cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Varicocelectomy in the Subfertile Male: a Ten-Year Experience with 295 Cases

During a 10-year period 295 varicocelectomies were performed in subfertile males. Results of follow-up studies indicate the following: (1) Semen quality improved in a meaningful manner in 58% of men following varicocelectomy. The improvement, except at times for motility, was often only modest. The semen improved in 46% of men with a preoperative average count of less than 10 million/ml and in 70% whose count was 10 million/ml or more. (2) The stress pattern of sperm morphology was seen prior to surgery in 93% of the men. (3) The pregnancy rate for the entire series was about 41%. Men with a preoperative count of 10 million/ml or more achieved a 48% conception rate and those with a count of less than 10 million/ml succeeded 35% of the time. Only 7% of the pregnancies occurred without a concomitant improvement in the semen quality. (4) Men with moderate- and large-sized left varicoceles fared better than those with small-sized varicoceles. (5) Varicocelectomy, when varicocele and poor semen quality coexist, is a justified procedure in the treatment of the infertile couple.
A Framework for Material Selection in Multi-Generational Components: Sustainable Value Creation for a Circular Economy

Abstract Early stages of a product's design are critical for decisions impacting the entire life-cycle cost. Product designers have mastered the first generation, but they have no ability to know the impact of their decisions on multi-generational products. There is a need for tools that aim at closing the gap between total life-cycle information and the traditional design process. This paper presents a framework for a decision support tool that uses a combination of a life-cycle costing methodology and an evolutionary algorithm to assess design decisions specifically related to material selection. A case study is included to validate the new methodology.
Intermittent Nitrate Use and Risk of Hip Fracture.

PURPOSE Nitrates, commonly used antianginal medications, also have a beneficial effect on bone remodeling and bone density, particularly with intermittent use. However, their effect on fracture risk is not clear. We examined the relation of short-acting nitrate use (proxy for intermittent use) with the risk of hip fracture in a large cohort of older adults with ischemic heart disease. METHODS Participants aged 60 years or more with ischemic heart disease and without a history of hip fracture from The Health Improvement Network, an electronic medical records database in the United Kingdom, were included. The association of incident (new) use of short-acting nitrate formulations (nitroglycerin sublingual/spray/ointment or isosorbide dinitrate injection/sprays) with incident (new-onset) hip fracture risk was examined by plotting Kaplan-Maier curves and calculating hazard ratios using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Competing risk by death was analyzed in separate analyses. RESULTS Among 14,451 pairs of matched nitrate users and nonusers (mean age, 72 ± 7.6 years, 41% women for each cohort), 573 fractures occurred during follow-up (257 nitrate users; 316 nonusers). Hip fracture risk was 33% lower among short-acting nitrate users compared with nonusers (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.85; P = .0008). Competing risk analysis by death did not change effect estimates. CONCLUSIONS In this large population-based cohort of older adults with ischemic heart disease, we found a significant reduction in hip fracture risk with the use of short-acting nitrates (intermittent use). Future studies are warranted given the potential for nitrates to be potent, inexpensive, and readily available antiosteoporotic agents.
Working Toward Better Tissue Repair Therapies: Exposure of MSC to Hypoxic Conditions In Vitro Increases Levels of the Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor c-met, Improves Motility, and Induces Phosphorylation of the Pro-Survival Protein AKT.

Necrosis, apoptosis, and fibrosis are characteristics of tissue damage/injuries such as cardiac ischemia and liver damage. In most instances, a loss of blood supply due to death of endothelial cells results, creating a hypoxic environment at the damage sites. In addition, a flux of growth factors and chemokines are induced as a “rescue” signal to recruit exogenous and/or proximal stem cells into proliferation and differentiation. One such soluble factor reported to have both mitogenic and motogenic effect on stem cells for liver and cardiac regeneration is the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also known as “scatter factor”. Our lab has previously demonstrated that administration of HGF in vivo following human hematopoietic stem cell transplantation into an immune deficient mouse model of liver injury greatly enhances recruitment of human stem cells to sites of liver damage (Wang et al, Blood 2003). In the current studies, we addressed the role of HGF in promoting human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to sites of tissue damage such as liver or cardiac ischemia. In addition to exploiting the beneficial effect of HGF, we also evaluated the possible additive effect of hypoxia in stem cell regeneration based on the following hypothesis - that exposure of MSC to hypoxic conditions prior to transplantation will enhance the levels of c-met and amplify the signaling cascades downstream of HGF/c-met. To answer the question of whether MSCs have increased motility in hypoxic conditions, human bone marrow derived MSC were cultured in hypoxic (2 to 3% oxygen) vs. normoxic conditions (20–21% O2) in the presence or absence of 25ng/ml HGF, and scratch tests were performed to assess the scattering potential of MSC. There was an increase in total c-met protein, by immunohistochemical analysis, and increased migration of MSC under hypoxic conditions with HGF, as compared to normoxic conditions with HGF. Protein studies were designed to measure c-met induction/stabilization and downstream signals following ligand binding. By immunoprecipitation followed by immunoblotting with specific phosphorylation antibodies, we showed that hypoxic conditions + HGF stimulation induced a higher level of total cellular phosphotyrosine activity in MSC. Downstream of HGF/c-met, we observed an amplification of AKT phosphorylation when comparing HGF stimulation under normoxic vs. hypoxic conditions. In contrast, MAPK phosphorylation was moderately, but not significantly, different between hypoxic vs. normoxic conditions. Our data from these functional and molecular studies suggest that pre-treatment of MSC under hypoxic conditions might not only increase c-met to enhance HGF-mediated chemotactic recruitment to sites of tissue damage but may also enhance the survival of these stem cells upon arrival at the damaged site, through increasing the levels of phosphorylation of the pro-survival protein AKT.
Activity trackers, prior motivation, and perceived informational and motivational affordances

A large number of activity-tracking devices have recently dominated the fitness world. These devices typically track different forms of activities and are argued to encourage more active lifestyles. The devices encourage and incentivize change in behavior through mechanisms including personal goals, gratifying representations, and social features. However, both current research and anecdotal evidence about the real impacts of these devices point to mixed outcomes. Many users enjoy positive experiences, while others are reported to have abandoned these devices without generating lasting value for themselves. Through a qualitative study of 29 users of Fitbit activity-tracking devices, we explore how different types of pre-existing motivation shaped people's perception and adoption of the device. Building from the affordance perspective, our findings suggest that users' pre-existing motivations, derived from unique life priorities, personal situations, and personalities, may interact with different aspects of the tool, and result in disparate outcomes. Two primary conclusions of this research are (1) the motivational features of activity-tracking devices may only complement already existing motivations of the users but do not create incentive for more physical activities on their own. (2) The value of informational affordances of activity trackers diminishes over time for most users (except the quantified selfers), and without motivational affordances, informational affordances do not sustain long-term use of the device.
A comprehensive review of permanent magnet transverse flux machines for direct drive applications

The use of direct drive machines in renewable and industrial applications are increasing at a rapid rate. Transverse flux machines (TFM) are ideally suited for direct drive applications due to their high torque density. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the permanent magnet (PM) TFMs for direct drive applications is presented. The paper introduces TFMs and their operating principle and then reviews the different type of TFMs proposed in the literature. The TFMs are categorized according to the number of stator sides, types of stator cores and magnet arrangement in the rotor. The review covers different design topologies, materials used for manufacturing, structural and thermal analysis, modeling and design optimization and cogging torque minimization in TFMs. The paper also reviews various applications and comparisons for TFMs that have been presented in the literature.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in seaside sparrows ( Ammodramus maritimus ) following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill

The seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) is an abundant and permanent resident of coastal salt marshes impacted by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Such terrestrial species are often overlooked in the aftermath of marine spills, despite the potential for long-term oil exposure. We sampled the livers of seaside sparrows residing in oiled and unoiled sites from 2011 to 2014 and quantified expression of cytochrome p450 1A (CYP1A), a gene involved in the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In August 2011, CYP1A expression was markedly higher in birds from an oiled site compared to an unoiled site, but differences had disappeared by June 2012. In June 2013, CYP1A expression was elevated compared to 2012 levels on all sites, including those collected from sites that had not been directly oiled during the spill. This rise in CYP1A expression was possibly due to Hurricane Isaac, which made landfall near our sites between the 2012 and 2013 sampling periods. CYP1A expression was significantly attenuated again in June 2014. We also collected sediment samples from the same marshes for a total concentration analysis of PAHs. The PAH concentrations in sediment samples exhibited a similar pattern to the CYP1A data, supporting the link between marsh PAHs and bird CYP1A expression. These results indicate that contamination from marine oil spills can immediately extend to terrestrial ecosystems, and that storms, weather, or other factors may influence subsequent spatial and temporal oil exposure for several additional years.
Computational Analysis of the Intramolecular Oxidative Amination of an Alkene Catalyzed by the Extreme π-Loading N-Heterocyclic Carbene Pincer Tantalum(V) Bis(imido) Complex

The extreme π-loading of a (CCC-NHC) pincer Ta(V) bis(imido) complex was previously reported. This complex catalyzes the cyclization of α,ω-aminoalkenes (2,2-diphenylpent-4-en-1-amine) to produce three different products in varying proportions: cyclic imine from oxidative amination (OA), reduction product (RP) from hydrogenated substrate, and hydroamination (HA) (Helgert, T. R.; Organometallics 2016, 35, 3452). Various plausible pathways for the reactions generating cyclic imine product from oxidative amination, the reduction of substrate from hydrogen transfer, the cyclic amine product from hydroamination, and the dehydrogenation of hydroamination product were evaluated using density functional theory computations. RP is the thermodynamic product, while OA and HA are the kinetic products, with HA being lower in energy than OA. Multiple pathways for the generation of OA product were examined. The lowest free energy of activation (ΔG⧧) of the rate-determining-step (RDS) during the oxidative amination was c...
Introducing Heterogeneity into the Micro-Scratch Test Fracture Toughness Relation for Brittle Particle Composites

Existing analysis methods of scratch test data are limited in their application to composite materials since they are built on the assumption of homogeneous material. In this study, the heterogeneity of the composite material is considered for analysis of scratch data on a resin and glass bead particle composite. Experiments are conducted using two approaches: macroscale three-point single edge notch and micro-scratch. An analysis method is presented which introduces a region in front of the crack tip to calculate the energy release rate during the fracture process which accounts for the heterogeneity of this region. By comparing with the experimental results, it is observed that this analysis method reduces the difference in fracture toughness derived from macroscale and microscale tests, and matches the trend of fracture toughness values as a function of particle volume fraction. This observation provides the insight that the local microstructure of the material needs to be considered in the scratch test analysis of particle composites.
The Occurrence of Autoacceleration during Hydrolysis of Nucleic Acids by Micrococcal Nuclease

Abstract In the course of digestion of nucleic acids by micrococcal nuclease in the presence of low Ca++ concentration, three distinct phases of the reaction are observed. The first and the third are slow, and the second is fast. The reaction rate during the first phase is proportional to Ca++ concentration. An autoaccelerated second phase, showing little dependence on Ca++ concentration, has been observed with native DNA, denatured DNA, and RNA. The apparent end point (termination of the third phase) occurs earlier with decreasing Ca++ concentration. Of the three substrates studied, native DNA, RNA, and denatured DNA, native DNA is the most resistant. However, since each has a different requirement for Ca++, the relative hydrolytic rates vary widely with Ca++ concentration. Introduction of 0.15 m NaCl into the reaction medium accelerates the first phase and decelerates the second phase. The over-all reaction is slower, and the extent of hydrolysis is decreased. Under identical conditions, micrococcal nuclease hydrolyzes denatured DNA much faster than native DNA. However, in the presence of both substrates, it does not hydrolyze denatured DNA exclusively. The autoacceleration phenomenon suggests that the best substrate for micrococcal nuclease is a polynucleotide chain of intermediate length (between nucleic acids and short oligonucleotides), and, therefore, the enzyme should be classified as a polynucleotidase.
How much is enough? choosing ε for differential privacy

Differential privacy is a recent notion, and while it is nice conceptually it has been difficult to apply in practice. The parameters of differential privacy have an intuitive theoretical interpretation, but the implications and impacts on the risk of disclosure in practice have not yet been studied, and choosing appropriate values for them is non-trivial. Although the privacy parameter e in differential privacy is used to quantify the privacy risk posed by releasing statistics computed on sensitive data, e is not an absolute measure of privacy but rather a relative measure. In effect, even for the same value of e, the privacy guarantees enforced by differential privacy are different based on the domain of attribute in question and the query supported. We consider the probability of identifying any particular individual as being in the database, and demonstrate the challenge of setting the proper value of e given the goal of protecting individuals in the database with some fixed probability.
Elastic Registration of Single Subject Task Based fMRI Signals.

Single subject task-based fMRI analyses generally suffer from low detection sensitivity with parameter estimates from the general linear model (GLM) lying below the significance threshold especially for similar contrasts or conditions. In this paper, we present a shape-based approach for alignment of condition-specific time course activity for single subject task-based fMRI. Our approach extracts signals for each condition from the entire time course, constructs an unbiased average of those signals, and warps each signal to the mean. As the warping is diffeomorphic, nonlinear and allows large deformations of time series if required, we term this approach as elastic functional registration. On a single subject level, our method significantly detects more clusters and more activated voxels in relevant subcortical regions in healthy controls.
Pluripotent stem cell-derived interneuron progenitors mature and restore memory deficits but do not suppress seizures in the epileptic mouse brain

GABAergic interneuron dysfunction has been implicated in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), autism, and schizophrenia. Inhibitory interneuron progenitors transplanted into the hippocampus of rodents with TLE provide varying degrees of seizure suppression. We investigated whether human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived interneuron progenitors (hESNPs) could differentiate, correct hippocampal-dependent spatial memory deficits, and suppress seizures in a pilocarpine-induced TLE mouse model. We found that transplanted ventralized hESNPs differentiated into mature GABAergic interneurons and became electrophysiologically active with mature firing patterns. Some mice developed hESNP-derived tumor-like NSC clusters. Mice with transplants showed significant improvement in the Morris water maze test, but transplants did not suppress seizures. The limited effects of the human GABAergic interneuron progenitor grafts may be due to cell type heterogeneity within the transplants.
Earthquakes and Aftershocks: Implications for Marketers and Advertisers in Reno v. ACLU and the Litigation of the Communications Decency Act:

The author investigates the court cases raised to contest sections of the Communications Decency Act (1996) and thereby examines the issue of First Amendment rights and the Internet.
The Use of Computer Simulation of Merged Variation to Predict Rework Levels on Ship's Hull Blocks

In the modular construction of ships, significant productivity losses can occur during the erection stage, when the modules, or hull blocks, are joined together. Frequently, adjacent blocks do not fit together properly, and rework of one or both of the mating block interfaces is necessary to correct the problem. The specific cause of rework is the variation of plate edges at the block interface, which is itself a cumulative product of numerous manufacturing variations inherent in hull block construction. Variation in manufacturing is unavoidable, but not uncontrollable. The application of accuracy control techniques in shipbuilding has proven that a statistical analysis of variation makes possible an accurate prediction of its effects. This paper presents an examination of block interface variation, and the subsequent development of a computer simulation method of predicting rework levels on those blocks. The complex interaction of all the edges' random variations at the block interface gives rise to a unique rework probability distribution. This probability distribution is evaluated by means of the computer simulation program that provides estimates of the average rework anticipated, the shape of the probability curve, and other parameters. Similar predictions are also available for cost and labor of required rework. In addition to predicting rework levels, the simulation program can be a useful tool for reducing those levels.
Consumer Evaluation of the Quality of Online Health Information: Systematic Literature Review of Relevant Criteria and Indicators

Background: As the quality of online health information remains questionable, there is a pressing need to understand how consumers evaluate this information. Past reviews identified content-, source-, and individual-related factors that influence consumer judgment in this area. However, systematic knowledge concerning the evaluation process, that is, why and how these factors influence the evaluation behavior, is lacking. Objective: This review aims (1) to identify criteria (rules that reflect notions of value and worth) that consumers use to evaluate the quality of online health information and the indicators (properties of information objects to which criteria are applied to form judgments) they use to support the evaluation in order to achieve a better understanding of the process of information quality evaluation and (2) to explicate the relationship between indicators and criteria to provide clear guidelines for designers of consumer health information systems. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in seven digital reference databases including Medicine, Psychology, Communication, and Library and Information Science to identify empirical studies that report how consumers directly and explicitly describe their evaluation of online health information quality. Thirty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. A qualitative content analysis was performed to identify quality evaluation criteria, indicators, and their relationships. Results: We identified 25 criteria and 165 indicators. The most widely reported criteria used by consumers were trustworthiness, expertise, and objectivity. The indicators were related to source, content, and design. Among them, 114 were positive indicators (entailing positive quality judgments), 35 were negative indicators (entailing negative judgments), and 16 indicators had both positive and negative quality influence, depending on contextual factors (eg, source and individual differences) and criteria applied. The most widely reported indicators were site owners/sponsors; consensus among multiple sources; characteristics of writing and language; advertisements; content authorship; and interface design. Conclusions: Consumer evaluation of online health information is a complex cost-benefit analysis process that involves the use of a wide range of criteria and a much wider range of quality indicators. There are commonalities in the use of criteria across user groups and source types, but the differences are hard to ignore. Evidently, consumers’ health information evaluation can be characterized as highly subjective and contextualized, and sometimes, misinformed. These findings invite more research into how different user groups evaluate different types of online sources and a personalized approach to educate users about evaluating online health information quality.
Sonography Aids in Diagnosis of Congenital Absence of Portal Vein in Patient With Marfan Syndrome: A Case Study:

Abernethy malformation is a very rare abdominal vascular malformation. It can be defined as portal blood flow bypassing the liver. Without treatment, it can lead to high levels of ammonia, which ca...
Exploring geospatial characteristics of hashtag activism in Ferguson, Missouri: An application of social disorganization theory

Abstract Following the shooting of Michael Brown in 2014, a series of social protests on the streets and social media were ignited. The current research draws upon social disorganization theory to explore the geospatial patterns of Twitter activity related to the Michael Brown case across the state of Missouri. Geotagged Twitter data and census tract level American Community Survey data were used to determine if neighborhoods with greater social disadvantage were more represented in political discourse regarding police brutality. Results indicated wealthier neighborhoods with a higher percentage of black residents were more likely to engage in Twitter activity related to the Michael Brown case. A higher volume of activity was found, however, in more disadvantaged neighborhoods with little effect as to the percentage of black residents. Within a social disorganization framework, findings support the potential for future research to examine the idea that marginalized neighborhoods use social media as an outlet for their concerns about criminal justice practices.
Working from within: the nature and development of Quine’s naturalism

Recent examinations of Quine's philosophy have included a number of insightful studies emphasizing the historical development of his thought. These approaches tend to focus on Quine's mid-century c...
Prediction and Assessment Comparison for Optimizing Spectral Imaging System Design

We explore an analytic modeling tool developed to predict utility of spectral imaging systems for subpixel target detection and compare the prediction to assessment of spectral images of a comparable scene generated using a physics-based simulation model. We predict performance of a system design using the Forecasting and Analysis of Spectro-radiometric System Performance (FASSP) model. Then we assess the performance and supplement the prediction using the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) model to test subpixel target detection performance on simulated images. We present the initial results of comparison of a simple open ocean scene with orange lifeboat targets between the FASSP prediction and assessment using DIRSIG images. For the target considered, both the analytic and simulation approaches showed comparable detection.
Cane- and Spur-Pruned Pinot noir Results in Similar Fruitfulness, Yield, and Grape Ripeness under Cool Climate Conditions

Summary Goals: Oregon Pinot noir growers prefer head training and cane pruning to cordon training and spur pruning, referred to herein as cane and spur pruning, respectively. With decreasing labor availability and increasing production costs, growers are interested in transitioning to spur pruning to improve vineyard economics because spur pruning requires less manual labor and is easier and more economical to mechanize than cane pruning. However, they are hesitant to adopt spur pruning because of fears of reduced and inconsistent yields, as they believe Pinot noir has unfruitful basal buds. We conducted a two-year field trial to compare Pinot noir cane- and spur-pruned vine productivity from dormancy to harvest in a vineyard trained to a unilateral Guyot training system where vines were head trained and cane pruned to one 10-node cane and one two-bud renewal spur or cordon trained and spur pruned to six spurs of two nodes per spur. Key Findings: Primary bud fruitfulness was no different between pruning methods. Node position was important for dormant compound bud fruitfulness. The first, second, and third count nodes from the base of a cane or spur were fruitful, but node positions 4 and 5 had 11% higher fruitfulness. There was higher compound bud fruitfulness and greater inflorescence primordia size in compound buds of dormant canes with greater weight and diameter, regardless of pruning method. Pruning method did not affect vine phenology, yield, or harvest grape ripeness (Brix, pH, and titratable acidity [TA]). Impact and Significance: Our study found no yield or grape ripeness differences between cane- and spur-pruned Pinot noir in a unilateral Guyot training system. Therefore, spur pruning is an option for producers who wish to reduce dormant pruning labor and who consider adopting mechanization for further cost savings. Additional shoot-thinning passes may be required in spur-pruned vineyards, since the older cordon wood resulted in greater growth of adventitious shoots in spring compared to cane-pruned vines.
IDENTIFICATION OF PUTATIVE PRECURSORS OF OVALBUMIN AND OVOMUCOID MESSENGER RNAs

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the identification of putative precursors of ovalbumin and ovomucoid messenger rRNAs. In an experiment described in the chapter, specific DNA probes prepared from structural and intervening sequences within the natural ovalbumin gene were used to identify the precursors of ovalbumin mRNA. Nuclear RNA from hormone-stimulated chick oviducts was electrophoresed under denaturing condition followed by transfer to diazobenzyloxymethyl paper, and hybridization to 32p-DNA probes for structural sequence probes to cytoplasmic RNA gave a single low molecular weight band at the expected size of mature ovalbumin mRNA. Hybridization of the same probe to nuclear RNA demonstrated multiple species of RNA that are higher in molecular weight than mature ovalbumin rRNA. The largest molecule has a molecular weight of more than 8000 nucleotides in length, which could accommodate the entire natural ovalbumin gene sequence. These high-molecular-weight species contain RNA complementary to both structural and intervening sequences of the ovalbumin gene and, thus, appear to represent ovalbumin gene transcripts at various processing stages.
Overseeing Memory Circuits by NFIA: New Face In Astrocytes.

Astrocytes are heterogeneous controlling numerous aspects of brain function. In this issue of Neuron, Huang et al. (2020) uncover a novel role of NFIA, which regulates unique properties of adult hippocampal astrocytes via region-specific DNA binding, thereby modulating the plasticity of local circuits.
Evaluation of Corrosion Phenomena of T91 Steel in Stagnant Liquid Lead at High Operational Temperatures

The present study aims to deepen the knowledge on the corrosion behavior of martensitic T91 steel in contact with liquid lead in view of its application in advanced nuclear energy systems. Steel sa...
Niche and neutral processes both shape community structure in parallelized, aerobic, single carbon-source enrichments

Abstract Here we seek to test the extent to which laboratory enrichments mimic natural community processes and the degree to which the initial structure of a community determines its response to a press disturbance via the addition of environmentally-relevant carbon compounds. By utilizing aerobic substrate arrays to examine the effect of carbon amendment on microbial communities taken from six distinct environments (soil from a temperate prairie and forest, tropical forest soil, subalpine forest soil, and surface water and soil from a palustrine emergent wetland), we examined how carbon amendment and inoculum source shape the composition of the community in each enrichment. Dilute subsamples from each environment were used to inoculate 96-well microtiter plates containing triplicate wells amended with one of 31 carbon sources from 6 different classes of organic compound (phenols, polymers, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, amines, amino acids). After incubating each well aerobically in the dark for 72 hours, we analyzed the composition of the microbial communities on the substrate arrays as well as the initial inocula by sequencing 16S rRNA gene amplicons using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Comparisons of alpha and beta diversity in these systems showed that, while the composition of the communities that grow to inhabit the wells in each substrate array diverges sharply from that of the original community in the inoculum, these enrichment communities are still is strongly affected by the inoculum source. We found most enrichments were dominated by one or several OTUs most closely related to aerobes or facultative anaerobes from the Proteobacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and Ralstonia) or Bacteroidetes (e.g. Chryseobacterium). Comparisons within each substrate array based on the class of carbon source further show that the communities inhabiting wells amended with a carbohydrate differ significantly from those enriched with a phenolic compound. Niche selection therefore seems to play a strong role in shaping the communities in the substrate arrays, although some stochasticity is seen whereby several replicate wells within a single substrate array display strongly divergent community compositions. Overall, the use of highly parallel substrate arrays offers a promising path forward to study the response of microbial communities to a changing environment.
Standardizing a unique renewable energy supply chain: the SURESC Model

This study intends to dig into the renewable energy industry and drawing from research on learning curves and energy polices, proposes a way to speed-up the energy shift from our fossil-fuel dependency to a green economy. Even though standard economic frameworks suggest that markets and not policy makers should decide winners and losers, we urge to accelerate renewable energy competitiveness, proposing that by limiting the number of renewable technologies where resources are allocated to at government level, we reduce the time within which renewables will achieve technological price parity with fossil fuels. In turn, by analyzing the energy demand and supply curves, the study suggests that this action will also mediate the relation between quantity and price, shifting only the supply curve, leaving the demand curve unaffected. It continues by proposing the standardization of a unique renewable energy supply chain model, later defined as the SURESC model. For such, a deep analysis on existing green technologies will be performed proposing the implementation of a hydrogen through ammonia economy via ammonia for power as key factor for success. This is a preliminary study, first of its kind, intended to provide a holistic approach to a known problem.
Whole-Genome Sequencing of Procyonids Reveals Distinct Demographic Histories in Kinkajou (Potos flavus) and Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor).

Here, we present the initial comparison of the nuclear genomes of the North American raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the kinkajou (Potos flavus) based on draft assemblies. These two species encompass almost 21 Myr of evolutionary history within Procyonidae. Because assemblies greatly impact downstream results, such as gene prediction and annotation, we tested three de novo assembly strategies (implemented in ALLPATHS-LG, MaSuRCA, and Platanus), some of which are optimized for highly heterozygous genomes. We discovered significant variation in contig and scaffold N50 and L50 statistics and genome completeness depending on the de novo assembler used. We compared the performance of these three assembly algorithms in hopes that this study will aid others looking to improve the quality of existing draft genome assemblies even without additional sequence data. We also estimate the demographic histories of raccoons and kinkajous using the Pairwise Sequentially Markovian Coalescent and discuss the variation in population sizes with respect to climatic change during the Pleistocene, as well as aspects of their ecology and taxonomy. Our goal is to achieve a better understanding of the evolutionary history of procyonids and to create robust genomic resources for future studies regarding adaptive divergence and selection.
Models for cost-offset community supported agriculture (CO-CSA) programs

Cost-offset community supported agriculture (CO-CSA) appears to be a promising way to increase low-income households’ access and intake of fresh produce, while also helping CSA farms expand their farm business. Yet single farms operating CO-CSAs may struggle to balance the demands of farming with CO-CSA program administration, funding, and recruitment. To address these chal­lenges, CO-CSA programs operated by nonprofits have emerged, equipped with dedicated infrastruc­ture, resources, and staffing. This study aims to describe organizational models and best practices of nonprofit CO-CSA programs, using a qualitative approach. We conducted interviews with five well-established nonprofit CO-CSA programs in the U.S. Administration of these five nonprofit CO-CSAs took several forms: (1) providing direct sub­sidies to individual CO-CSA member farms; (2) functioning themselves as an aggregator, packer, and distributor of regional produce; and (3) sourcing from an in-house farm incubator or food hub, then packing and coordinating delivery to pick-up sites. Nonprofit CO-CSA funding strategies included grants from federal and local government sources, private donations, fundrais­ing, and grants. Marketing efforts occurred via social media, community events, and word of mouth. Both fundraising and recruitment were greatly facilitated by relationships with community partners. Having dedicated staff, as well as a com­munity that values local agriculture and social jus­tice, were identified as success factors. This descriptive, qualitative study systematically com­pares the attributes of five nonprofit CO-CSA programs. Future research should focus on identifying the cost-effectiveness of nonprofit CO-CSAs, compare the relative merits of single-farm and nonprofit CO-CSAs, and quantify the eco­nomic benefit of CO-CSA programs for farmers and local communities.
A Longitudinal Study of Differences in Perceived Parenting Practices Between Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Girls.

Parental warmth and control are consistent and persistent correlates of adolescent health and may be particularly important for sexual minority girls, who experience higher rates of adverse health outcomes than their heterosexual peers. Differences in perceptions of parental trust, positivity, supervision, and discipline from ages 11-17 years were examined between sexual minority and heterosexual girls using data from the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a longitudinal, community-based study. Results indicated that sexual minority girls reported lower levels of parental trust and positivity compared to heterosexual girls beginning in mid-adolescence; differences in supervision were present at age 11 years and persisted over time. Further investigation of this perceived difference is warranted given the importance of familial support for health promotion.
Racial and Gender Disparities in Prison Sentences: The Effect of District-Level Judicial Demographics

Studies of federal prison sentences consistently find unexplained racial and gender disparities in the length of sentence and in the probability of receiving jail time and departures from the Sentencing Guidelines. These disparities disfavor blacks, Hispanics, and men. A problem with interpreting these studies is that the source of the disparities remains unidentified. The gravest concern is that sentencing disparities are the result of prejudice, but other explanations have not been ruled out. For example, wealth and quality of legal counsel are poorly controlled for and are undoubtedly correlated with race. This paper uses the political, racial, and gender composition of the district court bench to estimate the effect of judicial demographics on sentencing and on observed racial and gender disparities. The evidence presented here suggests that judicial demographics have little influence on prison sentences in general, but do impact racial and gender disparities. The findings regarding gender in the case of serious offenses are quite striking: the greater the proportion of female judges in a district, the lower the gender disparity for that district. I interpret this as evidence of a paternalistic bias among male judges that favors women. The racial composition of the bench has mixed effects that are open to different interpretations. The race and gender results suggest, however, that a judge's background affects his or her sentencing decisions. Finally, there is little evidence that the political composition of the district affects sentencing disparities.
Non-adherence of surgical treatment in patients with non-melanoma skin cancer: a retrospective cohort pilot study.

There is limited data on non-adherence for surgical treatment in non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) patients. The objective of this single-center, retrospective cohort study is to compare rates of non-adherence of surgical treatment options, determine factors associated with non-adherence, and identify barriers for non-adherence. All adult patients with NMSC (> 18 years) seen between 2015 and 2017 recommended surgical treatment (surgical excision and electrodessication and curettage (ED&C) or Mohs surgery) were eligible. Non-adherence was defined as not completing recommended treatment and reasons for non-adherence were collected. Out of 427 patients that met inclusion criteria, patients recommended surgical excision and ED&C had a lower non-adherence rate of 3.4% compared to those recommended Mohs (11.4%) (p = 0.006). Factors associated with non-adherence included self-pay patients (19.07% adherent vs. 43.24% non-adherent, p = 0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that Mohs patients were more likely to be non-adherent (odds ratio (OR) = 3.839, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.435-10.270), p = 0.007) compared to surgical excision and ED&C patients. Males were more likely to be non-adherent (OR = 2.474, 95% CI (1.105-5.542), p = 0.028) to females, and self-pay patients were more likely to be non-adherent than those with other payers (OR = 3.050, 95% CI (1.437-6.475), p = 0.004). Of the 37 patients who were non-adherent, the most common reasons were loss to follow-up (46%), social reasons (41%), medical reasons (38%), and financial reasons (22%). There was a significant difference in non-adherence rates between surgical treatments for NMSCs in our cohort. Our study suggests the need for future interventional studies that implement strategies and patient education to decrease non-adherence rates.
The identification of selected vegetation types in Arizona through the photointerpretation of intermediate scale aerial photography

The author has identified the following significant results. Nine photography interpretation tests were performed with a total of 19 different interpreters. Three tests were conducted with black and white intermediate scale photography and six tests with color infrared intermediate scale photography. The black and white test results show that the interpretation of vegetation mapped at the association level of classification is reliable for all the classes used at 61%. The color infrared tests indicate that the association level of mapping is unsatisfactory for vegetation interpretation of classes 1 and 6. Students' t-test indicated that intermediate scale black and white photography is significantly better than this particular color infrared photography for the interpretation of southeastern Arizona vegetation mapped at the association level.
¿Qué twiteastes tú? Variation in second person singular preterit –s in Spanish tweets

Resumen Spanish dialects throughout Spain and the Americas have shown variation in the second person singular form of the preterit tense; in certain cases, a non-standard –s is found at the end of the verb conjugation (fuistes, comistes, dijistes, etc). This has been mentioned descriptively by several researchers as a cross-dialectal as well as historical feature of many dialects, yet little empirical data is available on this topic related to what factors constrain the variable. In fact, only one study has looked at this phenomenon from a variationist perspective (see Barnes, 2012). This study borrows certain methodological aspects of Barnes’ (2012) analysis of oral data but applies them to the analysis of the variable as it exists in the written sphere. Data is collected through the social media mogul Twitter and tabulated with the multiple regression logistic software, GoldVarb X (Sankoff, Tagliamonte, & Smith, 2005). The data suggests that verb frequency is the only factor group that significantly conditions one variant over another, with high frequency verbs highly conditioning the standard and low frequency verbs highly conditioning the non-standard. Varios dialectos espanoles que se encuentran en Espana y en la Americas tienen una tendencia de demostrar variacion en la forma de segunda persona singular del preterito; en ciertos casos, se encuentra una –s noestandar al final de la conjugacion del verbo (fuistes, comistes, dijistes, etc). Este fenomeno ha sido mencionado descriptivamente por varios investigadores como un rasgo inter-dialectal y tambien historico, sin embargo, no hay muchos datos empiricos disponibles acerca de que factores linguisticos restringen la variable. De hecho, solamente un estudio ha explorado el fenomeno desde la perspectiva variacionista (vease Barnes, 2012). Este estudio toma prestado algunos aspectos metodologicos del analisis de data oral de Barnes (2012) pero los aplica al analisis de la variable dentro del ambito escrito. Los datos se recogen a traves la red social enorme Twitter y se tabulan con el programa estadistico GoldVarb X (Sankoff, Tagliamonte, & Smith, 2005). Se encuentra que la frecuencia del verbo es el unico factor que significativamente restringe la variable; los verbos de alta frecuencia condicionan el uso de la forma estandar mientras que los de baja frecuencia favorecen la no-
Tree root system enhancement with paclobutrazol

Paclobutrazol (PBZ) was applied as a basal soil injection or drench at 0.8 g a.i. per cm trunk diameter. PBZ treatment was effective in stimulating fine root development of established healthy and chlorotic pin oaks (Quercus palustris) and declining white oaks (Quercus alba). PBZ treatment may be effective in stabilizing declining trees with insufficient fine root development. Elongation and dry weight of first year regenerated roots of newly planted black maple trees (Acer nigrum) were increased by PBZ treatment. This could result in faster establishment of transplanted trees.
On Convergence Classes inL-fuzzy Topological Spaces☆☆☆

Abstract Convergence theory is a primary topic in topology. In fact, topology and so-called convergence class are characterized by each other. In fuzzy topology ( L -fuzzy topology), more than 40 papers published in the last ten years were concerned with convergence theory. Among these papers, the problem of convergence class was solved for the case of L = [0, 1] [ 7 ]. Since the neighbor structure, so called “quasi-coincident neighborhood system,” of an L -fuzzy point in an L -fuzzy topological space is in general not directed under the inclusion order, the conditions of convergence class in [0, 1]-fuzzy topology will not be valid any longer in the case of lattice. Moreover, quite different from the cases of {0, 1}-fuzzy topology (i.e., ordinary topology) and [0, 1]-fuzzy topology, the so called Bolzano–Weierstrass property does not hold, i.e., a net with a cluster point in an L -fuzzy topological space is not still necessary to have a subnet converging to the point. In this paper, a necessary and sufficient condition for the Bolzano–Weierstrass property is produced, the result is also used in a satisfactory theory of convergence classes in L -fuzzy topological spaces, and the associated characterization theorem between L -fuzzy topologies and convergence classes is established.
American Jews and the Democratic Party: Historical and Biblical Perspectives on Jewish Adherence to the Democratic Party and Implications for Future Presidential Elections

Since immigrating to the United States of America in the mid-1800’s, Jews have primarily identified with the Democratic Party. This research is comprised of informed assertions on Jewish adherence to the Democratic Party, and analyzes comprehensive polling on Jewish Americans to validate such assertions. Based on my research, explaining the Jewish vote can be divided into four premises: I address the biblical foundations of a national Jewish consciousness, which influenced Jewish political behavior. Then, I look at Jewish immigrants and past political behavior in European countries of origin as well as the politics in America to draw conclusions on how past political history impacted the Jewish vote. Keeping the first two premises in mind, I link those perspectives to historical events and issues pertaining to political sovereignty throughout American and world history that impacted the Jewish vote. Finally, I address anomalies within the Jewish community, such as political figures and specific sects of Judaism, which are antithetical to liberal progressivism, and provide a framework to looking at the future implications of the Jewish vote. Following this, I analyze comprehensive polling on Jewish Americans to draw conclusions on how qualitative evidence suggests the Jewish vote is changing and may not be viewed as a solidly liberal constituency in America in future presidential elections.