cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integration of Solid-State Nanopores in Microfluidic Networks via Transfer Printing of Suspended Membranes

Solid-state nanopores have emerged as versatile single-molecule sensors for applications including DNA sequencing, protein unfolding, micro-RNA detection, label-free detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms, and mapping of DNA-binding proteins involved in homologous recombination. While machining nanopores in dielectric membranes provides nanometer-scale precision, the rigid silicon support for the membrane contributes capacitive noise and limits integration with microfluidic networks for sample preprocessing. Herein, we demonstrate a technique to directly transfer solid-state nanopores machined in dielectric membranes from a silicon support into a microfluidic network. The resulting microfluidic-addressable nanopores can sense single DNA molecules at high bandwidths and with low noise, owing to significant reductions in membrane capacitance. This strategy will enable large-scale integration of solid-state nanopores with microfluidic upstream and downstream processing and permit new functions with nan...
Graduate P.E. in Western Colleges

(1977). Graduate P.E. in Western Colleges. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 52-55.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin as a Therapeutic Agent for Conditions not Associated with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a positive acute phase reactant whose serum level rises in response to inflammatory stress, presumably to balance pro-inflammatory processes. In addition to its serine protease inhibitory action, alpha-1 antitrypsin exhibits broader anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity, and increasing its serum concentration by the administration of exogenous alpha-1 antitrypsin to above-normal levels potentially could be therapeutic in conditions other than alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. In vitro observations, studies in animal models and in some instances early human trials suggest that intravenous or inhaled alpha-1 antitrypsin has beneficial effects in type 1 diabetes, viral infections, graft-versus-host disease, cystic fibrosis, and alpha-1 antitrypsin-replete chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among others. While the results of pivotal clinical trials have not been reported to date, new indications for alpha-1 antitrypsin therapy are likely to emerge in the future based on currently available scientific data.
High Resolution Image Reconstruction from Projection of Low Resolution Images DIffering in Subpixel Shifts

In this paper, we demonstrate simple algorithms that project low resolution (LR) images differing in subpixel shifts on a high resolution (HR) also called super resolution (SR) grid. The algorithms are very effective in accuracy as well as time efficiency. A number of spatial interpolation techniques using nearest neighbor, inverse-distance weighted averages, Radial Basis Functions (RBF) etc. are used in projection. For best accuracy of reconstructing SR image by a factor of two requires four LR images differing in four independent subpixel shifts. The algorithm has two steps: i) registration of low resolution images and (ii) shifting the low resolution images to align with reference image and projecting them on high resolution grid based on the shifts of each low resolution image using different interpolation techniques. Experiments are conducted by simulating low resolution images by subpixel shifts and subsampling of original high resolution image and the reconstructing the high resolution images from the simulated low resolution images. The results of accuracy of reconstruction are compared by using mean squared error measure between original high resolution image and reconstructed image. The algorithm was tested on remote sensing images and found to outperform previously proposed techniques such as Iterative Back Projection algorithm (IBP), Maximum Likelihood (ML) algorithms. The algorithms are robust and are not overly sensitive to the registration inaccuracies.
The role of complexions in metallic nano-grain stability and deformation

Abstract Nanocrystalline metals have excellent strength due to the high density of grain boundaries inside. However, these same boundaries lead to limited thermal stability and a tendency to fail in a brittle manner, issues which limit the practical usage of these materials. Most strategies for stabilization of nano-grains against coarsening rely on the idea of using segregating dopants to lower excess boundary energy. The theory of interface complexions is a useful tool for describing the thermodynamics behind segregation as well as identifying distinct segregation patterns. Some of these same complexions can also dramatically alter mechanical behavior. Unlike past strategies, which always result in a trade-off between strength and ductility, the addition of complexions can potentially increase ductility while retaining or even increasing strength. In this paper, we discuss how complexions offer a unique opportunity to address these limitations simultaneously. In addition to reviewing the current-state-of-the-art, important areas where innovation is needed are also identified.
A Survey of Query Processing Techniques over Uncertain Mobile Objects

The uncertainty of mobile objects is inherent due to the inaccuracy of data acquisition equipments,delayed update of mobile objects,privacy protection and so on.As a result of extending the traditional database with probability dimension,the ways to describe the objects,define the queries,process the queries and present the answer results have changed.And the traditional querying methods over precise data are inapplicable for the queries over uncertain data.Therefore,the query processing techniques over uncertain mobile objects have attracted more and more attention,and become one of the hot topics in the field of database.This paper discusses the challenges of the query processing over uncertain mobile objects,and summarizes the existing work on the range query,nearest neighbor query,reverse nearest neighbor query and trajectory query over uncertain mobile objects.Finally,this paper explores the research focus and the trend of this area.
MATHEMATICAL THEOREMS AND PHYSICAL THEORIES

The theory of information raises a number of fundamental questions about the first postulates of science and the limits of their validity. The mathematician starts with dimensionless points, infinitely thin curves and surfaces, and continuous space-time. The atomic science denies any real meaning to these definitions. The mathematician very carefully defines irrational numbers. The physicist never meets any such numbers. Whatever he measures is represented by a finite number, with so many figures and a certain amount of uncertainty. The mathematician shudders at uncertainty and tries to ignore experimental errors. The typical mathematical method can be summarized as it starts first with some general ideas and schemes suggested by observation but it soon forgets about this first origin and proceeds to oversimplification, reducing the point of departure to a set of dreary postulates and dry specifications of the rules to be applied; no reference is made to any empirical result.
Ionic and electronic conductivities of atomic layer deposition thin film coated lithium ion battery cathode particles

It is imperative to ascertain the ionic and electronic components of the total conductivity of an electrochemically active material. A blocking technique, called the “Hebb–Wagner method”, is normally used to explain the two components (ionic and electronic) of a mixed conductor, in combination with the complex ac impedance method and dc polarization measurements. CeO2 atomic layer deposition (ALD)-coated and uncoated, LiMn2O4 (LMO) and LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 (LMNO) powders were pressed into pellets and then painted with silver to act as a blocking electrode. The electronic conductivities were derived from the currents obtained using the dc chronoamperometry mode. The ionic conductivities were calculated based on results of the electronic conductivities and the mixed conductivities obtained using the ac impedance method. The results showed that the ionic conductivities of the LMO and LMNO particles coated with CeO2 thin films were twice as much as those of the uncoated LMO and LMNO particles. Also, LMO particles coated with insulating materials, such as alumina and zirconia ALD films, were tested and compared. No significant effects of the substrates on the ionic conductivities of the coated and uncoated samples were noticed, although the electronic conductivities of the LMO samples were found to be higher than those of the LMNO samples. Indeed, the ionic conductivity of the CeO2 films and the optimal film thickness achieved by ALD helped overcome the trade-off between long cycle-life and the reduced initial capacity fade of the LMO when used as a cathode in lithium ion batteries.
Impact of Multi-scale Asphalt Thin Beams in the Bending Beam Rheometer on the Prediction of Thermal Cracking of Bituminous Material☆

Abstract Asphalt thin beams (112 mm x 12.7 mm x 6.35 mm, length x width x thickness) in a Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) have been used in the asphalt industry as one of methods to predict low temperature cracking properties of asphalt mixtures. Given the research work dedicated to the asphalt industry, the potential benefits of testing smaller specimens (cheaper equipment, less material, faster conditioning, easier availability for quality control, etc.) are well recognized. However, the two main criticisms of using the BBR to test mixtures are raised: (a) the thickness of the beam is smaller than the maximum aggregate size; thus a single aggregate particle can affect the results of the test, and (b) such small specimens cannot represent the overall property of the mix. This paper is conducted to address the above issues by using a combination of imaging techniques, statistical analysis, and viscoelastic modeling. Three nominal maximum aggregate sizes (NMAS), 12.5 mm (1/2”), 9.5 mm (3/8”) and 6.25 mm (1/4”), were prepared in a laboratory. Each one of the three NMAS specimens was cut into a six-faced block that was then scanned and analyzed its pixels using imaging techniques. Subsequently, asphalt blocks were trimmed into thin beams and tested in a BBR to obtain their stiffness and creep compliance values.
Drinking pito: conviviality, popular culture and changing agricultural production at the rural–urban interface in Brong Ahafo, Ghana

This paper examines the spread of consumption and commercial brewing of pito (sorghum beer) from its production base in the northern savanna region of Ghana to the southern transition zone in Brong Ahafo and the resulting drinking culture. It draws on fieldwork conducted in Brong Ahafo and northern Ghana to discuss the connections among rural migration, ecological and economic changes and how these affect consumption patterns in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Focusing on the vibrant drinking activities of two pito bars, it shows that when viewed through the lens of political economy and contemporary Ghanaian history, the spread of consumption of pito can provide a window into social transformation and the construction of inter-ethnic relations and identities while speaking simultaneously to an emerging northern Ghanaian middle class
Advanced oil sorbents using sequential infiltration synthesis

Disasters on the scale of the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon serve as harrowing reminders of the devastating effects uncontrolled oil spills have on the environment. Skimming, burning, and dispersing oil are only partially effective and carry their own ecological impacts. An enticing alternative strategy involves oil sorbents capable of efficient extraction of oil from water bodies, which in turn necessitates the design and implementation of novel materials Here, we extend methods of sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) traditionally only applied to nanometer scale thin films to create oil sorbents based on macroscopic, commercially available polymeric foams. Targeting superoleophilic and superhydrophobic chemistries, we demonstrate the propensity of SIS-based modifications in oil spill remediation and demonstrate its efficacy in crude oil sorption in model seawater. We find crude oil sorption on the order of 30 and 90 times the initial foam weight for polyurethane and polyimide, respectively, both with highly favorable reusability.
Abstract 460: Impaired Glucose Tolerance is Associated With an Exaggerated Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Response to Hydrochlorothiazide in Subjects With Metabolic Syndrome

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation worsens insulin resistance, and aldosterone impairs insulin secretion via a direct beta-cell effect in mice. To test the hypothesis that the endogenous RAAS contributes to impaired insulin secretion and contributes to impaired glucose tolerance in humans, we assessed glucose homeostasis in 37 subjects with metabolic syndrome (18 Female; 29 white/7 African American; age 45.6±1.8 years). After washout of anti-hypertensive medications, glucose tolerance was characterized as normal glucose tolerance (NGT, n=21), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, n=11), or type 2 diabetes (T2DM, n=5). Baseline body mass index, body fat percentage, age, plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone were similar among glucose tolerance groups. We then provided hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg daily for one month and conducted hyperglycemic clamps on a controlled diet (Na 160, K 80 mEq/d). Potassium was supplemented to similarly maintain serum K+ ≥3.8 (3.90±0.2 NGT, 3.82±0.2 IGT, and 3.86±0.2 mEq/L T2DM). During HCTZ, plasma aldosterone and PRA increased to a greater extent in subjects with IGT compared to NGT or T2DM groups ( Figures a, b ). Plasma aldosterone-renin ratio was similar among groups. Insulin sensitivity index was similar among groups (5.63±2.8 NGT, 7.27±5.4 IGT, and 4.13±3.7 in T2DM; P =0.29). The acute insulin response (AIR) to glucose was significantly impaired in IGT and T2DM subjects ( figure c ). The AIR correlated inversely with aldosterone ( figure d ) but not PRA. HCTZ treatment activates the RAAS to a greater extent in subjects with IGT, and the aldosterone response specifically correlates with impaired insulin secretion. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Abstract 15214: Geometry No Longer Matters - Sphericity Index No Longer Predicts Aortic Regurgitation With SAPIEN 3 TAVR

Introduction: Despite the advent of the third generation transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device, aortic regurgitation (AR) continues to be a known complication with significant impact on morbidity and mortality. We have evaluated our sphericity index (SI) for predicting development of significant AR post-TAVR in first and second generation TAVR devices. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the degree of circularity of the aortic annulus on pre-TAVR multi detector computed tomography (MDCT) predicts development of post-TAVR significant AR in the third generation TAVR device. Methods: This was an observational, retrospective study, in which we reviewed data on 224 intermediate risk patients who underwent TAVR using the Edwards SAPIEN 3 valve at our institution from 2013-2016. Using MDCT, aortic annulus measurements were collected to calculate SI. SI was calculated by dividing the long diameter by the short diameter of the aortic annulus. Using the previous SI cutoff of 1.33 (corresponding to a 33% deviation from a circle), we used Fisher’s exact test on the third generation TAVR device in predicting development of significant AR post-TAVR. Significant AR was defined as moderate or severe AR. Pre-discharge transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) were used to determine degree of AR. All analyses were done using SAS 9.4® with a p-value Results: The 224 patients had a mean age of 82.4 ± 7.7 years, mean BMI of 28.9 ± 6.5 kg/m 2 , were 96.9% non-Hispanic Caucasian and 52.2% male. The mean SI was 1.25. In this population, there were 19.2% of patients who had an SI > 1.33. There were 3.1% of patients who developed significant AR of which all were paravalvular. There were 3.3% of patients with an SI of 1.33 or less who developed significant AR post-TAVR and 2.3% of patients with an SI above 1.33 who developed significant AR post-TAVR (p = 0.999). Conclusions: We have determined that the SI, previously predictive of significant AR in first and second generation TAVR devices, is not predictive of development of significant AR in the Edwards SAPIEN 3 valve. We hypothesize that technical advancements, including the outer sealing skirt, prevent paravalvular AR regardless of pre-TAVR aortic annulus geometry.
In SLE genetics, white does not equal black, 1+1 does not equal 2

A transancestral SLE study examining the relationship between genetic load and disease risk.
Sexual Abuse and the Sexual Offender: Common Man or Monster? by Barry Maletzky: (2016). London, UK: Karnac, 231 pages, $42.95

Sexual Abuse and the Sexual Offender by Barry Maletzky, MD, is presented as an overview of the current research, evaluation, and treatment of sex offenders who perpetrate against both children and ...
Amniotic therapeutic biomaterials in urology: Current and future applications

To examine the rationale and applications of amniotic tissue augmentation in urological surgery. Published literature in English-language was reviewed for basic science and clinical use of amniotic or amnion-chorionic tissue in genitourinary tissues. Basic science and animal studies support the likely benefit of clinical applications of amnion-derived tissues in a variety of urologic interventions. The broad number of properties found in amniotic membrane, coupled with its immunologically privileged status presents a number of future applications in the urological surgical realm. These applications are in their clinical infancy and suggest that further studies are warranted to investigate the use of these products in a systematic fashion.
The Microwave-Heated Bumpy Torus: A Concept for Fusion Energy

In the last 3 decades, giant steps in technology and simulations capability have been made for the benefit of all magnetic fusion concepts. This is especially true for virtually a one-of-a-kind device, a microwave-driven bumpy-torus magnetic-fusion-energy system. In the 1980s, the prototype experiment was technology limited, and it was judged based on unrealistic expectations from an incomplete understanding of the machine performance. For those experiments, the machine did not achieve the theoretical stability threshold to demonstrate good plasma confinement. This paper examines the premise that the experimental platform was underpowered, which prevented acceptance of its value for fusion. In this paper, the experimental plasma scaling data with power are reviewed. If, with the advancements of technology and simulations capability of the last 30 years, stable operation can be proven, a much improved device competitive with tokamak and stellarator performance may be possible. The advantages of this concept include steady-state operation, gentle shut down, modular construction for fabrication and maintenance, and the natural diversion of impurities.
Tailored interfaces of unencapsulated perovskite solar cells for >1,000 hour operational stability

Long-term device stability is the most pressing issue that impedes perovskite solar cell commercialization, given the achieved 22.7% efficiency. The perovskite absorber material itself has been heavily scrutinized for being prone to degradation by water, oxygen and ultraviolet light. To date, most reports characterize device stability in the absence of these extrinsic factors. Here we show that, even under the combined stresses of light (including ultraviolet light), oxygen and moisture, perovskite solar cells can retain 94% of peak efficiency despite 1,000 hours of continuous unencapsulated operation in ambient air conditions (relative humidity of 10–20%). Each interface and contact layer throughout the device stack plays an important role in the overall stability which, when appropriately modified, yields devices in which both the initial rapid decay (often termed burn-in) and the gradual slower decay are suppressed. This extensively modified device architecture and the understanding developed will lead towards durable long-term device performance.
Cross-comparison and evaluation of air pollution field estimation methods

Abstract Accurate estimates of human exposure is critical for air pollution health studies and a variety of methods are currently being used to assign pollutant concentrations to populations. Results from these methods may differ substantially, which can affect the outcomes of health impact assessments. Here, we applied 14 methods for developing spatiotemporal air pollutant concentration fields of eight pollutants to the Atlanta, Georgia region. These methods include eight methods relying mostly on air quality observations (CM: central monitor; SA: spatial average; IDW: inverse distance weighting; KRIG: kriging; TESS-D: discontinuous tessellation; TESS-NN: natural neighbor tessellation with interpolation; LUR: land use regression; AOD: downscaled satellite-derived aerosol optical depth), one using the RLINE dispersion model, and five methods using a chemical transport model (CMAQ), with and without using observational data to constrain results. The derived fields were evaluated and compared. Overall, all methods generally perform better at urban than rural area, and for secondary than primary pollutants. We found the CM and SA methods may be appropriate only for small domains, and for secondary pollutants, though the SA method lead to large negative spatial correlations when using data withholding for PM2.5 (spatial correlation coefficient R = −0.81). The TESS-D method was found to have major limitations. Results of the IDW, KRIG and TESS-NN methods are similar. They are found to be better suited for secondary pollutants because of their satisfactory temporal performance (e.g. average temporal R2 > 0.85 for PM2.5 but less than 0.35 for primary pollutant NO2). In addition, they are suitable for areas with relatively dense monitoring networks due to their inability to capture spatial concentration variabilities, as indicated by the negative spatial R (lower than −0.2 for PM2.5 when assessed using data withholding). The performance of LUR and AOD methods were similar to kriging. Using RLINE and CMAQ fields without fusing observational data led to substantial errors and biases, though the CMAQ model captured spatial gradients reasonably well (spatial R = 0.45 for PM2.5). Two unique tests conducted here included quantifying autocorrelation of method biases (which can be important in time series analyses) and how well the methods capture the observed interspecies correlations (which would be of particular importance in multipollutant health assessments). Autocorrelation of method biases lasted longest and interspecies correlations of primary pollutants was higher than observations when air quality models were used without data fusing. Use of hybrid methods that combine air quality model outputs with observational data overcome some of these limitations and is better suited for health studies. Results from this study contribute to better understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different methods for estimating human exposures.
L’écrire femme selon Virginie Despentes

Virginie Despentes, dont le premier livre a ete publie en 1993, est reconnue comme l’une des representantes majeures d’une nouvelle orientation de la litterature feminine. Cet article analyse deux aspects de la reflexion de Despentes sur la figure du personnage public de l’ecrivain : il montre, d’une part, que ses textes theoriques comme ses fictions denoncent la reception critique, en France, d’une femme qui ecrit et qui cree. D’autre part, il met en lumiere, a l’heure de la domination de l’autofiction sur la litterature francaise, l’approche differente du moi et du sujet entreprise dans ses textes. C’est a partir d’une reflexion sur l’elaboration sociale du feminin et de la valeur « travail », qui ne se limite pas a l’oeuvre de l’ecrivain, que Despentes repense la teneur de la sociabilite, le diagnostic d’une decomposition sociale n’etant pas pour elle seulement a critiquer, mais a mettre en oeuvre autrement.
A longitudinal immunologic evaluation of hemophiliac patients.

Over an average span of one year, we performed a prospective clinical and immunologic evaluation of 30 patients with hemophilia. No patient developed life-threatening opportunistic infection or malignancy; however, the immunologic abnormalities and lymphadenopathy initially present in nine patients (lymphadenopathy group) persisted. In addition, five patients, representing 24% of the initial group without lymphadenopathy, developed generalized lymphadenopathy (converter group). One episode of idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP) and one episode of staphylococcal sepsis occurred in this “converter” group; one episode of ITP also occurred in the lymphadenopathy group. Sixteen patients remained asymptomatic. At the time of the follow-up evaluation, those differences in mononuclear cell (MNC) percentages and numbers noted initially among the three hemophiliac groups were no longer present. Natural killer cell function alone or in the presence of biologic response modifiers was not different among hemophiliac and control groups. Before developing lymphadenopathy, the converter group of patients had significantly better lymphocyte mitogenic function than did the other two groups of patients with hemophilia. However, lymphocyte mitogenic responses of all groups of patients with hemophilia significantly deteriorated over the course of the study. The abnormal mitogenic responses noted in these patients was explained in part by higher levels of spontaneous suppressor cell activity in mononuclear cell preparations from patients with hemophilia. We conclude that long-term immunologic studies of this patient population requires both quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Our data show that patients with hemophilia have progressive dysfunction of cell- mediated immunity.
Evaluating Paleontologic Data Relating to Bio-Events

Measurements of diversity and extinction intensity around bio-events in local stratigraphic sections and global taxonomic data bases include some degree of uncertainty, or potential error. Sources of uncertainty involve failure to sample rarer species in all collections and imprecise age correlations and species counts, among others. This chapter presents several methods for evaluating this paleontologic uncertainty. For fossil ranges in local sections, methods are reviewed that might help to discriminate between true gradual (or stepwise) extinction and apparent gradual decline resulting from sampling effects. For tabulated extinctions in regional or global data bases, methods are evaluated for measuring extinction intensity and procedures are presented for calculating relative uncertainty.
Women In Charge: The Impact of Female Managers on Gender Inequality

Existing research examining the intersection of gender inequality and management has largely focused on women's access to managerial positions. These studies have focused on patterns of gender ineq...
Developing and adopting safe and effective digital biomarkers to improve patient outcomes

Biomarkers are physiologic, pathologic, or anatomic characteristics that are objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathologic processes, or biological responses to therapeutic interventions. Recent advances in the development of mobile digitally connected technologies have led to the emergence of a new class of biomarkers measured across multiple layers of hardware and software. Quantified in ones and zeros, these “digital” biomarkers can support continuous measurements outside the physical confines of the clinical environment. The modular software–hardware combination of these products has created new opportunities for patient care and biomedical research, enabling remote monitoring and decentralized clinical trial designs. However, a systematic approach to assessing the quality and utility of digital biomarkers to ensure an appropriate balance between their safety and effectiveness is needed. This paper outlines key considerations for the development and evaluation of digital biomarkers, examining their role in clinical research and routine patient care.
Registered dietitian nutritionists and perceptions of liberalizing the hemodialysis diet

Background/objectives The objective of this study was to assess the level of awareness, comfort, and likelihood of liberalizing the hemodialysis diet in practicing renal registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN). Subjects/methods An original, cross-sectional survey was sent to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Renal Practice Group in May 2017, consisting primarily of renal dietitians. Results A total of 187 renal dietitians responded to the survey designed to assess their current practices regarding the renal diet for hemodialysis patients and how comfortable they would be liberalizing the current restrictions. On average, 16.3% of dietitians are extremely likely to liberalize the restrictions on various food groups including fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, and whole grains. Conclusions RDN feel confident in their ability to interpret and apply evidence-based literature into practice, and they are moderately comfortable liberalizing the renal diet. The participants were generally more comfortable liberalizing the phosphorus restriction than the potassium restriction, and the sodium restriction remains important to control interdialytic weight gain and hypertension. Future research is needed to establish efficacy of a liberalized diet as well as interventions to help RDN feel more comfortable implementing a liberalization of the renal diet.
Wind gust quantification using seismic measurements

Wind gusts are a major cause of damage to property and the natural environment and a source of noise in seismic networks such as the USArray Transportable Array. Wind gusts cause ground motion through shear stresses, pressure fluctuations and vegetation flexing. Herein, we demonstrate the presence of a seismic response signature to wind gusts at sites across the contiguous USA and explore important geophysical factors that determine the precise nature of wind gust–seismic response relationships. There is a consistent seismic response to wind gusts that is typically manifest at relatively low frequency (0.05–0.1 Hz). However, there is also a marked seasonality in the seismic frequency of peak response, possibly due to seasonal differences in atmospheric conditions and/or vegetation and soil mediation of the atmosphere–ground interaction. The gust–seismic response functions also exhibit a clear dependence on (1) distance from the coast, (2) land cover, (3) topographic complexity and (4) lithology. We propose a generalized methodology to extract wind gust magnitude distributions from seismic networks. Although initial results from this model overestimate the spatial variability in wind gusts as measured by meteorological networks, the analyses described here highlight the potential for new methods to remove wind gust noise from seismic time series and potentially to derive quantitative wind gust estimates from seismic observations.
Interventions and experience after complicated total cystectomy in a dog with transitional cell carcinoma.

Objective To report surgical and postoperative management of complicated total cystectomy in a dog with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Study design Case report. Animals One male neutered Shetland sheepdog. Methods The dog was presented after a 1-month history of stranguria, unresponsive to oral antibiotic therapy. A craniodorsal bladder mass was identified by computed tomography (CT), and partial cystectomy was performed with 1-cm gross lateral margins (day 1). Results of histopathology provided evidence for a diagnosis of TCC, and the dog was treated with adjuvant mitoxantrone. The dog presented with uroperitoneum on day 67 after recurrence and spontaneous perforation. Total cystectomy and ureterourethral anastomosis were performed. Ureteral obstruction developed after removal of catheters that had been placed intraoperatively. Surgical revision included resection of the anastomosis site, bilateral ureteral stenting, and transection and reorientation of the distal urethra to facilitate tension-free closure. Postoperative leakage was managed with bilateral percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement. Results The dog was discharged on day 88. Adjuvant treatment with vinblastine was pursued. Local recurrence was noted at day 154. Subcutaneous ureteral bypass was performed on day 247 to manage repeat obstruction. Repeated urinary tract infections were subsequently encountered. The dog was euthanized on day 368 because of abdominal discomfort and inappetence, with evidence of progressive urethral, ureteric, and abdominal wall TCC. Conclusion Complicated cystectomy can be managed to provide survival comparable to previous reports regarding total cystectomy. Clinical significance Nephrostomy tube placement, ureteral stenting, and subcutaneous ureteral bypass may be considered to manage complicated cystectomy. Preemptive stenting or urinary diversion may help prevent complications.
Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided gallbladder drainage using lumen-apposing metal stents

Abstract Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard of care for treatment of acute cholecystitis. When patients are deemed poor candidates for surgery, percutaneous cholecystostomy was historically performed for decompression of the gallbladder. Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided transmural gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) are 2 alternative techniques for gallbladder drainage. Over the last decade, there has been substantial progress in EUS-GBD technique, including use of covered self-expanding metal stents and lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS). The unique design of LAMS results in apposition of gallbladder to duodenum/stomach and reduces the risk of adverse events. Recent studies comparing the outcomes of EUS-GBD using LAMS with percutaneous cholecystostomy and endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage have reported results favoring EUS-GBD because of lower rates of adverse events. Furthermore, the use of LAMS for gallbladder drainage offers new opportunities for endoscopic management of gallbladder diseases through cholecystoscopy. Further studies are needed to assess optimal duration of stenting and safety of long-term stenting.
Gender, Family, and Community Attachment in a New Destination

As new immigrant destinations in the USA have become home to more settled immigrant populations, they are also becoming less male-dominated and attracting more women and families. But this process is occurring unevenly, with some new destinations much more attractive to women than others. The factors that might lead a destination to attract or retain women are not well understood. We draw on interviews with long-time Latin American residents in a non-metropolitan community in Utah with a fairly high proportion of women immigrants to analyze the ways in which gender and other factors relate to community attachment in this specific context. We examine gender differences in satisfaction with the community and experiences of discrimination and plans to remain in the community. Surprisingly, given current anti-immigrant trends in national politics, we found high levels of community attachment among both men and women. Although experiences of racism were common in our sample, many of the respondents were quick to downplay these experiences and focused instead on their overall positive assessment of the community. Women were more attuned to the experience of discrimination and less willing to downplay it. They were also less likely to have a long-term plan to remain in the community, but this appeared to be more related to their consideration of other family members’ long-term plans, rather than due to their experiences of discrimination. These findings have implications for understanding gendered settlement patterns as well as for promoting immigrant integration at the local level in an unfavorable political context.
Alkyl pyridinium iodocyanocuprate(i) chains (RPy)2[Cu2I3(CN)]: insight into structural, electronic and spectroscopic properties.

Equimolar mixtures of copper(I) iodide (CuI) and copper(I) cyanide (CuCN) react with N-alkyl pyridinium iodides (RPy+I−, R = Me, Et, n-propyl = Pr, and n-butyl = Bu) to produce pyridinium iodocyanocuprate(I) salts, (RPy)2[Cu2I3CN]. Crystal structures reveal isostructural anionic chains consisting of trigonal pyramidal Cu2(μ2-I)3 clusters bridged by C/N-disordered cyano units. The 1-D chains are nearly linear but vary with respect to whether adjacent clusters are staggered or eclipsed. A detailed investigation via Hirshfeld surface analysis reveals that hydrogen bonding between the triiodide group and pyridinium cation are the driver for assembly in these systems. Interestingly, spectroscopic investigations of absorption edge and emission energies show a general red shift with increasing hydrogen bonding. DFT and TD-DFT calculations were used to determine the electronic structure and band assignment of these materials to elucidate the nature behind this structure/function relationship.
A fellowcraft's application of the plumb, the square, and the level in medical practice.

In Freemasonry, each degree represents the refining and transformation of the individual through a unique set of working tools that symbolize the progression of lessons from an entered apprentice t...
Associations between migraine attacks and nightly sleep characteristics among adults with episodic migraine: a prospective cohort study

STUDY OBJECTIVES Given the unknown immediate impact of migraine on nighttime sleep, we prospectively examined whether migraine headaches were associated with subsequent shorter sleep duration, higher fragmentation, and poorer quality in a cohort of 98 adults with episodic migraine. METHODS Participants completed twice-daily electronic diaries and wore actigraphs continuously for 6 weeks. We examined whether days with headaches were associated with changes in that night's sleep characteristics compared with headache-free days, using adjusted multivariable linear mixed models with subject-specific intercepts. RESULTS Participants were 35 ± 12 years old, 88% women, with an average of five migraine headaches per month. Over 4,406 days, we observed 1,077 headache days, representing 823 discrete headaches. Average nightly objective sleep duration was 7.3 ± 1.2 hr, efficiency 89.5 ± 3.3%, and wake after sleep onset (WASO) 44.8 ± 17.0 min. Objective sleep duration was 7.3 min (95% CI: 1.5, 13.0) longer on nights following a headache day compared with nights on a headache-free day. Objective sleep efficiency, WASO, and reported sleep quality were not significantly different on headache days compared with headache-free days (sleep efficiency: -0.06 min, 95% CI: -0.3, 0.2; WASO 1.5 min, 95% CI: 0.0, 3.0; sleep quality: 1.0, 95% CI: 0.8, 1.3). CONCLUSIONS Sleep periods immediately following migraine headaches are not associated with shorter duration, higher disruption, or poorer sleep quality in patients with episodic migraine. These results suggest that clinical evaluation of sleep disturbance in patients with episodic migraine should be approached independently of their migraine status.
GENDER AND RACE RELATED CARDIOVASCULAR MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY OF PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED WITH HIV

With newer antiretroviral therapies (ART), life expectancy of patients with HIV has increased. This led to an increased burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). To date, data on the race and gender-based trends and prevalence of various subtypes of CVD and CV mortality is scarce. Using the US
Food security impacts of the “4 per Thousand” initiative

Abstract The “4 per Thousand” (4p1000) initiative of the COP21 in Paris, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the Agenda 2030 of the U.N. were both launched in 2015. The SDG #2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG #13 (Climate Action) of the Agenda 2030 are also in accord with the principal objectives of the 4p1000. Among numerous benefits of enhancing soil organic matter (SOM) content in degraded soils is increase in agronomic productivity and use efficiency of the inputs. The magnitude and nature of the agronomic response to increase in SOM content depend on a range of factors including the initial SOM content, plant nutrient management, soil texture, mineralogical composition, supplementary irrigation and farming/cropping system. Soil factors affecting agronomic response include physical/hydrological properties and plant available water capacity (PAWC), plant nutrients and chemical properties, soil depth and biological properties. Thus, there is a need to develop and standardize methodology to establish the cause-effect relationship between SOM content and agronomic yield based on the data from long-term field experiments. A low SOM content may be a cause of low agronomic productivity, especially in degraded soils managed by resource-poor small land holders who use little or no inputs. There is a strong need for additional research on establishing the threshold or critical limit of SOM content for diverse soils and management systems, as well as to determine if there is any masking effect of fertilizer, irrigation, cover cropping, etc. on the response of crop yield to increase in SOM content.
A Label-Free Assay for Aminoacylation of tRNA

Aminoacylation of tRNA generates an aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) that is active for protein synthesis on the ribosome. Quantification of aminoacylation of tRNA is critical to understand the mechanism of specificity and the flux of the aa-tRNA into the protein synthesis machinery, which determines the rate of cell growth. Traditional assays for the quantification of tRNA aminoacylation involve radioactivity, either with a radioactive amino acid or with a [3'-32P]-labeled tRNA. We describe here a label-free assay that monitors aminoacylation by biotinylation-streptavidin (SA) conjugation to the α-amine or the α-imine of the aminoacyl group on the aa-tRNA. The conjugated aa-tRNA product is readily separated from the unreacted tRNA by a denaturing polyacrylamide gel, allowing for quantitative measurement of aminoacylation. This label-free assay is applicable to a wide range of amino acids and tRNA sequences and to both classes of aminoacylation. It is more sensitive and robust than the assay with a radioactive amino acid and has the potential to explore a wider range of tRNA than the assay with a [3'-32P]-labeled tRNA. This label-free assay reports kinetic parameters of aminoacylation quantitatively similar to those reported by using a radioactive amino acid, suggesting its broad applicability to research relevant to human health and disease.
Création, hiérarchisation, énumération: l'ordonnancement du monde animal dans le chapitre XIII du Bundahišn

Les textes zoroastriens de l'Antiquite tardive portent les marques d'un interet pour l'ordonnancement du monde animal. Le texte moyen-perse du Bundahisn presente, en son chapitre XIII, une structure theorique de mise en ordre ainsi qu'une enumeration des especes animales. L'analyse de cette structure formee de lexemes de categorisation horizontale et verticale, comme des noms d'especes donnes, invite a reflechir a la maniere dont discours religieux et interet pour le monde animal se melent dans le recit cosmogonique. La formation des categorisations animales depend alors tant de la tradition zoroastrienne que de la connaissance du monde animal dans l'Antiquite tardive et d'une volonte pour l'enumeration ordonnee dont temoigne particulierement le Bundahisn.
Le cadre de travail des RDoC : faciliter la transition de la CIM et du DSM vers des approches dimensionnelles qui intègrent les neurosciences et la psychopathologie

Resume En 2008, l’Institut national de la sante mentale (NIMH) a inclus dans son nouveau Plan Strategique l’objectif suivant : « Developper, a des fins de recherche, de nouvelles methodes de classification des troubles mentaux qui s’appuient sur des dimensions du comportement observable et des mesures neurobiologiques. » La mise en œuvre de cet objectif a ete baptisee le projet Research Domain Criteria, ou RDoC. Le projet RDoC constitue un programme de recherche qui financera des subventions de recherche, des contrats, des essais en phase precoce et d’autres activites semblables dans le but de produire des etudes et de constituer une litterature de recherche qui servira de reference pour l’elaboration des futures nosologies psychiatriques, avec la priorite donnee aux neurosciences et aux sciences du comportement plutot qu’a la phenomenologie descriptive. Le projet des RDoC se demarque nettement par sa methode du Manuel Diagnostique et Statistique des Troubles mentaux (DSM) et de la Classification Internationale des Maladies (CIM) 1 , pour lesquels sont organisees de nombreuses reunions de groupes de travail ou sont fixes des ensembles de diagnostics raffines et consideres comme decisifs, qui ne seront modifies en fonction des etudes de terrain que si des problemes d’utilite clinique se posent. Au contraire, le projet RDoC, conformement a sa nature de systeme experimental, vise a fournir un cadre de travail pour produire des recherches portant sur des dimensions fondamentales du comportement, en s’appuyant sur des circuits, et qui traversent les categories diagnostiques traditionnelles. Un objectif important de ce projet consistera a valider des dimensions particulieres qui pourraient s’averer utiles au travail clinique. Un autre objectif tout aussi important consistera a fournir des connaissances et une experience sur la maniere de concevoir et de mettre en œuvre une telle approche alternative dans les futures pratiques diagnostiques, de maniere a exploiter les connaissances en genetique et en neurosciences en vue d’ameliorer la prevention et de fournir des traitements plus efficaces. Cet article resume les grandes lignes directrices du projet RDoC, ses caracteristiques essentielles et les methodes de transition qui peuvent etre mises en place pour passer des categories du DSM et de la CIM a des protocoles de recherche elabores suivant une approche dimensionnelle.