cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arabidopsis thaliana VOZ (Vascular plant One-Zinc finger) transcription factors are required for proper regulation of flowering time

Transition to flowering in plants is tightly controlled by environmental cues, which regulate the photoperiod and vernalization pathways, and endogenous signals, which mediate the autonomous and gibberellin pathways. In this work, we investigated the role of two Zn(2+)-finger transcription factors, the paralogues AtVOZ1 and AtVOZ2, in Arabidopsis thaliana flowering. Single atvoz1-1 and atvoz2-1 mutants showed no significant phenotypes as compared to wild type. However, atvoz1-1 atvoz2-1 double mutant plants exhibited several phenotypes characteristic of flowering-time mutants. The double mutant displayed a severe delay in flowering, together with additional pleiotropic phenotypes. Late flowering correlated with elevated expression of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), which encodes a potent floral repressor, and decreased expression of its target, the floral promoter FD. Vernalization rescued delayed flowering of atvoz1-1 atvoz2-1 and reversed elevated FLC levels. Accumulation of FLC transcripts in atvoz1-1 atvoz2-1 correlated with increased expression of several FLC activators, including components of the PAF1 and SWR1 chromatin-modifying complexes. Additionally, AtVOZs were shown to bind the promoter of MOS3/SAR3 and directly regulate expression of this nuclear pore protein, which is known to participate in the regulation of flowering time, suggesting that AtVOZs exert at least some of their flowering regulation by influencing the nuclear pore function. Complementation of atvoz1-1 atvoz2-1 with AtVOZ2 reversed all double mutant phenotypes, confirming that the observed morphological and molecular changes arise from the absence of functional AtVOZ proteins, and validating the functional redundancy between AtVOZ1 and AtVOZ2.
Bleuler and the Neurobiology of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia remains a major challenge for psychiatry. One hundred years after the publication of Eugen Bleuler’s monograph, we are still debating the nosology and mechanisms of schizophrenia. We have stalled in the development of more effective treatments, after success with the introduction of antipsychotic medication. Cure and prevention remain in the distance. This article reviews the importance of Bleuler’s monograph for the neuroscientific exploration of schizophrenia. While Bleuler assumed that schizophrenia has a neural basis, he remained agnostic on possible mechanisms and skeptical about the value of pathological diagnosis. He preferred psychological understanding over neural explanation. He gave hope by making schizophrenia dimensional and less predictive of course and outcome. To make progress now, we need to redefine schizophrenia at the level of the brain.
Interplay Between NF-κB and Kruppel-like Factors in Vascular Inflammation and Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, Location

Atherosclerosis is a highly complex process involving the dynamic interplay between cell types intrinsic (eg, endothelial cells [ECs] and smooth muscle cells [SMCs]) and extrinsic (eg, lymphocytes and myeloid cells) to the blood vessel wall.[1][1] Over the last several decades extensive work has
The Gospel According to Tolstoy and the Gospel According to Proudhon

During a tour of Europe in 1860–61, Lev Tolstoy had the opportunity to meet the internationally famous French socialist, Pierre Joseph Proudhon, who was then living in exile in Brussels. Since by that time Proudhon's reputation in Russia was already well established, and since the young Russian author was thoroughly familiar with his Qu' est-ce que la propriete? , Tolstoy looked forward to the meeting with great anticipation. By all accounts he was not disappointed. The two men hit it off remarkably well, and even toward the end of his life Tolstoy remembered Proudhon with affection and admiration. This is not to say that their views on politics, society, religion, and international law were in complete accord. Tolstoy was, after all, quite skeptical about Proudhon's socialism both before and after their encounter. But in the main he respected him for his impassioned commitment to moral truth and social justice.
Enhancing Incentive Programs with Proximal Goals and Immediate Feedback: Engineered Labor Standards and Technology Enhancements in Stocker Replenishment

Under baseline conditions warehouse stockers (n = 23) could earn incentives if their team performed above the team quota of 18 cases stocked per hour. They were also subject to disciplinary action if they failed to regularly meet individual stocking quotas. In spite of these contingencies the stockers failed to receive bonus payments most of the months preceding the intervention. The intervention package included a task analysis in the form of engineered labor standards. Empirically derived time standards were combined to provide engineered standards for all stocking tasks. A specific time duration goal for each task was presented prior to execution of each task. Percent of standard time used to complete each task was then presented immediately upon completion of each task via a handheld Electronic Performance Monitoring (EPM) device. Thus, task goals and performance feedback immediately preceded and followed performance of each stocking task. Immediately upon onset of the intervention, employee performance increased and eventually averaged 4.46 cases stocked per hour per person, an increase of 24% over the baseline phase. Performance was maintained for the 10-week duration of the study. Team members received the maximum bonus of $300 per month for 9 consecutive months under the intervention system. Performance levels in a comparison team at another warehouse were unchanged during the entire study. Results were discussed in terms of expanding the role of Organizational Behavior Management professionals and operational and ethical issues associated with EPM technologies.
Solid-Boundary Treatment for Moment Equations

The research reported here is part of our ambitious project \CFD by First-Order PDEs." We aimed at modeling all ows, except free-molecular ow, by systems of hyperbolicrelaxation equations, obtained by taking moments of the Boltzmann equation following the procedure suggested by Grad. As a result, a single code based on this system could simulate ows up to intermediate Knudsen numbers, and would be preferable to a Navier{Stokes code if hybridization with a DSMC code were needed. Comparing to the Navier{Stokes system, this approach has many potentially physical and numerical advantages. Regarding numerical issues: accuracy problems on adaptive unstructured grids can be avoided because there are no second or higher derivatives to be approximated. The source terms, despite their sti ness, are only local. In addition, the compact stencils facilitate code parallelization. Regarding physical issues: more ow phenomena could be captured due to the ability to have a larger set of independent ow
SWIM: scalable weakly-consistent infection-style process group membership protocol

Several distributed peer-to-peer applications require weakly-consistent knowledge of process group membership information at all participating processes. SWIM is a generic software module that offers this service for large scale process groups. The SWIM effort is motivated by the unscalability of traditional heart-beating protocols, which either impose network loads that grow quadratically with group size, or compromise response times or false positive frequency w.r.t. detecting process crashes. This paper reports on the design, implementation and performance of the SWIM sub-system on a large cluster of commodity PCs. Unlike traditional heart beating protocols, SWIM separates the failure detection and membership update dissemination functionalities of the membership protocol. Processes are monitored through an efficient peer-to-peer periodic randomized probing protocol. Both the expected time to first detection of each process failure, and the expected message load per member do not vary with group size. Information about membership changes, such as process joins, drop-outs and failures, is propagated via piggybacking on ping messages and acknowledgments. This results in a robust and fast infection style (also epidemic or gossip-style) of dissemination. The rate of false failure detections in the SWIM system is reduced by modifying the protocol to allow group members to suspect a process before declaring it as failed - this allows the system to discover and rectify false failure detections. Finally, the protocol guarantees a deterministic time bound to detect failures. Experimental results from the SWIM prototype are presented. We discuss the extensibility of the design to a WAN-wide scale.
Explaining the Diffusion of Web-Based Communication Technology among Congressional Offices: A Natural Experiment using State Delegations

Do legislators learn to use new communication technologies from each other? Using data from the official homepages of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, we test whether web-based communication technology diffuses through congressional state delegations. We use a natural experimental design that exploits ignorable state boundaries to distinguish between causal diffusion processes and spatial heterogeneity. Using nonlinear conditional autoregressive models for the statistical test, we find that web communication technology practices are weakly driven by communication within state delegations, and with the effect slightly more pronounced among Democrats than among Republicans.
Measurements of Ultragiant Aerosol Particles in the Atmosphere from the Small Cumulus Microphysics Study

Abstract Ultragiant aerosol particles (UGA) are potentially important for warm rain formation because of their ability to initiate coalescence immediately upon entering a cloud, so it is desirable to obtain local estimates during any field campaign that studies warm rain. Estimates of UGA in clear air from a one-dimensional optical array probe averaged over long time periods from the Small Cumulus Microphysics Study have been published in the literature, but further analysis and comparisons to other probes, presented here, show that the data on which these estimates were based were probably contaminated by noise. A possible explanation for the noise in the probe is given, as are new upper limits, based on few or no particles detected by a two-dimensional optical array probe.
Fertilizers For Use Under Tropical Conditions

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on fertilizer use in the tropics and the agronomic responses peculiar to these areas. The efficiency of the use of fertilizer under tropical conditions is also discussed. The chapter provides a brief description of tropics, along with its climate, soils, types of agriculture, and fertilizer-related infrastructure. The major types of tropical climates and their importance in terms of land area over the tropics is also presented. The chapter also explores the area of principal kinds of soils by the major tropical climatic regions. Humid tropics have more agricultural potential than the desert regions. It deals with two types of agriculture in the tropics: modern agriculture and traditional agriculture. Some important types of cropping patterns are discussed in relation to the problems of maintaining soil fertility, including shifting cultivation, continuously grown upland crops, lowland rice, and pastoral. The chapter outlines the history of fertilizer use in the tropics and various developments in fertilizer technology.
A new species of frogfish of the genus Histiophryne (Teleostei: Lophiiformes: Antennariidae) from Lombok and Komodo, Indonesia

Histiophryne pogonius, a new species of frogfish of the teleost order Lophiiformes, family Antennariidae, is describedfrom a total of five specimens: three collected in shallow waters surrounding Lombok, Indonesia, one reportedly from thenearshore waters of Cebu, Philippines, and a photograph of a specimen from Komodo Island, Indonesia. The new taxondiffers from its congeners in having an extremely small illicium and esca, barely discernible even with aid of a dissectingmicroscope; dark pink pigmentation overlaying a pale pink background, including a dark pink basidorsal spot; a smallwhite encrusted patch of skin always present posterior to pectoral-fin origin, with similar patches sometimes present oncheeks; body everywhere covered with small dark reddish to black spots, including lips and outer margins of the sclera,spots encircled by a thin white ring; cheeks with shallow depressions, giving head a pitted appearance; head lightlycovered with cutaneous cirri, especially around edges of opercle; upper and lower lips with short cutaneous cirri; andgenetic divergence in mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI). The new species is described andcompared with its congeners, and a phylogenetic tree based on the nuclear recombination activation gene-2 (RAG2) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) and 16S genes is presented.
The Answer You Get Depends on Who (and What) You Ask:: Involving Stakeholders in Needs Assessments

Abstract This paper focuses on identifying and involving various distance-learning stakeholders in a needs assessment for library services. Topics covered include “Why who you ask matters” (rationale for including stakeholders), “Who you ask” (identifying stakeholders), “What you ask” (developing questions that ask what you need to know), and “How to involve those you have identified” (ways to increase stakeholder participation and, thereby, investment in the needs assessment process and library services related to distance learning programs).
Development of a model for interfacial damping

An a n a l y t i c a l model f o r i n t e r f a c i a l damping i n c o m p o s i t e m a t e r i a l s i s f o r m u l a t e d u s i n g a v i s c o u s m o d e l f o r f r i c t i o n . T h i s m o d e l i s i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e e q u a t i o n o f m o t i o n f o r a s i m p l i f i e d sys tem c o n s i s t i n g o f two l o n g , t h i n beams w i t h a common i n t e r f a c e . The t h e o r y i s f u r t h e r expanded t o cons ider a system o f m u l t i p l e sandwiched beams. An exac t s o l u t i o n f o r t h e t ime response y i e l d s v i b r a t o r y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s such as d a m p i n g a n d t h e n a t u r a l f r e q u e n c i e s f o r any system. Four common boundary v a l u e p r o b l e m s a r e s o l v e d a s e x a m p l e s . By c o m p a r i s o n o f t h e s e r e s u l t s , i t i s shown t h a t t h e boundary c o n d i t i o n s p l a y a s i g n i f i c a n t r o l e i n de te rmin ing t h e dynamic response f o r each system.
Effect of Hydrochloric Acid on the Surface Integrity of Hot-Rolled Stainless Steel Sheets During Pickling Process

Electrochemical method,laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM) and scanning electron microscope(SEM) were employed to investigate the effect of the hydrochloric acid on the surface integrity of hot-rolled ferritic stainless steel during pickling process.The results showed that with the increase of concentration of hydrochloric acid,the surface becomes smoother.However,high concentration results in severe intergranular corrosion.With the increase of hydrochloric acid content,the shapes of polarization curves in weak polarization area do not change obviously,but the pitting potential and the radiuses of capacitive loop increase,indicating that the corrosion resistance enhances.
Determining Problem Selection for a Logic Proof Tutor

When developing an intelligent tutoring system, it is necessary to have a significant number of highly varied problems that adapt to a student’s individual learning style. In developing an intelligent tutor for logic proof construction, selecting problems for individual students that effectively aid their progress can be difficult, since logic proofs require knowledge of a number of concepts and problem solving abilities. The level of variation in the problems needed to satisfy all possibilities would require an infeasible number of problems to develop. Using a proof construction tool called Deep Thought, we have developed a system which chooses existing problem sets for students using knowledge tracing of students’ accumulated application of logic proof solving concepts and are running a pilot study to determine the system’s effectiveness. Our ultimate goal is to use what is learned from this study to be able to automatically generate logic proof problems for students that fit their individual learning style, and aid in the mastery of proof construction concepts.
Convex Channel Power Optimization in Nonlinear WDM Systems Using Gaussian Noise Model

Optimization of channel powers to maximize minimum margin or total capacity in WDM systems is studied. Using a Gaussian noise nonlinearity model, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in each channel is expressed as a convex function of the channel powers. Using the SNR expression, convex optimization problems with objectives of maximizing the minimum channel margin or maximizing the fiber capacity minus a coding cap are formulated. Performance gains from software-based power optimization are observed in mesh networks and in point-to-point links having heterogeneous SNR requirements. By contrast, in systems with uniform amplifier noise and modulation formats, the optimized power allocation provides very little improvement over a traditional flat power allocation. In the 14-node NSFNET network, a margin gain of 1.5 dB on average is achieved through power optimization, as compared to a flat power allocation. Margin gains averaging 1.4 dB are found for subsets of this network with three to 13 nodes.
Genetic resistance to Marek's disease

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses genetic mechanisms responsible for the resistance to Marek's disease (MD). A number of genes including the chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) make important contributions to MD resistance. The modulation of MD resistance/susceptibility in the individual chicken by gene interactions is still not well understood. Many common haplotypes of the chicken MHC have a single dominantly expressed class I molecule and a single dominantly expressed class II molecule, the structural and functional characteristics of which limit the MHC-determined immune responses. Apart from MHC haplotypes, some other genes also have a strong influence on the overall level of MD resistance, which was found during a comparison of different inbred chicken lines. With the development of a genomic map for the chicken, it has become possible to locate and identify the genes responsible for resistance in a more general manner by genomic mapping and positional cloning. The availability of new genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic technologies such as DNA arrays and interference RNA (RNAi), together with the availability of the chicken genome sequence, will revolutionize the identification of the MD resistance genes.
New Faces in Rural Places: Patterns and Sources of Nonmetropolitan Ethnoracial Diversity since 1990

Much of the research on ethnoracial diversity in nonmetropolitan America consists of case studies describing how the arrival of Hispanics has transformed a particular community. To complement this work, we examine the dimensions and sources of diversity for a sample of 10,000 nonmetro places. We identify two dimensions of diversity—magnitude and structure—and draw hypotheses about their changes and correlates from the spatial assimilation and locational persistence perspectives and relevant scholarship. Our analysis of 1990–2010 decennial census and American Community Survey data documents a pervasive upward trend in diversity magnitude. However, places tend to follow parallel rather than identical diversity trajectories and to retain the same type of racial-ethnic structure in 2010 that they exhibited 20 years earlier. Fixed effects regression models show that ethnoracial diversity gains are most likely in nonmetro communities with plentiful economic opportunities; fewer old residents; and growing total, foreign-born, and correctional populations. These correlates hold for micropolitan and rural places and across census regions. Though our results largely conform to locational persistence logic, we find that spatial assimilation still has some merit, underscoring the importance of incorporating multiple theoretical models into a segmented change approach to nonmetropolitan diversity.
Integrin-FAK signaling rapidly and potently promotes mitochondrial function through STAT3

STAT3 is increasingly becoming known for its non-transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetic function upon activation of its S727 residue (S727-STAT3). Lengthy mitochondrial dysfunction can lead to cell death. We tested whether an integrin-FAK-STAT3 signaling pathway we recently discovered regulates mitochondrial function and cell survival, and treatments thereof. Cultured mouse brain bEnd5 endothelial cells were treated with integrin, FAK or STAT3 inhibitors, FAK siRNA, as well as integrin and STAT3 activators. STAT3 null cells were transfected with mutant STAT3 plasmids. Outcome measures included oxygen consumption rate for mitochondrial bioenergetics, Western blotting for protein phosphorylation, mitochondrial membrane potential for mitochondrial integrity, ROS production, and cell counts. Vitronectin-dependent mitochondrial basal respiration, ATP production, and maximum reserve and respiratory capacities were suppressed within 4 h by RGD and αvβ3 integrin antagonist peptides. Conversely, integrin ligands vitronectin, laminin and fibronectin stimulated mitochondrial function. Pharmacological inhibition of FAK completely abolished mitochondrial function within 4 h while FAK siRNA treatments confirmed the specificity of FAK signaling. WT, but not S727A functionally dead mutant STAT3, rescued bioenergetics in cells made null for STAT3 using CRISPR-Cas9. STAT3 inhibition with stattic in whole cells rapidly reduced mitochondrial function and mitochondrial pS727-STAT3. Stattic treatment of isolated mitochondria did not reduce pS727 whereas more was detected upon phosphatase inhibition. This suggests that S727-STAT3 is activated in the cytoplasm and is short-lived upon translocation to the mitochondria. FAK inhibition reduced pS727-STAT3 within mitochondria and reduced mitochondrial function in a non-transcriptional manner, as shown by co-treatment with actinomycin. Treatment with the small molecule bryostatin-1 or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which indirectly activate S727-STAT3, preserved mitochondrial function during FAK inhibition, but failed in the presence of the STAT3 inhibitor. FAK inhibition induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which was counteracted by bryostatin, and increased superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production. Bryostatin and HGF reduced the substantial cell death caused by FAK inhibition over a 24 h period. These data suggest that extracellular matrix molecules promote STAT3-dependent mitochondrial function and cell survival through integrin-FAK signaling. We furthermore show a new treatment strategy for cell survival using S727-STAT3 activators.
Alternative Science and Human Reproduction.

U.S. executive-branch appointees Valerie Huber, Teresa Manning, Charmaine Yoest, and Katy Talento embrace false claims about contraception, abortion, sex education, and pregnancy. Such “alternative science” leads to bad policy.
Facile Synthesis of Fluorescent Conjugated Polyelectrolytes Using Polydentate Sulfonate as Highly Selective and Sensitive Copper(II) Sensors.

Fluorescent conjugated polyelectrolytes represent an exciting area of research into new chemosensors. By virtue of their rapid electron and energy transfer paths, these highly correlated, one-dimensional systems have been depicted as “molecular wires” and show “million-fold” sensitivity compared to monomolecular sensor analogs. In this paper, a novel polyelectrolyte sensor, the ttp-PPESO3, has been designed by incorporating terpyridine and sulfonate functional groups into the polyelectrolyte. This specifically tailored sensor has displayed remarkable quenching response toward copper(II) with a detection limit of 14.7 nM (0.93 ppb). It is capable of selectively screening copper without interference from 12 common cations. Molecular modeling suggests that binding occurs through a coordination interaction of the terpyridine and sulfonate. The additional multidentate nature from the sulfonate offers extraordinary chelating ability to the analyte. We anticipate that this unique binding mode will provide insigh...
Are Outcomes of Ischemic Strokes Improved When a Neurologist is Attending

P239 BACKGROUND: Whether admission of stroke patients to neurologists is associated with improved outcomes is uncertain. Though prior studies suggested ischemic stroke patients under the care of neurologists had lower rates of in-hospital mortality than those treated by internists, these studies were uncontrolled for the possibility that patients with better prognosis were admitted to neurologists. METHODS: The University HealthSystem Consortium administrative database contains patient information from 84 large academic health centers and associates. Discharge abstracts for ischemic strokes admitted through emergency rooms 1997–1999 were obtained. Database variables were validated by comparison with a detailed chart review of 927 patients at 36 institutions. Attending physician specialty was evaluated as a predictor of in-hospital mortality using chi-square statistics and multivariable logistic regression. To determine whether hospital rates of stroke admission to neurologists were predictive of in-hospital mortality, generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used. This multivariable method accounts for clustering of observations at institutions, which broadens confidence intervals (CI). All multivariable analyses were adjusted for age, gender, race, admission status, and treatment volume. RESULTS: Of 28,571 ischemic strokes admitted through the emergency department, 58% were admitted to neurologists. Univariate analyses demonstrated a lower risk of in-hospital mortality in cases admitted to neurologist (4.7%) compared to non-neurologists (9.4%; p CONCLUSIONS: In academic medical centers, ischemic stroke patients admitted to neurologists are less likely to die in the hospital compared to those admitted to other services. However, this may be due to selection of patients with better prognosis for admission to neurologists.
Rationale and design of the Staying Positive with Arthritis (SPA) Study: A randomized controlled trial testing the impact of a positive psychology intervention on racial disparities in pain

Knee osteoarthritis is a painful, disabling condition that disproportionately affects African Americans. Existing arthritis treatments yield small to moderate improvements in pain and have not been effective at reducing racial disparities in the management of pain. The biopsychosocial model of pain and evidence from the positive psychology literature suggest that increasing positive psychological skills (e.g., gratitude, kindness) could improve pain and functioning and reduce disparities in osteoarthritis pain management. Activities to cultivate positive psychological skills have been developed and validated; however, they have not been tested in patients with osteoarthritis, their effects on racial differences in health outcomes have not been examined, and evidence of their effects on health outcomes in patients with other chronic illnesses is of limited quality. In this article we describe the rationale and design of Staying Positive with Arthritis (SPA) study, a randomized controlled trial in which 180 African American and 180 White primary care patients with chronic pain from knee osteoarthritis will be randomized to a 6-week program of either positive skill-building activities or neutral control activities. The primary outcomes will be self-reported pain and functioning as measured by the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index. We will assess these primary outcomes and potential, exploratory psychosocial mediating variables at an in-person baseline visit and by telephone at 1, 3, and 6months following completion of the assigned program. If effective, the SPA program would be a novel, theoretically-informed psychosocial intervention to improve quality and equity of care in the management of chronic pain from osteoarthritis.
An Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Joint Attention Protocol

The goal of this paper is to examine the psychometric properties of a live-coded behavioral measure of joint attention, the Attention-Following and Initiating Joint Attention Protocol (JA Protocol), in order to assist researchers and clinicians in identifying when this measure may meet their joint attention assessment needs. Data from 260 children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, or typical development between the ages of 2 and 12 years were used to evaluate this measure using quality standards for measurement. Overall, the JA Protocol demonstrated good psychometric properties. Recommendations and limitations for use of this measure based on psychometric analysis results are reported.
Total Synthesis of (+)‐ and (±)‐Hosieine A

Described herein is a concise total synthesis of the highly potent nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligand hosieine A in racemic and enantioenriched forms. The synthesis requires only seven steps and features a telescoped reaction sequence initiated by a gold-catalyzed Rautenstrauch reaction.
Interactive/Personal Machine Translation

In this chapter, we suggest a personal machine translation system. The machine translation system described here which takes advantage of on-line parsing and interactive sentence disambiguation, has a totally different philosophy from that of conventional machine translation systems. We have implemented an experimental system by extending an existing English Japanese machine translation system,11 to demonstrate feasibility of the interactive approach to machine translation. This pilot system adopts neither our parsing algorithm nor on-line parsing, and is far away from being practical, but some promising data have been found from experiments with the system.
Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Applied to Biological Materials

The conventional method of analysis used to investigate properties of molecules inside a medium consists of measuring the transmission and reflection coefficients of the material in order to determine the absorption of a given chromophore in the medium. However, this classical technique only gives access to an average value over the thickness of the material being investigated. It does not allow for the establishment of a depth profile of the density of chromophores in the material, i.e. their local concentration. In addition, this technique necessitates good optical quality of the medium in the range of the optical wavelengths used which makes it less suited to amorphous biological tissues because these are often subject to strong light diffusion, diffraction or a too high absorption. In contrast to this technique, photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) allows for the in-depth characterization of either homogenous or heterogenous non-transparent materials.1–4 This spectroscopy has already been applied to study complex biological media like leaves (photosynthesis)5–7, eye retina (vision)8–9 or human skin (membrane permeability).10–12
Patterns of metastases, treatment (tx), and outcomes in bone predominant (BP) metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

e16523Background: The clinical phenotype of BP mUC includes patients (pts) with at least as many bone lesions as non-bone lesions. UC molecular subtypes that may correlate with BP phenotype and pro...
Not by (Good) Microbes Alone: Towards Immunocommensal Therapies

Commensal bacteria have been identified as critical drivers of host resilience to pathogen invasion. The resulting ‘competitive exclusion’ of pathogens by commensals can arise via multiple mechanisms, including direct competition for sites of colonization, production of metabolic products that inhibit pathogen growth, and modulation of host immune responses (including differential targeting of pathogens). Nonetheless, suppression of pathogens through the combined action of commensals and host immunity is far from inevitable. Here, we utilize a simple, within-host ecosystem model to explore the microbiological and immunological conditions that govern the fate of pathogen colonization. Model analysis leads to the hypothesis that robust elimination of pathogens requires a synergy between host immune defense and commensal bacteria. That is, pathogens can proliferate and establish persistent infections if either the state of the microbiota or the host immune defense falls below critical levels. Leveraging these findings, we advocate for improved integration of nonlinear dynamic models in efforts to understand infection dynamics in an immunological context. Doing so may provide new opportunities to establish baseline indicators for healthy microbiomes and to develop improved therapeutics through targeted modification of feedback amongst commensals and between commensals and the immune system.
On the Convergence of Numerical Computations for Both Exact and Approximate Solutions for Electromagnetic Scattering by Nonspherical Dielectric Particles (Invited Review)

We summarize the size parameter range of the applicability of four lightscattering computational methods for nonspheric dielectric particles. These methods include two exact methods - the extended boundary condition method (EBCM) and the invariant imbedding T-matrix method (II-TM) and two approximate approaches - the physical-geometric optics method (PGOM) and the improved geometric optics method (IGOM). For spheroids, the single-scattering properties computed by EBCM and II-TM agree for size parameters up to 150, and the comparison gives us confidence in using IITM as a benchmark for size parameters up to 150 for other geometries (e.g., hexagonal columns) because the applicability of II-TM with respect to particle shape is generic, as demonstrated in our previous studies involving a complex aggregate. This study demonstrates the convergence of the exact II-TM and approximate PGOM solutions for the complete set of single-scattering properties of a nonspherical shape other than spheroids and circular cylinders with particle sizes of ~48λ, specifically a hexagonal column with a size parameter of length as kL=300, where k=2π/λ and L is the column length. IGOM is also quite accurate except near the exact 180o backscattering direction. This study demonstrates that a synergetic combination of the numerically-exact II-TM and the approximate PGOM can seamlessly cover the entire size parameter range of practical interest. To demonstrate the applicability of the approach, we compute the optical properties of dust particles with a downstream application to the retrieval of dust aerosol optical thickness and effective particle size from polarimetric observations.
Why diversity and expectations matter

This article was delivered in a session entitled Insights from a behavioral lens: why perceptions and diversity matter. In the article, I ask whether a diverse academic workforce is an asset to a University, and more generally to society, and conclude that it is. Although this conclusion is based on empirical data from US universities, the message is universal. Even when correcting for years of experience, rank, and nature of appointment and women's work‐life situation, there is still a negative expectation bias, whereby women and minority candidates are not expected to be as good as male researchers (a bias that also exists in the case of the appointment of female Chief Executive Officers). On the other hand, more women and minority appointments increase the productivity of women students.
Personalization Perceptions in Retail Technology Adoption: The Mediating Role of Dependency and Intrusiveness: An Abstract

The modern retail environment is experiencing a shift in how retail service is conducted (Rafaeli et al. 2017). Increasingly, technology is integrated into the retail service, such as Kroger’s new shop and scan program, which encourages shoppers to use scanners while they are shopping to streamline the checkout process (Forbes 2018). Implementing retail technologies can save retailers money by requiring less employee involvement and can also improve the shopper’s experience as shopper data are collected and utilized to create a more personalized offering (Inman and Nikolova 2017). However, personalization alone may not be enough to persuade shoppers to adopt a new shopper-facing retail technology. The shopper’s dependence on technology and their feelings about the invasiveness of the technology may also influence the relationship between personalization and retail technology adoption. This study uses parasocial interaction theory to look at the relationship between personalization perceptions of retail technology and the adoption of that technology using the mechanisms of dependency upon the technology and perceived invasiveness.
The effects of transition style for collaborative view sharing in immersive Virtual Reality

Abstract New low-cost Virtual Reality (VR) technology is enabling large numbers of engineers and designers to be outfitted with VR tools. This, in turn, is making feasible new tools such as immersive, collaborative, design environments that reflect the collaborative environment of drafting tables while still providing all the power of modern, computer-based, design tools. However, before such an environment can be fully realized, basic issues surrounding collaboration in VR such as cybersickness and disorientation must be more fully addressed. This work presents the results of an experimental study conducted to characterize the trade-offs between different styles of transitioning collaborators to a shared view in an immersive virtual environment. The experimental task consisted of asking participants to identify in which quadrant of the car specific components were located. Quadrant identification was performed after a participant’s virtual location was transitioned to a shared view location focused on the component to identify. The study was conducted with 45 participants who provided 1890 transition response datapoints. Analysis of these results suggests that, in many cases, collaborators are willing to experience some mild cybersickness in order to reduce their disorientation and improve both confidence and accuracy of component location identification. The results also support the recommendation that the best practice is to provide support for multiple transition styles and allow collaborators to select their preference.
Shear wave elastography detects novel imaging biomarkers of aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain: a pilot study.

Aim To determine whether differences in joint and tendon stiffness as measured by ultrasound shear wave elastography are present in breast cancer patients with aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgias compared to age-comparable healthy control women. Methods Postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer who were taking adjuvant aromatase inhibitors and complained of joint pain were enrolled (n = 6). Postmenopausal women with no history of breast cancer, hormone treatment, or joint pain served as controls (n = 7). All subjects had bilateral hands and wrists evaluated by gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound, and shear wave elastography ultrasound. Results Patients with AI-associated arthralgias had significantly stiffer tendons than controls in the 1st extensor compartment (long axis; p = 0.001), 4th extensor compartment (long axis; p = 0.014), 3rd metacarpophalangeal joint (p = 0.002), the pooled values of the extensor compartments, both long (p = 0.044) and short axes (p = 0.035), and the pooled values for the metacarpophalangeal joints (p = 0.002). On ultrasound, the patients (but not controls) presented with hyperemia and increased tenosynovial fluid in the flexor and extensor tendon sheaths, and the median nerves were symptomatic and bifid; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions This is the first study to identify increased tendon stiffness as a putative physiological characteristic of aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgias. Future studies should determine whether increased tendon stiffness is a risk factor for the development of aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgias, or a result of aromatase inhibitor treatment.
The influence of BACE1 on macrophage recruitment and activity in the injured peripheral nerve.

Following peripheral nerve injury, multiple cell types, including axons, Schwann cells, and macrophages, coordinate to promote nerve regeneration. However, this capacity for repair is limited, particularly in older populations, and current treatments are insufficient. A critical component of the regeneration response is the network of cell-to-cell signaling in the injured nerve microenvironment. Sheddases are expressed in the peripheral nerve and play a role in the regulation if this cell-to-cell signaling through cleavage of transmembrane proteins, enabling the regulation of multiple pathways through cis- and trans-cellular regulatory mechanisms. Enhanced axonal regeneration has been observed in mice with deletion of the sheddase beta-secretase (BACE1), a transmembrane aspartyl protease that has been studied in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. BACE1 knockout (KO) mice display enhanced macrophage recruitment and activity following nerve injury, although it is unclear whether this plays a role in driving the enhanced axonal regeneration. Further, it is unknown by what mechanism(s) BACE1 increases macrophage recruitment and activity. BACE1 has many substrates, several of which are known to have immunomodulatory activity. This review will discuss current knowledge of the role of BACE1 and other sheddases in peripheral nerve regeneration and outline known immunomodulatory BACE1 substrates and what potential roles they could play in peripheral nerve regeneration. Currently, the literature suggests that BACE1 and substrates that are expressed by neurons and Schwann cells are likely to be more important for this process than those expressed by macrophages. More broadly, BACE1 may play a role as an effector of immunomodulation beyond the peripheral nerve.
Imaging, Identification and Inhibition of Microorganisms Using AIEgens

Microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, are ubiquitous in nature. Some are extremely beneficial to life on Earth, whereas some cause diseases and disrupt normal human physiology. Pathogenic microorganisms can also undergo mutations and develop resistance to antimicrobial agents, which complicates diagnostic and therapeutic regimens. This calls for continuing efforts to develop new strategies and tools that can provide fast, sensitive and accurate diagnosis, as well as effective treatment of ever-evolving infectious diseases. Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have shown promise in imaging, identification and inhibition of various microbial species. Compared to conventional organic fluorophores, AIEgens can offer improved photostability, and have found utilities in imaging microorganisms. AIEgens have been shown to detect microbial viability and differentiate among different microbial strains. Theranostic AIEgens that integrate imaging and killing of microbes have also been developed. This review highlights examples in the literature where AIEgens have been employed as molecular probes in the imaging, discrimination and killing of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Years in Cultural Studies: 1986—The Marxist Disciplining of the Cultural Studies Project

Since its infancy, the pluralistic tendencies of the cultural studies project denied methodological and procedural consistency and resisted any disciplining of cultural studies as an attempt at authoritarian policing. Over the course of the 1980s, cultural studies continued to spread beyond the United Kingdom to Australia and the United States, initially, and the rest of the world soon thereafter. Movements towards the bridging of the longstanding divisions between fact and interpretation—between the social sciences and the humanities—under the sign of a principled approach to cultural democracy saw the Althusserian Marxism characteristic of earlier cultural studies scholarship expanded by way of a critical re/engagement of the works of Gramsci. This period of ideological critique allowed for a bold intellectual, political commitment to the re/conceptualization of culture as a site of class struggle, hegemonic formation, and structural signification. Particularly, the year 1986 saw major strides in this direction with the publication of monumental manuscripts by Stuart Hall, Ernesto Laclau, and Chantal Mouffe.
Ethylene biosynthesis: 3. Evidence concerning the fate of C1-N1 of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid☆

Abstract Evidence has been obtained that the product of ethylene biosynthesis from 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC), aside from CO 2 , is cyanide. This has been accomplished by synthesis of a carbon-13-labeled ACC, feeding to apple tissue, and isolation of the free amino acids. By enzymatic degradation to CO 2 , followed by mass spectrometry, label is shown to be incorporated into the 4-carbon of asparagine. This occurs via well-known pathways for the metabolism of cyanide, and is confirmed by incorporation experiments using labeled cyanide. In conjunction with previous stereochemical studies, evidence for a sequential single-electron transfer pathway for ethylene biosynthesis has been considerably strengthened.
Dew and Bubble Point Properties of Air

Four new ancillary functions for the calculation of pressures and densities of states at the bubble and dew points of air are presented. These functions were developed using experimental data and calculated values. The experimental data for the bubble and dew point pressures and densities of air are summarized and evaluated. In the absence of experimental data at high-pressure phase equilibrium states, a Leung-Griffiths model modified for ternary mixtures was used to calculate pseudo-data. This ternary mixture model was also used to calculate new values for the critical point, maxcondenbar and maxcondentherm for air. The calculated properties at the maxcondentherm were used as reducing parameters in the ancillary functions. Graphical comparisons of the ancillary equations to the experimental data and pseudo-data are presented to justify the estimated accuracies of the new ancillary functions. The equations presented here have been used to calculate dew and bubble point pressures and densities for the determination of the phase boundary for a wide-range equation of state for air treated as a pseudo-pure fluid.