cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glucose Transporters in Parasitic Protozoa

Glucose and related hexoses play central roles in the biochemistry and metabolism of single cell parasites such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma, and Plasmodium that are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, African sleeping sickness, and malaria. Glucose transporters and the genes that encode them have been identified in each of these parasites and their functional properties have been scrutinized. These transporters are related in sequence and structure to mammalian facilitative glucose transporters of the SLC2 family, but they are nonetheless quite divergent in sequence. Hexose transporters have been shown to be essential for the viability of the infectious stage of each of these parasites and thus may represent targets for development of novel anti-parasitic drugs. The study of these transporters also illuminates many aspects of the basic biology of Leishmania, trypanosomes, and malaria parasites.
Progress in building a cognitive vision system

We are building a cognitive vision system for mobile robots that works in a manner similar to the human vision system, using saccadic, vergence and pursuit movements to extract information from visual input. At each fixation, the system builds a 3D model of a small region, combining information about distance, shape, texture and motion to create a local dynamic spatial model. These local 3D models are composed to create an overall 3D model of the robot and its environment. This approach turns the computer vision problem into a search problem whose goal is the acquisition of sufficient spatial understanding for the robot to succeed at its tasks. The research hypothesis of this work is that the movements of the robot’s cameras are only those that are necessary to build a sufficiently accurate world model for the robot’s current goals. For example, if the goal is to navigate through a room, the model needs to contain any obstacles that would be encountered, giving their approximate positions and sizes. Other information does not need to be rendered into the virtual world, so this approach trades model accuracy for speed.
Sensory modification of leech swimming: interactions between ventral stretch receptors and swim-related neurons.

The neuronal circuits that generate the leech swimming rhythm comprise oscillatory interneurons that provide appropriately phased output to drive swim-related motoneurons. Within ganglia, these interneurons express three phases; between ganglia there exists a phase delay between homologs. Our earlier experiments revealed that stretch receptors embedded in the body wall participate in intersegmental coordination and setting intersegmental phases. To identify the basis for these sensory effects, we mapped interactions between a ventral stretch receptor and swim-related neurons. Connections between this receptor and motoneurons are weak and variable in quiescent preparations, but during fictive swimming stretch receptor activation modulates motoneuron oscillations; hence, these effects are polysynaptic, mediated by interneurons. We identified a strong, nonrectifying, and apparently direct electrical connection between the stretch receptor and oscillator neuron 33. The ventral stretch receptor also interacts with most of the other oscillatory interneurons, including inhibitory inputs to cells 28 and 208, excitatory input to the contralateral cell 115, and mixed input to the ipsilateral cell 115. These direct and indirect interactions can account for previously described effects of body-wall stretch on motoneuron activity. They also could mediate the previously described modification of intersegmental phase relationships by appropriately phased stretch receptor activation.
The Importance of Pesticide Volatilization from the Surface Microlayer of Natural Waters after Aerial Spraying

Fenitrothion [O,O-dimethyl O-(p-nitro-m-tolyl) phosphorothionate] and deltamethrin [(S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (lR,3R)-cis-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate]in formulations sprayed on the surface of natural water in the laboratory disappeared from water far faster than formulations injected below the surface of the water. Half-lives of disappearance from surface-sprayed water were less than 2.5 h, compared to 5 - 60 d for disappearance from subsurface-injected water. Analyses of air filters showed that the disappearance from surface-sprayed samples was due to volatilization, which accounted for at least 70% of the pesticide lost from water. The results correlate well with those from earlier field studies of directly sprayed ponds, and indicate that volatilization from the surface microlayer is the major dissipation process for these pesticides sprayed on natural waters.
Mountain goat resource selection in relation to mining-related disturbance

Industrial development can have important direct and indirect effects on wildlife populations. Resource selection function (RSF) modeling provides a powerful tool for assessing the effects of industrial development on spatial use patterns of wildlife. Among North American large mammal species, mountain goats Oreamnos americanus are particularly sensitive to human disturbance. In this study mountain goat seasonal resource selection patterns were examined using GPS radio collar (n = 79 individuals) and remote sensing data in a GIS framework across a 491 km2 regional mountain range in southeast Alaska, 2005–2015. The resulting global RSF model was then applied across a limited spatial extent centered on an industrial mining site in order to assess whether mining activity altered expected spatial use patterns at different distances from the mine. Using a quasi treatment—control experimental framework we examined the occurrence of spatially explicit mine disturbance thresholds. In general, resource selection modeling indicated that mountain goats selected for steep, rugged terrain in close proximity to cliffs in areas with high solar exposure; and they selected for lower elevations in winter than in summer. Mountain goat selection for rugged terrain and proximity to cliffs was stronger in winter than summer. RSF model applications indicated that mountain goat use of predicted habitat in close proximity to the mine was lower than expected at distances up to 1800 m in winter and 1000 m in summer. Because lower elevation winter habitat is closer to mining activity than summer habitat, a greater percentage (42%) of winter habitat within the analysis area was affected by mining activity. The resulting net loss of functional winter habitat carrying capacity is likely to have long-term negative implications for the local mountain goat population. In places where mining is proposed, development should avoid areas within 1800 m of mountain goat winter habitat. In places where mining is already occurring within disturbance thresholds (such as this study), long-term monitoring and more detailed field studies should be conducted to more fully understand population-level consequences of disturbance and identify practicable mitigation measures that have a high probability of success.
Acute stress disorder symptoms after evaluation for acute coronary syndrome predict 30-day readmission

Abstract Background Thirty-day readmissions are a major concern for hospitals. Even though numerous readmission risk prediction models have been developed, their performance has been modest, and few predictors are modifiable. Stress is a modifiable factor that may increase risk of adverse post-hospitalization outcomes. We examined whether posttraumatic stress days after evaluation for acute coronary syndrome (ACS)—termed acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms—was associated with 30-day all-cause emergency department (ED) and hospital readmission. Methods Participants were enrolled in the REactions to Acute Care and Hospitalization (REACH) study during ED evaluation for ACS. During inpatient stay or by phone after discharge, participants reported ASD symptoms in response to the event that brought them to the ED. ED or hospital readmissions within 30days of discharge were determined by research nurse record review. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between ASD symptoms and 30-day ED/hospital readmission. Results In the analytic sample of 974 individuals, there were 123 ED/hospital readmissions within 30days of discharge. A 10-point ASD symptom increase was significantly associated with increased 30-day readmission risk in an unadjusted model [odds ratio (OR)=1.32, p =0.001] and a model adjusted for demographics, clinical characteristics, and ACS discharge diagnosis (OR=1.24, p =0.03). Conclusions Posttraumatic stress shortly after acute coronary syndrome evaluation may help to understand vulnerability for readmission.
Work Area Characterization to Control Product Cleanliness

A particulate contamination characterization program was initiated to develop operational profiles for the Perkin-Elmer clean room facility being used to assemble and verify the NASA Hubble Space Telescope. The primary objective of this program was to develop an analytical model to provide obscuration prediction data for hardware exposed to typical clean room environments. A performance profile of the work area was derived from real-time experimental data and related the effectiveness of the facility design to operational manpower and activity loading. The three-dimensional and time dynamics of this clean room environment were both considered in the analysis of the test data and suggest areas for further study that will provide additional guidelines for the design of large clean room facilities for future aerospace applications.
Abstract 1810: Dysregulation of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS): A novel therapeutic target in renal cell carcinoma

Targeted therapeutics, such as those abrogating hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)/VEGF signaling, are initially effective against kidney cancer (or renal cell carcinoma, RCC); however, drug resistance frequently occurs via subsequent activation of alternative pathways. Through genome-scale integrated analysis of the HIF-α network, we identified the major protein kinase C substrate MARCKS (myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate) as a potential target molecule for kidney cancer. In a screen of nephrectomy samples from 56 patients with RCC, we found that MARCKS expression and its phosphorylation are increased and positively correlate with tumor grade. Genetic and pharmacologic suppression of MARCKS in high grade RCC cell lines in vitro led to a decrease in cell proliferation and migration. We further demonstrated that higher MARCKS expression promotes growth and angiogenesis in vivo in an RCC xenograft tumor. MARCKS acted upstream of the AKT/mTOR pathway, activating HIF-target genes, notably VEGF-A. Following knockdown of MARCKS in RCC cells, the IC50 of the multi-kinase inhibitor regorafenib was reduced. Surprisingly, attenuation of MARCKS using the MPS peptide synergistically interacted with regorafenib treatment and decreased survival of kidney cancer cells through inactivation of AKT and mTOR. Our data suggest a major contribution of MARCKS to kidney cancer growth and provide an alternative therapeutic strategy of improving the efficacy of multi-kinase inhibitors. Citation Format: Ching-Hsien Chen, Wen-Hsin Chang, Eric Yu, Muhammad S. Arif, Reen Wu, Robert H. Weiss. Dysregulation of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS): A novel therapeutic target in renal cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1810. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1810
Explaining Response to Drugs Using Pathway Logic

Pathway Logic (PL) is a general system for modeling signal transduction and other cellular processes with the objective of understanding how cells work. Each specific model system builds on a knowledge base of rules formalizing local process steps such as post translational modification. The Pathway Logic Assistant (PLA) is a collection of visualization and reasoning tools that allow users to derive specific executable models by specifying of an initial state. The resulting network of rule instances describes possible behaviors of the modelled system. Subnets and pathways can then be computed (they are not hard wired) by specifying states to reach and/or to avoid. The STM knowledge base is a curated collection of signal transduction rules supported by experimental evidence. In this paper we describe methods for using the PL STM knowledge base and the PLA tools to explain observed perturbations of signaling pathways when cells are treated with drugs targeting specific activities or protein states. We also explore ideas for conjecturing targets of unknown drugs. We illustrate the methods on phosphoproteomics data (RPPA) from SKMEL133 melanoma cancer cells treated with different drugs targeting components of cancer signaling pathways. Existing curated knowledge allowed to us explain many of the responses. Conflicts between the STM model predictions and the data suggest missing requirements for rules to apply.
Least-Square-Support-Vector-Machine-based approach to obtain displacement from measured acceleration

A kernel regression approach is proposed for obtaining the displacement time series from a recorded acceleration time series.The proposed method does not require any baseline adjustment, other than removing the mean of the accelerogram record.The solution obtained is numerically stable and thus regularization is not necessary.The reconstructed displacement does not exhibit any long period drift. Recent advances in computer and sensing technologies have led to the proliferation of sensor networks in structural health monitoring and condition monitoring applications.Vibration data collected by sensors provide useful information about the condition of a structure or a machine component, facilitating identification of any changes in its performance. While acceleration and displacement data provide complementary information, a cost-effective alternative to monitoring both is to estimate displacements from accelerations. This paper presents a kernel regression approach for obtaining displacement time series from acceleration data. Starting from a second-order central difference approximation, the method performs ridge regression in a feature space induced by the linear kernel. The main advantages of the proposed method are (1) It does not require baseline adjustment, other than removing the mean of the acceleration record; (2) The solution obtained is numerically stable, and thus regularization is not necessary; (3) The reconstructed displacement does not exhibit any long period drift. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated through examples, where structural systems displacements computed using the proposed approach were compared to the recorded experimental displacements. While the presented examples focus only on monitoring of vibrations responses of structural systems, the proposed method can be used in other settings where a displacement signal is to be estimated from an acceleration signal with appropriate, application-specific modifications.
Reinventing capitalism to address automation: Sharing work to secure employment and income:

Accumulating evidence suggests that automation is on an exponential growth path and it is projected to lead to massive technological unemployment. This paper proposes a conceptual framework within ...
Adherens Junctions in C. elegans Embryonic Morphogenesis

Caenorhabditis elegans provides a simplified, in vivo model system in which to study adherens junctions (AJs) and their role in morphogenesis. The core AJ components—HMR-1/E-cadherin, HMP-2/β-catenin and HMP-1/α-catenin—were initially identified through genetic screens for mutants with body axis elongation defects. In early embryos, AJ proteins are found at sites of contact between blastomeres, and in epithelial cells AJ proteins localize to the multifaceted apical junction (CeAJ)—a single structure that combines the adhesive and barrier functions of vertebrate adherens and tight junctions. The apically localized polarity proteins PAR-3 and PAR-6 mediate formation and maturation of junctions, while the basolaterally localized regulator LET-413/Scribble ensures that junctions remain apically positioned. AJs promote robust adhesion between epithelial cells and provide mechanical resistance for the physical strains of morphogenesis. However, in contrast to vertebrates, C. elegans AJ proteins are not essential for general cell adhesion or for epithelial cell polarization. A combination of conserved and novel proteins localizes to the CeAJ and works together with AJ proteins to mediate adhesion.
Racial Disparity in the Clinical Determinants and Outcomes of Cesarean Hysterectomy

This study was undertaken to compare the risk factors, indications for and complications rates of cesarean hysterectomy in patient from two different ethnic backgrounds-whites and nonwhites-using patients who had cesarean hysterectomy in the Detroit Medical Center from 1991-2007. During the study period, there were 42599 cesarean deliveries, making the incidence of cesarean hysterectomy to be 3.7 per 1000 cesarean deliveries. Of the 158 cases, 8.9% were planned, while 91.1% were emergent. Among the emergent cases, nonwhites were more likely to have a higher parity (median [range], 3 [0-13] vs. 2 [0-9]; p = .025), while whites were more likely to have a private insurance (64.7% vs. 29.1%; p = .001; OR, 4.47; 95% CI, 1.98-10.09]. There were no significant differences in the indications for cesarean hysterectomy among the racial groups. Whites were more likely to have composite cardiopulmonary complications and urological injury compared to nonwhites, (17.6% vs. 3.6%; P = .012; OR, 5.68; 95% CI, 1.50-21.51) and (26.5% vs. 10.9%; P = .05; OR 2.94; CI, 1.12-7.75), respectively. In conclusion, beyond higher rates of cardiopulmonary complications and urological injury among whites, no significant racial differences exist in the risk factors, indications for, and complications from cesarean hysterectomy.
Beliefs about breast cancer and mammography by behavioral stage.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the relationships of Health Belief Model (HBM) variables and the Trans-theoretical Model with regard to behavioral stage of mammography adoption. DESIGN Descriptive, correlational. SETTING Large midwestern city. SAMPLE 405 women over age 40 obtained through random digit dialing. Subjects had agreed to participate in a larger intervention study. METHODS Data were collected during in-home interviews. Subjects completed six scales developed from the HBM and answered questions related to mammography compliance. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Perceptions of breast cancer susceptibility and seriousness, perceived benefits of and barriers to mammography, motivation to stay healthy, and perceived control over health; degree of mammography compliance. FINDINGS Women complaint with mammography guidelines had significantly higher scores on seriousness, benefits, health motivation, and control as well as significantly lower scores on barriers. In addition, scores on susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers, and health motivation were significantly different across stages of mammography (precontemplation, contemplation, and action/maintenance). CONCLUSIONS Interventions should target attitudes about susceptibility and seriousness of breast cancer in women who do not comply with established guidelines for mammography. Women who are not in compliance and have no plans to seek mammography would benefit from additional emphasis on mammography benefits and from removal of barriers. Health motivation also must be addressed in noncompliant women. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE These results promise to expand the understanding of a person's motivation to change health-seeking behaviors, specifically obtaining routine screening mammograms. Further research using this new framework is needed to substantiate these results with a cross section of women.
Laser Effects on Blood, Blood Vessels and Blood Vessel Tumors

Impacts of the laser on living tissue show significant effects on blood vessels with either hemorrhage or thrombosis (clotting), or both. It was assumed that the red color absorbed the laser radiation. Our studies on fresh blood smears showed destruction of red cells even with low energy densities. These changes included swelling of the cell, blister formation and even complete vaporization. The energy densities for such changes in red cells of fresh smears were found by J. Goldman and P. Hornby to be in the range of 0.16 joules exit energy. It was noted that white cells in the same field showed little effect when these blood smears were stained after exposure. There was little effect on platelets unless dyed.
Reliability analysis of a retrial machine repair problem with warm standbys and a single server with N-policy

Abstract This study analyzes the system reliability of the retrial machine repair system with M operating units, S warm standby units and a single repair server with N-policy. Failure times of operating units and standby units are assumed to have exponential distributions with rates λ and η, respectively. When the repair server normally operates in serving failed units, it is subject to breakdown. The time to failure and the repair time for the single server are assumed to follow exponential distributions. When the server is broken down, it can also provide partial repair service with lower service rate. The repair times of failed units also have exponential distributions. Extensive numerical experiments are designed and executed to realize how performance measures are affected by the change of each system parameter.
Nanoelectronic Security Designs for Resource-Constrained Internet of Things Devices: Finding Security Solutions with Nanoelectronic Hardwares

The term internet of things (IoT) is often defined in a variety of different ways but typically refers to electronic devices and systems (e.g., toaster ovens and wearable sensors) with added computational capabilities and Internet connectivity. The IoT introduces new security concerns that must be addressed at an early stage of the IoT design. Since security operations such as encryption and authentication are often resource hungry, solutions are needed that provide reasonable levels of security with minimal area and power consumption. Emerging nanoscale technologies are also being developed and require very low area utilization and low power consumption, important features for the IoT. In this article, we present a few examples of security systems built from nanoscale electronic devices that could provide solutions for low resource security in emerging IoT devices.
Epidermal Remodeling in Caenorhabditis elegans Dauers Requires the Nidogen Domain Protein DEX-1.

Phenotypic plasticity is a critical component of an organism’s ability to thrive in a changing environment. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans adapts to unfavorable environmental conditions by pausing reproductive development and entering a stress-resistant larval stage known as dauer. The transition into dauer is marked by vast morphological changes, including remodeling of epidermis, neurons, and muscle. Although many of these dauer-specific traits have been described, the molecular basis of dauer-specific remodeling is still poorly understood. Here we show that the nidogen domain-containing protein DEX-1 facilitates stage-specific tissue remodeling during dauer morphogenesis. DEX-1 was previously shown to regulate sensory dendrite formation during embryogenesis. We find that DEX-1 is also required for proper remodeling of the stem cell-like epidermal seam cells. dex-1 mutant dauers lack distinct lateral cuticular alae during dauer and have increased sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate. Furthermore, we find that DEX-1 is required for proper dauer mobility. We show that DEX-1 is secreted from the seam cells during dauer, but acts locally in a cell-autonomous manner. We find that dex-1 expression during dauer is regulated through DAF-16/FOXO–mediated transcriptional activation. Finally, we show that dex-1 acts with a family of zona pellucida domain-encoding genes to regulate dauer-specific epidermal remodeling. Taken together, our data indicate that DEX-1 is an extracellular matrix component that plays a central role in C. elegans epidermal remodeling during dauer.
Access to Imaging Technology in Global Health

Diagnostic imaging technologies have changed the way physicians both diagnose and treat human illness. While diagnostic imaging technologies are increasingly available throughout the world, there is great inequality in access to these important medical technologies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost two-thirds of the world population, primarily in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), lack access to basic imaging technology. This alarming statistic poses the important question, “How does one define ‘access’?” This chapter begins by exploring diagnostic imaging technologies essential to LMICs and the process through which the WHO measures availability of imaging technology. Then, the various aspects that make up the modern concept of “access” to healthcare will be discussed. This chapter will shed light on the modern theory of measuring access as it relates to modern definitions with emphasis on challenges that remain to determine the overall gap in adequate access to diagnostic imaging technology. By understanding what has been done and what remains to be done, one can construct a better picture of how to close the gap in access to imaging technology around the word. Initiatives aimed toward addressing inequality in access will be discussed.
Fiscal consolidations and the cost of credit

Abstract Using loan-level data covering 15 advanced economies over 1990–2014, we show that the cost of credit increases with fiscal consolidations. This increase is observed with both tax hikes and spending cuts, and is smaller when the consolidation is large. The cost of credit goes up with tax hikes that apply to a particular sector, but not with spending cuts that are directed at a certain sector. Firms that face higher costs tend to be small, highly leveraged, domestic, government dependent, and financially constrained. Hence, there may be costs associated with fiscal consolidations—beyond the aggregate-demand channel—borne primarily by firms operating in sectors directly affected by the consolidation measures and by those that have limited access to international markets and alternative financing sources.
Genome editing using the endogenous type I CRISPR-Cas system in Lactobacillus crispatus

CRISPR-Cas systems are now widely used for genome editing and transcriptional regulation in diverse organisms. The compact and portable nature of class 2 single effector nucleases, such as Cas9 or Cas12, has facilitated directed genome modifications in plants, animals, and microbes. However, most CRISPR-Cas systems belong to the more prevalent class 1 category, which hinges on multiprotein effector complexes. In the present study, we detail how the native type I-E CRISPR-Cas system, with a 5′-AAA-3′ protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) and a 61-nucleotide guide CRISPR RNA (crRNA) can be repurposed for efficient chromosomal targeting and genome editing in Lactobacillus crispatus, an important commensal and beneficial microbe in the vaginal and intestinal tracts. Specifically, we generated diverse mutations encompassing a 643-base pair (bp) deletion (100% efficiency), a stop codon insertion (36%), and a single nucleotide substitution (19%) in the exopolysaccharide priming-glycosyl transferase (p-gtf). Additional genetic targets included a 308-bp deletion (20%) in the prophage DNA packaging Nu1 and a 730-bp insertion of the green fluorescent protein gene downstream of enolase (23%). This approach enables flexible alteration of the formerly genetically recalcitrant species L. crispatus, with potential for probiotic enhancement, biotherapeutic engineering, and mucosal vaccine delivery. These results also provide a framework for repurposing endogenous CRISPR-Cas systems for flexible genome targeting and editing, while expanding the toolbox to include one of the most abundant and diverse systems found in nature.
Analysis of Toxic Metals in Liquid from Electronic Cigarettes.

As the technology of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes, evolves, assessing metal concentrations in liquids among brands over time becomes challenging. A method for quantification of chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, tin, and lead in ENDS liquids using triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed. The method’s limits of detection (LODs) were 0.031, 0.032, 3.15, 1.27, 0.108, 0.099, 0.066 µg/g for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, and Pb respectively. Liquids analyzed were from different brands and flavors of refill bottles or single-use, rechargeable, and pod devices from different years. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy further evaluated the device components’ compositions. Refill liquids before contacting a device were below lowest reportable levels (LRL) for all metals. Copper and zinc were elevated in liquids from devices containing brass. Cadmium was <LRL in all liquids and was not observed in device components. Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, and Pb, reported in µg/g, ranged from <LRL to 0.396, 4.04, 903, 454, 0.898, and 13.5 respectively. Elevated metal concentrations in the liquid were also elevated in aerosol from the corresponding device. The data demonstrates the impact of device design and materials on toxic metals in ENDS liquid.
A mathematical model for meat cooking

We present an accurate two-dimensional mathematical model for steak cooking based on Flory–Rehner theory. The model treats meat as a poroelastic medium saturated with fluid. Heat from cooking induces protein matrix deformation and moisture loss, leading to shrinkage. Numerical simulations indicate good agreement with experimental data. Moreover, this work presents a new and computationally non-expensive method to account for shrinkage.
And Justice for All! Teaching the Reparations Debate

One of the most significant and controversial issues facing the United States as it prepares for the 2020 election cycle centers around reparations—whether the United States should compensate African Americans for slavery, Jim Crow segregation, racial inequalities, and persistent racial discrimination—and the numerous moral, political, social, and cultural arguments for and against reparations. The disputes surrounding reparations are not new in American politics; in fact, they have been present since the end of the Civil War in 1865, and have fluctuated in the public consciousness based on grassroots movements, media attention, legal opinions, and academia’s interests in the most effective manner to achieve racial justice. The debate regarding reparations is enormously complex and fraught competing ideologies, contradictory visions for achieving racial justice, and is an emotionally charged issue. Nevertheless, secondary students should be taught multiple perspectives regarding reparations—including the historical events that precipitated the current focus on racial and social justice—and have access to competing arguments, facts, statistics, and opinions to construct their own views. In the United States, the reparations debate is controversial and is a currently important topic in education and politics. This topic is ideal for social studies education because it allows students to engage in a powerful moral, political, economic, and social issue with profound historical and contemporary implications. This article will examine the reparations debate and propose several instructional methods and activities to teach this debate in a pedagogically sound manner that advances civic participation without indoctrination.
Disparate and Alarming Impact of Gastrointestinal Cancers in Young Adult Patients

The rise in the incidence of gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) in young adults (YA) remains unexplained. We aim to identify differences in these malignancies between YA and older patients. We retrospectively analyzed the California Cancer Registry for all GC and CRC cases from 2000 to 2012. Pearson’s Chi square analysis and stepwise regression model with backward elimination were used to analyze differences in demographic, clinical, and histopathologic features, and log-rank test to compare survival between young (≤ 40 years) and older adults (41–90 years) with GC or CRC, separately. We analyzed 19,368 cases of GC and 117,415 cases of CRC. YA accounted for 4.6% of GC (n = 883) and 2.8% of CRC (n = 3273) patients. Compared with older patients, YA were more likely to be Hispanic (P < 0.0001) and have poorly differentiated (P < 0.0001), higher histologic grade (P < 0.0001), and signet ring features (P < 0.0001). Synchronous peritoneal metastases were more common in YA patients (32.1% vs. 14.1% GC, 8.8% vs. 5.4% CRC, P < 0.0001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) of YA with CRC or GC was longer than that of older patients with the same stage of malignancy; except YA with stage I GC, who demonstrated poor OS and disease-specific survival (DSS) (65.1% and 67.9%, respectively) which were significantly worse than those of adults aged 41–49 years (70.7% and 76.2%, respectively) and 50–64 years (69.1% and 78.1%, respectively). YA with GC or CRC have distinctly worse clinical and histopathologic features compared with older patients and are disproportionately of Hispanic ethnicity. These results contribute to improving understanding of younger versus older GI cancer patients.
Hygienic Properties of Organic Versus Inorganic Bedding

Bedding in dairy cattle stalls has been used traditionally to provide a comfortable surface for recumbent animals, and less concern has been directed toward footing. Cattle with locomotor deficits have difficulty standing on surfaces which tend to allow slippage. With traditional bedding materials such as wood shavings or straw, the feet easily penetrate through the bedding to the underlying concrete where traction is poor especially when wet due to urination. Cows with a history of parturient paresis are predisposed to the downer cow syndrome (1). Sand has been proposed as a bedding material to assure proper footing for prevention and treatment of the downer cow syndrome (1). Since soil surfaces are not permitted in grade A dairy barns, the hygienic status of sand is open to question. The following study is an attempt to investigate hygienic and management properties of sand as a bedding for calving stalls, but the lessons learned herein could be applied to mounting areas for cows or bulls, stallions, and boars.
Intravenous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells Transplantation Improves the Effect of Training in Chronic Stroke Mice

There is no effective treatment for chronic stroke if the acute or subacute phase is missed. Rehabilitation alone cannot easily achieve a dramatic recovery in function. In contrast to significant therapeutic effects of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) transplantation for acute stroke, mild and non-significant effects have been shown for chronic stroke. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of a combination of BM-MNC transplantation and neurological function training in chronic stroke. The effect of BM-MNC on neurological functional was tested four weeks after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) insult in mice. BM-MNC (1 × 105cells in 100 μl PBS) were injected into the vein of MCAO model mice, followed by behavioral tests as functional evaluations. Interestingly, there was a significant therapeutic effect of BM-MNC only when repeated training was performed. This suggested that cell therapy alone was not sufficient for chronic stroke treatment; however, training with cell therapy was effective. The combination of these differently targeted therapies provided a significant benefit in the chronic stroke mouse model. Therefore, targeted cell therapy via BM-MNC transplantation with appropriate training presents a promising novel therapeutic option for patients in the chronic stroke period.
Contrasting thermally-induced structural and microstructural evolution of alumino-silicates with tubular and planar arrangements: Case study of halloysite and kaolinite

Abstract Materials with the similar chemical structures but different morphological organization exhibit considerable differences in thermally induced chemo-morphological evolution. With recent advancements in multi-scale X-ray scattering measurements, it is now possible to non-invasively probe the structural and microstructural evolution of such materials. In this study, we investigate the chemo-morphological evolution of halloysite and contrast the results with those for kaolinite. Halloysite and kaolinite have tubular and planar morphologies, respectively. Both materials are alumino-silicates comprised of silica tetrahedral (T) and alumina octahedral (O) sheets organized in a TO structure. Four distinct stages in the structural evolution were identified. Stages I, II, III, and IV correspond to temperature ranges of 25–125 °C, 125–400 °C, 400–625 °C, and 625–875 °C. Major structural changes correspond to the removal of interlayer/adsorbed water in stage I, the existence of the halloysite structure without interlayer water in stage II, dehydroxylation of halloysite in stage III, and the conversion of ordered halloysite to amorphous meta-halloysite in stage IV. Additionally, heating halloysite up to 875 °C resulted in slight widening of the nanotubes, as the average pore radius increased from 6.4 nm to 6.6 nm. Heating also resulted in an increase of wall thickness of the nanotubes from ∼120 nm (25 °C) to 161 nm (875 °C). The increase in the halloysite nanotube diameter was attributed to the expansion of the structure and an increase in the surface roughness. The pore sizes in halloysite nanotubes were also confirmed using N2 adsorption-desorption and nano-X-ray computed tomography (nano-XCT) measurements. The interlayer basal spacing in halloysite changed from 9.8 A to 7.2 A after the removal of interlayer water. At temperatures in the range of 625–875 °C, heating halloysite causes a small widening of nanotube pores and a minor increase in the surface area. In contrast, the interlayer spacing in kaolinite collapses on heating which reduces the nanoscale porosity. These studies demonstrate the differences in the chemo-morphological evolution of alumino-silicates with tubular and planar morphologies.
Overcoming Michigan’s Homework Gap: The Role of Broadband Internet Connectivity for Student Success and Career Outlooks

Differences in home Internet access have direct and indirect effects on K-12 student educational achievements. Much of the attention during the past years has been on the homework gap, disadvantages to students of lacking or poor Internet connectivity at home for the completion of homework assignments. Our research, based on a detailed survey of 3,258 students in grades 8-11 in small town and rural Michigan school districts, shows that the homework gap is real even after controlling for socioeconomic and other factors. It also shows that disparities in home Internet connectivity are associated, directly and indirectly, with much broader student performance gaps. They are associated with the development of digital skills, grades, standardized test scores, career orientation, and interest in pursuing post-secondary education. These challenges require a portfolio of responses, including coordinated efforts by local, state and federal policymakers to mitigate broadband infrastructure access and affordability gaps. They also require measures to make appropriate access devices available and the facilitation of skills and practices to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitally supported teaching and learning.
Global Perspectives on Food Insecurity, Nutritional Knowledge, and Community Health and Well-Being.

Ecology of Food and Nutrition (EFN) promotes scholarly discussion and engagement on the holistic and cross-cultural dimensions of food and nutrition. Articles published in this journal focus on foo...
A Web-Based Approach to Stakeholder Analysis for Identifying and Understanding Broader Constituencies in Wildlife Conservation

Shifting social and ecological contexts for conservation in North America have highlighted that wildlife agencies must engage with broad constituencies to achieve their missions. Responding to limi...
Magnetic Field Exposure Guidelines

My presentation will be a sharp contrast to the discussions that dealt with lower organisms and fields with strengths of only a few gauss. Now, we are going to move up to kilogausses and talk about people. My real function here is to try to give you some insight into why there is a need to establish exposure guidelines in the immediate future, and for what particular purposes they might be suitable. The Department of Energy ad hoc committee which I am chairing has now completed a review of technologies that utilize magnetic fields, and I believe we have gained an understanding of the conditions for which we have to set guidelines. In the course of describing these conditions, I hope as well to give you a feeling for the range of exposures that are likely in occupational situations.
Observation of Software for Distributed Systems with RCL

Program observation involves formulating a query about the behavior of a program and then observing the program as it executes in order to determine the result of the query. Observation is used in software development to track down bugs and clarify understanding of a program's behavior, and in software testing to ensure that a program behaves as expected for a given input set. RCL is a recursive logic built upon conjunctive global predicates. Computational structures of common paradigms such as butterfly synchronization and distributed consensus can be expressed easily in RCL. A nonintrusive decentralized algorithm for detecting RCL predicates is developed and proven correct.
Maternal cardiovascular response to caffeine infusion in the pregnant ewe.

Abstract The effect of maternal caffeine infusion on uterine blood flow and fetal oxygenation was studied in chronically catheterized pregnant sheep equipped with electromagnetic flow probes. The systemic administration of caffeine in doses of 8 and 24 mg/kg of body weight resulted in peak maternal serum levels of 16.7 ± 0.9 and 38.5 ± 2.1 μg/ml and fetal serum levels of 10.9 ± 0.7 and 34.9 ± 4.5 μg/ml respectively. While no significant effects were noted at the 8 mg/kg dose, administration of 24 mg/kg was associated with a 5% reduction in uterine blood flow (p
Bovine gallbladder mucin binds bilirubin in vitro.

Abstract Gallbladder mucin glycoprotein and bilirubin are frequently identified at the center of human cholesterol gallstones, suggesting that mucin-bilirubin complexes might function as nucleating agents for cholesterol gallstones. This study was undertaken to determine if bovine gallbladder mucin was capable of binding bilirubin in vitro. Chromatography of dialyzed bovine gallbladder bile on Sepharose 4B revealed that bile pigment (OD 420 ) eluted in a high-molecular weight fraction also containing mucin, as well as in an included (low-molecular weight) fraction. When bilirubin (98.8% as IX α by high-pressure liquid chromatography) and purified bovine gall-bladder mucin were ultracentrifuged in a sucrose density gradient, the presence of bilirubin—mucin complexes was observed. Alteration of the polymeric structure of mucin with mercaptoethanol caused loss of its ability to bind bilirubin, suggesting that the native polymeric configuration is required. These results indicate that mucin can bind bilirubin in vitro, and might explain their occurrence in the nucleus of human cholesterol stones.
Differential gene activation in isolated chromosomes.

Publisher Summary The principle of differential gene activation states that the differences among cells having the same genetic content are the result of different sets of genes being turned on or off. Differential gene activation is the basis of cell differentiation and function. The control of gene activity in higher organisms can take place at more than one level, for example, at the level of DNA, RNA polymerase, or histone. By interacting with DNA, histone determines whether RNA polymerase can ever bind at the respective chromosome region and whether mechanisms operating at other levels can ever come into play. Because the interaction between histone and DNA is ionic, it is primarily influenced by the ionic milieu of the chromosomal environment. Inorganic anions such as chloride or phosphate may affect the histone-DNA interaction as organic ions, such as amino acids, nucleotides, polyamines, or even more complex “ions” such as phosphoprotein, acidic protein, or RNA.
A Study of the Removal of Synthetic Sebum from Durable-Press Fabrics, Using a Liquid-Scintillation Technique

A study was made of the retention of a doubly labelled synthetic sebum mixture by durable-press cotton and polyester/cotton fabrics after soiling and laundering. The laundry conditions were ineffective in removing the labelled, oily soil components (tristearin, octadecanol, cholesterol, stearic acid, and oleic acid) from the fabrics. After one soiling and laundering, more tristearin was retained by the fabrics than the other four soil components. The untreated cotton retained significantly less tristearin than DP cotton and the untreated and DP polyester/cotton fabrics. In contrast, after several soilings and launderings, both tristearin and the polar components accumulated on the fabrics and untreated cotton retained significantly more of these components than the other three fabrics.
Regulation of epidermal growth factor binding in a human keratinocyte cell line by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Abstract 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) decreased the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) by the human keratinocyte cell line SCC-12F. This response was concentration dependent (half-maximal effective concentration, EC50 = 1.8 n m ) and stereospecific. Scatchard analysis of EGF binding indicated that treatment with TCDD resulted in a loss of high-affinity ( K d = 0.28 n m ) binding sites. This loss was accompanied by a concomitant inhibition of EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis. The kinetics for the decrease of EGF binding by TCDD and benzo[ a ]pyrene (BP) were compared. Inhibition of EGF binding by BP was maximal by 24 hr, with 90% recovery of EGF binding apparent by 48 hr. In contrast, TCDD treatment for 72 hr was required to produce maximal inhibition, and no recovery was evident up to 10 day after removal of TCDD from the growth medium. The data indicate that modulation of EGF binding by TCDD was mediated by the Ah receptor. Subsequent cellular responses, for example, inhibition of EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis, may be important in the expression of altered differentiation patterns observed in human epidermal keratinocytes exposed to TCDD.
Density-Modified Displacement for DNAPL Source Zone Remediation: Density Conversion and Recovery in Heterogeneous Aquifer Cells

Low interfacial tension (IFT) displacement (mobilization) of nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) offers potential as an efficient remediation technology for contaminated aquifer source zones. However, displacement of dense NAPLs (DNAPLs) is problematic due to the tendency for downward migration and redistribution of the mobilized DNAPL. To overcome this limitation, a density-modified displacement method (DMD) was developed, which couples in situ density conversion of DNAPLs via alcohol partitioning with low IFT NAPL displacement and recovery. The objective of this work was to evaluate the DMD method for two representative DNAPLs, chlorobenzene (CB) and trichloroethene (TCE). Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted in a two-dimensional (2-D) cell, configured to represent a heterogeneous unconfined aquifer system containing low permeability lenses. After release and redistribution of either CB- or TCE-NAPL, the 2-D aquifer cells were flushed with a 6% (wt) n-butanol aqueous solution to achieve DNAPL to lig...