cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic structure of a disjunct peripheral population of mountain sucker Pantosteus jordani in the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

A peripheral population of mountain sucker, Pantosteus jordani, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA, represents the eastern-most range of the species and is completely isolated from other populations. Over the last 50 years, mountain sucker populations have declined in the Black Hills, and now only occur in 40 % of the historic local range, with densities decreasing by more than 84 %.We used microsatellite DNA markers to estimate genetic diversity and to assess population structure across five streams where mountain suckers persist. We evaluated results in the context of recent ecological surveys to inform decisions about mountain sucker conservation. Significant allele frequency differences existed among sample streams (Global FST = 0.041) but there was no evidence of isolation by distance. Regionally, genetic effective size, Ne, was estimated to be at least 338 breeding individuals, but Ne within streams was expected to be less. Despite almost complete demographic isolation and reduced population size, there appears to be little evidence of inbreeding, but genetic drift and local isolation due to fragmentation probably best explains genetic structure in this peripheral mountain sucker population. Recommended strategies for population enhancement include restoration of stream connectivity and habitat improvement. Moreover, repatriation and assisted movement (i.e., gene flow) of fishes should maximize genetic diversity in stream fragments in the Black Hills region.
Social Justice, Research, and Adolescence

In what ways might research on adolescence contribute to social justice? My 2014 Presidential Address identified strategies for social justice in our field. First, we need research that is conscious of biases, power, and privilege in science, as well as in our roles as scholars. Second, we need research that attends to inequities in lives of adolescents, and as scholars we need to question the ways that our research may unwittingly reinforce those inequalities. Third, we need research that attends to urgencies, that is, issues or conditions that influence adolescents’ well-being which demand attention and action. I draw from a range of concepts and theoretical perspectives to make the case for a framework of social justice in research on adolescence.
The incorporation of red blood cell index mean data into quality control programs.

Patient red blood cell (RBC) index means, when used in, quality control, form an independent standard that is as accurate and precise as preserved blood controls. If such patient data are routinely incorporated in intralaboratory and interlaboratory quality control programs, a substantial improvement in the present state-of-the-art is possible. Within the laboratory, each method serves to confirm the adequacy of the other. In interlaboratory control trials the combination makes it possible to specify the cause of most misanalyses. For similar reasons, the combination of both methods enables the manufacturer of quality control material to assess the adequacy of the manufacturing and value assignation process.
INHERITING DU BOIS

What would it mean to treat W. E. B. Du Bois as a “living political thinker,” Tommie Shelby asks. The formulation of the question indicates one answer: acknowledging Du Bois's twofold legacy for political theory and philosophy. On the one hand, his body of work as a political theorist is rich and provocative enough that it ought to be, as Robert Gooding-Williams (2009) urges, the subject of serious inquiry in its own right. On the other hand, engaging Du Bois as a political theorist enables contemporary scholars to reflect on the political challenges of our own time, even when Du Bois offers answers we would not own for ourselves. Perhaps most crucially, taking Du Bois's work seriously requires a rigorous engagement with the past and an active refutation of declarations of a “postracial” age that belie yawning racial inequalities, the continuing devaluation of non-White lives, and the unredressed injuries—to American citizens, to the polity itself, and to women and men well beyond U.S. borders—of White supremacy. All of the participants in this symposium would, I think, endorse this view in its broadest strokes. But to inherit Du Bois as a political thinker is also to participate in an ongoing and often contentious conversation about race, democracy, and Du Bois himself. Accordingly, my comments will focus on two clusters of issues. The first is raised by Rogers Smith's and Tommie Shelby's vigorous disagreement with the idea of Black reparations that I explore in the second chapter of Democracy's Reconstruction. The second involves a set of unresolved tensions bequeathed by Du Bois and addressed in Gooding-Williams' extraordinary book and Cristina Beltran's meditations on the Afro-modern political tradition and Latino politics today.
The Present Status of the Gladiolus Thrips in The United States

The present distribution, economIC Importance, and seasonal history, including overwintering, of this thrips (Taeniothrups gladioli) are discussed. Observations on the effectiveness of control measures employed by commercial growers are also presented.
Dopant Control by Atomic Layer Deposition in Oxide Films for Memristive Switches

The capability to tune the dopant concentrations of oxygen vacancies and other impurities in atomic layer deposited oxide films is crucial for engineering contemporary electronic device properties. For memristor applications, the composition of the oxides needs to be tuned within a certain range with process windows different from the traditional studies. Accordingly, the unusal growth modes, such as the non-self-limited growth, become valuable to explore as demonstrated here.
Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation in the Failing Heart: A Role for Epicardial Adipose Tissue.

The pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) has long been linked to a neurohormonal imbalance because of excessive compensatory activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).1–3 As HF develops, cardiac function is progressively lost prompting an increase in SNS activity in an attempt to maintain homeostasis and stabilize cardiac output. Although initially providing beneficial ionotropic support to the failing heart, the chronic increase of catecholamines is ultimately arrhythmogenic and causes cardiotoxicity by promoting interstitial fibrosis, myocyte apoptosis, left ventricular (LV) dilation, and a paradoxical desensitization of the heart to further adrenergic stimulation.4–6 Article, see p 1244 The catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine bind to adrenergic receptors (ARs) in the membrane of cardiomyocytes where signals are coupled through interaction with heterotrimeric G proteins.7 There are at least 9 subtypes of AR in the human heart; however, the most relevant for biological function are β1-AR and β2-AR,7 which increase cardiac contractility and frequency,8 and β3-AR, which antagonizes the activity of the former to mitigate against hyperionotropic and hyperchronotropic effects.9,10 During HF hyperactivation of the β1- and β2-AR pathways exacerbates disease progression, whereas therapeutic blockade of β1- and β2-AR signaling (β-blockers) has demonstrated efficacy in tempering SNS activity and reducing disease progression. Surprisingly though, the overuse of sympatholytics, such as β-blockers, has also been linked to pathological effects and can have a negative impact on patient with HF survival.11 Similar to the action of β-antagonists, overactivation of the β3-AR pathway in HF progressively desensitizes nerves to β1- and β2-AR activation and decreases receptor density,12,13 resulting in a loss of ionotropic responsiveness to adrenergic stimulation. This loss of responsiveness, which …
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) drive nutrient foraging in the clonal woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca

It was previously demonstrated that stolons of Fragaria vesca respond to patches of varying nutrient quality; however, the mechanism of patch-detection remained unknown. Here we provide support for a process by which F. vesca perceives nutrient-rich patches, consistent with nutrient foraging prior to rooting. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from unsterilized and sterilized field substrates were collected and analyzed by stir-bar headspace extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a method modified for soil and litter systems. Selected compounds were chosen to represent unsterilized and sterilized field substrates. These synthetic volatile compound mixtures were then applied to neutral substrate to test the ability of F. vesca to choose between unsterilized versus sterilized substrates. Primary stolons exhibited chemotropism towards unsterilized (natural) substrates and grew away from the sterilized volatile substrates when the alternate choice was a negative control. We conclude that the presence of carboxylic acids tends to stimulate stolon elongation and chemotropism while aldehydes, ketones and monoterpenes tend to suppress it. We provide evidence that developing stolons of F. vesca forage for nutrient-rich patches via volatile cues similar to those emitted from the soil through microflora activity.
A Method for Locomotion Mode Identification Using Muscle Synergies

Active lower limb transfemoral prostheses have enabled amputees to perform different locomotion modes such as walking, stair ascent, stair descent, ramp ascent and ramp descent. To achieve seamless mode transitions, these devices either rely on neural information from the amputee’s residual limbs or sensors attached to the prosthesis to identify the intended locomotion modes or both. We present an approach for classification of locomotion modes based on the framework of muscle synergies underlying electromyography signals. Neural information at the critical instances (e.g., heel contact and toe-off) was decoded for this purpose. Non-negative matrix factorization was used to extract the muscles synergies from the muscle feature matrix. The estimation of the neural command was done using non-negative least squares. The muscle synergy approach was compared with linear discriminant analysis (LDA), support vector machine (SVM), and neural network (NN) and was tested on seven able-bodied subjects. There was no significant difference ( $p > 0.05$ ) in transitional and steady state classification errors during stance phase. The muscle synergy approach performed significantly better ( $p ) than NN and LDA during swing phase while results were similar to SVM. These results suggest that the muscle synergy approach can be used to discriminate between locomotion modes involving transitions.
Comprehensive Analysis, Modeling and Design for Hold-Timing Resiliency in Voltage Scalable Design

Resiliency to timing violation is a crucial requirement for low power electronics operating across a wide range of supply voltages. Although many existing solutions enhance setup timing tolerance for the higher performance, an accurate modeling and design strategy for hold resiliency dealing with conflicting requirement from both high voltages and low voltages has not been established. This paper proposes a novel voltage-scalable modeling technique that leverages conventional static timing analysis and efficient statistical analysis to achieve accurate stochastic hold timing analysis. Several highly nonlinear behaviors of circuit operation are also incorporated into the proposed model to achieve a model accuracy of within 10% of spice Monte-Carlos simulation. Leveraging the proposed modeling technique, a novel hold resilience design technique is proposed to eliminate the excessive hold fixing operation for low voltage operation and its associated performance degradation at high voltage while still being compatible with conventional design closure flow. The proposed design methodology is demonstrated in a 45nm DSP processor design enabling a voltage-scalable operation from 0.35V to 0.9V eliminating more than 20,000 hold buffers as well as 23% performance degradation at high voltages due to hold fixing.
Original Buddhism and Its Discontents: The Chinese Buddhist Exchange Monks and the Search for the Pure Dharma in Ceylon

The reform movement of Republican-era Chinese Buddhism was remarkable for the distance between its ambitions and its capacities. It seemed to produce an endless stream of grandiose plans with no apparent means of implementation. Little wonder that Holmes Welch regarded the movement as an overrated failure of little lasting significance. While recent work has called this evaluation into question, many of its initiatives did fail. Among these failures, the programs to send monks to study in Ceylon were particularly resounding. Tasked with retrieving pure original Buddhism and returning as model monks, the participants in the end disrobed and returned to lay life. This would appear a disastrous result. Yet there is much that we can learn from failure. The exchange provides an illuminating window on some of the most important issues and developments of the day, including utopianism, translocal networks, and the construction of new understandings of “Buddhism.”
Manualized and Modular Behavior Therapy for a Child With Tourette’s Disorder, Inattention, and Disruptive Behavior: A Case Example

Persistent tic disorders (PTDs), including Tourette’s Disorder (TD), involve motor and/or vocal tics and often cause significant impairment and distress for affected individuals and families. Funct...
Factor Structure of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) in Adult Outpatients Receiving Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer in Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26, 41–54, 2004) is a widely used measure of emotion regulation, however, few studies have examined the scale’s psychometric properties in clinical samples. The current study examined the latent factor structure of the scale, in addition to other psychometric properties, in a naturalistic sample of adult outpatients (n = 344) receiving dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). A number of models were fitted, including a bifactor model, which has not previously been examined with the DERS, but which may be more appropriate for addressing the study’s two primary aims. These aims were to: (1) investigate some of the prior concerns raised about the Awareness subscale items; and (2) evaluate the appropriateness of using DERS total vs. subscale scores. Results indicated that a modified bifactor model which excluded the Awareness items from the general factor fit the data best. Additional findings suggested that the DERS total score (excluding Awareness items) was reliable and had good criterion-related validity in this sample. However, the findings related to the DERS subscales were mixed. This study extends prior research on the DERS by demonstrating the utility of the scale with individuals receiving DBT for problems with emotion regulation, as well as by clarifying some of the prior questions about the scale’s latent structure.
What have you done lately? The shelf life of relevant experience among executive job switchers

As mobility among executives has become more frequent, this paper explores what drives compensation in the context of a move. Using proprietary data from a global search firm capturing 2,034 execut...
P-89 Deprivation of liberty safeguards: developing a leaflet to help families understand dols and implications at eol

Most hospices have supported people needing treatment and care who do not have capacity to consent to it, who need constant care and would not be allowed to leave should they try. DoLS legislation was introduced to safeguard such people from misuse of restrictions to their freedoms. Hospices have varied in their interpretation of/application of DoLS legislation, however what is widely shared is that the use of DoLS has caused distress to families, and delays to families in making arrangements after death. Our own experience of applying for DoLS for hospice inpatients is limited (4/374 admissions from April 2015-end March 16) but an increasing number of people we support in the community have a DoLS Standard Authorisation; usually care home residents with an illness affecting cognition (e.g. dementia; cancer affecting the brain). Death demands a Coroner’s investigation and inquest because death under a DoLS = death in custody. We have been concerned to better support families whose relative requires a DoLS, and to better prepare them for obligatory processes after death. We are developing a leaflet using the experiences of a relative whose late husband had a DoLS, a carer who was distressed by post-death processes, the Local Authority, police and coroner. All have commented that an explanatory leaflet which is easy to understand would be enormously helpful. Our aim is to develop something to really support carers both when a DoLS is authorised and when their loved one dies, towards a more supported care experience and smoother bereavement. It will explain simply the reason for and value of a DoLS, help support the maximising of freedoms for someone with a DoLS and prepare families for processes after death. Evaluation will be via our service users group, service users and colleagues from several local hospices who have shared similar experiences of finding the issues complex to explain.
REGULATORY, ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS PRACTICES CONCERNING THE SUTLER AT FORT ABERCROMBIE, DAKOTA TERRITORY

This study explores the accounting and business practices of a fort sutler on the western frontier in the mid-19th century and how these practices were regulated by the U.S. Army. The fort sutler operated a store on the Army post with the permission of the fort commander. The sutler had sole authority to sell certain items to soldiers on the post. He sold items that soldiers desired but were not provided by the Army. Although the sutler's store was a civilian operation, he played an important role in supporting soldiers stationed on the frontier and enhanced the effectiveness of frontier military operations. This research reviews and summarizes relevant military regulations of the period in addition to documentary evidence emanating from Fort Abercrombie (North Dakota) to learn more about the accounting and business operations of this important figure of the American frontier.
Climate impacts of oil extraction increase significantly with oilfield age

The footprint of oil typically considers combustion emissions, neglecting extraction emissions. This study shows that production declines with depletion for 25 significant oil fields, whilst emissions increase through greater energy expenditure. Record-breaking temperatures1 have induced governments to implement targets for reducing future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions2,3. Use of oil products contributes ∼35% of global GHG emissions4, and the oil industry itself consumes 3–4% of global primary energy. Because oil resources are becoming increasingly heterogeneous, requiring different extraction and processing methods, GHG studies should evaluate oil sources using detailed project-specific data5. Unfortunately, prior oil-sector GHG analysis has largely neglected the fact that the energy intensity of producing oil can change significantly over the life of a particular oil project. Here we use decades-long time-series data from twenty-five globally significant oil fields (>1 billion barrels ultimate recovery) to model GHG emissions from oil production as a function of time. We find that volumetric oil production declines with depletion, but this depletion is accompanied by significant growth—in some cases over tenfold—in per-MJ GHG emissions. Depletion requires increased energy expenditures in drilling, oil recovery, and oil processing. Using probabilistic simulation, we derive a relationship for estimating GHG increases over time, showing an expected doubling in average emissions over 25 years. These trends have implications for long-term emissions and climate modelling, as well as for climate policy.
MUTATIONS IN LIVER X RECEPTOR ALPHA THAT IMPAIR DIMERIZATION AND LIGAND DEPENDENT TRANSACTIVATION

Liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) is crucial for the maintenance of lipid and cholesterol homeostasis. Ligand binding and dimerization with retinoid X receptor (RXR) or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) is required for forming active DNA binding complexes leading to gene regulation. Structure based prediction and solvent accessibility of LXRα LBD shows that residues H383, E387, H390, L414, and R415 which are located in helices 9 and 10 may be critical for mediating protein-protein interactions. In this study, LXRα interface residues were individually mutated to determine their effects on ligand binding, protein-protein association, subcellular localization, and transactivation activity. LXRα L414R and R415A lacked binding to T-0901317, but retained binding to 25-Hydroxycholesterol. In vitro assay and a cell based assay demonstrated that LXRα L414R was specifically impaired for interactions with RXRα but not PPARα suggesting that charge reversal at the interface provides selectivity to LXRα dimerization. Furthermore, binding of LXRα L414R or R415A with PPARα exhibited minimal conformational changes in the dimer secondary structure. Interestingly, all LXRα mutants exhibited lower levels of ligand dependent luciferase activity driven by the SREBP-1c or ApoA1 promoter. Taken together, our data demonstrates that intact hydrophobic interactions and salt bridges at the interface mediate efficient ligand-dependent transactivation activities.
Physical Enhancement of the Effectiveness of X-Ray Irradiation

Physical enhancement is introduced in this chapter, including the motivation and history behind this new concept. Basic physical principles are presented before the discussion of three types of physical enhancement. The main focus of the chapter is how to design to measure, to recognize and to calculate physical enhancement, when it is possible. Theoretical packages used to simulate physical enhancement are accounted, and to date, physical enhancement is the only one that can be fully predicted using these packages. Publications are reviewed to explain important aspects of physical enhancement. Types 1, 2 and 3 physical enhancement are discussed in separate sections, and literature on these processes is accounted.
Influence of Government Policy on Technology Acquisition and Utilization

Through the 1980s and 1990s, or so it seemed, high technology firms doubted the relevance of the federal policy making process, and spent far less on lobbying than other, more traditional industries. Legislators and regulators, in return, seemed to register high technology as no more than a blip on the radar horizon. Whether that was perception or reality, the Microsoft antitrust decision of 2000 focused Silicon Valley’s eyes on Washington, and lawmakers’ attention on high tech. Non-defense technology was an issue in 2000, for the first time, in a presidential election, and microelectronics executives are becoming proactive, rather than reactive, on legislation, court proceedings, and agency regulation.
Rural corner store owners’ perceptions of stocking healthier foods in response to proposed SNAP retailer rule changes

Abstract Purpose To better understand rural corner store owners’ perceptions about the then proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Retailer Rule. Methods We conducted 32 interviews with rural corner store owners across six states in response to USDA's proposed rule. We asked owners about potential barriers to and facilitators of stocking healthier foods. Findings Among the interviews, there were six main themes discussed: (1) SNAP Retailer Rule definition concerns; (2) challenges to implementation; (3) facilitators to implementation; (4) perceptions of SNAP customers; (5) benefits of being a participating retailer in SNAP; and (6) concerns about the threat to the store’s economic viability if required to carry additional healthier items in line with the proposed rule. Conclusions Rural corner stores need help promoting healthier food options, appropriately handling perishable items, finding suppliers that can adhere to their food delivery requirements, and maintaining their SNAP retailer license. Recognizing the implementation challenges of stocking healthier foods for corner stores and presenting feasible solutions to them can improve the likelihood of successful passages of healthy food access policies and programs. Future policies or programs focusing on stocking healthier foods should take into consideration rural corner stores’ unique geographic landscape and business practices.
Maternal immunisation to improve the health of HIV-exposed infants

Summary HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) infants are at an increased risk of many infectious diseases that can contribute to the high mortality seen among HEU children. Maternal immunisation could be a promising strategy to reduce infections in HEU infants. However, very little research has explored the effect of HIV on the immunogenicity and effectiveness of vaccines given during pregnancy. We review the available evidence on maternal immunisation among women living with HIV (WLWH) for all vaccines recommended, considered, or being investigated for routine or risk-based use during pregnancy. Of the 11 vaccines included, only three have been investigated in WLWH. Available evidence suggests that maternal HIV infection limits the immunogenicity of several vaccines, leaving HEU infants more susceptible to infection during their first few months of life. Whether maternal immunisation reduces the infectious morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases in HEU children remains unknown. We conclude the Review by identifying future research priorities.
Impacts of Liberation Pedagogy: The Case of Workers' Education:

Some perspectives with which to evaluate the impact of the pedagogy of liberation on worker education programs in England and the United States are suggested. The pedagogy of liberation is often as...
Assessing Root System Architecture of Wheat Seedlings Using A High-Throughput Root Phenotyping System

Abstract Background and aims Root system architecture is a vital part of the plant that has been shown to vary between species and within species based on response to genotypic and/or environmental influences. The root traits of wheat seedlings is critical for the establishment and evidently linked to plant height and seed yield. However, plant breeders have not efficiently developed the role of RSA in wheat selection due to the difficulty of studying root traits. Methods We set up a root phenotyping platform to characterize RSA in 34 wheat accessions. The phenotyping pipeline consists of the germination paper-based moisture replacement system, image capture units, and root-image processing software. The 34 accessions from two different wheat ploidy levels (hexaploids and tetraploids), were characterized in ten replicates. A total of 19 root traits were quantified from the root architecture generated. Results This pipeline allowed for rapid screening of 340 wheat seedlings within 10days. Also, at least one line from each ploidy (6x and 4x) showed significant differences (P Conclusions This phenotyping pipeline has the advantage and capacity to increase screening potential at early stages of plant development leading to characterization of wheat seedling traits that can be further examined using QTL analysis in populations generated from the examined accessions.
Factors impacting fertility preservation in children, adolescents, and young adults.

139Background: Fertility preservation (FP) prior to therapy is underutilized for those diagnosed with cancer as a child, adolescent or young adult (AYA). This study describes the factors impacting ...
Wavelet Transformation-Based Diagnosis of Turn-to-Turn Faults in Vector Control Drive system

The majority of the high performance drive applications (e.g. electric vehicles power-trains) employs vector control techniques to the motor drive system. Fault detection in vector controlled induction motors (IM) is challenging, due to the compensative nature of the closed loop controller. In this study an on-line diagnosis technique for stator’s turn-to-turn faults (TTF) diagnosis is presented. The induction motor considered is driven via direct torque control (DTC) technique. A time-domain wavelet transformation (WT) is adopted to detect the TTF existence. The discrete wavelet transformation (DWT) is implemented on the inverter current in real-time. The discrete wavelet energy (DWE) was used as an indicator for the TTF diagnosis. The technique was tested in simulation environment and validated experimentally.
Redefining the Mechanism of O2 Etching of Aln– Superatoms: An Early Barrier Controls Reactivity, Analogous to Surface Oxidation

New insights into aluminum anion cluster reactivity with O2 were obtained through temperature-dependent kinetics measurements. Overall reactivity is controlled by a barrier at an avoided crossing w...
Crack propagation in a Tantalum nano-slab

Using molecular dynamics with an accurate many-body potential for metallic Tantalum, we studied crack propagation in a pre-notched nano-slab under uniaxial strain in a [100] direction. We study dislocation emission from the crack tip for various strain rate and temperatures, focusing on the influence of the local temperature at the crack tip on the propagation of the crack. We find a close connection between the local temperature at the crack tip and dislocation emission.
Clinical application of standardized tubularized incised plate urethroplasty for pediatric hypospadias

Objective To explore the efficacies and outcomes of standardized tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty for pediatric hypospadias. Methods A total of 447 hypospadias children with a median age of 21(5-176) months were recruited.There were 175 cases (39%) aged under 18 months and 272 cases (61%) aged above 18 months.The clinical types were distal (n=160, 36%), middle (n=216, 48%) and proximal (n=71, 16%). There were 281 cases (63%) in senior group and 166 cases (37%) in junior group.The differences of postoperative complications among different anatomical types were analyzed.Chi-square test was employed for analyzing and comparing the differences of postoperative complications among children of different age groups and the differences of postoperative complications among physicians of different seniority using standardized surgical procedures.Age, anatomical factors and seniority of physicians were included.And binary logistic regression analysis was performed for analyzing the influencing factors of operative success rate. Results All operations were performed successfully.There was no postoperative onset of urethral skin fistula, urethral stricture, urethral diverticulum, penile curvature or penile occultation.The incidence of surgical complications varied among children with different anatomical types.Eight cases (5%) of distal penis type had the lowest level and the difference was statistically significant as compared with another two types (P=0.000). No significant difference existed in the incidence of postoperative complications among physicians with different seniority (P>0.05). No significant difference existed in the incidence of postoperative complications among children of different age groups (P>0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that operative success rate or value of physicians with different seniority was 0.902 (0.508-1.604) and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.726). Conclusions TIP is effective for children with hypospadias of all ages.The success rate of distal operation is relatively high and it is convenient for training pediatric urologists. Key words: Hypospadias; Postoperative complications; Child
Student-focused development of a next-generation centrifuge force microscope

Advanced biological molecule force probing methods such as atomic force microscopy and optical tweezers used to quantify forces at the single-molecule level are expensive and require extensive training and technical knowledge. However, the technologies underlying a centrifuge force microscope (CFM) are relatively straight forward, allowing for construction by labs with relatively low budgets and minimal training. Design ideas from previously constructed CFMs served as a guide in the development of this CFM. There were two primary goals: first, to develop an inexpensive, functional CFM using off-the-shelf and 3D printed parts; and second, to do so in the context of providing an educational experience for a broad range of students. The team included high school students and undergraduates from local high schools, the University of Minnesota, and other local higher education institutions. This project created an environment for student-focused development of the CFM that fostered active learning, individual ownership, as well as excellence in research. The instrument discussed herein represents a fully functional CFM designed and built by a postdoctoral researcher and a graduate student who together mentored several high school and undergraduate students.
ATP homeostasis underlies optimal glucose consumption by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Glycolysis is central to energy metabolism in most organisms, and is highly regulated to enable optimal growth. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , feedback mechanisms that control flux through glycolysis span transcriptional control to metabolite levels in the cell. Using a cellobiose consumption pathway, we decoupled glucose sensing from carbon utilization, revealing new modular layers of control that induce ATP consumption to drive rapid carbon fermentation. Proton pumping and regulation of amino acid biosynthesis mediated by extracellular glucose sensors independently contribute to maintenance of energy homeostasis. Controlling the upper bound of cellular ATP levels may be a general mechanism used to regulate energy levels in cells, via a regulatory network that can be uncoupled from ATP concentrations under perceived starvation conditions.
Super-Utilization of the Emergency Department in a Universally Insured Population.

Introduction Super-utilizers (patients with 4 or more emergency department [ED] visits a year) account for 10% to 26% of all ED visits and are responsible for a growing proportion of healthcare expenditures. Patients recognize the ED as a reliable provider of acute care, as well as a timely resource for diagnosis and treatment. The value of ED care is indisputable in critical and emergent conditions, but in the case of non-urgent conditions, ED utilization may represent an inefficiency in the healthcare system. We sought to identify patient and clinical characteristics associated with ED super-utilization in a universally insured population. Material and methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using TRICARE claims data from the Military Health System Data Repository (2011-2015). We reviewed the claims data of all adult patients (aged 18-64 years) who had at least one encounter at the ED for any cause. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine independent factors associated with ED super-utilization. Results Factors associated with increased odds of ED super-utilization included Charlson Score ≥2 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.90-2.06), being eligible for Medicare (aOR 1.95, 95% CI: 1.90-2.01), and female sex (aOR 1.35, 95% CI: 1.33-1.37). Active duty service members (aOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.68-0.72) and beneficiaries with higher sponsor-rank (Officers: aOR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.55-0.57; Senior enlisted: aOR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.81-0.83) had lower odds of ED super-utilization. The most common primary diagnoses for ED visits among super-utilizers were abdominal pain, headache and migraine, chest pain, urinary tract infection, nausea and vomiting, and low back pain. Conclusions Risk of ED super-utilization appears to increase with age and diminished health status. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics of ED super-utilization identified in this study can be used to formulate healthcare policies addressing gaps in primary care in diagnoses associated with ED super-utilization and develop interventions to address modifiable risk factors of ED utilization.
The Mental Health and Service Use of Texas Law Enforcement Officers

As law enforcement officers are regularly exposed to unique stressors during the course of their occupation, they are at elevated risk of developing mental health problems. Indeed, previous literature has identified that law enforcement officers endorse higher rates of mental health problems than the general population. Despite this, many officers do not seek mental health treatment. Lack of service utilization is particularly concerning as mental health problems have been associated with deficits in job performance. The current study aimed to identify rates of mental health problems with the Texas law enforcement community, as well as rates of treatment seeking for job-related incidents. This study identified that mental health problems are common among officers in Texas, with the three most frequently endorsed conditions being: sleep disturbances (45.00%), depression (32.90%), and PTSD (12.90%). Further, only 1.40% of officers were currently in mental health treatment and 17.90% had previously sought out mental health related treatment. These findings, their implications, and future directions are discussed.
Bone Induction with and without Membranes and Using Platelet-Rich Plasma

Summary In general, some clinical situations, such as sinus membrane tears, contraindicate nonresorbable barriers, whereas others contraindicate resorbable barriers, such as the undesirable possibility of membrane exposure or defect morphology that does not provide adequate space for wound healing. Considering the wide variety of membranes currently available for guided bone regeneration, it is important to match specific patients and defects with appropriate membranes. The materials reviewed herein provide an overview for making a literature-based decision about which membranes may be useful for particular cases and an introduction to what new membrane systems are being investigated.
Static detection of uncoalesced accesses in GPU programs

GPU programming has become popular due to the high computational capabilities of GPUs. Obtaining significant performance gains with GPU is however challenging and the programmer needs to be aware of various subtleties of the GPU architecture. One such subtlety lies in accessing GPU memory, where certain access patterns can lead to poor performance. Such access patterns are referred to as uncoalesced global memory accesses. This work presents a light-weight compile-time static analysis to identify such accesses in GPU programs. The analysis relies on a novel abstraction which tracks the access pattern across multiple threads. The abstraction enables quick prediction while providing correctness guarantees. We have implemented the analysis in LLVM and compare it against a dynamic analysis implementation. The static analysis identifies 95 pre-existing uncoalesced accesses in Rodinia, a popular benchmark suite of GPU programs, and finishes within seconds for most programs, in comparison to the dynamic analysis which finds 69 accesses and takes orders of magnitude longer to finish.
Extracellular vesicles from human airway basal cells respond to cigarette smoke extract and affect vascular endothelial cells.

The human airway epithelium lining the bronchial tree contains basal cells that proliferate, differentiate, and communicate with other components of their microenvironment. One method that cells use for intercellular communication involves the secretion of exosomes and other extracellular vesicles (EVs). We isolated exosome-enriched EVs that were produced from an immortalized human airway basal cell line (BCi-NS1.1) and found that their secretion is increased by exposure to cigarette smoke extract, suggesting that this stress stimulates release of EVs which could affect signaling to other cells. We have previously shown that primary human airway basal cells secrete vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) which can activate MAPK signaling cascades in endothelial cells via VEGF receptor–2 (VEGFR2). Here, we show that exposure of endothelial cells to exosome-enriched airway basal cell EVs promotes the survival of these cells and that this effect also involves VEGFR2 activation and is, at least in part, mediated by VEGFA present in the EVs. These observations demonstrate that EVs are involved in the intercellular signaling between airway basal cells and the endothelium which we previously reported. The downstream signaling pathways involved may be distinct and specific to the EVs, however, as increased phosphorylation of Akt, STAT3, p44/42 MAPK, and p38 MAPK was not seen following exposure of endothelial cells to airway basal cell EVs.
Mechanochemical Release of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes from Flex-Activated Mechanophores

We have discovered a new flex-activated mechanophore that releases an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) under mechanical load. The mechanophore design is based upon NHC-carbodiimide (NHC-CDI) adducts and demonstrates an important first step toward flex-activated designs capable of further downstream reactivities. Since the flex-activation is non-destructive to the main polymer chains, the material can be subjected to multiple compression cycles to achieve iterative increases in the activation percentage of mechanophores. Two different NHC structures were demonstrated, signifying the potential modularity of the mechanophore design.
Inclusion before Exclusion or Vice Versa: What theQualification Directive and the Court of Justice Do (Not) Say

The question whether the assessment of the inclusion clause must precede the application of the exclusion clauses under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (CSR51) is a recurring theme in many jurisdictions. This article shows that the jurisprudence of the top national courts shifted decisively in favour of the ‘exclusion before inclusion’ position. Subsequently, this article looks for guidance at the Qualification and Procedures Directives. It claims that although it is generally assumed that the European Asylum Acquis left this issue untouched, it endorses the ‘exclusion before inclusion’ position and it does so even more overtly than the CSR51. However, this article also puts forth the argument that the Qualification Directive taken in conjunction with the Procedures Directive creates an obligation for the EU Member States that goes beyond the CSR51, namely to address inclusion in the interview with the applicant even in cases when the refugee adjudicators plan to apply the exclusion clause.
Investigating the intangible benefits of employing building information modeling on the design and construction industry

Building information modeling (BIM) is a viable technology that can be applied to improving the design and construction process. To better understand the effect of BIM on the design and construction industry, a comprehensive survey that consists of a general questionnaire and expert interview was conducted. The survey aimed to distinguish the participants’ responses based on their positions and their firm’s sector, role, experience, size, and level of BIM implementation in order to collect their views on various related topics for the theoretical contribution of this study. By utilizing the survey results, an interview was designed to investigate and identify further in-depth information regarding BIM’s possible intangible benefits. This study indicates that among 41 identified BIM intangibles, 33 are autonomous and relatively disconnected from the system, suggesting that most of the intangibles should be considered separately and are not affected by, or driving additional factors.
Evidence Matters: Winter 2019

First used in the 1970s, housing vouchers — beginning as the Section 8 program and now as the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program — have become HUD’s primary means for providing housing assistance to low-income renters. The HCV program subsidizes rental payments for privately owned units, making the landlords who own these homes critical to the program’s success. Despite their important role in supplying affordable housing, landlords have not been the subject of much research until recently. Current HUD-sponsored research is beginning to fill some of the gaps in our knowledge about how and why landlords choose to accept vouchers. This knowledge should help HUD, public housing agencies (PHAs), and local government entities improve the efforts they are already implementing to increase landlord participation. This issue of Evidence Matters focuses on the research regarding landlord acceptance of vouchers, the efforts to increase participation, and the implications of landlord participation for the housing choices of voucher households.
One size doesn’t fit all: framework and resources for individualized interventions for struggling medical students

When helping struggling medical students, a “one size fits all” approach is often ineffective, as many different factors affect academic success. In our experience, these factors may overlap or be distinct for each student, and thus require individualized interventions based on student needs. We recommend an individualized model of academic support includes an intake interview, assessment, individualized interventions, and follow up to assess progress. This paper provides a recommended framework of resources for medical school faculty and staff who work with struggling students. Different issues that lead students to struggle are categorized in the main domains of Bloom’s taxonomy: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. A discussion of the impact of the factors in each domain includes detailed tables with corresponding manifestations, assessments, and support strategies literature for each issue. An application of a proposed framework is presented on a case example. Individualized approaches to improving medical student success are presented to address the complex and interrelated areas of academic success, wellbeing, quality of life, career potential, and satisfaction with medical school.
Abstract #4601: Phosphorylation and degradation of Mcl-1 in vinblastine-induced apoptosis

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Microtubule inhibitors such as vinblastine are important anticancer drugs that inhibit the dynamics of microtubules, arrest cells in M phase, and induce subsequent apoptosis. Apoptosis is regulated by Bcl-2 family proteins including the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1. Mcl-1 is an important survival factor for many cancers and the expression of Mcl-1 is related to chemo-resistance. In this study, we investigated the role of Mcl-1 in vinblastine-induced apoptosis in KB-3 cells. Vinblastine and other microtubule inhibitors promoted Mcl-1 phosphorylation and subsequent degradation. However, no changes in Mcl-1 phosphorylation or expression were observed when cells were treated with lethal concentrations of DNA-damaging agents, doxorubicin or VP-16, suggesting that these modifications are specific responses to microtubule damage. The degradation of Mcl-1 was inhibited by the proteosome inhibitor MG-132. The phosphorylation of Mcl-1 in synchronized cells was inhibited by treatment with different CDK inhibitors including roscovitine, purvalanol A and RO-3306. These results suggest that CDK-dependent phosphorylation and degradation of Mcl-1 may be an important regulatory mechanism in microtubule inhibitor-induced apoptosis. Supported by NIH CA109821. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 4601.