cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meat & bone meal extract and gelatin as renewable flocculants.

Readily available proteins were tested as renewable flocculants, and their actions were compared to that of anionic PAM, a common, commercial flocculant that requires the coaddition of a calcium ion source. Two soy proteins, a whey fraction, a porcine gelatin, and a meat & bone meal (MBM) extract were used in the flocculation test. It was found that MBM extract and porcine gelatin promoted clay flocculation, and flocculation was complete by 24 h with or without the addition of calcium chloride. The other tested proteins did not promote clay flocculation, but all of the proteins were found to be adsorbed to clay. The protein adsorptions were well described by the Langmuir model, and gelatin and MBM extract had higher maximum adsorption capacities than the other proteins. Zwitterionic buffer solutions at pH 5.5, 7.0, and 10.0 were tested in the flocculation experiments. Addition of the pH 5.5 buffer caused the two soy proteins to become clay flocculants and lowered the concentration of gelatin and MBM extract necessary to promote complete flocculation by 24 h. Calcium chloride was not required for flocculation. Under optimal testing conditions, the dried weight of gelatin or MBM extract was 2.6 and 17 times higher, respectively, than the weight of anionic PAM required for complete flocculation at 24 h.
A Novel Perspective on Dopaminergic Processing of Human Addiction

Converging evidence from clinical, animal, and neuroimaging experiments suggests that the addictive behavior is associated with dysregulated dopamine neurotransmission. The precise role of dopamine in establishment and maintenance of addiction however is unclear. In this context animal studies on the brain reward system and the associative memory processing provide a novel insight. It was shown that both processing involve dopamine neurotransmission and both are disrupted in addiction. These findings indicate that dysregulated dopamine neurotransmission alters the brain processing of not only the reward system but also that of the memory of association between an addictive substance and reward. These alterations lead to maladaptive motivational behavior leading to chemical dependency. This concept however is based mostly on the data obtained in laboratory animals because of the paucity of human data. Due to lack of a reliable technique to study neurotransmission in the live human brain, it has been a problem to study the role of dopamine in human volunteers. A recently developed dynamic molecular imaging technique however, provides an opportunity to study these concepts in human volunteers because the technique allows detection, mapping and measurement of dopamine released in the live human brain during task performance.
Inflammation, Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Alzheimer’s Disease

Increasing evidence from in vivo and in vitro models suggests that inflammatory processes may contribute to the neuronal dysfunction and degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Neuritic plaques, a hallmark of AD pathology, have been associated with a host of proteins and acute phase reactants, activated microglia, and complement activation. From these observation, it follows that pharmacological suppression of inflammation may slow the rate of Alzheimer pathology.
Strain Resistivity at 4.2 K in Pure Aluminum

Strain induced resistivity increases are examined in pure aluminum under conditions of uniaxial tensile and compressive stress at 4.2 K. Metal studied has an annealed residual resistivity ratio (RRR = ρ273K/ρ4.2K^ covering the range 150 – 7100, is in some cases work hardened prior to testing, and is strained to levels below 10%. Resistivity is monitored during strain by eddy current coils located directly over strain gages bonded to centimeter diameter specimens. We find strain-resistivity to be slightly dependent on purity and similar for tension and compression. For all cases the empirical expression Ap = A (ep) holds for plastic strains (ep) above about 0.1% where A and B are constants. Values of B group around 1.5 for annealed metal and decrease to near 1.15 for the work hardened cases examined.
Use and Future Investigations of Recombinant and Plasma-Derived Coagulation and Anticoagulant Products in the Neonate

Although congenital bleeding disorders can manifest in the newborn period, the most common causes of bleeding and thrombosis in neonates are acquired conditions. Factor concentrates are used for specific diagnoses (hemophilia with inhibitors, specific factor deficiency, von Willebrand disease) and approved indications, and increasingly for off-label indications (bleeding in surgery cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). We will review the approved indications for factor products in the neonate and discuss the evidence and rationale for off-label use of factor products in management of bleeding and thrombosis in the neonate.
The genome-wide role of HSF-1 in the regulation of gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans

The heat shock response, induced by cytoplasmic proteotoxic stress, is one of the most highly conserved transcriptional responses. This response, driven by the heat shock transcription factor HSF1, restores proteostasis through the induction of molecular chaperones and other genes. In addition to stress-dependent functions, HSF1 has also been implicated in various stress-independent functions. In C. elegans, the HSF1 homolog HSF-1 is an essential protein that is required to mount a stress-dependent response, as well as to coordinate various stress-independent processes including development, metabolism, and the regulation of lifespan. In this work, we have performed RNA-sequencing for C. elegans cultured in the presence and absence of hsf-1 RNAi followed by treatment with or without heat shock. This experimental design thus allows for the determination of both heat shock-dependent and -independent biological targets of HSF-1 on a genome-wide level. Our results confirm that C. elegans HSF-1 can regulate gene expression in both a stress-dependent and -independent fashion. Almost all genes regulated by HS require HSF-1, reinforcing the central role of this transcription factor in the response to heat stress. As expected, major categories of HSF-1-regulated genes include cytoprotection, development, metabolism, and aging. Within both the heat stress-dependent and -independent gene groups, significant numbers of genes are upregulated as well as downregulated, demonstrating that HSF-1 can both activate and repress gene expression either directly or indirectly. Surprisingly, the cellular process most highly regulated by HSF-1, both with and without heat stress, is cuticle structure. Via network analyses, we identify a nuclear hormone receptor as a common link between genes that are regulated by HSF-1 in a HS-dependent manner, and an epidermal growth factor receptor as a common link between genes that are regulated by HSF-1 in a HS-independent manner. HSF-1 therefore coordinates various physiological processes in C. elegans, and HSF-1 activity may be coordinated across tissues by nuclear hormone receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. This work provides genome-wide HSF-1 regulatory networks in C. elegans that are both heat stress-dependent and -independent. We show that HSF-1 is responsible for regulating many genes outside of classical heat stress-responsive genes, including genes involved in development, metabolism, and aging. The findings that a nuclear hormone receptor may coordinate the HS-induced HSF-1 transcriptional response, while an epidermal growth factor receptor may coordinate the HS-independent response, indicate that these factors could promote cell non-autonomous signaling that occurs through HSF-1. Finally, this work highlights the genes involved in cuticle structure as important HSF-1 targets that may play roles in promoting both cytoprotection as well as longevity.
Lattice Dynamical Systems

The following notes are based on my lectures given at CIME Session on ”Dynamical Systems” from June 19 to June 26, 2000 in Cetraro (Cosenza). In Section 1, we study spatially discrete nonlinear diffusion equations and discuss various phenomenon; in Section 2, we introduce the idea of spatial chaos by studying Nagumo equation; in Section 3, 4 and 5, we present a general theory for pattern formation and spatial chaos in lattice dynamics systems; finally in Section 6 and 7, we study the special case of synchronisation phenomena of lattice systems.
Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy: Outcome

The functional outcome with conservative management of 186 patients with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy, evaluated between 1981 and 1993, is reviewed at the Children’s National Medical Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Editor's Highlight: Role of Spleen-Derived Macrophages in Ozone-Induced Lung Inflammation and Injury.

Macrophages and inflammatory mediators have been implicated in ozone toxicity. In these studies, we used splenectomized (SPX) mice to assess the contribution of splenic monocytes to pulmonary inflammation and injury induced by ozone. Cells and tissue were collected 24-72 h after exposure of mice to air or ozone (0.8 ppm, 3 h). Following ozone exposure, increased numbers of pro-inflammatory CD11b + Ly6CHi and anti-inflammatory CD11b + Ly6CLo monocytes were observed in spleens of control (CTL) mice. CD11b + Ly6CHi and MMP-9+ pro-inflammatory macrophages were also observed in lungs of CTL mice after ozone, along with CD11b + Ly6CLo and mannose receptor (MR)+ anti-inflammatory macrophages. This was accompanied by increased lung expression of proteins involved in monocyte/macrophage trafficking including CCL3, CCL4, CCR1, and AT1R. Splenectomy resulted in decreases in pro-inflammatory macrophages in the lung and down regulation of CCR2, CCL2, and CCL4, but increases in CD11b + Ly6CLo anti-inflammatory macrophages. CD11b+Ly6G+Ly6C+ granulocytic (G)- and monocytic (M)-myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC)s were also detected in the lungs and spleens of CTL mice; these increased after ozone exposure. Splenectomy was associated with a decrease in G-MDSCs in the lung, with no effect on M-MDSCs. Changes in lung macrophage subpopulations and MDSCs in SPX mice were correlated with reduced ozone toxicity, as measured by decreases in bronchoalveolar lavage protein content and reduced 4-hydroxynonenal expression in the lung. These data suggest that the spleen is a source of pro-inflammatory/cytotoxic macrophages that contribute to ozone-induced lung injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
Natural and Synthetic Variants of the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle in Cyanobacteria: Introduction of the GABA Shunt into Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002

For nearly half a century, it was believed that cyanobacteria had an incomplete tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, because 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (2-OGDH) was missing. Recently, a bypass route via succinic semialdehyde (SSA), which utilizes 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylase (OgdA) and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SsaD) to convert 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) into succinate, was identified, thus completing the TCA cycle in most cyanobacteria. In addition to the recently characterized glyoxylate shunt that occurs in a few of cyanobacteria, the existence of a third variant of the TCA cycle connecting these metabolites, the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt, was considered to be ambiguous because the GABA aminotransferase is missing in many cyanobacteria. In this study we isolated and biochemically characterized the enzymes of the GABA shunt. We show that N-acetylornithine aminotransferase (ArgD) can function as a GABA aminotransferase and that, together with glutamate decarboxylase (GadA), it can complete a functional GABA shunt. To prove the connectivity between the OgdA/SsaD bypass and the GABA shunt, the gadA gene from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was heterologously expressed in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, which naturally lacks this enzyme. Metabolite profiling of seven Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 mutant strains related to these two routes to succinate were investigated and proved the functional connectivity. Metabolite profiling also indicated that, compared to the OgdA/SsaD shunt, the GABA shunt was less efficient in converting 2-OG to SSA in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. The metabolic profiling study of these two TCA cycle variants provides new insights into carbon metabolism as well as evolution of the TCA cycle in cyanobacteria.
Fear by Association: Perceptions of Anti-Immigrant Policy and Health Outcomes

The United States is experiencing a renewed period of immigration and immigrant policy activity as well as heightened enforcement of such policies. This intensified activity can affect various aspects of immigrant health, including mental health. We use the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2015 Latino National Health and Immigration Survey (n = 1,493) to examine the relationship between immigration and immigrant policy and Latino health and well-being. We estimate a series of categorical regression models and find that there are negative health consequences associated with Latinos' perceptions of living in states with unfavorable anti-immigration laws, including reporting poor health and problems with mental health. This article builds on the work of public health scholars who have found a link between this heightened policy environment and the mental health of immigrants, yet expands on this research by finding that the health consequences associated with immigration policy extend to Latinos broadly, not just immigrants. These findings are relevant to scholars of immigration and health policy as well as policy makers who should consider these negative effects on the immigrant community during their decision-making process.
The ‘look-ahead’ professional development model: a professional development model for implementing new curriculum with a focus on instructional strategies

Professional development is an important part of creating a culture of continuous school improvement to maximize student learning. Rarely do we measure the impact of professional development on tea...
Faculty perceptions of the importance of communication in Saudi Arabia Higher Education Najran Community College: Case study

AbstractThere are a public consensus among Saudi Arabia higher education institutions that communications are imperative. It is unanimously agreed that communications play an important role in the light of Sharia law implemented in the country which imposes a strict separation between men and women in terms of buildings and teaching process. Thus, communication is increasingly gaining attention in our society. In this connection, there is very little work on the communication system in higher educational institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this research was to explore faculty perceptions about the importance of communication system for higher educational institutions. The study was also designed to test differences among faculty members about the communication system importance which are attributed to gender.
THE SCOPE AND THE LIMITS OF CONSERVATION GENETICS

We are living through the first mass extinction since the end of the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago. During most of the past 600 million years, only one species of plant or animal had gone extinct each year, on average, corresponding to an average species life span of five to ten million years (May et al. 1995). During the past four centuries, however, known extinctions occurred at a rate of two to three per year, and nearly five species per year are known to have gone extinct in the past century (Smith et al. 1993). Even this fivefold increase in background extinction rates, however, vastly understates the magnitude of the current extinction event because it is derived only from extinction of species known to science. Restricting our attention to birds and mammals allows us to better judge the extent to which current and past extinction rates differ. In the past century, roughly 100 of the 14,000 known species of birds and mammals became extinct. If extinction were to continue at this rate, it would correspond to an average species life span of less than 10,000 years (May et al. 1995)-far longer than all of recorded history, but three orders of magnitude shorter than average species life spans of mammals in the fossil record (Martin 1993). Moreover, three completely different methods for projecting future extinction rates suggest that the average life span of a bird or mammal species may soon be reduced to only 200-400 years (May et al. 1995). Faced with the immensity of this crisis, biologists of many stripes, geneticists and evolutionary biologists included, have tried to identify ways in which their specialty can contribute to slowing its advance. This book shows, by force of example, some of the ways that genetics can contribute to conservation. It also suggests, largely through what the editors have wisely not included, some of the ways that genetics has little to contribute.
The Chankas and the Priest. A tale of Murder and Exile in Highland Peru

Sabine Hyland's engaging, highly readable microhistory focuses on Pampachiri, a town in highland Peru that many readers will never have heard of. Though the place is obscure, Hyland's tale manages,...
Marine Air Penetration in California’s Central Valley: Meteorological Drivers and the Impact of Climate Change

AbstractThis study focuses on one of the most common coastal phenomena within California’s San Francisco Bay Delta and Central Valley—marine air penetration (MAP) events, which are a broad category of meteorological features that include the well-known “delta breeze.” Summertime MAP episodes, identified by an inland cooling pattern and onshore wind, are selected in both observational and reanalysis datasets using a newly developed set of objective criteria. Correlations between MAP occurrence and synoptic-scale meteorological patterns are then examined to understand the drivers of MAP. Historical data are first used to determine whether any significant trends have been observed in the frequency and character of MAP events. Future trends in MAP are then predicted on the basis of an investigation of how synoptic-scale meteorological patterns will be modified in the twenty-first century under CMIP5 climatological projections. From the analysis of historical and future MAP frequency (under RCP8.5), a weak pos...
Supported iron catalysts for Michael addition reactions

Abstract Heterogeneous catalysts have been widely used for chemical transformations and offer easy product separation in addition to their high activity. Iron is an earth-abundant metal, but it has not been studied thoroughly as heterogeneous catalysts for organic reactions. In this work, supported iron catalysts were synthesized via loading FeCl3 onto a mesoporous silica SBA-15. These catalysts were highly active for Michael addition reactions, a synthetic pathway for forming C C bonds that is typically achieved by homogeneous catalysts. Our studies show that for the supported iron catalysts, larger pore sizes of the silica resulting from the loading of iron and the oxidation state of iron being Fe(III) are essential for the high reaction rates. Notably, the catalysts show stability against leaching, regardless the presence or absence of a dendrimer as an additional stabilizing agent. The catalysts could be used for at least three runs without the loss of activity. The successful Michael addition reactions of indole or 2-methylindole and different α,β-unsaturated ketones corroborate the synthetic scope of the catalysts. These results show promises of using supported iron catalysts as inexpensive and effective alternatives for the formation of C C bonds.
The Scientists’ Toolbox

In the last three chapters I have been concerned to explore the concept of causality. In the next three chapters I wish to conclude this section by considering a set of related puzzles about the character of scientific laws and our methods of representing and conceiving nature.
A Model of Constructivist Learning in Practice: Computer Literacy Integrated into Elementary Mathematics and Science Teacher Education

AbstractEffective use of technology in the classroom has received much attention in education, and teacher training programs are expected to produce computer literate teachers. The purpose of this study was to compare two technology integration models. Pre- and postcourse questionnaires were administered to 73 preservice teachers completing an elementary methods course. The precourse questionnaire assessed preservice teachers’ computer skills prior to entering the methods course. A follow-up questionnaire administered at the end of their first year of teaching assessed how frequently they were using technology as an instructional tool and for what purposes. The results of this study indicated that integration of technology with integrated methods courses increased the probability that teachers transferred the computer skills into their classroom as compared to preservice teachers who learned computer skills in an isolated manner.
Can Legislatures Redress Racial Discrimination in Capital Punishment? Evaluating Racial Justice Acts in Response to McCleskey:

Three decades ago, the US Supreme Court declared in McCleskey v Kemp that legislatures, rather than courts, should redress statistically identified disparities in death sentencing. Racial justice e...
Hermandad: Sista’ Scholar Bonds for Black and Chicana Women in Doctoral Study

AbstractThe doctoral process presents several challenges and rewards to those pursuing an advanced degree. For women of color attending predominantly white institutions, addressing social and acade...
Polyvinyl chloride film impregnated with bathophenanthroline for rapid colorimetric determination of ferrous ion in water

A transparent test film for rapid and semi-quantitative determination of small amounts of ferrous ion in water was prepared. The film is composed of bathophenanthroline, tributyl phosphate and polyvinyl chloride as colour reagent, solvent, and supporting material, respectively. The test film is coloured by immersing into the sample solution, and the colour intensity of the film (proportional to the ferrous concentration in the 0.1 ∼ 5.6 ppm range) is compared visually with a colour scale or measured spectrophotometrically at 540 nm. 0.1 ppm of ferrous ion can be detected.
How cars became mobile spatial media: A geographical political economy of on-board navigation:

While cars, by definition and necessity, have always been (auto)mobile, they are not often considered, or studied, as media. In light of this, the present article seeks to elucidate the technologic...
Reincarnating the Forgotten Francis II: From Puerile Pubescent to Heroic Heartthrob

Son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici, Francis II acceded to the throne in 1559 at the age of 15, not long after his marriage to Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Francis’s death was sudden and unexpected, brought on by an abscessed ear infection on 5 December 1560 in Orleans, at a time when religious tension between Catholics and Calvinists was reaching a fever pitch. This chapter reconstructs the posthumous reincarnation of Francis II in two sixteenth-century pamphlets, in Charles-Jean-Francois Henault’s eighteenth-century play, Francois II, roi de France, and in the recent television program Reign. Images of Francis II range from that of a puerile pubescent in these early modern works to that of a heroic heartthrob in the CW Network’s 2013–2017 fantasy drama.
Spatial Distribution of Roots across Three Dryland Ecosystems and Plant Functional Types

Roots play a critical role in carbon storage, carbon cycling, and resource acquisition in dryland ecosystems, yet their distribution and production patterns are poorly understood. We aimed to compare the vertical and horizontal distribution of roots of the dominant plant functional types across 3 dryland ecosystems in the western Great Plains of the United States. We collected consecutive soil cores from directly under plants to 29 cm away from the center of plant individuals (horizontal plane), to a 20-cm depth (vertical plane). Across the 3 ecosystem types, grass root biomass decreased with depth and, for the sagebrush steppe, at a distance beyond 6.5 cm from the center of the plant. At the 10–20 cm depth increment, there was no horizontal pattern in root biomass. Uniformity in root biomass in the 10–20 cm depth and at distances >6.5 cm from the plant center is best explained by the overlap of roots of individual and neighboring plants to maximize belowground resource uptake. There was much lower root biomass in the surface 20 cm adjacent to shrubs than adjacent to grasses in the sagebrush steppe, and while grass root biomass decreased significantly with depth and distance as described above, shrub roots were uniform in both planes. Our study confirms that root distribution in drylands differs among plant functional types, with grasses exploiting surface soils both horizontally and vertically to capitalize on surface resources, and shrubs capitalizing less on those resources.
Supply Curves Using LCA and LCCA for Conceptual Evaluation of Proposed Policies to Improve the Environment

Many changes are being proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a multitude of sources, with the proposals based to varying degrees on science, economics, the potential to grow markets or shrink the markets of competitors, regulatory strategies, and attractiveness based on the ability to easily communicate the idea to the general public. Identifying, quantifying, and then selecting among the many possible strategies to achieve GHG reductions is difficult, especially without a standardized approach for comparison. A promising approach, supply curves, that has been used at a national level for developing abatement strategies for GHG reduction is proposed for use in this paper. Some of the critiques of past use of supply curves are being addressed through the use of the principles of consequential life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis. Pilot studies currently underway for a large state road agency and local governments will provide initial feedback on the ability to use this approach at a conceptual level for initial prioritization of alternatives. Initial results indicate that sufficient data can be gathered in a reasonable amount of time to compare alternatives and that the results can be compared on a much more consistent basis than has occurred previously.
The value of ultrastructural evaluation in medical renal diseases.

The next special issue for Ultrastructural Pathology will focus on the use of electron microscopy in the evaluation of medical renal diseases.The crucial role that electron microscopy plays in rena...
Association of pulse rate with outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a retrospective cohort study

In a real-world setting, the effect of pulse rate measured at the time of diagnosis and serially during follow-up and management, on outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), has not been well-studied. Furthermore, how beta-blockade use in a real-world situation modifies this relation between pulse rate and outcomes in HFrEF is not well-known. Hence, we identified a large, national, real-world cohort of HFrEF to examine the association of pulse rate and outcomes. Using Veterans Affairs (VA) national electronic health records we identified incident HFrEF cases between 2006 and 2012. We examined the associations of both baseline and serially measured pulse rates, with mortality and days hospitalized per year for heart failure and for any cause, using crude and multivariable Cox proportional hazards and Poisson or negative binomial models, respectively. The exposure was examined as continuous, dichotomous, and categorical. Post-hoc analyses addressed the interaction of pulse rate and beta-blocker target dose. We identified 51,194 incident HFrEF cases (67 ± 12 years, 98% male, 77% white. A significant positive, near linear relationship was observed for both baseline and serially measured pulse rates with all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalization and heart failure hospitalization after adjusting for covariates including beta-blocker use. Patients who had a pulse rate ≥ 70 bpm in the past 6 months had 36% (95% CI: 31–42%), 25% (95% CI: 19–32%), and 51% (95% CI: 33–72%) increased rates of mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and heart failure hospitalization, respectively, compared to patients with pulse rates < 70 bpm. A minority of subjects (15%) were treated with guideline directed beta blockade ≥50% of recommended target dose, among whom better outcomes were seen compared to those who did not achieve target dose in patients with pulse rates both above and below 70 beats per minute. High pulse rate, both at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up, is strongly associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes in HFrEF patients, independent of the use of beta-blockers. In a real-world setting, the majority of HFrEF patients do not achieve target dose of beta-blockade; greater use of strategies to reduce heart rate may improve outcomes in HFrEF.
Radiation Oncology Resident Research Productivity in the United States: 2015 to 2019.

Purpose Multiple efforts have been made in recent years to establish national benchmarks for research productivity among US radiation oncology residents. Morgan et al found a mean of 1.01 first-author, PubMed-searchable articles published by US radiation oncology residents over 4 years of residency between 2002 and 2007, whereas Verma et al found a mean of 1.97 first-author, PubMed-searchable articles published by members of the graduating US radiation oncology residency classes of 2014 and 2015. In this study, we sought to establish new national benchmarks for US radiation oncology resident research productivity and characterize the scholarly work produced by graduating US radiation oncology residents. Methods and Materials We built a database of US radiation oncology residents who graduated between 2015 and 2019 using multiple sources of publicly available data. We subsequently searched the PubMed database to identify all first-author publications for every resident in our database from the start of residency until 3 months after the completion of residency. Publications were categorized by type (original research, review, case report, or commentary) and content. We performed a secondary analysis to identify factors associated with an increased probability of publishing during residency. Results We identified 909 US radiation oncology residency graduates from 89 residency programs between 2015 and 2019. Collectively, these graduates published 2637 first-author, PubMed-searchable articles (mean: 2.90; median: 2.0; range, 0-58; interquartile range, 1-4) in 392 distinct peer-reviewed journals during their residency, and 69.7% of the first-author publications comprised original research. On multivariable analysis, only residency size was predictive of publishing a first-author manuscript during residency. Among residents with at least 1 first-author manuscript, male sex, lack of a doctorate degree, and residency size were all significant predictors of the number of first-author manuscripts published during residency. Conclusions US radiation oncology resident research productivity, as measured by the number of first-author, PubMed-searchable publications, has increased compared with historical data. However, substantial variability exists in resident research productivity nationwide.
Reply to Schierwagen et al.: β-Arrestins in liver disease.

We read with interest the Letter by Schierwagen et al. (1), which reports that fibrotic liver injury in rodents and in patients is associated with increased whole liver expression of β-arrestin 2 (β-Arr2), appearing to contrast with our recent report (2) demonstrating that injury induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in mice leads to decreased β-Arr2 expression in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). We demonstrated that reduced β-Arr2 expression in this specific cell type is associated with reduced activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and portal hypertension. We find that whole liver β-Arr2 appears to be unchanged to slightly elevated (although not statistically so) after BDL in rats and mice (Fig. 1). However, we emphasize that the finding of changes in whole liver … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: rockey{at}musc.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Single center experience of pediatric percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy.

Background: Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy is a percutaneous procedure that creates a window in the parietal pericardium by balloon dilation. The use of percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy has not been reported well in children. Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the single centre experience of percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy in children. Methods: This was a retrospective study to describe all the children aged <20 years undergoing percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy during an 18-year period (2001–2019). Patient characteristics, technical and ultimate procedural success, and repeat interventions were collected. Results: A total of 13 percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy’s were performed in 11 children at the median age of 12 years (range 1.8–19). The etiologies of pericardial effusion were post-pericardiotomy syndrome (n = 4), restrictive cardiomyopathy (n = 1), autoimmune diseases (n = 3), malignancy (n = 2), and idiopathic (n = 1). Two patients received two percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy. The technical success of percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy was 100% with no acute adverse events (balloon rupture or local bleeding). Five (45%) required re-intervention and ultimately three required a surgical pericardial window 6 to 35 days after the percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy. As a result, ultimate procedural success rate was 73% (8/11). Conclusion: Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy was performed safely with high technical success in children. Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy may be considered for recurrent and persistent pericardial effusion, before considering a surgical pericardial window.
Weak Gravitational Lensing by the Nearby Cluster Abell 3667

We present two weak lensing reconstructions of the nearby ($z_{cl}=0.055$) merging cluster Abell 3667, based on observations taken $\sim 1$ year apart under different seeing conditions. This is the lowest redshift cluster with a weak lensing mass reconstruction to date. The reproducibility of features in the two mass maps demonstrate that weak lensing studies of low-redshift clusters are feasible. These data constitute the first results from an X-ray luminosity-selected weak lensing survey of 19 low-redshift ($z< 0.1$) southern clusters.
Development of a Measure of State-Level Supports for School Nursing Services Delivery.

States have key roles and responsibilities in protecting and promoting the health of all of school-age youth. Though assessment and planning instruments exist to support quality school nursing serv...
Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Liver Injury: A Retrospective Analysis of Hospitalized Patients in New York City.

Background and aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global threat, affecting more than 100 million people and causing over 2 million deaths. Liver laboratory test abnormalities are an extrapulmonary manifestation of COVID-19, yet characterization of hepatic injury is incomplete. Our objective was to further characterize and identify causes of liver injury in patients with COVID-19. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 551 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020. We analyzed patient demographics, liver laboratory test results, vital signs, other relevant test results, and clinical outcomes (mortality and intensive care unit admission). Results Abnormal liver laboratory tests were common on hospital admission for COVID-19 and the incidence increased during hospitalization. Of those with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase and/or alkaline phosphatase activities on admission, 58.2% had a cholestatic injury pattern, 35.2% mixed, and 6.6% hepatocellular. Comorbid liver disease was not associated with outcome; however, abnormal direct bilirubin or albumin on admission were associated with intensive care unit stay and mortality. On average, patients who died had greater magnitudes of abnormalities in all liver laboratory tests than those who survived. Ischemic hepatitis was a mechanism of severe hepatocellular injury in some patients. Conclusions Liver laboratory test abnormalities are common in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and some are associated with increased odds of intensive care unit stay or death. Severe hepatocellular injury is likely attributable to secondary effects such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, and ischemic hepatitis.
The Atlantic salmon's stress- and immune-related transcriptional responses to moderate hypoxia, an incremental temperature increase, and these challenges combined.

The marine environment is predicted to become warmer, and more hypoxic, and these conditions may negatively impact the health and survival of coastal fish species, including wild and farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Thus, we examined how: (1) moderate hypoxia (∼70% air saturation) at 12°C for 3 weeks; (2) an incremental temperature increase from 12°C to 20°C (at 1°C week-1) followed by 4 weeks at 20°C; and (3) treatment "2" combined with moderate hypoxia affected transcript expression in the liver of post-smolts as compared to control conditions (normoxia, 12°C). Specifically, we assessed the expression of 45 genes related to the heat shock response, oxidative stress, apoptosis, metabolism and immunity using a high-throughput qPCR approach (Fluidigm Biomark™ HD). The expression profiles of 27 "stress"-related genes indicated that: (i) moderate hypoxia affected the expression of several stress genes at 12°C; (ii) their expression was impacted by 16°C under normoxic conditions, and this effect increased until 20°C; (iii) the effects of moderate hypoxia were not additive to those at temperatures above 16°C; and (iv) long-term (4 weeks) exposure to 20°C, with or without hypoxia, resulted in a limited acclimatory response. In contrast, the expression of 15 immune-related genes was not greatly affected until temperatures reached 20°C, and this effect was particularly evident in fish exposed to the added challenge of hypoxia. These results provide valuable information on how these two important environmental factors affect the "stress" physiology and immunity of Atlantic salmon, and we identify genes that may be useful as hypoxia and/or temperature biomarkers in salmonids and other fishes.
Stablecoins: Survivorship, Transactions Costs and Exchange Microstructure

Seven of the ten largest stablecoins are backed by fiat assets. The 2016 and 2017 vintages of stablecoins have failure rates of 100% and 50% respectively. More than one-third of stablecoins have failed. Tether has a 39% share of 1.77 trillion USD in 2021Q2 transactions, and USD Coin 28%. The top three stablecoins have an average velocity of 28.3. Tether transacted between 3.8 million unique addresses, 63% of the ERC-20 token network. Six of the top ten tokens have unconcentrated Herfindahl indices, but Gemini, Pax and Huobi have single holders with more than 50% of the supply. The median Tether transaction fee is similar to the cost of an ATM transaction, but they are three to four times more for Dai and USDC. Fees, which are proportional to the price of Ethereum, are rising though. Median fees for Tether rose 3,628% over the last year, and 1,897% for USD Coin. 24 hour exchange turnover in Tether is nearly $120 billion. This is comparable to the daily volume at the NYSE and almost ten times the daily flow in money market mutual funds. Narrow bid-ask spreads and depth have attracted active HFT participation.
Does wearing a facemask decrease arterial blood oxygenation and impair exercise tolerance

Abstract Introduction Concerns have been raised that COVID-19 face coverings compromise lung function and pulmonary gas exchange to the extent that they produce arterial hypoxemia and hypercapnia during high intensity exercise resulting in exercise intolerance in recreational exercisers. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effects of a surgical, flannel or vertical-fold N95 masks on cardiorespiratory responses to incremental exercise. Methods This investigation studied 11 adult males and females at rest and while performing progressive cycle exercise to exhaustion. We tested the hypotheses that wearing a surgical (S), flannel (F) or horizontal-fold N95 mask compared to no mask (control) would not promote arterial deoxygenation or exercise intolerance nor alter primary cardiovascular variables during submaximal or maximal exercise. Results Despite the masks significantly increasing end-expired peri-oral %CO2 and reducing %O2, each ∼0.8−2% during exercise (P Conclusion Whereas these results are for young healthy recreational male and female exercisers and cannot be applied directly to elite athletes, older or patient populations, they do support that arterial hypoxemia and exercise intolerance are not the obligatory consequences of COVID-19-indicated mask-wearing at least for cycling exercise.
Two-dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Heterobilayer Emitters for Luminescent Solar Concentrator Photovoltaics

Luminescent solar concentrator devices offer potential pathways for reductions in photovoltaic system soft costs through module integration within traditional building envelopes. However, to achieve competitive power conversion efficiency performance for such concentrators, near-unity luminophore photoluminescence quantum yield, large absorption/emission spectral separation (i.e., Stokes shift), and efficient photon trapping within the optical waveguide structure must all be attained. Within the past decade, tremendous research efforts on transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers have achieved near-unity quantum yields. Moreover, previous work shows how stacking two such monolayers together to form a heterobilayer enables highly anisotropic, dipole-like far-field emission of radiatively recombined excitons. Here, we computationally demonstrate, as a proof of concept, the performance of a single-junction luminescent solar concentrator device employing transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers as the active luminophore species. We model such a device with two variations of such heterobilayers (MoS 2 /WS 2 , MoS 2 /WSe 2 ). Using an experimentally validated Monte Carlo ray-trace model, we sweep across the relevant device parameter space with power conversion efficiency as our primary figure of merit. We find that for a modest geometric gain of 10, an optical density of 3, and PLQYs approaching unity, the photovoltaic module reaches a power efficiency of 3.8% for both MoS 2 /WS 2 and MoS 2 /WSe 2 .
Increasing usage of mother's own milk in neonates at risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome: MOM-NAS quality improvement initiative.

Objective To increase the usage rate of mothers' own milk (MOM) among neonates with prenatal opioid exposure from a baseline average of 47% to an average of 75% over two years. Study design Between October 2018 and December 2020, we implemented various Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles that involved engaging providers in postpartum counseling for mothers with opioid dependence, using electronic medical records to track the rate of counseling, providing NAS educational materials to parents, and establishing a rooming-in unit. Our outcome measure was the provision of MOM to eligible neonates, while our process measure was the rate of postpartum counseling. Results During this initiative, we witnessed a special cause variation with an increase in the usage rate of MOM from a baseline of 47% to a 27-month average of 85% by December 2020. Conclusion A series of quality improvement efforts resulted in increased usage of MOM among infants at risk of NAS.
A Theory of the State: Collective Action and Collective Decisions

This chapter commences by arguing that individuals must form collective-action mechanisms to protect themselves from their own protectors. We next consider the erection of a collective-action mechanism and the ability of that mechanism to punish defectors. The discussion then turns to the peculiar nature of the balance between the power of this mechanism and that of the protector and the measures needed to prevent the protector from taking over. We continue with a discussion of the decision-making mechanism, vote allocation, and the need for a voting supermajority. The prevention of capture and the notion of rentseeking follow. Then comes a discussion of controlling the protectors without collective action, followed by considerations of expanding the state and the accompanying collective-action mechanism. We close with conclusions. THE NEED FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION IN CONSTRAINING PROTECTION SPECIALISTS Rule-of-law regimes, that is, regimes where clients control the protection organizations, are characterized by the relative ease with which they can be turned into dictatorships and by the difficulty of restoring the rule of law once it has been lost. Both difficulties stem from the problems of collective action. Unless individuals cooperate to prevent dictatorship from emerging and to overturn it once it seizes power, the strongest individual among any unorganized group can subdue the rest, one at a time, and thus become and remain a dictator. Not only can a dictator be expected to enrich himself at his subjects' expense, but also he can be expected to adopt oppressive measures to lower the opportunity for revolt.
A host cell protein binds to a highly conserved sequence element (pac-2) within the cytomegalovirus a sequence.

The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) a sequence has significant homology to two regions, pac-1 and pac-2, within the a sequence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Both regions have been shown to be important cis-acting signals in HSV-1 genome maturation. We have demonstrated that a small fragment from within the CMV a sequence, containing the pac-1 and pac-2 motifs, carries all of the signals necessary for generation of genomic termini and for inversion. These observations indicated that the function of these highly conserved sequence motifs was similar in CMV and HSV-1. We have identified and partially purified a host cell protein with affinity for the sequence 59-GGCGGCGGCGCATAAAA-39 within CMV pac-2. This partially purified protein has an apparent molecular weight of 89,000 under denaturing conditions and could be renatured after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting that the capacity to bind DNA was the property of a single polypeptide chain. This activity was found in a wide variety of human cell lines, including those that are permissive as well as those that are nonpermissive for CMV growth, but not in cell lines from monkey, mouse, or drosophila origins. Our work implicates a host cell protein in a sequence function. Images
A Pluralistic Stewardship Approach to Sustainable Development

How might society reconcile competing normative criteria so as to both conserve threatened tropical ecosystems and vulnerable human populations in low- and middle-income economies? In this article, Christopher B. Barrett argues for a pluralistic stewardship conceptualization of environmentally sustainable economic development operationalized through interdependent markets, social norms, and governments.
Common Property Aspects of Ground-Water Use and Drainage Generation

In this chapter a game theoretic analysis of ground-water use and drainage water management is introduced. Model simulations using parameters relevant to the San Joaquin Valley (Valley) are presented to illustrate the different types of behavior that might be observed and to quantify the benefit losses of different management strategies. The implications of these models for ground-water and drainage policy are also discussed.