cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Carbon Ion on Glassy Carbon Electrode as Chemical Sensor

Glassy polymeric carbon (GPC) is a material commonly used for making electrodes for cyclic voltammetric (CV) and amperometric measurements. Previous work done at Alabama A&M University (AAMU) has shown that high energy ion beams can be used to improve the physical properties of GPC in general. In this work, we fabricated a glassy polymeric carbon electrode and we used carbon ions to activate it. Surface analyses including Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed to compare the changes in surface morphology and structure before and after carbon ion bombardment.
Development of a Weight Loss Program for Appalachian Kentucky Adults: A Formative Research Survey

Although obesity rates are high in Appalachian Kentucky, few interventions have been developed for this population. The purpose of this study was to survey adults in the region about their needs and interest for a weight loss program. A telephone survey was conducted with 404 adults in Appalachian Kentucky. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of respondents were overweight or obese. Nearly half (48%) of respondents reported a diagnosis of a chronic health condition. The most frequently mentioned barriers to weight loss were current eating habits, time, and current physical condition. The most frequently mentioned motivators for losing weight were health, appearance, and feeling better. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of respondents were interested in losing weight. Women were more likely than men to have an accurate perception of their weight and a greater interest in losing weight.
Some Useful Distributions

This chapter contains many useful examples of parametric distributions, one- and two-parameter exponential families, location–scale families, maximum likelihood estimators, method of moment estimators, transformations t(Y ), E(Y ), V (Y ), moment generating functions, and confidence intervals. Many of the distributions can be used to create exam questions on the above topics as well as the kernel method, MSE, and hypothesis testing. Using the population median and median absolute deviation, robust estimators of parameters can often be found using the sample median and median absolute deviation.
Embryonic development when eggs are turned different angles during incubation

SUMMARY Not turning eggs during incubation or turning at a reduced angle could potentially reduce the incidence of hot spots in machines, thereby lessening the chance of embryonic mortality and decreased hatchling quality caused by overheating. Not turning eggs can also allow more eggs to be placed in an incubator by designing the machine with trays closer together. However, eggs that are not turned during incubation exhibit a higher frequency of embryonic developmental deficiencies and a reduced hatch compared with turned eggs. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of a reduced turning angle on embryonic and extraembryonic development. Turning eggs 15° caused an increase in embryonic mortality from d 11 to 16 and d 17 to 21 and an overall decrease in hatch when compared with turning eggs 45°. There was no difference in area vasculosa at d 3 but there was a reduced amount of subembryonic fluid at d 6. Overall, it was determined that a reduced turning angle decreases the hatch of fertile eggs.
Generating results from qualitative data.

Recent literature in nursing research reflects a growing interest in qualitative research methods. This article discusses the process of construing results from qualitative data. Several pitfalls encountered commonly by novice researchers are presented, and strategies are suggested for avoiding or overcoming these difficulties. The importance is stressed of developing a line of reasoning in order to derive meaning from the data and to connect the results to a conceptual or theoretical base.
Premarital Pregnancy and Marital Instability

This paper examines the existing evidence on the association between premarital pregnancy and marital dissolution, deriving possible explanations to account for the link between the timing of conception and the marital outcome, and testing certain of these explanations using selected data from a five year longitudinal study on the social consequences of unplanned parenthood. Information was collected on the marital careers of 203 young women who became premaritally pregnant in their early teens and 90 of their classmates most of whom married before pregnancy. The marital histories of the two samples show that disruption in the courtship process and limited economic resources are the most important factors contributing to marital dissolution.
Preliminary Findings in Diagnostic Prediction of Schizophrenia Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging

We describe a probabilistic technique for diagnostic prediction of first-episode schizophrenia patients based on their brain diffusion MRI data. The method begins by transforming each voxel from a high-dimensional diffusion weighted signal to a low-dimensional diffusion tensor representation. Three orthogonal diffusion measures (fractional anisotropy, norm, mode) that capture different aspects of the local tissue properties are derived from this diffusion tensor representation. Next, we compute a one-dimensional probability density function of each of the diffusion measures with values obtained from the entire brain. This representation is affine invariant, thus obviating the need for registration of the images. We then use a Parzen window classifier to estimate the likelihood of a new patient belonging to either group. To demonstrate the technique, we apply it to the analysis of 22 first-episode schizophrenic patients and 20 normal control subjects. With leave-one-out cross validation, we find a detection rate of 90.91 % (10 % false positives). We also provide several error bounds on the performance of the classifier.
Abstract 3354: Effect of Homocysteine-Lowering on Recurrent Vascular Risk in Middle-Aged Stroke Patients

Background: Cross-sectional studies suggest that the association between elevated homocysteine (HCY) and stroke is strongest in young adults and decreases with age. Furthermore, individuals with coexisting hypertension and elevated HCY have a substantially higher risk of stroke. Although clinical trials have failed to demonstrate a benefit of vitamin therapy for secondary stroke prevention in individuals with high HCY, the trials enrolled subjects in their late 60s and did not specifically assess the effect of HCY lowering in hypertensive subjects. Additional data in support of the aforementioned cross-sectional data may make the case for considering future HCY-lowering trials targeting younger individuals with hypertension. Methods: Post-hoc analysis of individuals aged 45-64 years enrolled in the Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention trial, a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of high vs. low dose folic acid, pyridoxine, and cobalamin in ischemic stroke patients with elevated HCY. Time to primary (stroke, myocardial infarction or death from any cause) and secondary (stroke) outcomes were assessed after adjusting for demographic and vascular risk factors. Interaction effects of age vs. treatment category on outcome and baseline hypertension or blood pressure > 140/90 mm Hg vs. treatment category on outcome were assessed. Results: Among 1425 individuals aged 45-64 years, the treatment groups were similar with respect to stroke severity, demographic and vascular risk factors. The only differences between the treatment groups were among individuals aged 45-54 years; those treated with high dose vitamins were more likely to smoke and have a history of prior stroke compared to those treated with low dose vitamins. Among individuals aged 45-54 years, high dose vitamin therapy trended towards a reduced risk of the primary outcome (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.36-1.06, p=0.08)(Figure) after adjustment for covariates, but this benefit was not seen in those aged 55-64 years (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.72-1.63). High dose vitamin therapy did not have an effect on the secondary outcome. Also, subjects with concomitant hypertension did not have different outcomes compared to those without hypertension. Conclusions: Among younger individuals with a history of stroke and elevated HCY, high dose vitamin therapy is linked to a lower trend in risk of subsequent major vascular events. Future randomized clinical trials with adequate power will be necessary to prospectively determine if high dose vitamin therapy reduces the risk of vascular events in individuals
A Hemispherical Sun Sensor for Orientation and Geolocation

We propose a novel sensing system with a hemispherical arrangement of light intensity sensors to determine the vector to the dominant light source in its environment. We apply this system to the measurement of sun vector. The accuracy of our sensor is proved to be scalable when using more sensing pixels. Our experimental data yields the solar azimuth to within 5° and the solar zenith to within 1° using only five light intensity sensors. A sensor operation procedure is provided to improve sensor accuracy. A method is shown that determines absolute orientation and location from the measured sun vector. The corresponding uncertainty analysis is also presented.
Learning-induced activation of protein kinase C. A molecular memory trace.

PKC activation has been shown to mimic the biophysical consequences of classical conditioning in both rabbit hippocampus andHermissenda type B cells. Furthermore, conditioning in rabbits results in the 24 h translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane, which is probably responsible for mediating the biophysical consequences of conditioning. A model has been presented that suggests that long-term translocation of PKC occurs via the synergistic activation of a DG dependent pathway that activates PKC and a calcium dependent pathway that activates CaM kinase. Translocation of PKC to the plasma membrane, by altering ion channel properties, could subserve memory lasting for days, whereas translocation to the nuclear membrane could induce cellular change, by genomic regulation, lasting beyond days. We are, therefore, suggesting that protein kinase C may play a critical role in the formation of short, intermediate, and long-term associative memory.
Mother–Child Conversations About Thoughts, Desires, and Emotions: Relations to Children’s Understanding of the Mind

Abstract Gaining insight into others' thoughts, emotions, intentions, and desires is a critical aspect of social development, and typically developing children make great progress in this area during the preschool years. Despite the advances that most children make, the development of a “theory of mind” is also characterized by individual differences, and such differences can influence social competence and success in forging relationships. In the present chapter we investigate one potential predictor of individual differences in 3- to 5-year-old children's theory of mind: the amount of talking about mental states that happens at home (with a focus on mealtime conversations). Across the participating families we found a great deal of variability in mental state talk. The frequencies of mothers' and children's talk about mental states were significantly intercorrelated, and both predicted children's performance on a theory of mind assessment. We discuss these findings in relation to existing theory of mind research, and with attention to practical implications.
1.07 – Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography*

This chapter discusses an extension of positron emission tomography (PET) known as time-of-flight (TOF) PET, which is enabled by measuring the arrival time of each positron annihilation photon with subnanosecond accuracy. It begins with the motivation for TOF PET, describing its advantages over conventional PET. It then discusses the fundamental limits of timing resolution, as well as the challenges and opportunities for developing systems with improved timing resolution.
The ndongo bowl lyre of the Baganda: an examination of its sonic properties

The term ndongo refers to the eight-string bowl lyre of the Baganda, a people that live in the south central region of the landlocked East African nation of Uganda (see Fig. 1). In the musical tradition of the Baganda, the ndongo is one of their oldest string musical instruments, second only to the ennanga 8- string arched harp. Owing to the natural passing away of the people who knew how to play it, the steady decline in use of the ennanga as a folk instrument has been noticed. Instead, the ndongo has gradually replaced it; and today it is very widely played during many cultural and social functions throughout the entire kingdom of Buganda.
Bacterial Content of Raw and Processed Human Milk1

Mature human milk samples were manually expressed into sterile containers and examined for their bacterial content. No other special precautions were taken to ensure asepsis. The total counts of seven individual samples ranged from 1.5 × 103 to 1.9 × 107 CFU/ml; the counts of pooled samples used for further processing ranged from 4.2 × 106 to 5.7 × 107 CFU/ml. Freezing had no significant effect on the counts. Although freeze-drying reduced the mean count by one log cycle, the decrease was not significant and the level of contamination was above the level considered safe for human consumption. Pasteurization at 62.5°C for 30 min reduced the load 4–5 log cycles and the reduction continued during subsequent storage at −25°C. Although heating at 75°C for 15 min reduced the load 6–7 log cycles, the microbial counts tended to increase during subsequent storage at 4°C.
Analysis and simulation of multi-phase variable speed induction motor drives under asymmetrical connections

In this paper, a dq model based on transformation theory for five phase induction machines is presented. A detailed implementation of an indirect type five phase field orientation control including the hysteresis type PWM current regulator is described. A method for continuous and disturbance free operation of a five phase field oriented controlled induction motor drive with complete loss of one, two or even three legs of the inverter or motor phases is described. A complete analysis and computer simulation of this control technique is included.
Dentinal Tubule Penetration of a Calcium Silicate-based Root Canal Sealer with Different Obturation Methods.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to investigate the depths of penetration of a calcium silicate–based sealer in dentinal tubules by using 3 different obturation methods. Methods One hundred extracted human permanent anterior teeth were endodontically prepared and divided equally into 3 experimental groups and 1 control group as follows: CPoint single cone (CPSC), gutta-percha single cone (GPSC), gutta-percha vertical condensation (GPVC), all with a calcium silicate–based sealer and calcium indicator Fluo-3, and CPoint single cone with a calcium indicator Fluo-3 (CPF3) without sealer as the control. The roots of the teeth in each group were axially cross-sectioned, and the surfaces were examined under confocal laser scanning microscopy at ×10 and ×20 magnifications. The sealer penetration depths were measured at their maximum depths and at 4 circumferential depths (12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock) by using fluorescence. Results Statistical analyses by using one-way analysis of variance and repeated measures analysis with linear mixed models showed no statistically significant difference among the mean maximum depth measurements (CPSC, 283.83 μm; GPSC, 318.66 μm; and GPVC, 313.03 μm; P = .7553) and among the average depths across all points (CPSC, 111.24 μm; GPSC, 135.38 μm; and GPVC, 126.62 μm; P = .5304) for the 3 experimental groups. Conclusions The pressure derived from hygroscopic expansion of CPoint or warm vertical condensation did not enhance penetration depths of the calcium silicate–based sealer. Sealer penetration into the dentinal tubules occurred independent of the obturation technique.
A novel interaction of genotype, gender, and adjuvant treatment in survival after resection of stage III colon cancer: Results of CALGB 89803.

3517 Background: The p53 tumor suppressor is frequently mutated in colon cancer, but the influence of such mutations on survival is remains undefined. We investigated whether domain-specific mutati...
Non-medical opioid use and sources of opioids among pregnant and non-pregnant reproductive-aged women.

Abstract Background The morbidity and mortality burden of the US opioid epidemic falls heavily on reproductive-age women. Information on the patterns of and sources for non-medical use of prescription opioids among reproductive age women, including pregnant women, will inform public health and prevention efforts to mitigate the effects of the opioid epidemic. This study characterized non-medical use of prescription opioids among reproductive-age U.S. women, with a focus on pregnancy status. Methods We used nationally-representative data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2005–2014) to examine non-medical use (NMU) of prescription opioids in the past 30 days among females ages 18–44 (N = 154,179), distinguishing pregnant women (N = 8069). We used multivariable logistic regression to describe reported sources of opioids, including opioids obtained from a doctor, friend or relative, dealer, or other source. Results Nearly 1% of pregnant women and 2.3% of non-pregnant reproductive-age women reported opioid NMU in the past 30 days. Forty-six percent of pregnant women identified a doctor as their source compared with 27.6% of non-pregnant women reporting NMU. Pregnant women reported a friend or relative as their source of opioids less frequently than non-pregnant women (53.8% versus 75.0%), and some pregnant and non-pregnant women acquired opioids from a dealer (14.6% and 10.6%). Conclusion Opioid NMU among reproductive-age women is a complex public health challenge affecting a vulnerable population. Pregnant women were more likely than non-pregnant women to list a doctor as their source of opioids for NMU, suggesting the need for targeted policies to address physician prescribing during pregnancy.
Exciton Dynamics, Transport, and Annihilation in Atomically Thin Two-Dimensional Semiconductors

Large binding energy and unique exciton fine structure make the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) an ideal platform to study exciton behaviors in two-dimensional (2D) systems. While excitons in these systems have been extensively researched, there currently lacks a consensus on mechanisms that control dynamics. In this Perspective, we discuss extrinsic and intrinsic factors in exciton dynamics, transport, and annihilation in 2D TMDCs. Intrinsically, dark and bright exciton energy splitting is likely to play a key role in modulating the dynamics. Extrinsically, defect scattering is prevalent in single-layer TMDCs, which leads to rapid picosecond decay and limits exciton transport. The exciton–exciton annihilation process in single-layer TMDCs is highly efficient, playing an important role in the nonradiative recombination rate in the high exciton density regime. Future challenges and opportunities to control exciton dynamics are discussed.
MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF PERCEPTUAL CATEGORY LEARNING: THEORY AND COGNITIVE TESTS

Abstract The first neurobiologically detailed theory of multiple systems in category learning, called COVIS, was originally conceived in 1998. COVIS, which is now well established, postulates two systems that compete throughout learning—a frontal-based declarative system that uses logical reasoning and depends on working memory and executive attention, and a basal ganglia-mediated system that uses procedural-learning. The procedural system can learn a wide variety of category structures, but it learns in a slow incremental fashion and is highly dependent on reliable and immediate feedback. In contrast, the declarative rule-based (RB) system can learn a fairly small set of category structures quickly—specifically, those structures that can be learned via a logical reasoning process. These two systems learn simultaneously, but as long as RB strategies lead to successful performance, the declarative system inhibits the procedural system. This theory is described in detail and a variety of cognitive behavioral and cognitive neuroscience experiments are reviewed that test some parameter-free a priori predictions made by COVIS.
Prequestions do not enhance the benefits of retrieval in a STEM classroom

Answering questions before a learning episode-"prequestions"-can enhance memory for that information. A number of studies have explored this effect in the laboratory; however, few studies have examined prequestions in a classroom setting. In the current study, the effects of prequestions were examined in an undergraduate course in chemical engineering. At the start of several class meetings, students were provided with a prequestion to answer about the upcoming lesson, and then were asked to provide ratings of confidence in their answers, familiarity with the content in the prequestion, and how much of the assigned reading they had completed. At the end of class, students were given the same question again (postquestion), along with a different question from the same lesson (new question). On a quiz at the end of each week, students were given the postquestions and new questions again, in addition to never-before-seen questions (quiz-only questions) from the same lessons. Performance on questions at the end of class revealed no difference in performance for postquestions vs. new questions. Although weekly quiz performance revealed an effect of retrieval practice-superior memory for material tested at the end of class (postquestions and new questions) compared to material not tested (quiz-only questions)-there was no difference in weekly quiz performance on postquestions vs. new questions. These results suggest that retrieval practice is beneficial to learning in the classroom. However, prequestions do not appear to enhance learning, nor to enhance the effects of retrieval practice.
Survival after lung transplantation of cystic fibrosis patients infected with Burkholderia dolosa (genomovar VI)

Cystic fibrosis (CF) with severe lung disease is a well-recognized indication for lung transplantation. Colonization with various organisms in CF patients may impact post-transplant morbidity and mortality. Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is made up of distinct genomovars with significant morbidity and mortality associated with B. cenocepacia (genomovar III) following lung transplant. The outcomes of patients infected with genomovar B. dolosa (genomovar VI) have yet to be described in the literature. We performed a retrospective chart review of all cystic fibrosis patients colonized with B. dolosa from our center who underwent lung transplantation (n=11) at various medical centers across the U.S between 2000 and 2014. Survival rates were 73%, 53%, and 30% for 1-year, 3-years, and 5-years, respectively. Median survival was 44 months (95% CI = 11.1-76.8). CF patients with B. dolosa that have undergone lung transplantation have decreased 1-year survival when compared to all patients transplanted with cystic fibrosis. Conditional 5-year survival for B. dolosa infected patients was 43% in patients that survived the first year post transplant, suggesting that this first year is crucial in managing the infection. Importantly, the survival of the B. dolosa patients was higher than compared to previously reported survival rates of B. cenocepacia patients post transplant. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Choosing Better: Standard of Care Should Be Data-driven, Not Just Habit-forming

* Abbreviation: QI — : quality improvement Two main components drive low-value practices in health care: underuse and overuse. Underuse (eg, undervaccination), although important, has received greater focus historically. However, because of the rising costs of health care in the United States and the realization that we can “safely do less” as pediatricians,1 the equally significant domain of overuse, or the provision of care in which the harms outweigh the benefits,2 is receiving increasing attention. A quality improvement (QI) expert, Dr Don Berwick, recently cited overuse as the “next quality frontier.”3 The field of pediatrics is not exempt from overuse. In a limited review, Chua et al4 demonstrated that 1 in 10 commercially insured children are exposed to low-value practices, with an approximate cost of $27 million per year. The commonplace nature of low-value care in pediatrics should prompt pediatricians to familiarize themselves with the growing call for “deimplementation” in medicine.5 Deimplementation refers to the science of abandoning and unlearning practices built on the scaffolding of habit. Prasad and Ioannidis,5 both experts in the fields of overuse and evidence-based medicine, classify efforts ripe for deimplementation into 3 categories: practices that are novel but yet not fully tested, unproven practices … Address correspondence to Lauren LaRue Walker, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, 1102 Bates St, Suite 1860, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: llwalker{at}texaschildrens.org
Using focus groups to design systems science models that promote oral health equity

While the US population overall has experienced improvements in oral health over the past 60 years, oral diseases remain among the most common chronic conditions across the life course. Further, lack of access to oral health care contributes to profound and enduring oral health inequities worldwide. Vulnerable and underserved populations who commonly lack access to oral health care include racial/ethnic minority older adults living in urban environments. The aim of this study was to use a systematic approach to explicate cause and effect relationships in creating a causal map, a type of concept map in which the links between nodes represent causality or influence. To improve our mental models of the real world and devise strategies to promote oral health equity, methods including system dynamics, agent-based modeling, geographic information science, and social network simulation have been leveraged by the research team. The practice of systems science modeling is situated amidst an ongoing modeling process of observing the real world, formulating mental models of how it works, setting decision rules to guide behavior, and from these heuristics, making decisions that in turn affect the state of the real world. Qualitative data were obtained from focus groups conducted with community-dwelling older adults who self-identify as African American, Dominican, or Puerto Rican to elicit their lived experiences in accessing oral health care in their northern Manhattan neighborhoods. The findings of this study support the multi-dimensional and multi-level perspective of access to oral health care and affirm a theorized discrepancy in fit between available dental providers and patients. The lack of information about oral health at the community level may be compromising the use and quality of oral health care among racial/ethnic minority older adults. Well-informed community members may fill critical roles in oral health promotion, as they are viewed as highly credible sources of information and recommendations for dental providers. The next phase of this research will involve incorporating the knowledge gained from this study into simulation models that will be used to explore alternative paths toward improving oral health and health care for racial/ethnic minority older adults.
Studies on central baffin vegetation I. Bray Island

Arctic vegetation poses many problems and its study will certainly reveal much that is pertinent to the central issues of community ecology. For instance, there is considerable controversy at this time on the reality of the plant association and on the universal applicability of the climatic climax concept. If the view is taken, and if observation shows, that no two species coincide in their adjustment to one or more environmental elements, and these have different optimal "peaks", then it is argued that a continuum exists rather than a series of truly discontinuous communities (CURTIS and MCINTOSH 1951). If the floristic cohesion of the community is disputed, it follows that any linear or convergent arrangement of svnecological units is also contestable. Moreover, as far as Arctic conditions are concerned, there is some doubt as to whether the dynamic equilibrium which is postulated for climatic climaxes is at all possible, since the soil never "settles down" as it apparently does in cool temperate regions (RAUP 1950). In fact, the dynamics of the analogoLus alpine vegetation (where permafrost is not involved) which were outlined many years ago by BRAUN-BLANQUET (1932) are also contested by DAHL (1953). Since ecological field studies provide new data and suggest new interpretations, it is their first function to convey as clear and as complete a picture as possible of the situation as it has been observed. There is such a variety of methods and approaches, and these are so often poorly defined, that abundant material for comparison is not always available. I hope in this series of papers to present a faithful record of my observations in the field and to lay down my findings in a way that can be relevant to those who do not share my point of view or accept my interpretaitons. When I have brought forth and tabulated the materials I have to offer, I intend to make comparisons with other areas and to discuss the two ouestions stated above: the cohesion of the association, and the processes of succession. The present studies were made from May to September 1950, when I was a member of the BAIRD Expedition to Central Baffin Island. A general preliminary account has been published (BAIRD et al. 1950, BAIRD 1951, BAIRD 1952), as well as several partial reports (GOLDTHWAIT 1951; LITTLEWOOD 1952; ORVIG 1952; WARD and BAIRD 1952; WYNNE-EDWARDS 1952). I am much indebted to Col. P. D. BAIRD for his able leadership of the expedition and for providing the necessary transportation and other facilities for work. I also thank the National Research Council of Canada for its support in engaging Mr. MASON HALE as an assistant and in contributing to our travelling expenses. Finally I owe a great deal to the Provincial Secretariat of the Province of Quebec in whose employ I was at that time as director of the Service de Biogeographie. The latter institution furnished most of the field materials and later
[116-POS]: RAS transgenic mouse model recapitulates pathophysiology of preeclampsia and renal injury may be mediated by VEGF.

Objectives We evaluated role of sFlt-1 and VEGF in a preeclampsia model driven by RAS activation. We hypothesized as transgenic crossbreeds develop preeclampsia, features of hypertension, proteinuria, kidney and placenta end-organ damage will occur concurrently with (1) sFlt1 rising higher in preeclamptic mice, (2) VEGF remaining high in preeclamptic mice but equivalent to controls; and, (3) preeclamptic kidneys demonstrating increased VEGF binding. Methods Transgenic hAGT and hREN, or wild type (WT) mice were used. Non-gravid females underwent telemetric transmitter implantation for blood pressure (BP) measurements. Mice were cross-bred: hAGT × hREN for RAS preeclamptic model and pregnant controls (WT × WT). Blood and urine collected on days (GD) 12, 15, and 18. Vascular reactivity in mesenteric arteries investigated by wire myography using KCl, acetylcholine (ACH), phenylephrine (PE). ELISA performed on urine for albumin and on plasma for VEGF and sFlt-1. Necropsies were performed GD 18-19. Kidneys and placenta were sectioned for HE and immunostain. Results 11 RAS pregnancies and 9 WT pregnancies (WTP) compared. 12,414 h of BP data analyzed. RAS mice demonstrated higher BP and proteinuria. RAS mice had glomerular endotheliosis (80% vs. 11%; p = 0.02), and placental necrosis (60% vs. 0%; p Conclusions While RAS model of preeclampsia recapitulates human preeclamptic state with high fidelity, renal injury may actually be mediated by increased VEGF binding. Disclosures J.M. Denney: None. C.E. Shaw: None. A. Gendron-Fitzpatrick: None. I. Bird: None. D. Shah: None.
Imperial hybrids in the age of colonialism : Maintaining dominance over and negotiating desire for the native

OF THE THESIS Imperial Hybrids in the Age of Colonialism: Maintaining Dominance Over and Negotiating Desire for the Native
Inclusive Growth by Means of Sustainable Supply Chains: A Case Study of the Dabbawalas of Mumbai, India

As India emerges to become a major player in the global economy, it is essential to understand some of the unique business models that have emerged interacting with its cultural economy and found a place in its developmental trajectory. Of these, the dabbawalas of Mumbai is worth a special mention. The dabbawalas constitute a lunchbox delivery and return system that delivers hot lunches from homes and restaurants to people at work in India. Based on primary research and more recent literature, this paper provides updated perspectives on the dabbawala business with special focus on the sustainability of their business model. It discusses the dabbawala system performance along multiple aspects of sustainability. The basis of competitive advantage of the dabbawala business model is presented an emergent phenomenon from the cultural logic of the ecosystem.
The Trump Administration and the War on Immigration Diversity

As candidate and President, Donald Trump has expressed his disdain for immigrants of color and an unmistakable commitment to restrict their immigration to the United States. Contemptuous words about immigrants have translated into concrete policies designed to limit immigrants from entering and remaining in the United States. The Trump administration’s implementation of the Muslim bans, “zero tolerance” policies directed at Mexican and Central American noncitizens, and an assortment of other policies all further the goal of decreasing the population of immigrants of color. Moreover, proposals to restrict legal immigration underscore that the current administration seeks to substantially reduce the ability of noncitizens of color to immigrate to the United States. This Article critically analyzes the Trump administration’s immigration policies. First, we argue that the Trump administration’s policies reveal the executive branch’s war on immigration diversity in both admissions and deportations. Second, when situated within the history of immigration laws and policies in the United States, the current war against immigration diversity furthers the administration’s broader goal of returning to pre-1965 immigration policies designed to maintain a “white nation.” Third, and most importantly, we contend that the Trump administration’s immigration policies must be met steadfastly resisted. Just as activists in the past fought discriminatory immigration policies, activists today must engage the racism animating the Trump administration’s policies. The Article concludes that legal and political attention must be paid to these policies in order to avoid the country’s return to its pre-1965 immigration-law policy of establishing a white nation.
Amending sugarcane monoculture through rotation breaks and fungicides: effects on soil chemical and microbial properties, and sucrose yields

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) monoculture was amended with leguminous rotation breaks (cowpea, Vigna unguiculata; and soybean, Glycine max) and compared with growers’ practice (sweet corn, Zea mays var. saccharata rotation; and bare fallow). After incorporation of rotation-break residues, fungicidal treatments (mancozeb, mefenoxam and azoxystrobin) were applied on seed-cane pieces laid in the furrows before row closure, with the objective of determining effects of both crop rotation and fungicides on soil properties and sugarcane agronomic performance. Aboveground biomass yields of sweet corn, soybean and cowpea were 5.54, 5.17 and 4.48 t ha–1, and carbon : nitrogen ratios of sweet corn, soybean and cowpea crop residues were 25.47, 11.92 and 11.61, respectively. Following residue incorporation, phospholipid fatty acid analyses of soil microbial communities at pre-plant and early-growth stages of sugarcane indicated significant differences in abundance of Gram-positive bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi biomarkers, whereas no differences were found in Gram-negative bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. At pre-planting, fungi : bacteria ratios in sweet corn and bare fallow plots were significantly higher than in cowpea or soybean rotation plots and similar to ratios at early-growth sampling. Soybean rotation produced higher cane yield than sweet corn, and both soybean and bare fallow produced higher sucrose yield than sweet corn rotation in 2016 plant cane, but no significant yield differences occurred in 2017 plant cane. The results of 2016 plant cane persisted in the 2017 first ratoon, where the sweet corn rotation had lower yields than cowpea and soybean rotations. All three fungicides significantly improved cane yield and sugar yield compared with the untreated check in plant cane, with both mancozeb and mefenoxam performing similarly in 2016, but with mefenoxam performing better in 2017 plant cane. Overall, introduction of cowpea and soybean rotations, coupled with seed-piece fungicidal application, seems a promising practice for improving sugarcane yields on Histosols.
Feasibility of Gait Entrainment to Hip Mechanical Perturbation for Locomotor Rehabilitation

While rehabilitation of upper-limb motor function with human-interactive robots has been met with success, robot-aided locomotor rehabilitation has proven challenging. To inform more effective approaches to robotic gait therapy, it is important to understand neuro-mechanical dynamics and control of unimpaired locomotion. Our previous studies reported that human gait entrained to periodic mechanical perturbations at the ankle when the perturbation period was close to preferred walking cadence. Moreover, entrainment was accompanied by synchronizing the perturbations to a constant gait phase, the same for all subjects, where they provided mechanical assistance. To test the generality of entrainment-based assistance, the present study evaluated the behavior of five unimpaired subjects who walked overground while wearing a hip exoskeleton robot. Periodic torque pulses were applied to the subjects’ hips, with a period different from, but close to, their preferred stride cadence. Results indicated that unimpaired subjects entrained their gait to periodic mechanical perturbations at the hip. Convergence of relative phase between gait and perturbations was observed, but clustered around two distinct gait phases, in contrast to the single converged phase observed in entrainment to periodic ankle torques. These entrainment studies quantify important aspects of the nonlinear neuro-mechanical dynamics underlying the control of walking, which will inform the development of effective approaches to robotic walking therapy.
Sex Difference Between Trace Elements and Pulmonary Functions in Children.

It has been defined that deficiency of trace elements plays an important role in the progression of asthma. However, the relationship between blood zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and magnesium (Mg) and pulmonary functions in children remains to be clarified. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Wuxi, China, and a total of 202 healthy children were recruited. The forced vital capacity volume (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the 1 s (FEV1) were measured. Blood samples were collected, and the levels of blood zinc, selenium, and magnesium were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Meanwhile, the concentrations of serum total IgE was also determined. The associations between trace elements and pulmonary functions were analyzed by multiple linear regression models. After stratified by sex, there was a positive association between blood Zn and pulmonary functions in boys. In addition, blood Zn was also negatively associated with serum total IgE concentrations in boys, but not in girls after adjusting for potential confounders. Our findings indicated that zinc deficiency was significantly related to children’s pulmonary functions and that screening of trace elements may be a potential solution to decrease the risks of asthma in children.
A carboxylate group-based organic anode for sustainable and stable sodium ion batteries

Abstract The carboxylate group-based organic electrode materials are promising anodes for rechargeable sodium ion batteries (SIBs) due to the low cost, abundance, environmental benignity and high sustainability of organic materials. Here, we compare the electrochemical performance of three carboxylate group-based organic electrode materials in SIBs, and identify that the two carboxylate groups in the para position of the benzene ring are electrochemical active centers to reversibly react with Na-ions and electrons. The carboxylate group-based anode, trisodium 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate (TBC), exhibits exceptional electrochemical performance in SIBs, in terms of high specific capacity (195 mAh g−1) and long cycle life (600 cycles). The third carboxylate group in TBC enhances the sodiation/de-sodiation potentials, and reduces its solubility in the electrolyte, resulting in a highly stable organic anode. The low cost, high sustainability, high capacity and high cyclic stability of TBC render it a promising anode material for SIBs.
The nurse practitioner as a bridge to interprofessional research team collaboration in rural community clinics.

ABSTRACT Clinical health outcomes and health disparities can be improved through interprofessional collaborations among multidisciplinary clinicians, health care services researchers, and patients. Bridging gaps between community clinics and urban academic centers allows added valuable perspectives that can lead to improved care and extend clinical research. Nurse practitioners (NPs) who serve as primary care providers in many rural community clinics can facilitate access to clinical trials for patients who are rarely included in health care services research as well as coordinate interprofessional research team collaboration. A NP working in a rural clinic can assist academic-based research teams in designing feasible strategies to address disparities and improve health care of underserved populations. The purpose of this article was to provide an example of a rural provider/urban academic research team collaborating to conduct a health literacy-directed randomized controlled trial to improve colorectal cancer screening in isolated rural community clinics.
Single-cell-level screening method for migratory cancer cells and its potential feasibility in high-throughput manner

High-throughput screening (HTS) is a well-established approach for tumor-specific drug development because of its high efficiency and customizable selection of antineoplastic drugs. However, there is still a lack of an appropriate cell-based HTS specific for migratory cancer cells. In the study presented here, we created a novel assay (mHTS): a single-cell-level screening method targeting migratory cancer cells and can be applied in a high-throughput manner. This mHTS platform is based on microchannel devices (providing physical confinement during cell migration and limit migrating cells' proliferation rate) assembled 96-well plate (fitting to HTS manner). To determine the feasibility of this assay, we quantified the anti-migratory and anti-viability effects of several molecules (Cytochalasin D, Doxorubicin and AZD-6244) on migrating (creeping inside microchannel) glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. After analyzing migration screening data that was collected on a single-cell-level, we were able to compare those drug's effects on cancer cells' migration velocity and uncovered the migration inhibiting potential of AZD (500 nM and 1000 nM). Viability data based on single-cell-level screening also allowed us to further understand the same drug's different lethality toward migrating and normal 2D cultured cancer cells. The Pre-classification of subpopulations enables us to study the heterogeneity of cancer and ensures our method's feasibility for a high-throughput manner. All these results proved our mHTS platform is suitable for single-cell-level anti-migration drug screening and has potential feasibility in promoting the development of anti-migratory-cancer-drug in a high-throughput manner.
LQR via First Order Flows

We consider the Linear-Quadratic-Regulator (LQR) problem in terms of optimizing a real-valued matrix function over the set of feedback gains. Such a setup facilitates examining the implications of a natural initial-state independent formulation of LQR in designing first order algorithms. We characterize several analytical properties (smoothness, coerciveness, quadratic growth) that are crucial in the analysis of gradient-based algorithms. We then examine three types of well-posed flows for LQR: gradient flow, natural gradient flow and the quasi-Newton flow. The coercive property suggests that these flows admit unique solutions while gradient dominated property indicates that the corresponding Lyapunov functionals decay at an exponential rate; quadratic growth on the other hand guarantees that the trajectories of these flows are exponentially stable in the sense of Lyapunov.
Low-Cost UFSOOK-Based Optical Camera Communication Link for IoT Applications

Internet-of-Things (IoT) solutions require a large number of low-power devices being connected to the internet. Most existing wireless IoT solutions rely on radio frequency (RF) technologies for communication. The RF spectrum is becoming more congested and limited by interference. This motivated researchers to explore new technologies operating at different bands of the spectrum, one of which is the Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) technology. In OWC, a light beam from a laser diode (LD) or a Light Emitting Diode (LED) is modulated and transmitted in the free-space. One of the subfields of OWC technologies is Optical Camera Communication (OCC), in which a camera is used as a receiver to detect the modulated light. The bitrate of an OCC link depends on the frame rate of the receiving camera, and thus any low-cost OCC link will be limited in bitrate. A low bitrate OCC link can be useful for applications in which sensors periodically post lightweight data. In this paper, we develop a low-cost OCC link for energy-constrained IoT devices. We utilize the Undersampled Frequency Shift On-Off Keying (UFSOOK) modulation scheme to modulate a 40 mA LED transmitter used to transmit continuously sensed temperature and humidity data using MQTT to be posted on a dashboard. The performance of the OCC link was comparable to its WiFi counterpart over five days of deployment at the entrance of a lab with research students frequently interrupting the LOS link.
Seizure Semiology in Focal and Generalized Epilepsies: Distinctive and Overlapping Features

Studying seizure semiology is the first step in evaluating any patient with epilepsy which leads the way to further investigations and management, particularly in differentiating focal and generalized epilepsies. While the usefulness of semiological analysis has been confirmed through decades' worth of research and clinical practice, there remains some instances when the line between focal and generalized semiological features is blurred leading to difficulties identifying the type of epilepsy at hand. This in turn can lead to delayed or wrong diagnoses with significant implications.In this review article, we explain the role of semiology in epilepsy, specifically in differentiating focal versus generalized epilepsies and cover the semiological features for both groups. We also discuss the occasional overlapping semiology between the two groups and provide case examples.