biochemical factors affecting brain metabolism measured with 18FDG PET

1278 Objectives An observation was made that the SUV values in the brain did vary significantly between patients. The goal was to find a number of metrics reflecting general health status and their influence on brain FDG uptake. Methods The study includes 180 FDG PET studies performed on 39 patients between 9/20/07 and 6/4/09 referred for malignancies. 169 of the studies were included while the others were excluded for incomplete data. The age distribution was 59.8±10.6. Hematological metrics included the RBC, lymphocytes and neutrophile(NT)counts, in addition to the HGB and CRP levels. The liver SUV was also used a normalizing metric. Results The brain SUV value in different regions of the brain correlated strongly (R>0.9 for frontal versus central, visual cortex and nuclei). The inter-study variability of the liver SUVs (16.6%) was much smaller than that of the brain (35%). In individual regressions between the metrics and the brain SUV, the significant and negative regressions are age, NT and CRP. The significant positive regressions are Hgb and RBC counts. In multiple regressions the metrics with a significant positive influence were Hgb and negative influence were age and NT. By taking only the highly correlating factors and eliminating the high inter-correlating ones (RBC versus Hgb) by multiple regression we obtain significance for age(p=0.0007) NT(p=0.07), Hgb (p=1.55x10-6). Conclusions Anemia is correlated with lower brain SUV values, as is inflammation is correlated with lower SUV values. If this reflects on brain function, then one need to explore if patient with no specific brain disease, but lower cognitive function, could be better served by looking at “unrelated” factors of general health
The Impact of Developmental Factors on Stereotypic Rocking of Children with Visual Impairments

Of 52 children who attended a sports camp for children with visual impairments, 15 demonstrated stereotypic rocking currently or in the past. Three factors were associated with rocking: etiology of...
Comparison of expression of human globin genes transferred into mouse erythroleukemia cells and in transgenic mice.

To examine whether transfer of gamma globin genes into mouse erythroleukemia cells can be used for the analysis of regulatory elements of gamma globin gene promoter, Agamma gene constructs carrying promoter truncations that have been previously analyzed in transgenic mice were used for production of stably transfected mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cell clones and pools. We found that constructs, which contain a microlocus control region (microLCR) that efficiently protects globin gene expression from the effects of the position of integration in transgenic mice, display position-dependent globin gene expression in MEL cell clones. Agamma globin gene expression among MEL cell clones carrying the muLCR(-201)Agamma and muLCR(-382)Agamma gene constructs ranged 15.5-fold and 17.6-fold, respectively, and there was no correlation between the Agamma mRNA levels and the copies of the transgene (r = .28, P = .18). There was significant variation in per copy Agamma globin gene expression among MEL cell pools composed of 10 clones, but not among pools composed of 50 clones, indicating that position effects are averaged in pools composed by large numbers of clones. The overall pattern of Agamma globin gene expression in MEL cell pools resembled that observed in transgenic mice indicating that MEL cell transfections can be used in the study of cis elements controlling gamma globin gene expression. MEL cell transfections, however, are not appropriate for investigation of cis elements, which either sensitize or protect the globin transgenes from position effects.
Theoretical modeling of mobile target broadening in helical and axial computed tomographic imaging.

Purpose To investigate variations in mobile target length induced by sinusoidal motion in helical (HCT) and axial CT (ACT) imaging. A mathematical model was derived that predicts the measured broadening of the apparent lengths of mobile targets and its dependence on motion parameters, target size, and imaging couch speed in CT images. Materials and methods Three mobile targets of differing lengths and sizes were constructed of tissue-equivalent gel material and embedded into artificial lung phantom. Respiratory motion was mimicked with a mobile phantom that moves in one-dimension along the superior-inferior direction with sinusoidal motion patterns. A mathematical model was derived to predict quantitatively the variations of apparent lengths for mobile targets and its dependence on phantom and imaging couch motion parameters in HCT and ACT. The model predictions were verified by length measurements of the mobile phantom targets that were imaged with the different motion patterns using CT imaging. Results The measured lengths of mobile targets enlarged or shrunk depending on the phantom motion parameters that include phantom speed, amplitude, frequency, phase and speed of the imaging couch. The target length variations were significant where some targets doubled lengths or shrunk to less than half of their actual length. The apparent lengths of mobile targets decreased if the target was moving in the same direction as the imaging couch motion and increased if the mobile target was moving opposed to imaging couch in both HCT and ACT. The model predicts well the variations in the mobile target apparent lengths and their dependence on the motion parameters. Conclusion The measured and model variations of apparent lengths of mobile targets are considerable and may affect the accuracy of tumor volumes obtained from HCT and ACT. This mathematical model provides a method to quantitatively assess the length variations of mobile targets and their dependence on motion parameters of the phantom and imaging system which may have potential applications in the fields of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy.
Rolling of the jaw is essential for mammalian chewing and tribosphenic molar function

Over the past two centuries, mammalian chewing and related anatomical features have been among the most discussed of all vertebrate evolutionary innovations1-3. Chief among these features are two characters: the dentary-only mandible, and the tribosphenic molar with its triangulated upper cusps and lower talonid basin3-5. The flexible mandibular joint and the unfused symphysis of ancestral mammals-in combination with transformations of the adductor musculature and palate-are thought to have permitted greater mobility of each lower jaw, or hemimandible6,7. Following the appearance of precise dental occlusion near the origin of the mammalian crown8,9, therians evolved a tribosphenic molar with a craggy topography that is presumed to have been used to catch, cut and crush food. Here we describe the ancestral tribosphenic therian chewing stroke, as conserved in the short-tailed opossum Monodelphis domestica: it is a simple symmetrical sequence of lower tooth-row eversion and inversion during jaw opening and closing, respectively, enacted by hemimandibular long-axis rotation. This sequence is coupled with an eversion-inversion rotational grinding stroke. We infer that the ancestral therian chewing stroke relied heavily on long-axis rotation, including symmetrical eversion and inversion (inherited from the first mammaliaforms) as well as a mortar-and-pestle rotational grinding stroke that was inherited from stem therians along with the tribosphenic molar. The yaw-dominated masticatory cycle of primates, ungulates and other bunodont therians is derived; it is necessitated by a secondarily fused jaw symphysis, and permitted by the reduction of high, interlocking cusps10-12. The development of an efficient masticatory system-culminating in the tribosphenic apparatus-allowed early mammals to begin the process of digestion by shearing and crushing food into small boli instead of swallowing larger pieces in the reptilian manner, which necessitates a long, slow and wholly chemical breakdown. The vast diversity of mammalian teeth has emerged from the basic tribosphenic groundplan13.
Openness in Adoption: Psychological Outcomes Among Birth Mothers [Weber State University]

The adoption triad consists of the birth parents, adoptive parents and the adopted child. Birth parents are the least studied and understood member of the adoption triad. Research has found that emotional effects of relinquishment can be long term and create other psychological outcomes.The purpose of this study is to assess if the openness in adoption has an effect on the psychological outcomes of birth mothers. Working in conjunction with Forever Bound Adoption a cross section social survey will be disseminated to birth mothers over the age of 18 in the United States. These psychological outcomes will be assessed to determine if openness is related to the psychological outcomes of birth mothers after relinquishment. Findings will be utilized to bring awareness of potential problems in adoption and to increase knowledge of factors relating to more positive outcomes among birth mothers
The Soft Underbelly of Universities as Anchor Institutions: The Disconnect Between University and Community Research Priorities

This study examines how a university’s research activities are viewed through the priorities of both of the university and the surrounding community. Framed by the notion of anchor institution, the study reports the results of a case study of the US regional university within an urban context. The findings demonstrate the lack of consensus around the role of the university, the disconnect related to research priorities between the community and the university, and the role of faculty activities and rewards. The analysis shows the challenges with universities with high research activity serving as anchor institutions, particularly related to social concerns. Implications for universities and researchers are also addressed.
Reward sensitivity and electrodermal responses to actions and outcomes in a go/no-go task

Skin conductance response (SCR) is used in psychophysiological research to measure the reactions of the autonomic nervous system to reward and punishment. While there is consistent evidence that SCR increases to both aversive and appetitive stimuli, it remains unclear whether SCR simply represents a general index of arousal to motivationally significant outcomes or may also differentiate action or inhibition of action that lead to such outcomes. Furthermore, individual differences in trait sensitivity to reward and punishment can influence physiological arousal during approach and avoidance behaviors. Yet, their inter-relationships have not been examined. To address these gaps, we employed a reward go/no-go task with ⅔ go and ⅓ no-go trials and an individually titrated go response window. Correct go and no-go responses were rewarded while incorrect responses were penalized. We examined whether SCR varied with outcome (win vs. loss), action (go vs. no-go), and individual differences in reward sensitivity (SR) and sex. The results showed greater SCRs to loss vs. win, to go vs. no-go success, and to go success in positive correlation with SR. Further, SCR mediated the relationship between SR and go success rate. In sex differences, men exhibited greater SCR which was more predictive of go success rate relative to women. In contrast, SCR was more predictive of no-go success rate in women. Thus, SCR varies according to behavioral contingency, outcome, sex, and reward sensitivity. These findings add to the literature by characterizing the individual and behavioral factors that may influence physiological arousal in response to salient events.
Kidney Biomarkers of Injury and Repair as Predictors of Contrast-Associated AKI: A Substudy of the PRESERVE Trial.

Rationale & Objective The PRESERVE trial used a 2 × 2 factorial design to compare intravenous saline solution with intravenous sodium bicarbonate solution and oral N-acetylcysteine with placebo for the prevention of 90-day major adverse kidney events and death (MAKE-D) and contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) among patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing angiography. In this ancillary study, we evaluated the predictive capacities of preangiography injury and repair proteins in urine and plasma for MAKE-D, CA-AKI, and their impact on trial design. Study Design Longitudinal analysis. Setting & Participants A subset of participants from the PRESERVE trial. Exposures Injury (KIM-1, NGAL, and IL-18) and repair (MCP-1, UMOD, and YKL-40) proteins in urine and plasma 1 to 2 hours preangiography. Outcomes MAKE-D and CA-AKI. Analytical Approach We analyzed the associations of preangiography biomarkers with MAKE-D and with CA-AKI. We evaluated whether the biomarker levels could enrich the MAKE-D event rate and improve future clinical trial efficiency through an online biomarker prognostic enrichment tool available at prognosticenrichment.com. Results We measured plasma biomarkers in 916 participants and urine biomarkers in 797 participants. After adjusting for urinary albumin-creatinine ratio and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, preangiography levels of 4 plasma (KIM-1, NGAL, UMOD, and YKL-40) and 3 urine (NGAL, IL-18, and YKL-40) biomarkers were associated with MAKE-D. Only plasma KIM-1 level was significantly associated with CA-AKI after adjustment. Biomarker levels provided modest discriminatory capacity for MAKE-D. Screening patients using the 50th percentile of preangiography plasma KIM-1 or YKL-40 levels would have reduced the required sample size by 30% (∼2,000 participants). Limitations Evaluation of prognostic enrichment does not account for changing trial costs, time needed to screen patients, or loss to follow-up. Most participants were male, limiting the generalizability of our findings. Conclusions Preangiography levels of injury and repair biomarkers modestly predict the development of MAKE-D and can be used to improve the efficiency of future CA-AKI trials.
“Working towards a better future for ourselves”: Neighborhood choice of middle-class Latino and Asian homeowners in Los Angeles

Homeownership remains the largest asset for families of color and a pathway for socioeconomic opportunities. Latinos and Asian Americans are also the fastest growing groups in the U.S. Yet, little ...
Variables shaping coastal adaptation decisions to armor, nourish, and retreat in North Carolina

Abstract Understanding why and where decision-makers choose to use different climate change adaptation strategies remains an important theoretical and practical question for coastal adaptation. This article provides an exploratory statistical analysis of three adaptation measures (shoreline armoring, property acquisitions, and beach nourishment) and their deployment with respect to metrics of risk exposure, socioeconomic markers, and critical infrastructure in North Carolina (U.S.). This exploratory analysis evaluates two propositions. First, adaptation measures are deployed relative to specific metrics of risk. Second, adaptation choice disproportionately correlates with socioeconomic attributes. The findings support both propositions and reveal that shoreline armoring correlates with higher home values, household incomes, and population density and low racial diversity. Property acquisitions are found to correlate with low home values, household incomes, and population density and high racial diversity. Furthermore, adaptation measures are interconnected. Acquisitions are more likely to occur in areas with low levels of armoring. Beach nourishment occurs exclusively in areas with shoreline armoring. The results find no correlation of adaptation deployment with critical infrastructure. This article provides the foundation for future research into how adaptation decisions are made and trade-offs among adaptation actions considered, whether decisions adequately protect critical infrastructure, and how deployment patterns affect social equity.
Non-line-of-sight imaging off a Phong surface through deep learning

A deep learning based non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging system is developed to image an occluded object off a scattering surface. The neural net is trained using only handwritten digits, and yet exhibits capability to reconstruct patterns distinct from the training set, including physical objects. It can also reconstruct a cartoon video from its scattering patterns in real time, demonstrating the robustness and generalization capability of the deep learning based approach. Several scattering surfaces with varying degree of Lambertian and specular contributions were examined experimentally; it is found that for a Lambertian surface the structural similarity index (SSIM) of reconstructed images is about 0.63, while the SSIM obtained from a scattering surface possessing a specular component can be as high as 0.93. A forward model of light transport was developed based on the Phong scattering model. Scattering patterns from Phong surfaces with different degrees of specular contribution were numerically simulated. It is found that a specular contribution of as small as 5% can enhance the SSIM from 0.83 to 0.93, consistent with the results from experimental data. Singular value spectra of the underlying transfer matrix were calculated for various Phong surfaces. As the weight and the shininess factor increase, i.e., the specular contribution increases, the singular value spectrum broadens and the 50-dB bandwidth is increased by more than 4X with a 10% specular contribution, which indicates that at the presence of even a small amount of specular contribution the NLOS measurement can retain significantly more singular value components, leading to higher reconstruction fidelity. With an ordinary camera and incoherent light source, this work enables a low-cost, real-time NLOS imaging system without the need of an explicit physical model of the underlying light transport process.
Executive Functions and Clinical and Academic Outcomes in Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate executive function measures as they relate to clinical and academic performance outcomes of graduate speech-language pathology students. Method ...
Wege in die Zukunft

Ein besseres Verstandnis der Biologie des Gehirns hat uns wesentliche Erkenntnisse uber die Natur des Menschen und die biologische Basis von psychischen Erkrankungen geliefert. Das alleine wird jedoch nicht ausreichen, um die „globale Krise der psychischen Gesundheit“ zu bewaltigen. Es sind zahlreiche soziokulturelle Faktoren, die unser Wohlbefinden beeinflussen, und diese konnen wir selbst gestalten. Die Einfuhrung der 15-h-Woche oder das bedingungslose Grundeinkommen werden jedoch nicht die Auswirkungen von Armut und Ungleichverteilung von Wohlstand auf unsere Gesundheit beheben. Die Menschen werden nicht dadurch gesunder, dass man ihnen ein bisschen mehr Geld gibt fur weniger oder gar keine Arbeit. Sie werden sich besser bilden und ausbilden mussen, damit sie eine Arbeit ausuben, die sie erfullt und ihnen das Gefuhl gibt, einen sinnvollen Beitrag zum Gemeinwesen zu leisten und das Leben auf diesem Planeten ein kleines bisschen besser zu machen, und sei es nur im kleineren, lokalen sozialen Netzwerk.
China’s media organisations’ adoption of the WeChat public platform: news flow network, exploitation and exploration

This paper takes a longitudinal perspective to explore China’s media organisations’ adoption of the WeChat public platform. Drawing from theories of organisation ecology and strategic exploitation/...
Recognition As Integration: Indigenous Rights and National Citizenship in the Philippines

How does the granting of collective self-determination rights to indigenous communities affect national identity and integration into the state? In recent decades, many states have adopted policies recognizing distinct indigenous identities and devolving control over land and local governance to indigenous authorities. A large body of literature associates strong sub-national identity groupings and non-state authority structures with state weakness and fragmentation, but few have explicitly studied the effects of collective recognition on these outcomes in a post-colonial context. I investigate one such policy in the Philippines, leveraging spatial and temporal variation in the granting of collective land titles to indigenous communities and using an original survey experiment conducted among indigenous communities in three provinces. I find that titling is associated with increased indigenous self-identification, but also with indicators of state integration, including birth registration and legibility, measured using the extent of age heaping on the census. Results from the survey experiment provide evidence that collective recognition can increase individual identification with the national community and shape expectations about the benefits of engagement in the formal political system. My findings suggest that, rather than undermining the state's authority, the granting of collective rights may provide an effective means of integrating historically marginalized groups.
PL12 The New Abnormal: STI and HIV Divergence and Convergence in a Changing Universe

Soon after the recognition of HIV as the cause of AIDS, its multiple interactions with STI were recognized. HIV-STI synergism was manifested in several ways. Individuals at increased risk for HIV were also at increased risk for STI, resulting in epidemiological synergism. The transmission of HIV was greatly facilitated by anogenital inflammation, ulcerations, and abnormal microflora, often due to STI, and HIV could alter susceptibility to some STI, examples of biological synergism. However, the subsequent development of highly effective antiretrovirals for HIV treatment and prevention altered these relationships. HIV-infected individuals who were virally suppressed on treatment were found to be incapable of transmitting HIV to uninfected partners, leading to the mantra that Undetectable=Untransmissable, or U=U. The use of antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by sexually active, HIV-infected individuals limited their risk for HIV acquisition. Over the past decade, the recognition that antiretrovirals can protect against HIV transmission or acquisition has been associated with increasing detection of STI globally, i.e. unlinking epidemiological synergism. These new challenges present new opportunities, creating a greater need for the coordination and integration of HIV and STI diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive services, and the development of creative, consumer-friendly services focused on sexually active persons. Some jurisdictions have developed express clinics which use touchpad computers and rapid turn around NAAT screening to create a seamless experience for sexually active clients. Many of these centers use a ‘status neutral’ approach, i.e. providing ‘one stop shopping’ sexual health services, where HIV-positive and negative persons can access STI screening and treatment. Those whose HIV status is unknown, can be tested, and depending on the results, be triaged to antiretroviral treatment or PrEP. New concepts and models that are people- rather than pathogen-centered may ultimately result in better control of multiple co-prevalent pathogens.
The Optimal Size of an Epistemic Congress.

We analyze the optimal size of a congress in a representative democracy. We take an epistemic view where voters decide on a binary issue with one ground truth outcome, and each voter votes correctly according to their competence levels in $[0, 1]$. Assuming that we can sample the best experts to form an epistemic congress, we find that the optimal congress size should be linear in the population size. This result is striking because it holds even when allowing the top representatives to be accurate with arbitrarily high probabilities. We then analyze real world data, finding that the actual sizes of congresses are much smaller than the optimal size our theoretical results suggest. We conclude by analyzing under what conditions congresses of sub-optimal sizes would still outperform direct democracy, in which all voters vote.
The Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Methanol at Low Overpotentials Using a Pyridinium Catalyst

A Summary Report to The Electrochemical Society for a 1993 Department of Energy Research Summer Fellowship.