cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A state-space modeling approach to estimating canopy conductance and associated uncertainties from sap flux density data

Uncertainties in ecophysiological responses to environment, such as the impact of atmospheric and soil moisture conditions on plant water regulation, limit our ability to estimate key inputs for ecosystem models. Advanced statistical frameworks provide coherent methodologies for relating observed data, such as stem sap flux density, to unobserved processes, such as canopy conductance and transpiration. To address this need, we developed a hierarchical Bayesian State-Space Canopy Conductance (StaCC) model linking canopy conductance and transpiration to tree sap flux density from a 4-year experiment in the North Carolina Piedmont, USA. Our model builds on existing ecophysiological knowledge, but explicitly incorporates uncertainty in canopy conductance, internal tree hydraulics and observation error to improve estimation of canopy conductance responses to atmospheric drought (i.e., vapor pressure deficit), soil drought (i.e., soil moisture) and above canopy light. Our statistical framework not only predicted sap flux observations well, but it also allowed us to simultaneously gap-fill missing data as we made inference on canopy processes, marking a substantial advance over traditional methods. The predicted and observed sap flux data were highly correlated (mean sensor-level Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.88). Variations in canopy conductance and transpiration associated with environmental variation across days to years were many times greater than the variation associated with model uncertainties. Because some variables, such as vapor pressure deficit and soil moisture, were correlated at the scale of days to weeks, canopy conductance responses to individual environmental variables were difficult to interpret in isolation. Still, our results highlight the importance of accounting for uncertainty in models of ecophysiological and ecosystem function where the process of interest, canopy conductance in this case, is not observed directly. The StaCC modeling framework provides a statistically coherent approach to estimating canopy conductance and transpiration and propagating estimation uncertainty into ecosystem models, paving the way for improved prediction of water and carbon uptake responses to environmental change.
Investigation on rat density and virus carried rate in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome area in Jinzhou

Objective To provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.Composition of rodent species,rat density and virus carried rate were analysed.Methods Night clip-traps method was utilized to capture rodents,hemorrhagic fever virus antigen in lung tissues and IgG antibody in serum were tested respectively.Results From 2010 to 2012,2 orders 4 families 5 species host animals were captured,960 in all.It was dominated by Rattus norvegicus in village and Apodemus agrarius in the open area.The average rat density was 1.54%,and the average virus carried rate was 2.62%.Rat density and virus carried rate were increased year by year.The difference of rat density had statistical significance in 2012 compared with 2010 and 2011.The difference of infection rate had statistical significance in 2012 compared with 2010.Conclusion Rat disease epidemic situation is diffused distribution in Jinzhou area.It is ascend and diffused gradually in recent years.It is necessary to monitor epidemic area trends strictly and avoid hemorrhagic fever epidemic situation from breaking out in human.
Vibrational characteristics of an earth dam

Abstract An earth dam was excited into vibrations, in the upstream-downstream direction, by four rotating eccentric-mass vibration generators which were operated on the crest. Natural frequencies, mode shapes, and equivalent viscous modal damping constants of the dam were revealed by the forced vibrations. A theoretical analysis of the dam, based on consideration of shearing deformations only, shows moderately good agreement with the behavior which was observed at the lower frequencies.
Review of quantitative outcome analysis of cranial morphology in craniosynostosis

Outcome measures in craniosynostosis surgery have progressed from those based on the need for surgical revision to linear anthropometric measurements, 2D CT vector analysis and 3D CT vector analysis. However, finding an objective means to assess postoperative cranial morphological improvement remains challenging. A critical review of previous studies used to measure craniosynostosis surgery outcomes is presented. We also introduce and briefly discuss the key features of the computational algorithm that is being utilized in our center for evaluating craniosynostosis surgical outcomes. This has addressed a number of the previous challenges encountered in quantitative measurement of cranial morphological change. Point cloud representation and 3D stereophotogrammetry have made it possible to compare pre and post-operative images of children undergoing surgical correction for craniosynostosis. These pre- and post-operative images can also be compared to age, sex and race-matched controls throughout the patient's lifetime allowing longitudinal changes to be measured on follow up.
Synthesis of Benzobisoxazole-Linked Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks and Their Carbon Dioxide Capture Properties

Developing novel synthetic strategies to construct crystalline polymeric materials with excellent chemical stability and high carbon capture capacity has become a challenging process. Herein, we report the synthesis of two novel 2D benzobisoxazole-linked covalent organic frameworks (BBO–COFs) utilizing C3-symmetric formyl- and C2-symmetric o-aminophenol-substituted molecular building blocks. The BBO–COFs exhibit excellent water stability, high surface areas, and great CO2 uptake capacities. This general synthetic method affords the opportunity to prepare ordered BBO-based polymeric materials for carbon capture, chemical sensing, and organic electronic applications.
The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Parent Involvement in Special Education: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACTAlthough parent involvement is required by special education law and is important for all students, the literature synthesizing studies on parent involvement has focused on the general education parent population, often without addressing students with disabilities. The purpose of this review was to descriptively synthesize the literature on parent training interventions to increase parent involvement for parents of school-aged students with disabilities and to evaluate the effects of this intervention using meta-analysis. The literature on parent involvement interventions was minimal, with few recent peer-reviewed studies; all included studies focused on parent involvement in the context of Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Results of the random effects model were not significant, with a weighted mean effect size of 0.26 (95% CI [–1.01, 1.53]). Results are discussed in the context of low heterogeneity across studies and implications for future research, including the need for novel...
Ndepth: Novel Dose Escalation to Predict Treatment with Hydroxyurea

Several clinical trials have demonstrated that hydroxyurea therapy offers significant benefits for infants, children, and adolescents with sickle cell anemia. Patients on hydroxyurea who achieve a stable maximum tolerated dose (MTD), defined by a target level of mild marrow suppression, have greater laboratory and clinical benefits than those maintained on a lower dose. A complicating factor in achieving MTD is the significant inter-patient variability in MTD, but no way currently to predict the MTD for individual patients. As such, MTD is commonly achieved by gradual dose escalation in a resource-intensive process that often takes six to twelve months and delays optimal treatment benefits. Using published data from a cohort of previously untreated patients escalated to hydroxyurea MTD, we developed an equation to predict individualized MTD for patients initiating therapy. The primary objective of the Novel Dose Escalation to Predict Treatment with Hydroxyurea (NDEPTH, ClinicalTrials.gov 02042222) clinical trial is to determine the safety and efficacy of the dose-prediction equation. The study is designed as a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial consisting of two treatment arms: a Standard Treatment Arm utilizing a current published dose-escalation protocol for achieving hydroxyurea MTD and an Alternative Treatment Arm utilizing a dose-prediction equation to determine MTD, calculated prior to initiation of treatment. The primary endpoint of the study will be time to MTD for each arm. Additional endpoints include analyses of safety and biological responses to hydroxyurea therapy At the planned interim analysis of this study, we have recruited ten participants to each arm of the study. Kaplan-Meier analysis of these twenty participants indicates that there is a trend approaching significance (p = 0.071) for subjects on the dose-prediction arm to reach MTD faster than those on the dose-escalation arm, with a median time to MTD of 112 days versus 309 days respectively. Additionally, the dose-prediction equation has a high degree of accuracy (R 2 = 0.66; p = 0.001) in predicting the actual MTD for all enrolled participants, with a mean predicted dose of 26.4 ± 1.6 mg/kg and actual dose of 27.1 ± 4.1 mg/kg. Children on the dose-prediction Alternative Treatment Arm have had a higher incidence of excessive myelosuppression requiring temporary dose cessation in three subjects, but no clinical adverse events. These interim results suggest that the dose-prediction equation is safe and effective in determining MTD for young patients with SCA initiating hydroxyurea therapy. Final analysis of the safety and efficacy of the dose-prediction equation will be performed upon completion of the study. Disclosures Off Label Use: This abstract describes the use of hydroxyurea in pediatric sickle cell patients. Hydroxyurea is not currently approved by the FDA for this purpose.. Ware: Bayer Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Eli Lilly: Other: DSMB membership; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Biomedomics: Research Funding.
Mechanistic Characterization of Escherichia coli l-Aspartate Oxidase from Kinetic Isotope Effects

l-Aspartate oxidase, encoded by the nadB gene, is the first enzyme in the de novo synthesis of NAD+ in bacteria. This FAD-dependent enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of l-aspartate to generate iminoaspartate and reduced flavin. Distinct from most amino acid oxidases, it can use either molecular oxygen or fumarate to reoxidize the reduced enzyme. Sequence alignments and the three-dimensional crystal structure have revealed that the overall fold and catalytic residues of NadB closely resemble those of the succinate dehydrogenase/fumarate reductase family rather than those of the prototypical d-amino acid oxidases. This suggests that the enzyme can catalyze amino acid oxidation via typical amino acid oxidase chemistry, involving the removal of protons from the α-amino group and the transfer of the hydride from C2, or potentially deprotonation at C3 followed by transfer of the hydride from C2, similar to chemistry occurring during succinate oxidation. We have investigated this potential mechanistic ambiguity usi...
Substance use behaviors by parents and the decision to substantiate child physical abuse and neglect by caseworkers

Abstract The changing policy landscape with regards to marijuana and a growing epidemic related to opioid misuse may affect caseworkers' decisions to substantiate maltreatment involving use of those two substances. This study examined whether caseworkers factor marijuana and opioid use, including whether or not the drug was medically prescribed, into substantiation decisions. In this study, each respondent ( n = 467) was given two vignettes (one for neglect and one for physical abuse) with one of five drug use conditions. Logistic regression models showed that any drug use was related to higher odds of substantiating neglect. Only illicit opioid or marijuana use was positively related to substantiating physical abuse. Any substance use may impair a parent's functioning and be interpreted as placing a child in greater risk for potential harm from neglect. For physical abuse, caseworkers may view illicit substance use as participating in a deviant behavior making physical abuse seem more likely.
From Acute Dissonance to Authentic Practice: An Intern Teacher's Critical Reflection and Transformative Learning in a Rural Internship.

Increasingly prescribed teacher standards dictate what graduates will know and be able to do, yet little heed is taken of how they learn. In light of this situation a two-phased study was undertaken. Based on Rasch analysis of initial efficacy scales, 26 intern teachers were interviewed. The data was analysed using NVivo and LEARnT, an a priori framework developed by the author. This article reports on one case from the qualitative study of intern teachers in rural schools. Autonomy and critical reflection were significant to transformative learning. Contrary to the literature, authenticity was a more significant source of efficacy than those previously understood including: mastery experience, social modeling (vicarious experience), social persuasion, and psychological responses. Implications exist for academic coursework and professional experience supervision that serve as accreditation frameworks.
Dual serotonin and noradrenaline uptake inhibitor class of antidepressants potential for greater efficacy or just hype

Preclinical and clinical studies support the rationale that development of single molecules, which would promote serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission by inhibiting simultaneously the uptake of both monoamines, would potentially result in improved antidepressant drugs. Currently, the dual inhibitors of serotonin and noradrenaline uptake are venlafaxine, milnacipran and duloxetine. Based on the preclinical studies, the three drugs do show properties of inhibiting uptake of both monoamines in vitro and in vivo in the following order of decreasing potency: duloxetine, venlafaxine and milnacipran, and all exhibit low affinity at neuronal receptors of neurotransmitters, suggesting low side-effect potential. In double-blind, controlled studies, venlafaxine and milnacipran were repeatedly shown to be as efficacious as tricyclic antidepressant drugs in treating major depressive disorder, while one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed the antidepressant efficacy of duloxetine. Specifically designed comparative trials of dual uptake inhibitors against the other agents are needed to establish whether the dual uptake inhibitors show improvement in efficacy, rate of responders, antidepressive effects and/or remission.
A Dose of Drugs, a Touch of Violence, a Case of Aids: Conceptualizing the Sava Syndemic

Gang violence, substance abuse and AIDS have been described as parallel epidemics in the U.S. inner city. This paper draws upon findings from a set of ethnographic and survey research projects in the Puerto Rican community of Hartford, CT to develop a conceptualization of the close interconnections between these three health and social problems. Rather than separate conditions, substance abuse, violence, and AIDS, referred to here as SAVA to stress the relationships among these three phenomena, are best thought of forming a single syndemic (a closely interrelated complex of health and social crises) thatcor.tinues to take a significant toll on the lives and well-being of the urban poor.
Individual Differences in Episodic Memory

This chapter reviews research using psychometric (correlational) methods and combined experimental-psychometric methods in the study of individual differences in episodic memory. Early individual-differences research was largely atheoretical, conducted within a broader pursuit of the factor-analytic structure of intelligence, and suggested some distinctions among various memory tasks, processes, and abilities, but also some commonalities and general memory abilities. In discussing more recent, theoretically motivated research, we focus on conceptual and empirical distinctions between short-term and working memory as revealed – or not – by individual-differences analyses, including individual-by-treatment interactions that harness the strengths of both correlational and experimental methods.
Corporate Political Contributions: Investment or Agency?

We examine corporate donations to political candidates for federal offices in the United States from 1991 to 2004. Firms that donate have operating characteristics consistent with the existence of a free cash flow problem, and donations are negatively correlated with returns. A $10,000 increase in donations is associated with a reduction in annual excess returns of 7.4 basis points. Worse corporate governance is associated with larger donations. Even after controlling for corporate governance, donations are associated with lower returns. Donating firms engage in more acquisitions and their acquisitions have significantly lower cumulative abnormal announcement returns than non-donating firms. We find virtually no support for the hypothesis that donations represent an investment in political capital. Instead, political donations are symptomatic of agency problems within firms. Our results are particularly useful in light of the Citizens United ruling, which is likely to greatly increase the use of corporate funds for political
Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid (NCp7) protein unwinds tRNA.

The nucleocapsid protein (NC) of all animal retroviruses, encoded by the gag gene, is the major structural protein of the core ribonucleoprotein complex, bound to genomic RNA in mature virions. NC is also thought to play one or more accessory roles in reverse transcription. Mature NC (p7NC) from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a 71-amino acid, basic protein which contains two Cys3His Zn(II) retroviral-type zinc finger domains. Herein, we describe the subcloning and expression of HIV-1 NC, denoted NC71, from an inducible phage T7 RNA polymerase promoter in Escherichia coli. Purified NC71 can be reversibly reconstituted with 2 g.at Zn(II) determined by atomic absorption. Ultraviolet circulation dichroism spectroscopy has been used to characterize the complexes between highly purified NC71 and the RNA homopolynucleotide poly(A) and E. coli tRNA(mixed). On poly(A), Zn2 NC71 is characterized by an apparent site size n = 15 +/- 3 nucleotides and high affinity (Kapp = 3 x 10(7) M-1) and moderately cooperative (omega approximately 170 +/- 25) binding. A mixture of E. coli tRNA species (tRNA(mixed) was used to probe the conformational changes induced in tRNA upon binding of HIV-1 NC71. Two structural forms of tRNA(mixed), which differ in their degree of tertiary structure, were assayed for their susceptibility to denaturation by NC71. Five molar monomer equivalents of NC71 are required to denature the "inactive" tRNA in the absence of Mg2+. A Zn(II)-free, oxidized form of NC71 was also shown to unwind inactive tRNA with the same efficiency and stoichiometry. The detailed spectral changes which occur on NC-induced denaturation closely mimic temperature-induced denaturation of inactive tRNA(mixed). The prototype helix-destabilizing protein, T4 gene 32 protein, is unable to unwind this form of tRNA under the same conditions. The stoichiometry of unwinding of inactive tRNA by NC71 is consistent with the site size determined with poly(A). An "active" form of tRNA(mixed), prepared by thermal denaturation and refolding of the inactive form with Mg2+, proved less susceptible to both temperature and NC71-induced unwinding. The mechanistic implications of these findings on the reported biochemical activities of RNA:RNA annealing and replication primer tRNA positioning by NC are discussed.
The Takotsubo (Broken Heart Syndrome)

An interesting syndrome called the takotsubo syndrome was described by Japanese investigators close to 20 years ago. It is characterized by the sudden development of chest pain, ECG changes, and cardiac decompensation in a postmenopausal woman who has just been through a severe emotional stress. The left ventricular contraction pattern resembles a takotsubo, a Japanese octopus fishing pot. With supportive care, these patients survive the episode. Their cardiac function returns to normal. It is likely that the emotionally induced catecholamine surge in an estrogen-deficient woman causes a combination of epicardial coronary artery constriction, constriction of the myocardial microvasculature, and produces a direct stunning effect on the left ventricular myocardium.
Modeling the effects of oxidation-induced porosity on the elastic moduli of nuclear graphites

Abstract Oxidation of nuclear graphites produces microstructural changes that affect the elastic moduli of these materials. It is widely accepted that the primary effect of oxidation is to increase porosity, but the related effect on the moduli cannot be explained satisfactorily by simply noting changes to porosity. In this work, models describing the elastic moduli of porous, polycrystalline graphite materials are developed to interpret experimental determinations of Young's modulus and shear modulus in two grades of nuclear graphite – IG-110 and NBG-18 – that were oxidized to produce varying levels of porosity. Experimental measurements were carried out using laser-based ultrasonic methods and were interpreted successfully using models that take into account the effects of preferential oxidation of different elements of the graphite microstructure. The results indicate the importance of the processes that lead to increased porosity since these can heavily influence the nature of the resulting structure-property relationships.
ISIS and the Collapse of the “Caliphal Syllogism”

This paper examines the way in which ISIS established the caliphate, justifying doing so by way of a kind of syllogism. “Were the caliphate to exist,” ISIS argued, “it would possess certain charact...
Waking Up to the Environmental Crises

Abstract As a people, as a world, we need to wake up to the environmental crises at hand. In this essay, I name and discuss 11 of the underlying problems (and correlative opportunities through unde...
Viremia Trajectories of HIV in HIV-Positive Women in the United States, 1994-2017

Importance Viral suppression of HIV is an important treatment goal to decrease morbidity, mortality, and risk of transmission to others. Objective To characterize longitudinal HIV viral load outcomes among women enrolled in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective cohort study of HIV-positive women with semiannual study visits and a minimum of 5 follow-up visits was conducted from 1994 to 2017. The WIHS sites included in this analysis are in Brooklyn and Bronx, New York; Chicago, Illinois; San Francisco, California; and Washington, DC. Main Outcomes and Measures Women were categorized into groups based on their probability of achieving viral load suppression below 200 copies/mL using logistic trajectory modeling. Multinomial regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with placement in the group with the highest probability of viremia. Results At baseline, the mean (SD) age of the 1989 women was 36.9 (8.0) years, mean CD4+T-lymphocyte count was 467/mm3, median (interquartile range) HIV RNA was 6200.0 (384.5-41 678.0) copies/mL, and 1305 women (65.6%) were African American. Three trajectory groups were identified with low (568 [28.6%]), intermediate (784 [39.4%]), and high (637 [32.0%]) probability of viremia above 200 copies/mL. The mean (SD) cumulative years of viral suppression were 18.7 (4.0) years, 12.2 (3.1) years, and 5.8 (2.9) years in the respective groups. Factors associated with high probability of viremia included younger age (odds ratio [OR]. 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99;P = .03), African American race (odds ratio [OR], 2.43; 95% CI, 1.75-3.37),P Conclusions and Relevance This longitudinal approach suggested that the probability of viremia decreased substantially over time for most participants, including among women with earlier histories of incomplete viral suppression. The findings from this study suggest that continued efforts are needed to address mental health, social, behavioral and structural factors that were identified as associated with high probability of HIV viremia over time.
Automated Systems: The Human Factor

The need for a safe and expeditious air traffic system, along with recent and rapid developments in advanced computer-based technology, has been associated with remarkable changes in airway systems operations and in the system decision-making process. A key issue in air traffic systems concerns which human functions should be automated to maximize system performance and efficiency, without jeopardizing system safety. These decisions are quite simple for a few selected functions where human performance is superior, or in some instances inferior, to machines. The decisions become more critical in considering those functions where human and machine performance differences are subtle. These latter circumstances present the greatest challenge to the human factors professionals and system designers because of the potential human factors consequences (Adams, 1989).
Terrorism and corporate social responsibility: Testing the impact of attacks on CSR behavior

This is the first study to empirically examine how terrorism affects corporate social responsibility (CSR). Their relationship is not intuitive. The theoretical literature on CSR suggests that societal vicissitudes increase CSR demand, but can also incentivize self-regarding behavior. Historical accounts of terrorist attacks and other disasters confirm that they have at times elicited altruism and selfishness from the private sector. To clarify this variation in the impact of terrorism on CSR, we propose and test a rationalist explanation of firm behavior on an original dataset collected from the United Nations Global Compact Initiative that covers the CSR investment of 12,851 companies from 103 countries between 2002 and 2014. Across model specifications, evidence abounds for our thesis that companies condition CSR giving on the apparent severity of the terrorism threat to their organizational survival. Companies evidently behave selfishly even with charity.
Improving wettability and lubricity of commercial contact lenses by polymerizing a thin film of dimethylacryamide

Abstract Dryness and discomfort are considered to be the biggest causes of dropouts in contact lens wearers. We propose a new method to improve lubricity by polymerizing a thin film of a hydrophilic polymer poly-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) on the contact lens. The proposed approach involving soaking the lens in a solution of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in methanol to load the hydrophobic thermal initiator into the lens. The AIBN-loaded lens is then placed in an N, N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) solution at elevated temperature to initiate the thermal polymerization of the monomer to polymerize a film on the surface of the lens. Though AIBN is hydrophobic, it is released into the solution at high temperatures due to the high solubility of the free radicals generated by decomposition of the initiator, which results in polymerization of the bulk solution as well. The processing parameters must be optimized to achieve a surface DMA film of desired thickness without causing the bulk solution to gel and without significant changes to the lens shape. ACUVUE® ADVANCE® lenses were successfully modified using 3.4% AIBN solution to load the initiator and then placing that in a 4% DMA solution at 70 °C for 12 h. The FTIR spectra confirm a surface DMA film and the results are further substantiated by measuring the weight of the surface-film as well as wettability (contact angle) and lubricity (coefficient of friction). The optimized poly-DMA film has a hydrated weight of about 10 mg with a water content of about 400%. The film reduces contact angle from 105.9 ± 0.1° to 45.3 ± 0.12° for ACUVUE® ADVANCE® lens, and reduces the coefficient of friction in contact with excised cornea significantly from 0.0385 ± 0.010 to 0.0063 ± 0.0017. This method is effective only in lenses in which the release duration of the AIBN is sufficiently long to initiate the DMA film within the release duration. The release duration is about 30 min in ACUVUE® ADVANCE® and AIR OPTIX® contact lenses. For other lens types, a modified approach can be developed by first loading vitamin E, which is an effective diffusion barrier into the lens to slow the AIBN release from the lens. This method can be successfully used with other lenses, such as ACUVUE® OASYS®.
A Synthetic Tetramer of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 Amplifies Pro-apoptotic Signaling by Integrating the Activity of Both Galectins

Galectin-1 (G1) and galectin-3 (G3) are carbohydrate-binding proteins that can signal apoptosis in T cells. We recently reported that a synthetic tetramer with two G1 and two G3 domains ("G1/G3 Zipper") induces Jurkat T cell death more potently than G1. The pro-apoptotic signaling pathway of G1/G3 Zipper was not elucidated, but we hypothesized based on prior work that the G1 domains acted as the signaling units, while the G3 domains served as anchors that increase glycan-binding affinity. To test this, here we studied the involvement of different cell membrane glycoproteins and intracellular mediators in pro-apoptotic signaling via G1/G3 Zipper, G1, and G3. G1/G3 Zipper induced Jurkat T cell death more potently than G1 and G3 alone or in combination. G1/G3 Zipper, G1, and G3 increased caspase-8 activity, yet only G1 and G3 depended on it to induce cell death. G3 increased caspase-3 activity more than G1/G3 Zipper and G1, while all three galectin variants required it to induce cell death. JNK activation had similar roles downstream of G1/G3 Zipper, G1, and G3, whereas ERK had differing roles. CD45 was essential for G1 activity, and was involved in signaling via G1/G3 Zipper and G3. CD7 inhibited G1/G3 Zipper activity at low galectin concentrations but not at high galectin concentrations. In contrast, CD7 was necessary for G1 and G3 signaling at low galectin concentration but antagonistic at high galectin concentrations. Collectively, these observations suggest that G1/G3 Zipper amplifies pro-apoptotic signaling through the integrated activity of both the G1 and G3 domains.
Molecular sieving of hydrocarbon mixtures through nano-porous membranes

That the majority of the pore sizes of nanoporous unconventional reservoirs are on the order of the molecular dimensions of large hydrocarbons of crude oils implies the possibility of molecular sieving during the flow of crude oil in these formations. The objective of this study is to provide evidence for the filtration of hydrocarbon mixtures in nanoporous media and to support the hindered transport models for flow in nanoporous, unconventional reservoirs. The hindered transport of hydrocarbons in nanoporous media may be contributed by a variety of mechanisms, such as molecular sieving, size exclusion, selective adsorption, and retention in dead-end pores. Core experiments conducted by Zhu et al. (2019) intended to examine filtration and hindered transport in its entirety. The experimental setup used in this research, on the other hand, was designed to focus on the molecular sieving component of filtration. Therefore, although hindered transport in porous media resembles depth filtration, where adsorption and retention in dead-end pores and tight pore-throats may be significant contributors of filtration, in this study, thin polymeric membranes simulated surface filtration due to molecular sieving only. Two versions of the experimental setup have been used: The first setup was a regular dead-end cell to study the effects of temperature, pressure, and CO₂ on filtration. The second setup adopted a stirred cell to alleviate concentration polarization and eliminate accumulation of heavy hydrocarbons on the filter surface. The results of both experiments have been compared and interpreted. The filtration of hydrocarbon molecules by polymeric membranes was verified. The retention efficiency of a hydrocarbon is proportional to its molecular weight. The effect of concentration polarization was significant in extended period tests using regular dead-end cell. It reduced the retention of large hydrocarbon molecules due to increased higher chemical potential from higher concentration. The effect of concentration polarization was alleviated significantly using stirred cell. The retention of large hydrocarbon molecules was higher in this scenario.CO₂ treatment of hydrocarbon mixture increased the total flux and reduced retention of large hydrocarbon molecules using regular dead-end cell. However, during a stirred cell test, CO₂ treatment of hydrocarbon mixture did not reduce retention of heavy or medium hydrocarbons and only affected the retention and flux of light hydrocarbons. The retention of large hydrocarbon molecules was proportional to filtration pressure and inversely proportional to temperature. That is, in general, the higher the pressure and the lower the temperature, the higher the retention of large molecules.An improved understanding of the factors affecting the retention of large hydrocarbon molecules in nanoporous media will facilitate developing models for the filtration behavior and shed light on potential methods to reduce retention of large hydrocarbon molecules in shale reservoirs.
PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ACTINIOPTERIS RADIATA

Objective: The medicinal plants have been using to treat ailments since ancient times. The recent advances in science and technology impel humans to evaluate medicinal plants therapeutic efficiency and isolation of bioactive compounds in pure forms before their use in development of new drugs and their derivatives. But even now, abundant medicinal plants unevaluated scientifically. The current study was aimed to explore phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Actiniopteris radiata root parts. Methods: Standard procedures have been used to perform phytochemical analysis. Antioxidant activity was carried using In vitro methods on superoxide, hydroxyl, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. Hepatoprotective activity was studied by paracetamol-induced liver toxicity on WISTAR albino rats. The parameters assessed were Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT/AST), Alanine aminotransferase (SGPT/ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin levels. Results: The tested extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, and hydro-alcoholic) possess biologically active compounds such as sterols, terpenoids, glycosides, phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids. The hydro-alcoholic extract has more phenolic contents (24.28±0.3) and flavonoid contents (22.68±0.6). The extracts showed dose dependent activity on tested free radicals and extracts showed more percentage inhibition at 320µg. The hydro-alcoholic extract showed more percentage inhibition i.e. 71.00±2.08 on DPPH free radical, 79.67±1.20 on hydroxyl free radical and 80.33±1.20 on superoxide free radical. As antioxidant activity of hexane and ethyl acetate extracts was less and they also showed less percentage protection on liver toxicity, hydro-alcoholic extract showed more percentage protection on biomedical enzyme levels of liver toxicity at high concentration i.e., 400 mg/kg b.w. The percentage protection on the enhancement of AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), ALP, and total bilirubin levels were 82.24%, 82.14%, 84.18%, and 82.85% are significant (P<0.01) as Liv52 shown percentage protection on the enhancement of Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (SGPT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin levels were 93.58%, 92.83%, 94.67% and 93.57%. Conclusion: The current study was aimed to explore phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Actiniopteris radiata root parts extracts. The outcome of the current research results provides scientific evidence of the traditional usage of Actiniopteris radiata.
Dynamic Structure and Phase Behavior of a Block Copolymer Electrolyte under dc Polarization

An important consideration when designing lithium battery electrolytes for advanced applications is how the electrolyte facilitates ion transport at fast charge and discharge rates. Large current d...
An Ultra-Wideband Photonic Crystal

We report the fabrication and characterization of a novel photonic crystal in which multiple face-centered-cubic (fcc) crystals of different lattice constants are stacked in tandem. This results in a photonic stop band that is broadened well beyond that achievable with a single lattice periodicity. The sample reported here is comprised of two fcc crystals having photonic stop bands centered around 16.5 and 21.5 GHz, respectively. K-band feedhorns were used to transmit and receive radiation through the sample. A network analyzer was used to measure S21 and S11 between 14 and 26 GHz. The overall stop band is approximately the superposition of the individual stop bands of the component fcc crystals.
Beyond convenience: Video visits can increase the efficiency of preventive care delivery

Introduction: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical practices have expanded utilization of telehealth. Little is known about the operational impacts of transitioning from in-person to video visits in specialty clinics. In 2018, the Stanford South Asian Translational Heart Initiative (SSATHI), a preventive cardiology clinic focused on high-risk South Asian adults, introduced CardioClick, a program replacing in-person follow-up visits with video visits. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that implementation of video visits increased the efficiency of clinic operations. Methods: We extracted visit-level data from the EHR for 134 patients enrolled in CardioClick with video follow-up visits from June 14, 2018 to April 21, 2020 and a cohort of 276 patients enrolled in the in-person SSATHI prevention program with follow-up visits from September 11, 2014 to March 6, 2020. Results: Patients in CardioClick and the in-person cohort were similar in terms of age (mean 45 years), gender balance (23 vs 21% female), and cardiometabolic risk profiles. There were 181 video and 637 in-person follow-up visits. Video visits were shorter than in-person visits, both in terms of total clinic time [median 22 min (IQR 16, 29) vs 67 min (48, 100)] and provider time required [median22 min (IQR 16, 29) vs 30 min (12, 58)]. Video visits were more likely to end on time (71 vs 11%,p<0.001). The median video visit ended on time while the median in-person visit ended 32 min late(13, 70) (see Figure). Providers were also more likely to complete video visit documentation thesame day (56 vs 42%, p=0.001). Conclusions: In a preventive cardiology clinic, video follow-up visits required less clinic and provider time than in-person visits, were more likely to end on time, and were associated with increased same-day provider documentation completion. In conclusion, video visits offer benefitsbeyond their convenience and may increase the operational efficiency of specialty care practicesfocused on disease prevention, improving value in care delivery.
Variation in pediatric stereoelectroencephalography practice among pediatric neurosurgeons in the United States: survey results.

OBJECTIVE: Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) has become widespread in the United States during the past decade. Many pediatric neurosurgeons practicing SEEG may not have had experience with this technique during their formal training, and the literature is mostly limited to single-center series. As a result, implementation of this relatively new technique may vary at different institutions. The authors hypothesized that aspects of SEEG experience, techniques, and outcomes would vary widely among programs across the country. METHODS: An electronic survey with 35 questions addressing the categories of training and experience, technique, electrode locations, and outcomes was sent to 128 pediatric epilepsy surgeons who were potential SEEG users. RESULTS: Sixty-one pediatric fellowship-trained epilepsy surgeons in the United States responded to the survey. Eighty-nine percent were actively using SEEG in their practice. Seventy-two percent of SEEG programs were in existence for less than 5 years, and 68% were using SEEG for > 70% of their invasive monitoring. Surgeons at higher-volume centers operated on younger patients (p 5 days, and 16% reported having had implants stay in place for > 4 weeks. The median response for the median number of electrodes initially implanted was 12 electrodes, although 19% of respondents reported median implants of 5-8 electrodes and 17% reported median implants of 15-18 electrodes. Having a higher volume of SEEG cases per year was associated with a higher median number of electrodes implanted (p < 0.001). Most surgeons found SEEG helpful in defining an epileptic network and reported that most of their SEEG patients undergo focal surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: SEEG has been embraced by the pediatric epilepsy surgery community. Higher case volume is correlated with a tendency to place more electrodes and operate on younger patients. For most parameters addressed in the survey, responses from surgeons clustered around a norm, though additional findings of substantial variations highlight differences in implementation and philosophy among pediatric epilepsy programs.
Childhood psychiatric outcomes in the context of suspected neglect and abuse reports related and unrelated to parental substance use.

Abstract Background Child maltreatment is prevalent in the United States and carries long-term consequences. Parental substance use may have associations with child maltreatment. It is unclear whether co-occurring parental substance use aggravates childhood psychiatric outcomes related to suspected maltreatment. Objective To compare psychiatric and healthcare utilization outcomes in children with suspected abuse reports, with and without documented parental substance use. Participants and setting Retrospective cohort study (n = 2831) of children with suspected abuse/neglect (SANC) reports filed in the electronic health record between January 1, 2000 and January 1, 2016. Children who had SANC reports referencing parental substance use (n = 458) were compared with those who had SANC reports that did not reference substance use (n = 2346). Methods Outcome data included ICD-10 coded medical and psychiatric diagnoses and healthcare utilization. Results Compared to children who had a SANC report filed without parental substance use, children with parental substance use in a SANC showed significantly lower age-adjusted odds of anxiety disorder, mood disorder and externalizing disorder, and higher odds of a substance use disorder diagnosis. They were also less likely to present to an emergency department visit for any reason in the year prior to the report. Conclusions Children with exposure to parental substance use in a household where parental abuse or neglect was suspected had lower odds of adverse psychiatric outcomes as compared to children with suspected report of abuse or neglect unrelated to parental substance use. The present findings highlight the complex interplay of psychosocial factors associated with outcomes of childhood maltreatment.
Errors in the estimation of leaf area density from aerial LiDAR data: Influence of statistical sampling and heterogeneity

In this study, several approaches were evaluated for estimation of the 3D distribution of leaf area from aerial LiDAR data. Two general leaf area distribution (LAD) inversion methods were evaluated against “synthetic” LiDAR data for a range of grid resolutions and canopy architectures: 1) inversion based on cumulative transmission of LiDAR pulses through the volume of interest (i.e., the cumulative density function (CDF) of transmission, or “Beer’s law”), and 2) inversion based on the probability density function (PDF) of beam propagation distance within the volume of interest (i.e., probability distribution fitting). Results indicated that the Beer’s law-based method consistently outperformed the PDF-based methods. In a homogeneous canopy, the average error in LAD estimation using the Beer’s law approach decreased exponentially as the number of voxel statistical samples Nv was increased (i.e., laser pulses reaching the voxel). The normalized error also decreased exponentially as leaf area index of the voxel increased. Heterogeneity increased the magnitude of errors in LAD inversion, with errors tending to increase as vegetation density increased, but plant spacing had a negligible impact. For sufficiently dense heterogeneous canopies, there was an optimal voxel size that balanced errors due to poor statistical sampling (small voxels) and errors due to crown-scale heterogeneity that violated the turbid medium assumption (large voxels). This optimum, if present, occurred at around Nv = 40 or a voxel width of 2 m regardless of canopy geometry. Sub-crown-scale clumping had a minimal effect on average errors in estimated LAD for the tree geometries explored in this work.
Diagnostics (Computer System)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: diagnostics (computer system programs); on-line and off-line diagnostic programs
I Like to Pay Taxes: Taxpayer Support for Government Spending and the Efficiency of the Tax System

This paper is based on a simple proposition, which we believe but cannot prove: If taxpayers support the way their tax dollars are spent, they are more likely to comply voluntarily and less likely to change their behavior to avoid tax. To show that our claim is plausible, we offer direct evidence from a literature involving experiments, draw on the more general economics and psychology literature on prosocial behavior, and also invoke philanthropy as a “real world” analogy; after all, charitable donors contribute money voluntarily (indeed, 2% of the U.S. GDP), largely because they believe in the way their contributions are used. Our claim has a number of concrete policy applications. The government should publicize popular uses of tax dollars, and go to particular lengths to avoid the negative publicity associated with waste. The government also should make broader use of taxes, like lotteries for education and the social security tax, which are dedicated to specific (popular) spending programs. In addition to proposing greater reliance on user fees, we offer a new justification for subsidiarity – the idea that services should be provided by the lowest level of government competent to do so – on the theory that taxpayers will feel more connected to a local or state government’s activities and less inclined to free ride within a homogeneous local community. We also suggest ways to adjust audit strategy and penalty structure to enhance prosocial motivations. Furthermore, we urge the government to seek voluntary contributions from taxpayers for programs they especially value. Finally, we explore the more controversial step of allowing taxpayers to allocate some of their tax bill to programs they value, and conclude that, at most, taxpayers should be permitted to do so only in a very limited way.
Number fields ramified at one prime

For G a finite group and p a prime, a G-p field is a Galoisnumber field K with Gal(K/Q) ≅ G and disc(K) = ±pa for some a. Westudy the existence of G-p fields for fixed G and varying p.