cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Making other earths: dynamical simulations of terrestrial planet formation and water delivery

We present results from 44 simulations of late stage planetary accretion, focusing on the delivery of volatiles (primarily water) to the terrestrial planets. Our simulations include both planetary “embryos” (defined as Moon to Mars sized protoplanets) and planetesimals, assuming that the embryos formed via oligarchic growth. We investigate volatile delivery as a function of Jupiter’s mass, position and eccentricity, the position of the snow line, and the density (in solids) of the solar nebula. In all simulations, we form 1–4 terrestrial planets inside 2 AU, which vary in mass and volatile content. In 44 simulations we have formed 43 planets between 0.8 and 1.5 AU, including 11 “habitable” planets between 0.9 and 1.1 AU. These planets range from dry worlds to “water worlds” with 100 + oceans of water (1 ocean = 1.5 × 10 24 g), and vary in mass between 0.23M⊕ and 3.85M⊕. There is a good deal of stochastic noise in these simulations, but the most important parameter is the planetesimal mass we choose, which reflects the surface density in solids past the snow line. A high density in this region results in the formation of a smaller number of terrestrial planets with larger masses and higher water content, as compared with planets which form in systems with lower densities. We find that an eccentric Jupiter produces drier terrestrial planets with higher eccentricities than a circular one. In cases with Jupiter at 7 AU, we form what we call “super embryos,” 1–2M⊕ protoplanets which can serve as the accretion seeds for 2 + M⊕ planets with large water contents.
Pro-sustainability choices and child deaths averted: from project experience to investment strategy

The pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals and advancing the ‘global health agenda’ demand the achievement of health impact at scale through efficient investments. We have previously offered that sustainability—a necessary condition for successful expansion of programmes—can be addressed in practical terms. Based on benchmarks from actual child survival projects, we assess the expected impact of translating pro-sustainability choices into investment strategies. We review the experience of Save the Children US in Guinea in terms of investment, approach to sustainability and impact. It offers three benchmarks for impact: Entry project (21 lives saved of children under age five per US$100000), Expansion project (37 LS/US$100k), and Continuation project (100 LS/US$100k).
Viral vectors for inducing CD8+ T cell responses.

CD8+ T cells (TCD8+) can mediate protective immunity to intracellular pathogens and tumours. Viruses generate strong TCD8+ responses and, therefore, represent attractive vectors for generating vaccines aimed at producing TCD8+-mediated protective immunity. This review will examine the immunological properties of viruses that make them good candidates as vaccine vectors, as well as the manipulations of both vector and antigen that may be required to produce an effective vaccine. The areas addressed include virus infection of dendritic cells in vivo, stimulation of the innate immune response via intracellular and extracellular pattern recognition receptors, the effect of antigenic form on the pathways of antigen presentation and the requirement for elimination of viral genes that target various aspects of the innate and adaptive immune response.
Thermal effects of basalt on continental crust and crustal contamination of magmas

A simple conduction-based heat-flow model is used to calculate the thickness of zones of continental crustal rock adjacent to basalt sheets which are raised to the temperatures of (1) hydrous mineral breakdown and (2) partial melting. Basalt emplacement leads to wide zones of partial fusion and aqueous fluid circulation at most crustal levels. Contamination of the basalt magma by partial melts or aqueous fluids is most effective where mag-matism is episodic and repetitive on a 0.1–1,000 yr time scale.
Innovating Database Technology for Advanced Applications

This paper discusses the new trends of innovative database technology for advanced applications, under the background of the research and development activities of the database group of Northeastern University, China. The brief history of around 30 years is retrospected. The ongoing research issues on the key database techniques for emerging advanced applications are presented. Finally, the experiences and lessons are examined, and the future work is discussed.
Ripple Correlation Control of a Multiple-Input Dc-Dc Converter

A multiple-input buck-boost converter is used to combine a photovoltaic source with a secondary source to meet the load requirement. A maximum power point tracking technique called ripple correlation control is used to maximize the power out of the photovoltaic source. The output voltage of the converter is simultaneously regulated using a simple proportional-integral feedback controller. Ideal steady-state equations are developed for duty cycles of the converter. Experimental results are compared to the ideal formulation in a power budgeting application
Cu2–xSe Nanocrystals with Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance as Sensitive Contrast Agents for In Vivo Photoacoustic Imaging: Demonstration of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping

Abstract The promise of a new nanomaterial, Cu(2-x) Se nanocrystals, as a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging is demonstrated. The Cu(2-x) Se nanocrystals exhibit strong optical absorption at near infrared wavelengths that can efficiently penetrate tissue. In vivo photoacoustic tomography using this nanomaterial as the contrast agent provides clear three-dimensional resolution of a sentinel lymph node in a rat model.
Free sorting of images: Attributes used for categorization

Categorization is crucial to human perception and cognition. Without the abilities to categorize, people would not be able to deal with the multitude of things they perceive daily. Past research has shown that categorization also facilitates effective and efficient browsing of both text and image documents especially when users have no specific document in mind but only some idea of what they are looking for. However, the question of what types of attributes should be used to index categories/groupings of images is not fully answered. Knowledge about how people categorize images and assign names to categories may provide some clues to help answer this question. Results of this free sorting study, as well as other research on the nature of categorization and search requests by image users, point to the fact that interpretive attributes are better candidates than perceptual attributes for indexing categories/groupings of images.
Primary School Chinese Language and Literacy Curriculum Reforms in China After 1949

Since 1949, primary school Chinese language and literacy (Yuwen) education in China has gone through five major stages of development characterized by the various reform efforts associated with the unique social and historical contexts of the country during those times. In this chapter, the authors begin with an overview of the historical development of primary Yuwen education reforms from 1949 to 2000 and the key content of the most critical curriculum documents that guided the reforms. They then provide the background for the most recent primary Yuwen curriculum reform and highlight key points of the 2011 version of Primary Yuwen Curriculum Standards for Full-Day Compulsory Education. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the impact and challenges of the reform and implications for primary Yuwen education practices and policies.
Management Briefs: Effects of Logging and Roads on Substrate and Trout in Streams of the Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming

Abstract We examined the influence of logging and road construction on substrate and standing stocks of trout (Salvelinus and Salmo) in 28 stream reaches in the Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming. The extent to which roads crossed watercourses (culvert density) within a drainage and the proportion of the drainage that was logged were positively correlated to both the amount of fine substrate and embeddedness. Trout standing stocks had a negative relation with the density of culverts. Erosion of soil from road surfaces, ditches. and disturbed areas adjacent to roads that subsequently is deposited in stream channels seems to be an important mechanism by which logging has affected stream habitat.
Studies on in vivo cholinesterase inhibition and poisoning symptoms in houseflies.

Abstract The amount of in vivo thoracic cholinesterase inhibited in houseflies at the time of knock-down was determined after the application of six different organophosphate anticholinesterases. For each compound, a specific level of inhibition was required for knock-down. The data clearly show that, when comparing the effects of different inhibitors, there was no one level of total cholinesterase inhibition which resulted in poisoning symptoms. The inhibition level at knock-down appeared to be inversely related to the reactivity of the organophosphate.
Developing clinically savvy nursing students: an evaluation of problem-based learning in an associate degree program.

Abstract Faculty in an associate degree nursing program at a community college in New York City noted that nursing students lacked critical analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making skills and the reflective ability essential to applying nursing knowledge in clinical situations. This study reports on the use of problem-based learning as a teaching strategy and its impact on the development of critical thinking and communication skills in nursing students.
Size effects on the electronic and magnetic properties of PuO2 (111) surface

Abstract Detailed studies of the PuO2 (111) surface, up to 6 molecular layers, are presented using all-electron hybrid density functional theory. The periodic slabs models for surfaces are studied to probe the effects of slab size on predicted surface properties. Ferromagnetic (FM) and anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) configurations are considered with and without spin–orbit coupling. The surface energies of the slabs are found to be in 0.7–0.8 J/m2 range whereas the average work function ranges from 5.2 to 5.3 eV. The band gap and pDOS plots show PuO2 surfaces in general retain the bulk's Mott insulator property; however the slabs are oxygen terminated, as a result the outermost PuO2 layer shows charge-transfer type of insulating behavior.
Posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction

Impairment of smell may occur following injury to any portion of the olfactory tract, from nasal cavity to brain. A thorough understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology combined with comprehensively obtained history, physical exam, olfactory testing, and neuroimaging may help to identify the mechanism of dysfunction and suggest possible treatments. Although most olfactory deficits are neuronal mediated and therefore currently unable to be corrected, promising technology may provide novel treatment options for those most affected. Until that day, patient counseling with compensatory strategies and reassurance is essential for the maintenance of safety and QoL in this unique and challenging patient population.
A meta-analytic review of the relationships between the therapeutic alliance, empathy, and genuineness in individual adult psychotherapy.

s Plus, Medline, PubMed, and ERIC. Searching the grey literature. With some exceptions (e.g., ProQuest Research Database) electronic databases mainly provide access published studies, but not all relevant studies are published. To obtain the maximum number of relevant studies and to decrease the possibility of publication bias, I employed additional methods to uncover literature. First, I searched Google Scholar. I also targeted the websites of government agencies that are likely to fund related work. These included The National Institute of Mental Health, the National Mental Health Development Unit, and the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) available through the United States government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). I also reviewed most recent edition of Bergin and Garfield’s (2004) Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change for additional reviews. In addition, I used the snowballing method with any obtained literature reviews. I performed hand searches of The Journal of Clinical Psychology, Counseling and Psychotherapy Research, American Journal of Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Research, Psychotherapy, American Psychologist, The Journal of Counseling Psychology, The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, and Clinical Psychology Review in the years 1970-present. Finally, I contacted prominent authors in the field about any unpublished material or additional information. A list of authors contacted is given in Table 2. This method allowed access to unpublished or conference work that is difficult to obtain through other search means, and served as an additional guard against publication bias. Any potentially relevant studies were obtained and screened for study inclusion.
Simple and Stable Dynamic Traffic Engineering for Provider Scale Ethernet

The high speeds and decreasing costs of Ethernet solutions has motivated providers’ interest in using Ethernet as the link layer technology in their backbone and aggregation networks. Provider scale Ethernet offers further advantages, providing not only an easy to manage solution for multicast traffic, but also transparent interconnection between clients’ LANs. These Ethernet deployments face altogether different design issues, requiring support for a significantly higher number of hosts. This support relies on hierarquization, separating address and virtual network spaces of customers and providers. In addition, large scale Ethernet solutions need to grant forwarding optimality. This can be achieved using traffic engineering approaches. Traffic engineering defines the set of engineering methods and techniques used to optimize the flow of network traffic. Static traffic engineering approaches enjoy widespread use in provider networks, but their performance is greatly penalized by sudden load variations. On the other hand, dynamic traffic engineering is tailored to adapt to load changes. However, providers are skeptical to adopt dynamic approaches as these induce problems such as routing instability, and as a result, network performance decreases. This dissertation presents a Simple and Stable Dynamic Traffic Engineering framework (SSD-TE), which addresses these concerns in a provider scale Ethernet scenario. The validation results show that SSD-TE achieves better or equal performance to static traffic engineering approaches, whilst remaining both stable and responsive to load variations.
Effectiveness of Interventions to Promote Safe Firearm Storage

Despite supportive evidence for an association between safe firearm storage and lower risk of firearm injury, the effectiveness of interventions that promote such practices remains unclear. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist, we conducted a systematic review of randomized and quasi-experimental controlled studies of safe firearm storage interventions using a prespecified search of 9 electronic databases with no restrictions on language, year, or location from inception through May 27, 2015. Study selection and data extraction were independently performed by 2 investigators. The Cochrane Collaboration's domain-specific tool for assessing risk of bias was used to evaluate the quality of included studies. Seven clinic- and community-based studies published in 2000-2012 using counseling with or without safety device provision met the inclusion criteria. All 3 studies that provided a safety device significantly improved firearm storage practices, while 3 of 4 studies that provided no safety device failed to show an effect. Heterogeneity of studies precluded conducting a meta-analysis. We discuss methodological considerations, gaps in the literature, and recommendations for conducting future studies. Although additional studies are needed, the totality of evidence suggests that counseling augmented by device provision can effectively encourage individuals to store their firearms safely.
Bonar, S. A. 2007. The Conservation Professional's Guide to Working with People. Island Press, Washington, D.C., 199 pp. ISBN-13: 978-1-59726-148-7, price (paper), $25; ISBN-13: 978-1-59726-147-0, price (hardbound) $50

S. A. Bonar 2007. The Conservation Professional's Guide to Working with People. Island Press, Washington, D.C., 199 pp. ISBN-13: 978-1-59726-148-7, price (paper), $25; ISBN-13: 978-1-59726-147-0, price (hardbound) $50. This book on people-skills essential to effective management of natural resources is successful in 2 ways: by illustrating the power of skillful people-management, and giving clear examples of how to develop and employ such skills. This practical, how-to book is written for resource professionals, ranging from students just embarking on their careers to seasoned managers and supervisors. As pointed out by Duane Shroufe in the Foreword, the need for resource professionals with strong social skills is intensifying. Our population is not only continuing to grow, but as described by Richard Louv (2005) and others, an increasing majority of its members are disconnected from the natural world in ways that have major implications for natural resources and those who manage them. This trend, increased competition for limited funding, and …
Ionic Liquid Activation of Amorphous Metal-Oxide Semiconductors for Flexible Transparent Electronic Devices

Amorphous metal-oxide semiconductors offer the high carrier mobilities and excellent large-area uniformity required for high performance, transparent, flexible electronic devices; however, a critical bottleneck to their widespread implementation is the need to activate these materials at high temperatures which are not compatible with flexible polymer substrates. The highly controllable activation of amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide semiconductor channels using ionic liquid gating at room temperature is reported. Activation is controlled by electric field-induced oxygen migration across the ionic liquid-semiconductor interface. In addition to activation of unannealed devices, it is shown that threshold voltages of a transistor can be linearly tuned between the enhancement and depletion modes. Finally, the first ever example of transparent flexible thin film metal oxide transistor on a polyamide substrate created using this simple technique is demonstrated. This study demonstrates the potential of field-induced activation as a promising alternative to traditional postdeposition thermal annealing which opens the door to wide scale implementation into flexible electronic applications.
Testing treatment effect in schizophrenia clinical trials with heavy patient dropout using latent class growth mixture models

By examining the outcome trajectories of the dropout patients with different reasons in the schizophrenia trials, we note that although patients are recruited from the same protocol that have compatible baseline characteristics, they may respond differently even to the same treatment. Some patients show consistent improvement while others only have temporary relief. This creates different patient subpopulations characterized by their response and dropout patterns. At the same time, those who continue to improve seem to be more likely to complete the study while those who only experience temporary relief have a higher chance to drop out. Such phenomenon appears to be quite general in schizophrenia clinical trials. This simultaneous inhomogeneity both in patient response as well as dropout patterns creates a scenario of missing not at random and therefore results in biases when we use the statistical methods based on the missing at random assumption to test treatment efficacy. In this paper, we propose to use the latent class growth mixture model, which is a special case of the latent mixture model, to conduct the statistical analyses in such situation. This model allows us to take the inhomogeneity among subpopulations into consideration to make more accurate inferences on the treatment effect at any visit time. Comparing with the conventional statistical methods such as mixed-effects model for repeated measures, we demonstrate through simulations that the proposed latent mixture model approach gives better control on the Type I error rate in testing treatment effect. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Reinforcement learning for spatial reasoning in strategy games

One of the major weaknesses of current real-time strategy (RTS) game agents is handling spatial reasoning at a high level. One challenge in developing spatial reasoning modules for RTS agents is to evaluate the ability of a given agent for this competency due to the inevitable confounding factors created by the complexity of these agents. We propose a simplified game that mimics spatial reasoning aspects of more complex games, while removing other complexities. Within this framework, we analyze the effectiveness of classical reinforcement learning for spatial management in order to build a detailed evaluative standard across a broad set of opponent strategies. We show that against a suite of opponents with fixed strategies, basic Q-learning is able to learn strategies to beat each. In addition, we demonstrate that performance against unseen strategies improves with prior training from other distinct strategies. We also test a modification of the basic algorithm to include multiple actors, to speed learning and increase scalability. Finally, we discuss the potential for knowledge transfer to more complex games with similar components.
Apolipoprotein B and Lipoprotein Metabolism

Publisher Summary This chapter describes apolipoprotein B (apoB) and lipoprotein metabolism. ApoB-containing lipoproteins enter the circulation primarily as chylomicrons and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), but entry into other lipoprotein densities following secretion includes entry into intermediate density lipoprotein, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and even HDL depending on the metabolic state of the animal. There are two major synthetic forms of apoB, namely, apoB H and apoB L , and two major catabolic pathways involving receptors. The catabolic pathway that apoB follows after secretion depends on the status of many plasma modification reactions, which depend on lipid and apoprotein exchange, enzymatic action, and the form of apoB present on the lipoprotein particle. The final cellular degradation of the lipoprotein depends on the concentration of lipoprotein exposed to the cell and the presence of receptors on the cell. The tissue degradation site depends on the cell-type distribution in the tissue. Additional factors complicate this scheme, as there are additional macrophage receptors, including the β -VLDL receptor and the acetyl-LDL receptor. ApoE apparently can, under different conditions, mediate binding and/or degradation of lipoproteins by either major receptor pathway, thereby modulating interaction of lipoproteins with the major receptor systems. Other apoproteins, lipid composition, and physical and chemical factors also mediate lipoprotein entrance into catabolic pathways. Further regulation takes place at the level of lipoprotein synthesis.
A 65nm CMOS transceiver with integrated active cancellation supporting FDD from 1GHz to 1.8GHz at +12.6dBm TX power leakage

This paper presents an active transmitter (TX) cancellation scheme for FDD that synthesizes a replica of the TX current in shunt with the receiver (RX), virtually shorting out the TX signal for the RX while having minimal impact on TX insertion loss. The prototype in 65nm CMOS demonstrates >50dB cancellation of a +12.6dBm peak 20MHz modulated TX signal. A receiver integrated on the same prototype is able to down-convert the RX signal at 40MHz offset with <4.3dB noise figure (NF) degradation in the presence of the residual TX.
Urban stormwater characterization, control, and treatment

This review summarizes over 280 studies published in 2019 related to the characterization, control, and management of urban stormwater runoff. A summary of quantity and quality concerns is provided in the first section of the review, serving as the foundation for the following sections which focus on the control and treatment of stormwater runoff. Finally, the impact of stormwater control devices at the watershed scale is discussed. Each section provides a self-contained overview of the 2019 literature, common themes, and future work. Several themes emerged from the 2019 literature including exploration of substrate amendments for improved water quality effluent from stormwater controls, the continued study of the role of vegetation in green infrastructure practices, and a call to action for the development of new models which generate reliable, computationally efficient results under the physical, chemical, biological, and social complexity of stormwater management. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Over 280 studies were published in 2019 related to the characterization, control, and treatment of urban stormwater. Studies on bioretention and general stormwater characteristics represented the two most common subtopics in 2019. Trends in 2019 included novel substrate amendments, studies on the role of vegetation, and advancements in computational models.
Functional Properties of Plasmids as Related to Enumeration of Bacteria Important to the Food Microbiologist.

Plasmids are extrachromosomal elements that behave like auxiliary chromosomes and contain the basic structure of the replicating unit. They were initially recognized by the unusual phenotypic characteristics they confer upon a cell, such as ability to promote genetic transfer by conjugation; resistance to antibiotics and metal ions; production of bacteriocins, toxins, antigens; and other factors. Much of the work on plasmids and plasmid-mediated characteristics has been conducted with various genera and species of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Present data indicate that although plasmid transfer occurs with variable frequency, intergeneric transfer within the family is invariably successful. Although a great deal of investigation has been focused on plasmid-mediated resistance to antibiotics, many workers have determined that a number of plasmids control other phenotypic characters. For example such plasmids appear to mediate production of bacterial products and/or enzymes which may confer a selective ec...
Attempting to define and refine vasopressin use in septic shock: the VANISH trial

Severe sepsis and septic shock are medical emergencies affecting almost 230,000 Americans every year with almost 40,000 deaths with an estimated cost of almost 25 billion dollars (1,2). About 50% of patients with septic shock will develop acute kidney injury (AKI), and the mortality associated with sepsis induced AKI renal failure is as high as 70% (3,4). The prevention and management of renal failure in the septic patient is therefore an active area of interest and research in the critical care community.
Copyright infringement and protection in holographic performances: From the Chinese perspective

The last several years have witnessed the growing popularity of holographic forms which show images of deceased or living celebrity performers on stage. The growing use of holograms in live performances has caused legal issues with respect to copyright protection, trademark, and right of publicity. The discussion in this note focuses on the two following primary questions on copyrights. First, in order to produce holographic images and avoid copyright infringement, from whom should the producer obtain copyright and what kind of rights do they have? Second, are the produced holographic performances copyrightable so that the producer can prohibit unauthorized use? A discussion of these issues will lend clarity to the boundaries of copyright infringement and copyright protection in the production of holographic performances and promote widespread use of holographic images in live performances.
“Stressed” About Air Pollution: Time for Personal Action

Article, see p 618 The modern era has borne witness to a dramatic shift in the global burden of disease toward noncommunicable illnesses associated with economic affluence (eg, diabetes mellitus, heart diseases).1 Although primeval problems menacing humanity since the dawn of time such as undernutrition/famine, unsafe drinking water, and infectious diseases persist (and may worsen in the future as a result of climate change), their relative importance has been considerably reduced during the past half-century.1,2 In contrast, anthropogenic ambient air pollution (mainly particulate matter <2.5 μm [PM2.5]) remains a recalcitrant and growing threat to global health and well-being. As of 2015, exposure to ambient PM2.5 ranked fifth—closely following hypertension, smoking, high glucose, and elevated cholesterol, respectively—as a leading global risk factor for morbidity and mortality.2 PM2.5 promotes many illnesses, including cancer and lung disease. However, the greatest portion of death and disability is from cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure), and, as such, air pollution has been formally recognized by both the American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology as an independent risk factor.3,4 Most recent estimates are that 4.2 million deaths (7.6% of total global mortality and 700 000 more deaths in 2015 compared with 1990)2 are attributable to ambient PM2.5. Cardiovascular diseases account for ≈57% of these deaths, with South and East Asia contributing ≈60% of total PM2.5-related mortality. Despite substantial improvements in air quality throughout much of North America, the population-weighted PM2.5 exposure has increased worldwide from 1990 (39.7 μg/m3) to 2015 (44.2 μg/m3).2 This increase was largely because of a worsening of air quality and population growth across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. These facts paint a stark picture highlighting the clear …
A simplified model of the oxygen supply function of capillary blood flow.

An analytic model of the role of capillary blood flow in supplying oxygen to tissue has been developed. This model is less complicated than previously used models, yet may be more realistic. The fundamental point of departure here is that consideration of the radial concentration gradients in the capillary is avoided by assuming the capillary to be “well-stirred”. The source-sink role of the erythrocyte with respect to oxygen is retained in a distributed sense. The inhomogeneity of blood on the scale of the capillary as well as the phenomenon of bolus flow justify this approximation. A closed form solution to the resulting equations is readily obtained and compares favorably with the results of computer based computations of axial oxygen pressure profiles. This model is therefore expected to be of significant value in further work.
Latrunculin-A increases outflow facility in the monkey.

PURPOSE. To determine the effect of Latrunculin (LAT)-A, a macrolide that binds to G-actin, which leads to the disassembly of actin filaments, on shape, junctions, and the cytoskeleton of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) and on outflow facility in living monkeys. METHODS. Latrunculin-A dose-time-response relationships in BAECs were determined by immunofluorescence and phase contrast light microscopy, facility by two-level constant pressure anterior chamber perfusion. RESULTS. In BAECs, LAT-A caused dose- and incubation time-dependent destruction of actin bundles, cell separation, and cell loss. Cell-cell adhesions were more sensitive than focal contacts. Recovery was also dose- and time-dependent. In monkeys, exchange intracameral infusion and topical application of LAT-A induced dose- and time-dependent several-fold facility increases. The facility increase was completely reversed within several hours after drug removal. However, for at least 24 hours after a single topical LAT-A dose, perfusion with drug-free solution caused an accelerated increase in facility beyond that attributed to normal resistance washout. CONCLUSIONS. Pharmacological disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in the trabecular meshwork by specific actin inhibitors like LAT-A may be a useful antiglaucoma strategy.
Quantum Spin-Mechanics with Color Centers in Diamond

Quantum acoustics is an emerging field focusing on interactions between acoustic waves and artificial atoms that can be exploited in quantum science. Acoustic waves propagate at a speed that is five orders of magnitude slower than the speed of light and couple to artificial atoms through mechanical processes, thereby enabling a new paradigm for on-chip quantum operation and communication. The extensive technologies developed for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) can also be adapted for quantum acoustics. Among the various artificial atoms or qubits that have been explored, nitrogen vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond are of special interest because of their robust spin coherence and the ease with which these qubits can be measured and controlled. In this talk, I will discuss our recent experimental advance in coupling NV centers to surface acoustic waves (SAWs). By exploiting strain coupling to orbital degrees of freedom, we are able to induce strong and coherent spin-mechanical interactions with SAW amplitudes at only a fraction of a picometer. This platform opens a new avenue for experimental exploration of spin-based quantum acoustics.
Desire: Deep Semantic Understanding and Retrieval for Technical Support Services

Technical support services involve enterprises providing after-sales support to users of technology products. The current support structure is labor intensive with practitioners manually consulting support documentation to troubleshoot users’ problems. We propose a cognitive technical support system as one that: (a) can understand technical problems expressed by users, (b) can automatically provide relevant resolution information and (c) can learn and improve its understanding and resolution over time. A typical technical problem description contains a combination of symptoms experienced by the user, explanation of attempts already made to resolve the problem, and sometimes, a clear expression of the requirement to solve the problem. Handling such intricate descriptions is outside the scope of current retrieval based systems and requires a deep understanding of the problem, combined with reasoning over a knowledge graph.
An RNA-based digital circulating tumor cell signature is predictive of drug response and early dissemination in prostate cancer

Blood-based biomarkers are critical in metastatic prostate cancer, where characteristic bone metastases are not readily sampled, and they may enable risk stratification in localized disease. We established a sensitive and high-throughput strategy for analyzing prostate circulating tumor cells (CTC) using microfluidic cell enrichment followed by digital quantitation of prostate-derived transcripts. In a prospective study of 27 patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with first-line abiraterone, pretreatment elevation of the digital CTCM score identifies a high-risk population with poor overall survival (HR = 6.0; P = 0.01) and short radiographic progression-free survival (HR = 3.2; P = 0.046). Expression of HOXB13 in CTCs identifies 6 of 6 patients with ≤12-month survival, with a subset also expressing the ARV7 splice variant. In a second cohort of 34 men with localized prostate cancer, an elevated preoperative CTCL score predicts microscopic dissemination to seminal vesicles and/or lymph nodes (P < 0.001). Thus, digital quantitation of CTC-specific transcripts enables noninvasive monitoring that may guide treatment selection in both metastatic and localized prostate cancer.Significance: There is an unmet need for biomarkers to guide prostate cancer therapies, for curative treatment of localized cancer and for application of molecularly targeted agents in metastatic disease. Digital quantitation of prostate CTC-derived transcripts in blood specimens is predictive of abiraterone response in metastatic cancer and of early dissemination in localized cancer. Cancer Discov; 8(3); 288-303. ©2018 AACR.See related commentary by Heitzer and Speicher, p. 269This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 253.
The use of formative assessments in traditional and hybrid lecture-labs of industrial engineering undergraduates and their motivational profiles

3 Background 3 Purpose/Hypothesis 3 Design/Method 3 Results 4 Conclusions 4 Introduction 4 Literature Review 6 Online Learning 6 Formative & Summative Assessments 9 Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivation 10
Fourier Transform Faradaic Admittance Measurements (FT-FAM): A Description and Some Applications

Small amplitude a. c. measurements always have represented a significant component in the vast array of electrochemical relaxation techniques,* which include the familiar techniques of potential step chronoamperometry, current step chronopotentiometry, conventional “d. c.” polarography, linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry, normal and differential pulse polarography, square wave polarography, and a. c. polarography. Such techniques have been applied to a range of measurements from kinetic-mechanistic studies of electrode processes to highly precise and sensitive analytical applications.1–6 The power of a. c. measurements in kinetic and analytical applications became apparent in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s with the pioneering work of groups led by Gerischer7–9, Randies,10,11 and Breyer.12,13 The European school favored use of impedance bridge measurement methods to investigate kinetics of electrode processes, while the Australia workers introduced the concept of automatic recording of “a. c. polarograms”. The latter involved the superposition of a small amplitude a. c. potential (constant amplitude of 5–20 mV and constant frequency) on the normal d. c. ramp used in conventional polarography, and recording the alternating current magnitude as a function of the d. c. potential.
Increasing Inaccuracy of Self-Reported Subjective Cognitive Complaints Over 24 Months in Empirically Derived Subtypes of Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Objectives Although subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) are an integral component of the diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), previous findings indicate they may not accurately reflect cognitive ability. Within the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, we investigated longitudinal change in the discrepancy between self- and informant-reported SCC across empirically derived subtypes of MCI and normal control (NC) participants. Methods Data were obtained for 353 MCI participants and 122 "robust" NC participants. Participants were classified into three subtypes at baseline via cluster analysis: amnestic MCI, mixed MCI, and cluster-derived normal (CDN), a presumptive false-positive group who performed within normal limits on neuropsychological testing. SCC at baseline and two annual follow-up visits were assessed via the Everyday Cognition Questionnaire (ECog), and discrepancy scores between self- and informant-report were calculated. Analysis of change was conducted using analysis of covariance. Results The amnestic and mixed MCI subtypes demonstrated increasing ECog discrepancy scores over time. This was driven by an increase in informant-reported SCC, which corresponded to participants' objective cognitive decline, despite stable self-reported SCC. Increasing unawareness was associated with cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer's disease biomarker positivity and progression to Alzheimer's disease. In contrast, CDN and NC groups over-reported cognitive difficulty and demonstrated normal cognition at all time points. Conclusions MCI participants' discrepancy scores indicate progressive underappreciation of their evolving cognitive deficits. Consistent over-reporting in the CDN and NC groups despite normal objective cognition suggests that self-reported SCC do not predict impending cognitive decline. Results demonstrate that self-reported SCC become increasingly misleading as objective cognitive impairment becomes more pronounced. (JINS, 2018, 24, 842-853).
rhIGF-1 reduces the permeability of the blood-brain barrier following intracerebral hemorrhage in mice.

Abstract Disruption of the blood-brain barrier results in the formation of edema and contributes to the loss of neurological function following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study examined insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) as a treatment and its mechanism of action for protecting the blood-brain barrier after ICH in mice. 171 Male CD-1 mice were subjected to ICH via collagenase or autologous blood. A dose study for recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1) was performed. Brain water content and behavioral deficits were evaluated at 24 and 72 h after the surgery, and Evans blue extravasation and hemoglobin assay were conducted at 24 h. Western blotting was performed for the mechanism study and interventions were used targeting the IGF-1R/GSK3β/MEKK1 pathway. rhIGF-1 reduced edema and blood-brain barrier permeability, and improved neurobehavior outcomes. Western blots showed that rhIGF-1 reduced p-GSK3β and MEKK1 expression, thereby increasing occludin and claudin-5 expression. Inhibition and knockdown of IGF-1R reversed the therapeutic benefits of rhIGF-1. The findings within suggest that stimulation of the IGF-1R is a therapeutic target for ICH which may lead to improved neurofunctional and blood-brain barrier protection.
Bariatric surgery for prospective living kidney donors with obesity

The obesity epidemic has gripped the transplant community. With nearly 40% of adults in the United States being obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 ) and 20% being morbidly obese (BMI ≥35 kg/m2 ), the implications for both donors and recipients of solid organs continue to grow.1 Nowhere is this more impactful than the candidacy of living kidney donors (LKDs). As increasing numbers of obese adults present for LKD consideration and evidence of inferior outcomes among obese LKDs grows, transplant surgeons will become progressively challenged by how to manage these patients in the clinic. Therefore, we offer this Personal Viewpoint to the transplant surgery community in order to review the current impact of obesity on living kidney donation, highlight what weight-loss interventions have already been attempted, and discuss the role that referral for weight-loss interventions including bariatric surgery might have going forward.
Pedicled and Free Tissue Transfers

Tissue defects that result from diabetic foot infections are often complex and necessitate reconstructive soft-tissue surgery to achieve closure. Intrinsic muscle flaps of the foot require attention to major vascular pedicles and are useful for closing smaller ulcerations. Microvascular free flaps are beneficial for large defects and provide long-term survivability. Perioperative planning is an important aspect of caring for diabetic patients requiring reconstructive surgery. These techniques are valuable tools for use in efforts to preserve a functional limb in this patient population.
A Closer Look at the Limits of Consociationalism

Although scholars agree that ethnically divided societies are generally more prone to political violence, critics of consociationalism suggest that proportional representation and parliamentarism p...
Forging Relationships Between Faith-based and Secular Organizations to Address the Global Water Crisis: A Case Study from Liberia

It is imperative to engage in interdisciplinary and multisectoral partnerships as we seek to develop and deliver effective solutions to address the global water crisis. These partnerships allow us to live out our Christian charge to demand justice for the vulnerable and promote human flourishing. This case study reviews the benefits and challenges of multisectoral partnerships between faith-based and secular organizations using the example of a multi-year water filter distribution project in Liberia. Benefits of the partnership include shared expertise, investment in students and Liberians, and results-driven research. Challenges include differing sub-goals, logistical challenges, communication difficulties, and different ways of communicating results. Intentional program planning, avoiding preferential treatment, and engagement in process evaluation are all suggestions for mitigating the potentially harmful effects of these challenges.
Simultaneous assimilation of radar and all-sky satellite infrared radiance observations for convection-allowing ensemble analysis and prediction of severe thunderstorms

AbstractThis study explores the benefits of assimilating infrared (IR) brightness temperature (BT) observations from geostationary satellites jointly with radial velocity (Vr) and reflectivity (Z) ...
Ethics and Collateral Findings in Pragmatic Clinical Trials

Pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) offer important benefits, such as generating evidence that is suited to inform real-world health care decisions and increasing research efficiency. However, PCTs also present ethical challenges. One such challenge involves the management of information that emerges in a PCT that is unrelated to the primary research question(s), yet may have implications for the individual patients, clinicians, or health care systems from whom or within which research data were collected. We term these findings as ?pragmatic clinical trial collateral findings,? or ?PCT-CFs?. In this article, we explore the ethical considerations associated with the identification, assessment, and management of PCT-CFs, and how these considerations may vary based upon the attributes of a specific PCT. Our purpose is to map the terrain of PCT-CFs to serve as a foundation for future scholarship as well as policy-making and to facilitate careful deliberation about actual cases as they occur in practice.
Hansel, Gretel, and the Consequences of Failing to Remove Histone Methylation Breadcrumbs

Like breadcrumbs in the forest, cotranscriptionally acquired histone methylation acts as a memory of prior transcription. Because it can be retained through cell divisions, transcriptional memory allows cells to coordinate complex transcriptional programs during development. However, if not reprogrammed properly during cell fate transitions, it can also disrupt cellular identity. In this review, we discuss the consequences of failure to reprogram histone methylation during three crucial epigenetic reprogramming windows: maternal reprogramming at fertilization, embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation, and the continuous maintenance of cell identity in differentiated cells. In addition, we discuss how following the wrong breadcrumb trail of transcriptional memory provides a framework for understanding how heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in histone-modifying enzymes may cause severe neurodevelopmental disorders.