cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of bath contamination on electroplated solder bumps

Today's solder bumping technologies commonly require electroplating multiple metallurgies. Chip manufacturers often process these multi-metal bumping wafers on the same equipment. Handling multiple metal baths on the same equipment inherently carries some risks of bath cross-contamination due to drag-out. Understanding the effect of bath cross-contamination can help chip manufacturers assess production risks in events of inadvertent and significant contamination, due to processing, equipment, or human errors. This paper summarizes the effect of cross-contamination on the on-wafer performance of electroplated solder bumps. Plating baths were deliberately contaminated by copper and nickel metals at levels of 0, 10, 100, 500 ppm. CuSnAg and NiSnAg bumps were plated in those contaminated baths. The bumps were then evaluated based on parameters such as metal content in contaminated films, bump height non-uniformity and coplanarity, bump morphology/defects, Ag% in solder bumps, shear strength, bump adhesion, and intermetallic compounds (IMC) formation. The results showed detrimental effect by Cu-contaminated Ni at levels above 100 ppm due to degradation of Ni crystal structure. In case of Ni-contaminated SnAg, there was essentially no effect, not even at 500 ppm, because Ni was not found incorporated into the SnAg films. For Cu-contaminated SnAg, there appeared to be some effect on shear strength at 100 ppm, and surface appearance at 500 ppm.
Mole Crickets: Ecology, Behavior, and Dispersal Flight (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae: Scapteriscus )

The southern mole cricket, Scapteriscus acletus Rehn and Hebard, and the changa, S. vicinus Scudder, are pests of turf and agricultural crops in the southeastern United States. Both species fly during spring and fall in Gainesville, Fla. The numbers of flying acletus and vicinus were monitored each night during those seasons (1972–73). Monitoring was done by (1) attracting the flying adults of these 2 species to loudspeakers broadcasting tape recordings of natural and synthetic mole cricket calling songs and (2) collecting flying adults to UV and fluorescent lights. About 28 times more mole crickets were collected during the spring flight than during the fall flight. Spring collections were 55% acletus ( n = 5675) and fall collections were 16% acletus ( n = 199). During 1972 and 1973, females comprised 83% of those collected of both acletus ( n = 9161) and vicinus ( n = 7521). The percent of females that had mated increased as flight season progressed. The flight started soon after sunset and continued for an hour. Of 1844 adult acletus marked and released 35 were recaptured on subsequent nights, proving that at least 2% of adults fly more than once. Three adults were recaptured twice. Recaptures were made up to 6.5 wk and at distances as great as 0.7 km. S. acletus flight speed was estimated at 7–11 km/h. Flights of acletus and vicinus did not occur below 18°C (air and soil) temperature.
Should a hospital without a neurologist use t-PA to treat stroke?

Any hospital contemplating using t-PA to treat acute ischemic stroke should draw up a plan whereby this drug can be given promptly but safely.
Mechanistic Approaches to Improve Correction of the Most Common Disease-Causing Mutation in Cystic Fibrosis

The most common mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene leads to deletion of the phenylalanine at position 508 (ΔF508) in the CFTR protein and causes multiple folding and functional defects. Contrary to large-scale efforts by industry and academia, no significant therapeutic benefit has been achieved with a single “corrector”. Therefore, investigations concentrate on drug combinations. Orkambi (Vertex Pharmaceuticals), the first FDA-approved drug for treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by this mutation, is a combination of a corrector (VX-809) that facilitates ΔF508 CFTR biogenesis and a potentiator (VX-770), which improves its function. Yet, clinical trials utilizing this combination showed only modest therapeutic benefit. The low efficacy Orkambi has been attributed to VX-770-mediated destabilization of VX-809-rescued ΔF508 CFTR. Here we report that the negative effects of VX-770 can be reversed by increasing the half-life of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) form (band B) of ΔF508 CFTR with another corrector (Corr-4a.) Although Corr-4a alone has only minimal effects on ΔF508 CFTR rescue, it increases the half-life of ΔF508 CFTR band B when it is present during half-life measurements. Our data shows that stabilization of band B ΔF508 CFTR with Corr-4a and simultaneous rescue with VX-809, leads to a >2-fold increase in cAMP-activated, CFTRinh-172-inhibited currents compared to VX-809 alone, or VX-809+VX-770. The negative effects of VX-770 and the Corr-4a protection are specific to the native I507-ATT ΔF508 CFTR without affecting the inherently more stable, synonymous variant I507-ATC ΔF508 CFTR. Our studies emphasize that stabilization of ΔF508 CFTR band B in the ER might improve its functional rescue by Orkambi.
Metabolism of vinyl chloride: destruction of the heme of highly purified liver Microsomal cytochrome P-450 by a metabolite.

The NADPH-dependent, vinyl chloride-mediated destruction of cytochrome P-450 was demonstrated in rat liver microsomes and in highly purified reconstituted enzyme systems containing NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (NADPH:ferricytochrome oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.2.4) and cytochrome P-450. This loss of cytochrome P-450 could be attributed to heme destruction, but not to lipid peroxidation or binding of electrophiles to free sulfhydryl groups. The system required all components necessary for mixed-function oxidation, including molecular oxygen, and was inhibited by carbon monoxide, suggesting strongly that oxidative metabolism of vinyl chloride by cytochrome P-450 is necessary for the observed destruction. The NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase-catalyzed destruction of free and cytochrome P-450-bound heme was also observed in reconstituted systems in the absence of vinyl chloride. Inhibition experiments with carbon monoxide and catalase suggest that the vinyl chloride-mediated destruction of cytochrome P-450 heme differs from these processes. Two proposed metabolites of vinyl chloride, vinyl chloride epoxide and 2-chloroacetaldehyde, do not appear to be responsible for the heme destruction. Evidence for the involvement of free radicals could not be demonstrated when the reaction was examined by EPR spectroscopy or when attempts were made to inhibit cytochrome P-450 destruction with radical-trapping agents.
Biorefinery Lignin to Renewable Chemicals via Sequential Fractionation and Depolymerization

Switchgrass-based, lignin-rich residues from cellulosic ethanol production were valorized into green chemicals via sequential methanol fractionation and hydrogenolysis depolymerization. The biomass residues were relatively purified by removing some structural carbohydrates and water soluble compounds. Methanol fractionation solubilized 14 % lignin from the above purified biomass residue, of which 95 % was klason lignin. The subsequent hydrogenolysis was catalyzed by Raney nickel with formic acid as hydrogen donors. Methanol soluble lignin fraction gave 58.11 % bio-oil yield, which was more than five times that from other fractions. The oxidation using hydrogen peroxide altered functional groups in lignin fractions but did not enhance the bio-oil yields. The GC–MS results revealed that bio-oil from all fractions except methanol soluble fraction contained more guaiacyl derivatives than syringyl derivatives. Sugar derivatives were generated at significant amounts from the depolymerization of the fractions that contained structural carbohydrates. Most of the generated monomers are renewable chemicals with wide industrial applications.
One carbon metabolism in pregnancy: Impact on maternal, fetal and neonatal health

One carbon metabolism or methyl transfer, a crucial component of metabolism in all cells and tissues, supports the critical function of synthesis of purines, thymidylate and methylation via multiple methyl transferases driven by the ubiquitous methyl donor s-adenosylmethionine. Serine is the primary methyl donor to the one carbon pool. Intracellular folates and methionine metabolism are the critical components of one carbon transfer. Methionine metabolism requires vitamin B12, B6 as cofactors and is modulated by endocrine signals and is responsive to nutrient intake. Perturbations in one carbon transfer can have profound effects on cell proliferation, growth and function. Epidemiological studies in humans and experimental model have established a strong relationship between impaired fetal growth and the immediate and long term consequences to the health of the offspring. It is speculated that during development, maternal environmental and nutrient influences by their effects on one carbon transfer can impact the health of the mother, impair growth and reprogram metabolism of the fetus, and cause long term morbidity in the offspring. The potential for such effects is underscored by the unique responses in methionine metabolism in the human mother during pregnancy, the absence of transsulfuration activity in the fetus, ontogeny of methionine metabolism in the placenta and the unique metabolism of serine and glycine in the fetus. Dietary protein restriction in animals and marginal protein intake in humans causes characteristic changes in one carbon metabolism. The impact of perturbations in one carbon metabolism on the health of the mother during pregnancy, on fetal growth and the neonate are discussed and their possible mechanism explored.
Focused lateral approach for targeted parathyroidectomy

Minimally invasive targeted parathyroidectomy is typically performed via a midline approach. Alternatively, for more posteriorly located glands, the focused lateral approach allows a much more direct approach to the adenoma. The procedure is safe and can also be performed under local sedation. This article describes in detail the surgical technique as well as patient selection and limitations.
Embedding Design Thinking in a Multidisciplinary Engineering Curriculum at Harvard University

The 21st Century inherited challenges that require new methodologies and processes to solve. Engineering has a critical role to play in supporting changes and solving these problems, but our educational system needs to evolve to prepare future leaders to solve and mitigate such human problems. In particular, the educational system needs to shed disciplinary silos and allow students to learn and engage in multidisciplinary dimensions. Engineering embedded in a liberal-arts education provides unique opportunities, especially when design and innovation have been integrated into most of the engineering courses in the curriculum. The case of Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences with its forward-thinking pedagogy is presented here as an example of such a curriculum data and methodologies for assessment of the interdisciplinary courses with embedded design thinking are presented.
F1F0-ATP synthase-stalking mind and imagination.

Electron microscopy together with image analysis has been used to study the structure of theintact F1F0-ATPsynthase from Escherichia coli. A procedure has been developed which allowspreparation of detergent-free enzyme. Aside from the well known two-domain structure, imagesof F1F0 prepared by this procedure show a number of additional features, including a secondstalk, which can be seen extending all the way from the F0 to the top of the F1 in some images,and a small protein on the very top of the F1, which has been identified as the δ subunit bydecoration with a monoclonal antibody. In light of these results, a refined model of the subunitarrangement of the complex is presented.
Fluid substitution for thinly interbedded sand-shale sequences using the mesh method

ABSTRACTGassmann’s fluid substitution model is intended for a monomineralic, homogeneous porous rock, in which pore pressures induced by applied loads can equilibrate throughout the pore space. These assumptions are violated when Gassmann’s equations are applied to measurements that represent effective medium averages over subresolution layers of alternating sand and shale. The conventional procedure for treating this problem has been to first downscale; i.e., estimate the properties of the fine-scale sand and shale endmembers from the coarse-scale measurements, apply Gassmann’s fluid substitution to the sand only, and then Backus average back to the original scale. This procedure, however, is very sensitive to errors in estimated sand fraction and shale properties and becomes particularly unstable at small sand fractions. A new method for fluid substitution combines rock-physics models for dispersed and interbedded sand-shale systems, which are often approximated with Reuss or lower Hashin-Shtrikman inte...
Field-grown transgenic switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) with altered lignin does not affect soil chemistry, microbiology, and carbon storage potential

Cell wall recalcitrance poses a major challenge on cellulosic biofuel production from feedstocks such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Since lignin is a known contributor of recalcitrance, transgenic switchgrass plants with altered lignin have been produced by downregulation of caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT). Field trials of COMT-downregulated plants previously demonstrated improved ethanol conversion with no adverse agronomic effects. However, the rhizosphere impacts of altering lignin in plants are unknown. We hypothesized that changing plant lignin composition may affect residue degradation in soils, ultimately altering soil processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of two independent lines of COMT-downregulated switchgrass plants on soils in terms of chemistry, microbiology, and carbon cycling when grown in the field. Over the first two years of establishment, we observed no significant differences between transgenic and control plants in terms of soil pH or the total concentrations of 19 elements. An analysis of soil bacterial communities via high throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed no effects of transgenic plants on bacterial diversity, richness, or community composition. We also did not observe a change in the capacity for soil carbon storage: there was no significant effect on soil respiration or soil organic matter. After five years of establishment, δ13C of plant roots, leaves, and soils were measured and an isotopic mixing model used to estimate that 11.2 to 14.5% of soil carbon originated from switchgrass. Switchgrass-contributed carbon was not significantly different between transgenic and control plants. Overall, our results indicate that over the short term (two and five years), lignin modification in switchgrass through manipulation of COMT expression does not have an adverse effect on soils in terms of total elemental composition, bacterial community structure and diversity, and capacity for carbon storage. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Biogas Production from Algae and Cyanobacteria Through Anaerobic Digestion: A Review, Analysis, and Research Needs

Anaerobic digestion is a common process for the treatment of a variety of organic wastes and biogas production. Both, macro- and microalgae are suitable renewable substrates for the anaerobic digestion process. The process of biogas production from algal biomass is an alternative technology that has larger potential energy output compared to green diesel, biodiesel, bioethanol, and hydrogen production processes. Moreover, anaerobic digestion can be integrated into other conversion processes and, as a result, improve their sustainability and energy balance. Several techno-economic constraints need to be overcome before the production of biogas from algal biomass becomes economically feasible. These constraints include a high cost of biomass production, limited biodegradability of algal cells, a slow rate of biological conversion of biomass to biogas, and high sensitivity of methanogenic microorganisms. The research opportunities include a variety of engineering and scientific tasks, such as design of systems for algae cultivation and anaerobic digestion; optimization of algae cultivation in wastewater, nutrients recycling and algal concentration; enhancement of algal biomass digestibility and conversion rate by pretreatment; deep integration with other technological processes (e.g., wastewater treatment, co-digestion with other substrates, carbon dioxide sequestration); development and adaptation of molecular biology tools for the improvement of algae and anaerobic microorganisms; application of information technologies; and estimation of the environmental impact, energy and economical balance by performing a life cycle analysis.
Work–life management in legal prostitution: Stigma and lockdown in Nevada’s brothels:

Across occupations, people contend with the difficult task of managing time between their work and other aspects of life. Previous research on stigmatized industries has suggested that so-called ‘d...
IMPS-07T CELL RECEPTOR VARIABLE β CHAIN (TCR Vβ) USAGE TO PREDICT AND GENERATE TUMOR SPECIFIC T LYMPHOCYTES AGAINST INVASIVE GLIOMAS

INTRODUCTION: Adoptive cellular therapy has been demonstrated to be a highly efficacious immunotherapy against solid tumors. In this study, we predict T cell populations with high affinity to glioma and generate a T cell population highly enriched for tumor-reactive T cells. OBJECTIVES: Major barriers to therapeutic development against brain tumors are that brain tumors are highly heterogeneous and tumor antigens are largely uncharacterized. The primary objective of this study was to predict and generate a polyclonal population of T lymphocytes that is highly enriched for tumor-specific T cells and overcomes these limitations. METHODS: We spectratyped the TCR Vβ repertoire of glioma infiltrating CD3+ cells in order to identify T cell populations with high affinity to tumor. Based on the identified TCR Vβ family expression, we isolated and reliably expanded these T cells from splenocytes of mice previously immunized with tumor RNA-pulsed dendritic cells. These cells were adoptively transferred into intracranial glioma bearing mice followed by dendritic cell vaccine. RESULTS: In vitro functionality assays demonstrated that T cells with TCR Vβ families predicted to have high affinity to tumors were responsible for anti-tumor immunity. Adoptive cellular therapy using T cells expressing TCR Vβ 5.1, 5.2, TCR Vβ 6, and TCR Vβ 8.1, 8.2 against intracranial tumor led to cures in 60% of treated mice. We further identify that the in vivo expansion of T cells expressing the TCR Vβ 6 family is specifically associated with long term survival. Failure of the persistence of these T cells is directly associated with tumor escape. CONCLUSION: Our methods allow us to generate highly tumor-reactive polyclonal T cell populations without the need for identifying tumor antigens. We are currently employing these analyses in clinical trials of adoptive cellular therapy targeting pediatric and adult gliomas under development at our center (FDA IND BB-14058).
Ultrafast transient absorption microscopy studies of carrier dynamics in epitaxial graphene

Energy exchange between the electrons and phonons is particularly important to electron transport, and understanding this process will be vital for the realization of future graphene-based electronics. Epitaxial growth is a very promising approach for practical applications, as it has the ability to prepare graphene on a large scale and supported on a substrate. However, epitaxially grown graphene is highly inhomogeneous, with variations in the sample thickness occurring over length scale of a few micrometers. To pave the road for electronic devices based on epitaxial graphene, characterization methods with high spatial resolution are required. In this paper, we describe transient absorption microscopy as a novel tool to characterize graphene, and to interrogate the charge carrier dynamics. The carrier cooling exhibited a biexponential decay that showed a significant dependence on carrier density. The fast and slow relaxation times were assigned to coupling between electrons and optical phonon modes and the hot phonon effect, respectively. The limiting value of the slow relaxation time at high pump intensity reflects the lifetime of the optical phonons. Significant spatial heterogeneity in the dynamics was observed due to differences in coupling between graphene layers and the substrate. This is attributed to differences in coupling between the graphene and the substrate. These results point to transient absorption microscopy as a potentially important tool for characterizing graphene.
Abstract 142: Role of CK2α in Heart Tube Proliferation

Congenital heart disease (CHD) groups a number of structural malformations of the heart and associated blood vessels present at birth. CHD is the most common birth defect, arise from defective cardiogenesis, and can be due to genetic and/or environmental factors that affect cellular processes such as proliferation during heart formation. The highly conserved serine-threonine kinase, CK2α, has been implicated in proliferative processes, including cancer, and it is a target of environmental toxins. To test whether CK2α plays a role in cardiogenesis, we used a CK2α deficient mouse. CK2α-/- mice die around embryonic day (E)11 and showed dysmorphic outflow tracts (OFT), hypoplastic right ventricles (RV) and poorly developed ventricular trabeculations. These defects, the probable cause of the lethality, could be due to deficient proliferation. Thus, we tested whether reduced CK2α expression leads to proliferative signal defects during cardiogenesis. We used three or more pairs of somite-matched wild-type and CK2α-/- embryos for the analysis of proteins by immunofluorescence and immunoblot, and of transcript expression by RT-qPCR and in situ hybridization. At E9.5 and E10.5, the number of Isl1+ cells in the OFT and the levels of Isl1 transcript in the heart of CK2α-/- embryos was no different from wild-type. These data suggest that the mechanism underlying the OFT and RV defects is different from progenitor incorporation defects. CK2α deficient hearts expressed pan-cardiac gene and protein markers normally at E9.5 and E10.5; and apoptosis was not affected, indicating that the heart malformations may be due to proliferative defects. Indeed, mitotic rates were decreased throughout the heart in CK2α mutants compared to wild-type embryos at E9.5 and E10.5; but a mitotic defect was not apparent at E8.5. The observed decrease in proliferation correlated with decreased expression of cardiac proliferative markers such as n-myc and decrease in proliferative signal pathways in the heart tube. In conclusion, these data show that, from E9.5 on, CK2α is necessary for proliferation and proliferative signal pathway activation in the heart tube; and that cellular mechanisms other than progenitor incorporation may play a key role in OFT and RV defects.
NEMO: an energy-efficient hybrid main memory system for mobile devices

Mobile devices run on small batteries with limited capacities. Hence, energy consumption is an important factor that determines the duration of a mobile device's usage. Main memory consumes a significant portion of the total system energy especially when the mobile device is idle, which is the case most of the times. Moreover, in current and future systems, it is very likely that users tend to run various mobile applications simultaneously, which further increases the aggregate memory demands of mobile devices. Therefore, optimizations on memory energy consumption have become even more critical in those devices. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme called NEMO to improve the energy efficiency of mobile devices with a hybrid DRAM/PCM main memory. Our scheme powers off as many power-hungry DRAM components as possible, as long as it does not impact the performance. Specifically, when the mobile device is in idle state, only a selective set of data that is critical to performance is kept in a single DRAM rank, while the rest of data is stored in PCM, so that the remaining DRAM ranks can be powered off. To do so, NEMO classifies memory pages based on their usage frequency and recency into hot and cold. Then, it places the hot pages that are more likely to be reused in future in the DRAM, which has lower access latency compared to PCM, and stores cold memory pages in PCM, which has near-zero idle power. In addition, NEMO predicts the number of DRAM ranks that need to be powered on when the mobile device becomes active for further energy saving. Our simulation results reveal that NEMO achieves on average, 10.2% reduction in memory power consumption and 1.7% performance improvement on a system running various combinations of Moby benchmark applications with 128MB DRAM and 1GB PCM, compared with the approach that simply puts DRAM into self-refresh low-power mode during idle state.
Addition of H2 Across a Cobalt–Phosphorus Bond

Addition of H2 across the cobalt-phosphorus bond of (PPP)CoPMe3 (3) is demonstrated, where PPP is a monoanionic diphosphine pincer ligand with a central N-heterocyclic phosphido (NHP- ) donor. The chlorophosphine CoII complex (PPCl P)CoCl2 (2) can be generated through coordination of the chlorophosphine ligand (PPCl P, 1) to CoCl2 . Subsequent reduction of 2 with KC8 in the presence of PMe3 generates (PPP)CoPMe3 (3), in which both the phosphorus and cobalt centers have been reduced. The addition of 1 atm of H2 to complex 3 cleanly affords (PPH P)Co(H)PMe3 (4), in which H2 has ultimately been added across the metal-phosphorus bond. Complex 4 was characterized spectroscopically and using computational methods to predict its geometry.
Influence of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and ornithine concentrations on complications after renal transplant.

Objectives The present study, registered at clinicaltrials.gov with the unique registration number NCT00560014, sought to evaluate the relations between fatty acid concentrations in red blood cells or plasma and amino acid concentrations in plasma on rejection, calcineurin inhibitor toxicity, and new-onset diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods Lipid profiles on plasma or red blood cell samples were performed preoperatively and postoperatively in 54 patients. Plasma amino acid profiles were obtained in 49 of these patients. Results High concentrations of total omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in red blood cells, and ornithine in plasma, all were associated with a significantly lower incidence of rejection, whereas high total omega-6 fatty acids were associated with a high rejection rate. Calcineurin inhibitor toxicity was associated with low levels of docosahexaenoic acid, ornithine, and the omega-3 index, and high total omega-6 and omega-3/omega-6 ratios. Inhibition of new-onset diabetes mellitus was seen only with high levels of ornithine. Peak concentrations of fatty acids in red blood cells were not obtained until after 30 days. High levels of arginine were not associated with reduced complications. Conclusions The levels of selected nutrients in plasma and red blood cell membranes appear to have a profound effect on complications after renal transplant. These preliminary results need confirmation in prospective randomized clinical trials.
Intralysosomal Cystine Crystals in Cystinosis

Electron microscopic study of conjunctival biopsies from members of one sibship each of nephropathic and benign cystinosis showed polymorphic cystine profiles abundantly distributed in fibroblasts and histiocytes. These crystalline spaces measured from 0.2(i to 2/i and were delineated marginally by intact cellular membranes. Small crystalline aggregates were found in acid-phosphatase-positive osmophilic dense bodies and they appear to be the earliest manifestation of intracellular deposition of cystine. This study suggests that there are striking morphologic similarities in the tioo forms of cystinosis at the cellular level and. supports the suggestion that both may represent disorders in cystine metabolism by a subcellular organelle of lysosomal type.
Human Security as a Conceptual Framework: The Case of Palestinian Journalists

ABSTRACTThis exploratory study introduces a human security framework to examine the challenges that journalists face from daily professional and societal constraints and pressures when attempting t...
The seriousness of storytelling: What constraints to professional news routines reveal about the state of journalistic autonomy in local television newsrooms:

This study follows the advice of scholars James Carey and Barbie Zelizer in that it takes journalism seriously. The seriousness comes from the concern that modern corporate approaches to news produ...
The management of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a serious public health problem with more than 170 million chronic carriers worldwide. Although hepatitis C infection can be cured in up to 40% of patients, current treatment is not ideal and is associated with a wide spectrum of side effects and complications. Therefore, emerging evidence suggests that patients can receive tailored therapy based on their viral kinetic changes during treatment. With better knowledge of hepatitis C viral genome and life cycle, compounds so called ''Specifically Targeted Antiviral Therapy for HCV or STAT-C'' are under development. This review will discuss current therapies and recent advances in new therapies for hepatitis C.
Giant Salvinia – An Invasive Alien Aquatic Plant in Thailand

Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is an introduced floating aquatic fern native to Brazil. It can reproduce vegetatively and under ideal growing conditions can double its biomass every 3-5 days. It can form mass on the water body, blocks out the sun’s rays from penetrating through, thereby inhibiting photosynthesis of submerged aquatic plants. Water quality is impaired under these masses, especially in areas with restricted water movement. Although the Act banning its introduction and cultivation has been promulgated since 1978, there is still a problem in controlling its distribution as well as in eradicating it. At present, however, only two areas, in which giant salvinia creates some problems, are in restricted areas in the Central and Southern parts of the Thailand. Luckily, the local administrative officers were effective in controlling its widespread distribution through people’s participation program in eradicating the giant salvinia. Chemical control is by the use of paraquat herbicide, but not officially recommended, except for use directly on the plant, or in turbid water. Although not at present troublesome for the waterways, awareness through surveillance should be done by notifying the public to be aware of its danger and not cultivating it
Assessment of cytotoxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles on the basis of fundamental physical–chemical parameters: a robust approach to grouping

Due to their sizes, nanoparticles can penetrate into biological systems easily; anticipating their harmful interactions at the cellular level makes it possible to safeguard workers, consumers, and the environment effectively. Decades of research have identified key properties of nanomaterials that induce adverse responses, and this evidence suggests that the toxicity of a nanoparticle can be inferred from its abiotic behavior. Experimental physical–chemical characterization of nanoparticles, however, is complex and time consuming, and the absence of any standardized method has generated controversial results. This paper shows how known adverse modes of action of nanoparticles arise from fundamental physical–chemical parameters that don't need any experimental quantification. We show that cytotoxicity of metal oxides in different types of in vitro systems, which include E. coli, rat alveolar macrophages, human bronchial epithelial cells, Daphnia magna, and Aliivibrio fischeri, can be foreseen on the basis of the values of oxidation number (Z) and ionic potential (IP) of the cation, and surface reducibility (SR), and redox reactivity (RR) of the oxide. Importantly, the values of these fundamental physical–chemical parameters can be easily deduced from the chemical formula of the nanoparticle with the help of a periodic table. Combining these parameters in a naive Bayes classifier, a robust probabilistic model that can be run on a pocket calculator, makes it possible to determine the most probable level of toxicity of a nanoparticle given its composition. Results indicate that the probability that nano-oxides exhibit very high cytotoxicity (EC50 < 10−3 mol L−1) decreases with increasing oxidation number Z of the cation; high values of Z, however, may become unstable and activate adverse redox processes; in contrast, stable, redox-inert reducible oxides tend to be, probabilistically, less toxic than oxidizable ones.
A Statistical Framework for Evolutionary Analysis of Recurrent Somatic Mutations in Cancers

Current cancer genomics databases have accumulated millions of somatic mutations that remain to be further explored, faciltating enormous high throuput analyses to explore the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to malignant initiation or progression. In the context of over-dominant passenger mutations (unrelated to cancers), the challenge is to identify somatic mutations that are cancer-driving. Under the notion that carcinogenesis is a form of somatic-cell evolution, we developed a two-component mixture model that enables to accomplish the following analyses. (i) We formulated a quasi-likelihood approach to test whether the two-component model is significantly better than a single-component model, which can be used for new cancer gene predicting. (ii) We implemented an empirical Bayesian method to calculate the posterior probabilities of a site to be cancer-driving for all sites of a gene, which can be used for new driving site predicting. (iii) We developed a computational procedure to calculate the somatic selection intensity at driver sites and passenger sites, respectively, as well as site-specific profiles for all sites. Using these newly-developed methods, we comprehensively analyzed 294 known cancer genes based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.
Intravenous sulforhodamine B reduces alveolar surface tension, improves oxygenation and reduces ventilation-induced lung injury in a respiratory distress model

Abstract BACKGROUND In the neonatal (NRDS) and acute (ARDS) respiratory distress syndromes, mechanical ventilation supports gas exchange but can cause ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI). Also in NRDS and ARDS, surface tension, T, is elevated and VILI may be proportional to T. Surfactant therapy is effective in NRDS but not ARDS. Intravenous sulforhodamine B (SRB) administration is a potential alternative T-lowering therapy. METHODS In anesthetized rats, we injure the lungs with 15 min of 42 ml/kg tidal volume, VT, and zero end-expiratory pressure ventilation. Then, we lower VT to 6 ml/kg; apply positive end-expiratory pressure; and administer intravenous non-T-altering fluorescein (27 μM in plasma) without or with therapeutic SRB (10 nM in plasma). We increase inspired oxygen fraction, as necessary, to maintain >90% arterial oxygen saturation. After 4 hrs, we sacrifice the rat; sample systemic venous blood for injury marker ELISAs; excise the lungs; combine confocal microscopy and servo-nulling pressure measurement to determine T; image fluorescein in flooded alveoli to assess local permeability; and lavage the right middle lobe and quantify total protein content to assess global permeability. RESULTS Lungs exhibit focal injury. Surface tension is elevated 72% throughout control lungs and in uninjured regions of SRB-treated lungs, due to lack of recruitment maneuvers, but is normal in injured regions of treated lungs. Intravenous SRB marginally reduces global permeability at the expense of marginally increased local permeability, improves oxygenation and reduces injury markers. CONCLUSION Intravenous SRB reduces alveolar surface tension specifically in injured regions and holds promise as treatment for VILI. Summary In a model of respiratory distress, intravenously administered sulforhodamine B (SRB) crosses the injured alveolar-capillary barrier to reduce alveolar surface tension specifically in injured lung regions. This novel therapy improves oxygenation and reduces ventilation-induced lung injury. Intravenous SRB administration might help not-yet-ventilated respiratory distress patients avoid mechanical ventilation and ventilated respiratory distress patients survive.
Inching Toward a Unified Metatheory for Psychology.

Zagaria et al. (2020) have aptly suggested that as a discipline, psychology is a giant with feet of clay. Drawing on the content of introductory textbooks, the authors show that there is little coherence and consensus about the meaning of key psychological terms – including such terms as psychology, mind, behavior. Drawing on evidence marking psychology is a “soft” science, the authors suggest that psychology can profit by adopting the “hard” foundation of evolutionary psychology as its metatheory. While Zagaria et al.’s characterization of psychology’s fractious foundation has deep merit, their desire to erect a psychological metatheory on evolutionary psychology is unlikely to solve the problem they so aptly identify. At the least, I suggest a unified metatheory must: (a) establish a shared psychological lexicon; (b) elaborate a methodology that coordinates first-, second- and third-person modes of inquiry, and (c) develop a process model that describes psychological functioning at the biological, psychological and socio-cultural levels of analysis. To illustrate, I describe how contemporary relational and systems frameworks provide a framework that can move us in these directions.
Apremilast regulates acute effects of ethanol and other GABAergic drugs via protein kinase A-dependent signaling.

Abstract Phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitors prevent hydrolysis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and increase protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation. PDE4 inhibitors also regulate responses to ethanol and GABAergic drugs. We investigated mechanisms by which the PDE4 inhibitor, apremilast, regulates acute effects of ethanol and GABAergic drugs in male and female mice. Apremilast prolonged the sedative-hypnotic effects of gaboxadol, zolpidem, and propofol but did not alter etomidate effects, and unexpectedly shortened the sedative-hypnotic effects of diazepam. Apremilast prolonged rotarod ataxia induced by zolpidem, propofol, and loreclezole, shortened recovery from diazepam, but had no effect on ataxia induced by gaboxadol or etomidate. The PKA inhibitor H-89 blocked apremilast's ability to prolong the sedative-hypnotic effects of ethanol, gaboxadol, and propofol and to prolong ethanol- and propofol-induced ataxia. H-89 also blocked apremilast's ability to shorten the sedative-hypnotic and ataxic effects of diazepam. The β1-specific antagonist, salicylidene salicylhydrazide (SCS), produced faster recovery from ethanol- and diazepam-induced ataxia, but did not alter propofol- or etomidate-induced ataxia. SCS shortened the sedative-hypnotic effects of ethanol and diazepam but not of propofol. In Xenopus oocytes, a phosphomimetic (aspartate) mutation at the PKA phosphorylation site in β1 subunits decreased the maximal GABA current in receptors containing α1 or α3, but not α2 subunits. In contrast, phosphomimetic mutations at PKA sites in β3 subunits increased the maximal GABA current in receptors containing α1 or α2, but not α3 subunits. The GABA potency and allosteric modulation by ethanol, propofol, etomidate, zolpidem, flunitrazepam, or diazepam were not altered by these mutations. We propose a model whereby apremilast increases PKA-mediated phosphorylation of β1-and β3-containing GABAA receptors and selectively alters acute tolerance to ethanol and GABAergic drugs.
A cross-genus comparison of grazing pressure by two native marine herbivores on native, non-native naturalized, and non-native invasive Sargassum macroalgae

In marine systems, algal abundance and community composition is often heavily influenced by top-down control by herbivores. As a result, examining the extent to which native herbivores exert grazing pressure on non-native marine algae can provide valuable insight into mechanisms controlling invasion success. The purpose of this study was to examine the grazing preferences of two common intertidal and subtidal herbivores on three congeneric species of marine algae with unique colonization histories in San Diego, California, USA, to determine if grazing pressure, or lack thereof, may help explain invasion success. We provide evidence that neither native Sargassum agardhianum, nor non-native Sargassum horneri, are particularly palatable to purple urchins or black turban snails, but that non-native Sargassum muticum is consumed by both native herbivores. We also provide evidence that when given a choice of all three species neither herbivore exhibits a significant grazing preference for any algal species. We suggest that other mechanisms may determine the invasion success of the two non-native algal species and the overall distribution and abundance patterns of these species, and we discuss potential directions for future work.
Which Button Do I Push? More Thoughts on Resetting Moral Philosophy in the Western Tradition

This article investigates Michael Slote’s call for rebalancing Western moral philosophy by using Chinese philosophy, especially Confucianism, as a form of moral sentimentalism. I agree with the need for a correction of the over reliance on reason in Western moral philosophy, but I reject the rational/sentimental dichotomy and focus on the importance of the will. I make use of the important contribution made by Daoism and the conduct concept of wu-wei 無為. I explain the use of wu-wei in Daoist texts as a nominative to denote a type of conduct, as a verb in moral imperatives, and as an aspiration for human moral behavior. I consider how appropriating this concept into Western moral thought offers significant solutions to three seemingly intractable problems: weakness of will, universalization of moral duties, and the conception of life as plagued by moral dilemmas. I conclude that wu-wei is not the result of some experience of alternative consciousness. It is an alternative consciousness that is shown in behavior, but not able to be said in language.
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

Tropical montane cloud forests are regions of high biodiversity occurring as narrow altitudinal belts in the tropics. This ecosystem is adapted to high frequency of cloud immersion and extraction of cloud water. The process is especially important in the dry season and even to settlements downstream for regular water supply. However, both global and regional processes can impact the hydrometeorology of these forests. While the impacts of global climate are nearly impossible to predict, historical bottom–up regional studies should be conducted immediately at all sites not yet studied to evaluate their sensitivity to changes in regional hydrometeorological processes.
Sex differences in specific aspects of two animal tests of anxiety-like behavior.

Anxiety, a negative state of high arousal and vigilance, is especially prevalent in women, making identification of underlying mechanisms critical for developing effective therapies. With the challenge of disentangling biological and social factors in humans, animal tests can provide valuable insights, although such tests, developed in males, have unclear validity for females. To better understand patterns of sex differences across multiple measures within two classical rodent anxiety tests. We examined female and male adult Wistar rats (n = 15–18/group) that were single-housed in the novelty suppression of feeding test (NSFT) that involves food under a bright light in food-restricted animals, and light–dark test (LDT), which reflects innate aversion to bright light. To further validate these tests in females, we also examined the impact of 1 mg/kg diazepam. NSFT measures of the most direct interaction with food, latency to grab food and food consumed, indicated increased anxiety-like behavior in females versus males, with diazepam altering these behaviors in females but not males. Most other measures showed more similar effects of diazepam across the sexes, with some evidence of reduced anxiety-like behavior in LDT for females. Principal component analyses indicated limited relationships across behavioral factors, underscoring previous suggestions of the importance of assessing multiple measures to maximize information and ethological relevance. Combining our findings and previous studies, we speculate that increased anxiety-like behavior in females manifests especially when there is a specific, life-relevant condition (e.g., food in the NSFT). Our findings also validate NSFT and LDT use in females.
Relaxed Tolerance Low-Loss Adiabatic Si 3 N 4 to Polymer Waveguide Coupler for Dense Interconnects

Despite significant advances in silicon photonics, optical packaging and interconnection of photonic integrated circuits constitutes a large portion of the associated manufacturing costs. Optical fibers are the dominant approach to optical interconnection. However, techniques that rely on fibers lack scalability, have low efficiency and show poor misalignment tolerance. Proposed alternative solutions using polymer waveguides have shown improved coupling efficiency, misalignment tolerance and scalability. Here we present the design, simulation and the experimental confirmation of an adiabatic silicon nitride taper to polymer waveguide coupler with only 0.52 dB of TE coupling loss at 1550-nm wavelength, excluding material loss. The coupler demonstrates $\pm 4~\mu \text{m}$ of lateral misalignment tolerance with a 1-dB penalty which, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest reported tolerance for silicon nitride to polymer waveguide coupling.
Development of Moral and Ethical Reasoning: A Comparison of U.S. and International University Students’ Moral Reasoning Skills

The research reported in this chapter was conducted at a private Christian-affiliated university in the western United States. Two samples of beginning freshmen and two samples of seniors (all groups including U.S. and international students) were given the revised version of the DIT (DIT-2) during the same semester. Post conventional thinking pscores were collected and statistically compared using a one-way ANOVA. This study of moral development using the DIT-2 test can provide useful insights into the different ways that diverse populations reason in situations of moral complexity. Findings regarding gender and language differences were consistent with previous research; however, comparing international populations studying in the U.S. with native U.S. students found differences in moral reasoning scores needing further consideration. We conclude that additional research is necessary to determine the moral development of diverse groups within international settings. This research can help school officials working with different groups to support diverse students in higher education.