cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dental enamel regeneration

Enamel formation Enamel is the outermost covering of vertebrate teeth and the hardest tissue in the vertebrate body. During tooth development, ectoderm-derived ameloblast cells create enamel by synthesizing a complex protein mixture into the extracellular space where the proteins self-assemble to form a matrix that patterns the woven hydroxyapatite (Wang et al ., 2007; Zhu et al ., 2006). During enamel biomineralization, the assembly of the protein matrix precedes mineral replacement. The predominant protein of mammalian enamel is amelogenin, which is secreted from ameloblasts. It is a hydrophobic protein that self-assembles to form nanospheres that in turn influence the crystal type, organization, and packing of the crystallites (Du et al ., 2005). In contrast to the mesenchyme-controlled biomineralization of bone, which uses collagen and remodels both the organic and the inorganic phases over a lifetime, enamel contains no collagen and does not remodel. The mature enamel composite contains hardly any protein (Smith et al ., 1998) and is a tough, crack-tolerant, and abrasion-resistant tissue (White et al ., 2001). The process of enamel formation, termed amelogenesis, is the end product of a series of complex, dynamic, and programmed cellular, chemical and physiological events (Simmer et al ., 2010). Enamel formation can be categorized into three distinct stages – the secretory, transition, and maturation stages. The secretory stage is characterized by active protein synthesis and secretion by the ameloblasts. Ameloblasts also deposit enamel crystals at oblique angles while they are moving in the direction of the future cusps to accommodate expansion of the enamel surface. The transition stage is of short duration and is characterized by extensive apoptosis and shortening of ameloblasts in preparation for their transition into the maturation stage. The maturation stage is characterized by removal of enamel organic materials and growth of hydroxyapatite crystals in thickness, as well as by regulated movement of ions into and out of the enamel matrix (Lu et al ., 2008; Smith et al ., 1998). Besides their involvement in crystal formation, ions also contribute to the color of the teeth (Yanagawa et al ., 2004). Enamel in humans is characterized by a large diversity of color variations.
The Black Messiah and Black Suffering

Theodicy, from the Greek words for the deity (Theos) and justice (dike), refers to the attempt to justify the goodness and power of the Divine in the face of evil in the world. Indeed, James Melvin Washington, the late African American church historian, described the fundamental existential situation of enslaved Africans as “stalkers after meaning.” In this chapter, the author explores the efficacy of the theodical teachings and practices of Reverend Albert B. Cleage Jr. (Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman) and the Shrine of the Black Madonna (Pan-African Orthodox Christian Church) in light of their unequivocal commitment to the liberation and the flourishing of Black people.
Knockdown of ATP citrate lyase in pancreatic beta cells does not inhibit insulin secretion or glucose flux and implicates the acetoacetate pathway in insulin secretion.

Objective Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells requires metabolic signals including the generation of glucose-derived short chain acyl-CoAs in the cytosol from mitochondrially-derived metabolites. One concept of insulin secretion is that ATP citrate lyase generates short chain acyl-CoAs in the cytosol from mitochondrially-derived citrate. Of these, malonyl-CoA, is believed to be an important signal in insulin secretion. Malonyl-CoA is also a precursor for lipids. Our recent evidence suggested that, in the mitochondria of beta cells, glucose-derived pyruvate can be metabolized to acetoacetate that is exported to the cytosol and metabolized to the same short chain acyl-CoAs and fatty acids that can be derived from citrate. We tested for redundancy of the citrate pathway.
Chondrocyte Viability 3.5 Years Following a Vascularized Medial Femoral Trochlea Osteocartilaginous Free Flap.

Case: A 30-year-old woman underwent arthroscopy for wrist pain 3.5 years following a medial femoral trochlea (MFT) osteocartilaginous free flap for Kienbock disease, which provided the opportunity to examine the transferred cartilage in vivo. Arthroscopy revealed no evidence of chondrolysis, and histologic examination revealed uniformly viable chondrocytes within a matrix consistent with fibrocartilage. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, the long-term viability of chondrocytes following an MFT free flap has not been previously documented. This case provides early evidence that free tissue transfer based on the descending genicular artery can provide a durable solution for osteocartilaginous defects.
Parental psychopathology and expectations for the futures of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Background The influence of parental psychopathology and parental expectations on child well-being is well documented among typically developing populations. However, to date little research has examined the relationship among these factors in families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examines an observed relationship between parental psychopathology and expectations in families with children with ASD in the light of research in other populations. Method Twenty-four parents of children diagnosed with ASD were assessed for symptoms of psychopathology. Parents completed measures of child ASD severity as well as their expectations for possible outcomes of their child. Results Two main effects were found: higher parental psychopathology and ASD severity were both related to lower expectations. Interaction of ASD severity and parental psychopathology in relation to parent expectations was not observed. Conclusion These results emphasize the necessity of providing services not only to individuals diagnosed with ASD, but to caregivers as well.
Phylogenetic and Functional Diversity of Total (DNA) and Expressed (RNA) Bacterial Communities in Urban Green Infrastructure Bioswale Soils.

New York City is pioneering green infrastructure, the use of bioswales and other engineered, soil-based habitats to provide stormwater infiltration and other ecosystem functions. In addition to avoiding the environmental and financial costs of expanding traditional built infrastructure, green infrastructure is thought to generate co-benefits in the form of diverse ecological processes performed by its plant and microbial communities. Yet, although plant communities in these habitats are closely managed, we lack basic knowledge about how engineered ecosystems impact the distribution and functioning of soil bacteria. We sequenced amplicons of the 16S ribosomal subunit as well as seven genes associated with functional pathways, generated from both total (DNA-based) and expressed (RNA) soil communities in the Bronx, NYC, in order to test whether bioswale soils host characteristic bacterial communities with evidence for enriched microbial functioning, as compared to non-engineered soils in park lawns and tree pits. Bioswales had distinct, phylogenetically diverse bacterial communities, including taxa associated with nutrient cycling and metabolism of hydrocarbons and other pollutants. Bioswale soils also had significantly greater diversity of genes involved in several functional pathways, including carbon fixation ( cbbL-R, apsA ), nitrogen cycling ( noxZ, amoA ), and contaminant degradation ( bphA ); conversely, no functional genes were significantly more abundant in non-engineered soils. These results provide preliminary evidence that urban land management can shape the diversity and activity of soil communities, with positive consequences for genetic resources underlying valuable ecological functions, including biogeochemical cycling and degradation of common urban pollutants. Importance. Management of urban soil biodiversity, for example by favoring taxa associated with decontamination or other microbial metabolic processes, is a powerful prospect, but will first require understanding how engineered soil habitats shape patterns of microbial diversity. This research adds to our understanding of urban microbial biogeography in providing data on soil bacteria in bioswales, which had relatively diverse and compositionally distinct communities compared to park and tree pit soils. Bioswales also contained comparatively diverse pools of genes related to carbon sequestration, nitrogen cycling and contaminant degradation, suggesting that engineered soils may serve as effective reservoirs of functional microbial biodiversity. We also examined both total (DNA-based) and expressed (RNA) communities, revealing that total bacterial communities—the exclusive targets in the vast majority of soil studies—were poor predictors of expressed community diversity, pointing to the value of quantifying RNA especially when ecological functioning is considered.
Translocator Protein PET Imaging in a Preclinical Prostate Cancer Model.

The identification and targeting of biomarkers specific to prostate cancer (PCa) could improve its detection. Given the high expression of translocator protein (TSPO) in PCa, we investigated the use of [18F]VUIIS1008 (a novel TSPO-targeting radioligand) coupled with positron emission tomography (PET) to identify PCa in mice and to characterize their TSPO uptake. Ptenpc−/−, Trp53pc−/− prostate cancer-bearing mice (n = 9, 4–6 months old) were imaged in a 7T MRI scanner for lesion localization. Within 24 h, the mice were imaged using a microPET scanner for 60 min in dynamic mode following a retro-orbital injection of ~ 18 MBq [18F]VUIIS1008. Following imaging, tumors were harvested and stained with a TSPO antibody. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn around the tumor and muscle (hind limb) in the PET images. Time-activity curves (TACs) were recorded over the duration of the scan for each ROI. The mean activity concentrations between 40 and 60 min post radiotracer administration between tumor and muscle were compared. Tumor presence was confirmed by visual inspection of the MR images. The uptake of [18F]VUIIS1008 in the tumors was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the muscle, where the percent injected dose per unit volume for tumor was 7.1 ± 1.6 % ID/ml and that of muscle was < 1 % ID/ml. In addition, positive TSPO expression was observed in tumor tissue analysis. The foregoing preliminary data suggest that TSPO may be a useful biomarker of PCa. Therefore, using TSPO-targeting PET ligands, such as [18F]VUIIS1008, may improve PCa detectability and characterization.
Assimilating observations to simulate marine layer stratocumulus for solar forecasting

Abstract Integration of solar energy forecasts into the electric network is becoming essential because of the continually increasing penetration level of solar energy. Three-dimensional numerical weather prediction (NWP) models predict the weather based on the current weather conditions (called initialization) and simulate the ensuing atmospheric processes. The accuracy of forecasts therefore depends, in part, on the accuracy of the model initializations. Data assimilation is recognized as the most widely used technique to improve the initialization into NWP models. In this study, meteorological observations from the surface and upper-air in-situ networks over the southern California coast are assimilated into the advanced research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model using a three dimensional variational data assimilation technique (3DVAR). A single observation test was conducted to tune-up the length scale and variance scale along with the regional domain-dependent background error statistics. A customized version of 3DVAR data assimilation was deployed with two sets of cyclic data assimilation with 6-h and 1-h assimilation windows along with the cold-start mode. The cyclic data assimilation experiments consistently outperformed the cold-start data assimilation and WRF for intra-day Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) and Clear Sky Index (CSI) forecast. Hourly cyclic assimilation showed the highest forecast skill score against ground measurements and satellite measurements. Even at the coastal stations with more challenging meteorological conditions, the hourly cyclic assimilation consistently outperformed the 24-h persistence forecast. The average (mean of four case studies) hourly cyclic data assimilation showed the highest forecast skill score in GHI and CSI intra-day forecast with reference to 24-h persistence forecast up to 39.4% and 40.7% respectively at the coastal stations. The spatial distributions of GHI biases estimated against SolarAnywhere satellite measurements showed that the hourly cyclic assimilation consistently improved the stratocumulus cloud coverage, thickness, and life time over the coastal region, but biases are still present further inland.
State-dependent stochastic models: A general stochastic framework for modeling deteriorating engineering systems considering multiple deterioration processes and their interactions

Abstract For performance analysis of deteriorating engineering systems, it is critical to model and incorporate the various deterioration processes and associated uncertainties. This paper proposes state-dependent stochastic models (SDSMs) for modeling the impact of deterioration on the performance of engineering systems. Within the stochastic framework, the change of the system state variables due to different deterioration processes and their interaction is modeled explicitly. As a candidate model to be used in the framework, a new general age and state dependent stochastic model for gradual deterioration is proposed, and its calibration based on data is also discussed. Once the time-variant system state variables are modeled, proper capacity and demand models that take them as inputs can be adopted to fully capture the impact of deterioration processes on the capacity, demand, and other system performances. The proposed framework is first demonstrated through a simple example, and then is used to model the deterioration of an example reinforced concrete (RC) bridge considering deterioration caused by both corrosion and earthquake including their interaction. The results show the importance of modeling the interaction between different deterioration processes, and also verify the advantages of the proposed framework.
Lymphocyte-High Endothelial Venule Interactions: Examination of Species Specificity

Lymphocytes enter lymph nodes from the blood by adhering to and migrating through the specialized endothelium of post-capillary high endothelial venules (HEV). Recently, two in vitro assays of this lymphocyte-HEV interaction have been developed, one utilizing arterial perfusion of labeled lymphocytes through an isolated mesenteric lymph node chain (1), and the other measuring adherence of lymphocytes to HEV in glutaraldehyde fixed frozen sections of rat lymph nodes (2). The availability of these in vitro techniques makes it possible to examine many aspects of lymphocyte/high endothelial cell recognition and interaction. In the present study we have combined these techniques (modified for use in mice) with in vivo homing assays to investigate the evolutionary conservation of lymphocyte-HEV adherence mechanisms. We have compared the ability of lymphocytes from several species to interact with mouse HEV. In principle, these studies will provide the background for more detailed investigations of the molecular basis of this cell-cell interaction.
Costs of Equity from Factor-Based Models

Equity costs of capital for individual firms are estimated using several models that relate expected returns to betas on one or more pervasive factors. A Bayesian approach incorporates prior uncertainty about an asset's mispricing as well as uncertainty about betas and factor means. Substantial prior uncertainty about mispricing results in an estimated cost of equity close to that obtained with mispricing ruled out. Uncertainty about which pricing model to use appears to be less important, on average, than within-model parameter uncertainty. In the absence of mispricing uncertainty, uncertainty about factor means is generally the most important source of overall uncertainty about a firm's cost of equity, although uncertainty about betas is nearly as important.
Prospective Seroepidemiology of Hantaviruses and Population Dynamics of Small Mammal Communities of Baltimore, Maryland,

We used a prospective seroepidemiological study, in conjunction with a mark-release-recapture protocol, to investigate the transmission of hantaviruses in four rodent species from Baltimore, Maryland, from June 1984 to June 1986. A total of 1,208 captures of 762 rodents provided 984 individual blood samples. The antibody prevalence, as determined by frequency of reciprocal indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) titers greater than or equal to 32, was 33.9% in rats (Rattus norvegicus, n = 466), 28.3% in meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus, n = 67), 1.4% in house mice (Mus musculus, n = 146), and 1.2% in white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus, n = 83). Populations of all rodents were maximal during the fall and winter months, but population trends were not clearly associated with periods of virus transmission. The mean incidence of seroconversion to a Hantavirus for rats was 12.06/100 rats/month, but incidence rates could not be established for other species. Rats which seroconverted were generally sexually mature animals, and there was evidence of transmission throughout the year. Animals which seroconverted to a Hantavirus achieved high IFA titers, and remained seropositive for the duration of the study.
Energy Efficient Power Distribution on Many-Core SoC

We propose a scheme for delivering power to parts of a large integrated circuit, such as cores in a system-on-chip (SoC), at a higher voltage than VDD. The increased voltage lowers the current through the power grid and thereby reduces the I2R loss of the on-chip power distribution. This novel idea for VLSI devices, is inspired from the distribution system of commercial long distance power transmission networks. Our scheme steps down voltage to the VDD level with on-chip DC-to-DC converters placed close to the cores, in a similar way as electrical networks use transformers. The distribution grid efficiency is the fraction of the total power taken from the source that is delivered to loads (cores). SPICE simulation was done for modeled grid for SoCs. A 64-core SoC, each core operating at 1V and consuming 1W, dissipated 88W giving 73% grid efficiency. When the grid distributed 3V (close to the output of a Li-ion battery) and ideal step down converters were used, the efficiency rose to 96%. Using the data of a commercial DC-to-DC converter, we obtained a grid efficiency of 88%. This paper also points to the need for high efficiency DC-to-DC converters suitable for on-chip integration.
Parental health literacy in pediatric otolaryngology: A pilot study.

Abstract Objectives Pediatric otolaryngology bears the highest frequency of elective surgical cases in children, but little is known regarding the health literacy of these children's parents. In a questionnaire-based pilot study, we assessed parental health literacy in our pediatric otolaryngology clinic and evaluated its relation to personal demographics. We also evaluated postoperative and diagnosis-based leaflets for readability using validated measures. Methods Parents completed the Short Assessment of Health Literacy-English (SAHL-E) and were defined as low (0–14) or high (>14) literacy based on mean scores. Results Fifty parents participated (mean SAHL-E score, 17.6), and all scored >14, indicating proficient health literacy. No differences existed in mean or median scores based on demographics. Continued education after high school was associated with higher scores (P = 0.003) and was the only significant variable in multivariable linear regression. All leaflets were at or below the recommended reading level for public health information. Conclusions Parents generally had high health literacy.
In Situ Curing Kinetics of Moisture-Reactive AcetoxysiloxaneSealants

Moisture diffusion and reaction chemistry in polymeric materials affect the mechanical properties, chemical compatibility, and durability of the materials. The ability to model reaction kinetics wi...
LensXPlain: visualizing and explaining contributing subsets for aggregate query answers

In this demonstration, we will present LensXPlain, an interactive system to help users understand answers of aggregate queries by providing meaningful explanations. Given a SQL group-by query and a question from a user "why output o is high/low", or "why output o1is higher/lower than o2", LensXPlain helps users explore the results and find subsets of tuples captured by predicates that contributed the most toward such observations. The contributions are measured either by intervention (if the contributing tuples are removed, the values or the ratios in the user question change in the opposite direction), or by aggravation (if the query is restricted to the contributing tuples, the observations change more in the same direction). LensXPlain uses ensemble learning for recommending useful attributes in explanations, and employs a suite of optimizations to enable explanation generation and refinement at an interactive speed. In the demonstration, the audience can run aggregation queries over real world datasets, browse the answers using a graphical user interface, ask questions on unexpected/interesting query results with simple visualizations, and explore and refine explanations returned by LensXPlain.
Critical Conversations about Art: A Description of Higher-Order Thinking Generated through the Study of Art Criticism.

This qualitative study describes, interprets, and offers an evaluation of the kind of complex and sophisticated thinking that actually goes on in one college art education class when the topic is a...
Normally-off InAlN/GaN HEMTs with n ++ GaN cap layer: A simulation study

The ongoing interest in the development of GaN-based enhancement-mode high electron mobility transistors (EHEMTs) resulted in several different approaches being proposed, one of them employing a reduction of the gate-to-channel distance. In order to facilitate gate recessing, a technique using a n++ cap layer was suggested by Kuzmik et al. [1], who also analyzed the contribution of the cap layer to current conduction and on the mechanism of the off-state breakdown. In this work we complement the experimental results with two-dimensional device simulation using Minimos-NT [2]. We have employed it previously for the optimization studies of a whole generation of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs [3], but also for high-temperature simulations [4].
WORKERS COMPENSATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, SAFETY AND HEALTH, AND EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AMONG COMMERCIAL BANKS IN NAIROBI COUNTY IN KENYA

Employee welfare programs are critical to employee satisfaction because this is what shows the commitment levels the organizations have towards their employees and hence improvement of competitive advantage among organizations. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between workers’ compensation, capacity-building, health and safety and employee satisfaction among commercial Banks in Nairobi County. The study adopted descriptive research survey design. The sample was derived from lower level, middle level and top-level managers of Commercial banks in Nairobi County. Structured questionnaires were used to collected data based on the independent variables. Both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that worker compensation was statistically significant with employee satisfaction. The findings on capacity building indicated that there was a significant positive relationship with employee satisfaction. The study findings of safety and health revealed a significant relationship with employee satisfaction. In conclusion, the study findings indicate that worker compensation programs, capacity building, health and safety in the workplace were all statistically significant and contributed positively to employee satisfaction. Recommendation for improvement on worker compensation included making sure that employees utilize their leave days and are paid their leave allowances and where the employees services are needed the company should pay in lieu of leave. For capacity building, the banks should put more emphasis on the job training, teamwork, and job rotation to enhance employee satisfaction. On safety and health, the study recommends that commercial banks in Nairobi should develop health and safety measures that will guarantee employee satisfaction and in line with occupational health and safety and WIBA requirements where group life insurance needs to be procured by the banks to cater for the safety of their employees. Key Words: Workers Compensation, Capacity Building, Health and Safety, Employee Satisfaction.
14 – Limit Cycles

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses limit cycles applicable to systems of nonlinear autonomous differential equations. Knowing that limit cycles exist for a differential system allows global characterizations of the differential system. A non-constant solution of the system dx/dt = f(x) is called a cycle (or a limit cycle) if there is a positive number T (called the period of the cycle) such that x(t + T) = x(t) for all t. It is easy to show that inside of every cycle is at least one critical point. In many systems it is not only true that there are finitely many cycles, but also that all solutions tend to one of these cycles. This knowledge permits a concise characterization of the phase plane.
Nickel Speciation and Methane Dry Reforming Performance of Ni/CexZr1–xO2 Prepared by Different Synthesis Methods

Ceria–zirconia-supported Ni catalysts (Ni/Ce0.83Zr0.17O2 or Ni/CZ) are prepared by dry impregnation, strong electrostatic adsorption, coprecipitation (CP), and combustion synthesis (CS). The nature...
Programmable Fast All-Optical Thresholder

We theoretically study the effect of free-carrier lifetime on processing speed and nonlinearity, pertaining to our all-optical thresholder. We also experimentally demonstrate speed improvement from 400 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps incorporating PN-junction mediated free-carrier removal.
Algal blooms in a freshwater reservoir – A network community detection analysis of potential forcing parameters

Abstract Nutrient leakage due to modern agriculture and disposal of untreated urban wastewater results in the eutrophication of freshwater lakes and reservoirs, with elevated levels of cyanobacteria algal blooms often resulting in toxic conditions for animals and humans. A unique dataset of 22 coincident nutrient, phytoplankton, meteorological, and reservoir condition variables were recorded or calculated monthly for Hoover Reservoir near Columbus, Ohio, from February 1999 to December 2005. Network science was used in this study to visualize and differentiate selected nutrient and phytoplankton seasonality in Hoover Reservoir. Nutrient and phytoplankton concentrations in Hoover Reservoir respond independently to a number of external and internal environmental variables, but are also biochemically interdependent within the reservoir ecosystem. A number of forcing parameters can significantly alter seasonal phytoplankton growth and succession patterns. Chief among these are variability in the daily, seasonal, and/or yearly patterns and intensities of precipitation and the resultant surface runoff; duration and intensity of solar radiation; air and resultant water temperatures; and agricultural practices. The phytoplankton population in Hoover Reservoir is ecologically driven, with algal succession and nutrient levels constraining population concentrations. Complemented by selected statistical analyses, this limited network community detection study provides the hydrologist/ecologist with a dynamic and quantitative visualization of the complex hydrometeorological variable and biogeochemical process forcing parameters present in reservoirs and lakes.
Extrinsic Calibration of Radar Mount Position and Orientation With Multiple Target Configurations

Radars are part of the sensor suite installed on modern vehicles for environmental perception. The position and orientation of the radar must be known in order to transform the detections from the radar coordinate system to a vehicle coordinate system (VCS), which is a common requirement for multisensor fusion. In this work, 77-GHz automotive radar sensors are extrinsically calibrated by registering the radar detections of corner reflector targets with known locations of the targets in the VCS; the procedure estimates the position and orientation parameters needed to transform radar detections onto the VCS. Radar detections are noisy and very sparse; hence, an effort is put into achieving good calibration accuracy by taking advantage of multiple target configurations. Two multitarget methods are discussed; one models estimation error as white noise and averages multiple estimates, and another combines all observations to make the data points denser for a one-time global estimation. The methods are tested with both synthetic and experimental data. The synthetic data result shows that, with sparse data points per target configuration, the estimation errors obtained due to the global method tend to decay faster than those obtained due to the averaging method as the number of configurations increases. The experimental data obtained from just ten target configurations result in estimation errors of about 0.35° and $1 cm$ for the orientation and position parameters, respectively.
Adipocyte-specific deletion of HuR induces spontaneous cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis

Adipose tissue homeostasis plays a central role in cardiovascular physiology, and the presence of thermogenically active brown adipose tissue (BAT) has recently been associated with cardiometabolic health. We have previously shown that adipose tissue-specific deletion of HuR (Adipo-HuR-/-) reduces BAT-mediated adaptive thermogenesis, and the goal of this work was to identify the cardiovascular impacts of Adipo-HuR-/-. We found that Adipo-HuR-/- mice exhibit a hypercontractile phenotype that is accompanied by increased left ventricle wall thickness and hypertrophic gene expression. Furthermore, hearts from Adipo-HuR-/- mice display increased fibrosis via picrosirius red staining and periostin expression. To identify underlying mechanisms, we applied both RNA-seq and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) across both cardiac and adipose tissue to define HuR-dependent changes in gene expression as well as significant relationships between adipose tissue gene expression and cardiac fibrosis. RNA-seq results demonstrated a significant increase in proinflammatory gene expression in both cardiac and subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) from Adipo-HuR-/- mice that is accompanied by an increase in serum levels of both TNF-α and IL-6. In addition to inflammation-related genes, WGCNA identified a significant enrichment in extracellular vesicle-mediated transport and exosome-associated genes in scWAT, whose expression most significantly associated with the degree of cardiac fibrosis observed in Adipo-HuR-/- mice, implicating these processes as a likely adipose-to-cardiac paracrine mechanism. These results are significant in that they demonstrate the spontaneous onset of cardiovascular pathology in an adipose tissue-specific gene deletion model and contribute to our understanding of how disruptions in adipose tissue homeostasis may mediate cardiovascular disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The presence of functional brown adipose tissue in humans is known to be associated with cardiovascular health. Here, we show that adipocyte-specific deletion of the RNA binding protein HuR, which we have previously shown to reduce BAT-mediated thermogenesis, is sufficient to mediate a spontaneous development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. These results may have implications on the mechanisms by which BAT function and adipose tissue homeostasis directly mediate cardiovascular disease.
Survey of veterinary involvement in management decisions on Mississippi cow-calf operations

The objective of this study was to describe veterinary involvement in management decisions on Mississippi cowcalf operations. Anonymous surveys were mailed to 1,275 members of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association. Multivariable logistic regression using manual forward variable selection was used to test demographic and management factors for association with veterinary involvement outcomes. Significance was defined at alpha=0.05. Three-hundred eight surveys (24%) were returned, with 292 (95%) respondents being active in cow-calf production. Fifty-three (18%) of 289 respondents were located in a county contained in a rural area food animal medicine shortage area designated by the USDA-NIFA in 2020. One-hundred seventeen of 285 (41%) indicated regular veterinary involvement in management decisions on their operation. Of these 117, 56 (48%) said their veterinarian uses their cattle health and production records to provide management recommendations. Seventy-five (27%) of 283 respondents indicated they would consider paying their veterinarian to provide cattle health and production record management services. Factors associated with regular veterinary involvement in management decisions on cow-calf operations were regularly recording of antibiotic treatments (OR=3.2) and herd size (50-99 head: OR= 1.6; ≥100 head: OR=2.5, compared to 1-49 head). Opportunity exists for veterinarians to be more involved in management decisions on Mississippi cow-calf operations.
Soybean Roots and Soil From High- and Low-Yielding Field Sites Have Different Microbiome Composition

The occurrence of high- (H) and low- (L) yielding field sites within a farm is a commonly observed phenomenon in soybean cultivation. Site topography, soil physical and chemical attributes, and soil/root-associated microbial composition can contribute to this phenomenon. In order to better understand the microbial dynamics associated with each site type (H/L), we collected bulk soil (BS), rhizosphere soil (RS), and soybean root (R) samples from historically high and low yield sites across eight Pennsylvania farms at V1 (first trifoliate) and R8 (maturity) soybean growth stages (SGS). We extracted DNA extracted from collected samples and performed high-throughput sequencing of PCR amplicons from both the fungal ITS and prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene regions. Sequences were then grouped into OTUs and subjected to network analysis. Based on both ITS and 16S rRNA gene data, a greater network size and edges were observed for all sample types from H-sites compared to L-sites at both SGS. Network analysis suggested that the number of potential microbial interactions/associations were greater in samples from H-sites compared to L-sites. Diversity analyses indicated that site-type was not a main driver of alpha and beta diversity in soybean-associated microbial communities. L-sites contained a greater percentage of fungal phytopathogens (ex: Fusarium, Macrophomina, Septoria), while H-sites contained a greater percentage of mycoparasitic (ex: Trichoderma) and entomopathogenic ( ex: Metarhizium) fungal genera. Furthermore, roots from H-sites possessed a greater percentage of Bradyrhizobium and genera known to contain plant growth promoting bacteria (ex: Flavobacterium, Duganella). Overall, our results revealed that there were differences in microbial composition in soil and roots from H- and L-sites across a variety of soybean farms. Based on our findings, we hypothesize that differences in microbial composition could have a causative relationship with observed within-site variability in soybean yield.
Origin and Distribution of Depositional Textures and Petrophysical Properties: The Three-Dimensional Approach

Petrophysical properties can best be distributed in the interwell space if constrained by a chronostratigraphic framework.
Extraction of DNA from frozen red blood cells.

For many decades anthropologists and human geneticists have used genetic markers in blood, including serum or plasma proteins and red blood cell (RBC) antigens and enzymes, to analyze the genetic structure and reconstruct the evolutionary history of human populations. Hundreds of thousands of blood samples were collected from around the world for these studies [see Roychoudhury and Nei (1988) for a compendium]. Because the white blood cell (WBC) fraction of the blood interfered with the analysis of the serum or plasma and RBC protein markers, it was customary to save aliquots of serum or plasma and RBCs and to discard the WBC fraction. Indeed, the RBCs were usually washed at least once with saline before ultracold storage to remove as many nucleated cells as possible. With the development of methods for directly analyzing DNA polymorphisms (Kan and Dozy 1978), the WBC fraction of new blood collections is now routinely saved for DNA analysis. However, there must still exist myriad frozen RBC samples in laboratories around the world, representing many populations from which it is infeasible, if not impossible, to obtain new samples for DNA analysis. It would therefore be of value to establish the most efficient strategy for obtaining DNA from such existing RBC samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology (Saiki et al. 1988) makes it possible to enzymatically amplify and analyze extremely small amounts of DNA, including DNA obtained from single plucked hairs (Higuchi et al. 1988; Vigilant et al. 1989), ancient bone (Hagelberg et al. 1989), and even single sperm (Li et al. 1988). The PCR method has been used to analyze DNA from small amounts of fresh whole blood (Kendall et al. 1991), dried whole blood on filter paper (Cassol et al. 1991; Kain and Lanar 1991), and fresh plasma (Christa et al. 1992). Mitochondrial
Public Benefits and Federal Authorization for Alienage Discrimination by the States

When Congress enacted new restrictions on alien access to public benefits in 1996, it also authorized the states to restrict alien access to designated federal benefits and to state benefits. Some commentators have argued that state laws that discriminate against aliens should be subject to strict scrutiny, even if authorized by federal legislation, despite the deferential review applied to federal discrimination against aliens. Based on such a theory, the Court of Appeals of New York in Aliessa v. Novello recently struck down a state law despite the federal authorization for that law in the 1996 welfare legislation. This essay raises some questions regarding the policy rationales commonly advanced in favor of strict scrutiny in this context. In particular, the need for a uniform rule of naturalization, the right of interstate travel, antidiscrimination principles, the interests of aliens, and nondelegation concerns fail to provide convincing reasons to apply strict scrutiny to alienage discrimination authorized by federal law.
Application of Piecewise Cubic Splines Technique in State Model Formulation of Sensor Measurements

The monitoring of processes by means of sensor measurements is the subject of increased development. This paper presents a technique for generating state space model from strictly empirical process observations. Piecewise connected cubic splines are applied to describe the sensor output and provide a uniform basis for the formulation of a state model.
Intakes of minerals from diets and foods : Is there a need for concern ?

Continuous monitoring of the food supply through the Total Diet Studies allows for the identification of changes and trends in the mineral content of foods resulting from agricultural or manufacturing practices. The studies also allow for the estimation of average daily intakes of minerals and a comparison of these intakes with Recommended Dietary Allowances. The Total Diet Studies use a small number of foods (core foods) to represent the U.S. food supply. The core foods are purchased four times per year, prepared for consumption, and analyzed for 11 nutritional minerals. The food composition data are then merged with food consumption data from national surveys to provide estimates of daily intakes of minerals for selected age-sex groups. Results of the 1982-1991 Total Diet Studies indicated that average intakes of potassium, phosphorus, selenium, iodine and manganese were adequate. Sodium could not be adequately assessed because the studies did not include discretionary salt. Intakes of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper were below recommended intakes for some age-sex groups. Studies based on clinical and biochemical measurements confirm that calcium, iron and zinc are of concern for segments of the U.S. population. There are conflicting opinions about the need for concern for copper and magnesium.
A machine-independent DMA framework for NetBSD

One of the challenges in implementing a portable kernel is finding good abstractions for semantically-similar operations which often have very machine-dependent implementations. This is especially important on modern machines which share common architectural features, e.g. the PCI bus. This paper describes why a machine-independent DMA mapping abstraction is needed, the design considerations for such an abstraction, and the implementation of this abstraction in the NetBSD/alpha and NetBSD/i386 kernels.
First-order melting and dynamics of flux lines in a model for YBa2Cu3O7- delta.

We have studied the statics and dynamics of flux lines in a model for ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$, using both Monte Carlo simulations and Langevin dynamics. The lines are assumed to be flexible but unbroken in both the solid and liquid states. For a clean system, both approaches yield the same melting curve, which is found to be weakly first order with a heat of fusion of about 0.02${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{BT}\mathit{m}}$ per vortex pancake at a field of 50 kG. The time-averaged magnetic field distribution experienced by a fixed spin is found to undergo a qualitative change at freezing, in agreement with NMR and muon spin resonance experiments. The calculations yield, not only the field distribution in both phases, but also an estimate of the measurement time needed to distinguish these distributions: We estimate this time as \ensuremath{\ge}0.5 \ensuremath{\mu}sec. The magnetization relaxation time in a clean sample slows dramatically as the temperature approaches the mean-field upper critical field line ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T) from below. Melting in the clean system is accompanied by a proliferation of free disclinations and a simultaneous disappearance of hexatic order. Just below melting, the defects show a clear magnetic-field-dependent two- to three-dimensional crossover from long disclination lines parallel to the c axis at low fields, to two-dimensional ``pancake'' disclinations at higher fields. Strong point pins produce an energy varying logarithmically with time. This lnt dependence results from slow annealing out of disclinations in disordered samples. Even without pins, the model gives subdiffusive motion of individual pancakes in the dense liquid phase, with mean-square displacement proportional to ${\mathit{t}}^{1/2}$ rather than to t as in ordinary diffusion. The calculated melting curve and many dynamical features agree well with experiment. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Using Ground and Intact Coal Samples To Evaluate Hydrocarbon Fate during Supercritical CO2 Injection into Coal Beds: Effects of Particle Size and Coal Moisture

To investigate the potential for mobilizing organic compounds from coal beds during geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage (sequestration), a series of solvent extractions using dichloromethane (DCM) and using supercritical CO2 (40 °C and 10 MPa) were conducted on a set of coal samples collected from Louisiana and Ohio. The coal samples studied range in rank from lignite A to high volatile A bituminous, and were characterized using proximate, ultimate, organic petrography, and sorption isotherm analyses. Sorption isotherm analyses of gaseous CO2 and methane show a general increase in gas storage capacity with coal rank, consistent with findings from previous studies. In the solvent extractions, both dry, ground coal samples and moist, intact core plug samples were used to evaluate effects of variations in particle size and moisture content. Samples were spiked with perdeuterated surrogate compounds prior to extraction, and extracts were analyzed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The DCM extracts ge...
Reaching nonlinear regime in Raman amplification of ultrashort laser pulses

In this paper, we present, for the first time, clear evidence of reaching the nonlinear regime of Raman Backscattering (RBS) amplification with pulse intensity amplification exciting 1000 in 2 mm long plasma and exciting pump intensity by more than order of magnitude. We have demonstrated energy amplification of up to /spl sim/5000 for a seed with a low input energy (<0.2 pJ) and up to /spl sim/60 for a seed with high input energy (7.5 pJ). The output energy grew exponentially when the input was low and the gain indicated "saturation" when the input was high.
Implementation of a laptop initiative: preservice foreign language teachers and factors influencing their computer use

Influenced by the development of state and national technology standards as well as the increased availability of computers in school settings, the expectations for educators to use computer technology has become a part of preparing future K-12 teachers. In the efforts to better prepare and meet these demands to prepare technologically savvy future teachers, one large university in the southwest implemented a laptop requirement for their teacher preparation program in the fall of 2002. This qualitative case study, conducted at the beginning of the third year of this program, focuses on the experiences of a cohort of 7 foreign language preservice teachers participating in this requirement and serves as benchmark for gauging the success of the program. Through interviews, questionnaires, and observations, the study explores their experiences as end-users and depicts how the requirement was developed, adopted, and implemented. Successful implementation of a technological innovation is influenced by several conditions; dissatisfaction with the status quo, existence of knowledge and skills, availability of resources, availability of time, rewards or incentives, participation, commitment, and leadership (Ely, 1990, 1999). By using these conditions as a framework and inventory for analysis, the findings discuss the perspectives of the administration, the faculty, and the students who are all involved in the implementation process in different ways. The foreign language preservice teachers' computer use during their student teaching semester influenced by the computer skills and knowledge they acquired as a result of the laptop requirement and by the exposure to models provided by their professors in the university setting, models from their cooperating teachers, and the access and availability of computer resources in the schools where they did their practicum. The findings support previous research on computer use by preservice teachers, as they must be placed in technology-rich environments in order to connect their technological training with sound pedagogical practices in an authentic setting. Recommendations for improvement of the program, pedagogical implications, and suggestions for further research are also discussed.