cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fifty-nine microsatellite markers for hybrid classification studies involving endemic Florida Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula) and invasive Mallards (A. platyrhynchos)

Endemic Florida Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula) appear to be hybridizing introgressively with domesticated Mallards (A. platyrhynchos), which are frequently released or escape captivity and have established feral populations throughout Florida. To investigate this possible conservation threat, we isolated and characterized 59 polymorphic loci from an enriched Florida Mottled Duck microsatellite library and performed cross-amplification assays with Mallard specimens. Average numbers of alleles per locus were 6.0 (ranging 2-23) and 5.6 (ranging 2-15) for A. fulvigula and A. platyrhynchos, respectively; estimates of observed/expected heterozygosity were 0.54/0.63 and 0.52/0.64. Markers developed in this study will be used in conjunction with existing markers to robustly classify hybrids and to assess and monitor the genetic dynamics of introgression between these waterfowl species.
Buffering or Strengthening: The Moderating Effect of Self-Efficacy on Stressor—Strain Relationship

This study investigated the moderating effect of self-efficacy on stressor—strain relationship among 30 telephone interviewers in an academic survey research center. Participants filled out measures of the Skills Confidence Inventory and the Scale of Perceived Social Self-Efficacy. They reported their state anxiety and recorded the number of refusals at the middle and the end of a 4-hr work shift. Significant relationships were found between the number of refusals and interviewer-reported state anxiety at the middle and the end of the shift. Results suggested that perceived social self-efficacy tended to buffer such a relationship at the middle of the shift but strengthen the relationship at the end of the shift. Enterprising confidence also tended to strengthen the relationship at the end of shift. Results were discussed in terms of outcome expectancy and cognitive dissonance. Direction for future research was also discussed.
Byron and Oriental Love

This essay argues that Byron’s Lara (1814) invokes Orientalist discourses so as to suggest the queer potential of its love plot. I contend that “Oriental love,” with its expansive connotations, represents a more apposite name for Byron’s pluralist sexual drives than the “Greek love” that has often been attributed to him. The essay supports these claims by examining a recurring type in Orientalist ethnography: the page boys who served eminent men in the Ottoman Empire, sometimes sexually. Allusions to the figure of the page boy in seventeenth- to nineteenth-century texts show that Muslim same-sex practices were widely known, if not lengthily discussed. After tracking the circulation of this Orientalist trope, I look at its reworking in the form of Lara’s boyish servant, Kaled. I maintain that, by juxtaposing the nonexclusionary nature of Ottoman eros with the open question of Kaled’s sex, the poem undermines the hermeneutic urge to decide, according to the emerging hetero/homo binary, the sexual identity of the characters or the poem’s author. At the same time, I show how Lara stages and ironizes upon the textual and social processes of heterosexualization that have made this queer suggestibility pass unnoticed for a general readership.
Some implications of anarchy for the distribution of property

Abstract A model of an anarchistic society is introduced and its implications for the distribution of income are considered. The economy is assumed to allocate one unit of an all-purpose completely divisible good to each individual in society. This initial distribution of income is changed through theft into a final distribution. The notion of equilibrium is introduced and the equilibrium distribution for a two-person example is displayed. Finally, the notion of orderly anarchy is discussed. An orderly anarchistic allocation of income is defined to be a distribution of income in which no effort is spent in stealing property from others. It is shown that every allocation in the core is an orderly anarchistic allocation and that the core is nonempty.
A 12-bit resolution, 200-MSample/second phase modulator for a 2.5GHz carrier with discrete carrier pre-rotation in 65nm CMOS

A digital-to-RF phase modulator based on a single current-steering DAC is presented, including a carrier pre-rotation scheme that prevents phase inaccuracy due to carrier feedthrough. The phase modulator has been fabricated in a standard 65-nm CMOS process and draws 1.9 mW from a 1-V supply. The modulator achieves 12-bit resolution at a measured 200 MSamples/second, state-of-the-art performance in both resolution and sampling speed. It has sufficient speed to allow for oversampling to shape the output spectrum and therefore reduce filtering requirements, as demonstrated through a 32x oversampled 8-PSK signal at 6.25 MSymbols/second with under 6.1% EVM.
Îlot de compétence et Autre de synthèse dans un cas d’autisme d’Asperger

Resume Le cas celebre de P.-F. est un exemple paradigmatique d’autisme d’Asperger. Outre la presence des traits essentiels de l’autisme decrits par Kanner (solitude, immuabilite), tout comme celle des symptomes typiques donnes par les classifications americaine ou internationale, ce cas temoigne egalement pour ce qui concerne un point de vue plus structural de l’autisme – et suivant les conceptions theoriques articulees par J.-C. Maleval dans son livre recent sur L’autiste et sa voix – de l’elaboration d’un « ilot de competence » tres specifique et de la construction d’un Autre de synthese qui, « clos » au depart, en vient a s’ouvrir vers le monde exterieur, vers le social.
Aggressive behavior in adopted dogs that passed a temperament test

Abstract Relatively few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of standardized temperament testing in preventing the adoption of dogs with aggressive tendencies from animal shelters. The objective of this study was to evaluate the following hypotheses: (1) a percentage of dogs passing a standardized temperament test (i.e. not exhibiting aggressive tendencies) in an animal shelter will exhibit aggressive behaviors after adoption, and (2) these aggressive behaviors will be heavily weighted towards behaviors that may not be effectively simulated during a temperament test such as territorial aggression, predatory aggression, intra-specific aggression, and owner-directed aggression, rather than resource guarding or fear-related behaviors. In order to test these hypotheses, owners of 67 dogs temperament tested and subsequently adopted from one shelter were interviewed by telephone within 13 months of adoption. The interviews included questions about jumping up, house soiling, separation-related behavior, barking, and aggressive behavior. Based on these interviews, the frequency of various types of aggression and levels of aggression were estimated for these dogs. In evaluating dogs that passed the temperament test used by this shelter, it was found that 40.9% exhibited lunging, growling, snapping, and/or biting after adoption. When barking was included, this percentage rose to 71.2%. Our results indicated that there are certain types of aggressive tendencies (territorial, predatory, and intra-specific aggression) that are not reliably exhibited during temperament testing using this particular evaluation process. These findings suggest that this temperament test fails to identify certain types of aggression. Efforts to protect public heath through temperament testing should take this into account by combining temperament testing results with shelter and/or foster behavioral evaluations, offering both pre- and post-adoption behavioral counseling, and encouraging other educational opportunities for owners.
Negative regulation of RhoA translation and signaling by hnRNP-Q1 affects cellular morphogenesis

The small GTPase RhoA has critical functions in regulating actin dynamics affecting cellular morphogenesis through the RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling cascade. RhoA signaling controls stress fiber and focal adhesion formation and cell motility in fibroblasts. RhoA signaling is involved in several aspects of neuronal development, including neuronal migration, growth cone collapse, dendrite branching, and spine growth. Altered RhoA signaling is implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative disease and is linked to inherited intellectual disabilities. Although much is known about factors regulating RhoA activity and/or degradation, little is known about molecular mechanisms regulating RhoA expression and the subsequent effects on RhoA signaling. We hypothesized that posttranscriptional control of RhoA expression may provide a mechanism to regulate RhoA signaling and downstream effects on cell morphology. Here we uncover a cellular function for the mRNA-binding protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) Q1 in the control of dendritic development and focal adhesion formation that involves the negative regulation of RhoA synthesis and signaling. We show that hnRNP-Q1 represses RhoA translation and knockdown of hnRNP-Q1 induced phenotypes associated with elevated RhoA protein levels and RhoA/ROCK signaling. These morphological changes were rescued by ROCK inhibition and/or RhoA knockdown. These findings further suggest that negative modulation of RhoA mRNA translation can provide control over downstream signaling and cellular morphogenesis.
Implementing the peer review process in AGU publications

Recently, Russell and Reiff [1984] presented a flow-diagram analysis of the AGU publication process indicating how publication delays naturally occur. Perhaps because o f space limitations, their diagram did not include some important control statements. For example, according to their diagram, all manuscripts are either published or enter an endless loop. In fact, many papers end up elsewhere: As fish wrappers, in filing cabinets, or in non-AGU publications. (Accepted papers can end up in the same places, but they have the advantage of having been published in an AGU journal.) Significantly, the number of times the paper passes through the submission-refereeing loop (NJ) is not just journal dependent. NJ also depends inversely on nD, the density of Dogma in the paper. We are concerned with the publication process also and are motivated by reports that NJ is unusually large in the case of certain distinguished colleagues, particularly when introducing new concepts or criticizing older approaches. Some suggestions are offered here to speed publication and consequently to assist in the smoother functioning of the scientific method in geophysics.
Genetic Interactions between Hop1, Red1 and Mek1 Suggest That Mek1 Regulates Assembly of Axial Element Components during Meiosis in the Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

During meiosis, axial elements are generated by the condensation of sister chromatids along a protein core as precursors to the formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC). Functional axial elements are essential for wild-type levels of recombination and proper reductional segregation at meiosis I. Genetic and cytological data suggest that three meiosis-specific genes, HOP1, RED1 and MEK1, are involved in axial element formation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. HOP1 and RED1 encode structural components of axial elements while MEK1 encodes a putative protein kinase. Using a partially functional allele of MEK1, new genetic interactions have been found between HOP1, RED1 and MEK1. Overexpression of HOP1 partially suppresses the spore inviability and recombination defects of mek1-974; in contrast, overexpression of RED1 exacerbates the mek1-974 spore inviability. Co-overexpression of HOP1 and RED1 in mek1-974 diploids alleviates the negative effect of overexpressing RED1 alone. Red1p/Red1p as well as Hop1p/Red1p interactions have been reconstituted in two hybrid experiments. Our results suggest a model whereby Mek1 kinase activity controls axial element assembly by regulating the affinity with which Hop1p and Red1p interact with each other.
DIRECT DESIGN OF MULTIVARIABLE CONTROL SYSTEMS THROUGH SINGULAR VALUE DECOMPOSITION

Recent research in controller design through nonlinear programming and singular value decomposition has produced more direct methodologies for designing mu1 tivariable controllers to meet engineering requirements. A direct relationship between singular values of the return difference matrix and multivariable phase and gain margins has been recently described. Also, system response characteristics can be directly related to the closed-loop eigenvalues. Both stability and response measures can be combined into a s ingle criterion function which is then minimized by a nonlinear programming algorithm. The method is illustrated through design of the pitch plane autopilot for a 10 ft wingspan drojqe aircraft.
The role of response suppression in behavioral contrast: Signaled reinforcement

After responding was maintained on multiple variable-interval schedules of reinforcement, a signaling procedure was added to one component. The signaling procedure consisted of illuminating the key, the only source of illumination in the chamber, only when responding would be reinforced. Rate of responding in the unaltered component increased. When the signaling procedure was removed, rate of responding decreased in the component in which reinforcement had never been signaled. Obtained rates of reinforcement in both components were equal throughout the experiment.
Discussion on timing of pediatric clinical trials in investigational new drug development in China

According to requirment of time point in pediatric clincial tirals in FDA and EMEA,analyzing current situation in research and development of new drugs in China,the consideration of suitable time point in China should be covered such issues below,including establishment of relevant regulation,capacity building of investigatorand conducting gradually.
Adapting Evolution Education to a Warming Climate of Teaching and Learning

Biological evolution is not well-understood and the percentage of individuals who accept it as an accurate scientific theory have changed little in decades. Lack of knowledge and religious objections are the most commonly cited roadblocks to developing understanding and acceptance of evolutionary theory. We argue that moving beyond these two challenges to include a broader array of “hot” constructs (i.e., affect and motivation) is required if evolution instruction is to become more effective. We review research on folk or naive views of biology, complexity and emergent systems, misconceptions, emotions, and identity for their potential as levers of change. We review our own and others’ research in these areas, and we conclude with instructional implications for teaching evolution within the warmer (more affective) climate of today’s classrooms.
Degradation of polycrystalline Si solar cell efficiency with increased incident optical power — Experiments and theory

In this paper we discuss our experimental data obtained for several Si PV cell samples. From the I-V curves measured under various optical irradiance levels, we extracted the fill factors and the series and shunt resistances of the solar cells. For some of our samples, the solar cell efficiencies decrease even at illuminating power densities less than 1 Sun due to reductions in fill factors. Theoretical analysis suggests the reason for the observed dependences of PV cell circuit parameters on optical injection can be defect-mediated carrier recombination.
Observation of lasing in an Anderson localizing optical fiber

Lasing is reported for the first time in a dye filled Anderson localizing disordered optical fiber. The laser modes strongly resemble the localized modes of the passive fiber without the dye filling.
Computerized statistical analysis of melting and pouring variables on the production of high quality steel castings

Statistical analysis of production data relating mechanical properties to process variables resulted in the separation of variables into three major classes: 1) Important, but not statistically-significant variables. These variables have sufficiently tight control in production to guarantee a small deviation in mechanical properties. For example, percent carbon and heat treatment factors are known to be important but were not statistically significant in this study. 2) Important and statistically significant variables. These variables will be brought under control as required. For example, rate of rise of molten metal in the mold was an unsuspected variable that was statistically significant in this study. This variable is believed to be important because it influences the as-cast grain size. 3) Not important and not statistically significant variables. Some variables had quite a wide range and yet were not effective in changing mechanical properties. No new measures of control are required for this vast host of variables
Safety of same-day thyroidectomy: meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background Performance of thyroid surgery as a same day surgery procedure has been a controversial topic. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of outpatient thyroid surgery with inpatient thyroid surgery by meta-analysis of current literature. Methods Articles were identified from the following keyword searches: outpatient thyroidectomy/thyroid surgery, same day thyroidectomy/thyroid surgery. Outcomes included perioperative complications including recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, hypocalcemia, and readmissions. Data were extracted following review of appropriate studies by authors and random effects models were used. Results 34 potentially relevant publications were identified and 14 studies fulfilled the predetermined inclusion criteria, totaling 10,478 patients, 4,565 of whom were discharged the same day following thyroid surgery. There was no difference in malignancy rate between the two groups (95% CI, 0.84-2.31; P=0.196). Inpatient group were 2.23 times (95% CI, 1.36-3.36; P=0.001) more likely to develop transient RLN injury and 2.32 times (95% CI, 1.06-5.06; P=0.034) more likely to have documented transient hypocalcemia compared to outpatients. Inpatient groups were 2.10 times (95% CI, 1.33-3.33; P=0.002) more likely to have documented other complications. The two groups also had similar readmission rates (95% CI, 0.71-1.41; P=1.000). Conclusions Our meta-analysis suggests that discharging selective patients the same day after a thyroid surgery is as safe, feasible, and efficacious as admitting them for observation. Admitting patients after thyroid surgery is associated with higher reported risk of complications.
Population genomics reveals a candidate gene involved in bumble bee pigmentation.

Variation in bumble bee color patterns is well-documented within and between species. Identifying the genetic mechanisms underlying such variation may be useful in revealing evolutionary forces shaping rapid phenotypic diversification. The widespread North American species Bombus bifarius exhibits regional variation in abdominal color forms, ranging from red-banded to black-banded phenotypes and including geographically and phenotypically intermediate forms. Identifying genomic regions linked to this variation has been complicated by strong, near species level, genome-wide differentiation between red- and black-banded forms. Here, we instead focus on the closely related black-banded and intermediate forms that both belong to the subspecies B. bifarius nearcticus. We analyze an RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data set and identify a cluster of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within one gene, Xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase-like, that exhibit highly unusual differentiation compared to the rest of the sequenced genome. Homologs of this gene contribute to pigmentation in other insects, and results thus represent a strong candidate for investigating the genetic basis of pigment variation in B. bifarius and other bumble bee mimicry complexes.
Successful aging in community seniors and stroke survivors: current and future strategies

There is growing evidence to suggest that aging is accompanied by enhancement in psychosocial well-being, despite age-related declines in physical and cognitive functioning. A small but growing body of research has reported on positive trajectories of well-being, and its determinants, among community-dwelling seniors as well as in people with specific diseases such as stroke. Current strategies for promoting successful aging include physical, cognitive and social activities, healthy lifestyle, social support, and positive traits such as resilience and optimism. These strategies have typically been employed in samples without serious illnesses, but an emerging body of evidence suggests that they are as relevant in cohorts with neurologic and other diseases. Future strategies will include those that work at the community level and not just at individual level, and will focus on use of technology as well as group interventions to enhance resilience and building age-friendly communities.
Provision of Lifestyle Counseling and the Prescribing of Pharmacotherapy for Hyperlipidemia Among US Ambulatory Patients: A National Assessment of Office-Based Physician Visits

An estimated 27.8% of the United States (US) population aged ≥20 years has hyperlipidemia, defined as total serum cholesterol of ≥240 mg/dL. A previous study of US physician office visits for hyperlipidemia in 2005 found both suboptimal compliance and racial/ethnic disparities in screening and treatment. The aim was to estimate current rates of laboratory testing, lifestyle education, and pharmacotherapy for hyperlipidemia. Data were derived from the US National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), a nationally representative study of office-based physician visits, for 2013–2014. Patients aged ≥20 years with a primary or secondary diagnosis of hyperlipidemia were sampled. Study outcomes included receipt or ordering of total cholesterol testing, diet/nutrition counseling, exercise counseling, and pharmacotherapy prescription including statins, ezetimibe, omega-3 fatty acids, niacin, or combination therapies. Compared with previously reported results for 2005, rates of pharmacotherapy have remained static (52.2 vs. 54.6% for 2005 and 2013–2014, respectively), while rates of lifestyle education have markedly declined for diet/nutrition (from 39.7 to 22.4%) and exercise (from 32.1 to 16.0%). Lifestyle education did not vary appreciably by race/ethnicity in 2013–2014. However, rates of lipid testing were much higher for whites (41.6%) than for blacks (29.9%) or Hispanics (34.2%). Tobacco education was ordered/provided in only 4.0% of office visits. Compliance with guidelines for the screening and treatment of hyperlipidemia remains suboptimal, and rates of lifestyle education have declined since 2005. There exists an urgent need for enhanced levels of provider intervention to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with hyperlipidemia.
OR34 Platelet refractoriness in a patient with 0% PRA due to a rare anti-CD36(NAKa) antibody

Platelet transfusion refractoriness in patients with hematological malignancies ranges from 7% to 34%. The etiology of platelet refractoriness in this patient population is typically attributable to due to formation of HLA antibodies (Abs) from pregnancy or previous transfusion. We report platelet refractoriness in the setting of induction chemotherapy for AML from allo-Abs to NAK a antigen/CD36/glycoprotein (GP) IV. A 66yo AAF presented with transfusion dependent AML with 70% circulating peripheral blasts and started on 7 + 3 regimen. She developed profound thrombocytopenia and her platelet count was 0 by day 13. As part of her evaluation for refractoriness, HLA antibody screening was done, but was negative. An Immucor ELISA assay was then performed and revealed positive Abs to GPIV (NAK a antigen/CD36). Abs against GPIIb/IIIa, GPIa/IIa, GPIb/IX, and HLA Class I were all negative. GPIV Abs were confirmed by Blood Center of Wisconsin using monoclonal Ab MBC 131.7 against CD36. Cross-matching was performed at our institution with multiple single donor apheresis platelets, all showing strong positive reactivity. Because CD36 in these units may be soluble, an incompatible leukoreduced, irradiated and washed single donor platelet unit was given which was tolerated well with a resultant increase to 14,000/ μ L. Despite strong reactivity of this unit in the crossmatch, the patient’s platelet count increased and 1 week later was 16,000/μL despite no transfusion support. Platelet refractoriness in the setting of hematological malignancy is well documented. Abs develop from prior pregnancy and transfusion in the setting of prolonged pancytopenia in hematological malignancies. Typically, allo-Abs develop against platelet membrane structures including human platelet antigens, HLA antigens, and rarely NAK a antigen on the CD36 glycoprotein molecule. CD36 is expressed in almost 100% of white Europeans and is not detectably expressed by 2% of sub-Saharan Africans and 10% of Asians. CD36 is a soluble antigen and is expressed on various cells such as erythroblasts and monocytes. We propose that washing platelets may be a useful strategy in treating platelet refractoriness in patients with abs to NAK a antigen as finding CD36 negative donors is extremely difficult and few blood banks in North America test donors for this antigen.
Preliminary data on muriatic acid scarification of honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) seeds

My preliminary, nonreplicated study suggests that 20% hydrochloric acid, commonly known as muriatic acid, can be used to effectively scarify honeylocust ( Gleditsia triacanthos L. [Fabaceae]) seeds. Seeds were soaked for 1 to 24 h in muriatic acid. Almost no treatment effects were seen until 10 h of soaking, after which percentage germination peaked at 74% after 18 h of treatment. Although percentage germination was lower than with sandpaper scarification and sulfuric acid scar-ification, muriatic acid may have applicability, and be a safer, less labor-intensive option, for treating seeds of other native species that require scarification. Connolly BA. 2017. Preliminary data on muriatic acid scarification of honeylocust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ) seeds. Native Plants Journal 18(3): 267–269.
Combinatorial Inputs to the Ventral Striatum from the Temporal Cortex, Frontal Cortex, and Amygdala: Implications for Segmenting the Striatum.

Abstract The canonical striatal map, based predominantly on frontal corticostriatal projections, divides the striatum into ventromedial-limbic, central-association, and dorsolateral-motor territories. While this has been a useful heuristic, recent studies indicate that the striatum has a more complex topography when considering converging frontal and nonfrontal inputs from distributed cortical networks. The ventral striatum (VS) in particular is often ascribed a “limbic” role, but it receives diverse information, including motivation and emotion from deep brain structures, cognition from frontal cortex, and polysensory and mnemonic signals from temporal cortex. Using anatomical tract-tracing in 17 male adult monkeys (Macaca nemestrina, Macaca fascicularis, Macaca mulatta), we build upon this striatal map by systematically mapping inputs from frontal cortex, amygdala, temporal pole, and medial temporal cortex. We find that the VS contains heterogeneous subregions that become apparent when considering both the identities and strengths of inputs. We parcellated the VS into a ventromedial sector receiving motivation and emotion-related information from regions including area TG, ventromedial PFC, ACC, and amygdala; and a more functionally diverse dorsolateral sector that receives this information coupled to cognitive and sensorimotor information from dorsolateral PFC, ventrolateral PFC, premotor cortex, area TAr, and area TEr. Each sector was further parcellated into smaller regions that had different proportions of these inputs. Together, the striatum contains complex, selective input combinations, providing substrates for myriad associations. This VS parcellation provides a map that can guide and interpret functional interactions in healthy individuals and those with psychiatric disorders, and may be useful in targeting treatments for specific psychiatric conditions.
Evidence for stratigraphy in molluscan death assemblages preserved in seagrass beds: St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Death assemblages that occupy the upper tens of centimeters of sediment in shallow-marine settings are often subject to extensive mixing, thereby limiting their usefulness in assessing environmentally mediated compositional changes through time in the local biota. Here, we provide evidence that dense, Thalassia-rich seagrass beds preserve a stratigraphic record of biotic variation because their dense root–rhizome mats inhibit mixing. We sampled benthic mollusk assemblages at seven localities in Thalassia-rich beds around St. Croix, USVI, collecting three separate sediment intervals of ~13 cm each to a total depth of ~40 cm below the sediment–water interface, and found evidence that sedimentary intervals preserved compositional stratigraphy. Further, some localities displayed systematic, directional changes down-core. An examination of interval-to-interval changes in composition revealed that compositional variation was unique from locality to locality rather than reflecting coordinated, island-wide transitions. In general, however, relative abundances of epifaunal gastropods and small lucinid bivalves tended to decrease with depth below the sediment–water interface. Quantitative comparisons of life-to-death assemblages from each successive sedimentary interval demonstrated that the shallowest death assemblages were typically more similar to the life assemblages than were deeper assemblages, suggesting that deeper intervals provide records of earlier community states.
A Xenograft Model of Vestibular Schwannoma and Hearing Loss.

Hypothesis Microsurgical implantation of mouse merlin-deficient Schwann cells (MD-SC) into the cerebellopontine angle of immunodeficient rats will initiate tumor formation, hearing loss, and vestibular dysfunction. Background The progress in identifying effective drug therapies for treatment of Neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) is limited by the availability of animal models of VS that develop hearing loss and imbalance. Methods A microsurgical technique for implanting MD-SCs onto the cochleovestibular nerve of rats was developed. Ten Rowett Nude rats were implanted with either ∼10 MD-SCs expressing luciferase (N = 5) or vehicle (N = 5). Rats received bioluminescence imaging, auditory brainstem response testing, and were observed for head tilt every 2 weeks after surgery, for a total of 6 weeks. Tumors were harvested and processed with hematoxylin & eosin staining and immunohistochemistry was performed for S100. Results Rats implanted with MD-SCs developed significantly higher tumor bioluminescence measurements and hearing threshold shifts at multiple frequencies by the 4th and 6th weeks post-implantation, compared with control rats. Rats implanted with MD-SCs also developed gross tumor. The tumor volume was significantly greater than nerve volumes obtained from rats in the control group. All rats with tumors developed a head tilt, while control rats had no signs of vestibular dysfunction. Tumors demonstrated histological features of schwannoma and express S100. Conclusion Using this microsurgical technique, this xenograft rat model of VS develops tumors involving the cochleovestibular nerve, shifts in hearing thresholds, and vestibular dysfunction. This animal model can be used to investigate tumor-mediated hearing loss and perform preclinical drug studies for NF2.
Input-Independent Energy Harvesting in Bistable Lattices from Transition Waves

We demonstrate the utilisation of transition waves for realising input-invariant, frequency-independent energy harvesting in 1D lattices of bistable elements. We propose a metamaterial-inspired design with an integrated electromechanical transduction mechanism to the unit cell, rendering the power conversion capability an intrinsic property of the lattice. Moreover, focusing of transmitted energy to desired locations is demonstrated numerically and experimentally by introducing engineered defects in the form of perturbation in mass or inter-element forcing. We achieve further localisation of energy and numerically observe a breather-like mode for the first time in this type of lattice, improving the harvesting performance by an order of magnitude. Our approach considers generic bistable unit cells and thus provides a universal mechanism to harvest energy and realise metamaterials effectively behaving as a capacitor and power delivery system.
Achievement-Oriented School Design

Schools are constructed organizations, designed for a purpose. In this, they are like manufacturing organizations, business firms generally, and most organizations that are bureaucratic in form. Unlike primordial organizations, of which families are the prime example, the success of constructed organizations may be judged by the degree to which they achieve their purpose. In effect, the design of the organization may be evaluated by the organization’s efficiency in achieving its purpose.
Sublaminate- or ply-level analysis of composites and strain energy release rates of end-notch and mixed-mode fracture specimens

The sublaminate or ply-level analysis of composite structures is presently undertaken by a computational procedure yielding the stresses in regions affected by delaminations, transverse cracks, and discontinuities that are related to material properties, geometries, and loads. Attention is given to layers or groups of layers that are immediately affected by flaws; these are analyzed as if they were homogeneous bodies in equilibrium, in isolation from the rest of the laminate. Computed stresses agree with those from a three-dimensional FEM analysis.
Micbot: a peripheral robotic object to shape conversational dynamics and team performance

Many of the problems we face are solved in small groups. Using decades of research from psychology, HRI research is increasingly trying to understand how robots impact the dynamics and outcomes of these small groups. Current work almost exclusively uses humanoid robots that take on the role of an active group participant to influence interpersonal dynamics. We argue that this has limitations and propose an alternative design approach of using a peripheral robotic object. This paper presents Micbot, a peripheral robotic object designed to promote participant engagement and ultimately performance using nonverbal implicit interactions. The robot is evaluated in a 3 condition (no movement, engagement behaviour, random movement) laboratory experiment with 36 three-person groups $(\mathbf{N}=108)$ . Results showed that the robot was effective in promoting not only increased group engagement but also improved problem solving performance. In the engagement condition, participants displayed more even backchanneling toward one another, compared to no movement, but not to the random movement. This more even distribution of backchanneling predicted better problem solving performance.
A Novel Technical Protocol for Improved Capture of the Genicular Nerves by Radiofrequency Ablation.

Background Fluoroscopically guided cooled genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an increasingly performed procedure for chronic, refractory knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Traditionally, partial sensory denervation has been accomplished through ablation of the superomedial, superolateral, and inferomedial genicular nerves. However, recent cadaveric studies have demonstrated additional sensory nerves and significant anatomic variation that impact current protocols. Objective We describe an updated cooled genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation protocol that accounts for varied nerve location of the superomedial, superolateral, and inferomedial genicular nerves, as well as capture of the terminal articular branches of the nerves to the vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis. Furthermore, we describe an adjusted technique for inferomedial genicular nerve capture that mitigates the risk of pes anserine tendon injury. Design Technical report and brief literature review. Methods Cadaveric studies relating to the sensory innervation of the anterior knee joint were reviewed, and a more accurate and comprehensive cooled genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) protocol is proposed. Conclusions Based on recent, rigorous anatomic dissections of the knee, the proposed genicular nerve CRFA protocol will provide more complete sensory denervation and potentially improve clinical outcomes. Prospective studies will be needed to confirm the hypothesis that this protocol will result in improved effectiveness and safety of genicular nerve RFA.
Effects of Wall Cooling on Supersonic Modes in High-Enthalpy Hypersonic Boundary Layers over a Cone

High-enthalpy hypersonic boundary-layer transition plays an important role in many entry/descent vehicles. Aerothermodynamic performance of these vehicles strongly depends on the transition location on the surface. However, detailed transition flow physics in these chemically reacting boundary layers are poorly understood and transition estimates during the design phase rely heavily on empirically-derived transition criteria such as 𝑹𝒆(𝜽)/𝑴(𝒆). One of the most intriguing characteristics in hypersonic boundary layers is the presence of unstable supersonic modes, first identified in the 1990s. Due to a recent surge in hypersonic applications, there has been renewed interest in studying the flow physics of supersonic modes using either theory or direct numerical simulations. This paper investigates the rise of supersonic modes in a high-enthalpy hypersonic flow over a 𝟓° half-angle cone at various wall temperatures using both quasiparallel linear stability theory and linear PSE. It was found that supersonic modes exist in all wall temperature conditions including the adiabatic wall case. Cooler wall temperature causes the second Mack mode to become an unstable supersonic mode naturally downstream of the upper-branch neutral location when the wall is sufficiently cooled. In terms of the integrated growth, the second mode is still the dominant mode. Nonetheless, supersonic modes can cause additional series of relatively weaker growth than that of the second mode beyond the peak amplitude location. According to the present linear PSE results, contrary to what was speculated in the literature, supersonic-mode pressure disturbance structure radiated into the freestream is nonacoustic in nature and the formation of unstable supersonic modes is mainly associated with the synchronization of phase speed between the instability and acoustic waves in a nonp ayer, not due to nonlinear modal interaction as suggested in the literature.
Habitat Associations of Migratory Waterbirds Using Restored Shallow Lakes in Iowa

Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) have experienced declines in areal cover, and many remaining wetlands are degraded. Recently, restoration of wetlands has been a key management strategy for waterbirds. In Iowa, the Department of Natural Resources and Ducks Unlimited, Inc. have restored 38 shallow lakes, which are large, mostly permanent wetlands. To assess the impact of habitat variables on migrant waterbird use (waterfowl, shorebirds, and secretive marsh birds), surveys were conducted at 19 shallow lakes restored 1 to 12 years prior to this study and at 11 soon-to-be-restored shallow lakes in Iowa during the spring of 2016-2018. A total of 713,338 waterbirds were identified in 82 species, and more waterbirds and species were detected at restored shallow lakes (582,148 waterbirds and 78 species) than at non-restored shallow lakes (130,895 waterbirds and 70 species). Greatest numbers of diving ducks and waterbird species occurred around 40-50% emergent cover. Water level negatively influenced dabbling ducks and shorebirds and positively influenced diving ducks and total waterbird abundance. Years-since-restoration positively influenced goose/swan abundance and secretive marsh bird abundance, and total wetland area had a positive effect on all groups. These findings emphasize how management strategies for restored shallow lakes should mimic the natural wet-dry cycle of prairie wetlands to provide benefits for all waterbirds.
Multiplexed Optical Imaging of Energy Substrates Reveals That Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Is Associated With Brown Adipose Tissue Activation.

Background— Substrate utilization in tissues with high energetic requirements could play an important role in cardiometabolic disease. Current techniques to assess energetics are limited by high cost, low throughput, and the inability to resolve multiple readouts simultaneously. Consequently, we aimed to develop a multiplexed optical imaging platform to simultaneously assess energetics in multiple organs in a high throughput fashion. Methods and Results— The detection of 18F-Fluordeoxyglucose uptake via Cerenkov luminescence and free fatty acid uptake with a fluorescent C 16 free fatty acid was tested. Simultaneous uptake of these agents was measured in the myocardium, brown/white adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle in mice with/without thoracic aortic banding. Within 5 weeks of thoracic aortic banding, mice developed left ventricular hypertrophy and brown adipose tissue activation with upregulation of β 3 AR (β 3 adrenergic receptors) and increased natriuretic peptide receptor ratio. Imaging of brown adipose tissue 15 weeks post thoracic aortic banding revealed an increase in glucose ( P P P Conclusions— A multiplexed optical imaging technique is presented that allows substrate uptake to be simultaneously quantified in multiple tissues in a high throughput manner. The activation of brown adipose tissue occurs early in the onset of left ventricular hypertrophy, which produces tissue-specific changes in substrate uptake that may play a role in the systemic response to cardiac pressure overload.
Impact of substrate-template stability, temperature, phosphate location, and nick-site base pairs on non-enzymatic DNA ligation: Defining parameters for optimization of ligation rates and yields with carbodiimide activation

ABSTRACT Non-enzymatic, chemical ligation is an important tool for the generation of synthetic DNA structures, which are used for a wide range of applications. Surprisingly, reported chemical ligation yields range from 30% to 95% for the same chemical activating agent and comparable DNA structures. We report a systematic study of DNA ligation using a well-defined bimolecular test system and water-soluble carbodiimide (EDC) as a phosphate-activating agent. Our results reveal interplay between template-substrate stability and the rates of the chemical steps of ligation, which can cause yields to increase or decrease with increasing temperature. Phosphate location at the nick site also exhibits a strong influence on ligation rates and yields, with a 3’ phosphate providing yields near 100% after 24 hours for particularly favourable reaction conditions, while comparable reactions with the phosphate on the 5’ position of the nick site only reach 40% ligation even after 48 hours. Ligation rates are also shown to be sensitive to the identity of base pairs flanking a nick site, with some varying by more than three-fold. Finally, DNA substrate modification by EDC can, in some cases, make long reaction times and repeated addition of EDC an ineffective strategy for increasing ligation yields.
ModLayer: A MATLAB GUI Drawing Segmentation Tool for Visualizing and Classifying 3D Data

Characterizing a material’s microstructure, especially as it relates to the manufacturing processes used to fabricate it, is of great interest to engineers and researchers. In recent years, state-of-the-art imaging techniques have been able to yield a plethora of high resolution 3D data that can be used to study materials at various length scales. This 3D data is usually organized as stacked serial sections of 2D images and almost always requires some combination of enhancement and segmentation (the process of separating an image into subsets), in order to extract meaningful information. To aid in this process, ModLayer was created as a MATLAB® executable. ModLayer is an interactive graphical user interface that seeks to remove the burden of import/export redundancies when interacting with 3D data in MATLAB during visualization, modification, or segmentation through manual drawing across image stacks. The utility of ModLayer is demonstrated here through three case studies; (1) classifying regions of damage with in-situ time lapse X-ray micro-computed tomography ($$\mu $$-CT) of a glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GFRP), (2) correcting multi-class segmentation errors in segmented X-ray $$\mu $$-CT images of a GRFP composite, and (3) capturing features of interest within in-situ 3D X-ray $$\mu $$-CT images during fatigue crack growth experiments of aluminum 7050. Overall, this tool is especially useful to engineers and researchers interested in correcting—within MATLAB—automated segmentation of noisy 3D images which can yield erroneous microstructural features in segmentation procedures.
TITANIUM STEAM TURBINE BLADING

The use of titanium alloys for the long last stage and L-1 stage of low-pressure steam turbines has been in development for over 30 years, and appears to be entering commercial use. The titanium blades are used in the steam transition L-1 row, because they are immune to pitting corrosion by the corrosive early condensates at the Wilson line. In the last stage row, lighter titanium blades permit longer blade length and larger exit annulus areas than 12Cr steel blades. The last row can be designed to increase the thermal efficiency by 1-2% or the power by about 50%, reducing the number of steam flows by one-third to one-half. A disadvantage of titanium alloys is their low damping capacity, which requires blade designs that maximize mechanical and aerodynamic damping. The water droplet erosion resistance of titanium alloys is sufficient not to require protection in the L-1 row, but the last stage rows operating at supersonic tip speeds require the use of erosion shields.
Fagen: an African American renegade in the Philippine-American war

David Fagen garnered headlines throughout both the United States and the Philippines in the earliest years of the twentieth century, due to his prowess as a guerrilla leader fighting for the Philip...
FDP: a teaching and demo platform for SDN

There are a wealth of good-quality open-source tools for teaching, learning about, and experimenting with P4-based SDN. But this tooling and its mode of distribution is geared towards usage at the level of "nuts and bolts", requiring effort to setup even for casual or inexperienced users, and does not give "big picture" insight into the network as the system executes. Our poster describes FDP, a portable platform that builds on existing tooling to enable end-to-end experimentation and zero-effort in-browser interactive visualization, which we envision can benefit teaching of P4-based SDN and research demonstration.