cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation and Disease Model Relevance of a Manganese Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based NOD/scid-IL-2Rγ c null Mouse Brain Atlas

Strain specific mouse brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) atlases provide coordinate space linked anatomical registration. This allows longitudinal quantitative analyses of neuroanatomical volumes and imaging metrics for assessing the role played by aging and disease to the central nervous system. As NOD/scid-IL-2Rγ(c)(null) (NSG) mice allow human cell transplantation to study human disease, these animals are used to assess brain morphology. Manganese enhanced MRI (MEMRI) improves contrasts amongst brain components and as such can greatly help identifying a broad number of structures on MRI. To this end, NSG adult mouse brains were imaged in vivo on a 7.0 Tesla MR scanner at an isotropic resolution of 100 μm. A population averaged brain of 19 mice was generated using an iterative alignment algorithm. MEMRI provided sufficient contrast permitting 41 brain structures to be manually labeled. Volumes of 7 humanized mice brain structures were measured by atlas-based segmentation and compared against non-humanized controls. The humanized NSG mice brain volumes were smaller than controls (p < 0.001). Many brain structures of humanized mice were significantly smaller than controls. We posit that the irradiation and cell grafting involved in the creation of humanized mice were responsible for the morphological differences. Six NSG mice without MnCl2 administration were scanned with high resolution T2-weighted MRI and segmented to test broad utility of the atlas.
Closeout of the award DE-FG02-05ER46223. Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. Project title- "Modular Designed Protein Constructions for Solar Generated H2 From Water

As the title of the grant clearly states, this project has explores a unique way that makes use of manmade proteins to turn solar energy into chemical fuels. A major impetus to the work is that there is growing support for the view that two related forces will impact on future livability of Earth. The first is the finite supply of fossil fuels to power the Earth making it prudent to save this resource for the creation of useful chemicals. The second is that burning fossil fuels to generate power releases “greenhouse” gases into the atmosphere. There is mounting evidence that this is a major contribution to the warming trend in the Earth’s atmosphere and biosphere.
Latex Agglutination Reactions Between Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Rabbit Antibody.

SummaryIt has been shown that rabbit antibody may be formed to the antigen, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (Antuitrin S). Polystyrene latex particles were found to serve as an agglutinable carrier for this antigen-antibody system. The possibility of using this agglutination test for HCG as a suitable test for pregnancy is being explored.
Photothermally Assisted Dry Etching of GaN

Photoassisted dry etching of GaN in HCl by 193 nm ArF excimer laser is developed as a potential alternative process to eliminate the ion damage and surface roughness which occur in etching techniques that involve an energetic ion beam impinging the surface. A directed stream of HCl etchant with background pressure of ~ 5 × 10−4 Torr, sample surface temperature between 200 to 400 °C, and laser fluence of 10 to 20 mJ/ pulse combine to produce etching. The photoassisted etching reaction under these process conditions is thermal in nature, with activation energy near 1.2 kcal/ mol. Increases in laser fluence results in increase of etch rate, but the surface also becomes rougher. Distinct etch features can be produced with smooth surfaces at expense of etch rate.
Relocation Adjustment in Older Adults

Among older adults, relocation is frequently a stressful event, accompanied by major losses including losses of possessions, social support systems, and mobility. However, relocation can be positive or negative depending on older adults' physical and mental health, movement preparation, the voluntary or involuntary nature of the move, social support, premove life circumstances, and older adults' coping resources such as positive thinking and resourcefulness. The process of relocation adjustment has been examined from multiple perspectives, yet interventions to facilitate relocation adjustment are still limited. In recent years researchers have tested some interventions to help older adults adjust to relocation. More collaboration between researchers and practitioners is critical to harmonize research agendas with the development and testing of interventions in long-term care facilities. Keywords: adjustment; older adults; relocation
Entering Linh Dinh's Fake House: Literature of Displacement

For two decades after 1975, Vietnamese American literature was mostly ignored, largely for political reasons. Vivid reminders of either national guilt or the abuses perpetrated by leftist regimes - neither the American Right nor the Left were keen to hear Vietnamese American stories. Like Third World literature, these literary texts project "a political dimension in the form of a national allegory" regardless of how private the subject matter may be. In the last decade, however, with the end of the cold war, the subsequent lifting of the economic embargo on Vietnam in 1994, and the coming of age of Vietnamese Americans educated in the United States, a shift in reception has occurred, and Vietnamese American literature has enjoyed a relative degree of popularity, especially when addressing the Vietnam War and the refugee experience.
Stress Fracture of the Femoral Neck Through Previously Inserted Metallic Hardware: A Case Report.

A stress fracture of the femoral neck is not an uncommon event in the elderly. Treatment of an undisplaced femoral neck stress fracture usually consists of screw fixation across the fracture site, followed by a period of protected weight-bearing. Nonunion in this type of fracture may occur in 5% of cases1 and is usually accompanied by increasing angulation or impaction of the femoral head, together with penetration of the screw through the femoral head or retrograde extrusion out of the cortex at the site of insertion. In this case report, we describe an elderly man who presented with a stress fracture of the femoral neck and breakage of an underlying lag screw and a single derotation screw that had been placed four and one-half years previously for internal fixation of a basicervical fracture of the same bone. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of implant failure occurring as a result of a femoral neck stress fracture. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent. A seventy-eight-year-old man with cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, and spinal stenosis presented with a two-year history of increasing pain in the left hip and groin, with a steady decline in the ability to walk. Four and one-half years previously, he had sustained a basicervical fracture of the left femur following a fall from standing height (Fig. 1); he …
Creation of stable Pseudomonas aeruginosa promoter–reporter fusion mutants using linear plasmid DNA transformation

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic human pathogen that is commonly encountered clinically in different types of infections. Reporter-gene systems and construction of mutants defective in specific functions are useful tools for studying the cellular physiology and virulence of this organism. The common mutant construction process requires constructing target alleles into large size suicide vector(s) for transformations, and extra steps involved in resolving merodiploids. Here we describe a new approach using linearized plasmid transformation for creating a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene system to study promoter activities in P. aeruginosa.
The Administered Society

The publication in June 1967 of The New Industrial State constitutes the maturation of the Galbraithian system. In the ‘Foreword,’ Galbraith himself compared it to The Affluent Society as a window to the house that contains it, the earlier book providing a ‘glimpse’ into the structure depicted in the latter. Years later he referred to it as his ‘principal effort in economic argument’ (Galbraith, 1983, p. xiii).
Oxygen fugacity of martian basalts from electron microprobe oxygen and TEM-EELS analyses of Fe-Ti oxides

The stoichiometry of titanomagnetite spinel in the martian basaltic meteorites is assessed using quantitative analysis of oxygen measured by electron microprobe and electron energy loss spectroscopy in the transmission electron microscope. The spinels are stoichiometric within the errors of the techniques, enabling the calculation of oxygen fugacity with confidence. The oxygen fugacity is calculated using the Ghiorso-Sack and Ca-QUIlF models, which also yield estimates of temperature. The oxygen fugacity of the martian basalts increases from 3 log units below the QFM buffer for QUE 94201 to QFM − 1.8 for EETA 79001 (both lithologies), to QFM − 1.0 for Shergotty, Zagami, and Los Angeles. Dar al Gani 476 spinels contain significant MgAl2O4 and FeCr2O4 components, complicating the use of Fe-Ti oxide models. The oxygen fugacity of Dar al Gani 476 is estimated to be 1.5 log units below QFM, on the basis of the Ghiorso-Sack model. The absolute error on the oxygen fugacity estimates is ± 0.5 log units; however, a consistent electron microprobe analytical routine was applied to all of the basalts, and the relative uncertainty is closer to 0.2 log units. Oxyexsolution has occurred in QUE 94201, but reconstruction of pre-exsolution titanomagnetite compositions permits the calculation of oxygen fugacity. Subsolidus reactions involving oxides and adjacent Fe-rich silicates are documented and the use of the Ca-QUIlF model for calculation of oxygen fugacity from these phases is discussed.
Uniqueness in User Behavior While Using the Web

In recent years, the amount of online content has grown in enormous proportions. Users try to collect valuable information about contents in order to find their way to relevant web pages. And a lot of research is going on to collect valuable service usage data and process it using different methods to know their behaviors. Many systems and approaches have been proposed in the literature which tries to get information about the user’s interests by profiling the user. The objective of the paper is to profile users on their specific devices and the web usage patterns based on the keyboard and mouse usage, time spent on the web. By analyzing the usage patterns of various users, we prove that the patterns exhibited by any one user are different from other users.
Culture and nonverbal expressions of empathy in clinical settings: A systematic review.

Abstract Objective To conduct a systematic review of studies examining how culture mediates nonverbal expressions of empathy with the aim to improve clinician cross-cultural competency. Methods We searched three databases for studies of nonverbal expressions of empathy and communication in cross-cultural clinical settings, yielding 16,143 articles. We examined peer-reviewed, experimental or observational articles. Sixteen studies met inclusion criteria. Results Nonverbal expressions of empathy varied across cultural groups and impacted the quality of communication and care. Some nonverbal behaviors appeared universally desired and others, culturally specific. Findings revealed the impact of nonverbal communication on patient satisfaction, affective tone, information exchange, visit length, and expression decoding during cross-cultural clinical encounters. Racial discordance, patients’ perception of physician racism, and physician implicit bias are among factors that appear to influence information exchange in clinical encounters. Conclusion Culture-based norms impact expectations for specific nonverbal expressions within patient-clinician dyads. Nonverbal communication plays a significant role in fostering trusting provider-patient relationships, and is critical to high quality care. Practice implications Medical education should include training in interpretation of nonverbal behavior to optimize empathic cross-cultural communication and training efforts should accommodate norms of local patient populations. These efforts should reduce implicit biases in providers and perceived prejudice in patients.
Lessons from 151 ureteral reimplantations for postcystectomy ureteroenteric strictures: A single-center experience over a decade

Objectives Ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures are common after cystectomy with urinary diversion. Endoscopic treatments have poor long-term success, although ureteral reimplantation is associated with morbidity. Predictors of successful open repair are poorly defined. Our objective was to characterize outcomes of ureteral reimplantation after cystectomy and identify risk factors for stricture recurrence. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective review of 124 consecutive patients with a total of 151 open ureteral reimplantations for postcystectomy ureteroenteric strictures between January 2006 and December 2015. Baseline clinicopathologic characteristics and perioperative outcomes were examined. Predictors for stricture recurrence were assessed by univariable testing and univariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Most patients underwent preoperative drainage by percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN; 43%) or percutaneous nephroureterostomy (PCNU; 44%). Major iatrogenic injuries included enterotomies requiring bowel anastomosis (3.2%) and major vascular injuries (2.4%). Overall, 60 (48%) patients suffered 90-day complications, of which 15 (12%) patients had high-grade complications. Median length of stay was 6 days [interquartile range: 5, 8] and median follow-up was 21 months [interquartile range: 5, 43]. The overall success rate per ureter was 93.4%. On univariate analysis, the only significant predictor of stricture recurrence was preoperative PCNU placement compared with PCN placement or no drainage (success rates: 85.5% vs. 98.9%, respectively, P = 0.002). Cox proportional hazards regression demonstrated that preoperative PCNU placement yielded a hazard ratio of 10.2 (95% CI: 1.27–82.6) for stricture recurrence (P<0.005). Stricture recurrence was independent of previous endoscopic interventions (P = 0.42). Stricture length was unable to be assessed. Conclusions Postcystectomy ureteral reimplantation was associated with relatively low rates of major iatrogenic injuries and high-grade complications. Preoperative PCN placement rather than PCNU may yield better results.
A statistical model of oxide breakdown based on a physical description of wearout

The breakdown of oxides has been related to wearout. A model has been developed that described the statistics of breakdown in terms of the wearout that occurred prior to breakdown. TDDB distributions given in the literature were accurately simulated (i) for area dependence, (ii) for both constant voltage and constant current stressing, and (iii) for multi-modal distributions. Defect related breakdown was incorporated by introducing the concept of "degree of wearout". A possible method for determining the reliability of an oxide at operating voltages from the accelerated test results has been developed. >
Metal Chalcogenide Clusters with Closed Electronic Shells and the Electronic Properties of Alkalis and Halogens

Clusters with filled electronic shells and a large gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) are generally energetically and chemically stable. Enabling clusters to become electron donors with low ionization energies or electron acceptors with high electron affinities usually requires changing the valence electron count. Here we demonstrate that a metal cluster may be transformed from an electron donor to an acceptor by exchanging ligands while the neutral form of the clusters has closed electronic shells. Our studies on Co6Te8(PEt3)m(CO)n (m + n = 6) clusters show that Co6Te8(PEt3)6 has a closed electronic shell and a low ionization energy of 4.74 eV, and the successive replacement of PEt3 by CO ligands ends with Co6Te8(CO)6 exhibiting halogen-like behavior. Both the low ionization energy Co6Te8(PEt3)6 and high electron affinity Co6Te8(CO)6 have closed electronic shells marked by high HOMO–LUMO gaps of 1.24 and 1.39 eV, respectively. Furt...
Surgical Repair of Moderate Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation-A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction Moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) of ischemic etiology has been associated with worse outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Studies comparing concomitant mitral valve replacement/repair (MVR/Re) with CABG and standalone CABG have reported conflicting results. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature. Patients and Methods We searched using PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Google scholar databases from January 1960 to June 2016 for clinical trials comparing CABG to CABG + MVR/Re for moderate MR. Pooled risk ratio or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for individual outcomes were calculated using random effects model and heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane's Q-statistic. Results A total of 11 studies were included. Mean follow-up was 35.3 months. All-cause mortality (Mantel-Haenszel [MH] risk ratio [RR]: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.75-1.24, p = 0.775), early mortality (MH RR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.39-1.07, p = 0.092), and stroke rates (MH RR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.21-2.03, p = 0.464) were similar between CABG and CABG + MVR/Re groups. Adverse event at follow-up was lower with CABG (MH RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.61-1.32, p = 0.584). MD of change from baseline in left ventricular (LV) end-systolic dimension (MD: - 2.50, 95% CI: - 5.21 to - 0.21, p = 0.071) and LV ejection fraction (MD: 0.48, 95% CI: - 2.48 to 3.44, p = 0.750) were not significantly different between the groups. Incidence of moderate MR (MH RR: 3.24, 95% CI: 1.79-5.89, p < 0.001) was higher in the CABG only group. Conclusion Addition of MVR/Re to CABG in patients with moderate ischemic MR did not result in improvement in early or overall mortality, stroke risk, or intermediate markers of LV function when compared with CABG alone.
An RF Heated Tokamak-Phaedrus-T

Phaedrus-T is a moderate sized tokamak with low toroidal field and substantial radio frequency power capabilities. This machine has only recently become operational and full RF power is expected in...
Recent progress in dissecting molecular recognition by DNA polymerases with non-native substrates

DNA polymerases must discriminate the correct Watson–Crick base pair-forming deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) substrate from three other dNTPs and additional triphosphates found in the cell. The rarity of misincorporations in vivo, then, belies the high tolerance for dNTP analogs observed in vitro. Advances over the last 10 years in single-molecule fluorescence and electronic detection of dNTP analog incorporation enable exploration of the mechanism and limits to base discrimination by DNA polymerases. Such studies reveal transient motions of DNA polymerase during substrate recognition and mutagenesis in the context of erroneous dNTP incorporation that can lead to evolution and genetic disease. Further improvements in time resolution and noise reduction of single-molecule studies will uncover deeper mechanistic understanding of this critical, first step in evolution.
Theoretical Analysis on Drained Cylindrical Cavity Expansion in Anisotropic Modified Cam Clay

This paper presents an exact analytical solution for the drained cylindrical cavity expansion problem using the well-known anisotropic modified Cam Clay model proposed by Dafalias (1987). The prominent feature of this elastoplastic model, i.e., its capability to describe both the initial anisotropy and stress-induced anisotropy of soils, makes the anisotropic elastoplastic solution derived herein for the cavity problem a more realistic one. Following the novel solution scheme developed by Chen and Abousleiman (2013) that links between the Eulerian and Lagrangian formulations of the condition of radial equilibrium, the plastic zone solution can be eventually obtained by solving a system of eight partial differential equations with the three stress components, three anisotropic hardening parameters, specific volume, and preconsolidation pressure being the basic unknowns. Parametric studies have then been conducted to explore the influences of \( K_{0} \) consolidation anisotropy on the stress patterns outside the cavity, and on the stress path for a soil element at the cavity wall.
Chocolate and Cancer Prevention

Given the many ways that flavanols interact with cells and tissues, catechins and procyanidins in cocoa products may contribute to cancer prevention. Experimental studies in cell lines and animal models indicate that cocoa products and their active ingredients influence pathways with anticarcinogenic properties. They have the ability to lower oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, inhibit cell proliferation, and modify gut microbiota. Doses of catechins and procyanidins in experimental settings are often much higher than can be achieved in humans. Human intervention studies have reported favorable changes in biomarkers assessing antioxidant status, inflammatory markers, and intestinal microbiota. The sparse epidemiologic literature offers weak support for a reduction in cancer incidence and mortality related to high flavanol intake from all sources, but the evidence for cocoa products is inconclusive. Colorectal cancer has received the most attention of all cancer sites. Dietary assessment methods and nutritional databases face many challenges in accurately measuring intake of cocoa products and their flavanol content. For future epidemiologic studies related to cocoa and chocolate products, valid dietary assessment methods that capture the large variety of chocolate and cocoa products as well as other flavanol-containing foods are needed. The relative intake of flavanols from cocoa and chocolate products may be too small to detect their distinct cancer-protective effect in population-based studies with diverse nutritional habits and a wide range of risk factors for cancer.
Effects of Invasion by Tsuga Canadensis on a North American Forest Ecosystem

Temperate forest ecosystems have gained and lost tree species throughout the last 10,000 years as tree species ranges expanded and contracted in response to changing climate. The ecosystem-level effects of these events are illustrated by the invasion of forested landscape in northern Michigan, USA 3000 yr B.P. by hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Fossil pollen from small forest hollows, recording trees within 50 m, provides histories for individual hemlock-dominated, hardwood-dominated and mixed stands which now form a mosaic over the landscape.
Neurointerventional "Near Morbidity": A Candid Appraisal of an Early Case Series.

Background Modern case series often focus on emphasizing low complication rates, "safety," and "efficacy." Although patients may not suffer significant or obviously apparent neurological complications, many lessons are buried in the "no complications" cohort. Methods The junior author's prospectively maintained caselog was reviewed over a 1-year period for both symptomatic and "minor"/technical complications of neurointerventional cases, the latter referring to an intraprocedural inability to treat a lesion, suboptimal result, or potentially morbid angiographic occurrence/finding that did not result in permanent neurological morbidity - neurointerventional "near morbidity" (NNM). Results Of 602 treatments performed over the reviewed period, 163 were interventional neuroendovascular procedures. The most common neuroendovascular procedure performed was stroke thrombectomy (67 cases). Major neurological complications, defined as symptomatic stroke or hemorrhage, occurred in 7 cases (4%). NNM, consisting of instructive, technical issues arose in an additional 9 cases that did not result in neurological morbidity (6%). Overall, in 20/163 cases (12%), there were either major neurological complications, NNM, groin complications, or major medical complications. Conclusions "Minor"/technical complications - NNM - can be as instructive and illustrative as major complications despite not resulting in permanent morbidity. In reviewing case series, particularly early in one's career, these cases should be highlighted.
A new approach to understanding canine social cognition.

Domestic dogs have become well known for their socio-cognitive successes, so what does it mean when domestic dogs fail to cooperate? A new study by Marshall-Pescini, Schwarz, Kostelnik, Viranyi, and Range (PNAS, 114(44) 11793-11798, 2017) highlights the importance of considering socioecological context, learning, and relationship quality when evaluating the social cognition of dogs and wolves.
A Mathematical Analysis of Kinetics of Consecutive, Competitive Reactions of Protein Amino Groups

A general mathematical analysis of consecutive, competitive reactions of amino groups in amino acids, peptides, and proteins was developed. The analysis is of more than theoretical interest, and should prove useful for interpretation of the reactivity and utility of reagents that modify lysine in proteins.
Metabolic Reprogramming: Short-term Western Diet Exposure Induces Sustained Changes in Plasma Metabolites

Abstract Dietary patterns are well known to contribute to the metabolic syndrome and related disorders. We evaluated the impact of a short-term Westernized diet (WD) exposure on systemic plasma metabolomic changes in a cohort of adult male baboons. In this pilot study, five male baboons (n=5) raised and maintained on a standard monkey chow diet (high complex carbohydrates, low fat) were exposed to a challenge WD (high in saturated fats and simple carbohydrates) for 7 weeks (49 d), followed by a 57-day washout period on monkey chow (106 d). In addition to monitoring clinical measures, we used a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (2D GC-ToF-MS) platform to assess the metabolomic changes in plasma at three time points. Twenty-three metabolites were changed in response to the WD (49 d), but the response across the animals was highly variable. All animals presented a very different metabolic profile than at baseline (0 d), and the washout period resulted in a relatively homogenous metabolic state across all animals. A short-term exposure to a WD led to long-term changes in the metabolic profile, suggesting a “reset” of the metabolic program.
2526: Using the multiphase optimization strategy to engineer an optimized STI preventive intervention among college students

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: The goal of this study is to develop an effective and efficient STI preventive intervention among college students following the principles and phases of MOST.
Factors Affecting the Use of Dimensional Prepositions in German and American English: Object Orientation, Social Context, and Prepositional Pattern

Spatial language and the use of spatial prepositions has recently been intensively investigated. We add two novel aspects to the question of which frame of reference, i.e., the deictic or the intrinsic frame, is used when communicating about dimensional relations between objects. We restrict ourselves to the use of prepositions that refer to the first horizontal axis, i.e., “in front of” and “behind” in English, and “vor” and “hinter” in German, respectively, and report on a series of 16 experiments on the connection between the use of these prepositions and the indication of particular subspaces adjacent to reference objects in a traffic environment. First, we will show that an interaction between the intrinsic orientation of the reference object, the type of social situation in which spatial communication occurs, and the used language's pattern of prepositional word forms for temporal and spatiodimensional relations contributes to the proper prediction of the use of spatial prepositions. Second, we systematically consider production as well as interpretation of prepositions in two different languages in the same experimental setting, which allows for the estimation of communicative success. Here, it turns out that in German as well as in American English there are conditions in which speakers and listeners either agree or disagree on the chosen frame of reference; however, these conditions are different in the two languages investigated.
Scoping the new urban human rights agenda

This article situates the preceding contributions to this special section, all focused on aspects of urban or municipal human rights, within the larger context of the challenges raised by local hum...
Phase diagram of hydrogen at extreme pressures and temperatures; updated through 2019 (Review article)

Hydrogen is expected to display remarkable properties under extreme pressures and temperatures stemming from its low mass and thus propensity to quantum phenomena. Exploring such phenomena remains very challenging even though there was a tremendous technical progress both in experimental and theoretical techniques since the last comprehensive review (McMahon et al.) was published in 2012. Raman and optical spectroscopy experiments including infrared have been extended to cover a broad range of pressures and temperatures (P—T) probing phase stability and optical properties at these conditions. Novel pulsed laser heating and toroidal diamond anvil techniques together with diamond anvil protecting layers drastically improved the capabilities of static compression methods. The electrical conductivity measurements have been also performed to much higher than previously pressures and extended to low temperatures. The dynamic compression techniques have been dramatically improved recently enabling ramp isentropic compression that allows probing a wide range of P–T thermodynamic pathways. In addition, new theoretical methods have been developed beyond a common DFT theory, which make them predictive and in better agreement with experiments. With the development of new theoretical and experimental tools and sample loading methods, the quest for metallic hydrogen accelerated recently delivering a wealth of new data, which are reviewed here.
Reliable, Effective, and Sustainable Urban Railways: A Model for Optimal Planning and Asset Management

AbstractUrban railways play a critical role in the daily life of citizens. However, extensive deterioration of mostly aged systems complicates the management of this type of infrastructure in copin...
Subjective features of the psilocybin experience that may account for its self-administration by humans: a double-blind comparison of psilocybin and dextromethorphan.

Although both psilocybin and dextromethorphan (DXM) produce psychedelic-like subjective effects, rates of non-medical use of psilocybin are consistently greater than DXM. New data are presented from a study of psilocybin and DXM relevant to understanding the features of psilocybin subjective effects that may account for its higher rates of non-medical use. Single, acute oral doses of psilocybin (10, 20, 30 mg/70 kg), DXM (400 mg/70 kg), and placebo were administered under double-blind conditions to 20 healthy participants with histories of hallucinogen use. High doses of both drugs produced similar time courses and increases in participant ratings of peak overall drug effect strength. Nine subjective effect domains are proposed to be related to the reinforcing effects of psilocybin: liking, visual effects, positive mood, insight, positive social effects, increased awareness of beauty (both visual and music), awe/amazement, meaningfulness, and mystical experience. For most ratings, (1) psilocybin and DXM both produced effects significantly greater than placebo; (2) psilocybin showed dose-related increases; 3, DXM was never significantly higher than psilocybin; (4) the two highest psilocybin doses were significantly greater than DXM. These differences were consistent with two measures of desire to take the drug condition again. This analysis provides new information about domains of psilocybin subjective effects proposed to be related to its reinforcing effects (alternatively described as the “motivation” to use). Observed differences on these domains between psilocybin and DXM are consistent with the relative rates of non-medical use of psilocybin and DXM.
Corneal dysfunction precedes the onset of hyperglycemia in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to use a mouse model of diet-induced obesity to determine if corneal dysfunction begins prior to the onset of sustained hyperglycemia and if the dysfunction is ameliorated by diet reversal. Methods Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high fat diet (HFD) or a normal diet (ND) for 5-15 weeks. Diet reversal (DiR) mice were fed a HFD for 5 weeks, followed by a ND for 5 or 10 weeks. Corneal sensitivity was determined using aesthesiometry. Corneal cytokine expression was analyzed using a 32-plex Luminex assay. Excised corneas were prepared for immunofluorescence microscopy to evaluate diet-induced changes and wound healing. For wounding studies, mice were fed a HFD or a ND for 10 days prior to receiving a central 2mm corneal abrasion. Results After 10 days of HFD consumption, corneal sensitivity declined. By 10 weeks, expression of corneal inflammatory mediators increased and nerve density declined. While diet reversal restored nerve density and sensitivity, the corneas remained in a heightened inflammatory state. After 10 days on the HFD, corneal circadian rhythms (limbal neutrophil accumulation, epithelial cell division and Rev-erbα expression) were blunted. Similarly, leukocyte recruitment after wounding was dysregulated and accompanied by delays in wound closure and nerve recovery. Conclusion In the mouse, obesogenic diet consumption results in corneal dysfunction that precedes the onset of sustained hyperglycemia. Diet reversal only partially ameliorated this dysfunction, suggesting a HFD diet may have a lasting negative impact on corneal health that is resistant to dietary therapeutic intervention.
Bioaccumulation of Bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate and Mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate by Lumbriculus variegatus.

The brominated flame retardant bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) is used widely in consumer items including polyurethane foam used in furniture. Information on its bioaccumulation in aquatic species is limited. In the current study, sediment bioaccumulation tests with the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus were performed on a spiked natural sediment equilibrated for 14.5 months. Analysis showed the TBPH used to spike the sediment contained a small amount (0.046% by mass) of mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBMEHP), a potential biotransformation product of the parent chemical. Steady-state biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) of 0.254 and 1.50 (kg organic carbon/kg lipid) were derived for TBPH and TBMEHP, respectively. TBPH had biphasic elimination behavior where 94% of the body burden was depleted within the first 12 h of elimination (i.e., half-life of 1.2 h or less) and the remaining 6% eliminated very slowly thereafter (half-life of 15 days). There was little evidence for biotransformation of either chemical by L. variegatus. This investigation confirms the extremely hydrophobic behavior of TBPH and its impact on its bioavailability.
Early initiation of hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide) using individualised, pharmacokinetics-guided dosing can produce sustained and nearly pancellular expression of fetal haemoglobin in children with sickle cell anaemia.

Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide) is an effective treatment for sickle cell anaemia (SCA), but clinical responses depend primarily upon the degree of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) induction and the heterogeneity of HbF expression across erythrocytes. The number and characteristics of HbF-containing cells (F-cells) are not assessed by traditional HbF measurements. Conventional hydroxyurea dosing (e.g. fixed doses or low starting doses with stepwise escalation) produces a moderate heterocellular HbF induction, but haemolysis and clinical complications continue. Robust, pancellular HbF induction is needed to minimise or fully inhibit polymerisation of sickle haemoglobin. We treated children with hydroxyurea using an individualised, pharmacokinetics-guided regimen starting at predicted maximum tolerated dose (MTD). We observed sustained HbF induction (mean >30%) for up to 6 years, which was not dependent on genetic determinants of HbF expression. Nearly 70% of patients had ≥80% F-cells (near-pancellular), and almost half had ≥90% F-cells (pancellular). The mean HbF/F-cell content was ~12 pg. Earlier age of initiation and better medication adherence were associated with high F-cell responses. In summary, early initiation of hydroxyurea using pharmacokinetics-guided starting doses at predicted MTD can achieve sustained near-pancellular or pancellular HbF expression and should be considered an achievable goal for children with SCA treated with hydroxyurea at optimal doses. Clinical trial registration number: NCT02286154 (clinicaltrials.gov).
A framework for transportation infrastructure cost prediction: a support vector regression approach

Highway agencies and Departments of Transportation (DOTs) often face a challenge in estimating annual maintenance expenditures (AMEXs) to allocate available funds to various divisions in their juri...
The Effect of Chemical Disorder on Defect Formation and Migration in Disordered MAXPhases

MAX phases have attracted increased attention due to their unique combination of ceramic and metallic properties. Point-defects are known to play vital role in the structural, electronic and transport properties of alloys. However, the effects of disorder are not well explored, despite being a key player in this context. This work investigates the alloying effect on structural-stability, energy-stability, electronic-structure, and diffusion barrier of point defects in MAX phase alloys within first-principles density functional framework. The vacancy (VM, VA, VX) and antisite (M-A; M-X) defects are considered with M and A site disorder in (Zr-M)2(AA')C, where M=Cr,Nb,Ti and AA'=Al, Al-Sn, Pb-Bi. Our calculations suggest that the chemical disorder helps lower the formation energies of VA compared to VM and VX. The VA diffusion barrier is also significantly reduced for M-site disorder compared to their ordered counterpart. We believe that our study will provide a fundamental understanding and an approach to tailor the key properties that can lead to the discovery of new MAX phase alloys.
Gradient Frequency Modulation for Visually Explaining Video Understanding Models.

In many applications, it is essential to understand why a machine learning model makes the decisions it does, but this is inhibited by the black-box nature of state-of-the-art neural networks. Because of this, increasing attention has been paid to explainability in deep learning, including in the area of video understanding. Due to the temporal dimension of video data, the main challenge of explaining a video action recognition model is to produce spatiotemporally consistent visual explanations, which has been ignored in the existing literature. In this paper, we propose Frequency-based Extremal Perturbation (F-EP) to explain a video understanding model's decisions. Because the explanations given by perturbation methods are noisy and non-smooth both spatially and temporally, we propose to modulate the frequencies of gradient maps from the neural network model with a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). We show in a range of experiments that F-EP provides more spatiotemporally consistent explanations that more faithfully represent the model's decisions compared to the existing state-of-the-art methods.
Introduction to Linking Sustainability and Happiness: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives

Thank you for taking the time to link to this book. When we set out on this journey, the intention was to integrate scientific evidence, spiritual aspects, traditional knowledge, mysticism and other means and methods of exploring the links between sustainability and happiness. Within, you will find both theoretical and applied perspectives on the relationships between sustainability and happiness from an international group of scholars. The goal is to further establish studies a global network of individuals thinking about, feeling into, and living a simultaneously happy and sustainable future. Please reach out if you are interested. Enjoy!
28 – Urinary Tract Infection

UTI (urinary tract infection) is an infection occurring anywhere in the urinary tract. While usually caused by bacteria, viral and fungal infections may occur, particularly in the kidney. Although men also are at risk, the frequency of UTI in women is as much as an order of magnitude higher than that in men. Even among individuals at high risk of infection, such as catheterized patients, women have a higher risk of UTI than men because women have moist peri-urethral areas and a shorter distance from the urethral opening to the bladder. The moist areas of the vagina and the area around the urethral opening provide a niche for growth and multiplication of potential uropathogens. This, combined with the shorter distance to the bladder, increases the chance that a potential uropathogen can ascend to the bladder, multiply in the urine, and invade bladder walls or ascend further to the kidneys. UTIs are easily treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, they also have a propensity to recur. Following an apparently cured first UTI, about 20% of women have another within six months. Among sexually active women with a history of one or more UTIs, one-half to almost three-quarters have another infection within a year.
Protective Parenting, Relationship Power Equity, and Condom Use Among Rural African American Emerging Adult Women.

Sexually transmitted infections disproportionately affect African Americans, particularly young women. The influence of a set of interrelated protective parenting processes—instrumental and emotional support, sexual risk communication, and encouragement of goals for employment or education—on emerging adult women was examined. Parenting was hypothesized to affect consistent condom use through its association with women’s reports of power equity in their intimate relationships. Hypotheses were tested with 135 sexually active women 18 to 21 years of age living in rural southern communities. Structural equation modeling indicated that (a) parenting processes predicted women’s self-reported relationship power equity and consistent condom use, and (b) relationship power equity predicted consistent condom use. Limited support emerged for a mediational role of relationship power equity in explaining the influence of parenting on consistent condom use. Parental involvement and young women’s establishment of personal control in their intimate relationships are important goals for sexual risk reduction programs.
Transfer RNA synthesis in HeLa cells. II. Formation of tRNA from a precursor in vitro and formation of pseudouridine.

Abstract Pre-tRNA, a presumed precursor to tRNA, has been converted to tRNA by incubation in vitro with a crude cytoplasmic extract. The formation of pseudouridine has been examined during the conversion of pre-tRNA to tRNA in vivo . It has been found that pre-tRNA contains considerable pseudouridine and that newly synthesized tRNA or tRNA formed from pre-tRNA in the absence of net RNA synthesis contains more pseudouridine than pre-tRNA but less than mature tRNA. It is concluded from these and from previous results that pre-tRNA is a precursor to tRNA which is a longer polynucleotide than tRNA and which contains some minor bases, and that pre-tRNA is converted to the size of tRNA before modification of bases is complete.
Common Pulmonary Vein Atresia: The Role of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Common pulmonary vein atresia is a rare form of cyanotic congenital heart disease in which the pulmonary veins join to form a blind confluence that does not communicate with the heart or the major systemic veins. Twenty-one cases have been reported since the lesion was first described in 1962; only two patients with this lesion have survived. Over a 4-year period, common pulmonary vein atresia was diagnosed in five newborns referred to the San Diego Regional Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program. All five improved dramatically as a result of venoarterial bypass. Congenital heart disease was diagnosed at autopsy in the initial case and by cardiac ultrasound and/or catheterization in the others. Surgical repair was attempted in three neonates; all three required continued extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support postoperatively because of pulmonary hypertension and severe pulmonary parenchymal disease. One infant died of respiratory insufficiency at 3 months of age. The other two survived and were discharged from the hospital. The diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas posed by this lesion and the life-saving potential for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in this rapidly fatal cardiac anomaly are the bases of this report.
Field Theory On the World Sheet: Mean Field Expansion And Cutoff Dependence

Continuing earlier work, we apply the mean field method to the world sheet representation of a simple field theory. In particular, we study the higher order terms in the mean field expansion, and show that their cutoff dependence can be absorbed into a running coupling constant. The coupling constant runs towards zero in the infrared, and the model tends towards a free string. One cannot fully reach this limit because of infrared problems, however, one can still apply the mean field method to the high energy limit (high mass states) of the string.
Exchange and dissemination of CIM compliant data in deregulated electricity markets

Deregulation demands seamless flow of relevant data amongst the power system entities, both to ensure reliable operation and maintain competitive electricity markets. The data items needed to achieve the various objectives should be clearly identified. This paper presents the applicability of using CIM data model for exchange of operational data and also to transmit competitive time-sensitive information to market players. The existing datapath in the restructured electrical systems involves numerous physical and analytical components employing various communication technologies. The standardization effort pertaining to communications in EMS and SCADA, in restructured power system operations, is also reviewed. The proposed architectures fulfill the requirements to include newer communication technologies like cellular and wireless.
THE POPULATION GENETICS OF PARTHENOGENETIC STRAINS OF DROSOPHILA MERCATORUM. II. THE CAPACITY FOR PARTHENOGENESIS IN A NATURAL, BISEXUAL POPULATION

Drosophila mercatorum is a bisexual species, but certain strains are capable of parthenogenetic reproduction in the laboratory. We investigated the parthenogenetic capacity of the virgin daughters of females captured from a natural, bisexual population in Hawaii. An isozyme survey indicated the natural population is polymorphic at about 50% of its loci, and its individuals heterozygous at 18% of their loci. The predominant mode of parthenogenesis in D. mercatorum causes homozygosity for all loci in a single generation. Despite this radical change in genetic state, 23% of the virgin female lines produced adult parthenogenetic progeny, and 16% produced parthenogenetic progeny themselves capable of parthenogenetic reproduction. The parthenogenetic rate as measured by the number of parthenogenetic progeny themselves capable of parthenogenesis divided by the number of eggs laid is around 10-5 for the virgin female lines. We argue that one of the major reasons for this low rate is that very few of the impaternate zygotes have a genotype that can survive and reproduce under the genetic conditions imposed by parthenogenetic reproduction. This intense selective bottleneck can be passed in a single generation if enough unfertilized eggs are laid, and once passed is accompanied by a large (perhaps a thousandfold) increase in the rate of parthenogenesis and by modifications in many phenotypic traits such as morphology and behavior.