cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smart lighting: Developing a smarter control mechanism for park trail lighting

The focus of this project is a smart lighting system for commuter bike paths that only illuminates specific lights when users are present on that section of the path. Alternative methods of commuting to work, such as biking, are becoming more popular in the Charlottesville area. To meet this growth, the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation department is developing several commuter paths. There are currently no lighting systems in place for the newly developed paths. While keeping the paths lit for specific hours seems reasonable, doing so not only uses excess energy, but prior research has also shown that lighting park areas when people are not present encourages criminal activity. A smart lighting system is better equipped to deal with irregular use and provide safety to its users. The objectives driving this project are enhancing the safety of commuter paths in parks while maintaining cost and energy effectiveness. The new lighting system will accomplish these objectives by lighting sections of the path after dark, only when that section is in use. The system uses PIR sensors on each light pole to detect path users and transmit information to an Arduino microcontroller mounted on that pole, which turns on specific lights using a relay. When the PIR sensor detects a user, the light at that pole and the lights in front and behind turn on. For the basic wired design of the system, all information is conducted using 22 AWG wires, while the preferred wireless design uses Xbee modules to transmit information between Arduinos. The final deliverable is a functional wireless prototype installed as a demonstration project in a Charlottesville Park.
Here Comes the Sunshine: Industry’s Payments to Cardiothoracic Surgeons

Background The Physician Payment Sunshine Act was implemented to provide transparency to financial transactions between industry and physicians. Under this law, the Open Payments Program (OPP) was created to publicly disclose all transactions and inform patients of potential conflicts of interest. Collaboration between industry and cardiothoracic surgeon-scientists is essential in developing new approaches to treating patients with cardiac disease. The objective of this study is to characterize industry payments to cardiothoracic surgeons as reported by the OPP. Methods We used the first wave of Physician Payment Sunshine Act data (August 2013 to December 2013) to assess industry payments made to cardiothoracic surgeons. Results Cardiothoracic surgeons (n = 2,495) received a total of $4,417,545 during a 5-month period. Cardiothoracic surgeons comprised 0.5% of all persons in the OPP and received 0.9% of total disclosed industry funding. Among cardiothoracic surgeons receiving funding, 34% received payments less than $100, 43% received payments of $100 to $999, 19% received payments of $1,000 to $9,999, 4% received payments of $10,000 to $99,999, and 0.2% received payments of more than $100,000. The median was $181 (interquartile range [IQR]: $60 to $843) and the mean ± SD was $1,771 ± $7,664. The largest payment to an individual surgeon was $159,444. The three largest median payments made to cardiothoracic surgeons by expense category were royalty fees $8,398 (IQR: $536 to $12,316), speaker fees $3,600 (IQR: $1,500 to $8,000), and honoraria $3,344 (IQR: $1,563 to $7,350). Conclusions Among cardiothoracic surgeons who are listed as recipients of nonresearch industry payments, 50% of cardiothoracic surgeons received less than $181. Awareness of the OPP data is critical for cardiothoracic surgeons, as it provides a means to prevent potential public misconceptions about industry payments within the specialty that may affect patient trust.
Active galactic nuclei and quasars

The number of stars in a galaxy varies over a wide range. Whereas dwarf galaxies may contain as ‘few’ as ~10 7 stars, giant galaxies at the other end of the numerical stellar count are five orders of magnitude higher, into trillions of stars ~10 12 . Our own Milky Way is a collection of about 100 billion ~10 11 stars, which we may take to be the number in a ‘normal’ galaxy. Given the luminosity of the Sun as the benchmark L ⊙ = 3.8 × 10 33 erg s -1 , the luminosity of a normal galaxy L G ~ 10 44 erg s -1 . Large as that number is, it turns out that a good fraction of galaxies, at least 10%, are much brighter. To be a bit more precise, the central regions of such galaxies are extremely bright, with central luminosity at least equal to that of the rest of the galaxy. At first sight, this might not seem illogical, given the expectation of a greater concentration of stellar systems towards the centre of a galaxy. However, these ultrabright central regions exhibit a number of outstanding observational facts. (i) The emergent luminosity can be extremely intense with a range of 10 12-15 L ⊙ , or more than 10,000 times the luminosity of an entire galaxy L G . (ii) The central source is highly concentrated in an extremely small volume of a small fraction of a parsec (pc), on the spatial scale of no more than our solar system, whereas the galaxy itself may be tens of kpc. […]
Improving space object detection using a Fourier likelihood ratio detection algorithm

In this paper a new detection algorithm is proposed and developed for detecting space objects from images obtained using a ground-based telescope with the goal to improve space situational awareness. Most current space object detection algorithms rely on developing a likelihood ratio test (LRT) for the observed data based on a binary hypothesis test. These algorithms are based on the assumption that the observed data is Gaussian or Poisson distributed under both the hypothesis that a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) space object is present in the data and the hypothesis that an object is absent from the data. The LRT algorithm in this paper was developed based on the assumption that the distribution of the Fourier transform of the observed data will be different when a low SNR object is present in the data compared to when the data only contains background noise and known space objects. When an object is present the probability distribution of the real component of the Fourier transform of the intensity was found to follow a Gaussian distribution with a mean significantly different than in the data that doesn’t contain an object even at low SNR levels. As the separation of these two probability distribution functions increases, it becomes more likely that an object can be detected. In this paper, simulated data are used to demonstrate the effectiveness and to highlight the benefits gained from this algorithm.
“That's ratchet”: A Chicana Feminist Rasquache Pedagogy as Entryway to Understanding the Material Realities of Contemporary Latinx Elementary-Aged Youth

ABSTRACTIn line with this special issue's examination of theories of teaching and learning that are neither determined by nor isolated from restrictive spaces of learning, this essay introduces a Chicana feminist rasquache pedagogy. A Chicana feminist rasquache pedagogy is rooted in the everyday experiences and material realities of Latinx elementary-aged youth, and thus serves as a contribution to educational research and praxis for all students, but particularly students of color. A Chicana feminist rasquache pedagogy emerges from the theories in the flesh of Latinx students, and as such, functions from their embodied knowledges and sensibilities rather than operating in collusion with the practices, approaches and ideologies of historically colonizing schooling institutions. The incorporation of a Chicana feminist rasquache praxis into K-12 schooling institutions provides humanizing approaches for education as well as for engaging with elementary-aged youth of color as it identifies and validates the r...
Auditory Enhancement in Cochlear-Implant Users Under Simultaneous and Forward Masking.

Auditory enhancement is the phenomenon whereby the salience or detectability of a target sound within a masker is enhanced by the prior presentation of the masker alone. Enhancement has been demonstrated using both simultaneous and forward masking in normal-hearing listeners and may play an important role in auditory and speech perception within complex and time-varying acoustic environments. The few studies of enhancement in hearing-impaired listeners have reported reduced or absent enhancement effects under forward masking, suggesting a potentially peripheral locus of the effect. Here, auditory enhancement was measured in eight cochlear-implant (CI) users with direct stimulation. Masked thresholds were measured under simultaneous and forward masking as a function of the number of masking electrodes, and the electrode spacing between the maskers and the target. Evidence for auditory enhancement was obtained under simultaneous masking, qualitatively consistent with results from normal-hearing listeners. However, no significant enhancement was observed under forward masking, in contrast to earlier results with normal-hearing listeners. The results suggest that the normal effects of auditory enhancement are partially but not fully experienced by CI users. To the extent that the CI users’ results differ from normal, it may be possible to apply signal processing to restore the missing aspects of enhancement.
My Best Class: Saving the Astronauts

This article discusses the use of Apollo 13 to teach students to use analytical tools to advocate for clients. It also compares the role of attorney to the role of the flight commander during the Apollo 13 mission.
Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife in the Northern Rockies

Few data exist on the direct effects of climatic variability and change on animal species. Therefore, projected climate change effects must be inferred from what is known about habitat characteristics and the autecology of each species. Habitat for mammals, including predators (Canada lynx, fisher, wolverine) and prey (snowshoe hare) that depend on high-elevation, snowy environments, is expected to deteriorate relatively soon if snowpack continues to decrease. Species that are highly dependent on a narrow range of habitat (pygmy rabbit, Brewer’s sparrow, greater sage-grouse) will be especially vulnerable if that habitat decreases from increased disturbance (e.g., sagebrush mortality from wildfire). Species that are mobile or respond well to increased disturbance and habitat patchiness (deer, elk) will probably be resilient to a warmer climate in most locations. Some amphibian species (Columbia spotted frog, western toad) may be affected by pathogens (e.g., amphibian chytrid fungus) that are favored by a warmer climate.
Facile Affinity Maturation of Antibody Variable Domains Using Natural Diversity Mutagenesis.

The identification of mutations that enhance antibody affinity while maintaining high antibody specificity and stability is a time-consuming and laborious process. Here we report an efficient methodology for systematically and rapidly enhancing the affinity of antibody variable domains while maximizing specificity and stability using novel synthetic antibody libraries. Our approach first uses computational and experimental alanine scanning mutagenesis to identify sites in the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) that are permissive to mutagenesis while maintaining antigen binding. Next, we mutagenize the most permissive CDR positions using degenerate codons to encode wild-type residues and a small number of the most frequently occurring residues at each CDR position based on natural antibody diversity. This mutagenesis approach results in antibody libraries with variants that have a wide range of numbers of CDR mutations, including antibody domains with single mutations and others with tens of mutations. Finally, we sort the modest size libraries (~10 million variants) displayed on the surface of yeast to identify CDR mutations with the greatest increases in affinity. Importantly, we find that single-domain (VHH) antibodies specific for the α-synuclein protein (whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson’s disease) with the greatest gains in affinity (> fivefold) have several (four to six) CDR mutations. This finding highlights the importance of sampling combinations of CDR mutations during the first step of affinity maturation to maximize the efficiency of the process. Interestingly, we find that some natural diversity mutations simultaneously enhance all three key antibody properties (affinity, specificity and stability) while other mutations enhance some of these properties (e.g., increased specificity) and display trade-offs in others (e.g., reduced affinity and/or stability). Computational modeling reveals that improvements in affinity are generally not due to direct interactions involving CDR mutations but rather due to indirect effects that enhance existing interactions and/or promote new interactions between the antigen and wild-type CDR residues. We expect that natural diversity mutagenesis will be useful for efficient affinity maturation of a wide range of antibody fragments and full-length antibodies.
The Relationship Between Sexualized Appearance and Perceptions of Women’s Competence and Electability

Women do not have a uniform or standardized “suit” to wear in the workplace so they must make daily decisions about what to wear. Some propose that women should dress in a sexualized way to gain power and influence, but sexy attire is related to lower perceptions of competence for women in leadership positions. We explored the effect of revealing or conservative attire on perceptions of women’s leadership competence. We also used eye-tracker technology to determine whether looking at sexualized body parts (i.e., breasts, hemline) was related to lower perceptions of leadership competence and electability. A female candidate for a student senate presidency at a U.S. university wearing revealing clothing was perceived by 191 college students as less honest and trustworthy, electable, and competent than one wearing conservative clothing. Sexualized body parts were looked at longer when the candidate was wearing revealing clothing compared to conservative clothing. Furthermore, mediation analyses indicated that the revealing clothing led participants to gaze at sexualized body parts, which, in turn, led to perceiving the candidate as less honest/trustworthy, which lowered their evaluations of her competence and electability. These findings suggest that viewing a woman in a sexy outfit can lead others to stare more at her body and make negative evaluations of her personal attributes. This finding has implications for the choices women make in workplace and leadership contexts.
CMOS-Compatible Tunable Vernier Ring Laser using Erbium Doped Waveguide on a Silicon Photonics Platform

We demonstrate the first silicon photonic tunable laser with integrated erbium-doped Al 2 O 3 waveguides. The laser is designed to have Vernier ring structure for wide tuning operation. It has a 0.23cm2 footprint and 1.6mW output power.
Stimulation of GLUT-1 glucose transporter expression in response to exposure to calcium ionophore A-23187

We tested the hypothesis that an increase in cytosolic calcium concentration stimulates glucose transporter isoform (GLUT-1) gene expression. Exposure of a rat liver cell line (Clone 9) to 3 microM A-23187 for 12 h resulted in 3-, 5-, and 10-fold increases in cytochalasin B-inhibitable 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport, GLUT-1 protein, and GLUT-1 mRNA content, respectively. The induction of GLUT-1 mRNA in response to A-23187 is not preceded by a significant decrease in cell ATP content. This induction is prevented by 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid in conjunction with ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N, N',N'-tetraacetic acid. To investigate the mechanism of GLUT-1 mRNA induction, we found that exposure to A-23187 stabilized GLUT-1 mRNA: with the employment of actinomycin D, GLUT-1 mRNA had a half-life of 1.5 and 5.5 h in control and A-23187-treated cells, respectively. In nuclear run-on assays, the rate of GLUT-1 gene transcription was stimulated 1.5- to 1.7-fold in nuclei isolated from cells exposed to A-23187 for either 30 min or 2 h. These results demonstrate that exposure to A-23187 stimulates GLUT-1 gene expression and that the increase in GLUT-1 mRNA content is mediated in part by enhanced GLUT-1 gene transcription as well as decreased GLUT-1 mRNA degradation. The increase in GLUT-1 mRNA content, in turn, is associated with increased cell GLUT-1 content and enhanced glucose transport.
SOLID-LIQUID-VAPOR PHENOMENA AND INTERFACIAL HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses capillary pressure and interface shape at equilibrium. It describes the effects of interfacial tension gradient on the fluid flow and the temperature-dependence of surface tension. The chapter discusses the wetting phenomena and contact angles in solid–liquid–vapor systems. It further addresses phase equilibrium in a microscale interfacial system; it includes the effects of disjoining pressure on ultrathin liquid films and the change in saturated vapor pressure over a curved interface due to the combined effects of surface tension and disjoining pressure. The chapter provides an overview of interfacial mass, momentum, and energy balance and thermal resistance across ultrathin films, including the effect on vaporization and condensation. It discusses instability of liquid–vapor interface and waves on liquid film. In addition, the chapter presents a numeric simulation of interfaces and free surfaces using both continuum and noncontinuum approaches.
Heterogeneity in Male Adolescents With Illegal Sexual Behavior: A Latent Profile Approach to Classification:

Current research has established that male adolescents with illegal sexual behavior (AISB) are a heterogeneous population. We aimed to explore this within-group heterogeneity to derive clinically relevant groups of AISB using the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). We then compared these groups on selected covariates (age at intake, minority status, and child maltreatment history) and distal outcomes (general, nonviolent, violent, drug, and sexual recidivism 5 years after release) to identify any differences. The sample consisted of 698 male AISB (age = 11-20 years) referred to a secure juvenile facility for assessment and treatment. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted using the clinical and personality scales of the MACI to identify AISB groups and examine group differences. Four unique AISB groups emerged: Anxious, Depressed/Anxious, Dysthymic/Disorganized, and Antisocial. Groups differed on age at intake and child maltreatment history, but not minority status. At 5-year follow up, groups differed in their rates of general, nonsexual, and violent recidivism but not in their rates of sexual or drug recidivism. Clinically relevant AISB groups can be identified using personality and psychopathology indicators from the MACI. Implications for the assessment and treatment of AISB, as well as directions for future research are discussed.
Teacher Characteristics That Play a Role in the Language, Literacy and Math Development of Dual Language Learners

The increasing diversity in classrooms throughout the U.S. calls for teachers who are culturally competent and have quality professional development in working with dual language learners (DLLs) in order to ensure children from diverse groups are receiving equitable and high-quality education. This study focuses on teacher characteristics that play a significant role in the development of young children’s bilingual abilities with regard to language, literacy and math. We examined the school readiness skills of 217 Latino DLLs attending Head Start taking into account specific teacher characteristics that may impact the development of readiness skills. Different teacher characteristics have different effects on the developmental outcomes. Amount of training had a positive significant effect on several children’s outcomes in English and in Spanish. The years of experience a teacher had working in classrooms with DLLs had a positive effect on children’s English spelling skills. Teachers’ cultural competency rating had a positive effect on receptive language and literacy in Spanish. Findings and implications are discussed.
Amalgamated cross-species transcriptomes indicate organ-specific preadaptation for functional shifts in gene expression

The origins of complex multicellular physiology lie in the evolution of gene expression. Genes express differentially among organs as organisms evolve, but it is not well understood whether expression in certain organs increases the probability that they will be repurposed for expression in other organs. To examine this question, we amalgamated 1,903 RNA-seq datasets from 182 research projects, including 6 organs in 21 vertebrate species. We used various automated quality controls to eliminate project-specific biases, and defined expression regime evolution using tree-based Ornstein-Uhlenbeck models, allowing us to reconstruct evolutionary pathways of gene-family-wise expression on a genome-wide scale. Fluxes in organ-specific gene expression were non-random, suggesting that some ancestral expression patterns strongly preadapted genes for expression in certain organs, while others did not. For example, brain, ovary, and testis tend to change expression from one to another, while kidney and liver form a separate loop of gene expression evolution, illustrating a strong modularity of gene exchange among vertebrate organs. More subtle but significant differences depended on the type of gene duplication. Notably, RNA-based gene duplications tended to generate asymmetric exchange fluxes between organs. This detailed view of the evolutionary dynamics of gene expression supports a major role for preadaptive pathways.
Overhead Power Line Sag Monitoring through Augmented Reality

Monitoring overhead power line sag amount plays an important role in increasing the line delivered power capacity. The sag amount has to be within certain limits and the clearance has to be maintained at all time to avoid possible failures and power outages. Literature presents various calculation methods using the temperature and line current information. This paper presents a mobile application to support distribution and transmission line monitoring for ground clearance and other obstacles via augmented reality and image recognition. The application aims to increase the line capacity safely and to reduce the maintenance costs of the lines due to unnecessary crew trips. The application is an inexpensive and provides accurate solution for the utility companies. It can also be used for citizen science to collect data through local residents.
Practical Guide to Prescribing Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for Cardiologists

The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a class of glucose-lowering therapies that have been shown to reduce risks of heart failure (HF) events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at high-risk for or with cardiovascular disease. The United States Food and Drug Administration has expanded the regulatory label for empagliflozin and canagliflozin for use to lower cardiovascular risk in patients with T2DM and cardiovascular disease. SGLT2 inhibitors are being actively studied in the treatment of patients with HF, including in those without diabetes mellitus. Despite the accumulating data supporting this class of therapies in HF prevention, cardiologists infrequently prescribe SGLT2 inhibitors, potentially due to lack of familiarity with their use. We provide an up-to-date practical guide highlighting important elements for treatment initiation, dosing, anticipated adverse effects, and barriers to uptake.
Summertime thermal conditions and senior resident behaviors in public housing: A case study in Elizabeth, NJ, USA

Abstract As heat waves become more extreme, there is a growing concern for the health of elderly city dwellers who have poor living conditions and limited access to resources. Much research has documented socioeconomic links to heat vulnerability, but limited studies have investigated the detailed living conditions of vulnerable populations, despite increasing requests from local communities. In this paper, we examine the summertime thermal performance of 24 senior apartments within 3 public housing sites (2 conventional multifamily and 1 LEED-rated building), and the seniors' adaptive responses in Elizabeth, NJ, USA. Time-series data were collected from sensors, interviews and observations on the thermal environment and behavior, from May–October 2017. Our multi-level, occupant-centric approach utilizes the indoor heat index as a proxy for heat stress, against site and building characteristics, and environmental and personal variables. Panel regressions show thermal variations among sites/apartments and illustrate the significant effect of actions, such as window opening and air conditioner use. Results also show how the seniors' adaptive responses vary by site; residents with central air-conditioning use it, while residents from the two older sites engage in a wider range of adaptive actions, and in some cases achieve similar indoor heat indexes as apartments from the green building. Indoor heat stress experienced by low-income seniors can be greatly reduced through cost-effective strategies that target individual behaviors and outdoor amenities. This implies the need for integrated solutions to the heat waves problem across scales; including changes to residents' habits, building envelopes, building operations, and outdoor spaces.
Feasibility Study of the High-Power Underwater Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer for the Electric Ship Charging Application

This paper investigates the underwater capacitive wireless power transfer technology for the electric ship charging application. The theoretical coupling model of the underwater capacitive coupler is proposed, and the typical structure of the charging system is then provided, based on which the power transfer capability of an underwater system is derived. A design example is provided to illustrate the proposed system in the fresh water environment. The finite element (FEM) analysis by HFSS shows that the underwater coupler is able to provide the high power capability up to MW level, which is sufficient to charge the electric ship rapidly. In the laboratory environment, in order to validate the proposed underwater capacitive power transfer system, a downsized long-distance and low-power prototype is designed and implemented. The plate size is 200mm×200mm. The experimental results have achieved hundreds of Watt power transfer over a distance of 500mm.
Pretest and Post-test Probabilities of Diagnoses of Rectal Evacuation Disorders Based on Symptoms, Rectal Exam, and Basic Tests: a Systematic Review

Background & Aims There is controversy over the utility of symptoms, examination, and tests for diagnosis of rectal evacuation disorders (REDs) or slow-transit constipation (STC). We aimed to ascertain the pooled prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios for clinical parameters to determine pretest and post-test probabilities of diagnoses of RED and STC without RED. Methods We searched the MEDLINE and PUBMED databases since 1999 for studies that used binary data to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios to determine the diagnostic utility of history, symptoms, and tests for RED and STC. RED and STC were defined based on confirmation by at least 1 objective anorectal test or colonic transit test. Controls had normal test results based on the specific protocol in each study. Results We reviewed 100 articles; 63 studies of RED and 61 studies of STC met the inclusion criteria. Among 3364 patients with chronic constipation, objective tests demonstrated RED alone, 27.2%; normal transit constipation alone, 37.2%; STC alone, 19.0%; and RED with STC, 16.6%. To diagnose RED, discriminant features were urinary symptoms (specificity, 100%; likelihood ratio, above 10; 58 patients), less than 2 findings of dyssynergia in a digital rectal exam (sensitivity, 83.2%; negative likelihood ratio, 0.2; 462 patients) and rectoanal pressure gradient below –40 mm Hg with high anal pressure during straining (specificity, 100%; likelihood ratio, above 10; 101 patients). The features most strongly associated with STC alone were call to stool (specificity, 91.5%; likelihood ratio, 10.5; 75 patients) and absence of abdominal distension, fullness, or bloating (sensitivity, 92.9%; negative likelihood ratio, 0.1; 93 patients). Conclusions In a systematic review, we found specific symptoms, lack of dyssynergia in a digital rectal exam, and findings on anorectal manometry to be highly informative and critical in evaluation of RED and STC.
Rapid formation of peptide/lipid co-aggregates by the amyloidogenic seminal peptide PAP248-286

Protein/lipid co-assembly is an understudied phenomenon that is important to the function of antimicrobial peptides as well as the pathological effects of amyloid. Here we study the co-assembly process of PAP248-286, a seminal peptide that displays both amyloid-forming and antimicrobial activity. PAP248-286 is a fragment of prostatic acid phosphatase and has been reported to form amyloid fibrils, known as semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI), that enhance the viral infectivity of HIV. We find that in addition to forming amyloid, PAP248-286 much more readily assembles with lipid vesicles into peptide/lipid co-aggregates that resemble amyloid fibrils in some important ways but are a distinct species. The formation of these co-aggregates, which we term "messicles", is controlled by the peptide:lipid (P:L) ratio and by the lipid composition. The optimal P:L ratio is around 1:10 and at least 70% anionic lipid is required for co-aggregate formation. Once formed, messicles are not disrupted by subsequent changes in P:L ratio. We propose that messicles form through a polyvalent assembly mechanism, where a critical surface density of PAP248-286 on liposomes enables peptide-mediated particle bridging into larger species. Even at ~100-fold lower PAP248-286 concentrations, messicles form at least 10-fold faster than amyloid fibrils. It is therefore possible that, some or all of the biological activities assigned to SEVI, the amyloid form of PAP248-286, could instead be attributed to a PAP248-286/lipid co-aggregate. More broadly speaking, this work provides a potential framework for the discovery and characterization of peptide/lipid co-aggregates by other amyloid-forming proteins and antimicrobial peptides.
Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering for Adolescent Scoliosis with Growth Remaining: A Retrospective Review of 2 to 5-Year Postoperative Results.

Background Anterior vertebral body tethering (VBT) is an early treatment option for progressive scoliosis in pediatric patients, allowing for continued deformity correction during normal growth. We report postoperative radiographic and clinical outcomes for patients treated with VBT. Methods This clinical and radiographic retrospective review of 31 consecutive patients included an analysis of preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative details, including the Lenke classification; Cobb angle measurements of the proximal thoracic, main thoracic, and lumbar curves; the sagittal profile; and skeletal maturity. Successful outcomes were defined by a residual curve of ≤30° in skeletally mature patients who did not undergo a posterior spinal fusion (PSF). Results Of the 31 patients treated, 29 met the inclusion criteria, and 2 were lost to follow-up. The mean patient age (and standard deviation) at the time of the surgical procedure was 12.7 ± 1.5 years (range, 10.2 to 16.7 years), with most patients classified as Risser grade 0 or 1 (52%) and Sanders stage 3 (32%). A mean of 7.2 ± 1.4 vertebral levels were instrumented, with a minimum preoperative Cobb angle of 42°. At the latest follow-up, 27 patients had reached skeletal maturity (Sanders stage ≥7) and 20 patients exhibited a curve magnitude ≤30°, for a success rate of 74%. A suspected broken tether occurred at ≥1 level in 14 patients (48%). Two patients underwent PSF and 4 had tether revision. The overall revision rate was 21% (6 of 29). Conclusions This study shows the success and revision rates as well as the impact of a suspected broken tether on the procedural success of VBT. Despite our patient population being slightly more mature at the time of the surgical procedure compared with previous studies, we had a higher success rate and a lower revision rate. A PSF was avoided in 93% of patients, indicating that VBT may be a reliable treatment option for adolescent scoliosis in skeletally immature individuals. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Optimizing the updated Goddard shortwave radiation Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) scheme for Intel Many Integrated Core (MIC) architecture

Intel Many Integrated Core (MIC) ushers in a new era of supercomputing speed, performance, and compatibility. It allows the developers to run code at trillions of calculations per second using the familiar programming model. In this paper, we present our results of optimizing the updated Goddard shortwave radiation Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) scheme on Intel Many Integrated Core Architecture (MIC) hardware. The Intel Xeon Phi coprocessor is the first product based on Intel MIC architecture, and it consists of up to 61 cores connected by a high performance on-die bidirectional interconnect. The co-processor supports all important Intel development tools. Thus, the development environment is familiar one to a vast number of CPU developers. Although, getting a maximum performance out of Xeon Phi will require using some novel optimization techniques. Those optimization techniques are discusses in this paper. The results show that the optimizations improved performance of the original code on Xeon Phi 7120P by a factor of 1.3x.
Design and Circuit Modeling of Graphene Plasmonic Nanoantennas

Nanonntennas are critical elements of nanoscale wireless communication technologies with potential to overcome some of the limitations of on-chip interconnects. In this paper, we model the optical response of graphene-based nanoantennas (GNAs) using an equivalent resistive-inductive-capacitive (RLC) circuit by incorporating plasmonic effects that are present in graphene at terahertz (THz) frequencies. The equivalent circuit model is used to estimate the resonance characteristics of the nanoantenna, thereby facilitating geometry and material optimization. Three GNA structures are considered, namely bowtie, circular, and rectangular dimers with vacuum and silicon dioxide dielectric environment. We characterize the radiation efficiency, the Purcell factor, the quality factor, and the resonant frequency of various antennas with respect to the physical properties of the surrounding dielectric media and the graphene sheet. The GNAs are designed for a resonant frequency in the range of 10 – 25 THz with field enhancements around 104 – 105 and radiation efficiency ~5 – 16%. The circuit model is applied to examine the trade-off between the radiation efficiency and the field enhancement in the antenna gap. While bowtie antennas have higher field enhancement due to charge accumulation in their pointed structure, they suffer from low radiation efficiency stemming from the large spreading resistance losses. The circuit model is validated against finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations conducted in Lumerical, and excellent match between the model and numerical results is demonstrated in the THz regime. The circuit models can be readily used in a hierarchical circuit simulator to design and optimize optical nanoantennas for THz communication in high-performance computing systems.
Doing nano-enabled water treatment right: sustainability considerations from design and research through development and implementation

Currently, over a billion people around the world lack access to clean drinking water, industrial wastewater treatment and reuse is limited, and conventional water treatment systems cannot adequately treat all contaminants of concern. Nanotechnology-enabled water treatment (NWT) has begun to emerge as a viable option to address many of the problems facing the water treatment status quo, either through cost reducing performance enhancements or filling unmet niches. Advancements in fundamental nanoscience allow unprecedented use of catalysis and energy from across the broad electromagnetic spectrum, as well as unique physicochemical properties, to purify drinking water, treat industrial wastewater, and access unconventional water supplies. However, before fully adopting NWT, it is imperative that the devices are both safe and sustainable, enhancing acceptance from consumers, government, non-government organizations, and industry. We suggest that we are in a unique window of time to “do nano right” by making key sustainability considerations very early in nano-water technology development. To this end, we have developed a framework based on three guiding research questions aimed at understanding the breadth of sustainability considerations for NWT at each of the four major life cycle stages – extraction, production, use, and end-of-life. In following this framework, researchers and product developers can design nano-enabled water treatment devices that perform well and are both safe and sustainable. By presenting the current state of sustainable NWT and specifying gaps in the literature, the present review aims to further develop NWT to be the best alternative to conventional water treatment across a variety of sectors.
Runtime Control of LoRa Spreading Factor for Campus Shuttle Monitoring

Traditionally, satellite and cellular technologies have been used in establishing the long-distance links that collect real-time data from running vehicles to the base station. However, the systems that implement those technologies are often too costly for use in small communities, such as monitoring shuttles that circle a university campus. Recently, LoRa has been used as a low-cost alternative that provides the capability of long-range data collection for low data rate applications. In this paper, we present a low-cost LoRa-based wireless network that collects real-time data from six shuttles circling our university campus and has operated in the real world for more than a year. The selection of the LoRa Spreading Factor (SF) poses a significant challenge because of its effects on two conflicting network performance metrics. A larger SF provides higher network reliability at the cost of lower throughput. To address this challenge, we develop a runtime SF control solution that employs the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithm to adapt the SF configuration based on the current link condition. Experimental results show that our approach significantly increases the data collection throughput while meeting the application reliability requirement compared to the state of the art.
SCOPING REVIEW: POTENTIAL WOUND HEALING EFFECT OF EUPHORBIA HIRTA (ARA TANAH) BASED ON IN VIVO MODELS

Wound management is important as it helps to promote healing without microbial infection. Euphorbia hirta, a species of Euphorbiaceae family, also known as Ara tanah among Malaysians, is traditionally used to promote wound healing where its poultice is applied to the sores on the legs, bruises and wounds. Several reported pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-anaphylactic activities have been reported on this plant. The aim of this review was to evaluate the wound healing effects of E. hirta. Information involving only in vivo studies on wound healing effect of E. hirta was searched using electronic databases. The electronic databases include PubMed, Google Scholar, Ovid, CENTRAL, LILACS, and ClinicalTrials.gov from year 1962 to 2020. A total of five out of 70 studies were included and assessment was made. All included articles studied different wound models in rats. All showed significant wound healing activity with different mechanism of action for incision, excision and dead space wound. Quality assessment of the included studies suggested that experimental animal study design can be improved. It can be concluded that E. hirta displayed potential as a wound healing agent in vivo studies although further research on structureactivity relationship of compounds responsible for the wound healing effect and toxicological studies before it can proceed to clinical studies.
PROTECT: a novel psychotherapy for late-life depression in elder abuse victims.

Elder abuse is prevalent, and victims have high rates of depression and low quality of life. We established an academic-community partnership to test the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a brief psychotherapy for depression (PROTECT) among elder abuse victims with capacity to make decisions. Elder abuse service providers referred depressed (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] ≥ 10) older victims (age ≥ 55 years) for potential pilot study participation. Forty eligible victims who consented were randomized to PROTECT psychotherapy (N = 25) or a Usual Care (N = 15) condition involving a community psychotherapy referral. Follow-up research assessments were conducted at 6 weeks (mid-treatment) and 9 weeks (end of treatment) after study initial assessment. We used mixed-effects regression models to examine treatment effects on depression severity and quality of life over time. Most victims (75%) reported two or more types of abuse. The a priori acceptability benchmark was met at the end of PROTECT therapy. All PROTECT participants initiated therapy; this engagement rate is greater than the a priori 75% standard set for feasibility. We found a significant reduction in depression severity (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS]), with PROTECT leading to greater benefits compared to Usual Care. Both study groups had a similar improvement in quality of life. The pilot project results found that PROTECT psychotherapy is feasible, acceptable, and effective in reducing depression. With the support of our partnership, we found that PROTECT could be delivered alongside elder abuse services with victims willing to initiate therapy that leads to meaningful treatment effects.
Palmar and plantar fibromatosis: a review

Palmar fibromatosis (Dupuytren disease/contracture) is the most common type of fibromatosis, defined as a benign proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. The disease process is most common in white, middle-aged and older men occurring at the distal palmar crease leading to nodules and contracture, which in many cases recur after surgical treatment. In a similar process, plantar fibromatosis (Ledderhose disease) is a proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts on the plantar aponeurosis of mostly middle-aged patients that may lead to painful nodules but usually does not lead to contracture. Both processes are histologically similar, composed of a bland cellular proliferation of spindle cells with a bluish appearance and with a variable amount of background collagen, depending on the age of the lesion. The etiology of both lesions is still uncertain, while treatment ranges from observation to surgery, with some pharmacologic agents being investigated with mixed success. In this paper we provide an overview of both processes with regards to clinical and radiologic findings, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
The OPAQUE1/DISCORIDA2 myosin XI is required for phragmoplast guidance during asymmetric cell division in maize

Asymmetric divisions produce cells with different fates and are critical for development. Here we show that a maize myosin XI protein, OPAQUE1 (O1), is necessary for asymmetric divisions during maize stomatal development. We analyzed stomatal precursor cells prior to and during asymmetric division to determine why o1 mutants have abnormal division planes. Cell polarization and nuclear positioning occur normally in the o1 mutant, and the future site of division is correctly specified. The defect in o1 occurs during late cytokinesis, when the plant-specific phragmoplast - made of microtubules, actin and other proteins - forms the nascent cell plate. The phragmoplast becomes misguided and does not meet the previously established division site. Initial phragmoplast guidance is correct in o1. However, as phragmoplast expansion continues, phragmoplasts in o1 stomatal precursor cells become misguided and do not meet the cortex at the established division site. To understand how this myosin protein contributes to phragmoplast guidance, we identified O1-interacting proteins. Other myosins, specific actin-binding proteins, and maize kinesins related to the Arabidopsis thaliana division site markers PHRAGMOPLAST ORIENTING KINESINs (POKs) interact with O1. We propose that different myosins are important at multiple steps of phragmoplast expansion, and the O1 actin motor and POK-like microtubule motors work together to ensure correct late-stage phragmoplast guidance.
Burnout Among Pharmacy Preceptors in Northern California.

Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of burnout syndrome among pharmacy preceptors, and to identify predictors for the development of burnout among this population.Methods. This cross-sectional survey study examined burnout syndrome among pharmacy preceptors in Northern California. Preceptors were included if they self-identified as a preceptor to Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students and Pharmacy Graduate Year One (PGY-1) residents. Burnout was assessed using the MBI-HSS, and preceptors were classified as having burnout syndrome if they scored high on emotional exhaustion (EE) plus either high on depersonalization (DP) or low on personal accomplishment (PA). Additionally, demographics, workplace environment, workload, and day-to-day workflow were queried to help determine predictors of burnout syndrome among this population.Result. One hundred and thirteen pharmacy preceptors were included in the study. Twenty two percent of preceptors reported scores consistent with burnout, with 57% of preceptors scoring positive for burnout in one of the three burnout criteria. On multivariate regression analysis, two independent risk factors for burnout syndrome were identified; preceptors who precepted a large number of difficult or unmotivated learners per year, and preceptors who did not feel their contributions as preceptors were appreciated by their institution.Conclusion. The rate of burnout among pharmacy preceptors is high, with preceptors exhibiting high EE and low levels of PA. Precepting a large number of difficult or unmotivated learners, and not feeling contributions as preceptors are appreciated, appear to be predictors of burnout syndrome.
Evaluation of Radiation-induced Compounds in Irradiated Raw or Cooked Chicken Meat during Storage

The concentrations of hydrocarbons, 2-alkylcyclobutanones, and sulfur volatiles in irradiated (0, 5 kGy) chicken meats (raw, pre-cooked, and irradiatedcooked) were analyzed after 0 and 6 months of frozen storage (-40°C) under oxygen permeable packaging conditions. Two hydrocarbons [8-heptadecene (C17:1) and 6,9-heptadecadiene (C17:2)], two 2-alkylcyclobutanones [2-dodecylcyclobutanone (DCB) and 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone (TCB)], and dimethyl disulfide were determined as radiation-induced detection markers in the irradiated raw and cooked chicken meats. Although, irradiated-cooked samples produced less hydrocarbons and 2-alkylcyclobutanones than pre-cooked irradiated ones, the amount of individual hydrocarbons or 2-alkylcyclobutanones was still sufficient enough to detectradiation treatment even after 6 months of storage at -40°C. Among sulfur volatiles, only dimethyl disulfide were found in meat after 6 months of storage indicating it has potential to be used an irradiation detection marker for frozen-stored meats under oxygen permeable packaging conditions.