cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CUR and NCUR Join Forces on Undergraduate Research

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) have officially joined forces under the CUR banner. Building on a long-standing alliance, the joint organization will be a leading voice for undergraduate research both within the academic community and with external constituencies. The merged organization will also continue to support undergraduate research students through the annual NCUR meeting, and faculty mentors through publications, institutes, advocacy efforts, and the biannual national meeting, among other resources.
Estimating ambient particulate organic carbon concentrations and partitioning using thermal optical measurements and the volatility basis set

ABSTRACTWe introduce a new method to estimate the mass concentration of particulate organic carbon (POC) collected on quartz filters, demonstrating it using quartz-filter samples collected in greater Pittsburgh. This method combines thermal-optical organic carbon and elemental carbon (OC/EC) analysis and the volatility basis set (VBS) to quantify the mass concentration of semi-volatile POC on the filters. The dataset includes ambient samples collected at a number of sites in both summer and winter as well as samples from a highway tunnel. As a reference we use the two-filter bare-Quartz minus Quartz-Behind-Teflon (Q-QBT) approach to estimate the adsorbed gaseous fraction of organic carbon (OC), finding a substantial fraction in both the gas and particle phases under all conditions. In the new method we use OC fractions measured during different temperature stages of the OC/EC analysis for the single bare-quartz (BQ) filter in combination with partitioning theory to predict the volatility distributions of ...
On the Effect of Strain Rate and Temperature on the Yield Strength Anomaly in L21-structured Fe2AlMn

The effects of strain rate and temperature on the yield strength of near-stoichiometric Fe 2 AlMn single crystals were investigated. In the temperature range 600-800K the yield stress increased with increasing temperature, a response commonly referred to as a yield strength anomaly. No strain rate sensitivity was observed below 750K, but at higher temperatures the yield stress increased with increasing strain rate. Possible mechanisms to explaining the effects of temperature and strain rate are discussed.
Comparison of systemic and direct intrarenal angiotensin II blockade on sodium excretion in rats

To dissociate the renal effects from the systemic effects of angiotensin II blockade, the present study was designed to determine the effects of systemic and renal interstitial infusion of the spec...
Comparison of methods for estimating motor unit firing rate time series from firing times

The central nervous system regulates recruitment and firing of motor units to modulate muscle tension. Estimation of the firing rate time series is typically performed by decomposing the electromyogram (EMG) into its constituent firing times, then lowpass filtering a constituent train of impulses. Little research has examined the performance of different estimation methods, particularly in the inevitable presence of decomposition errors. The study of electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroneurogram (ENG) firing rate time series presents a similar problem, and has applied novel simulation models and firing rate estimators. Herein, we adapted an ENG/ECG simulation model to generate realistic EMG firing times derived from known rates, and assessed various firing rate time series estimation methods. ENG/ECG-inspired rate estimation worked exceptionally well when EMG decomposition errors were absent, but degraded unacceptably with decomposition error rates of ⩾1%. Typical EMG decomposition error rates-even after expert manual review-are 3-5%. At realistic decomposition error rates, more traditional EMG smoothing approaches performed best, when optimal smoothing window durations were selected. This optimal window was often longer than the 400ms duration that is commonly used in the literature. The optimal duration decreased as the modulation frequency of firing rate increased, average firing rate increased and decomposition errors decreased. Examples of these rate estimation methods on physiologic data are also provided, demonstrating their influence on measures computed from the firing rate estimate.
Endocrine therapy and strategies to overcome therapeutic resistance in breast cancer

Abstract Despite the remarkable success of endocrine therapy in the treatment of patients with estrogen receptor (ER)- positive breast cancer, not all patients derive benefit from such therapy, or may benefit only temporarily before disease progression or relapse occurs. The value of endocrine therapy, which blocks ER signaling by a variety of strategies, lies in its simplicity, lower toxicity, and better alignment with preserved quality of life, particularly when compared to chemotherapy, which is more toxic and has only modest benefits for many patients with ER-positive breast cancer. It is therefore critical that we discover ways to extend endocrine therapy benefit in patients and prevent therapeutic resistance whenever possible. The tremendous evolution in our understanding of endocrine resistance mechanisms, coupled with the increasing availability of novel agents that target resistance pathways, has led to enhanced treatment approaches for patients with ER-positive breast cancer, primarily through combinations of endocrine agents with a variety of pathway inhibitors. Despite these treatment advances and our changing view of ER-positive breast cancer, there is much work that needs to be done. It remains a problem that we cannot reliably predict which subsets of patients will experience disease relapse or progression on endocrine therapy, and as such, combination strategies with targeted agents have largely been used in unselected patients with ER-positive breast cancer, including those who continue to have endocrine-sensitive disease. Patient selection is a significant issue since most of the targeted therapeutics that we use with endocrine therapy are expensive and can be toxic, and we may be inadvertently overtreating patients whose disease can still be controlled with endocrine therapy alone. In this article, we will review current and future strategies in the treatment of ER-positive breast cancer, as well as the evolving role of targeted therapy in the management of endocrine-resistance.
On crack extension sensitivity

The relationship between the critical stress intensity factor and the energy release rate is re-examined. It is shown that additional terms of the Williams' series can be used to provide insight into the sensitivity of crack extension after crack initiation.
Minimum Analog-Digital Quantization Resolution Requirements for Digital Communications Systems

This paper considers the effects of front-end quantization on the performance of digital communications systems. Instead of modeling the quantizer as a source of additive noise, we use a novel geometric approach to understand the interactions between the quantizer and received constellation points. We first find the minimum number of bins a uniform quantizer must possess in order to recover all symbols from a fading channel without error, then show that although all symbols passed through the minimum precision quantizer are recoverable at high SNR, they may not be equally reliable in realistic SNR regimes. We conclude by showing that, for the case of a uniform quantizer, the QAM modulation scheme is optimal in a symbol-reliability sense.
Myeloid-Specific Gene Deletion of Protein Phosphatase 2A Magnifies MyD88- and TRIF-Dependent Inflammation following Endotoxin Challenge.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a member of the intracellular serine/threonine phosphatases. Innate immune cell activation triggered by pathogen-associated molecular patterns is mediated by various protein kinases, and PP2A plays a counter-regulatory role by deactivating these kinases. In this study, we generated a conditional knockout of the α isoform of the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2ACα). After crossing with myeloid-specific cre-expressing mice, effective gene knockout was achieved in various myeloid cells. The myeloid-specific knockout mice (lyM-PP2Afl/fl) showed higher mortality in response to endotoxin challenge and bacterial infection. Upon LPS challenge, serum levels of TNF-α, KC, IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly increased in lyM-PP2Afl/fl mice, and increased phosphorylation was observed in MAPK pathways (p38, ERK, JNK) and the NF-κB pathway (IKKα/β, NF-κB p65) in bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMDMs) from knockout mice. Heightened NF-κB activation was not associated with degradation of IκBα; instead, enhanced phosphorylation of the NF-κB p65 subunit and p38 phosphorylation-mediated TNF-α mRNA stabilization appear to contribute to the increased TNF-α expression. In addition, increased IL-10 expression appears to be due to PP2ACα-knockout–induced IKKα/β hyperactivation. Microarray experiments indicated that the Toll/IL-1R domain–containing adaptor inducing IFN-β/ TNFR-associated factor 3 pathway was highly upregulated in LPS-treated PP2ACα-knockout BMDMs, and knockout BMDMs had elevated IFN-α/β production compared with control BMDMs. Serum IFN-β levels from PP2ACα-knockout mice treated with LPS were also greater than those in controls. Thus, we demonstrate that PP2A plays an important role in regulating inflammation and survival in the setting of septic insult by targeting MyD88- and Toll/IL-1R domain–containing adaptor inducing IFN-β–dependent pathways.
Temporal Causal Modeling

Discovering causal relationships in multivariate time series data has important applications in finance. This chapter discusses temporal causal modeling (TCM), an approach that generalizes the notion of Granger causality to multivariate time series by linking the causality inference process to the estimation of sparse vector autoregressive (VAR) models. It extends TCM to identify regime changes by combining it with a Markov switching modeling framework. The chapter describes a Bayesian Markov switching model for estimating sparse dynamic Bayesian networks (MS-SDBN). The chapter defines the notion of causal strength for each causal relationship discovered when applying the group orthogonal patching pursuit algorithm (OMP) method to TCM. Causal strength is a concept that tells information about the significance of a causal relationship. The chapter also describes a computationally efficient methodology to model the time-varying dependency structure underlying multivariate time-series data, with a particular focus on regime change identification.
China’s Local Government Innovations in Inter-Local Collaboration

Over the past decade, Chinese local governments have adopted numerous innovations to address pressing social, economic, and environmental concerns. Realizing the limitations of unilateral policy actions, cities have increasingly relied on inter-local collaboration to address urgent regional policy issues in service delivery, environmental protection, infrastructure construction, economic development, and disaster response. Despite the fact that inter-local collaborations have been adopted widely in China, there is still a lack of theoretical understanding of their motivations and mechanisms. Drawing on the Institutional Collective Action framework, three mechanisms of inter-local collaborations—informal partnership, formal collaboration, and imposed authority—are studied. Case studies are conducted to show the dynamics and mechanisms of innovative inter-local collaboration mechanisms in China. The framework presented in this study could serve as a useful lens for additional empirical research.
Segregation of Amphiphilic Polymer-Coated Nanoparticles to Bicontinuous Oil/Water Microemulsion Phases

Polymer-coated nanoparticles are interfacially active and have been shown to stabilize macroscopic emulsions of oil and water, also known as Pickering emulsions. However, prior work has not explored the phase behavior of amphiphilic nanoparticles in the presence of bicontinuous microemulsions. Here, we show that properly designed amphiphilic polymer-coated nanoparticles spontaneously and preferentially segregate to the bicontinuous microemulsion phases of oil, water, and surfactant. Mixtures of hydrophilic and hydrophobic chains are covalently grafted onto the surface of oxidized carbon black nanoparticles. By sulfating hydrophilic chains, the polymer-coated nanoparticles are stable in the aqueous phase at salinities up to 15 wt % NaCl. These amphiphilic, negatively charged polymer-coated nanoparticles segregate to the bicontinuous microemulsion phases. We analyzed the equilibrium phase behavior of the nanoparticles, measured the interfacial tension, and quantified the domain spacing in the presence of na...
Longer duration of asthma is significantly associated with increased RV/TLC ratio.

Abstract Background Although FEV1/FVC ratio has been shown to be negatively associated with longer duration of asthma; an association between RV/TLC ratio and longer duration of asthma has not been explored. Material and methods Patients with established asthma for more than a year and met inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. Data obtained by questionnaire after informed consent was obtained, Pulmonary function tests and laboratory results were collected through chart review. Correlation and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the data. Results Among the 93 subjects, 61 were women. The mean age of patients was 58 ± 15 years, and the mean duration of asthma was 21 ± 18 years. The ethnic composition included: Caucasians 64%, Hispanics 28% and other groups 8%. The FEV1/FVC ratio was not significantly associated with duration of asthma (R2 = 0.15, p = 0.05). However, the RV/TLC ratio was significantly associated with duration of asthma (R2 = 0.46, p Conclusion RV/TLC ratio may be a better indicator than FEV1/FVC ratio to detect airway obstruction related to longer duration of asthma. Lung volume measurements should be done in addition to spirometry to detect changes related to airway obstruction in patients with longer duration of asthma.
Assessment of an X-ray analysis system for investigating of fibrous debris bed formation on PWR sump strainer modules

Abstract During the blow-down stage of a loss of coolant accident (LOCA), fibrous material and associated debris are transported from the location of the pipe break to the sump system as core coolant flows through containment. A series of strainer modules are installed to restrict large debris from entering the sump system, which supplies coolant to the Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS). The accumulation of fibrous and debris material can result in the formation of semi-porous layers on the strainer module surfaces and possibly result in a reduction of coolant recirculation to the ECCS. The University of New Mexico (UNM) is investigating non-invasive techniques to better visualize the formation of fibrous debris beds on sump strainer modules; real-time visualization of debris bed formation would allow for better assessment of the filtration blockage of sump strainers. A series of exploratory tests were performed at the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation (CNDE) at Iowa State University (ISU) to determine the viability of using an X-ray system to perform in situ measurements of debris bed formation and particulate filtration on small-scale representative sump pump strainer assemblies.
Dynamics of a macroscopic elastic fibre in a polymeric cellular flow

We study the dynamics and transport of an elastic fibre in a polymeric cellular flow. The macroscopic fibre is much larger than the infinitesimal immersed polymer coils distributed in the surrounding viscoelastic fluid. Here we consider low-Reynolds-number flow using the Navier–Stokes/Fene-P equations in a two-dimensional, doubly periodic domain. The macroscopic fibre supports both tensile and bending forces, and is fully coupled to the viscoelastic fluid using an immersed boundary framework. We examine the effects of fibre flexibility and polymeric relaxation times on fibre buckling and transport as well as the evolution of polymer stress. Non-dimensional control parameters include the Reynolds number, the Weissenberg number, and the elasto-viscous number of the macroscopic fibre. We find that large polymer stresses occur in the fluid near the ends of the fibre when it is compressed. In addition, we find that viscoelasticity hinders a fibre’s ability to traverse multiple cells in the domain.
Hearing health for adults

Recent analyses of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimate that 14% of adults between ages 20 and 69 have hearing loss defined as average hearing thresholds worse than 25 dB HL across four frequencies 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Noise exposure is a primary cause of preventable hearing loss in the United States; an estimated 22 million American workers are exposed to hazardous noise every year. Given its associated implications on communication, education, employment opportunities, job performance, injury-risk, depression, and anxiety—hearing loss places a significant burden on society. Preventive initiatives, workplace hearing conservation programs, and habilitation/rehabilitation efforts need to be tailored to specific populations, stages of life, and hearing risk factors. Innovative hearing health programs must be developed, evaluated, and implemented. This presentation will discuss innovations in hearing loss prevention and promote hearing health for adults in the occupational and non-o...
Gender and Hooking Up

Hookups, or encounters that include varied sexual behaviors without expectation of a committed relationship, have received substantial academic and popular interest over the past two decades. We review research on college hookup culture, focusing on gender and patterns of hookup participation, experiences, and outcomes. We critically examine theoretical perspectives that have been offered to explain gender differences in hooking up, explore problematic dynamics in hookups including gendered sexual double standards and sexual assault, and describe recent advances in hookup research related to campus sex ratios, same-sex hookups, and race and class intersections. We offer a critique of existing research and provide suggestions for future studies of gender and sexual encounters. Specifically, research on the intersections of gender with race/ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation are lacking, as are studies of transgender hookups, hookups among same aged non-college attending young adults, and hookups that occur later in the life course.
Intellectual property, patents and innovation in aeronautics

Abstract: This chapter begins with a general discussion of intellectual property, patents and creativity/innovation. A historic case study of automated material placement (AMP) equipment is presented. As the large commercial aircraft (LCA) industry attempts to shift from mostly metallic to composite airplanes, the ability of airframers (prime contractors or system integrators) and equipment vendors to innovate and transactualize technological advances (i.e. improved machine functionality, speed and reliability) will no doubt dictate the long-term health of the industry. It is estimated that, by the year 2020, 80% of all the composite material used in the LCA industry will be laid by machine, versus approximately 30% today. This chapter should be of interest to students and professional practitioners involved in the study, design and manufacture of composite components.
Psychological characteristics of reflex sympathetic dystrophy versus myofascial pain syndromes

Background and Objectives Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) has sometimes been hypothesized to derive from a unique psychological predisposition because of its enigmatic features, as well as the profound behavioral and emotional characteristics manifested by some patients. This study compares the psychological characteristics of RSD and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) patients to discern the extent of any aspects unique to RSD. Methods The patients included 58 with RSD and 214 with MPS, all of whom completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) as well as a pain questionnaire. Additional pertinent demographic and clinical characteristics were ascertained. Results The only significant demographic group differences revealed a higher proportion of RSD patients not working (P Conclusions With only a few exceptions, RSD and MPS patients appear comparable with respect to a wide range of demographic, clinical, and psychological functioning indices. A specific psychological profile, uniquely neurotic or otherwise, has yet to be demonstrated in terms of any etiologic or maintenance factors in RSD.
Early Correction of Distal Radius Partial Articular Malunion Leads to Good Long-term Functional Recovery at Mean Follow-up of 4 Years.

Background: Distal radius articular step-off or deformity may cause posttraumatic arthritis and poor functional outcome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain and functional outcomes in patients with malunited partial articular distal radius fractures who underwent corrective osteotomy. We hypothesized that anatomic restoration of distal radius articular surface after a malunited partial articular distal radius fracture results in improvement in pain and functional measures and delays the development of posttraumatic arthritis. Methods: Seven consecutive patients with mean age of 38 years underwent corrective osteotomy via either a standard dorsal approach or combined dorsal and volar approach. Mean time from injury to corrective osteotomy was 10 weeks. Patients were assessed with respect to Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH), forearm and wrist range of motion, pain, and grip strength. Results: At mean follow-up of 44 months, significant improvements in pain scores (7.1-...
The Grand Experiment: The State and Municipal Pension Fund Diversification into Alternative Assets

Over a nine-year period (2008–2016), state and municipal pension funds embarked on a grand experiment. They boosted their commitments to alternative assets, spending tens of billions of dollars per year on additional third-party money management fees. The funds’ diversification strategy covered a variety of tactics involving mostly private, but some public, assets. The ostensible purpose of this expenditure was to realize both (i) greater returns and (ii) lower volatilities than those that were produced by the low-cost indexing of publicly-traded investments, which mimicked the funds’ actively-managed asset allocations. This paper compares aggregate public pension fund returns and volatilities, over differing time periods, with a series of institutional benchmarks and replicating indexes. We conclude that the states and municipalities obtained neither lower risk nor higher returns with the higher level of active management and diversification implied by alternative assets. The experiment is thus a failure.
A Broadband Linear-to-Circular Polarization Conversion Anisotropic Metasurface

In this paper, a broadband linear-to-circular (LTC) polarization conversion anisotropic metasurface is simulated and investigated. The unit cell of the proposed metasurface contains an outer C-shaped ring with a metallic circular patch in the center. A linearly polarized normally incident wave is converted into circularly polarized reflected wave for 3dB axial ratio (AR) in the frequency range of 15.26-18.70GHz. Moreover, LTC polarization conversion efficiency is above 90% within the frequency band of 16-18GHz. The designed metasurface has potential applications in polarization control microwave devices.
Regularized Joint Estimation of Related Vector Autoregressive Models.

Abstract In a number of applications, one has access to high-dimensional time series data on several related subjects. A motivating application area comes from the neuroimaging field, such as brain fMRI time series data, obtained from various groups of subjects (cases/controls) with a specific neurological disorder. The problem of regularized joint estimation of multiple related Vector Autoregressive (VAR) models is discussed, leveraging a group lasso penalty in addition to a regular lasso one, so as to increase statistical efficiency of the estimates by borrowing strength across the models. A modeling framework is developed that it allows for both group-level and subject-specific effects for related subjects, using a group lasso penalty to estimate the former. An estimation procedure is introduced, whose performance is illustrated on synthetic data and compared to other state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, the proposed approach is employed for the analysis of resting state fMRI data. In particular, a group-level descriptive analysis is conducted for brain inter-regional temporal effects of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) patients as opposed to controls, with the data available from the ADHD-200 Global Competition repository.
“We Want to Build a Network”: Professional Experiences of Case Managers Working With Military Families:

Optimizing case management (CM) services increases service member readiness at home and abroad. However, little research has been conducted on the experiences of case managers providing services to military families within the Military Health System. Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted to explore the professional experiences of case managers to identify factors that may affect care to military families. A total of 53 case managers from military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) varying in size, location, and branch of service were interviewed by telephone to explore their perspectives. Qualitative content analysis was performed. Case managers serve a variety of functions, but specific roles vary between MTFs. Factors that affect CM services for military families were identified: (1) need for pediatric specialization, (2) heavy workload, (3) appropriate staff, (4) patient handoffs, and (5) the role of CM. Recommendations for improving CM services to facilitate the well-being of military families are discussed.
Discuss risks and benefits with clients.

I agree with Martin Whitehead – at least in part – on one point concerning raw feeding ( VR , 23 November 2019, vol 185, p 635). My experience concurs with his, that pet owners do not always have a high regard for veterinary nutritional advice. But perhaps we should ask why? Might it be that they now appreciate that the ultra-processed foods recommended by many in our profession might have significant adverse influences on their …
Logistic Regression Classification of Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma versus Uveitis by Interleukin 6 and Interleukin 10 Levels

Purpose To assess the diagnostic performance and generalizability of logistic regression in classifying primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) versus uveitis from intraocular cytokine levels in a single-center retrospective cohort, comparing a logistic regression model and previously published Interleukin Score for Intraocular Lymphoma Diagnosis (ISOLD) scores against the interleukin 10 (IL-10)-to-interleukin 6 (IL-6) ratio. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants Patient histories, pathology reports, and intraocular cytokine levels from 2339 patient entries in the National Eye Institute Histopathology Core database. Methods Patient diagnoses of PVRL versus uveitis and associated aqueous or vitreous IL-6 and IL-10 levels were collected retrospectively. From these data, cytokine levels were compared between diagnoses with the Mann–Whitney U test. A logistic regression model was trained to classify PVRL versus uveitis from aqueous and vitreous IL-6 and IL-10 samples and compared with ISOLD scores and IL-10-to-IL-6 ratios. Main Outcome Measures Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for each classifier and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) at the optimal cutoff (maximal Youden index) for each classifier. Results Seventy-seven lymphoma patients (10 aqueous samples, 67 vitreous samples) and 84 uveitis patients (19 aqueous samples, 65 vitreous samples) treated between October 5, 1999, and September 16, 2015, were included. Interleukin 6 levels were higher and IL-10 levels were lower in uveitis patients compared with lymphoma patients (P Conclusions The accuracy of the logistic regression model and generalizability of the ISOLD score to an independent patient cohort suggest that intraocular cytokine analysis by logistic regression may be a promising adjunct to cytopathologic analysis, the gold standard, for the early diagnosis of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma. Further validation studies are merited.
The electronic spectroscopy of tyrosine and phenylalanine analogs in a supersonic jet: Acidic analogs

Abstract Fluorescence excitation spectra of the origin regions of 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, 3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid, and hydrocinnamic acid have been measured in a supersonic jet. Power dependence studies reveal the existence of one, one, and two conformers, respectively. The dispersed emission spectra of these molecules were measured and analysis of the region of the spectrum near the electronic origin confirms our conformer assignments. Molecular modeling calculations are used to propose the most reasonable structures for these conformers. The fluorescence lifetimes of the conformers of these molecules were measured. The fluorescence decays of hydrocinnamic acid were found to be single exponential and the lifetimes of its two conformers are 67 ± 6 and 76 ± 5 nsec. The fluorescence decay of 3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid was also found to be single exponential and the lifetime of its conformer is 15 ± 3 nsec. In the case of 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid only an upper limit of 10 nsec can be given to its conformer lifetime because of our limited time resolution. This work serves as a basis for interpreting the more complicated spectroscopy of the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine.
In Vitro Effects of Ligand Bias on Primate Mu Opioid Receptor Downstream Signaling

Interest has emerged in biased agonists at the mu opioid receptor (MOR) as a possible means for maintaining potent analgesis with reduced side effect profiles. While approaches measuring in vitro biased agonism are used in the development of these compounds, their therapeutic utility will ultimately be determined by in vivo functional effects. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are the most translational model for evaluating the behavioral effects of candidate medications, but biased signaling of these drugs at NHP MOR receptors has been unstudied. The goal of the current work was to characterize MOR ligand bias in rhesus macaques, focusing on agonists that have previously been reported to show different patterns of biased agonism in rodents and humans. Downstream signaling pathways that responded to MOR activation were identified using a luciferase reporter array. Concentration-response curves for specific pathways (cAMP, NF-ĸB, MAPK/JNK) were generated using six agonists previously reported to differ in terms of signaling bias at rodent and human MORs. Using DAMGO as a reference ligand, relative cAMP, NF-ĸB and MAPK/JNK signaling by morphine, endomorphin-1, and TRV130 were found to be comparable between species. Further, the bias patterns of across ligands for NF-ĸB and MAPK/JNK were largely similar between species. There was a high degree of concordance between rhesus macaque and human MOR receptor signaling bias for all agonists tested, further demonstrating their utility for future translational behavioral studies.
Probing Biomaterials with the Atomic Force Microscope

Recent AFM research in our laboratory has covered such diverse biomaterials as laminin and other macromolecules from basement membranes (Fig. 1) (1), DNA condensed for gene therapy (Fig. 2) (2), DNA-protein complexes in the yeast kinetochore (Fig. 3) (3), and biofilms of the bacterium Pseudomonas putida (Fig. 4) (4).Laminin is a major protein of basement membranes. When analyzed by AFM in air, it shows a variety of conformations of its cruciform structure (Fig. 1A). Time-lapse images of a single laminin molecule in aqueous solution show the flexibility of the laminin arms as they move and bend (Fig. 1B)(1).AFM analysis of DNA condensed for receptor-mediated gene therapy poses a puzzle (Fig. 2)(2). Polylysine condenses DNA poorly (Fig. 2A), while AsOR-polylysine condenses DNA into compact toroids and short rods (Fig. 2B). AsOR (asialoorosomucoid) is a 38-kDa glycoprotein with a net negative charge of 5 carboxylic acid groups per molecule. The puzzle is why this negative glycoprotein, covalently attached to polylysine, can enhance the condensation of DNA so much over the condensation caused by the polycation, polylysine, alone.
Race, Gender, and Parental College Savings: Assessing Economic and Academic Factors:

This article assesses the relationships between race, gender, and parental college savings. Some prior studies have investigated race differences in parental college savings, yet none have taken an...
Refolding and purification of Cephalosporium acremonium deacetoxycephalosporin C synthetase/hydroxylase from granules of recombinant Escherichia coli.

The gene for bifunctional deacetoxycephalosporin C synthetase/hydroxylase of Cephalosporium acremonium was cloned and overexpressed as an insoluble and inactive enzyme in granules of recombinant Escherichia coli. About 40-60% of expected synthetase activity along with 50-80% protein purity could be recovered directly from granular extracts with only a single empirically optimized refolding step. Further purification to homogeneity was achieved by a single anion-exchange-chromatographic step in the presence of denaturing concentrations of urea. The main obstacle to converting the homogeneous unfolded protein into the active enzyme was a urea-dependent aggregation during refolding that led to irreversible enzyme inactivation. Information obtained from refolding studies using gel-filtration HPLC, fluorescence spectroscopy and disulphide analysis led to an optimal enzyme refolding scheme that resulted in a highly active (i.e. 65-75% of the expected activity) and moderately stable fungal synthetase/hydroxylase.
A practice-oriented approach to foster private landowner participation in ecosystem service conservation and restoration at a landscape scale

Abstract Large landscape conservation planning often requires managers to coordinate with private landowners, especially in regions like the southern and western U.S. where private landownership dominates. It is often difficult to design conservation programs that incorporate varying landowner perceptions, values, and ownership objectives. Simple and transferable methods are needed to inform the design of landscape-scale conservation and restoration programs, and we propose that this can be done by targeting ecosystem services (ES) of interest to private landowners. Targeting multiple ecosystem benefits can identify areas that provide cost-effective conservation investments. The approach described here consists of three complementary steps: mapping potential ES provision, assessing landowner interest in these ES, and determining which institutions are most effective for engaging landowners. We integrate these three streams of information to identify areas where landowner and conservation priorities align with ES benefits, and where interaction with familiar organizations is likely increase landowner engagement in conservation practices. Though we applied the approach to a landscape in the U.S., the methods are designed to be transferable to other regions. Creating transferable and replicable methods can help accelerate deployment by conservation and restoration organizations interested in ES and landowner engagement.
AKI in COVID-19–Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a recently identified entity in association with COVID-19. AKI has been widely reported in patients with primary COVID-19 infection. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding renal injury in MIS-C. We aim to characterize AKI in MIS-C in this cohort identified at a major children9s hospital in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children 0–20 years old admitted to Morgan Stanley Children9s Hospital (MSCH) between April 18th and September 23rd, 2020. Patients were included if they met criteria for MIS-C on the basis of CDC guidelines. All patients were evaluated for the presence of AKI, and AKI was staged according to KDIGO criteria. Results Of the 57 children who met inclusion criteria, 46% (26 of 57) were found to have AKI. The majority of patients (58%; 15 of 26) were classified as KDIGO stage 1. AKI was present upon admission in 70% of those identified. All patients had resolution of AKI at discharge, with 61% achieving recovery by day 2. One patient required dialysis. When compared with those without renal injury, the AKI cohort was older (P Conclusions Although children with MIS-C may develop AKI, our study suggests that most experience mild disease, swift resolution, and promising outcome. Older age, increased inflammation, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction may be risk factors. Our study highlights the substantial differences in epidemiology and outcomes between AKI associated with pediatric MIS-C versus primary COVID-19 infection.
The effects of acute temperature change and digestive status on in situ cardiac function in mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus).

Abstract In this study, we investigated the effect of acute increases in temperature on cardiovascular function of mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus). We also describe, for the first time, an artery that supplies the gastrointestinal tract that originates from the fourth branchial artery. We used vascular casting to verify the anatomical location of this unique celiaco-mesenteric artery. We predicted that blood flow in this vessel would be correlated with the digestive state of the animal. Increasing water temperature from 25.0 to 30.5 °C resulted in a linear increase in heart rate (fH) from 165 ± 4 beats∙min−1to 232 ± 7 beats∙min−1. Over this temperature range, fH strongly correlated with water temperature (R2 = 0.79). At 31 °C fH no longer correlated with water temperature, and at 34 °C fH had dropped to 114 ± 19 beats∙min−1. Furthermore, we found that mahi are capable of maintaining constant cardiac output over a temperature range from 25 to 31 °C. Cardiac function appeared to be compromised at temperatures >31 °C. In fed anesthetized fish, blood flow was pulsatile in the celiaco-mesenteric artery and was not in fasted fish. In fed fish, blood flow in the left celiaco-mesenteric artery was 1.99 ± 0.78 ml·min−1·kg−1 compared to the total cardiac output of 168.6 ± 12.7 ml·min−1·kg−1. The data suggest that mahi can differentially regulate gastric blood flow based on feeding state, which may explain the high digestive efficiency and very high growth rates of these pelagic predators.
Assessment of Web-Based Training Modules on Learning Facilitation for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences in Pediatrics

OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of web-based training (WBT) modules to enhance and facilitate student pharmacists’ learning and their ability to provide pharmaceutical care to children during a pediatric advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE). METHODS Pediatric-specific WBT modules were developed for completion by APPE students during a 4week rotation. Pediatric modules covered developmental pharmacology; antimicrobial use and monitoring; fluids, electrolytes, and dehydration; and drug information. Students were responsible for completing all modules within the first week of the APPE. Preassessments and postassessments consisted of 8 to 10 multiple-choice questions, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 points. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t tests. RESULTS Statistically significant improvements in postassessment scores were achieved for 3 of the 4 modules. Significant improvements were not observed in the antimicrobial use and monitoring module. Most student pharmacists either somewhat or strongly agreed that the modules improved their understanding of pharmaceutical care for children. CONCLUSIONS WBT modules, taken during an APPE rotation, may expand and improve student pharmacists’ understanding of pharmaceutical care in pediatric patients.
Incorporating Evidence-Based Practice into the Macro Practice Curriculum

Considerable attention has been directed in preparing social work students to understand the paradigm of evidence-based practice (EBP). The infusion of EBP through training, course instruction, and assignments has the potential to enhance EBP knowledge acquisition in the macro practice curriculum. This article examines an approach to integrating EBP into the curriculum through a training model that is linked with the practice, research, and practicum courses. A preliminary study based on student satisfaction ratings reveals that the approach was effective in helping students to acquire knowledge about the process of EBP and in using evidence to make practice decisions.
Speech style and occupational status affect assessments of eyewitness testimony

This study examined how speech style and occupational status affect mock jurors' assessments of eyewitness testimony. Mock jurors (n = 120) watched a video of a man testifying about witnessing an attempted robbery. The eyewitness exhibited either a powerless or powerful speech style and reported either a high or low (or no) status occupation during his testimony. Results indicated that high occupation status and powerful speech style led to more favorable evaluations of the eyewitness's testimony and of the case against the defendant than powerless speech style and low/no occupation status. Implications of these results on considerations of eyewitness testimony and future research are discussed.
Giant anelastic responses in (BaZrO3-ZnO)-BaTiO3 composite materials

Composite materials containing particulate BaTiO3 inclusion have been fabricated with BaZrO3-ZnO as the matrix. Giant anelastic responses (abrupt increase in modulus and damping vs. temperature) have been observed after 75 °C aging 24 h in these composites in the temperature region far below the Curie point of BaTiO3. Anomalies disappeared after 185 °C aging 4 h. Such responses are attributed to the constraining negative-stiffness effect of the inclusion. An oxygen vacancy mechanism has been discussed which is considered to be responsible for the negative-stiffness effect. The present work is novel in terms of the idea of manipulation of negative stiffness in ferroelastic inclusions to achieve the desired composite properties.
Synchronous One-Pole $\hbox{LiNbO}_{3}$ Surface Acoustic Wave Mass Sensors

Mass-loading-effect surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with center frequencies at 121 and 978 MHz have been investigated. Two types of SAW mass sensors, the dual- and single-track interdigital transducers with synchronous shorted reflection gratings, are fabricated on the 128° Y-X LiNbO3 substrate. The center frequencies of SAW mass sensors are shifted due to the additional mass on the electrodes. The 128° Y-X LiNbO3 piezoelectric material has a high velocity-shift coefficient so that its frequency shift due to the additional mass is enhanced. Experimental results show the good linearity and high sensitivity between the frequency shift and mass density. The minimum detectable mass densities are 24.3 ng/mm2 from the 978-MHz SAW mass sensors and 152 ng/mm2 from the 121-MHz SAW mass sensors, with 200- and 20-kHz frequency shifts, respectively. Furthermore, the mass sensitivities are 1.315 × 1011 and 8.23 × 1012 Hz·mm2/g, respectively.
The Road to Clarity: Seventh-Day Adventism in Madagascar

The Road to Clarity: Seventh-Day Adventism in Madagascar. Eva Keller. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2005. 286 pp.
Phylogenetic relationships of the extinct St Helena petrel, Pterodroma rupinarum Olson, 1975 (Procellariiformes: Procellariidae), based on ancient DNA

Palaeontological studies show that three endemic procellariid seabird species became extinct on the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. At least one of these, Pterodroma rupinarum Olson, 1975, is likely to have survived until human colonization of the island, although it is known only from subfossil bones. Several species of Pterodroma are distributed across the Atlantic, but the skull and bill of Pt. rupinarum were judged to be more similar to the Indo-Pacific Pterodroma rostrata group, which was recently split into the separate genus Pseudobulweria. We used ancient DNA techniques to sequence the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of the extinct Pt. rupinarum, and conducted phylogenetic analyses to investigate the placement of this enigmatic taxon. In trees constructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference, Pt. rupinarum did not group with Pseudobulweria, but instead fell within a strongly supported clade of Atlantic Pterodroma, including the endangered Black-capped [Pterodroma hasitata (Kuhl, 1820)] and Bermuda [Pterodroma cahow (Nichols & Mowbray, 1916)] petrels, as well as the Macaronesian petrels [Pterodroma madeira Mathews, 1934, Pterodroma feae (Salvadori, 1899) and Pterodroma deserta Mathews, 1934]. Pterodroma rupinarum shared a particularly close relationship with Pt. feae of the Cape Verde Islands, which is also the geographically closest species within the clade. Considering the osteological distinctiveness of Pt. rupinarum it was probably a separate species, or at least a highly diverged population that was isolated for a substantial period of time prior to its extinction.
Asymptotic modal analysis of dynamical systems: the effect of modal cross-correlation

Asymptotic modal analysis (AMA) has been shown to be a useful approximation and valid limiting case for classical modal analysis (CMA) when the number of resonant modes in a frequency bandwidth becomes sufficiently large and the cross-correlation between resonant modes is neglected. For CMA the neglect of these cross-correlations is usually justified if the damping is small and the resonant modal frequencies are well separated. In this paper it is shown that the cross-correlations may be neglected in the AMA limit even when the damping is not small. There is a rare exception to this, i.e., when two or more identical resonant frequencies occur. But this exceptional case is easily treated by including the cross-correlations for only such modes that have the same frequencies.
Deposit-feeding by the ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius)

Abstract Observations using a videotape system on a secluded, Georgia, barrier beach revealed that the ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius) exhibits diurnal deposit-feeding behavior similar to that manifested by the sand fiddler crab Uca pugilator (Bosc). The only other ghost crabs reported to engage in deposit-feeding, Ocypode ceratophthalma and guadichaudii, use their chelae in a different manner than O. quadrata or Uca pugilator. Ocypode quadrata individuals collect more substratum per feeding motion and produce larger feeding pellets, aggregations of harvested but uningested substratum, than do sand fiddlers. The difference in feeding pellet size appears to be related to differences in buccal cavity size. Differences in Chl a concentrations between feeding pellets and unforaged substratum showed that O. quadrata is less efficient than Uca pugilator at extracting algae from the harvested substratum. However, ghost crabs can extract up to 70% of the available algae. Findings of this study suggest that deposit-feeding is an important adjunct to predatory behavior.