cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Origin-Dependent Inverted-Repeat Amplification: Tests of a Model for Inverted DNA Amplification

DNA replication errors are a major driver of evolution--from single nucleotide polymorphisms to large-scale copy number variations (CNVs). Here we test a specific replication-based model to explain the generation of interstitial, inverted triplications. While no genetic information is lost, the novel inversion junctions and increased copy number of the included sequences create the potential for adaptive phenotypes. The model--Origin-Dependent Inverted-Repeat Amplification (ODIRA)-proposes that a replication error at pre-existing short, interrupted, inverted repeats in genomic sequences generates an extrachromosomal, inverted dimeric, autonomously replicating intermediate; subsequent genomic integration of the dimer yields this class of CNV without loss of distal chromosomal sequences. We used a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches to test the feasibility of the proposed replication error and its downstream consequences on chromosome structure in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that the proposed replication error-the ligation of leading and lagging nascent strands to create "closed" forks-can occur in vitro at short, interrupted inverted repeats. The removal of molecules with two closed forks results in a hairpin-capped linear duplex that we show replicates in vivo to create an inverted, dimeric plasmid that subsequently integrates into the genome by homologous recombination, creating an inverted triplication. While other models have been proposed to explain inverted triplications and their derivatives, our model can also explain the generation of human, de novo, inverted amplicons that have a 2:1 mixture of sequences from both homologues of a single parent--a feature readily explained by a plasmid intermediate that arises from one homologue and integrates into the other homologue prior to meiosis. Our tests of key features of ODIRA lend support to this mechanism and suggest further avenues of enquiry to unravel the origins of interstitial, inverted CNVs pivotal in human health and evolution.
Critical reflection in a digital media artwork. playas: homeland mirage

The introduction of digital media into the working practice of artists has produced challenges previously unknown to the field of art. This inquiry follows an atypical model of artist-driven research derived from disciplines such as social science and education. Here, an artwork functions as a model that is self-reflective, integrating methodologies in a form that benefits art and science. Using Naturalistic Inquiry, including semi-structured interviews of fifteen participants, the work illustrates a process of creation, analysis and evaluation that places the values of the artist on equal footing with the needs of science. Recently, artists have begun using video game engines as a tool to produce 3D navigable spaces. Using the hybrid video game/installation Playas: Homeland Mirage as a case study, this research examines the impact of technology on the artwork and identifies a number of key issues related to the function of critical reflection in this environment. Rules-of-play were a fundamental pre-requisite to the stimulation of critically reflective experience. The human interface with software and hardware was also a primary factor in reflective experience. Based on participant evaluation and observation, the interface was altered in response to its effect on critical reflection, illustrating how choices in this area impact aesthetic experience. Those with experience in visual art were more likely to engage the work in a critically reflective manner than seasoned video game players who tended to be more interested in scoring and winning. These findings and others inform our understanding of the stimulation of critical reflection in immersive environments and show how we can sensitively integrate technology with meaningful evaluative methods. By repurposing a video game in this manner, we learn about the nature of the video game and the nature of art. This research enables artists to gain a better understanding of the medium to more fully integrate technology within a meaningful practice. Conversely, other fields will benefit from a better understanding of the stimulation of meaning in immersive spaces and gain a comprehensive view of a work that strives to contribute to our culture on a deeper level than as simple entertainment. Ultimately, more fully understanding critical reflection in virtual environments will enable us to create enriched experiences that transcend space to create “real” or “virtual” place.
Tacrolimus, a New Immunosuppressant—A Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE:To review the clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, therapeutic uses, and current status of tacrolimus.DATA SOURCES:Data from scientific literature were identified by a MEDLINE search. The data were extracted, evaluated, and summarized for presentation. Experiences from studies evaluating tacrolimus in the form of articles, abstracts, letters to the editor, or proceedings were considered for inclusion.STUDY SELECTION:Open and controlled clinical and animal trials were reviewed in evaluating the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects of tacrolimus.DATA EXTRACTION:Data from animal and human studies published in the English literature were evaluated.DATA SYNTHESIS:Tacrolimus is an 822-kDa macrolide antibiotic that has potent immunosuppressive properties. The mechanism of action is similar to that of cyclosporine in that it ultimately blocks the production of interleukin 2, thereby inhibiting further T-lymphocyte proliferation. Tacrolimus is metabolized solely in the...
18. Atrial Fibrillation: Electrical Cardioversion and Drug Prophylaxis

Objectives We sought to evaluate safety, efficacy, and outcome of direct current cardioversion (DCCV) for atrial arrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease. Background Increasingly, atrial arrhythmias are noted in adults with congenital heart disease. The outcome of DCCV for atrial arrhythmias in this population is unknown. Methods Our study was a retrospective review of patients 18 years or older with congenital heart disease who underwent DCCV between June 2000 and July 2003. Patient characteristics reviewed included the specific cardiac diagnosis and arrhythmia history. A subset of patients had transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before DCCV; this subset was reviewed to evaluate spontaneous echo contrast. The outcome data evaluated included success of DCCV, complications, recurrence of arrhythmia, antiarrhythmic medication use, electrophysiology or pacemaker procedure in follow-up, and all-cause mortality. Results Sixty-three patients underwent 80 DCCVs, 59 of which were TEE-guided. DCCV was successful in 94%. Mean follow-up was 387 days. No thromboembolic events were noted. Twenty-five patients (40%) remained in sinus rhythm throughout follow-up. Recurrent arrhythmia was predicted by spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium or a history of atrial fibrillation. Conclusions DCCV with appropriate anticoagulation is safe for patients with congenital heart disease, even in the presence of an intracardiac shunt and spontaneous contrast on TEE. The immediate success of cardioversion is excellent. Spontaneous echo contrast does not predict thromboembolic events. Recurrent arrhythmias are a problem in this patient population, prompting antiarrhythmic medication use or electrophysiologic procedures (or both).
Assessment of v-gel supraglottic airway device placement in cats performed by inexperienced veterinary students.

Endotracheal intubation has been associated with several complications in cats. The v-gel supraglottic airway device (SGAD) has been developed to adapt to the unique oropharynx of the cat and to overcome these complications. Thirty-three cats were randomly assigned to receive an endotracheal tube (ETT group) or a v-gel SGAD (v-gel group) after induction of general anaesthesia. Third year veterinary students without previous clinical experience placed these devices under direct supervision of an anaesthesiologist. Amount of propofol, number of attempts, time required to secure the airway, leakage around the device, signs of upper airway discomfort and food consumption were compared between the two groups. The v-gel group required less propofol (P=0.03), less time (P
The Potential Effects of Percolating Snowmelt on Palynological Records From Firn and Glacier Ice

The effects of meltwater percolation on pollen in snow, firn and glacial ice are not fully understood and currently hamper the use of pollen in ice-core studies of paleoclimate. Several studies have suggested that, due to grain size, pollen is not mobilized by meltwater transport. However, these findings contradict many ice-core pollen studies that show pollen concentrations in snow and firn are much higher than concentrations found in the ice layers they eventually form. This study addresses one aspect of this question by investigating whether meltwater percolation can effectively transport pollen within a snowpack. We used nine Styrofoam coolers filled by natural snow accumulation. The coolers were tested in three groups of three replicates each to simulate different glacier snowpack conditions, and spiked at the surface with a known amount of Lycopodium marker spores. The snow was melted to two-thirds the original volume, sampled stratigraphically and tested for spore concentrations. Meltwater effluent was also collected and examined. Results show substantial vertical and horizontal spore transport during the experiment. Peak spore concentrations were found in the bottommost snow layer or in the meltwater effluent in eight of nine coolers, indicating that the majority of surface spores were transported through the snowpack via meltwater percolation and/or runoff.
Severe pregnancy induced hypertension reduce bleeding after cesarean section and clinical observation and analysis methods

Objective To explore the methods and measures which are used to reduce intraoperative and postoperative hemorrhage of cesarean section for severe pregnancy-induced hypertension patients.Methods Review 46 cases of severe Pregnancy-induced hypertension patients who were treated with different methods.That is in order to get the relationship between the hemorrhage and the delivery of placenta timing in cesarean section and also the application method of oxytocin before and after the surgery.Results 20 cases of control group,6 patients who were bleeding greater than 400ml during the operation,take up 30%;And 8 patients who were bleeding greater than 100ml after surgery for 2 hours,take up 40%.26 cases of improved group,2 patients who were bleeding greater than 400 ml during the operation,take up 7.7%,And 1 patient who were bleeding greater than 100 ml after surgery for 2 hours,take up 3.8%.Conclusion The bleeding of the two groups has obviously different.The research shows that chose the right time to labor placenta and apply oxytocin reasonably can obviously reduce intraoperative and postoperative hemorrhage.
La opción descolonial

This article describes what its author understands to be the decolonial epistemological theory. Firstly, Mignolo accomplishes an initial criticism of the subsumption of History by an European eurocentric historicism, secondly he revives Quijano's concept of the decolonial matrix of power, or coloniality, as a fundamental category for the decolonial theory. Mignolo compares one side of decolonial thinking (undisciplined in the sense of Foucault) to the disciplines that follow the modernity/posmodernity theory with the goal of vindicating the usefulness of the decolonial option in order to reveal the darker side of a critical apparatus which controls knowledge, assigns values and atributions for building the similarities and differences from other options and critical projects such as neomarxism and the Philosophy of LIberation. Finally, he analizes the perpetuity of the struggle for domination over the colonial matrix of power in the current New Global Order, to which the decolonial project new perspectives.
Business Model Innovation: Based on the Explanation for Rents

There are several explanations about organizational business model and lack research results for innovation mechanism of business mode in research work. The authors summed up varied concept of business model and induced a new explanation. The article used the Rent Theory to analyze and explain innovation behavior of business model. And then the paper inferred sort of rent that enterprises can attain under different conditions, thereby expounded innovation mechanism of organizational business model.
Altered vascular function after adenovirus-mediated overexpression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase

Gene transfer with replication-deficient adenovirus is a potentially useful tool to study vascular biology. We have constructed a replication-deficient adenovirus (AdRSVeNOS) that carries cDNA for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Transfection of COS-1 cells with AdRSVeNOS increased nitric oxide synthase activity (measured as production of L-citrulline from L-arginine) that was calcium dependent and inhibited by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. To investigate effects of overexpression of eNOS on vascular function, we incubated common carotid arteries from rabbits in organ culture with AdRSVeNOS or AdRSV beta gal encoding beta-galactosidase. Transgene expression and responses to vasoactive agents were examined 1 day after transduction. Histochemical staining of beta-galactosidase and immunohistochemistry for eNOS indicated transgene expression in endothelium and adventitial cells. After precontraction with phenylephrine, vessels treated with AdRSVeNOS demonstrated greater relaxation to acetylcholine than vessels treated with vehicle or AdRSV beta gal. Relaxation to calcium ionophore A-23187 was much greater in vessels treated with AdRSVeNOS than in vessels treated with vehicle or AdRSV beta gal. Augmented relaxation in response to A-23187 was also observed after denudation of endothelium in vessels treated with AdRSVeNOS and was inhibited by N omega-nitro-L-arginine. Thus vasorelaxation in response to stimuli that release nitric oxide is augmented after adenovirus-mediated overexpression of eNOS. Transgene expression in adventitial cells appears to be sufficient to alter vasomotor function.
Botulinum Toxin Injection Techniques: Crow’s Feet

Crow’s feet injection is one of the simplest and most satisfying applications of botulinum toxin. The radiating dermal crow’s feet lines result from the concentric constriction of the underlying orbital and preseptal orbicularis oculi muscle. Orbicularis oculi injections of botulinum toxin diminishes both active and static crow’s feet rhytids, may prophylactically delay the onset and progression of such wrinkles, and improves final outcome following ablative periocular resurfacing.
Introduction, William H. Hutt, Economists and the Public

William Harold Hutt (1899–1988) published his Economists and the Public in 1936, the momentous year which also witnessed the publication of John Maynard Keynes’s General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money. Keynes’s great book had an enormous influence on Hutt’s future work, as he became one of its most outspoken critics. But his own book of 1936 slowly gained a reputation of its own among a diverse group of admirers and now exists as a minor classic in economics.
Bilateral Wilms Tumor With Ureteral Extension

Wilms tumor is the most common renal tumor in children. However, tumor extension into the ureter is exceedingly rare. We present a case of bilateral Wilms tumor with unilateral ureteral extension into the bladder. This case illustrates the importance of thoughtful diagnostic evaluation and surgical planning to obtain a good oncologic outcome while preserving renal function.
Seasonality and mechanisms of tropical intraseasonal oscillations

This study has compared the monsoon intraseasonal oscillation (MISO) during the boreal summer and Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) during the boreal winter. Based on MISO and MJO in high-resolution three-dimensional diabatic heating, the possible mechanisms are discussed through observational analyses of dynamical and thermodynamical variables. The MISO and MJO are extracted as nonlinear oscillations during boreal summer and winter, respectively, by applying multi-channel singular spectrum analysis on daily anomalies of diabatic heating over the Indo-Pacific region. Lead and lag relations among moisture, temperature and surface fields relative to diabatic heating are analyzed to compare the mechanisms of MISO and MJO. While both the oscillations show eastward propagation, MISO has a strong northward propagation and MJO has a weak southward propagation as well. The analysis shows that MJO and MISO are essentially driven by the same mechanisms but with some difference in the meridional propagation. The westerly shear leads the diabatic heating, while the vorticity has weak correlation. Large-scale circulation creates positive moisture preconditioning before convection and negative moisture preconditioning before suppressed conditions. A positive lower level horizontal advection of temperature and upper level temperature tendencies lead the convective state while a negative lower level horizontal advection of temperature and upper level temperature tendencies lead the suppressed state. There is positive feedback from the SST to atmosphere. The difference in the meridional propagation of MISO and MJO is hypothesized to be because of the different differential heating meridionally during the two seasons.
Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer: An Evolving Landscape

Worldwide, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in males, with approximately 1.1 million diagnoses and 307,000 deaths in 2012. The disease occurs mostly in older men, i.e., those past the age of 65. For clinically localized disease, standard treatment regimens include radical prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy. Androgen ablation, including bilateral orchiectomy or the administration of either LHRH agonists or antiandrogens, decreases tumor burden and improves median progression-free survival by 12–18 months. Despite its initial efficacy in controlling disease, most patients on hormonal therapy will eventually progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), and about 70% of patients will develop metastases, which are localized to the bone in 80–90% of cases. To date, there is no curative treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), although a number of treatments prolong survival and provide palliative benefit. First-line treatments for mCRPC include the antiandrogens enzalutamide and abiraterone acetate, as well as chemotherapeutic agents such as docetaxel. The prognosis for patients with mCRPC is variable, with median overall survival (OS) ranging from approximately 16–34 months.
Adults’ and Children’s Understanding of How Expertise Influences Learning

Abstract. Adults and children use information about expertise to infer what a person is likely to know, but it is unclear whether they realize that expertise also has implications for learning. We explore adults’ and children’s understanding that expertise in a particular category supports learning about a closely related category. In four experiments, 5-year-olds and adults (n = 160) judged which of two people would be better at learning about a new category. When faced with an expert and a nonexpert, adults consistently indicated that expertise supports learning in a closely related category; however, children’s judgments were inconsistent and were strongly influenced by the description of the nonexpert. The results suggest that although children understand what it means to be an expert, they may judge an individual’s learning capacity based on different considerations than adults.
Who Wants to Learn More Science? The Role of Elementary School Science Experiences and Science Self-Perceptions.

Background/Context: Much science education reform has been directed at middle and high school students; however, earlier experiences in elementary school may well have an important impact on young people’s future science literacy and preparation for possible STEM careers. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: This study explores the relationships among fifth-graders’ perceived learning opportunities in school science, their perceptions of self in science, and their desire to take more science courses in middle and high school. Research Design: To directly address concerns about the reproducibility of results of small educational studies, this study explores whether results from one sample are replicated in a second, different sample. The fifth-grade students from two different samples of public elementary students in California (Sample 1: n = 363; Sample 2: n = 327) completed surveys about students’ perceived school science experiences, sense of themselves as science learners, and aspirations to learn more science in the future. The analyses of both samples included regression analyses to explore the relationship between science self-perceptions and wanting to take future science classes, as well as whether students’ perceived opportunities to participate in science activities might influence the relationship between self-perceptions and wanting to take more science in the future. Findings/Results: There were positive and significant relationships between both school science learning opportunities and wanting to take more science courses, and science self-perceptions and wanting to take more science courses. Analyses indicate that both factors need to be considered when predicting who is eager to learn more science. These findings were consistent across both samples and were robust even after including student-level and school-level and controlling for the nested structure of the data. Conclusions/Recommendations: Findings highlight the importance of fifth-graders’ self-perceptions in understanding the effects of science learning opportunities on their desire to learn more science. Thus, school science opportunities may be necessary but not sufficient for increasing student interest in learning more science. Since teachers have influence on both learning activities and a student’s sense of self as a science learner, the results underscore the importance of preparing elementary teachers to foster student desire to learn more science in the future.
Security During Application Development: an Application Security Expert Perspective

Many of the security problems that people face today, such as security breaches and data theft, are caused by security vulnerabilities in application source code. Thus, there is a need to understand and improve the experiences of those who can prevent such vulnerabilities in the first place - software developers as well as application security experts. Several studies have examined developers' perceptions and behaviors regarding security vulnerabilities, demonstrating the challenges they face in performing secure programming and utilizing tools for vulnerability detection. We expand upon this work by focusing on those primarily responsible for application security - security auditors. In an interview study of 32 application security experts, we examine their views on application security processes, their workflows, and their interactions with developers in order to further inform the design of tools and processes to improve application security.
The role of electron irradiation history in liquid cell transmission electron microscopy

In situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LC-TEM) allows dynamic nanoscale characterization of systems in a hydrated state. Although powerful, this technique remains impaired by issues of repeatability that limit experimental fidelity and hinder the identification and control of some variables underlying observed dynamics. We detail new LC-TEM devices that improve experimental reproducibility by expanding available imaging area and providing a platform for investigating electron flux history on the sample. Irradiation history is an important factor influencing LC-TEM results that has, to this point, been largely qualitatively and not quantitatively described. We use these devices to highlight the role of cumulative electron flux history on samples from both nanoparticle growth and biological imaging experiments and demonstrate capture of time zero, low-dose images on beam-sensitive samples. In particular, the ability to capture pristine images of biological samples, where the acquired image is the first time that the cell experiences significant electron flux, allowed us to determine that nanoparticle movement compared to the cell membrane was a function of cell damage and therefore an artifact rather than visualizing cell dynamics in action. These results highlight just a subset of the new science that is accessible with LC-TEM through the new multiwindow devices with patterned focusing aides.
Peroxidation of Lipids in Model Systems and in Biomembranes

For a very long time it has seemed to those in the autoxidation field that the cell membrane should be a prime target for peroxidative damage. Its ordered arrangement of the easily oxidized polyunsaturated acids and its proximity to many vital enzymes and other proteins should make a radical initiated and propagated reaction both facile and damaging. The difficulty with proof that this is the case lies in the complexity of the membrane systems and the impossibility of ascertaining exactly where the ultimate effect originated or how it arrived at its visible result.
Staging Principles in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains the most common cancer worldwide, with an incidence of 1.35 million new cases in 2002 (1). It also is the leading cause of cancer mortality globally, with 1.18 million deaths. This represents over 12 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers, and nearly 18 percent of all cancer deaths in the world (1). In the United States, it is estimated that 215,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2008, and nearly 162,000 people will die from the disease. Though the trend in new lung cancer cases appears to be declining in men and plateauing in women, the overall five-year survival rate for lung cancer in the United States still remains around 15 percent (2). The importance of accurate staging in lung cancer is based on the intertwined principles of treatment and prognosis. Without establishing a precise stage, it is unclear which treatment modalities should be offered, which clinical trials the patient would be eligible to participate in, or how to assess the outcomes of any treatment. Moreover, given the wide range of potential survival based on how localized or advanced the disease is, the clinician cannot counsel the patient adequately without this knowledge. In this chapter, the staging system for non-small cell lung cancer will be discussed. The goals of the chapter are:
Mapping OpenMP to a Distributed Tasking Runtime

Tasking was introduced in OpenMP 3.0 and every major release since has added features for tasks. However, OpenMP tasks coexist with other forms of parallelism which have influenced the design of their features. HPX is one of a new generation of task-based frameworks with the goal of extreme scalability. It is designed from the ground up to provide a highly asynchronous task-based interface for shared memory that also extends to distributed memory. This work introduces a new OpenMP runtime called OMPX, which provides a means to run OpenMP applications that do not use its accelerator features on top of HPX in shared memory. We describe the OpenMP and HPX execution models, and use microbenchmarks and application kernels to evaluate OMPX and compare their performance.
Clinician knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to management of vulvovaginal atrophy: variations in primary care and gynecology.

Objective Vulvovaginal atrophy is a common, but under-recognized condition affecting postmenopausal women. To guide development of an intervention to boost its detection and treatment, we surveyed primary care and gynecology clinicians practicing in an integrated healthcare system. Methods We constructed a three-part survey that contained (1) eight multiple-choice knowledge questions; (2) three Likert-scale questions regarding clinicians' likelihood of assessing for vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms at a routine (well) visit, confidence in advising patients about symptoms and counseling about therapy; and (3) a 12-item check list of potential barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Analyses were performed using multiple regression. Results Of the 360 clinicians who were sent an e-mail request, 119 (90 primary care, 29 gynecology) completed the survey (33%). Responders and nonresponders did not differ by age, specialty, or clinician type. The proportion with correct responses to knowledge questions differed between primary care (63%) and gynecology (77%) (adjusted mean difference [AMD] =16, 95% CI [10-22]). Primary care clinicians were less likely than gynecology clinicians to assess for symptoms (AMD = 1.04, 95% CI [0.55-1.52]), and were less confident about their ability to advise on symptoms (AMD = 0.66, 95% CI [0.33-0.99]) and to counsel patients about treatment (AMD = 0.76, 95% CI [0.42-1.10]). Lack of time (71%) and educational materials (44%) were the most common barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Conclusions Primary care and gynecology clinicians differ in their knowledge and confidence in managing vulvovaginal atrophy but report similar practice barriers. Addressing identified knowledge deficits and practice barriers may lead to improved management of vulvovaginal atrophy.
Machine learning coarse grained models for water.

An accurate and computationally efficient molecular level description of mesoscopic behavior of ice-water systems remains a major challenge. Here, we introduce a set of machine-learned coarse-grained (CG) models (ML-BOP, ML-BOPdih, and ML-mW) that accurately describe the structure and thermodynamic anomalies of both water and ice at mesoscopic scales, all at two orders of magnitude cheaper computational cost than existing atomistic models. In a significant departure from conventional force-field fitting, we use a multilevel evolutionary strategy that trains CG models against not just energetics from first-principles and experiments but also temperature-dependent properties inferred from on-the-fly molecular dynamics (~ 10’s of milliseconds of overall trajectories). Our ML BOP models predict both the correct experimental melting point of ice and the temperature of maximum density of liquid water that remained elusive to-date. Our ML workflow navigates efficiently through the high-dimensional parameter space to even improve upon existing high-quality CG models (e.g. mW model). A computationally efficient description of ice-water systems at the mesoscopic scale is challenging due to system size and timescale limitations. Here the authors develop a machine-learned coarse-grained water model to elucidate the ice nucleation process much more efficiently than previous models.
Modification of a Ray-Tracer for Monte Carlo Prediction of Multiple-Scattered Radio Fields

Abstract Current theories of tropospheric scatter propagation are single scatter ray theories. The scattering blobs or wavy layers are regarded as converting a ray from the transmitter into a ray toward the receiver. Diffraction and ducting effects are ignored for lack of tractable solutions to the wave equation for points near the horizon ray, in even a standard atmosphere. The generally stratified average atmospheric refractive structure enters only through ray-bending, allowing the illmninating and singly scattered rays to intersect, at more or fewer scatterers, at better or worse angles. Suggestions for the importance of multiple scatter in long-range propagation have hitherto been fruitless, except in the qualitative interpretation of experimental data, owing to the mathematical difficulties of even a ray treatment. From the foregoing ray-conversion point of view, the mathematical problem of multiple scatter is first investigated in the simplest case of a homogeneously blobby “vacuum” with no boundaries. It is foimd that midtiple blob scatter can be described through two parameters, the power attenuation coefficient of a coherent wave, and (essentially) the beamwidth of the single-scatter power pattern of the blobs. By the insertion of suitable two-parameter noise voltages, a commercially available ray-tracer can be appropriately modified to trace multiple-scattered rays in stratified atmospheres over a reflecting earth. We describe the modifications necessary for this and for recording paths of 10−4 per cent of the rays, launched at the horizon, which reach low altitudes at scatter-propagation ranges. Microwave propagation in the blobby vacuum is then reconsidered in approximate treatments taking accoimt of phase coherence between forward-scattered and incident waves. Some progress is believed made in the central problem of describing the wave's growth of randonmess from coherence at a source to a Rayleigh-distributed, completely random condition at infinity.
Novel Rearrangements and Mutations in the Alpha-Globin Gene Cluster Detected by a New Alpha-Globin Dosage Assay, Cation Exchange HPLC and Comprehensive DNA Sequencing.

The alpha globin gene cluster contains two highly homologous alpha globin genes, HBA1 and HBA2, that code for identical proteins. Mutations in the alpha globin gene cluster are predominantly large deletions causing the loss of either one copy of the alpha-globin gene (e.g. -α3.7 and -α4.2 deletions) or both copies (e.g. --THAI, --FIL or --MED). A few large deletions encompassing the regulatory HS-40 region have also been described in alpha-thalassaemia patients. Point mutations and small base pair insertions or deletions have also been detected in HBA1 and HBA2 genes. Seven common large deletions in the alpha globin gene cluster are detected by a gapped-PCR assay. These common mutations and some other types of rearrangements can be detected by Southern blot, a laborious and time consuming method. However, these methods may not accurately identify the total number of copies of alpha globin like genes. We designed a single-tube alpha globin gene dosage assay (αGDA) using semi-quantitative fluorescent PCR (SQF PCR) for detecting the total number of alpha globin genes. Primers that amplify specific fragments from HBA1 and HBA2 genes, a fragment between the alpha globin pseudogenes, and three fragments flanking and including the HS-40 regulatory region were included in a single PCR reaction together with primers that amplify fragments from 3 different normalization genes. Using the αGDA, we were able to detect in patient samples varying copy numbers of alpha globin genes and to identify the nature of DNA rearrangements between HBA1 and HBA2. We also identified novel alpha globin conversion events that were verified by DNA sequencing. We also designed a complimentary comprehensive DNA sequencing assay to detect point mutations and small base pair insertions or deletions in the HBA1 and HBA2 genes. Using this method, and in combination with cation exchange HPLC and agarose gel electrophoresis, novel mutations in alpha globins were identified and submitted to the globin gene server, including Hb Linwood (α2 40 Lys>Gln), Hb Creve Coeur (α2 24 Tyr>Asp), and Hb Westborough (α-3.7 130 Ala>Val). The simplicity of αGDA will allow the replacement of the laborious Southern blot analysis to detect large deletions in the alpha globin gene cluster and to provide accurate information of total a-globin gene dosage, while the DNA sequencing assay will allow the detection of known and novel variants.
Power Law Behavior of Shear Waves Measured in Swine Liver

To characterize the attenuation and dispersion behavior of shear waves in excised swine liver samples, complex shear modulus values are measured with a Rheospectris C500+ from 10 Hz to 2000 Hz. The shear wave attenuation and shear wave speed are then calculated from the complex modulus measurements. A power law fit is evaluated for the shear wave attenuation, and a power law fit with a constant offset is evaluated for the shear wave speed. The power law closely matches the measured shear wave attenuation over most of the frequency range evaluated, although some differences are observed at lower frequencies. The power law with the constant offset closely matches the measured shear wave speed in all measurements. The results demonstrate that shear wave attenuation and shear wave speed in swine liver follow a power law.
Breastfeeding in the NICU: Does Race Matter?

Background: Breast milk feedings are associated with improved health outcomes in preterm infants. There are reported racial disparities in breast milk feeding rates in full term and preterm newborns in the United States, however the causes of this variation are not completely understood. Objectives: To gain insight into breast milk feeding rates during an infant’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization and at the time of discharge from a large tertiary referral NICU, Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach (MCWHLB). The primary …
Data-Driven Dynamic Model Identification for Synchronous Generators

The objective of this paper is to find parameters of dynamic synchronous generator models through phasor measurement unit (PMU) data. Two estimation models are assumed. The first is an input/output model with electric power measurement as input and frequency as output. The second model assumes a single machine infinite bus system and the measurements are treated as outputs only. For these two models, various system identification methods are applied to achieve the goal, including autoregression exogenous (ARX)-based least squares estimation (LSE), subspace identification through n4sid, and linear grey-box model identification. Numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of dynamic parameter estimation.
Evolving Dyadic Strategies for a Cooperative Physical Task

Many cooperative physical tasks require that individuals play specialized roles (e.g., leader-follower). Humans are adept cooperators, negotiating these roles and transitions between roles innately. Yet how roles are delegated and reassigned is not well understood. Using a genetic algorithm, we evolve simulated agents to explore a space of feasible role-switching policies. Applying these switching policies in a cooperative manual task, agents process visual and haptic cues to decide when to switch roles. We then analyze the evolved virtual population for attributes typically associated with cooperation: load sharing and temporal coordination. We find that the best performing dyads exhibit high temporal coordination (anti-synchrony). And in turn, anti-synchrony is correlated to symmetry between the parameters of the cooperative agents. These simulations furnish hypotheses as to how human cooperators might mediate roles in dyadic tasks.
Glutamine depletion regulates Slug to promote EMT and metastasis in pancreatic cancer

Tumor cells rely on glutamine to fulfill their metabolic demands and sustain proliferation. The elevated consumption of glutamine can lead to intratumoral nutrient depletion, causing metabolic stress that has the potential to impact tumor progression. Here, we show that nutrient stress caused by glutamine deprivation leads to the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that glutamine deficiency regulates EMT through the up-regulation of the EMT master regulator Slug, a process that is dependent on both MEK/ERK signaling and ATF4. We find that Slug is required in PDAC cells for glutamine deprivation-induced EMT, cell motility, and nutrient stress survival. Importantly, we decipher that Slug is associated with nutrient stress in PDAC tumors and is required for metastasis. These results delineate a novel role for Slug in the nutrient stress response and provide insight into how nutrient depletion might influence PDAC progression.
Kinship bereavement and psychological well-being of U.S. Chinese older women and men.

This study examined the relationship of kinship bereavement with the psychological well-being of Chinese American older women and men. Data from the Population Study of ChINese Elderly were used. R...
Energy balancing in mobile opportunistic networks with wireless charging: Single and multi-hop approaches

Abstract Leveraging peer-to-peer energy sharing solutions between nodes, energy balancing aims to balance energy among the nodes in a network towards prolonging the network lifetime especially when external energy supply is not available. Previous studies target an energy balance among the devices as fast as possible but they waste energy in the network during this process due to the excessive interactions between nodes. Moreover, they do not take into account different contact relations between the nodes in the network. In this paper, we address these issues and present efficient and loss-aware energy balancing protocols considering the contact graph heterogeneity between nodes and a time threshold for completing the energy balancing. We consider both the single hop and multi-hop based energy exchanges among nodes and design separate protocols for each. Through simulations, we show that the proposed algorithms outperform the state-of-the-art solution by reaching a better energy balance with a lower energy loss, and multi-hop based approach performs better than single hop based one. We also discuss the implications of energy balancing process on network lifetime through different use cases and provide the necessary modifications on the proposed system to maximize the network lifetime especially in disconnected networks.
Food access in crisis: Food security and COVID-19

Abstract Disparities in food access and the resulting inequities in food security are persistent problems in cities across the United States. The nation's capital is no exception. The District of Columbia's 's geography of food insecurity reveals a history of uneven food access that has only been amplified by the vulnerability of food supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines the history of food insecurity in Washington, D.C., and explores new opportunities presented by advances in urban agriculture. Innovations in food production can offer urban communities sustainable alternatives to food access that simultaneously address local food security and green infrastructure needs. They also bring persistent sociopolitical barriers into greater focus. The current COVID-19 pandemic and its imposed social isolation exacerbates these barriers, rendering conventional food access solutions inadequate to deliver on their well-intentioned aims. The ability to order groceries and home goods on mobile devices, for example, may seem fortuitous. Yet, it also exposes the deep disadvantages of marginalized populations and the isolating nature of structural racism. Contrary to the market-centered focus of traditional food access policies, such as public-private partnerships, this paper highlights community-centered strategies that help dismantle existing sociopolitical barriers in an age of crisis and help shift the food justice discourse from food access to the broader goal of community empowerment.
High-order entropy stable discontinuous Galerkin methods for the shallow water equations: Curved triangular meshes and GPU acceleration

Abstract We present a high-order entropy stable discontinuous Galerkin (ESDG) method for the two dimensional shallow water equations (SWE) on curved triangular meshes. The presented scheme preserves a semi-discrete entropy inequality and remains well-balanced for continuous bathymetry profiles. We provide numerical experiments which confirm the high-order accuracy and theoretical properties of the scheme, and compare the presented scheme to an entropy stable scheme based on simplicial summation-by-parts (SBP) finite difference operators. Finally, we report the computational performance of an implementation on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and provide comparisons to existing GPU-accelerated implementations of high-order DG methods on quadrilateral meshes.
Interface quality informed by quantum-based magnetoconductivity: ITO on fused silica

Quantum magnetoconductance, delta-sigma(B)=sigma(B)-sigma(0), offers a new, unique way to study phonons in heavily-doped, complex semiconductors, including beta-Ga2O3 and Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO). At low temperature, theory predicts delta-sigma(B)=2.908B^(1/2) S/cm, shown to be true for thick, but not thin, samples. We grew ten ITO films by PLD on fused silica, d=13–292 nm. The thickness dependence was explained by a new delta-sigma(d)-vs-d theory based on a second source of disorder, interface-generated defects that decrease exponentially with distance from the ITO/FS interface. A fit of delta-sigma(d)-vs-d gives three parameters, including d*, the thickness above which the surface is not affected by interface damage.
Crisis Within a Crisis: Migrant Workers’ Predicament During COVID-19 Lockdown and the Role of Non-profit Organizations in India:

This article explores the role of non-profit organisations in mitigating crisis for the urban working poor during the pandemic in India. We focus specifically on the humanitarian crisis around the ...
Parental Depression and Contextual Selection: The Case of School Choice:

Parental depression constricts children’s development, but the mechanisms implicated—beyond daily parenting tactics—remain unknown. Today, parents must evaluate and select environmental contexts fo...
Both sites must turn over in tandem catalysis: Lessons from one-pot CO2 capture and hydrogenation

Abstract By combining capture and catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to chemicals and fuels in a single process operation, one can potentially increase the efficiency and feasibility of waste carbon utilization. We report here results for CO2 capture using amines supported on high-surface-area silicas, including fumed silica and mesoporous SBA-15, in tandem with a homogeneous ruthenium hydrogenation catalyst in a batch reactor system, and compare these with previous reports for two- and three-phase versions of capture + hydrogenation systems. While diamine- and polyamine-functionalized solid capture agents led to higher methanol productivities than homogeneous amine and homogeneous catalyst combinations, turnover of the amine capture sites is a significant limitation that has not been previously recognized. These results demonstrate that tandem catalysis in these systems has not yet been achieved, despite previous claims to the contrary.
Impact of COVID-19 on Mobility and traffic Volume trends in Montana and California

COVID-19 pandemic imposes a dramatic reduction in traffic volume, mobility, and energy consumption worldwide and across the United States. This pandemic provides us with a unique opportunity to investigate its sudden intervention on the habitual mobility of people and the traffic volume trends in respond to the number of COVID-19 cases, non-pharmaceutical interventions measures, public response and medical precautions. Looking into the two states of California and Montana, the severe changes in mobility and traffic volume happened during the “Stay at Home-Stay Safe” period during March and April 2020. The traffic volume trend started to recover in May in Montana and in late April in California. This paper also presents a data-driven case study electric vehicle charging in Los Angeles county, CA. The number of sessions and energy consumption for electric vehicles declined by 76% and 78% in 2020. The Electric vehicle mobility started to recover gradually in December 2020. Therefore, the respond of electric vehicle drivers to COVID-19 was different than the respond of the internal combustion engine car drivers