cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Killing Animals With Guns and Ballots: the Political Economy of Zambian Wildlife Policy, 1972-1982

A precipitous fall in the price of copper devastated the Zambian government's revenues in 1975. To counteract these losses, the government pursued monetary policies that fueled inflation, and incomes dwindled. Many Zambians chose to augment their incomes by entering domestic and international markets for wildlife products. As a result, a wave of poaching swept through Zambia as hunters decimated animals for trophies and meat. Coincident with the wildlife crisis, Zambia switched from a multiparty to a one-party system of government, concentrating power in the President. President Kenneth Kaunda and his closest advisors became the dominant policymakers in Zambia at the expense of party and government. Similar to the politics of other African one-party states, Kaunda's proposals generally sailed through party and parliament, whose members feared the President's considerable power. Even so, President Kaunda faced consistent opposition to his preferences for wildlife policy. The incentives generated by new political institutions encouraged members of both the ruling United
A Marzēa in Ezekiel 8:7–13?

In 592 bce, at the midpoint between the two Babylonian invasions of 597 bce and 587 bce, Ezekiel, who was exiled to Babylon after the first invasion, finds himself transported back to Jerusalem in a divine vision (Ezekiel 8–11). In the first part of this vision, Ezekiel 8, Ezekiel sees Jerusalem in a state of religious collapse, as God shows the prophet four strange cultic abominations: the image of jealousy (8:3–6), elders burning incense in a room of reliefs (8:7–13), women wailing over Tammuz (8:14–15), and men worshiping the sun (8:16–18). Of these four cultic abominations, the character of the last two, the mourning over Tammuz and the worship of the sun, is clear. Less certain is the nature of the first cultic abomination, the image of jealousy. Still, there has recently emerged in the literature a consensus that the image (semel) in question is an ʾasērâ, the wooden cult object associated with the goddess Asherah. However, there has been no agreement among scholars concerning the cult act referred to in Ezek 8:7–13, where elders burn incense in a room of reliefs.
Exploring Queer Pedagogies in the College-Level YA Literature Course.

ABSTRACTOne place to start understanding how pre-service teachers learn about contemporary young adult (YA) literature, especially those works that feature lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) and gender identity themes and characters, is through an examination of the YA literature course – a course many pre-service teachers take as part of their teacher certification programs in the USA. In this article, I turn to queer pedagogy to explore the syllabi of 67 college-level YA literature courses in order to address the question: ‘How do young adult literature courses incorporate the growing body of high-quality young adult literature that features LGBTQ and gender variant themes and characters?’ Findings include how the YA literature field might be normalizing, or standardizing through repeated approaches, what it means to teach a text and in turn shape future teachers’ decisions on how a text is incorporated into a curriculum.
SU-F-T-260: Using Portal Image Device for Pre-Treatment QA in Volumetric Modulated Arc Plans with Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beams

Purpose: To implement and validate a method of using electronic portal image device (EPID) for pre-treatment quality assurance (QA) of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans using flattering filter free (FFF) beams for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Methods: On Varian Edge with 6MV FFF beam, open field (from 2×2 cm to 20×20 cm) EPID images were acquired with 200 monitor unit (MU) at the image device to radiation source distance of 150cm. With 10×10 open field and calibration unit (CU) provided by vendor to EPID image pixel, a dose conversion factor was determined by dividing the center dose calculated from the treatment planning system (TPS) to the corresponding CU readout on the image. Water phantom measured beam profile and the output factors for various field sizes were further correlated to those of EPID images. The dose conversion factor and correction factors were then used for converting the portal images to the planner dose distributions of clinical fields. A total of 28 VMAT fields of 14 SBRT plans (8 lung, 2 prostate, 2 liver and 2 spine) were measured. With 10% low threshold cutoff, the delivered dose distributions were compared to the reference doses calculated in water phantom from the TPS. A gamma index analysis was performed for the comparison in percentage dose difference/distance-to-agreement specifications. Results: The EPID device has a linear response to the open fields with increasing MU. For the clinical fields, the gamma indices between the converted EPID dose distributions and the TPS calculated 2D dose distributions were 98.7%±1.1%, 94.0%±3.4% and 70.3%±7.7% for the criteria of 3%/3mm, 2%/2mm and 1%/1mm, respectively. Conclusion: Using a portal image device, a high resolution and high accuracy portal dosimerty was achieved for pre-treatment QA verification for SBRT VMAT plans with FFF beams.
Two phase closed loop cooling system with a pump

Recently, water cooling has become one of the major cooling solutions for electronic devices operating in high heat-flux applications. In the near future, it is expected that much lower thermal resistances at smaller flow rates than current water cooling solutions will be required. This paper discusses the operational criteria and thermal performance of a pump-driven two-phase cooling system that we have developed to meet future thermal expectations. The thermal performance of this cooling system was tested with Fluorinert as the working fluid. It was found that the pumping power of this two-phase cooling system was at least 10 times lower than that of a water cooling system at the same thermal performance level. It was also revealed that a layer of micro-powder sintered onto the surfaces of the evaporator plate fins enhanced the mean heat transfer coefficient around 1.4 times higher than that of non-sintered surface at a flow rate lower than 0.4 L/min.
In-situ Fabrication of Dialysis Membranes in Glass Microchannels Using Laser-induced Phase-Separation Polymerization

Laser-induced phase-separation polymerization of a porous acrylate polymer is used for in-situ fabrication of dialysis membranes inside glass microchannels. A shaped 355 nm laser beam is used to define polymer membranes of 4–14 μm thickness, which bond to the glass microchannel and form a semipermeable membrane. Differential diffusion through the membrane is observed for fluorescein molecules versus 200 nm latex microspheres, showing the potential for this technique to integrate sample cleanup into chip-based analysis systems.
Creativity, group support systems, and systems development

Information systems development is often viewed as a highly technical field made up primarily of relatively rigorous and systematic processes that are driven by clear logic. The less technical aspects of development are typically associated with issues such as gathering political support from management, and managing people issues during implementation. Systems development, in fact, involves numerous episodes—planned or ad hoc—requiring problem finding and problem solving, and in many instances, less rigorous, creative approaches are needed in order to bridge the gaps that inevitably emerge. This paper discusses how creativity techniques may be used in concert with Group Support Systems in order to support systems development.
Upregulation of the endothelin A (ET A ) receptor and its association with neurodegeneration in a rodent model of glaucoma

Primary open angle glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of optic neuropathies that results in optic nerve degeneration and a loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) ultimately causing blindness if allowed to progress. Elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most attributable risk factor for developing glaucoma and lowering of IOP is currently the only available therapy. However, despite lowering IOP, neurodegenerative effects persist in some patients. Hence, it would be beneficial to develop approaches to promote neuroprotection of RGCs in addition to IOP lowering therapies. The endothelin system is a key target for intervention against glaucomatous neurodegeneration. The endothelin family of peptides and receptors, particularly endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin B (ETB) receptor, has been shown to have neurodegenerative roles in glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in endothelin A (ETA) receptor protein expression in the retinas of adult male Brown Norway rats following IOP elevation by the Morrison’s model of ocular hypertension and the impact of ETA receptor overexpression on RGC viability in vitro. IOP elevation was carried out in one eye of Brown Norway rats by injection of hypertonic saline through episcleral veins. After 2 weeks of IOP elevation, immunohistochemical analysis of retinal sections from rat eyes showed an increasing trend in immunostaining for ETA receptors in multiple retinal layers including the inner plexiform layer, ganglion cell layer and outer plexiform layer. Following 4 weeks of IOP elevation, a significant increase in immunostaining for ETA receptor expression was found in the retina, primarily in the inner plexiform layer and ganglion cells. A modest increase in staining for ETA receptors was also found in the outer plexiform layer in the retina of rats with IOP elevation. Cell culture studies showed that overexpression of ETA receptors in 661W cells as well as primary RGCs decreases cell viability, compared to empty vector transfected cells. Adeno-associated virus mediated overexpression of the ETA receptor produced an increase in the ETB receptor in primary RGCs. Elevated IOP results in an appreciable change in ETA receptor expression in the retina. Overexpression of the ETA receptor results in an overall decrease in cell viability, accompanied by an increase in ETB receptor levels, suggesting the involvement of both ETA and ETB receptors in mediating cell death. These findings raise possibilities for the development of ETA/ETB dual receptor antagonists as neuroprotective treatments for glaucomatous neuropathy.
Surgical Outcome of Moyamoya Disease

Researchers at Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Korea, analyzed the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors for outcome of 410 pediatric cases of moyamoya disease (MMD) after bypass surgery.
Providing Opportunities: Enlightening and Expanding STEM Gradate Students Knowledge Base

NSF IGERT provides STEM Ph.D. students exposure to skills, relationships, and experiences. A mixed method study was employed to explore participant experiences and to understand educational outcomes associated with the Upstate New York IGERT program. In addition to the survey, in-depth interviews were conducted to better understand program benefits.
Recent references May through August 1985

An index is given of journal articles dealing with nuclear reactions of nuclear structure. Literature received by the National Nuclear Data Center or assigned key numbers between May and August 1985 is covered. (AIP)
The Rise, Removal, and Return of Women: Gender Representations in Primary-Level Textbooks in Afghanistan, 1980-2010.

ABSTRACTNearly four decades of instability and fragility have led to many changes in the status of women and girls in Afghanistan. Yet, little research focuses on these changes within the education system. To understand the country’s stance toward gender issues in formal practice, we examine gender representations in Afghan primary-level Dari language arts textbooks. Using a qualitative content analysis and longitudinal data, we examine how ideologies about gender have been politicised in Afghanistan and are reflected in school textbooks from 1980 to 2010. Findings suggest that tumultuous political events and power struggles in the recent history of Afghanistan have led to many changes in how the daily social and working lives of Afghan women and girls have been portrayed in textbooks. As seen in the textbooks, it appears that efforts are being made within the current regime to balance competing gender norms. We conclude with suggestions for policy-makers.
A Comparative Analysis of the CO‐Reducing Activities of MoFe Proteins Containing Mo‐ and V‐Nitrogenase Cofactors

The Mo and V nitrogenases are structurally homologous yet catalytically distinct in their abilities to reduce CO to hydrocarbons. Here we report a comparative analysis of the CO-reducing activities of the Mo- and V-nitrogenase cofactors (i.e., the M and V clusters) upon insertion of the respective cofactor into the same, cofactor-deficient MoFe protein scaffold. Our data reveal a combined contribution from the protein environment and cofactor properties to the reactivity of nitrogenase toward CO, thus laying a foundation for further mechanistic investigation of the enzymatic CO reduction, while suggesting the potential of targeting both the protein scaffold and the cofactor species for nitrogenase-based applications in the future.
Urea-based hydrothermal synthesis of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathode material for Li-ion battery

Abstract A urea-based hydrothermal approach has been applied to synthesize LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523) cathode materials with focus on investigating the influence of the reaction conditions on their electrochemical performance. The compositions of the carbonate precursor are precisely controlled by tuning urea concentration, hydrothermal reaction temperature, and time. The mole ratio between urea and transition metal ions and reaction temperature influence the composition of the precursor; while the reaction time influences the electrochemical performance of the final product. The optimized materials show better cyclability and rate capability compared with the materials synthesized with other hydrothermal reaction conditions. The enhancement is attributed to the larger Li+ diffusion coefficient and lower charge transfer resistance, which are due to the lower degree of Li/Ni cation mixing and more uniform distribution of transition metal ions. This work is a systematic study on the synthesis of NCM523 cathode material by a urea-based hydrothermal approach.
Male and Female Genitourinary (GU) Systems

The narrowest point of the urethra is at the junction of prostatic and membranous portions. However, the lumen is just a slit except when urine is being passed. Running along the posterior wall of the prostatic urethra is a 17 × 3 mm longitudinal ridge, the verumontanum. At the midpoint of the verumontanum is a rounded elevation, the colliculus seminalis, into which open the slits of the ejaculatory ducts and also the prostatic utricle, a 6-mm diverticulum homologous with the lower vagina. The membranous urethra is the segment that is surrounded by the sphincter urethrae. Many small urethral glands (of Littre) open into the penile urethra. In addition, it receives the ducts of the bulbourethral glands (of Cowper) 2.5 cm from its origin.
Tensile strain-hardening FRC composites: Historical evolution since the 1960

Cement-based composites reinforced with discontinuous fibers can be conveniently classified according to their tensile response, namely, either strain-softening or strain-hardening. While such a classification seems deceptively simple, it was not arrived at spontaneously and took some time to materialize. This paper describes some chronological developments since the 1960’s and related nomenclature that led to the special class of strain-hardening FRC composites. These composites are characterized by a strain hardening response after first cracking accompanied by multiple cracking up to relatively high strains. Two different groups of researchers, one in the field of materials science and the other in civil engineering, working totally independently, formulated criteria to achieve such behavior. One criterion is based on a stress threshold and the other criterion is based on an energy balance. The two groups followed two entirely different approaches: one followed a composite mechanics approach leading to a stress criterion, and one followed a fracture mechanics formulation leading to both a stress and an energy criterion. It is observed that the two groups while following entirely different paths solved in effect the same problem. Strain hardening FRC composites are expected to become widely used in the future in structural applications.
International Perspectives on Engagement and Disengagement in Support and Suppression of Antiwar Protests

The research summarized here provides encouraging evidence that the right to protest against war is a widely accepted global norm. Very few of the participants in the seven regions of the world that were studied explicitly disagreed with that right. Active agreement with that right ranged from close to eight in ten in East Asia and Russia and the Balkans, to around nine in ten in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the UK/Anglo region and was highest in Western Europe and Latin America. The right to protest was justified most widely by the national laws that protect that right in most regions, although study participants in Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, and East Asia tended to offer the justification that protest is a universal human right. Another theme frequently expressed in agreement with the right to protest was the moral responsibility to act, particularly by men in the Middle East and persons who had taken part in antiwar protests in Russia and the Balkans. The suppression of antiwar protests was widely condemned, and most study participants stated that they would actively oppose the beating of protestors, e.g., by asking the government to protect them and by calling the suppressive acts to the attention of mass media. The lowest level of active opposition to the use of violence to suppress antiwar protests was expressed in Africa, where study participants cited helplessness as a justification for their lack of engagement. Generally, support for the right to protest and opposition to the suppression of protest were greater among women than men. Overall this research shows that antiwar protests are strongly supported worldwide, both as a legal and human right and, particularly among those who engage in protest, as a moral responsibility.
The History of Quality Assessment in Spine Care

Quality assessment in spine care has undergone a necessary transition over the last several decades. Initially, quality was measured by clinician-centered approaches that relied on clinician-centered metrics such as length of hospital stay, quality of fusion, need for blood transfusion, or amount of deformity correction. This narrow focus of quality assessment did not consider the perspective of the patient and therefore did not grasp the burden of spine disease from a societal perspective. Clinicians were soon able to understand the need to model quality from the perspective of the patient and society, and therefore the development of patient-related outcome (PRO) tools was commenced. Advancement in the application of PRO instruments continues. Simultaneously, given the current healthcare economic crisis, there is a greater push to create value in spine care: to provide the highest quality care in the most cost-efficient manner. The complex ideology of value and how it is modeled is a burgeoning topic in spine care. The current methods for assessing value have opportunity for improvement and may attain more sophistication and refinement in the future.
Bridging the Gap: 21ST Century Media Meets Theoretical Pedagogical Literacy Practices

In this chapter, the researchers used an ethnographic stance to demonstrate how conversation evolved within a social media platform. They investigated the online discussions and face-to-face dialogues between teacher educators and pre-service teachers. They compared the participants’ reciprocal conversations within this case study to analyze patterns in the language used in each forum in order to identify the affordances and constraints of perceived understanding. Through this discourse analysis the authors sought to identify indicators of each participant’s metacognitive development while engaging in an online book discussion through a social media platform. Data analysis indicated that there was metacognitive growth when comparing the initial reciprocal conversations with the final conversations.
A dynamical systems perspective on driver behavior

Abstract Dynamical systems (DS) theoretical and methodological approaches have furthered our understanding of human development and behavior across many different domains, but have not yet been applied to driver behavior. Using a DS lens, a new theory of driver behavior is proposed, the phase transition framework (PTF), and then applied to understanding how novice drivers develop. The PTF can facilitate new lines of research by providing an individual-level explanatory account that yields the widely observed and poorly understood aggregate declines in novice drivers’ crash rates in the early months of licensure. For the purpose of the PTF, learning to drive is defined as changes in the psychological system integral to the acquisition, refinement, automation, and maintenance of competencies necessary for safe driving. In the PTF, the greatest reductions in population-level collision rates observed in the early months of the post-licensure period are hypothesized to be due to qualitative cognitive reorganizations (e.g., adoption of strategies that reduce risk) that cause abrupt shifts in crash risk trajectories into lower risk strata followed by refinement of strategy use and deployment through real-world experience. Critically, the PTF differs from other theories of driver behavior in that it holds that drivers’ behavioral development is self-organizing and emergent.
Equitable learning and development: Applying science to foster liberatory education

For over 100 years, certain enduring aims, beliefs, and criticisms have shaped the evolution of educational policy and practice in America. Any effort to reform or transform K–12 schooling to align...
Smart City Software Revolution - Blackboard Systems for Smart City Solutions

This paper examines the possibilities and requirements of using the blackboard software system in the context of a smart city. Using Unreal Engine 4, a virtual smart city was developed to test the capabilities and difficulties which would accompany the use of the blackboard. A number of simulations were run to generate insight regarding the viability of implementing the blackboard in a real-world setting. The tasks that the blackboard attempted addressed the following goals: a weather reaction system; a parking space availability system; and a daylight reaction system. An autonomous car running on preset routes was implemented in two separate ways to compare the performance between a blackboard system and blueprints.
Efavirenz-Induced Vanishing Bile Duct Syndrome: A Case Report:

Background:Efavirenz (Sustiva®) is used for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection. Hepatoxicity is a known potential adverse drug event with efavirenz; however, to ou...
Thermo-GC: Reducing Write Amplification by Tagging Migrated Pages during Garbage Collection

Flash memory based solid-state drive (SSD) has been deployed in various systems because of its significant advantages over hard disk drive in terms of throughput and IOPS. One inherent operation that is necessary in SSD is garbage collection (GC), a procedure that selects an erasure candidate block and moves valid data on the selected candidate to another block. The performance of SSD is greatly influenced by GC. While existing studies have made advances in minimizing GC cost, few took advantages of the procedure of GC itself. As GC goes on, valid pages in an erasure candidate block tend to have similar lifetimes that can be exploited to minimize page’s movements. In this paper, we introduce Thermo-GC. The idea is to identify data’s hotness during GC operations and group data that have similar lifetimes to the same block. By clustering valid pages based on their hotness, Thermo-GC can minimize valid page movements and reduce GC cost. Experiment results show that Thermo-GC reduces data movements during GC by 78% and write amplification factor by 29.7% on average, implying extended lifetimes of SSDs.
Time driven activity-based costing methods used in radiation oncology clinics.

79Background: Since 2010 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC) has been using Time Driven Activity Based Costing (TDABC) to assist in tracking and quantifying changes made to ...
Rhythmic Fluctuations in Levels of Liver Enzymes During Menstrual Cycles of Healthy Women and Effects of Body Weight

Background & Aims Female sex hormones affect several non-reproductive organs, but little is known about their effects on the liver during a normal menstrual cycle. We aimed to investigate the association between sex hormones and liver enzymes in healthy menstruating women. Methods We performed a post-hoc analysis of data from the BioCycle study, a longitudinal cohort study designed to determine the association of sex hormones with markers of oxidative stress during the menstrual cycle. We analyzed data collected from 259 menstruating women, over 1–2 menstrual cycles, who had as many as 16 separate office visits, timed by fertility monitors. Levels of liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), bilirubin, and lipids were measured by laboratory assays. Results We found a natural cyclic pattern for liver enzymes, with transaminases and ALKP peaking in the mid-follicular phase and reaching a trough in the late luteal phase; the peak to trough differences were 4.0 ± 4.9 U/L for ALT and 8.8 ± 4.0 U/L for ALKP. Levels of ALT were significantly and negatively associated with levels of progesterone on the preceding visit (P = 5x10-4), whereas level of ALKP was negatively associated with level of estrogen (P = .007) and progesterone (P = 1x10-11). Food and alcohol intake did not modify the association. The amplitude of ALT fluctuation was greater in African Americans and decreased with age. Fluctuations in levels of ALT were smaller in women with body mass indices >30 kg/m2 (P = .03). During menstrual fluctuation, 49% of participants had ALT values both above and below the normal cut-off value (19 U/L). Conclusions Levels of liver enzymes fluctuate during the normal menstrual cycle, possibly mediated by progesterone, and the fluctuation varies with age and body mass index. These findings indicate the importance of accounting for phase of menstrual cycle when interpreting liver enzyme measurements in menstruating women.
Outcomes of elderly stage I lung cancer patients treated with segmentectomy via video assisted thoracoscopic surgery or open resection.

7543 Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is considered an alternative to open lobectomy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Limited data is available however, re...
Impact of peer comparisons and firm heterogeneity on nonpoint source water pollution: An experimental study

Abstract Greg Poe was a pioneer in using experimental economics to test theories and potential policies for controlling ambient pollution. His foundational work showed that, in some settings, policies could induce groups to reduce their nonpoint source (NPS) pollution to socially-efficient levels. Poe’s earlier studies assumed firms were homogeneous, which laid the groundwork for subsequent research to investigate the effect of firm heterogeneity on policy outcomes. We build on the research foundation laid by Poe and his colleagues by using an economic experiment to test the effects of four types of firm heterogeneity and three social norm information treatments on the performance of an ambient tax/subsidy policy. Our experimental results show that heterogeneity reduces the effectiveness of the ambient tax/subsidy policy, but that information nudges can improve outcomes even when there is considerable heterogeneity in the policy environment. Participants were also better able to find and retain their dominant strategies when they were provided with information about similar firms, suggesting that individually-targeted information is more effective than information about aggregate group-level decisions.
Impact of integrated graphical display on expert and novice diagnostic performance in critical care.

OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of a graphical information display on diagnosing circulatory shock. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was an experimental study comparing integrated and conventional information displays. Participants were intensivists or critical care fellows (experts) and first-year medical residents (novices). RESULTS The integrated display was associated with higher performance (87% vs 82%; P < .001), less time (2.9 vs 3.5 min; P = .008), and more accurate etiology (67% vs 54%; P = .048) compared to the conventional display. When stratified by experience, novice physicians using the integrated display had higher performance (86% vs 69%; P < .001), less time (2.9 vs 3.7 min; P = .03), and more accurate etiology (65% vs 42%; P = .02); expert physicians using the integrated display had nonsignificantly improved performance (87% vs 82%; P = .09), time (2.9 vs 3.3; P = .28), and etiology (69% vs 67%; P = .81). DISCUSSION The integrated display appeared to support efficient information processing, which resulted in more rapid and accurate circulatory shock diagnosis. Evidence more strongly supported a difference for novices, suggesting that graphical displays may help reduce expert-novice performance gaps.
Treatment of Severe Hypertriglyceridemia During Pregnancy With High Doses of Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Plasmapheresis

Abstract Objective Severe hypertriglyceridemia carries increased health risks, including the development of pancreatitis. The objective of this study was to report on management of 2 cases with severe gestational hypertriglyceridemia. Cases In case 1, a 33-year-old pregnant woman presented with serum triglyceride level of 14 000 mg/dL after discontinuing hypolipidemic medications. She was treated with Lovaza 12 g/day, and serum triglyceride remained near normal at level of less than 800 mg mg/dL until delivery. In case 2, a 28-year-old patient (29th week gestation) presented with acute pancreatitis and triglycerides >4000 mg/dL. She was treated with Gemfibrozil, Lovaza, insulin infusion, subcutaneous heparin, and escalated to plasmapheresis. She successfully delivered a baby at the week of 36th and her triglyceride level was 304 mg/dL after that. Discussion Case 1 was treated with high-dose Lovaza and case 2 was treated with plasmapheresis successfully. Triglyceride levels were reduced to less than 500 mg/dL until delivery of healthy babies in both cases. Conclusion Omega-3 fatty acids and plasmapheresis may be effective and safe to treat pregnant women with severe hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis.
Closing the methane gap in US oil and natural gas production emissions inventories.

Methane (CH4) emissions from oil and natural gas (O&NG) systems are an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, recent synthesis studies of field measurements of CH4 emissions at different spatial scales are ~1.5–2× greater compared to official greenhouse gas inventory (GHGI) estimates, with the production-segment as the dominant contributor to this divergence. Based on an updated synthesis of measurements from component-level field studies, we develop a new inventory-based model for CH4 emissions, for the production-segment only, that agrees within error with recent syntheses of site-level field studies and allows for isolation of equipment-level contributions. We find that unintentional emissions from liquid storage tanks and other equipment leaks are the largest contributors to divergence with the GHGI. If our proposed method were adopted in the United States and other jurisdictions, inventory estimates could better guide CH4 mitigation policy priorities. Methane emissions from oil and gas systems are underestimated in official inventories. Here the authors synthesize thousands of field measurements and develop an inventory-based model for a better understanding of why this underestimation exists and how it can be fixed.
Advanced Glycation End Products Are Retained in Decellularized Muscle Matrix Derived from Aged Skeletal Muscle

Decellularized tissues are biocompatible materials that engraft well, but the age of their source has not been explored for clinical translation. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are chemical cross-links that accrue on skeletal muscle collagen in old age, stiffening the matrix and increasing inflammation. Whether decellularized biomaterials derived from aged muscle would suffer from increased AGE collagen cross-links is unknown. We characterized gastrocnemii of 1-, 2-, and 20-month-old C57BL/6J mice before and after decellularization to determine age-dependent changes to collagen stiffness and AGE cross-linking. Total and soluble collagen was measured to assess if age-dependent increases in collagen and cross-linking persisted in decellularized muscle matrix (DMM). Stiffness of aged DMM was determined using atomic force microscopy. AGE levels and the effect of an AGE cross-link breaker, ALT-711, were tested in DMM samples. Our results show that age-dependent increases in collagen amount, cross-linking, and general stiffness were observed in DMM. Notably, we measured increased AGE-specific cross-links within old muscle, and observed that old DMM retained AGE cross-links using ALT-711 to reduce AGE levels. In conclusion, deleterious age-dependent modifications to collagen are present in DMM from old muscle, implying that age matters when sourcing skeletal muscle extracellular matrix as a biomaterial.
Differential programming enabled functional imaging with Lorentz transmission electron microscopy

Lorentz transmission electron microscopy is an advanced characterization technique that enables the simultaneous imaging of both the microstructure and functional properties of materials. Information such as magnetization and electric potentials is carried by the phase of the electron wave, and is lost during image acquisition. Various methods have been proposed to retrieve the phase of the electron wavefunction using intensities of the acquired images, most of which work only in the small defocus limit. Imaging at strong defoci not only carries more quantitative phase information, but is essential to the study of weak magnetic and electrostatic fields at the nanoscale. In this work we develop a method based on differentiable programming to solve the inverse problem of phase retrieval. We show that our method maintains a high spatial resolution and robustness against noise even at the upper defocus limit of the microscope. More importantly, our proposed method can go beyond recovering just the phase information. We demonstrate this by retrieving the electron-optical parameters of the contrast transfer function alongside the electron exit wavefunction.
Reconstruction of cortical circuitry.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the ongoing studies of neocortical transplantation for brain repair in their historical context, and provides background for current studies from prior experiments. The chapter describes the ways in which studies using neocortical transplantation have contributed to the understanding of neocortical development. Understanding the factors that control neocortical neuronal development and plasticity is critical to the goal of reconstruction of complex neocortical circuitry in the adult. Toward these ends, as studies of neocortical development proceed, it will be critical to investigate the molecular controls over the growth, survival, differentiation, and plasticity of immature neurons during normal central nervous system (CNS) development and to find ways to harness this information to reconstruct neocortical circuits in the degenerated or damaged adult cerebral cortex. The future possibility of replacing degenerating or injured neurons in the adult neocortex toward functional reconstruction of complex circuitry is also discussed in the chapter.
A tale of two sites: How ubiquitination of a G protein-coupled receptor is coupled to its lysosomal trafficking from distinct receptor domains.

The β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) is a prototypical Gs-coupled receptor belonging to the superfamily of seven transmembrane spanning heptahelical receptors (7TMRs, or G protein-coupled receptors [GPCRs])—therapeutically the most diverse and accessible class of cell surface receptors. The classic pathway of β2AR signalling (Fig. 1) is triggered by activation of the heterotrimeric G protein Gs by agonists (catecholamines - noradrenaline and adrenaline). This in turn activates adenylyl cyclase leading to the generation of second messenger signaling molecules (cyclic adenosine monophosphates, cAMP) which subsequently activate protein kinase A (PKA) as well as some ion channels, such as the class C type of L-type calcium channels, CaV1.2. 31 Here in we review how β2AR trafficking and signalling is regulated by the post-translational modification, ubiquitination.1
Religious Symbols as Peripheral Cues in Advertising: A Replication of the Elaboration Likelihood Model

Abstract This study is a replication of the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) of persuasion, and differs from prior examinations of the ELM in that the peripheral cue has deep meaning. The Christian cross, a powerful sacred symbol in our culture, is used as a peripheral cue, rather than a more mundane peripheral cue (such as source attractiveness) that typically has been used by consumer researchers in the past. This represents a conceptual (Type III) replication. Respondents' levels of religious dogmatism and product category involvement were measured and used as blocking factors. Argument strength and presence or absence of the Christian cross were manipulated to form four experimental cells. Hypotheses follow traditional ELM predictions regarding attitude toward the ad, attitude toward the product, and purchase intention. Results suggest that the nature of the peripheral cue used in an advertisement does make a difference in how the cue operates. Contrary to expectations, low-involvement subjects who were high in religious dogmatism were found to have a less favorable attitude toward the brand and a lower purchase intention when exposed to ads containing the cross (F = 2.81, p p p = 0.065). Specifically, there seems to be a boundary condition existing for the ELM with regard to the type of peripheral cue used.
Mathematical and Numerical Techniques in Energy and Environmental Modeling

Mathematical models have been widely used to predict, understand, and optimize many complex physical processes, from semiconductor or pharmaceutical design to large-scale applications such as global weather models to astrophysics. In particular, simulation of environmental effects of air pollution is extensive. Here we address the need for using similar models to understand the fate and transport of groundwater contaminants and to design in situ remediation strategies.
Electric potential on solid spheres in a plasma

We derive the general expression for the potential on a solid sphere immersed in a plasma, showing the dependence of the potential on the radiusa of the sphere ands of the plasma sheath that develops around the sphere. In the limit where the radiusa is much larger than the sheath thicknesss-a we recover from this expression the well-known result for the potential on an infinite wall in contact with a plasma. On the other extreme wheres is much larger thana, we get the result derived by Spitzer (1941) for the potential on spherical grains in the interstellar plasma. Since the surface of the sphere forms a sink for the charged particles, there is a net drift of the plasma towards the surface. The effect of this drift on the potential is examined. Finally, for very small metallic spheres, an effect leading to a revision of the potential is discussed. This effect consists in a lowering of the potential barrier for the electrons due to the image force. The various effects limiting the potential on spheres are discussed.
CHAPTER 15 – Bone Histomorphometry

This chapter discusses the methodology of bone histomorphometry and highlights the tissue-level characteristics of normal and abnormal bone development. Bone histomorphometry has been a key tool for studying bone metabolism and, to a lesser extent, bone mass and structure. Histomorphometry of undecalcified bone samples is a method to directly obtain quantitative information on bone. It helps determine the amount and distribution of bone tissue with unsurpassed resolution. When tetracycline labeling is performed prior to biopsy, bone histomorphometry offers the unique possibility to study bone cell function in vivo . At the same time, qualitative histologic assessment is possible, which allows the detection of subtle disorders of bone structure. The growth process does not interfere with the measurements. Bone histomorphometry is also an excellent educational tool; the insight gleaned from studying bone tissue can be used to better understand results of indirect methods of bone analysis.
Chapter 8 Cell Models of Potassium Transport in the Renal Tubule

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the four modes of potassium (K) transport that have been identified in tubule cells: (1) the active ATPase-dependent Na–K exchange pump in the basolateral cell membrane, (2) the passive leak conductance of K, (3) the cotransport system of sodium (Na), chloride and K, and (4) electroneutral K chloride cotransport. They are ultimately responsible both for variable transepithelial net K transport and for maintaining cell K at optimal levels. It is, however, the unique segregation of these transport mechanisms to the two limiting barriers, the apical and basolateral cell membranes, that allows the control and regulation of both cell K homeostasis and transepithelial K movement. Whether K is secreted or reabsorbed across the renal tubule depends critically upon the apical cell membrane. The low K permeability of the brush-border membrane of proximal tubule cells minimizes leakage of K ions into the lumen. The regulation of K transport is mediated by the activation of specific renal and extrarenal stimuli acting on both basolateral and apical K transport mechanisms. The effective interaction of transport events between the basolateral and apical cell membrane safeguards the constancy of cell K content and cell volume of tubule cells despite large fluctuations of net transport of K and Na ions.
Wind Magnetic Clouds for 2010 – 2012: Model Parameter Fittings, Associated Shock Waves, and Comparisons to Earlier Periods

We fitted the parameters of magnetic clouds (MCs) as identified in the Wind spacecraft data from early 2010 to the end of 2012 using the model of Lepping, Jones, and Burlaga (J. Geophys. Res. 95, 1195, 1990). The interval contains 48 MCs and 39 magnetic cloud-like (MCL) events. This work is a continuation of MC model fittings of the earlier Wind sets, including those in a recent publication, which covers 2007 to 2009. This period (2010 - 2012) mainly covers the maximum portion of Solar Cycle 24. Between the previous and current interval, we document 5.7 years of MCs observations. For this interval, the occurrence frequency of MCs markedly increased in the last third of the time. In addition, over approximately the last six years, the MC type (i.e. the profile of the magnetic-field direction within an MC, such as North-to-South, South-to-North, all South) dramatically evolved to mainly North-to-South types when compared to earlier years. Furthermore, this evolution of MC type is consistent with global solar magnetic-field changes predicted by Bothmer and Rust (Coronal Mass Ejections, 139, 1997). Model fit parameters for the MCs are listed for 2010 - 2012. For the 5.7 year interval, the observed MCs are found to be slower, weaker in estimated axial magnetic-field intensity, and shorter in duration than those of the earlier 12.3 years, yielding much lower axial magnetic-field fluxes. For about the first half of this 5.7 year period, i.e. up to the end of 2009, there were very few associated MC-driven shock waves (distinctly fewer than the long-term average of about 50 % of MCs). But since 2010, such driven shocks have increased markedly, reflecting similar statistics as the long-term averages. We estimate that 56 % of the total observed MCs have upstream shocks when the full interval of 1995 - 2012 is considered. However, only 28 % of the total number of MCLs have driven shocks over the same period. Some interplanetary shocks during the 2010 - 2012 interval are seen to apparently occur without an obvious MC-driver, probably indicating an encounter with a distant flank of a MC-driven shock. Some of these may be driven by a different kind of structure, however.
Design in Schools - Consensus or Confusion? Is work in design and in craft one and the same thing - or at least congruent? Or is it a distinct and seperate activity?

Any dep ar tment o f any school is subje c t to in f luen c es and p r essures which ha v e li t t le t o do with the n a ture of wh a t is taught , but wh ic h a ffe c t it because t h ey im p ose administrativ e and o rganisation a l c onstraint s. A D e sign Departm e nt i s no exce p tion a nd hence its co ur s e s , organisation , e qu i pm e nt et c . m ay ver y easily be substantia l ly affecte d b y school policy d ec i sions . For instance s tre a ming or mi x ed a bi l ity gro u ps , m ovi ng towards C.S . E . from G . C . E. '0' level , single sex o r mix e d , str a ight - th r oug h co mpreh e n sive or two - tier sy stem , Grammar or S eco ndar y Modern s c hool , a ll w ill affect eve r y department in c l uding the Design D e pt . Ov er thes e the i ndividu a l teacher , and even H ea d s of D epartmen t s , have little, oft e n no influ e nce , b u t thi s i s n o t an exc u se for pl annin g de p a rt men t s a n d t h eir ac t ivities at a s ha l lower level than if one ha d a co mpl e t ely fr e e han d . One must decide one's aims , o bje c tives , prioriti e s in t h e o ret i ca l ter m s b efore curta il ing or modif y ing them in th e l ight o f practi ca l difficu l tie s . The arti c l e w h ic h fo ll ows d eals mostl y with principle s f o r with o ut c lari fy ing an y teacher must be wo r king ' b li n d ' . Since I d o work in a s c hoo l with the n o rmal r a nge of views I m u st a l so a dd t h a t th e vi ews exp r essed in the arti c le are not necessarily those o f my Hea d mas t er o r of m y co ll eag u es . It has struck me many tim e s how many teac h ers in th e design field f a il t <font face="Times New Roman" size="1" co
Far infrared spectroscopy of the troposphere (FIRST): sensor concept

FIRST (a NASA Instrument Incubator Program) is a balloon-based demonstration of a space-based sensor to measure the Earth’s thermal infrared at high spatial and spectral resolution. The radiative balance of the troposphere, and hence climate, is dominated by the infrared absorption and emission of water vapor, particularly at far-infrared (far-IR) wavelengths longer than 15 µm (650 cm-1), the distribution of water vapor and its far-IR radiative forcings and feedbacks are major uncertainties in understanding and predicting future climate. However, far-IR emission (spectra of band-integrated) has rarely been directly measured from space platforms. FIRST will be a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) with radiometric calibration in the spectral range from 10 to 100 µm (1000 to 100 cm-1) at 0.6 cm-1 unapodized resolution. It will incorporate a broad bandpass beamsplitters and a high-throughput optical and detector system. FIRST has a NEΔT performance goal of 0.2K from 10 to 100 µm. The spectral resolution will allow simultaneous retrievals of temperature and water vapor profiles. A 10 × 10 array of 10 km IFOVs is desired isolate clear and cloudy fields of view, while providing daily global coverage capability.