cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light Regulation of Swarming Motility in Pseudomonas syringae Integrates Signaling Pathways Mediated by a Bacteriophytochrome and a LOV Protein

The biological and regulatory roles of photosensory proteins are poorly understood for nonphotosynthetic bacteria. The foliar bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae has three photosensory protein-encoding genes that are predicted to encode the blue-light-sensing LOV (light, oxygen, or voltage) histidine kinase (LOV-HK) and two red/far-red-light-sensing bacteriophytochromes, BphP1 and BphP2. We provide evidence that LOV-HK and BphP1 form an integrated network that regulates swarming motility in response to multiple light wavelengths. The swarming motility of P. syringae B728a deletion mutants indicated that LOV-HK positively regulates swarming motility in response to blue light and BphP1 negatively regulates swarming motility in response to red and far-red light. BphP2 does not detectably regulate swarming motility. The histidine kinase activity of each LOV-HK and BphP1 is required for this regulation based on the loss of complementation upon mutation of residues key to their kinase activity. Surprisingly, mutants lacking both lov and bphP1 were similar in motility to a bphP1 single mutant in blue light, indicating that the loss of bphP1 is epistatic to the loss of lov and also that BphP1 unexpectedly responds to blue light. Moreover, whereas expression of bphP1 did not alter motility under blue light in a bphP1 mutant, it reduced motility in a mutant lacking lov and bphP1, demonstrating that LOV-HK positively regulates motility by suppressing negative regulation by BphP1. These results are the first to show cross talk between the LOV protein and phytochrome signaling pathways in bacteria, and the similarity of this regulatory network to that of photoreceptors in plants suggests a possible common ancestry. IMPORTANCE Photosensory proteins enable organisms to perceive and respond to light. The biological and ecological roles of these proteins in nonphotosynthetic bacteria are largely unknown. This study discovered that a blue-light-sensing LOV (light, oxygen, or voltage) protein and a red/far-red-light-sensing bacteriophytochrome both regulate swarming motility in the foliar pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. These proteins form an integrated signaling network in which the bacteriophytochrome represses swarming motility in response to red, far-red, and blue light, and LOV positively regulates swarming motility by suppressing bacteriophytochrome-mediated blue-light signaling. This is the first example of cross talk between LOV and phytochrome signaling pathways in bacteria, which shows unexpected similarity to photoreceptor signaling in plants.
Stay Elsewhere? Improving Local Search for Hotels Using Econometric Modeling and Image Classification

One of the common Web searches that have a strong local component is the search for hotel accommodation. Customers try to identify hotels that satisfy particular criteria, such as service, food quality, and so on. Unfortunately, today, the travel search engines provide only rudimentary ranking facilities, typically using a single ranking criterion such as distance from city center, number of stars, price per night, or, more recently, customer reviews. This approach has obvious shortcomings. First, it ignores the multidimensional preferences of the consumer and, second, it largely ignores characteristics related to the location of the hotel, for instance, proximity to the beach or proximity to a downtown shopping area. These location-based features represent important characteristics that inuence the desirability of a particular hotel. However, currently there are no established metrics that can isolate the importance of the location characteristics of hotels. In our work, we use the fact that the overall desirability of the hotel is reected in the price of the rooms; therefore, using hedonic regressions, an established technique from econometrics, we estimate the weight that consumers place on dierent hotel characteristics.
Macroscopic kinetics of pentameric ligand gated ion channels: comparisons between two prokaryotic channels and one eukaryotic channel.

Electrochemical signaling in the brain depends on pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). Recently, crystal structures of prokaryotic pLGIC homologues from Erwinia chrysanthemi (ELIC) and Gloeobacter violaceus (GLIC) in presumed closed and open channel states have been solved, which provide insight into the structural mechanisms underlying channel activation. Although structural studies involving both ELIC and GLIC have become numerous, thorough functional characterizations of these channels are still needed to establish a reliable foundation for comparing kinetic properties. Here, we examined the kinetics of ELIC and GLIC current activation, desensitization, and deactivation and compared them to the GABAA receptor, a prototypic eukaryotic pLGIC. Outside-out patch-clamp recordings were performed with HEK-293T cells expressing ELIC, GLIC, or α1β2γ2L GABAA receptors, and ultra-fast ligand application was used. In response to saturating agonist concentrations, we found both ELIC and GLIC current activation were two to three orders of magnitude slower than GABAA receptor current activation. The prokaryotic channels also had slower current desensitization on a timescale of seconds. ELIC and GLIC current deactivation following 25 s pulses of agonist (cysteamine and pH 4.0 buffer, respectively) were relatively fast with time constants of 24.9±5.1 ms and 1.2±0.2 ms, respectively. Surprisingly, ELIC currents evoked by GABA activated very slowly with a time constant of 1.3±0.3 s and deactivated even slower with a time constant of 4.6±1.2 s. We conclude that the prokaryotic pLGICs undergo similar agonist-mediated gating transitions to open and desensitized states as eukaryotic pLGICs, supporting their use as experimental models. Their uncharacteristic slow activation, slow desensitization and rapid deactivation time courses are likely due to differences in specific structural elements, whose future identification may help uncover mechanisms underlying pLGIC gating transitions.
Leveraging Technologies in Public Agencies: The Case of the U.S. Census Bureau and the 2010 Census

Emerging technologies are transforming government agencies and the nature of governance and pose new challenges for public managers. Under the leadership of Steven J. Jost, associate director for communications, the U.S. Census Bureau leveraged emerging technologies during the 2010 Census to complete the project under budget while also engaging citizens through the design of viable participatory platforms. The 2010 Census campaign focused on increasing response rates and encouraging citizen participation through innovations in the communication process with citizens and through the infusion of technology. The Census Bureau also effectively managed risks associated with the use of emerging technologies. The authors examine the innovations, the risks, and the effort to manage those risks under Jost’s leadership.
Media Access Technique for Cluster-Based Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

We propose a hybrid media access technique for cluster-based vehicular networks. This technique integrates the centralization approach of cluster management and the universal way of forwarding data, where the farthest vehicle forwards data in an effort to maximize the opportunity of advanced notification. This method leverages contention-free and contention-based MAC, to support the different requirements of safety and non-safety messages. Inter-cluster interference avoidance is also supported. The analysis and simulation show that using this scheme, for inter-cluster communications, provides an early notification compared to other existing clustering methods.
The impact of source contribution uncertainty on the effects of source-specific PM2.5 on hospital admissions: a case study in Boston, MA.

Epidemiologic studies of particulate sources and adverse health do not account for the uncertainty in the source contribution estimates. Our goal was to assess the impact of uncertainty on the effect estimates of particulate sources on emergency cardiovascular (CVD) admissions. We examined the effects of PM2.5 sources, identified by positive matrix factorization (PMF) and absolute principle component analysis (APCA), on emergency CVD hospital admissions among Medicare enrollees in Boston, MA, during 2003–2010, given stronger associations for this period. We propagated uncertainty in source contributions using a block bootstrap procedure. We further estimated average across-methods source-specific effect estimates using bootstrap samples. We estimated contributions for regional, mobile, crustal, residual oil combustion, road dust, and sea salt sources. Accounting for uncertainty, same-day exposures to regional pollution were associated with an across-methods average effect of 2.00% (0.18, 3.78%) increase in the rate of CVD admissions. Weekly residual oil exposures resulted in an average 2.12% (0.19, 4.22%) increase. Same-day and 2-day exposures to mobile-related PM2.5 were also associated with increased admissions. Confidence intervals when accounting for the uncertainty were wider than otherwise. Agreement in PMF and APCA results was stronger when uncertainty was considered in health models. Accounting for uncertainty in source contributions leads to more stable effect estimates across methods and potentially to fewer spurious significant associations.
Influence of Polyps on Outcomes After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Objective: To determine clinical and comparative outcomes for endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with polyposis. Methods: Two cohorts of adult patients with refractory CRS with and without nasal polyps were prospectively studied before and after ESS (minimum follow-up, 12 months) with the Rhinosinusitis Symptom Inventory (RSI). For the non-polyp and polyp cohorts, RSI symptom domains and medical resource utilization were compared in the preoperative and postoperative states. Corresponding effect sizes were computed and compared between cohorts to determine the effect of polyps on prognosis after ESS. Results: A total of 165 non-polyp and 86 polyp patients were enrolled. Polyps were more common in female patients (2:1, P = .025); age (mean, 42.9 years) and follow-up (18.5 months) were similar between groups. Lund scores were significantly higher for polyp patients (13.7, SD 4.8) vs. non-polyp patients (8.1, SD 5.3, P < .001). At baseline, polyp patients reported lower symptom scores for facial, oropharyngeal, and systemic RSI symptom domains (all P < .012); nasal and total symptom domains were similar between groups. Both non-polyp and polyp groups obtained significant symptomatic benefit from ESS with effect sizes for RSI symptom domain improvements ranging from 0.89 to 1.38 and 0.43 to 1.19, respectively (all P < .001). There were no significant differences between groups in symptomatic improvement, excepting oropharyngeal symptoms (better improvement in non-polyp group, P = .024). Non-polyp patients decreased medical resource consumption more significantly than did polyp patients. Conclusions: Both non-polyp and polyp patients derive similar clinically significant symptomatic improvement after ESS. These similarities suggest that polyp patients do not necessarily have a poorer symptomatic outcome after ESS.
Utility of urgent colonoscopy in acute lower gastro-intestinal bleeding: a single-center experience

Background. The role of urgent colonoscopy in lower gastro-intestinal bleeding (LGIB) remains controversial. Over the last two decades, a number of studies have indicated that urgent colonoscopy may facilitate the identification and treatment of bleeding lesions; however, studies comparing this approach to elective colonoscopy for LGIB are limited. Aims. To determine the utility and assess the outcome of urgent colonoscopy as the initial test for patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with acute LGIB. Methods. Consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy at our institution for the initial evaluation of acute LGIB between January 2011 and January 2012 were analysed retrospectively. Patients were grouped into urgent vs. elective colonoscopy, depending on the timing of colonoscopy after admission to the ICU. Urgent colonoscopy was defined as being performed within 24 hours of admission and those performed later than 24 hours were considered elective. Outcomes included length of hospital stay, early re-bleeding rates, and the need for additional diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with increased transfusion requirements. Results. Fifty-seven patients underwent colonoscopy for the evaluation of suspected LGIB, 24 of which were urgent. There was no significant difference in patient demographics, co-morbidities, or medications between the two groups. Patients who underwent urgent colonoscopy were more likely to present with hemodynamic instability (P = 0.019) and require blood transfusions (P = 0.003). No significant differences in length of hospital stay, re-bleeding rates, or the need for additional diagnostic or therapeutic interventions were found. Patients requiring blood transfusions (n = 27) were more likely to be female (P = 0.016) and diabetics (P = 0.015). Fourteen patients re-bled at a median of 2 days after index colonoscopy. Those with hemodynamic instability were more likely to re-bleed [HR 3.8 (CI 1.06–13.7)], undergo angiography [HR 9.8 (CI 1.8–54.1)], require surgery [HR 13.5 (CI 3.2–56.5)], and had an increased length of hospital stay [HR 1.1 (1.05–1.2)]. Conclusion: The use of urgent colonoscopy, as an initial approach to investigate acute LGIB, did not result in significant differences in length of ICU stay, re-bleeding rates, the need for additional diagnostic or therapeutic interventions, or 30-day mortality compared with elective colonoscopy. In a pre-specified subgroup analysis, patients with hemodynamic instability were more likely to re-bleed after index colonoscopy, to require additional interventions (angiography or surgery) and had increased length of hospital stay.
Latent Postsecondary Persistence Pathways: Educational Pathways in American Two-Year Colleges.

Latent trajectories of credit hour accumulation were modeled using three independent samples of community college students. Five qualitatively distinct patterns of persistence emerged from these samples: Full-time, long-term; 2 years and out; long-term decliners; part-time, long-term; and one term and out. Follow-up analyses using measures on the Community College Student Report indicated that long-term decliner group; the part-time, long-term group; and the one term and out-group were less engaged than full-time students. In particular, the long-term decliner group was the least engaged group. The models illustrate the utility of latent trajectory modeling in higher education research and provide the basis for an empirically based typology of postsecondary persistence pathways.
Copepod feeding and digestion rates using prey DNA and qPCR

Copepod feeding and digestion rates were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to amplify the prey Thalassiosira weissflogii and Heterocapsa triquetra from the guts of Acartia tonsa. Using species-specific primers, prey 18S rDNA could be detected routinely and quantified in the guts and fecal pellets of A. tonsa. Recovery of gut contents DNA using two fixation methods was compared. Prey 18S copy numbers were .10-fold higher in copepods fixed in 95% ethanol (3260+ 822 copies copepod) compared with anesthetized and frozen copepods (210+ 19 copies copepod). Experiments using 95% ethanol fixation showed rapid prey DNA digestion rates during the initial 2 min after ingestion (0.7 min) after which they slowed 10-fold. Chlorophyll pigment disappearance rates were slower ( 0.015 min). Rates of gut filling measured by DNA and gut pigments differed, reaching 95% of the asymptote, Imax, in 3 and 58 min, respectively, likely reflecting differences in rates at which biomarkers were digested. Gut fullness measured by DNA increased with prey concentration, reaching Imax at 9760 copies copepod and a critical concentration (Icrit) at 1530 cells mL . These results demonstrate that qPCR analysis of prey DNA in copepod guts can be used to provide a quantitative index of feeding rates.
Molecular Dynamics of Slow Viscous Flows

We use molecular dynamics techniques to study the microscopic aspects of several slow viscous flows past a solid wall, where both fluid and wall have a molecular structure. Systems of several thousand molecules are found to exhibit reasonable continuum behavior, albeit with significant thermal fluctuations. In Couette and Poiseuille flow of liquids we find the no—slip boundary condition arises naturally as a consequence of molecular roughness, and that the velocity and stress fields agree with the solutions of the Stokes equations. At lower densities slip appears, which can be incorporated into a flow—independent slip—length boundary condition. An immiscible two—fluid system is simulated by a species—dependent intermolecular interaction. We observe a static meniscus whose contact angle agrees with simple estimates and, when motion occurs, velocity—dependent advancing and receding angles. The local velocity field near a moving contact line shows a breakdown of the no—slip condition.
Peptide Mass Fingerprinting of Egg White Proteins.

Use of advanced mass spectrometry techniques in the undergraduate setting has burgeoned in the past decade. However, relatively few undergraduate experiments examine the proteomics tools of protein digestion, peptide accurate mass determination, and database searching, also known as peptide mass fingerprinting. In this experiment, biochemistry students digest a protein mixture from egg white using the enzyme trypsin; liquid chromatography electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-TOF-MS) separates the resulting peptides and determines their accurate masses. Instrument software is used to match these peptides to the sequences of known egg white proteins, obtained from an online source. Students then use online protein database search software to match the peptides to the protein and score the results.
Evaluation of SmartStax-Traited and Refuge Corn Hybrids in Combination with Soil Insecticides at Planting for Larval Corn Rootworm Control, 2014

SmartStax traited and refuge corn hybrids in combination with soil insecticides were evaluated for effectiveness for larval corn rootworm (CRW) control near Clay Center, NE during 2015. The trial site was late-planted corn and pumpkins (insecticide free) during 2014. Experimental design was a RCB with four replicates. Plot size was 4 rows × ∼150 ft length with 30-inch row spacing. Soil type was a Crete silt loam. ‘DeKalb DKC62-77 RIB’ (contains GENSSRIB [SmartStax] insect and herbicide traits) and ‘DeKalb DKC62-98RIB’ (contains GENVT2PRIB [refuge] insect and herbicide traits) corn hybrids were planted on 30 Apr with a two-row JD 7100 Maximerge planter with finger pickup seed units. A …
Understanding Verbal Response in Competitive Dynamics

Our study develops theory about the role of language in the competitive engagement of rival firms. We start with the widely- researched action-response model of Smith, Grimm and Gannon (1992), desc...
Structure of Nanocrystalline Ti 3 C 2 MXene Using Atomic Pair Distribution Function

The structures of nanocrystalline pristine, potassium hydroxide and sodium acetate intercalated new two-dimensional materials ${\mathrm{Ti}}_{3}{\mathrm{C}}_{2}$ MXenes were studied using the x-ray atomic pair distribution function technique. Pristine MXene has a hexagonal structure with $a=b=3.0505(5)\text{ }\text{ }\AA{}$, $c=19.86(2)\text{ }\text{ }\AA{}$ (S.G. $P{6}_{3}/mmc$ No. 194). Both hydroxyl and fluoride terminating species are present. The intercalation of ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$ or ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ ions expands the ${\mathrm{Ti}}_{3}{\mathrm{C}}_{2}$ layers perpendicular to the planes but shrinks the in-plane $a$ and $b$ lattice parameters.
Abstract 884: A metabolomics approach to identify differences between P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) expressing drug resistant and sensitive cancer cells.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ABC transporter whose expression in various human cancers including hepatocellular, lung and colon carcinomas often correlates with resistance to chemotherapeutics. Its activity not only affects the pharmacokinetics of therapeutic agents but also protects cells against xenobiotics and causes drug resistance in cancer cells. Although it is known that P-gp transports a wide variety of chemically dissimilar compounds, its function in the normal cellular milieu is poorly understood. This is primarily due to insufficient knowledge concerning what substrates it transports in vivo and how its expression is regulated. Identification of P-gp9s physiological substrates and the pathways that regulate its function would help to reveal unknown roles of this transporter that may lead to new ways to overcome therapeutic drug resistance. This information would also be of great significance in predicting the pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of novel drug candidates. In this study, we used a global metabolite profiling approach to identify and characterize P-gp expression-associated changes in the metabolic fingerprint of cells. P-gp was functionally expressed using a modified baculovirus based (BacMam) expression system to identify the metabolomic changes induced due to expression of Pgp in HeLa cells. A functionally dead mutant P-gp (E556Q/E1201Q) and a non-specific green fluorescent protein (BacMam-GFP) were expressed as negative controls for P-gp activity and viral transduction, respectively. Relative changes in chemical concentrations of small molecule metabolites including amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, cofactors and nucleosides produced in response to expression of functional P-gp were evaluated to determine their effect on biochemical pathways. P-gp-positive cells had lower levels of glucose, acetyl-coA, citrate, malate and fumarate, which are components of the TCA cycle. Six structurally unidentified compounds were also significantly lower in P-gp-expressing cells. An overall lower metabolic state in virally transduced P-gp-expressing cells was observed. The difference in the metabolic state of the P-gp-expressing cells is currently being validated by transport- or mass spectrometry- based assays. The data presented here thus provide a global view of cellular networks and processes initiated when a drug-sensitive cell becomes drug-resistant due to expression of P-gp and bring to light new information about the physiological and pharmacological relevance of P-gp and other ABC drug transporters. Citation Format: Suneet Shukla, Candice Schwartz, Suresh V. Ambudkar. A metabolomics approach to identify differences between P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) expressing drug resistant and sensitive cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 884. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-884
Analysis of direct sputum smear microscopy results of 946 tuberculosis patients

Objective:To understand the sputum smear microscopy results of tuberculosis patients in recent two years,in order to improve the working procedure,increase the detection rate of TB and prevent TB effectively.Methods:The data of 946 tuberculosis patients,who were registered and accepted sputum smear detection during 2010-2011,were analyzed.Results:The acid-fast bacilli(AFB) was detected in 279 cases(29.5%).The positive rates of different genders,ages and regions had no significant difference.A higher positive rate was found in migrant workers(38.9%) among various careers and the bloody sputum smear had the highest positive rate(64.0%).Conclusion:In addition to stepping up the publicity and supervision,it is vital to guarantee the microscopy quality of sputum smear to improve the detection rate of TB patients,particularly the detection rate of smear-positive patients.
The Dilemma of Care: A Theory and Praxis of Citizenship-Based Care for China's Rural Migrant Youth.

In this article, Lisa Yiu examines how migrant students attending public schools in Shanghai perceive teachers as uncaring and how the majority of teachers claim they are disempowered from caring. She contends that recent Shanghai reforms, which aim to “care” for migrant youth through inclusion into public schools, may be having the opposite effect, arguing that the nature of contact between educators and migrant youth is structured by conflicting state policies on citizenship, which constrain teachers from caring in the way migrant students desire. Yiu's findings problematize recent scholarship on migrant children's schooling which presumes that the dynamics of exclusion are primarily rooted in teacher prejudices. Importantly, this study advances caring theory by reconceptualizing care within the institutional context of the state's citizenship policies and contributes to a citizenship-based care praxis that is relevant to Chinese migrant youth who attend public schools.
Ictal Perfusion Brain SPECT in Pediatric Patients with Intractable Epilepsy: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Objective: Localizing epileptogenic regions of the brain is important in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy. Ictal perfusion brain SPECT can be used to localize these epileptogenic foci. Ictally, a focal perfusion increase is observed in >90% of the patients, but the radiotracer must be given to the child during the seizure. Since it is not practical to have nuclear medicine personnel waiting for the patient to experience a seizure, a multidisciplinary approach was developed that included nuclear medicine, neurology, nursing and radiation safety. Methods: Six nurses were trained in the procedures necessary to safely administer precalibrated doses of tracer to the patient during seizures. Technetium-99m-bicisate was used for the studies because the 6-hr shelf-life provided a reasonable time frame in which to capture the seizures. Patients were transported to nuclear medicine for imaging 1–3 hr after tracer administration. Results: Between June 1994 and July 1995 we obtained ictal SPECT in 30 children. Focal increases in rCBF were detected in more than 90% of these patients. In contrast, interictal SPECT in the same patients revealed regional decreases in cerebral blood flow in only 50% of these studies. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary cooperation and training allowed consistently successful ictal SPECT in epileptic patients. Ictal SPECT is more sensitive for the localization of epileptogenic foci than interictal SPECT.
RF techniques for motion compensation of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for remote radar life sensing

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms are ideal for remote life sensing applications including military, humanitarian and post-disaster search and rescue operations. Doppler radar sensors can remotely detect human vital signs to assess triage but any sensor motion will corrupt the signal. The vital signs signal fidelity can be improved by using the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and Radio Frequency Direction of Arrival (DOA) to compensate for the platform motion and drift via a closed loop control system that modulates the UAV Electronic Speed Controller (ESC). The measured average RF DOA error was 0.004 degrees. Motion compensation with an ultrasonic sensor was also successfully demonstrated.
Aquaporins: Their Role and Regulation in Cellular Water Movement

All living cells are separated from their surroundings by a surface (plasma) membrane. Eukaryotic cells are further compartmentalized internally by a variety of membrane systems, including the endoplasmic reticulum, the vacuolar membrane (tonoplast) and organellar membranes. By necessity, these membranes are selectively permeable, since cells regulate the amount, type and direction of substances which move across them. Control of the exchange of substances across membranes often depends on the physical and chemical properties of the membranes themselves, as well as proteinaceous components including specific channels, transporters and pumps. Water is by far the most important of the materials which are moved across membranes, in and out of cells and their organelles.
TECHNIQUE AND UTILITY OF CT ANGIOGRAPHY FLUOROSCOPY IMAGE FUSION TO GUIDE PERCUTANEOUS PULMONARY VALVE IMPLANTATION IN ADULTS

Background: CT image fusion enhances fluoroscopy during structural heart interventions. We present a case series to demonstrate the techniques and utility of CTA-fluoroscopy image fusion during percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI). Methods: Retrospective review of patients from Dec 2014
Proton-induced reduction ofR s, Jc, andT c in YBa2Cu3O7?? thin films

The authors explored the effect of 2-MeV H{sup +} irradiation on the superconducting transport properties of thin films of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} ({Tc}, J{sub c} (B = 0; 77 K, 4.2 K), and R{sub s} (36 GHz; T)). The inductively measured critical temperature {Tc} changed slowly and uniformly ({approximately}2 K per 10{sup 16}/cm{sup 2}) for fluences less than {approximately}3 {times} 10{sup 16}/cm{sup 2}. Beginning at {approximately}3-4 {times} 10{sup 16}/cm{sup 2}, the superconducting transition broadened and dropped more quickly with fluence. The critical current density measured at 77 and 4.2 K changed roughly linearly with fluence. The microwave {Tc} (as defined by the sharp transition in R{sub s} as a function of temperature) resembled the low-frequency inductive {Tc} measurement at low fluences but was depressed more strongly for large fluences. The residual surface resistance ({approximately}6-10 m{Omega}) was not affected for fluences up to 5 {times} 10{sup 16}cm{sup 2}. The sudden and reproducible reduction in the microwave {Tc} transition was interpreted as a sensitive indicator of disruption in the copper-oxygen chain sublattice, and the proton-induced change was compared to that observed in oxygen gettering studies of bulk materials.
Dead lithium: mass transport effects on voltage, capacity, and failure of lithium metal anodes

Improvement of the performance of Li metal anodes is critical to enable high energy density rechargeable battery systems beyond Li-ion. However, a complete mechanistic understanding of electrode overpotential variations that occur during extended cycling of Li metal is lacking. Herein, we demonstrate that when using a Li metal electrode, the dynamic changes in voltage during extended cycles can be increasingly attributed to mass transport. It is shown that these mass transport effects arise as a result of dead Li accumulation at the Li metal electrode, which introduces a tortuous pathway for Li-ion transport. In Li–Li symmetric cells, mass transport effects cause the shape of the galvanostatic voltage response to change from “peaking” to “arcing”, along with an increase in total electrode overpotential. The continued accumulation of dead Li is also conclusively shown to directly cause capacity fade and rapid “failure” of Li–LCO full cells containing Li metal anodes. This work provides detailed insights into the coupled relationships between cycling, interphase morphology, mass transport and the overall cell performance. Furthermore, this work helps underscore the potential of Li–Li symmetric cells as a powerful analytical tool for understanding the effects of Li metal electrodes in full cell batteries.
Cryospheric science: The power of glacial microbes

Organic carbon fluxes from glaciers are a key control on biogeochemical cycles in polar regions. Two analyses of carbon cycling in glaciers show the importance of glacier–surface microbial communities in setting these inputs.
Das Werk von Ernst Nolte und das intellektuelle Klima in Frankreich

Im Jahr 1981 war die franzosische Linke dank eines Bundnisses zwischen der Kommunistischen Partei Frankreichs (PCF) und der Sozialistischen Partei (PS) an die Macht gekommen. Die PCF war die orthodoxeste unter den kommunistischen Parteien Westeuropas und auch die machtigste; sie konnte sich auf ein dichtes und fest verankertes Netzwerk in den Gemeinden und gewerkschaftlichen Organisationen des offentlichen Sektors stutzen. Auch die seit 1971 von Francois Mitterrand gefuhrte Sozialistische Partei reklamierte fur sich, den “Bruch mit dem Kapitalismus“ vollzogen zu haben, und sie hatte in ihren Reihen, zum Teil in verantwortlichen Positionen, hunderte von Aktivisten integriert, die aus verschiedenen trotzkistischen Grappen kamen.
Photoacoustic imaging for in vivo quantification of placental oxygenation in mice.

Accurate analysis of placental and fetal oxygenation is critical during pregnancy. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) combines laser technology with ultrasound in real time. We tested the sensitivity and ...
Capacity-Constrained Network-Voronoi Diagram: A Summary of Results

Given a graph and a set of service centers, a Capacity Constrained Network-Voronoi Diagram (CCNVD) partitions the graph into a set of contiguous service areas that meet service center capacities and minimize the sum of the distances (min-sum) from graph-nodes to allotted service centers. The CCNVD problem is important for critical societal applications such as assigning evacuees to shelters and assigning patients to hospitals. This problem is NP-hard; it is computationally challenging because of the large size of the transportation network and the constraint that Service Areas (SAs) must be contiguous in the graph to simplify communication of allotments. Previous work has focused on honoring either service center capacity constraints (e.g., min-cost flow) or service area contiguity (e.g., Network Voronoi Diagrams), but not both. We propose a novel Pressure Equalizer (PE) approach for CCNVD to meet the capacity constraints of service centers while maintaining the contiguity of service areas. Experiments and a case study using post-hurricane Sandy scenarios demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has comparable solution quality to min-cost flow in terms of min-sum; furthermore it creates contiguous service areas, and significantly reduces computational cost.
Composites Bond Inspection Using Heterodyne Effect and SuRE Methods

With increasing utilization of the composite materials in commercial and military applications, the longevity of composite bonds has become a crucial concern of the aerospace industry. In spite of the previous studies in the literature for characterization of bonding condition in composite materials, implementation of more advanced structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques are still required to ensure flight safety and quick inspections of structures. In this study, two different SHM methods were used to evaluate the strength of composite bonds by using two separate experimental setups. First, the heterodyne effect method was used for assessing the separation in the composite joint. Then, the surface response to excitation (SuRE) method was used for studying various simulated contamination levels. Results of the experimental studies showed that the proposed methods could be efficiently utilized for evaluating bonding strength of composite materials.
Correction to: Minimally Invasive Lymphadenectomy for Biliary Tumors: Stepwise Progress

In the original article, Schelomo Marmor's last name is misspelled. It is correct as reflected here.
Evaluation of a passive super-resolution beamforming technique for B-mode imaging

Improving spatial resolution of ultrasonic scanners would allow improved imaging performance. A lateral resolution is limited by diffraction and the width of the beam used to interrogate the medium. Techniques for improving the lateral resolution beyond the diffraction limit have utilized dilute concentrations of microbubbles (MBs) to localize MB locations. These approaches enable the mapping of microvasculature but do not allow improvements in general B-mode imaging. Null Subtraction Imaging (NSI) is a passive nonlinear image processing scheme that constructs images from the nulls in the beam pattern of an array rather than the main lobe. In NSI, envelopes reconstructed with different apodizations are combined to form an image with an improved apparent lateral resolution. NSI is computationally efficient compared to adaptive beamforming approaches and does not need MBs. Experiments have demonstrated improvements in a resolution of over 100 times compared to conventional delay-and-sum beamforming with no apodization. Engineering trade-offs associated with combining different apodization functions, angular steering, and interpolation were assessed using the NSI technique. The utilization of the NSI for specific imaging tasks was also evaluated. The results of the study suggest that NSI could provide improved performance for the detection of small microcalcifications, which has application in detecting and identifying malignant cancers.Improving spatial resolution of ultrasonic scanners would allow improved imaging performance. A lateral resolution is limited by diffraction and the width of the beam used to interrogate the medium. Techniques for improving the lateral resolution beyond the diffraction limit have utilized dilute concentrations of microbubbles (MBs) to localize MB locations. These approaches enable the mapping of microvasculature but do not allow improvements in general B-mode imaging. Null Subtraction Imaging (NSI) is a passive nonlinear image processing scheme that constructs images from the nulls in the beam pattern of an array rather than the main lobe. In NSI, envelopes reconstructed with different apodizations are combined to form an image with an improved apparent lateral resolution. NSI is computationally efficient compared to adaptive beamforming approaches and does not need MBs. Experiments have demonstrated improvements in a resolution of over 100 times compared to conventional delay-and-sum beamforming with no ...
The Bedroom: An Intimate History. By Michelle Perrot. Translated by Lauren Elkin. [Orig. Histoire de chambres, Paris: Editions du Seuil, 2009.] (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2018. Pp. ix, 371. $30.00.)

Michelle Perrot, the distinguished labor historian and pioneer of women's history in France, here applies her deep knowledge of French society and literature to a study intended for a general audie...
What’s Changing the World? A Demographer’s Perspective

Population growth around the world between now and 2100 will be led by developing countries. Over 75% of the growth will occur in developing countries. And the fastest growing regions will mainly be those in sub-Saharan Africa. This growth differential will be important to keep in mind in my discussions below of trends and projected trends in non-communicable diseases. The growth in population results in a shift toward a younger population and the behaviors of youth can have lasting impact of the overall health of the population. Many countries are facing an epidemiologic transition where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are critically imporant to overall population health. The major NCDs are diabetes, cardiac diseases, most cancers and chronic pulmonary disease.. These diseases are fueled by unhealthy behaviors – many begun during adolescence. Programs that attack tobacco, excessive alcohol, poor diet and low levels of physical activity can address the future burden of NCDs and involve youth in supporting a healthy framework for adulthood.
Herzerkrankung und Chirurgie

Narkose und chirurgischer Eingriff stellen fur jeden Patienten ein gewisses Risiko dar. Dies gilt besonders fur Sauglinge und kleine Kinder. Allerdings ist das Risiko einer Operation fur Kranke in gutem Allgemeinzustand im Vergleich zu Patienten mit ernster kardialer Erkrankung gering. Auch in diesem Falle ermoglichen eine kontinuierliche EKG- und Blutdruckuberwachung sowie die sofortige Verfugbarkeit wirksamer Pharmaka, unerwarteten Zwischenfallen sicher zu begegnen. Heute werden vor einer geplanten Operation alte Menschen sowie Personen im mittleren Lebensalter haufig zur Beurteilung der Operabilitat und eines evtl. erhohten Operationsrisikos einem Kardiologen vorgestellt.
Numerical simulation of non-Newtonian fluid flow in partially blocked eccentric annuli

Abstract A cuttings bed formed on the lower side of the wellbore is the most common drilling problem confronted when horizontal or highly deviated wells are drilled. The phenomenon is undesirable and has a detrimental effect on wellbore hydraulics and drilling performance. To achieve an efficient drilling operation, hydraulics optimization should be implemented by precisely predicting annular pressure loss and other hydraulic parameters. The accumulation of cuttings at the lower side of horizontal or highly inclined wellbores, combined with wellbore eccentricity and fluid rheological properties, create a complex behavior of pressure loss. In this study, a numerical approach is used to investigate the influence of the aforementioned factors. A numerical solution is performed for laminar flow of non-Newtonian fluids. A non-orthogonal, boundary-fitted curvilinear coordinate is developed, which is based on elliptic partial differential equations (PDE) to accommodate annular flow geometry with arbitrary cross-sections. Finite difference numerical schemes adapted to the coordinates is then used to analyze the problem. The numerical model determines the effect of hydraulic parameters of fluid flow thorough an irregularly shaped annulus and considers the following factors: flow rate, fluid rheological parameters, annular geometry and bed appearance. Numerical predictions from the model are verified against existing models and experimental data in literature; and good agreements are obtained. The developed numerical model can be combined with a 1-D solids transport model for designing oil and gas well drilling operations.
On the Formation of the Popcorn Flavorant 2,3‐Butanedione (CH3COCOCH3) in Acetaldehyde‐Containing Interstellar Ices

Acetaldehyde (CH3 CHO) is ubiquitous throughout the interstellar medium and has been observed in cold molecular clouds, star forming regions, and in meteorites such as Murchison. As the simplest methyl-bearing aldehyde, acetaldehyde constitutes a critical precursor to prebiotic molecules such as the sugar deoxyribose and amino acids via the Strecker synthesis. In this study, we reveal the first laboratory detection of 2,3-butanedione (diacetyl, CH3 COCOCH3 ) - a butter and popcorn flavorant - synthesized within acetaldehyde-based interstellar analog ices exposed to ionizing radiation at 5 K. Detailed isotopic substitution experiments combined with tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization of the subliming molecules demonstrate that 2,3-butanedione is formed predominantly via the barrier-less radical-radical reaction of two acetyl radicals (CH3 ĊO). These processes are of fundamental importance for a detailed understanding of how complex organic molecules (COMs) are synthesized in deep space thus constraining the molecular structures and complexity of molecules forming in extraterrestrial ices containing acetaldehyde through a vigorous galactic cosmic ray driven non-equilibrium chemistry.
The effect of surface roughness on oblique bicycle helmet impact tests

The friction between a helmet and impact surface affects the accelerations imparted to the head. The roughness of the impact surface is, therefore, a consideration when developing oblique impact st...
Genotype–phenotype considerations in neurogenetic disease

Abstract Mutation within a patient’s DNA results in the clinical manifestation of neurogenetic disease. This relationship between genotype and phenotype lies at the heart of genetic diagnosis and forms the basis of the strategies upon which diagnostic testing is pursued. However, genotype–phenotype correlations can be complex across neurological disease and examples abound where genotype and phenotype may become dissociated from one another through variations in penetrance and expressivity, complicating the clinical evaluation and impeding diagnosis, particularly for clinically heterogeneous conditions. Improvements in technology, such as next-generation sequencing, have led to advancements in variant analysis, expansion of the scope of clinical disease, and the development of resources to bring this information to the clinic. Here we provide an overview of the challenges in correlating genotype to phenotype and vice versa, discuss how these challenges arise in clinical practice, and present strategies on how they can be effectively overcome.
Rare A-Type, Spiro-Type, and Highly Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins from Pinus massoniana.

An investigation of the dental bioactive proanthocyanidin (PAC) oligomer fractions led to three structurally distinct new PACs (1–3) from pine bark. Pinutwindoublin (1) is the first reported trimer...
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's mental health.

The current worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has changed the modus operandi of all segments of society. While some pandemic-related stressors affect nearly everyone, many especially affect women. Purpose: To review what is known about the pandemic’s effect on women’s mental health, what makes them more predisposed to vulnerabilities and adverse impacts, and strategies for preventing and treating these mental health consequences in the female population during specific stages across the lifespan. Methods: The authors performed a narrative review in combination with their observations from clinical experience in the field of women’s mental health and reproductive psychiatry. Articles on women’s mental health and COVID-19 up to May 30, 2020, were searched using the electronic PubMed and PsychInfo databases, as well as publications by major health entities (e.g., World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations) and press releases from prime communication outlets (e.g., National Public Radio). Results and conclusions: Women who are pregnant, postpartum, miscarrying, or experiencing intimate partner violence are at especially high risk for developing mental health problems during the pandemic. Proactive outreach to these groups of women and enhancement of social supports could lead to prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment. Social support is a key protective factor. Similarly, parenting may be substantially more stressful during a pandemic. Gender disparities may be accentuated, particularly for employed women or single parents, as women are disproportionately responsible for the bulk of domestic tasks, including childcare and eldercare.
Evaluating optimal irrigation strategies for maize in Western Kansas

Abstract A calibrated and validated Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer – Cropping System Model (DSSAT-CSM), CERES-Maize, was used to (1) evaluate maize (Zea mays L.) yield and water productivities (WP) under various irrigation frequencies (IRF) triggered by different plant available soil water (PASW) on three soil types, and (2) assess the optimum IRF and PASW triggers for maximum yield and water productivity on three different soils (with a depth of 1.2 m) in Finney County, Western Kansas. The treatments were four IRF (2, 4, 7, and 9 days), four PASW (5%, 25%, 50% and 75%) irrigation trigger and three soil types with a total of 48 combinations. The model was set to automatically apply 25 mm irrigation at selected day intervals when certain irrigation triggering PASW conditions were met. This study showed that maintaining higher PASW up to 75% or above might result in too many irrigations per season, which could be costly. IRF-9 showed substantially lowest yield under most PASW tested in this study. The highest yield was simulated at irrigation amount of 400–450 mm and ET of 650–800 mm depending on soil types. The highest irrigation water productivity (IWP, 30–33 kg/ha/mm) was simulated when triggered by 25% and 50% PASW for Ulysses silt loams. Overall, IRF-4 under 50% PASW threshold provided the maximum maize yield and WP for all soil types.