cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activism Research: Designing Research that Intends to Transform

The solitary nature of most scholarly activity rewards the focused, single-minded, individual. The social nature of transformative activities reward outreach-oriented individuals who struggle to juggle rigor and relevance. Using the notion of activism research – starting one’s research with the intent of changing behavior – this chapter explores ways a scholar might find the motivation, insight, and short cuts to move from being a scholar to being a more transforming scholar. It examines strategies of designing research and partnering with others in ways that have lead to transformation.
Ovipositional Responses of Two Species of Spider Mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) to Sublethal Concentrations of Permethrin and Methyl Parathion on Corn

Reproductive stimulation of pests by sublethal dosages of insecticides fits into the general pharmacological hypothesis of hormoligosis. This phenomenon has been suggested as one of the factors causing insecticide-induced spider mite outbreaks. The ovipositional response of twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and Banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), was examined using leaf discs and whole corn, Zea mays (L.) plants. Spider mites were exposed to various sublethal concentrations (LC05, LC10, LC25, and LC50) of permethrin and methyl parathion on corn. Studies using leaf discs were conducted by exposing the mites either directly to the insecticides or to their residues. The whole plant study dealt with only residual exposure. The cumulative number of eggs laid by Banks grass mites, when exposed to insecticide concentrations at LC05 and LC10 levels, was significantly lower than the untreated control under all treatment conditions. In contrast, twospotted spider mites did not show a reduction in oviposition at LC05 and LC10 levels. At higher concentrations (LC25 and LC50), both insecticides caused a significant reduction in the cumulative number of eggs laid by both species of spider mites. Spider mites directly exposed to insecticides laid significantly fewer eggs than mites that were exposed to the insecticide residues. The results of these studies indicate that hormoligosis is not a contributor to mite outbreaks that occur following applications of permethrin or methyl parathion at the rates tested.
Determination of Dominant Failure Modes Using FMECA on the Field Deployed c-Si Modules Under Hot-Dry Desert Climate

The failure and degradation modes of about 5900 crystalline-Si glass/polymer modules fielded for six to 16 years in three different photovoltaic (PV) power plants with different mounting systems under the hot-dry desert climate of Arizona are evaluated. Based on the results of this evaluation, failure mode, effect, and criticality analysis, a statistical reliability tool that uses risk priority number is performed for each PV power plant to determine the dominant failure modes in the modules by means of ranking and prioritizing the modes. This study on PV power plants considers all the failure and degradation modes from both safety and performance perspectives and, thus, comes to the conclusion that solder bond fatigue/failure with/without gridline contact fatigue/failure is the most dominant failure/degradation mode for these module types in the hot-dry desert climate of Arizona.
An Improved dc Power Regulator

Temperature control of a spontaneously cooling object by means of regulated electric heating may be achieved with a low-level, dc amplifier of thermocouple or bridge signals [1,2] together with a dc power-regulating amplifier [3–6]. The use of dc heating current avoids ac pickup by low-level circuits in the cryostat. Although dc amplifier circuitry is well known [7–10] the modification of direct-coupled circuits, for purposes other than the original design, may be surprisingly difficult.
The Laurent report and university reform in France

En janvier 1995, le groupe de reflexion sur l'avenir de l'enseignement superieur a presente une etude intitulee Universite : relever les edis du nombre au Ministre de la recherche et de l'enseignement superieur. Cette etude comporte des recommandations concernant les problemes actuels des universites francaises. Toutefois ce rapport a suscite de nombreuses contestations de la part des etudiants
Immune-mediated cell death and neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases

Publisher Summary Selective neuronal injury and cell death are the traits of the neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinsons disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The clinical presentation of ALS has been well characterized as one of painless motor weakness, usually accompanied by lower motor neurone findings of denervation atrophy and motor fasciculations, and by upper motor neurone findings of spasticity and hyperactive reflexes. The autoimmune theory of ALS suggests that antibodies to a motor neurone antigen may constitute the primary event leading to motor neurone destruction. In phospholipid bilayers containing skeletal muscle nifedipine-sensitive L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), ALS immunoglobulin G (IgG) reduces the mean calcium channel open time and diminishes the amplitude of the calcium current. Increased intracellular calcium mediates neuronal cell death in ALS models. Immunological mechanisms, at least in ALS, and possibly in other neurodegenerative diseases, may initiate the neurone death cascade by targeting ion channels and enhancing calcium entry.
Pilot Study: The Role of Predeployment Ethics Training, Professional Ethics, and Religious Values on Naval Physicians' Ethical Decision Making

ABSTRACTMilitary physicians serving overseas in cross-cultural settings face the challenge of meeting patients' needs and adhering to their personal and professional ethics while abiding by military obligations and duties. Predeployment ethics training for Naval physicians continues to be received in many forms, if received at all, and has largely not addressed their specific roles as medical providers in the military. This study explores the perceived effectiveness of predeployment ethics training received by Naval physicians. Additionally, it considers the contribution of different types of ethics training, religious values, and the professional ethics on Naval physicians' perceived ability to effectively manage ethically challenging scenarios while on deployment. A total of 49 Naval physicians participated in an online survey. 16.3% reported not receiving any form of ethics training before deployment. Of those that reported receiving ethics training before deployment, 92.7% found the ethics training re...
CCAR2 Is Required for Proliferation and Tumor Maintenance in Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

CCAR2 is a widely expressed protein involved in the regulation of a variety of transcriptional complexes. High expression of CCAR2 correlates with poor outcomes in many human tumor types such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Paradoxically, loss of Ccar2 in the mouse results in an increased tumor burden, suggesting that CCAR2 may in fact function as a tumor suppressor. This tumor suppressor function is dependent on p53, a protein that is inactivated in the vast majority of SCC tumors, leaving the role of CCAR2 in p53-null tumors unclear. We sought to identify p53-independent CCAR2 functions in SCC and to examine its role in tumorigenesis. We found that CCAR2 is highly overexpressed in p53-deficient SCC cell lines compared with normal primary keratinocytes due to increased protein stability. We identify a role for CCAR2 in promoting the stability of the transcription factors RFX1 and CREB1, which are both required for proliferation. Finally, we show that CCAR2 is required for proliferation in vitro and in established SCC tumors in vivo. Our data suggest an important role for CCAR2 in maintaining cell cycle progression and promoting SCC tumorigenesis.
A review of The Year We Thought About Love: Behind the Scenes of the Nation’s Longest Running LGBTQ Youth Theater, directed by Ellen Brodsky

“Being a theater director and a youth worker are not that different. We are there to create a play, and we are there to support the youth in dealing with the stuff they are going through every sing...
Disaggregating the Patchwork

Identification and inventory of wetlands are essential components of natural resource management. To be effective in these endeavors, it is critical that the process used to detect and document wetlands be time efficient, accurate, and repeatable as new environmental information becomes available. Approaches dependent on aerial photographic interpretation of land cover by individual human analysts necessitate hours of assessment, introduce human error, and fail to include the best available soils and hydrologic data. The goal of the current study is to apply hierarchical modeling and Bayesian inference to predict the probability of wetland presence as a continuous gradient with the explicit consideration of spatial structure. The presented spatial statistical model can evaluate 100 km 2 at a 50 x 50 meter resolution in approximately 50 minutes while simultaneously incorporating ancillary data and accounting for latent spatial processes. Model results demonstrate an ability to consistently capture wetlands identified through aerial interpretation with greater than 90 % accuracy (scaled Brier Score) and to identify wetland extents, ecotones, and hydrologic connections not identified through use of other modeling and mapping techniques. The provided model is reasonably robust to changes in resolution, areal extents between 100 km 2 and 300 km 2, and region-specific physical conditions.
Two-dimensional hexagonal geometry discontinuity factors at the core periphery

Abstract The proper calculation of core periphery discontinuity factors is important for accurate modeling when using an advanced nodal diffusion simulator. In cores with hexagonal assemblies, such as in the VVER-1000, most fuel assemblies share two faces with the radial reflector, and some even three faces. For this reason, use of a two-dimensional (2D) reflector model will more accurately capture the neutron physics near the core periphery. This article illustrates key points related to the use of 2D discontinuity factors in the reflector region, first by using an algorithm that applies the methodology proposed by Mittag et al. (2003) after correcting some minor typographical errors in the original publication, and then by employing the SCALE transport module NEWT to compute the appropriate quantities. Large and even negative discontinuity factors are an acceptable fact of this methodology when the diffusion approximation becomes invalid due to the problem’s localized features and the large flux gradients.
Synchrony in Networked Microgrids Under Attacks

This paper proposes attack-resilient distributed control for synchronization of islanded, networked, inverter-based microgrids. Existing cooperative control techniques are susceptible to attacks and cannot guarantee synchronization. The effect of attacks on sensor/actuator, communication links, and hijacking controllers is studied. A resilient synchronization protocol is presented to address sensors/actuators attacks. Attacks on communication links and adverse effects of hijacking controllers are also mitigated by designing a trust-based control protocol. The efficacy of the proposed solutions is evaluated for a modified IEEE 34-bus feeder system under different types of attack.
Prompt D 0 meson v n harmonics in PbPb collisions at 5.02 TeV

Abstract Due to large mass, heavy quarks are produced primarily at early stages of heavy-ion collisions, and therefore experience the full evolution of the system and carry information about the extent of thermalization of the QGP. Azimuthal anisotropy parameters ( v n ) of charm and bottom hadrons provide unique information about the path length dependent interactions between heavy quarks and the medium. To what extent heavy quarks at low pT flow with the medium is a good measure of the interaction strength. At high p T , v 2 and v 3 from path length dependent energy loss provide a powerful tool to study heavy quark energy loss mechanisms. With the large statistics PbPb samples at 5.02 TeV collected by the CMS detector during the 2015 LHC run, azimuthal anisotropy v 2 and v 3 of D 0 meson is measured over a wide p T range and at different centralities. In this paper, the most recent results of prompt D 0 meson v n parameters are presented, and compared to the charged hadron v n at the same energy and the latest theoretical calculations.
Motivations to Leave Engineering: Through a Lens of Social Responsibility

Engineering should include concern for people, communities, and societal welfare at the heart of the profession. Focusing on these helping attributes of engineering may help draw individuals, parti...
Evaluation of pulmonary embolism - role of lung scanning

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Approximately 200,000 people die each year either directly or indirectly from PE. If PE is not treated, the mortality rate is estimated to be 30%, whereas this rate is 8% in patients that are treated with anticoagulant. If a patient is falsely diagnosed of having PE, he is needlessly subjected to the risk of anticoagulation. The complication rate of anticoagulation therapy is estimated to be approx. 15%, and heparin is considered to be a major cause of drug related deaths in hospitalized patients. Thus, it is important that the diagnosis of PE be made accurately. The clinical history, physical exam, and laboratory evaluation have limited ability to accurately diagnose or exclude PE. Therefore, medical imaging is the major means by which this diagnosis must be made or excluded. This article will examine the various methods by which PE may be diagnosed and will discuss the proper methods of their interpretation.
Many-Body Effects and Density Functional Formalism in Nanoelectronics

Nanoelectronics is the integration of molecular-sized electronic switches with photonics and phononics to produce logic functional and sensing capabilities heretofore not realizable with conventional technology. In establishing nanoelectronics as a viable molecular electronics technology of the future, many new and interesting questions emerge concerning the physics and electronics on the submicron and ultrasubmicron dimensional scale, notably the role of quantum, many-body effects. Several key nanostructures under study in nanoelectronics sustain high electron densities in molecular-sized volumes; in such structures, many-body effects such as exchange and correlation, which arise from the Pauli Exclusion Principle, become non-negligible, and, in fact, may dominantly influence the electronic response characteristics. In this paper, a methodology is presented for including many-body effects in nanoelectronic structures through the application of density function theory; this methodology is based on recent work developed by the authors to describe the energy exchange characteristics of atoms and molecules with remarkable accuracy.
Reading in a Second Language: The social contexts of reading

Striking differences in material resources and in the quality of the home environment, as expressed by parents' interactions, their skills, habits, and styles, begin to define what children are taught … and these differences are the key to understanding the beginnings of the social stratification of knowledge. (Neuman, 2006: 32) Most efforts to describe the nature of reading abilities and their development, for either first-language or second-language readers, focus heavily on the cognitive aspects of reading – the mechanisms by which an individual carries out fluent reading. In fact, much progress has been made in understanding the cognitive aspects of reading, and reading development cannot be discussed without considering these aspects. However, there is considerable variation across different individuals' reading abilities, and not all of this variation is due solely to individual cognitive abilities and their development. We all learn to read in a variety of contexts, from the time we encounter our first books or are read to as children, to the times when we are reading advanced research material as professional adults. We learn to read within a family unit (influenced by the educational levels, goals, expectations, and support of family members), in various school settings (and their associated goals, resources, expectations, and opportunities), in various classrooms (with differing curricular and instructional approaches), and by interacting with specific teachers and student peers (and their goals, training, expectations, and abilities). Students are also influenced by the wider social and cultural expectations of political, religious, ethnic, economic, and social institutions. Certainly, popular culture has profound influences on children and young adults learning to read, and neighborhood influences, both formal and informal, cannot be overlooked.
Repair in Mammalian Organs and Cells

Repair is used as a general term for the removal from DNA of a modified base or nucleotide and, in at least one case, for the removal of a modifying group. It is, of course, implied that following removal, in the case of error-free repair, the proper nucleotide is inserted through repair mechanisms (Figure VIII-1). A number of reviews of DNA repair pathways are listed in the Selected References.
Epicatalytic thermal diode: Harvesting ambient thermal energy

Abstract A simple device is introduced that utilizes the phenomenon of epicatalysis to establish a stationary temperature difference by which ambient environmental thermal energy might be converted into useful work. This epicatalytic thermal diode (ETD) maintains temperature differentials between two closely spaced parallel plates housing a chemically active gas and transports heat up its own temperature gradient. In 2014 a rudimentary ETD demonstrated stationary, epicatalytically-derived temperature differentials in excess of 120 K. In 2016 room-temperature epicatalysis was demonstrated, raising hope for room-temperature ETDs. This technology appears to be scalable, and potential applications include direct heating, cooling, and thermoelectric power generation. This article explores the ETD through analytic and numerical modeling. ETDs appear capable of sustaining temperature differences in excess of 200 K in isothermal, room-temperature environments and generating thermal energy flux densities in excess of 106 W/m2, which might translate to thermoelectric power densities up to several times 104 W/m2. Laboratory-testable, room-temperature ETDs are proposed.
Critical Self-Consciousness for Collective Action in Social Commonplace: Building a Sustainable Environment for Planting Seeds of Hope, 2009–2010

“Germinating Critical Consciousness and Academic Success in Computer Science” The process of learning through the lens of indigenous epistemologies that Itzel and the made sense of through MEChA is described. As a leader in her computer science class, becoming more firm in her creative intellectual contributions to computer science, Itzel created pathways of ancestral computing for social change, a principal finding of this study. By doing so, computer science educators witness the process in which a female Mesoamerican-descent high school senior (of the least participating computing professions in the United States) became a leader in her classroom, an example that shows a dignified approach to learning in one of the most segregated fields in education.
Probing the Surface Reactivity of Pyrogenic Carbonaceous Material (PCM) through Synthesis of PCM-Like Conjugated Microporous Polymers.

Pyrogenic carbonaceous matter (PCM) is redox-active and promotes both abiotic and biotic reactions in the environment, possibly as a result of its conductivity and phenolic/quinone functional group...
In Vivo Measurement of the Human Lumbar Spine Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Ultrasound Registration.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to refine a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-ultrasound registration (ie, alignment) technique to make noninvasive, nonionizing, 3-dimensional measurement of the lumbar segmental motion in vivo. Methods Five healthy participants participated in this validation study. We scanned the lumbar region of each participant 5 times using an ultrasound probe while he or she kept a prone lying posture on a plinth. Participant-specific models of L1-L5 were constructed from magnetic resonance (MR) images and aligned with the 3-dimensional ultrasound dataset of each scan using 4 variants of MRI-ultrasound registration approach (simplified intensity-based registration [1] with and [2] without including the transverse processes and their surrounding soft tissues [denoted as TP complex]; and hierarchical intensity-based registration [3] with and [4] without including the TP complex). The robustness and precision of these registration approaches were compared. Results Although all registration approaches converged to a similar solution, excluding the TP complex improved the percentage of successful registration from 92% to 100%. There was no significant difference in the precision among the 4 MRI-ultrasound registration variants. For the simplified intensity-based registration without including the TP complex, average precision at each degree of freedom was 1.33° (flexion-extension), 2.48° (lateral bending), 1.32° (axial rotation), 2.15 mm (left/right), 1.08 mm (anterior-posterior), and 1.16 (superior-inferior), respectively. Conclusion Given that using simplified intensity-based MRI-ultrasound registration can substantially streamline the registration process and excluding the TP complex would improve the robustness of the registration, we conclude that this combination is the method of choice for in vivo human applications.
Mild Stimulation Alternatives to Minimal Stimulation

Some patients with diminished ovarian reserve and/or advanced reproductive age may not respond to minimal stimulation for IVF in terms of follicle response or embryo development due to various factors. In such women, one of the mild stimulation protocols can be considered. These protocols are comprised of daily use of recombinant FSH at 150 IU, which is either started shortly after ovulation in luteal phase or following prolonged suppression and estradiol priming after emergence of antral follicles. We will discuss these alternatives in this chapter.
CLEANING UP THE MESS: ANGIOVAC DEBULKING IN ENDOCARDITIS PATIENT WITH LARGE, DEVICE-RELATED VEGETATIONS

Despite improvements in cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) design and functionality, the risk of device infection is on the rise. Complete removal of the device is recommended following CIED infection. However, the optimal management of large lead vegetations (> 2 cm) remains
Engineering Controls and Safer Medical Devices

In this chapter, the role of engineering controls in the context of the industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls is explored in detail. Using the hierarchy provides readers with the ability to introduce the role that adjunct or adjuvant technologies can play in reducing environmental pathogens and subsequent occupational exposures in their facilities. In addition, it summarizes resources to identify available engineering controls for safer options for medical devices, textiles, and antimicrobial technologies.
Take Care When Cutting: Five Approaches to Disaggregating School Data as Rural and Remote

Education research that omits or insufficiently defines geographic locale can impair policy formulation, enactment, and evaluation. Such impairments might be especially detrimental for communities in rural and/or remote areas, particularly when they pertain to gifted education programs that struggle to operate at large scale (e.g., Advanced Placement). To enhance researchers’ precision when analyzing school-level data, we developed five statistical approaches to operationalize rurality and remoteness using the Urban-Centric codes from the National Center of Education Statistics. With national data, we found important variations across these statistical approaches in (a) percentage of schools identified as rural and/or remote, (b) effect sizes, and (c) characterizations of schools’ relative disadvantage in the breadth of opportunity to learn Advanced Placement content that they provide. These findings challenge prevailing practices of classifying communities dichotomously as nonrural or rural. The authors demonstrate several ways to address policy makers’ and practitioners’ needs by incorporating geographic locale into analyses of school data, operationalizing geographic locale precisely in theoretically sound ways, and avoiding dichotomies that can obscure meaningful variation.
Book-borrowing in the early Middle Ages: a case study of Servatus Lupus (c. 805–862)

During the so-called ‘Carolingian Renaissance’, books circulated fluidly through networks that linked monasteries, schools, and private libraries. Some manuscripts were transported in order to serv...
Changes in the Digital Health Landscape in Cardiac Electrophysiology: A Pre-and Peri-Pandemic COVID-19 Era Survey

Background Digital health is transforming healthcare delivery. Objective To compare the current digital health landscape in select groups of cardiac electrophysiology (EP) professionals prior to and during the COVID-19 era. Methods Two online surveys were emailed to 4 Heart Rhythm Society communities and tweeted out to Twitter EP, 1 before and 1 during the pandemic. Categorical variables were analyzed using the χ2 test and reported as absolute numbers and percentages. Results There were 253 pre-pandemic (S1) and 273 follow-up surveys (S2) completed. The majority of respondents to both surveys were male, aged Conclusion Our results show an increase in adoption of digital health by EP during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns regarding a lack of supportive infrastructure persisted. Development of professional society guidelines on optimal clinical workflow, infrastructure, and reimbursement may help advance and sustain digital health integration in EP.
A learning health systems approach to integrating electronic patient-reported outcomes across the health care organization.

Introduction Foundational to a learning health system (LHS) is the presence of a data infrastructure that can support continuous learning and improve patient outcomes. To advance their capacity to drive patient-centered care, health systems are increasingly looking to expand the electronic capture of patient data, such as electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) measures. Yet ePROs bring unique considerations around workflow, measurement, and technology that health systems may not be poised to navigate. We report on our effort to develop generalizable learnings that can support the integration of ePROs into clinical practice within an LHS framework. Methods Guided by action research methodology, we engaged in iterative cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting around ePRO use with two primary goals: (1) mobilize an ePRO community of practice to facilitate knowledge sharing, and (2) establish guidelines for ePRO use in the context of LHS practice. Multiple, emergent data collection activities generated generalizable guidelines that document the tangible best practices for ePRO use in clinical care. We organized guidelines around thematic areas that reflect LHS structures and stakeholders. Results Three core thematic areas (and 24 guidelines) emerged. The theme of governance reflects the importance of leadership, knowledge management, and facilitating organizational learning around best practice models for ePRO use. The theme of integration considers the intersection of workflow, technology, and human factors for ePROs across areas of care delivery. Lastly, the theme of reporting reflects critical considerations for curating data and information, designing system functions and interactions, and presentation of ePRO data to support the translation of knowledge to action. Conclusions The guidelines produced from this work highlight the complex, multidisciplinary nature of implementing change within LHS contexts, and the value of action research approaches to enable rapid, iterative learning that leverages the knowledge and experience of communities of practice.
Surviving the System: The Perpetual Risk of Homelessness for Domestic Violence Survivors

Women with families are the most quickly increasing segment of the homeless population. Varying from state to state, between 22% and 85% of these homeless families report that they became homeless as a result of the choice to fl ee an abusive relationship. Domestic violence survivors are at risk of homelessness before entrance into the emergency shelter system, before gaining acceptance into the transitional shelter system, and once they have secured low-income housing. This problem has resulted in many domestic violence survivors choosing to remain with their children in violent homes as opposed to becoming homeless. Obstacles to help-seeking and limitations of emergency housing options are current issues resulting in homelessness among domestic violence survivors. Programmatic and policy recommendations are made to assist domestic violence survivors in obtaining and maintaining both long and short term housing.
Design of Pre-Charged CMUTs with a Metal Floating Gate

Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) require a DC bias voltage for efficient operation. Precharged CMUTs can eliminate the requirement of DC bias voltage, thus ease the design of frontend circuitry for transmit/receive operation. We used a metal floating gate structure to trap charges instead of an oxide-nitride interface or a silicon floating island. Because the potential barrier height for metal-oxide interface is much higher than oxide-nitride and oxide-silicon barrier heights, it is possible to retain trapped charge without leakage. Also we do not expect any charge leakage on the metal-nitride side because of the vacuum gap. We used an anodic bonding based process and formed the floating metal under the silicon plate where the metal is sandwiched between silicon dioxide and silicon nitride layers. Initial results show that the proposed structure can store electrical charges to allow operation without a DC bias. The CMUTs fabricated using the described approach will be primarily used as an ultrasound-powered implantable biomedical device.
Nutrition Management of Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1

Glycogen storage disease types 1a and 1b (GSD-1) are characterized by fasting hypoglycemia and elevated lactic acid, uric acid, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Patients with GSD type 1b are also at risk of neutropenia and inflammatory bowel disease. Nutrition management of GSD-1 includes providing supplemental uncooked cornstarch as a source of glucose, avoidance of dietary galactose and fructose, and a moderate restriction of fat. Depending on age, overnight continuous feeding or uncooked cornstarch feedings every 4–6 h are necessary to prevent hypoglycemia during the night. Frequent home monitoring of blood glucose and adjustments in the diet are needed to prevent hypoglycemia and maintain blood glucose >70 mg/dL or 4 mmol/L.
Translational control in embryonic muscle.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews that differentiating muscle in embryonic chick undergoes rapid and distinct morphological changes. It attempts to study the mechanisms involved in gene expression of differentiating muscle cells. The approach has been to isolate and characterize the mRNAs found in muscle and to study both their transcription and their translational properties. The chapter suggests that in embryonic muscle the mechanism by which certain mRNAs are maintained in the inactive form in the cytoplasm is by complexing with a small oligo (U)-containing RNA that one has termed “translational control” RNA (tcRNA). A model concerning the manner by which the interaction of tcRNA and mRNA maintains stored mRNAs in an inactive state has been discussed. This model is based on the observations that poly (A) containing mRNPs have a U-rich RNA molecule that is small, that contains an oligo (U)-rich region capable of hybridization to poly (A), and that inhibits the translation of the poly (A) containing mRNAs isolated from the same mRNPs. A similar RNA molecule, but lacking the U-rich region, can be isolated from muscle polysomes. This polysomal tcRNA does not inhibit the translation of mRNA and gives a small but reproducible stimulatory effect on mRNA translation.
Measurement of the cyclic variations in the quantity of cervical mucus and its correlation with basal temperature

Abstract 1. 1. The amount of cervical mucus that can be aspirated daily throughout the menstrual cycle has been measured quantitatively. 2. 2. About 60 mg. or less is obtained from the end of the menstrual period to about the eighth or ninth day of the cycle. The amount then increases markedly for about 4 days. The peak of maximum secretion varies from about 200 to 700 mg., depending upon the individual observed. The secretion then falls abruptly to the previous level of 60 mg. or less, and remains there throughout the rest of the cycle. 3. 3. In six of seven cycles where the time relationship between the amount of cervical mucus and the basal temperature was observed, the maximum secretion preceded the rise in temperature by one to three days. In the seventh cycle, the maximum secretion and the temperature shift occurred on the same day. 4. 4. It is suggested that similar studies be applied to cases of other-wise unexplained sterility.
Multiplexable, locus-specific targeting of long RNAs with CRISPR-Display

Noncoding RNAs play diverse roles throughout biology and exhibit broad functional capacity. To investigate and harness these capabilities, we developed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Display (CRISP-Disp), a targeted localization method that uses Cas9 to deploy large RNA cargos to DNA loci. We demonstrate that functional RNA domains up to at least 4.8 kb long can be inserted in CRISPR guide RNA at multiple points, allowing the construction of Cas9 complexes with protein-binding cassettes, artificial aptamers, pools of random sequences and natural long noncoding RNAs. A unique feature of CRISP-Disp is the multiplexing of distinct functions at multiple targets, limited only by the availability of functional RNA motifs. We anticipate the use of CRISP-Disp for ectopically targeting functional RNAs and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes to genomic loci.
Presidential Gender and Women’s Representation in Cabinets: Do Female Presidents Appoint More Women Than Male Presidents?

Do female presidents appoint more women to their cabinets than male presidents? I argue that female presidents are more likely to name more female ministers only when they govern countries that already are on the path towards greater gender equality in the cabinet. This paper uses an original dataset of 1,086 ministers from inaugural presidential cabinets in 18 Latin American countries from 1999-2013. The results of logistic regression show that presidential gender has a significant effect on the probability of observing a female minister, and the magnitude of this effect depends on country-specific levels of cabinet gender inequality. The final section explores extreme cases of female presidents (1) accommodating to the status quo (Cristina Fernandez in Argentina 2007); and (2) challenging conventions by promoting gender parity in the cabinet (Michelle Bachelet in Chile 2006). Using statistics and qualitative analysis in a synergistic fashion, this paper thus features a “nested research design” (Lieberman 2005).
Improving Volunteer Productivity and Retention during Humanitarian Relief Efforts

In the aftermath of a disaster, humanitarian organizations quickly assemble a workforce that can immediately serve a community's needs. However, these needs change over time, and the volunteer base (and their skill sets) also changes over time. In this paper, a mathematical programming model is formulated to solve a volunteer assignment problem in which beneficiaries' needs are addressed based on how many volunteers are assigned to each of the levels of needs. In addition, we also examine the changes in these volunteer assignments based on several key cost parameters, need likelihood scenarios, and volunteer training opportunities. Under various demand scenarios, the optimum decision is to begin training some unskilled volunteers early in the response period even when the short-term, unskilled task demands are still high, in preparation for the more skilled, long-term task demands that are yet to come. Humanitarian relief organization managers who generally feel as though a peak of long-term/skilled volunteer task demands will come at some point during the disaster response should strongly consider allowing volunteer training assignments.
Investigation of Videogame Flow: Effects of Expertise and Challenge

The current study sought to investigate an empirical exploration of the flow engagement concept through videogame play between experts and novices. Eighty participants engaged in various levels of ...
Bisphenol A-associated alterations in the expression and epigenetic regulation of genes encoding xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in human fetal liver

Alterations in xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme (XME) expression across the life course, along with genetic, nutritional, and environmental regulation, can influence how organisms respond to toxic insults. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that in utero exposure to the endocrine active compound, bisphenol A (BPA), influences expression and epigenetic regulation of phase I and II XME genes during development. Using healthy 1st to 2nd trimester human fetal liver specimens quantified for internal BPA levels, we examined XME gene expression using PCR Array (n = 8) and RNA-sequencing (n = 12) platforms. Of the greater than 160 XME genes assayed, 2 phase I and 12 phase II genes exhibited significantly reduced expression with higher BPA levels, including isoforms from the carboxylesterase, catechol O-methyltransferase, glutathione S-transferase, sulfotransferase, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase families. When the promoters of these candidate genes were evaluated in silico, putative binding sites for the E-twenty-six (ETS) and activator protein1 (AP1) related transcription factor families were identified and unique to 97% of all candidate transcripts. Interestingly, many ETS binding sites contain cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpGs) within their consensus sequences. Thus, quantitative analysis of CpG methylation of three candidate genes was conducted across n = 50 samples. Higher BPA levels were associated with increased site-specific methylation at COMT (P < 0.005) and increased average methylation at SULT2A1 (P < 0.020) promoters. While toxicological studies have traditionally focused on high-dose effects and hormonal receptor mediated regulation, our findings suggest the importance of low-dose effects and nonclassical mechanisms of endocrine disruption during development. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 55:184–195, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mechanisms of transcriptional memory

How can the same gene remember that it is 'off' in one cell lineage and 'on' in another? Studies of how homeotic genes are regulated in Drosophila melanogaster have uncovered a transcriptional maintenance system, encoded by the Polycomb and trithorax group genes, that preserves expression patterns across development. Here we try to formulate a broad framework for the types of molecular mechanism used by the Polycomb and trithorax proteins.
Temperature programmed desorption as a probe for adsorbate structure: desorption of a mixed TiCl4, SiCl4, CCl4 adlayer

Abstract The use of temperature programmed desorption mass spectrometry as an indirect probe for adsorbate structure is described in relation to the desorption of a coadsorbed TiCl4/SiCl4/CCl4 layer from W(100). During temperature programmed desorption of such a layer, the SiCl4 and CCl4 molecular desorption features are very nearly coincident, with desorption rate maxima at 178 K, while TiCl4 desorbs at 215 K, a significantly higher temperature. We suggest that SiCl4 and CCl4 adsorb on W(100) in a similar fashion through coordination to the surface via lone electron pairs on one or more chlorine atoms. TiCl4 forms a more stable adduct with W(100), which we propose involves donation of electron density from the surface to the electron deficient titanium center. SiCl4 and CCl4 have closed valence shells, and are unable to adopt such a structure. An important aspect of this work is that coadsorbed layers were investigated. This allows direct comparison of desorption temperatures since TiCl4, SiCl4, and CCl4 are necessarily desorbing from the same surface.
Pediatric patients with chronic cough and recurrent croup: the case for a multidisciplinary approach.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the results of our multidisciplinary approach to recurrent croup and chronic cough. Methods Retrospective chart review of all patients with recurrent croup and chronic cough managed at a tertiary care children's hospital by our Comprehensive Airway, Respiratory, and Esophageal (CARE) Team. Charts were reviewed for all patients who carried a diagnosis of recurrent croup or chronic cough. Patients were excluded if they did not receive a full workup, including micro-direct laryngoscopy, flexible and/or rigid bronchoscopy, bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL), and upper endoscopy with biopsies. We reviewed the records for the presence of gastrointestinal complaints, abdominal pain and failure to thrive (FTT) and compared the children with documented esophagitis to the remaining children. Results Forty patients met inclusion criteria. 53% had airway abnormalities; the most common was tracheomalacia, followed by enlarged adenoids. 38% had esophagitis (group 1) while 62% had normal esophageal biopsies (group 2). Among the children in group 1, 27% met criteria for eosinophilic esophagitis (>15 eosinophils per high powered field). There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 based on the presence of gastrointestinal complaints, abdominal pain and/or FTT ( p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups based on the location or presence of an airway abnormality ( p > 0.05). Conclusions Children with recurrent croup and chronic cough may benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to management. Our CARE Team approach led to a specific diagnosis in almost 95% of patients.
Recent Developments In Holographic Scanning

Holographic scanning has been used in bar code readers since 1980. The technology has evolved since that time to include industrial bar code scanners as well as the more familiar supermarket scanners. During this evolution, a number of innovations have allowed the capabilities of the technology to be more fully exploited. This paper will review the technical developments made at IBM over the last ten years, with emphasis on the application requirements that motivated the developments. The major developments to be discussed include: multiple focal-plane scanning, retro-collection, variable facet width, scan-angle multiplication, overlapping focal-zones, complex facet shapes, facet identification, and raster scanning. Some recent developments in holographic disk fabrication will also be discussed. These new developments have allowed the construction of complex facet shapes and offer the potential for significant reduction in disk manufacturing costs.
Increased selectivity in continuous axial HGMS separators

High selectivity in the separation of multicomponent particle systems has been achieved using high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) in the axial configuration, especially in the repulsive mode. Increasing the length of the separator can provide higher material throughput as well as increased selectivity. The higher superficial velocity reduces retention of material, a crucial requirement for higher selectivity. A single-stage separator works in the repulsive mode for only one of the particle components if the carrier fluid has magnetic susceptibility in between those of the particulates. The authors have achieved high selectivities for both components of a two-component slurry (CuO and Al in MnCl/sub 2/) by using a two-stage separator with the second stage operated orthogonally (with respect to field direction) to the first. An axial separator has been applied to coal-pyrite separation. >
Crystal structure of bis­(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ3N,N′,N′′)nickel(II) dicyanidoaurate(I)

The title compound, [Ni(C15H11N3)2][Au(CN)2]2, is an ionic compound composed of bis­(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine)­nickel(II) dications and dicyanidoaurate(I) anions in a 1:2 ratio. The two tridentate terpyridine ligands define the coordination of the Ni2+ cation, resulting in a nearly octa­hedral coordination sphere, although there is not any imposed crystallographic symmetry about the Ni2+ site. The two nearly linear dicyanidoaurate(I) anions [C—Au—C = 179.0 (2) and 178.2 (2)°] contain a short aurophilic inter­action of 3.1017 (3) A. The structure does not demonstrate any π–π stacking. Non-classical C—H⋯N inter­actions between the cations and anions build up a three-dimensional network.
High-vacuum time-resolved laser-induced incandescence of flame-generated soot

We have measured time-resolved laser-induced incandescence of flame-generated soot under high-vacuum conditions (4.1×10−6 mbar) at an excitation wavelength of 532 nm with laser fluences spanning 0.06–0.5 J/cm2. We generated soot in an ethylene/air diffusion flame, introduced it into the vacuum system with an aerodynamic lens, heated it using a pulsed laser with a spatially homogeneous and temporally smooth laser profile, and recorded LII temporal profiles at 685 nm. At low laser fluences LII signal decay rates are slow, and LII signals persist beyond the residence time of the soot particles in the detection region. At these fluences, the temporal maximum of the LII signal increases nearly linearly with increasing laser fluence until reaching a plateau at ∼0.18 J/cm2. At higher fluences, the LII signal maximum is independent of laser fluence within experimental uncertainty. At these fluences, the LII signal decays rapidly during the laser pulse. The fluence dependence of the vacuum LII signal is qualitatively similar to that observed under similar laser conditions in an atmospheric flame but requires higher fluences (by ∼0.03 J/cm2) for initiation. These data demonstrate the feasibility of recording vacuum LII temporal profiles of flame-generated soot under well-characterized conditions for model validation.
A New Combination in Toxicoscordion (Melanthiaceae) for the Rocky Mountain Region, North America

The new combination Toxicoscordion venenosum (S. Watson) Rydberg var. gramineum (Rydberg) Brasher (Melanthiaceae) is made to accommodate this taxon in this genus at the rank of variety for the Southern Rocky Mountain Interactive Flora (SRMIF) project. Recent chromosome and DNA sequence data support segregation of Toxicoscordion Rydberg from Zigadenus Michaux s.l.
Gene-based sequence-tagged-sites (STSs) as the basis for a human gene map.

Using our data set of 3,143 single pass sequences from human brain cDNA libraries, we have developed a strategy in which gene–based sequence–tagged–sites (STSs), derived from 3′untranslated regions of human cDNAs, are rapidly assigned to megabase–insert yeast artificial chromosomes and somatic cell hybrids to generate regional gene mapping data. Employing this approach, we have mapped 318 cDNAs, representing 308 human genes. Ninety–two of these mapped to regions implicated in human genetic diseases, identifying them as candidate genes. Extension of this strategy has the potential to result in virtually every human gene having, at its 3′ end, its own associated STS, with each STS in turn specifying both a corresponding genomic clone and a specific regional location in the genome.