cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superb resolution and contrast of transmission electron microscopy images of unstained biological samples on graphene-coated grids.

Abstract Background In standard transmission electron microscopy (TEM), biological samples are supported on carbon films of nanometer thickness. Due to the similar electron scattering of protein samples and graphite supports, high quality images with structural details are obtained primarily by staining with heavy metals. Methods Single-layered graphene is used to support the protein self-assemblies of different molecular weights for qualitative and quantitative characterizations. Results We show unprecedented high resolution and contrast images of unstained samples on graphene on a low-end TEM. We show for the first time that the resolution and contrast of TEM images of unstained biological samples with high packing density in their native states supported on graphene can be comparable or superior to uranyl acetate-stained TEM images. Conclusion Our results demonstrate a novel technique for TEM structural characterization to circumvent the potential artifacts caused by staining agents without sacrificing image resolution or contrast, and eliminate the need for toxic metals. Moreover, this technique better preserves sample integrity for quantitative characterization by dark-field imaging with reduced beam damage. General significance This technique can be an effective alternative for bright-field qualitative characterization of biological samples with high packing density and those not amenable to the standard negative staining technique, in addition to providing high quality dark-field unstained images at reduced radiation damage to determine quantitative structural information of biological samples.
Nation Building in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration

Cross-sectoral interorganizational relationships in post-conflict situations occur regularly. Whether formal task forces, advisory groups or other ad hoc arrangements, these relations take place in chaotic and dangerous situations with urgent and turbulent political, economic and social environments. Furthermore, they typically involve a large number of players from many different nations, operating across sectors, and between multiple layers of bureaucracy and diplomacy. The organizational complexity staggers many participants and observers, as do the tasks they are charged with completing. Reform efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina starting in 1995 may serve as the archetype model of conflict, transition and development for the 21st century. It wins this honor due not to its particular programmatic successes and failures, rather to the interorganizational complexity of the International Community. From the massive response to the crisis, to the modern nation-building policies it spawned, and the development assistance practices and institutional arrangements it created, the Bosnian development experience has much to offer by way of lessons learned. This manuscript frames the unique Bosnian development situation, and provides lessons learned from the experience of nation building given local realities. Pettigrew (1992) called this “contextualizing.” While network and/or organizational structure, strategy and process explain many interorganizational relationship issues, the development variables identified in this manuscript prove equally important, yet elusive and difficult to measure despite their very real and overt presence.
Pleomorphic spindle-cell carcinoma of the gallbladder. Relation to sarcoma of the gallbladder

Two cases of an unusual plemomorphic spindle-cell form of carcinoma of the gallbladder are described. These neoplasms are probably identical to many previously reported as sarcomas. They generally occur in older women with associated cholelithiasis. Their microscopic features include extensive roundto-spindle cell proliferation without stromal differentation and areas of differentiated adenocarcinoma which may be obscured by the great bulk of anaplastic tumor.
GATA factors regulate proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression in small intestine of mature mice.

Background & Aims GATA transcription factors regulate proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression in multiple organs. GATA4 is expressed in the proximal 85% of the small intestine and regulates the jejunal-ileal gradient in absorptive enterocyte gene expression. GATA6 is co-expressed with GATA4 but also is expressed in the ileum; its function in the mature small intestine is unknown. Methods We investigated the function of GATA6 in small intestine using adult mice with conditional, inducible deletion of Gata6 , or Gata6 and Gata4 , specifically in the intestine. Results In ileum, deletion of Gata6 caused a decrease in crypt cell proliferation and numbers of enteroendocrine and Paneth cells, an increase in numbers of goblet-like cells in crypts, and altered expression of genes specific to absorptive enterocytes. In contrast to ileum, deletion of Gata6 caused an increase in numbers of Paneth cells in jejunum and ileum. Deletion of Gata6 and Gata4 resulted in a jejunal and duodenal phenotype that was nearly identical to that in the ileum after deletion of Gata6 alone, revealing common functions for GATA6 and GATA4. Conclusions GATA transcription factors are required for crypt cell proliferation, secretory cell differentiation, and absorptive enterocyte gene expression in the small intestinal epithelium.
Ending Economic Coercion: Domestic Politics and International Bargaining

Research on when economic sanctions end has emphasized either the international bargaining game played by the sender and the target or the redistributive politics and ruling coalition changes in each state. We contend that neither approach offers a fully satisfactory explanation for economic coercion termination. Bargaining is inconsistent with long coercion episodes while ruling coalition changes cannot inform our understanding of very short episodes. We argue that both bargaining factors and domestic realignments matter, but the influence of bargaining factors declines as a sanctions episode continues while the relevance of domestic realignments increases over time. Our empirical tests, which utilize the new Threat and Imposition of Economic Sanctions data set, provide support for both the bargaining and domestic realignment approaches, suggesting that unifying them is beneficial.
Use of Psychological Experimentation as an Aid to Development of a Query Language

This paper describes a series of psychological experiments used to test a new data base query language. The intent is to make psychological testing of a language part of the design and development process. By testing a language while it is still under development, features that require changing can bs identified and the changes made.
On the E-optimality of block designs with unequal block sizes

In this paper an inequality for sthe smallest positive eigenvalues of the C-matrix of a block design are derived. This inequality is a generalization of a result by Constantine (1982) to the case of unequal block sizes. On the basis of the above result a certain E-optimality criterium of block designs is given. Furthermore coefficient e d has been introduced which permits to assess how close the block design is from the optimal one
Instance Data Evaluation for Semantic Web-Based Knowledge Management Systems

As semantic web technologies are increasingly used to empower knowledge management systems (KMSs), there is a growing need for mechanisms and automated tools for checking content generated by semantic-web tools. The content in a KMS includes both the knowledge management (KM) schema and the data contained within. KM schemas can be viewed as ontologies and the data contained within can be viewed as instance data. Thus we can apply semantic web ontology and instance data processing techniques and tools in KM settings. There are many semantic web tools aimed at ontology evaluation, however there is little, if any, research focusing on instance data evaluation. Although instance data evaluation has many issues in common with ontology evaluation, there are some issues that are either more prominent in or unique to instance data evaluation. Instance data often accounts for orders of magnitude more data than ontology data in organization intranets, thus our work focuses on evaluation techniques that help users of KMSs to determine when certain instance data is ready for use. We present our work on semantic web instance data evaluation for KMSs. We define the instance data evaluation research problem and design a general evaluation process GEP. We identify three categories of issues that may occur in instance data: syntax errors, logical inconsistencies, and potential issues. For each category of issues, we provide illustrative examples, describe the symptoms, analyze the causes, and present our detection solution. We implement our design in TW OIE which is an online instance data evaluation service. We perform experiments that show that the TW OIE is more comprehensive than most existing online semantic web data evaluators.
Computer security education: training, scholarship, and research

Traditionally, computer security education falls into two distinct classes. The first is training, marked by an emphasis on particular systems, situations, or environments rather than broad principles. The second is scholarly (or scholarship), marked by an emphasis on underlying principles, concepts, and their application. The paper discusses a training course on Unix security, a scholarly course on computer security and the role of research in training education and scholarly education.
Sample volume and alignment analysis for an optical particle counter sizer, and other applications.

Optical methods for particle size distribution measurements in practical high temperature environments are approaching feasibility and offer significant advantages over conventional sampling methods. A key requirement of single particle counting techniques is the need to know features of the sample volume intensity distribution which in general are a function of the particle scattering properties and optical system geometry. In addition, the sample volume intensity distribution is sensitive to system alignment and thus calculations of alignment sensitivity are required for assessment of practical alignment tolerances. To this end, an analysis of sample volume characteristics for single particle counters in general has been developed. Results from the theory are compared with experimental measurements and shown to be in good agreement. A parametric sensitivity analysis is performed and a criterion for allowable optical mialignment is derived for conditions where beam steering caused by fluctuating refractive-index gradients is significant.
Measurement of Fe(II) in surface water of the equatorial Pacific

The distribution of Fe(II) in euphotic waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean was examined with novel in situ sampling and analytical methodology. Dissolved Fe(II) was isolated and preconcentrated, at depth, with a ligand-exchange Chromatographic technique and then determined spectrophotometrically. The distribution of Fe(II) in the upper 100 m was both temporally and spatially variable but generally exhibited maxima near the surface and often at depths with higher concentrations of Chl a. The concentration of Fe(II) varied from below the detection limit of 0.12 to 0.53 nmol kg-‘. Exposure of equatorial Pacific water to simulated sunlight in the laboratory resulted in similar Fe(II) concentrations, suggesting that photochemical reduction may be an important source for Fe(II) in these waters. Field measurements indicate that Fe(II) may comprise a significant fraction of the Fe present in euphotic ocean waters, which typically contain < 1 .O nmol kg-’ of dissolved Fe. The presence of detectable steady state concentrations of Fe(II) is believed to be the result of faster rates of photochemical and(or) biological reduction of Fe(III), relative to rates of Fe(II) oxidation by oxygen, peroxides, and other oxidants.
Improving Patient Satisfaction in Pediatric Ophthalmology

While there have been few studies of patient satisfaction in pediatric ophthalmology, the general medical and pediatric literature report findings that can be helpful. Interpersonal sensitivity is the most important factor for patient satisfaction. Two patients, the child and the parent, must be considered and treated. A more satisfied child, who despite the drops, enjoyed the office visit because she received direct communication and was praised and rewarded, leads to a more satisfied parent. Parents also need to be encouraged and reassured in their challenging parenting role. Satisfaction does not guarantee compliance with treatment recommendations, but helps considerably.
CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM FOOD POISONING

Summary The outbreaks of botulism in the United States during 1963 stimulated renewed interest in this food-borne disease, primarily because commercially prepared foods were involved. Three of the ...
The Other Side of Injustice When Unfair Procedures Increase Group-Serving Behavior

Greater group identification and higher levels of procedural justice typically work together to encourage group members to engage in group-serving cooperative behavior. However, when people who already identify with a group receive information indicating that the group is procedurally unjust, their motivation to engage in group-serving behavior may increase. This article reports two studies in which college students' identification with their university was measured and information about the procedural justice of the university was manipulated. Study 1 used an explicit measure of group identification and a deliberative measure of group-serving behavior. Study 2 used an implicit measure of group identification and both deliberative and spontaneous measures of group-serving behavior. The findings of both studies support the hypothesis that among people who are highly identified with a group, learning about the group's injustice leads to short-term increases in group-serving behavior.
Size and shape dimorphism in great ape mandibles and implications for fossil species recognition

Sexual dimorphism is an important source of morphological variation, and species differences in dimorphism may be reflected in magnitude, pattern, or both. While the extant great apes are commonly used as a reference sample for distinguishing between sexual dimorphism and intertaxic variation in the fossil record, few studies have evaluated mandibular dimorphism in these taxa. In this study, percentage, degree, and pattern of mandibular dimorphism are evaluated in Pongo, Gorilla, and Pan. Mandibular dimorphism patterns are explored to determine the extent to which such patterns accurately track great ape phylogeny. Pattern stability is assessed to determine whether there are stable patterns of mandibular size and shape dimorphism that may be usefully applied to hominoid or hominid fossil species recognition studies. Finally, the established patterns of dimorphism are used to address recent debates surrounding great ape taxonomy. Results demonstrate that mandibular dimorphism is universally expressed in size, but only Pongo and Gorilla exhibit shape dimorphism. Pattern similarity tends to be greater between subspecies of the same species than between higher-order taxa, suggesting that within the great apes, there is a relationship between dimorphism pattern and phylogeny. However, this relationship is not exact, given that dimorphism patterns are weakly correlated between some closely related taxa, while great ape subspecies may be highly correlated with taxa belonging to other species or genera. Furthermore, dimorphism patterns are not significantly correlated between great ape genera, even between Gorilla and Pan. Dimorphism patterns are more stable in Gorilla and Pongo as compared to Pan, but there is little pattern stability between species or genera. Importantly, few variables differ significantly between taxa that simultaneously show consistently relatively low levels of dimorphism and low levels of variation within taxa. Combined, these findings indicate that mandibular dimorphism patterns can and do vary considerably, even among closely related species, and suggest that it would be difficult to employ great ape mandibular dimorphism patterns for purposes of distinguishing between intra- and interspecies variation in fossil samples. Finally, the degree of pattern similarity in mandibular dimorphism is lower than previously observed by others for craniofacial dimorphism. Thus, the possibility cannot be ruled out that patterns of craniofacial dimorphism in great apes may be associated with a stronger phylogenetic signal than are patterns of mandibular dimorphism.
Training Partners in AAC in Culturally Diverse Families

Abstract This article focuses on culturally responsive AAC practice. Including parents in the process is essential to ensure that children with significant communication impairments receive the mos...
Methadone for persistent pain in the older patient

Methadone is a synthetic opioid analgesic developed almost 60 years ago in response to a shortage of supplies of traditional opioids caused by the Second World War. Until a few years ago, this agent saw relatively little use other than as a maintenance therapy in narcotic addicts. A lack of knowledge regarding the unusual pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug and their impact on its clinical use invited therapeutic misadventures, which manifested as delayed severe toxicity. With the discovery and dissemination of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behaviors and nonopioid mechanisms of action of methadone over the past 10–15 years, support for the use of methadone as a first-line opioid analgesic has been slowly progressing. Risk factors for excessive methadone accumulation have been identified, as have several dosing methodologies that allow its safe use, even in the oldest individuals. Methadone is no longer a medication only to be used by specialists in pain clinics. However, it should ...
Incorporation of historical controls using semiparametric mixed models

Summary. The analysis of animal carcinogenicity data is complicated by various statistical issues. A topic of recent debate is how to control for the effect of the animals' body weight on the outcome of interest, the onset of tumours. We propose a method which incorporates historical information from the control animals in previously conducted experiments. We allow non-linearity in the effects of body weight by modelling the relationship nonparametrically through a penalized spline. A simple extension of the penalized spline model allows the relationship between weight and onset of the tumour to vary from one experiment to another.
Structural studies of p53 inactivation by DNA-contact mutations and its rescue by suppressor mutations via alternative protein–DNA interactions

A p53 hot-spot mutation found frequently in human cancer is the replacement of R273 by histidine or cysteine residues resulting in p53 loss of function as a tumor suppressor. These mutants can be reactivated by the incorporation of second-site suppressor mutations. Here, we present high-resolution crystal structures of the p53 core domains of the cancer-related proteins, the rescued proteins and their complexes with DNA. The structures show that inactivation of p53 results from the incapacity of the mutated residues to form stabilizing interactions with the DNA backbone, and that reactivation is achieved through alternative interactions formed by the suppressor mutations. Detailed structural and computational analysis demonstrates that the rescued p53 complexes are not fully restored in terms of DNA structure and its interface with p53. Contrary to our previously studied wild-type (wt) p53-DNA complexes showing non-canonical Hoogsteen A/T base pairs of the DNA helix that lead to local minor-groove narrowing and enhanced electrostatic interactions with p53, the current structures display Watson–Crick base pairs associated with direct or water-mediated hydrogen bonds with p53 at the minor groove. These findings highlight the pivotal role played by R273 residues in supporting the unique geometry of the DNA target and its sequence-specific complex with p53.
Position specificity in Chitonomyces (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniomycetes) on Laccophilus (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae): a molecular approach resolves a century-old debate.

The occurrence of Laboulbeniomycete species consistently on a precise portion of beetle integument was investigated in 13 species of Chit- onomyces ectoparasitic on the aquatic diving beetle Laccophilus maculosus (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae). The phenomenon was called ''position specificity'' by Roland Thaxter in 1896, yet the mechanism has remained unknown. By using molecular analysis of the nucSSU rRNA gene and the 5.8S and partial ITS1 rRNA regions, 13 species of Chitonomyces reported to exhibit position specificity on Laccophilus maculosus were placed neatly into pairs of morphotypes, resulting in synonomies and recognition of six phylogenetic species (one species is a triplet). Each phylogenetic species was located at corresponding positions on male and female beetles that make contact during mating. In addition, ecological data
Developmental Changes in Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in the Turkey Embryo

Abstract The ontogeny of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and ontogeny as well as the molecular nature of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) as they relate to embryogenesis and posthatch growth in the turkey have not been reported. In this study, serum samples were harvested from turkey embryos incubated under shell-less and shelled conditions from Day 12 to 28 of incubation. Samples from 3, 6, and 8 wk posthatch were also evaluated. Significant changes in serum IGF-I in shelled embryos were observed in that IGF-I was low in early incubation, peaked at mid-incubation, and returned to levels equivalent to early incubation at hatching. No mid-embryogenesis (Days 14 to 18) increase in serum IGF-I was noted in the shell-less cultures. Embryo weights diverge at Day 18 of incubation, with shell-less embryos being significantly lighter than their age-matched shelled embryos, suggesting a possible relationship between total circulating IGF-I and body weight gain. Three distinct IGFBP were identified in serum from turkey embryos, exhibiting molecular weights of 27, 29, and 69 kDa. During embryonic development, the 29 kDa IGFBP appeared to be the predominant species, with levels peaking on Day 24 of incubation, and being minimally detectable at hatching. Ontogeny of the 29 kDa IGFBP was similar in the shelled and shell-less embryos. The 69-kDa IGFBP-like protein did not appear in the circulation until late in embryogenesis, Day 22 in shell-less and Day 26 in shelled embryos. The 27-kDa IGFBP appeared in late incubation. Similar IGFBP (28, 30, and 69 kDa) were observed in the growing male turkey. The 69-kDa protein did not vary across ages studied, whereas the 28-kDa IGFBP appeared to increase with age. This is the first report describing serum IGF-I and IGFBP in the developing turkey. Turkey IGFBP appear to be regulated by independent events during incubation and posthatch growth.
Segmentation of a piece-wise planar scene from perspective images

We study and compare two novel embedding methods for segmenting feature points of piece-wise planar structures from two (uncalibrated) perspective images. We show that a set of different homographies can be embedded in different ways to a higher-dimensional real or complex space, so that each homography corresponds to either a complex bilinear form or a real quadratic form. Each embedding reveals different algebraic properties and relations of homographies. We give a closed-form segmentation solution for each case by utilizing these properties based on subspace-segmentation methods. These theoretical results show that one can intrinsically segment a piece-wise planar scene from 2-D images without explicitly performing any 3-D reconstruction. The resulting segmentation may make subsequent 3-D reconstruction much better-conditioned. We demonstrate the proposed methods with some convincing experimental results.
In Vitro Activity of Micafungin (FK-463) against Candida spp.: Microdilution, Time-Kill, and Postantifungal-Effect Studies

We evaluated the in vitro activity of the new echinocandin antifungal micafungin against Candida spp. using microdilution and time-kill methods. Additionally, we examined the postantifungal effect (PAFE) of micafungin. Finally, we evaluated the effect of the addition of serum and plasma on the MIC of micafungin. Four Candida albicans isolates and two isolates of each Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, and Candida tropicalis were selected for testing. The MICs of micafungin were determined in RPMI 1640 medium buffered with morpholinepropanesulfonic acid alone and with the addition of 10, 20, and 50% human serum and plasma. MICs were determined by using two endpoints: a prominent reduction in growth (the MIC at which 80% of isolates are inhibited [MIC(80)]) and complete visual inhibition of growth (MIC(100)). The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of micafungin for each isolate was also determined. Time-kill curves were determined for each isolate in RPMI 1640 medium with micafungin at concentrations ranging from 0.125 to 16 times the MIC(80) to assess the correlation between MIC(80) and fungicidal activity. PAFE studies were conducted with each isolate by using concentrations ranging between 0.25 and 4 times the MIC(80). The MIC(80)s for the test isolates ranged from 0.0039 to 0.25 micro g/ml. Overall, the addition of serum or plasma increased the MIC 6 to 7 doubling dilutions for C. albicans and 3 to 4 doubling dilutions for C. krusei and C. tropicalis. Micafungin time-kill studies demonstrated fungicidal activity at concentrations ranging from 4 to 16 times the MIC(80). Micafungin is very potent agent against a variety of Candida spp., producing fungicidal activity against 7 of 10 isolates tested. A PAFE was observed against all isolates. The PAFE was influenced by the drug concentration, with the highest concentration resulting in the longest observed PAFE in each case. The highest concentration tested, four times the MIC, resulted in a PAFE of more than 9.8 h for 5 of 10 isolates tested (range, 0.9 to > or =20.1 h).
Nonparametric Identification in Structural Economic Models

Structural economic models allow one to analyze counterfactuals when economic systems change and to evaluate the well-being of economic agents. A key element in such analysis is the ability to identify the primitive functions and distributions of the economic models that are employed to describe the economic phenomena under study. Recent developments have provided ways to achieve identification of these primitive functions and distributions without imposing parametric restrictions. In this article, I consider a small set of stylized models and provide insight into some of the approaches that have been taken to develop nonparametric identification results in those models.
Book Review: William J. Stuntz, The Collapse of American Criminal Justice

One of the better ways to celebrate next year’s fiftieth anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright, in which the Supreme Court held that poor defendants accused of felonies in state court are constitutionally entitled to appointed counsel, would be to force every lawmaker, judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney in the United States to read the last major work of a man who believed the legacy of Gideon is not an unequivocally positive one. In The Collapse of American Criminal Justice, the late Bill Stuntz argues that the cure for the pathologies of the criminal justice system lies in restoring local democratic control over crime policy, better funding public defenders, and buttressing equal protection doctrine, rather than in the continued focus on the “vast network of procedural rules the Supreme Court has crafted since the early 1960s." Stuntz argues that the fetishization of so many formalistic procedures that, in his view, at best indirectly ensure fairness of trial and sentencing outcomes has rendered trials too expensive, which in turn has driven prosecutors and lawmakers to seek ways to avoid trial and force pleas through draconian sentencing schemes, a skewed focus on easily detected urban drug crimes mostly committed by racial minorities, and ever-expanding substantive criminal law. The result of this assembly-line justice, Stuntz argues, is both excessive punitiveness in the form of racially disparate mass incarceration and excessive leniency in the form of underprosecuted violent crime in poor communities.
Hippocampal spatial representations require vestibular input.

The hippocampal formation is essential for forming declarative representations of the relationships among multiple stimuli. The rodent hippocampal formation, including the entorhinal cortex and sub-icular complex, is critical for spatial memory. Two classes of hippocampal neurons fire in relation to spatial features. Place cells collectively map spatial locations, with each cell firing only when the animal occupies that cell’s “place field,” a particular subregion of the larger environment. Head direction (HD) cells encode directional heading, with each HD cell firing when the rat’s head is oriented in that cell’s particular “preferred firing direction.” Both landmarks and internal cues (e.g., vestibular, motor efference copy) influence place and HD cell activity. However, as is the case for navigation, landmarks are believed to exert greater influence over place and HD cell activity. Here we show that temporary inactivation of the vestibular system led to the disruption of location-specific firing in hippocampal place cells and direction-specific discharge of postsubicular HD cells, without altering motor function. Place and HD cell activity recovered over a time course similar to that of the restoration of vestibular function. These results indicate that vestibular signals provide an important influence over the expression of hippocampal spatial representations, and may explain the navigational deficits of humans with vestibular dysfunction.
Composite lithium metal anode by melt infusion of lithium into a 3D conducting scaffold with lithiophilic coating.

Lithium metal-based battery is considered one of the best energy storage systems due to its high theoretical capacity and lowest anode potential of all. However, dendritic growth and virtually relative infinity volume change during long-term cycling often lead to severe safety hazards and catastrophic failure. Here, a stable lithium–scaffold composite electrode is developed by lithium melt infusion into a 3D porous carbon matrix with “lithiophilic” coating. Lithium is uniformly entrapped on the matrix surface and in the 3D structure. The resulting composite electrode possesses a high conductive surface area and excellent structural stability upon galvanostatic cycling. We showed stable cycling of this composite electrode with small Li plating/stripping overpotential (
Genetically Engineered Mouse and Orthotopic Human Tumor Xenograft Models of Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a rare pediatric cancer of the developing retina that initiates with biallelic inactivation of the RB1 gene. Murine models of retinoblastoma provide excellent tools for preclinical studies as well as for the study of the biological processes that drive tumorigenesis following Rb loss. In this chapter, we describe several genetically engineered mouse and orthotopic human xenograft models of retinoblastoma and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these models.
Role of Amines in the Mitigation of CO2 Top of the Line Corrosion

The principal objective of this work is to investigate and understand the top of the line corrosion (TLC) inhibition mechanism in the presence of amines: diethylamine and morpholine. TLC can be defined as corrosion of carbon steel under water condensation conditions in the presence of acid gases such as CO2, which can be a problem in wet natural gas transportation lines. In order to define the possible interactions between the tested amines and the steel surface, the surface charge was investigated by determining the potential of zero charge (PZC). The PZC was measured by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a 1 wt% NaCl solution at different pH values. The possible inhibitive properties of diethylamine and morpholine were first tested under full immersion in the water phase—a condition corresponding to the so-called “bottom of the line” situation in gas pipelines, using linear polarization resistance and EIS. This was followed by tests in the gas phase under water condensing condition...
Evaluation of Pollutant Transport in the Unsaturated Zone

The past several decades has seen considerable progress in the conceptual understanding and mathematical description of water flow and solute transport processes in the unsaturated or vadose zone. A variety of analytical and numerical models are now available to predict water and/or solute transfer processes between the soil surface and the groundwater table. The most popular models remain those based on the Richards equation for variably-saturated flow, and the Fickian-based convection-dispersion equation for solute transport. Deterministic solutions of these classical equations likely will continue to be used in the near future for predicting water and solute movement in the unsaturated zone. In this paper we review recent developments in variably-saturated flow and transport research, especially from the point of view of process-based modeling. Among the topics being discussed are single-ion equilibrium transport, physical and chemical nonequilibrium transport, volatilization and degradation, multiple-species solute transport, parameter estimation, and recent advances in numerical modeling. Also briefly discussed are alternative stochastic approaches for evaluating contaminant transport in spatially variable field soils.
A maximal covering location-based model for analyzing the vulnerability of landscapes to wildfires: Assessing the worst-case scenario

Abstract In this research, we study the vulnerability of landscapes to wildfires based on the impact of the worst-case scenario ignition locations. Using this scenario, we model wildfires that cause the largest damage to a landscape over a given time horizon. The landscape is modeled as a grid network, and the spread of wildfire is modeled using the minimum travel time model. To assess the impact of a wildfire in the worst-case scenario, we develop a mathematical programming model to optimally locate the ignition points so that the resulting wildfire results in the maximum damage. We compare the impacts of the worst-case wildfires (with optimally located ignition points) with the impacts of wildfires with randomly located ignition points on three landscape test cases clipped out from three national forests located in the western U.S. Our results indicate that the worst-case wildfires, on average, have more than twice the impact on landscapes than wildfires with randomly located ignition points.
Increased Expression of the Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) in the Bone Marrow of Myelodysplasia (MDS) Patients.

MDS constitutes a set of heterogeneous hematopoietic stem cell diseases that are manifested by cytopenias in spite of a cellular bone marrow. MDS carries an increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Data suggest that overproduction of inflammatory cytokines in the marrow plays a role in the cytopenias of MDS. Nitric oxide (NO) has important functions in the immune system. Inflammatory cytokines trigger the expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO production. NO inhibits bone marrow progenitor cell growth and induces DNA mutations. Consequently, NO could play a role in the pathophysiology of MDS. We have evaluated iNOS expression in the bone marrow of MDS patients. Archival bone marrow biopsy samples from 10 MDS patients were compared to 10 normal bone marrow biopsies. The distribution by cases according to the FAB classification was 4 RA, 2 RARS, 3 RAEB, and 1 RAEB-T (Table). Immunohistochemical studies for human iNOS expression were performed using a polyclonal rabbit antibody. A sample was considered positive for iNOS expression when 10% or more cells were positive. Using this criterion, 7/10 MDS samples expressed iNOS while none of the normal bone marrows did (Table). iNOS expression was found exclusively in the myeloid lineage cells. Overexpression of iNOS in the bone marrow of MDS patients could lead to local overproduction of NO and therefore contribute to the ineffective hematopoiesis and cytopenias seen in early MDS. Chronic exposure to high levels of NO could enhance the risk of evolution to AML. iNOS could therefore constitute a new therapeutic target for MDS. | Diagnosis (FAB) | Number of samples | Number iNOS positive | |:------------------:| ----------------- | -------------------- | | RA | 4 | 3 | | RARS | 2 | 1 | | RAEB | 3 | 2 | | RAEB-T | 1 | 1 | | Total MDS | 10 | 7 | | Normal bone marrow | 10 | | iNOS expression in MDS and normal bone marrows
Towards engineering integrated cardiac organoids: beating recorded

Modeling human physiology in vitro is burgeoning as an exciting new field that requires coherent efforts encompassing multiple disciplines including engineering, biology, and medicine, among others (1).
The Waning of Ego and Agency: Commentary on Togashi’s “Being Thrown Into the World Without Informed Consent”

Koichi Togashi uses an evocative clinical illustration to push the Heideggerian notion of thrownness found in Hans Loewald into new territory. With the Japanese concept of amae, an emotion that takes the other person's love for granted, he expands our intersubjective understanding of early selfobject experience.
Live Integrated Visualization Environment: An Experiment in Generalized Structured Frameworks for Visualization and Analysis

Many immersive visualization systems require custom coding and specialized hardware and software to function properly. A number of commercial products provide some of this functionality, but lack fully immersive tracking and controls. Additionally, these environments have been traditionally limited to real time data feeds and analysis. The Live Integrated Visualization Environment is a framework developed to address these limitations, while allowing for best of breed integration of commercial products, government software, and open source software. By combining a custom developed messaging bus with a web service implementation, a dynamic, interactive immersive environment is provided across a number of platforms including CAVEs, touch tables, single wall displays, and desktops. We provide an architecture discussion including driver capabilities to enable quick development of additional data sources with existing visualization applications. We conclude with a discussion of several projects that successfully utilize the framework for real-time big data and geospatial applications for a range of tasks. We include a brief introduction to recent work for an open source and cross platform replacement of the framework.
Event Analysis on the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election Using Social Media

It is not surprising that social media have played an important role in shaping the political debate during the 2016 presidential election. The dynamics of social media provide a unique opportunity to detect and interpret the pivotal events and scandals of the candidates quantitatively. This paper examines several text-based analysis to determine which topics have a lasting impact on the election for the two main candidates, Clinton and Trump. About 135.5 million tweets are collected over the six weeks prior to the election. From these tweets, topic clustering, keyword extraction, and tweeter analysis are performed to better understand the impact of the events occurred during this period. Our analysis builds upon a social science foundation to provide another avenue for scholars to use in discerning how events detected from social media show the impacts of campaigns as well as campaign the election.
Atomic-scale understanding of non-stoichiometry effects on the electrochemical performance of Ni-rich cathode materials

Abstract As the next-generation high energy capacity cathode materials for Li-ion batteries, Ni-rich oxides face the problem of obtaining near-stoichiometric phases due to excessive Ni occupying Li sites. These extra-Ni-defects drastically affect the electrochemical performance. Despite of its importance, the fundamental correlation between such defects and the key electrochemical properties is still poorly understood. In this work, using density-functional-theory, we report a comprehensive study on the effects of non-stoichiometric phases on properties of Ni-rich layered oxides. For instance, extra-Ni-defects trigger charge disproportionation reaction within the system, alleviating the Jahn-Teller distortion of Ni3+ ions, which constitutes an important reason for their low formation energies. Kinetic studies of these defects reveal their immobile nature, creating a “pillar effect” that increases the structural stability. Ab initio molecular dynamics revealed Li depletion regions surrounding extra-Ni-defects, which are ultimate responsible for the arduous Li diffusion and re-intercalation, resulting in poor rate performance and initial capacity loss. Finally, the method with combination of high valence cation doping and ion-exchange synthesis is regarded as the most promising way to obtain stoichiometric oxides. Overall, this work not only deepens our understanding of non-stoichiometric Ni-rich layered oxides, but also enables further optimizations of high energy density cathode materials.
More Than Just Fun and Games: Definition, Development, and Intervention for Children’s Play and Social Skills

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often experience deficits and abnormalities in the development of social and play skills. Given the importance of these domains, it is not surprising that a great deal of intervention research aimed at teaching children with ASD target play and social behaviors has been conducted. The interventions with the most supporting scientific evidence are the focus of the majority of this book. In this first chapter, we provide an overview of the sequence, and time frame-specific play and social skills are observed in typical developing children. Next, specific deficits and other abnormalities associated with the social and play skills of children with ASD are identified, defined, and discussed. Emphasis is placed on the play and social skills most often targeted in intervention research. Finally, before subsequent chapters discuss more specialized interventions, this chapter concludes with two simple recommendations appropriate for parents and early childcare professionals who aim to support the development of social and play skills in children with or without ASD.
Spatiotemporal Patterns on a Ring Network of Oscillatory Electrochemical Reaction with Negative Global Feedback

The formation of spatiotemporal patterns in chemical systems can often be attributed to local and global interactions with the nonlinear kinetics, e. g., due to diffusion or an external constraint, respectively. We investigate the dynamics of an oscillatory chemical reaction on a ring of discrete elements, where the positive local coupling and negative global feedback can be varied independently to observe the emerging spatiotemporal patterns. With local coupling, the oscillations exhibit nearly in-phase synchronization. When increasing the global negative feedback, a transition is seen from nearly sinusoidal phase profile oscillations through rotating and standing waves to amplitude death behavior. The experimental studies are interpreted with a kinetic model of nickel electrodissolution. The results demonstrate the presence of rich spatiotemporal patterns that can be obtained in a network with positive local and negative global interactions.
Histopathologic findings in breast surgical specimens from patients undergoing female-to-male gender reassignment surgery

Breast reduction surgery or mastectomy following administration of androgen therapy is part of the female-to-male gender reassignment process. Details regarding the histopathologic findings in breast tissue from patients undergoing female-to-male gender reassignment surgery are limited. We reviewed hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of breast tissue from 148 patients who underwent breast reduction surgery or mastectomy as part of the female-to-male gender reassignment process at our institution between January 2014 and May 2017. The spectrum of histologic features in each case was catalogued. The median patient age was 27 years (range 18-60 years). Lobular atrophy was seen to some degree in 73% of cases and was prominent in 42%. A predominantly fibrotic stroma was seen in 45% of cases and areas resembling the fibrous stage of gynecomastia were seen in 41%. Other features included variably ectatic ducts in 96% of cases, cysts in 42%, apocrine metaplasia in 32%, fibroadenomatous change in 27%, usual ductal hyperplasia in 26%, and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia in 19%. Five cases (3%) demonstrated atypical hyperplasia (atypical ductal hyperplasia in 2; atypical lobular hyperplasia in 2; both atypical ductal hyperplasia and atypical lobular hyperplasia in 1). One case demonstrated high grade ductal carcinoma in situ. No invasive carcinomas were identified. In conclusion, the majority of breast specimens from patients undergoing female-to-male gender reassignment demonstrate at least some degree of lobular atrophy as well as ectatic ducts, fibrous stroma, and areas resembling the fibrous stage of gynecomastia. Only rare cases showed atypical lesions; the clinical significance of these lesions in this setting is uncertain.
Talking about science interests: the importance of social recognition when students talk about their interests in STEM

Although interest development is often conceptualized as a process that occurs within an individual, interest can be developed through various social mechanisms. Messages that suggest that one is or is not welcome within a context may serve to bolster or attenuate interest in those contexts. In a sample of first semester freshmen undergraduate science students, we tested whether or not talking with close others about one’s interests, and receiving social recognition during those conversations, was related to having a greater science career interest over time. Our findings suggest that the way in which students perceive others’ reactions to their scientific interests (social recognition) during these conversations may have the greatest impact on students that face greater external barriers to persisting. We found that positive social recognition appraisals that convey that a listener understands and encourages one’s interest in science predicted a greater science career interest over time for women, but not men. The impact of positive social recognition appraisals on interest in a science career was greatest among women with relatively low or average science identities, but not for women with a relatively high science identity. The implications for the development of students’ interest and for broadening participation in science are discussed.