cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SSC Superconducting Dipole Magnet Cryostat Magnet Cryostat Model Style B Construction Experience

A program to upgrade the full scale SSC dipole magnet cryostat model function and assembly methods has resulted in a series of dipole magnets designated as style B construction. New design features and assembly techniques have produced a magnet and cryostat assembly that is the basis for Phase I of the SSC dipole magnet industrialization program. Details of the assembly program, assembly experience, and comparison to previous assembly experiences are presented. Improvements in magnet assembly techniques are also evaluated.
Adopting ALK and LTK

Aberrant, uncontrolled activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is the “original sin” of many human cancers, in that this activation can both initiate and drive the evolution of tumors (1). Mutation and overexpression of the multiple members of the epidermal growth factor/ErbB receptor family, to cite only a single example, constitute cancer drivers that have been clinically targeted by a panoply of biologic and small-molecule inhibitors for more than a decade (2, 3). Given the consequences of their activation, RTKs are always tightly regulated: their steady-state enzymatic (tyrosine kinase) activity is very low in the absence of activation, which is normally triggered by the binding of a protein ligand to the RTK extracellular domain (4). This aspect has made the identification of RTK ligands an especially important goal, and studies over the last three decades have uncovered the ligands for nearly all of the 58 RTKs encoded in the human genome. Two closely related RTKs—the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and the leukocyte tyrosine kinase (LTK)—have been notable holdouts, in that they have remained receptor “orphans” without a ligand. This is no longer the case. In PNAS, Reshetnyak et al. (5) identify “family with sequence similarity” (FAM) 150A and 150B—rechristened augmentor-β and augmentor-α, respectively, by the authors—as protein ligands for ALK and LTK. These two RTKs share distinctive structural features, including highly conserved tyrosine kinase domains and unusual glycine-rich regions in their ligand-binding extracellular domains (ectodomains) that exhibit 55% amino acid identity between the receptors. ALK has been very widely studied in cancer (6), particularly … [↵][1]1Email: lemke{at}salk.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
The boy who lost his smile: facioscapulohumeral dystrophy in the head and neck.

Background:Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy is the third most common muscular dystrophy and the one most likely to present primarily in the head and neck.Methods:In this report, we present a case of a young child with subtle progressive bilateral facial weakness whose workup ultimately led to this diagnosis. Paralysis in this disorder is secondary to worsening muscle atrophy, which typically progresses in a cephalad to caudad direction. Despite facial paralysis being a key and early component of this illness, no prior descriptions in the otolaryngology literature exist.Discussion:The case described is unusual in that the patient initially presented to a community otolaryngologist. In addition to workup, the disease characteristics, head and neck manifestations, and prognosis are discussed.
Probing single-molecule protein spontaneous folding-unfolding conformational fluctuation dynamics: the multiple-state and multiple-pathway energy landscape.

Protein conformational dynamics often plays a critical role in protein functions. We have characterized the spontaneous folding–unfolding conformational fluctuation dynamics of calmodulin (CaM) at thermodynamic equilibrium conditions by using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) spectroscopy. We have identified multiple folding transition pathways and characterized the underlying energy landscape of the single-molecule protein conformational fluctuation trajectories, using a model analysis based on the detailed balance rate process principle. Our results suggest that the folding dynamics of CaM molecules involves a complex multiple-pathway multiple-state energy landscape, rather than an energy landscape of two-state dynamical process. Our probing single-molecule FRET fluctuation experiments demonstrate a new approach of studying spontaneous protein folding–unfolding conformational dynamics at the equilibrium that features recording long time single-molecule conformational fluctuat...
Genetic Theory of the Rh Blood Types.

SummaryThree varieties of anti-Rh agglutinins have been encountered, designated as anti-Rh (standard), anti-Rh1, and anti-Rh2, and agglutinating, respectively, approximately 85%, 70%, and 35% of bloods from white individuals in New York City. Human sera containing agglutinins anti-Rh and anti-Rh1 together are designated anti-Rh' sera containing the two agglutinins anti-Rh and anti-Rh2 are designated anti-Rh”. By means of the 3 sorts of Rh agglutinins, 5 varieties of Rh agglutinogens are demonstrable, designated as Rh1, Rh2, Rh, Rh′, and Rh”. These in combination give rise to 8 Rh blood types (including the Rh-negative type), of which all but one, the rarest, have actually been encountered. A theory to explain the heredity of the Rh blood types is proposed in which the existence of 6 allelic genes is postulated. Evidence in support of the theory is presented and some of the implications of the theory are mentioned.
Markers for Estimating Digesta Flow in Pigs and the Effects of Dietary Fiber

Effects of diluting the energy content of a corn-soybean meal diet with either alfalfa meal or corn cobs on nutrient digestibility and rate of passage of feed residues and particle markers were measured in crossbred (Yorkshire X Landrace X Chester White X Large White) barrows with a mean body weight of about 80 kg. The excretion pattern in the feces of Cr-mordanted diet and of rare earths initially bound individually to the mixed diet or to the corn or soybean meal suggested a model having a single age-dependent compartment with time delay. The compartmental turnover rate parameter (lambda 1) estimated by this model did not differ for the rare earths individually used to mark the corn-soybean meal diet (Yb), the corn (La) or the soybean meal (Sm). In contrast, lambda 1 for Cr was smaller (P less than .001) than that of the mean for the three rare earths. The residence time due to displacement flow (tau) did not differ among markers. These results were interpreted to indicate that the high specific gravity of Cr-mordanted feed slowed flow due to mixing but not due to displacement. Correlations between lambda 1 and tau were less than .71. These results suggested that the flow of rare earths initially bound to feed ingredients provides a reasonable estimate of the flow of their undigested residues through the gastrointestinal tracts of nonruminant animals. Inclusion of the fibrous feeds reduced digestibility of dry matter, cell contents, crude protein and acid detergent lignin and increased digestibility of cell walls, cellulose and acid detergent fiber. Digestibilities of cellulose and acid detergent fiber were greater with alfalfa than with corn cobs as the fiber source. Differences in digestibility of crude protein and acid detergent fiber existed due to litter in one replicate of the experiment. Variation in digestibility was not significantly related to variation in lambda 1 or tau within or among treatments and litters. This suggests that variations in lambda 1 and tau were not important causes of the observed variation in digestibility.
The potential hazard of particulate contamination of cardioplegic solutions

The potential hazard of particulate debris in unfiltered cardioplegic solutions was assessed using the isolated rat heart preparation. Five intravenous solutions were evaluated: These were manufactured by three pharmaceutical firms (two United States and one British) and are commonly used as bases for preparing clinical cardioplegic solutions. Particles were counted in each solution, and each fell well within the limits for particle contamination defined by both the United States and the British Pharmacopoeias. Intracoronary continuous infusion of each solution over 20 minutes at constant temperature and pressure (20° C, 60 cm H2O) resulted in a progressive reduction in coronary flow (mean reduction 55.7 % ± 6.6 %) due to a rise in coronary vascular resistance; filtration of these same solutions through a 0.8 μm filter just prior to their entry into the heart largely prevented these coronary vascular changes. The filter was examined by scanning electron microscopy and showed amorphous and crystalline debris. Nifedipine (0.1 μmol/L) added to the cardioplegic solution reduced by almost 50% the impairment in coronary flow seen in the unfiltered group. In more clinically relevant studies of 180 minutes of hypothermic (20° C) ischemia using multidose cardioplegia (3 minutes every 30 minutes), hearts infused with filtered solution recovered almost 90% of their preischemic functional capacity. Hearts receiving identical but unfiltered solution, however, essentially failed to recover (p < 0.001) and had significantly higher levels of creatine kinase leakage. These results suggest that commercially produced solutions conforming to limits of particulate contamination acceptable for intravenous administration may prove harmful if given unfiltered directly into coronary arteries, with the likely mechanism of action being particle-induced coronary vasoconstriction.
Estrogen modulates ileal basolateral membrane lipid dynamics and Na+-K+-ATPase activity.

The effects of ethinyl estradiol, a synthetic estrogen with cholestatic properties and a propensity to alter hepatocyte and ileal brush-border membrane fluidity, on lipid structure and Na+-K+-ATPase activity of rabbit small intestinal basolateral membranes were determined. Utilizing the fluorophores 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and DL-12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid, increases in fluorescence anisotropy, the reciprocal of fluidity, were found in basolateral membranes and in membrane lipid liposomes isolated from ileum. Fluidity alterations were accompanied by a marked decrease in bilayer phospholipids (0.37 vs. 0.48 mumol/mg protein; P less than 0.01) and an increase in both the cholesterol-to-phospholipid molar ratio (0.85 vs 0.61; P less than 0.02) and membrane saturated fatty acid content. Estrogen-mediated physicochemical changes were associated with a significant reduction in ileal basolateral membrane Na+-K+-ATPase specific activity (100.0 vs. 185.8 nmol Pi.min-1.mg protein-1; P less than 0.02). Control values both for fluorescence anisotropy and for Na+-K+-ATPase specific activity were restored after in vitro membrane fluidization with benzyl alcohol. The data therefore indicate that ethinyl estradiol effects on basolateral membrane lipid dynamics are confined to the ileum and are associated with inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity. These structural and functional changes appear to be related, in part, to specific modifications in the availability of phospholipid after estrogen treatment.
The Role of Institutions in the Implementation of Wind Energy

Given the threat of climate change, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, volatile natural gas prices, and unrest in the Middle East, implementing clean alternative energies is urgently needed. What drives the adoption of these energies, however, has yet to be fully determined. Neoclassical economists suggest that implementation would be accelerated by reducing regulations and establishing free markets, in which resource scarcity would drive deployment. Others argue that technology propels alternative energy use. North (1990) maintains that markets lead to institutional changes as firms and politically motivated interests induce changes in institutional structures (see also Sened, 1997). What then are the roles of resource availability, technology, and institutions in driving alternative energy utilization? We examine this question by focusing on wind, thereby avoiding controversies surrounding other alternative energies, such as the extent to which they are “clean” and the costs associated with their large-scale production, for there is a consensus that wind is clean and economically viable. We analyze the role of institutions in wind power implementation, comparing its adoption in Minnesota and Texas and then broadening our perspective with a global comparison among Spain, Germany, and the United States. In accord with North (1981, 1990), we maintain that market forces are not the only, or the most important, determinants of wind’s performance. Rather, the institutions that govern and regulate wind implementation have a very large impact.
Reflectance Spectroscopy for Organic Detection And Quantification in Clay-bearing Samples: Effects of Albedo, Clay Type, and Water Content

Reflectance spectroscopy is a rapid and non-destructive method that can be used to detect organic compounds in geologic samples over a wide range of spatial scales that includes outcrops, hand samples, drill cores, and planetary surfaces. In order to assess the viability of this technique for quantification of organics and aliphatic compounds in particular, the present study examines how clay mineralogy, water content, and albedo influence the strength of organic absorptions in near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectra. The effects of clay structure and water content are evaluated using kaolinite, smectite (montmorillonite), and a mixed-layer illite-smectite as starting materials. Absorption strengths for C—H absorptions are compared to known total organic carbon (TOC) values using both reflectance spectra and single scattering albedo (SSA) spectra derived from a Hapke radiative transfer model. A linear relationship was observed between band depth and TOC for each sample suite, but strong albedo variation led to nonunique trends when band depths were calculated from reflectance spectra. These effects were minimized by conversion to SSA, for which band depth-TOC trends were similar for all mixture suites regardless of albedo or hydration level, indicating that this approach may be more broadly applicable for clay and organic-bearing samples. Extrapolation of band depth-TOC trends for the synthetic mixtures suggested a very conservative lower limit of detection of <1 wt.% TOC, but preliminary results for natural organicbearing shales indicated that detection limits may be an order of magnitude lower.
The Pediatric Eye Examination for Pediatric Neurologists

The pediatric eye examination can be challenging but may provide important diagnostic information to the pediatric neurologist. Most of the examination can be accomplished with toys (visual fixation targets), a penlight, and a direct ophthalmoscope. The most important aspect of assessing the afferent system is visual acuity testing. Based on the patient's age, this may be accomplished by testing the child's response to light, a moving visual target, or a formal visual acuity chart. Evaluation of pupillary size and response to light is critical to assessing both the afferent and efferent visual systems. Other components of efferent testing include evaluation of extraocular motility and ocular alignment. General ophthalmologic examination is important to assess for ocular pathology that may accompany neurologic disorders in children. Referral to ophthalmology for further testing should be considered in any child with an abnormality on the pediatric eye examination.
Image annotation of power grid objects based on convolutional neural networks

In this paper, we propose a novel method to annotate the image of power grid objects (i.e., the electric equipment, the workers with different behaviors). This method is based on the convolutional neural networks (CNN). First, we obtain the attribute list of the image under the multi-label networks. Second, we employ the attribute-specific segmentation model to annotate the image. In this paper, we build an image database for power grid objects which consists of a large number of images, such as the electric equipment and the workers with different behavior. The experimental results demonstrate the good performance of the proposed method.
Elevation Adaptation: How Circuit Court Judges Alter Their Behavior for Promotion to the Supreme Court

We examine whether federal circuit court judges alter their behavior when vacancies open up on the United States Supreme Court so that they might get noticed by the president and nominated to the high court. Using matching methods, we compare the behavior of these contending judges during vacancy periods with the behavior of contending judges outside vacancy periods. The data show that judges who are contending for elevation are much more likely to vote consistent with the president's preferences during vacancy periods, to write concurring opinions, to write majority opinions, and to engage in strategic publishing and per curiam decisions.
Psychometric Validation of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales–Parent Version (RCADS-P) in Children Evaluated for ADHD:

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently experience comorbid internalizing symptoms. The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales-Parent Version (RCADS-P) is a frequently used measure of anxiety and depression in children, though its psychometric properties remain unexamined in children referred for ADHD specifically. The present study evaluated the RCADS-P in 372 children (age 7-12 years; 68% male) referred for evaluation at an ADHD specialty clinic (89% met criteria for ADHD). In addition to the RCADS-P, parents completed the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale and Child Behavior Checklist and were administered the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children semistructured diagnostic interview. Teacher ratings were available for approximately half of the sample. Factor structure, reliability, convergent/discriminant validity, and sensitivity/specificity were examined. Results supported the six-factor structure of the RCADS-P. The RCADS-P demonstrated adequate internal consistency as well as convergent and discriminant validity with other parent ratings and, to a somewhat lesser extent, teacher ratings. Children with an internalizing diagnosis had higher RCADS-P scores than children without an internalizing diagnosis. Finally, the RCADS-P had good-to-excellent diagnostic efficiency, and a total sum score of 25 had excellent sensitivity and fair specificity. Findings provide psychometric support for the RCADS-P in children with ADHD.
Erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and breast cancer risk: a prospective analysis in the nurses' health study II

The roles of specific fatty acids in breast cancer etiology are unclear, particularly among premenopausal women. We examined 34 individual fatty acids, measured in blood erythrocytes collected between 1996-1999, and breast cancer risk in a nested case-control study of primarily premenopausal women in the Nurses' Health Study II. Breast cancer cases diagnosed after blood collection and before June 2010 (n=794) were matched to controls and conditional logistic regression was used to estimate OR's (95% CI's) for associations of fatty acids with breast cancer; unconditional logistic regression was used for stratified analyses. Fatty acids were not significantly associated with breast cancer risk overall; however, heterogeneity by body mass index (BMI) was observed. Among overweight/obese women (BMI≥25), several odd-chain saturated (SFA, e.g. 17:0, ORQ4vsQ1(95%CI) =1.85 (1.18-2.88), ptrend=0.006 pint<0.001), trans (TFA, e.g. 18:1, ORQ4vsQ1(95%CI) =2.33 (1.45-3.77), ptrend<0.001, pint=0.007) and dairy-derived fatty acids (SFA 15:0 + 17:0 + TFA 16:1n-7t; ORQ4vsQ1(95%CI) =1.83(1.16-2.89), ptrend=0.005, pint<0.001) were positively associated, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA, e.g. alpha-linolenic acid; ORQ4vsQ1(95%CI) =0.57 (0.36-0.89), ptrend=0.017, pint=0.03) were inversely associated with breast cancer. Total SFA were inversely associated with breast cancer among women with BMI<25 (ORQ4vsQ1(95%CI) =0.68 (0.46-0.98), ptrend=0.05, pint=0.01). Thus, while specific fatty acids were not associated with breast cancer overall, our findings suggest positive associations of several SFA, TFA and dairy-derived fatty acids and inverse associations of n-3 PUFA with breast cancer among overweight/obese women. Given these fatty acids are influenced by diet, and therefore are potentially modifiable, further investigation of these associations among overweight/obese women is warranted. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Ideal Observer Theory and Moral Objectivism

In this chapter I shall argue that there are no moral facts in the sense of ‘moral fact’ allowed by the Brentanist Theory. Then, I shall argue that this conclusion taken together with the Brentanist Theory entails that the Ideal Observer Theory (IOT) is the appropriate standard for determining the truth or correctness of moral judgments.
Efficient partitioning of space for multiple UAS search in an unobstructed environment

The advent of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has created opportunities to replace expensive capital assets with these small, yet capable, platforms. Tasks that are identified as able to be performed by UAS may also benefit from the ability of a collection of UAS to operate in a cooperative and parallel manner. Parallelization means that several parts of the search area can be covered at the same time, reducing the overall task completion time. In this paper we investigate how to divide the search and rescue task in a way that it can be performed by a set of UAS. Our investigation covers the detection of multiple mobile objects by a collection of UAS. Three methods (two that are not informed by object location probabilities and one that is) for dividing the space are proposed, and their relative strengths and weaknesses investigated. A reduced aerial camera model facilitates the simulation of object detection. The topic is approached holistically to account for contingencies such as airspace deconfliction. Results are produced using simulation to verify the capability of the proposed method and to compare the various partitioning methods. Results from this simulation show that great gains in search efficiency can be made when the search space is partitioned using a method based on object location probability. For search areas of 3000 m $$\times $$ 3000 m detection probability gains of 2 $$\times $$ are achievable. For larger areas these gains can exceed 7 $$\times $$ .
Application of hybridoma technology to problems in the agricultural sciences

The development of methods for the production of monoclonal antibodies has provided a powerful tool for virtually all areas of the biological sciences. Monoclonal antibodies allow the dissection of complex mixtures mixtures of antigenic molecules; by applying screening procedures to a library of monoclonals, selection for properties such as viral neutralization or enzyme inactivation is possible, thereby identifying proteins with specific biological activities. Similarly, monoclonal antibodies can be used to map the surface of a protein, define cell surface antigens, and localize molecules within cells or tissues. The property of unique specificity associated with clonally-derived antibodies has served to revolutionize the field of diagnostics where the use of polyclonal antisera once dominated. The use of monoclonal antibodies for antigen identification has greatly benefited the study of the immune response to infectious agents and the development of vaccines. With the advent of better methods for the generation of hybridomas such as electrofusion and oncogene transfection, modifications allowing the exploitation of non-immunogenic molecules, and the development of techniques for producing interspecific hybrids, the contribution of this technology as a tool for research in the agricultural sciences will undoubtedly increase.
The role of reversible grammars in translating between representation languages

Abstract A capability for translating between representation languages is critical for effective knowledge base reuse. We describe a translation technology for knowledge representation languages based on the use of an interlingua for communicating knowledge. The interlingua-based translation process can be thought of as consisting of three major steps: (1) translation from the source language into a subset of the interlingua, (2) translation between subsets of the interlingua, and (3) translation from a subset of the interlingua into the target language. The first translation step into the interlingua can typically be specified in the form of a grammar that describes how each top-level form in the source language translates into the interlingua. We observe that in cases where the source language does not have a declarative semantics, such a grammar is also a specification of a declarative semantics for the language. We describe the conditions under which such a grammar is reversible so that the grammar can also be used to translate out of the interlingua. In particular, we formally describe the translation process into and out of an interlingua, present a method for determining whether a given grammar in fact specifies how to construct a translation for every top-level form in a given source language; and present a method for determining whether a given grammar is reversible so that it can be used to translate both into and out of an interlingua.
Chapter 33 Economic epidemiology and infectious diseases

Abstract Infectious diseases are is currently the main cause of mortality in the world and have been even more important historically. This paper reviews recent research in economic epidemiology. Specifically, it discusses the occurrence of infectious diseases and the effects of public health interventions designed to control them. Several key points include: differences in the predictions regarding short- and long-run disease occurrence between rational and epidemiological epidemics, the nonstandard effects of interventions when epidemics are rational, the desirability and possibility of eradicating infectious diseases, as well as the components of the welfare loss induced by infectious diseases.
Preliminary Evaluation of the Scale MAVRIC Code and FW-CADIS Method for Efficient Scoping of the Radiation Field Throughout the IRIS Containment

The integral configuration of the International Reactor Innovative and Secure (IRIS) with its relatively thick downcomer region within the reactor vessel and compact spherical steel containment off...
HEPATOTOXICITY OF TRANSPLANT IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE AGENTS

Hepatotoxicity from transplant immunosuppressive agents is infrequent but recognized. Most of the published literature emphasizes hepatotoxicity from cyclosporine and azathioprine. Cyclosporine is associated with cholestasis and possibly biliary calculi. Azathioprine has been associated with a variety of hepatic abnormalities. This article reviews the frequency and pattern of hepatotoxicity associated with these agents.
Graph Theoretic Methods in Coding Theory

Let \({\Sigma }_{q} =\{ 0,1,\ldots,q - 1\}\) be an alphabet of order q. A q-ary (unrestricted) code C of length n and size | C | is a subset of Σqn containing | C | elements called codewords. The Hamming weight wt(c) of a codeword c is the number of its nonzero entries. A constant-weight code is a code where all the codewords have the same Hamming weight. The Hamming distance d(c, c′) between two codewords c and c′ is the number of positions where they have different entries. The minimum Hamming distance of a code C is the largest integer Δ such that ∀c,c′ ∈ C, d(c, c′) ≥ Δ.
Abstract B068: Vitiligo and melanoma: The role of cutaneous human commensal bacteria in antimelanocyte immune responses

Immunotherapies designed to bolster endogenous immune responses against tumors, in the form of checkpoint blockade, have vastly improved survival for a host of cancers. However, despite these novel approaches, metastatic melanoma remains associated with high mortality and rapid progression, and a subset of patients do not respond robustly to checkpoint blockade. Development of new methods to boost endogenous immune responses against melanoma thus constitutes a critical step toward the management of disease. Of note, initiating immune responses against nonmutated melanocyte-specific protein antigens has shown efficacy in augmenting immunotherapies. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by immune-mediated destruction of melanocytes, though the etiology of this disease remains poorly understood. Skin-resident microbes have been recently demonstrated to exert a profound effect on immune processes of the skin, including those that are associated with vitiligo progression. Identifying skin-resident microbes that initiate or exacerbate antimelanocyte immune responses, as well as the precise pathways that mediate these processes, may provide a novel framework for the development of immunotherapies to augment antimelanoma immune responses. Thus, we have recruited a cohort of individuals with and without vitiligo and profiled their skin microbiomes at various body sites. We have found that vitiligo subjects harbor a skin microbiota that is unique from healthy subjects, and have isolated several vitiligo-associated bacteria. Notably, a previously uncultured Corynebacterium species appears in greater abundance on vitiligo subjects than on control subjects. The immunomodulatory potential of this novel bacterium will be explored in murine models developed by our laboratory, including an adapted mouse model of vitiligo. Interrogation of this host-microbiome relationship may thus lead to the identification of novel targets and pathways by which to treat vitiligo and augment melanoma immunotherapies. Citation Format: Ivan Vujkovic-Cvijin. Vitiligo and melanoma: The role of cutaneous human commensal bacteria in antimelanocyte immune responses [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B068.
Teaching in Community Schools: Creating Conditions for Deeper Learning:

The community school strategy calls on teachers, families, and school staff to take on new and more challenging roles to collaboratively address existing educational inequities. For example, deepen...
Developing and evaluating methods to impute race/ethnicity in an incomplete dataset

The availability of race data is essential for identifying and addressing racial/ethnic disparities in the health care system; however, patient self-reported racial/ethnic information is often missing. Indirect methods for estimating race have been developed, but they usually only consider geocoded and surname data as predictors, may perform poorly among racial minorities, they do not adjust for possible errors for specific datasets, and are unable to provide race estimates for subjects missing some of this information. The objective of this study was to address these limitations by developing novel methods for imputing race/ethnicity when this information is partially missing. By viewing the unobserved race as missing data, we explored different multiple imputation methods for imputing race/ethnicity, and we applied these methods to a subset of Rhode Island Medicaid beneficiaries. Current race imputation methods and newly developed ones were compared using area under the ROC curve statistics and racial composition estimates to identify methods and sets of predictors that yield superior race imputations. Family race was identified as an important predictor and should be included in race estimation models when possible. Bayesian regression models (BRM) provide better race estimates than previously proposed methods. Missing race was multiply imputed using joint modeling and fully conditional specification. Post-imputation analyses showed that fully conditional specification with a BRM is superior to joint modeling for race imputation. The proposed fully conditional specification method is a flexible, effective way of estimating race/ethnicity that allows for propagation of imputation error and ease of interpretation in further analyses.
Perspectives on Medication-Related and Other Health Disparities Affecting Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders: A Qualitative Study

Background and Purpose: The present body of literature has little information regarding factors behind gaps in health status affecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, and methods to address them. We sought to examine pharmacists’ and other health care professionals’ perceptions of AANHPI health disparities and their ideas for solutions involving pharmacists, pharmacy schools, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Methods: In-depth individual interviews were conducted with ten academic pharmacists and four other health care professionals knowledgeable about AANHPI disparities, with a focus on medication-related disparities. Results: Commonly identified factors behind disparities included poor communication, low socioeconomic status, cultural inhibitions creating a reluctance to seek care, and limited access to care. Suggested strategies for community pharmacists to reduce disparities included one-on-one care focused on outcomes, translated materials and translation services, and tracking adherence to medications. Participants suggested that colleges of pharmacy could continue community health events, encourage students to be culturally aware, and conduct health disparities research, and that the FDA could provide translated information, research funding, and requirements for greater ethnic diversity in clinical trials. Conclusion: Experts believe that pharmacists have the potential to help close the health care gap for AANHPI populations.
Retrospective Analysis of Bioanalytical Method Validation Approaches in Biosimilar Biological Product Development

Development and validation of a bioanalytical method for biosimilar biological product development (BPD) can be challenging. It requires the development of a bioanalytical method that reliably and accurately measures both proposed biosimilar and reference products in a biological matrix. This survey summarizes the current state of bioanalysis in BPD. Bioanalytical data from 28 biosimilar biologic license applications submitted to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) up to December 2018 were analyzed. The aim of the analysis was to provide (i) a summary of the bioanalytical landscape for BPD, (ii) a cumulative review of bioanalytical method validation approaches to aid in understanding how a specific method was selected, and (iii) a summary of data regarding bioanalytical bias differences between products. Results show diversity of the bioanalytical approaches used, as well as the observed differences in bioanalytical bias. Our findings highlight the need for understanding the critical aspects of BPD bioanalysis and clarifying BPD bioanalytical best practices, which could help ensure consistent method validation approaches in the BPD community.
Feasibility of advancing the development of compact energy systems

It is necessary to advance the development of compact energy systems for making energy from biomass like wood or switchgrass, as an alternative to the construction of highly capital-intensive large scale biorefineries. Compact energy systems consist of four individual components: a biomass preparation unit, a biomass converter, a fuel processor, and a powered engine. The individual unit processes within each component and the possible types of compact energy systems with different biomass converter technologies like fermentation, pyrolysis, and gasification are presented. The size, weight, and energy efficiency of upgrading biomass to energy using a compact energy system with various gasification technologies has been estimated. A compact energy system with a hydrogen fuel cell as a powered-engine component, processing 10 kg of dry biomass per day, generates a net energy (kW h) of −7.5, −30, 18.7, 13.1, and 11.7 with the super-critical, microwave assisted, catalytic, steam, and conventional gasification technologies as biomass converter technologies, respectively. The low yields of super-critical gasification and low efficacy of converting electric energy to heat via electromagnetic waves with microwave assisted gasification result in negative net energy with the respective compact energy system. Finally, the challenges and opportunities with the development of low weight, small size, and highly energy efficient compact energy systems built around gasification are discussed.
Comparison of management options for twin pregnancies with cervical shortening.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of expectant management (EM), cervical cerclage (CC) and vaginal progesterone (VP) in decreasing the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in twin gestations wit...
Rural challenges in a decade of crowdfunding for cancer care.

e14013Background: Improving access and affordability to oncology care for patients in rural America is a national imperative given growing health disparities in cancer morbidity and mortality. Crow...
Dementia and Chronic Disease in the Elderly

Dementia, or major neurocognitive disorder, is a terminal disease characterized by a decline from a prior level of function which results in impairment in daily activities. With the aging of the population, the number of individuals impacted is expected to double over the next 20 years, and most of these individuals also suffer from comorbid chronic diseases. As dementia progresses, older adults lose their ability to independently manage their activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and disease self-management. Providers should assess function in older adults throughout the dementia trajectory and assist with appropriate implementation of caregivers (informal and formal) and supported care environments. Additionally, in collaboration with the patient and surrogate decision maker, providers should implement patient priority–directed care to ensure the medical plan is in keeping with the patient’s values. In addition to caring for the older adult with dementia and chronic conditions, providers should be attuned to the needs of their informal caregivers and evaluate for caregiver strain on a regular basis.
Platelet polyphosphate induces fibroblast chemotaxis and myofibroblast differentiation.

Background Platelets secrete many pro-wound healing molecules such as growth factors and cytokines. We found that releasates from activated human platelets induced the differentiation of cultured murine and human fibroblasts into a myofibroblast phenotype. Surprisingly, most of this differentiation-inducing activity was heat-stable, suggesting it was not due to the protein component of the releasates. Inorganic polyphosphate is a major constituent of platelet-dense granules and promotes blood coagulation and inflammation. Objectives We aim to investigate the contribution of polyphosphate on myofibroblast differentiating activity of platelet releasates. Methods Using NIH-3T3 cells and primary human fibroblasts, we examined the effect of human platelet releasates and chemically synthesized polyphosphate on fibroblast differentiation and migration. Results We found that the myofibroblast-inducing activity of platelet releasates was severely attenuated after incubation with a polyphosphate-degrading enzyme, and that fibroblasts responded to platelet-sized polyphosphate by increased levels of α-smooth muscle actin, stress fibers, and collagen. Furthermore, fibroblasts were chemotactic toward polyphosphate. Conclusions These findings indicate that platelet-derived polyphosphate acts as a cell signaling molecule by inducing murine and human fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts, a cell type known to drive both wound healing and fibrosing diseases. Polyphosphate therefore not only promotes early wound responses through enhancing fibrin clot formation, but also may play roles in the later stages of wound healing, and, potentially, progression of fibrotic diseases, by recruiting fibroblasts and inducing their differentiation into myofibroblasts.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder & Substance Abuse in Adults & Children

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), often diagnosed in childhood, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by disruptive symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity and is associated with significant impairment across several domains, particularly when untreated. ADHD can often persist into late adolescence and adulthood, conferring an increased risk of co-occurring psychiatric problems such as alcohol and substance use disorders (AUDs, SUDs). This chapter reviews the etiology of ADHD, risks and outcomes across the lifespan, prevalence and diagnostic challenges of co-occurring ADHD and SUDs (ADHD+SUD), and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches for this challenging population.
Pulmonary gene delivery-Realities and possibilities.

Delivery of genetic material to tissues in vivo is an important technique used in research settings and is the foundation upon which clinical gene therapy is built. The lung is a prime target for g...
Exploring Music Student Teachers' Professional Identities.

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to explore music student teachers’ perceptions of their professional identities. Participants were five music student teachers from an institution in...
A new ichthyodectiform fish (Actinopterygii: Teleostei) from the Arlington Member (mid-Cenomanian) of the Upper Cretaceous Woodbine Formation in Texas, USA

Abstract Based on a nearly complete skeleton from the Arlington Member (mid-Cenomanian) of the Upper Cretaceous Woodbine Formation in Texas, USA, a new fossil fish, Bardackichthys carteri gen. et sp. nov. (Actinopterygii: Ichthyodectiformes), is described. Our phylogenetic analyses show the suborder Ichthyodectoidei (containing Amakusaichthys, Chirocentrites, Chiromystus, Cladocyclus, Cooyoo, Eubiodectes, Ghrisichthys, Gillicus, Heckelichthys, Ichthyodectes, Saurocephalus, Saurodon, Xiphactinus, Unamichthys, and Vallecillichthys) to be a cohesive, Cretaceous group of ichthyodectiforms that also includes B. carteri gen. et sp. nov. Furthermore, our study reveals a monophyletic assemblage within Ichthyodectoidei consisting of Bardackichthys gen. nov., Amakusaichthys, and Heckelichthys, where the clade is assigned to a new ichthyodectiform family, Bardackichthyidae fam. nov. With large eyes, stout body, anterodorsally directed mouth, and large asymmetrical tail, B. carteri gen. et sp. nov. was most likely a powerful swimmer capable of ambushing small pelagic fishes near the water surface in brackish environments.
Affordable oral health care: dental biofilm disruption using chloroplast made enzymes with chewing gum delivery.

Current approaches for oral health care rely on procedures that are unaffordable to impoverished populations, whereas aerosolized droplets in the dental clinic and poor oral hygiene may contribute to spread of several infectious diseases including COVID-19, requiring new solutions for dental biofilm/plaque treatment at home. Plant cells have been used to produce monoclonal antibodies or antimicrobial peptides for topical applications to decrease colonization of pathogenic microbes on dental surface. Therefore, we investigated an affordable method for dental biofilm disruption by expressing lipase, dextranase or mutanase in plant cells via the chloroplast genome. Antibiotic resistance gene used to engineer foreign genes into the chloroplast genome were subsequently removed using direct repeats flanking the aadA gene and enzymes were successfully expressed in marker-free lettuce transplastomic lines. Equivalent enzyme units of plant-derived lipase performed better than purified commercial enzymes against biofilms, specifically targeting fungal hyphae formation. Combination of lipase with dextranase and mutanase suppressed biofilm development by degrading the biofilm matrix, with concomitant reduction of bacterial and fungal accumulation. In chewing gum tablets formulated with freeze-dried plant cells, expressed protein was stable up to 3 years at ambient temperature and was efficiently released in a time-dependent manner using a mechanical chewing simulator device. Development of edible plant cells expressing enzymes eliminates the need for purification and cold-chain transportation, providing a potential translatable therapeutic approach. Biofilm disruption through plant enzymes and chewing gum-based delivery offers an effective and affordable dental biofilm control at home particularly for populations with minimal oral care access.
Evaporation-triggered directional transport of asymmetrically confined droplets.

Abstract Hypothesis When a liquid droplet is confined between two non-parallel hydrophobic surfaces with dihedral angle α , its behavior is largely influenced by the asymmetric confinement. During evaporation, the droplet morphology under confinement will continuously evolve, leading to the directional transport of the droplet towards the cusp. Experiments and Simulations During the evaporation process, droplets at different initial locations l 0 from the cusp were experimentally observed to transport towards the cusp. A series of simulations using Surface Evolver were performed to obtain the three-dimensional morphologies of the confined droplets. Force and energy analyses were conducted to unveil the mechanisms dominating the evaporation-triggered actuation and transport. Findings The asymmetrically confined droplet of volume V would drift towards an equilibrium location of l e from the cusp with the lowest energy. Its directional motion results from the consecutively decreasing l e , which is scaled as l e ~ α - 1 V 1 3 during evaporation. Herein, the creeping and slipping modes of transport could be characterized as the quasi-stable and unstable self-relaxation processes of droplet from the stretched regime to the equilibrium regime, respectively. Our findings on the intrinsic mechanism of droplet actuation shed light on a novel approach to manipulating the confined droplet behaviors in a passive and decisive fashion.
Composite fermion mass enhancement and particle-hole symmetry of fractional quantum Hall states in the lowest Landau level under realistic conditions

Particle-hole symmetry breaking in the fractional quantum Hall effect has recently been studied both theoretically and experimentally with most works focusing on non-Abelian states in the second electronic Landau level. In this work, we theoretically investigate particle-hole symmetry breaking of incompressible fractional quantum Hall states in the lowest Landau level under the influence of the realistic effect of a finite magnetic-field strength. A finite magnetic field induces Landau-level and sub-band mixing which are known to break particle-hole symmetry at the level of the Hamiltonian. We analyze the Haldane pseudopotentials, energy spectra and energy gaps, and the wave functions themselves, under realistic conditions. We find that particle-hole symmetry is broken, as determined by energy gaps, between states related via particle-hole conjugation, however, we find that particle-hole symmetry is largely maintained as determined by the effective mass of composite fermions. Finally, we comment and make connection to recent experimental observations regarding particle-hole symmetry in the lowest Landau-level fractional quantum Hall effect [Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 156801 (2020)].