cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constitutive Expression of CD40L on Bone Marrow Mast Cells Supports the Growth of Lymphoplasmacytic Cells in Patients with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia.

CD40 ligand (CD40L) is a potent inducer of normal and malignant B-cell proliferation through interaction with CD40. We and others have observed excess mast cells (MC) in bone marrow (BM) biopsies of WM patients, which are commonly found admixed with tumor aggregates. (Tournilhac et al, JCO 2004, 22:571S). We therefore sought to clarify the role of MC in WM. Co-culture of 0.5% paraformaldehyde fixed, or sublethally irradiated HMC-1, LAD, and KU mast or basophilic cell lines and sorted BM lymphoplasmacytic cells (LPC) from 10 WM patients resulted in MC dose-dependent tumor colony formation and/or proliferation as assessed by 3 H-thymidine uptake studies. As demonstrated by immunohistochemical, multicolor flow cytometric (CD117 + FceRI + ) and/or RT-PCR analysis, CD40L was expressed on BM MC from 29 of 31 (94%), 11 of 13 (85%), and 7 of 9 (78%) of WM patients, respectively. In contrast, cell surface CD40L expression was not detected by immunohistochemistry (p=0.00005) and flow cytometry (p=0.003) in 5 normal donors, and only faint expression for 1 of 5 normal donors by RT-PCR (p=0.09). Moreover, by multicolor flow cytometry, CD40 was expressed on BM tumor cells from 14/17 (83%) patients. CD40 functionality was confirmed either by the G28.5 CD40 agonistic antibody which induced dose dependent proliferation or by the rh-CD40L which partly prevented serum starvation-induced-apoptosis of WM LPC from 4/4 and 3/4 patients respectively. Importantly, expansion of tumor cells from 3 of 4 patients in mixed cultures with paraformaldehyde fixed MC was blocked in a dose dependent manner by use of a CD40L blocking protein (CD40:Fc). These studies demonstrate that CD40L is constitutively expressed on the cell surface of BM MC in WM and support the growth of WM tumor cells, and therefore provide the framework for therapeutic targeting of MC and MC-WM cell interactions in WM.
Ossianic unconformities: Bardic poetry in the industrial age

For those unfamiliar with the language of modern literary criticism, Eric Gidal’s Ossianic Unconformities: Bardic Poetry in the Industrial Age can be very heavy going. This is unfortunate, because ...
Demographic Techniques: Inverse Projection

Inverse projection is a logical inversion of conventional projection techniques. The method uses crude data—annual totals of births and deaths, and an estimate of initial population size—to infer refined demographic statistics—life expectancy, gross and net reproduction ratios, and even population age structures. Instead of deriving counts from age-specific rates, as with conventional cohort projection, inverse projection estimates age-specific rates from counts. Where authentic age details for the initial population or age pattern of mortality are unavailable, model data often yield acceptable results. The technique is particularly suited for studying populations of the past where age details are scarce.
Reproduction, growth and development, and juvenile mortality in the Hawaiian monk seal.

Data on reproduction were collected during a tagging and census-ing study at Kure Atoll in the Leeward Hawaiians. Fifty-three known-age seals were tagged in 1964 and 1965, and observations on growth and development were made on 47 individuals. The annual reproductive rate at Kure was 15 live pups per 100 adults. About 19% of the adult females bred in successive years, and only 56% of the adult females had pups in either of the two seasons. Pups are usually born in March, April, or May. Pups spend about 5 weeks ashore before disappearing from the island. This period is devoted to slight growth in total length and deposition of large amounts of fat. Females remain with the pups during this 5-week period, and nursing is believed to end with departure of the pup. Sharks and adult seals contribute to juvenile mortality.
Cross-Linkable Polyimide Membranes for Improved Plasticization Resistance and Permselectivity in Sour Gas Separations

A series of cross-linkable membrane materials based on the 6FDA-DAM:DABA (3:2) polyimide backbone were synthesized for improved sour gas separation performance, in terms of both membrane stability and permselectivity. Short-chain poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) molecules were used as cross-linking agents in an esterification-based cross-linking reaction. Pure and mixed gas permeation and pure gas sorption experiments were performed on dense films of these materials. Compared to unmodified 6FDA-DAM:DABA (3:2), higher sour gas permselectivity and membrane stability were achieved under aggressive feed conditions. H2S-induced plasticization was not evident until pure H2S feed pressures greater than approximately 6–8 bar. Pure CO2-induced plasticization only occurred at feed pressures greater than about 25 bar. Under mixed gas feed conditions with 20% H2S, 20% CO2, and 60% CH4 at 35 °C, attractive selectivities above 22 and 27 for H2S/CH4 and CO2/CH4, respectively, were observed for a feed pressure of 62 bar with ...
Pathogenesis of gallstones.

Because cholesterol is the principal constituent of an overwhelming majority of the gallstones found in inhabitants of the Western world, it is appropriate to approach the problem of gallstone formation by considering the mechanisms responsible for solubilization or precipitation of cholesterol.
TurboTiling: Leveraging Prefetching to Boost Performance of Tiled Codes

Loop tiling or blocking improves temporal locality by dividing the problem domain into tiles and then repeatedly accessing the data within a tile. While this reduces reuse, it also leads to an often ignored side-effect: breaking the streaming data access pattern. As a result, tiled codes are unable to exploit the sophisticated hardware prefetchers in present-day processors to extract extra performance.In this work, we propose a tiling algorithm to leverage prefetching to boost the performance of tiled codes. To achieve this, we propose to tile for the last-level cache as opposed to tiling for higher levels of cache as generally recommended. This approach not only exposes streaming access patterns in the tiled code that are amenable for prefetching, but also allows for a reduction in the off-chip traffic to memory (and therefore, better scaling with the number of cores). As a result, although we tile for the last level cache, we effectively access the data in the higher levels of cache because the data is prefetched in time for computation. To achieve this, we propose an algorithm to select a tile size that aims to maximize data reuse and minimize conflict misses in the shared last-level cache in modern multi-core processors. We find that the combined effect of tiling for the last-level cache and effective hardware prefetching gives significant improvement over existing tiling algorithms that target higher level L1/L2 caches and do not leverage the hardware prefetchers. When run on an Intel 8-core machine using different problem sizes, it achieves an average improvement of 27% and 48% for smaller and larger problem sizes, respectively, over the best tile sizes selected by state-of-the-art algorithms.
Ectopic vas deferens.

AbstractTwo infants with ectopia of the vas deferens are described. To date 11 cases have been reported, comprising a total of 13 ectopic vas insertions, 2 of which are bilateral. A classification of 2 types of ectopic vas is presented with a discussion of their relationship to ureteral ectopias. An embryological hypothesis of a proximal vas precursor segment of the wolffian duct is related closely to Stephens’ theory of ureteral development.
"Estranging Exteriority": translation and adaptation in Irish drama

This paper tests Nicholas Grene's theory that Irish drama is "...outerdirected, created as much to be viewed from outside as well as inside Ireland" to see whether it holds true for Irish language theatre. Starting with three plays written first in the Irish language: Brendan Behan's An Giall (The Hostage), Mairead Ni Ghrada's An Triail (The Trial: a Play) and Antoine O Flatharta's Grasta I Meiricea (Grace in America), the paper will examine the authors' English versions of the plays to see whether they were literal translations, adaptations or transformation. If the English version were adaptations or transformations, what kinds of artistic, cultural or linguistic choices did the playwrights make to make "the otherness of Ireland" more accessible to their English readers and audiences?
The recent progress and future of oxygen reduction reaction catalysis: A review

Abstract Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology is an exciting alternative energy prospect, especially in the field of transportation. PEMFCs are three times as efficient as internal combustion (IC) engines and emit only water as a byproduct. The latter point is especially important in a day and age when climate change is upon us. However, platinum required to catalyze the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) which takes place on the cathode of the PEMFC has rendered fuel cell automobiles economically unviable until now. Therefore, the pursuit of an inexpensive replacement for platinum has become an active research area. This review covers the promising progress made in this field since 2011. Some of the more promising catalysts reviewed include alloys such as Pt/Pd nanotubes which outperform their platinum counterpart by nine fold and a Pt/Ni alloy which improves upon Pt activity by 16 times. Platinum-free catalysts such as iron carbide and modified graphene which rival Pt activity are also reviewed.
PREDICTION OF THE STRUCTURE OF CROSSLINKED CONDENSATION POLYMERS

Flory's branching coefficient, defined as “the probability that a given functional group of a branch unit leads via a chain of bifunctional units to another branch unit,” is used as the basis for a set of relationships describing the structure of crosslinked condensation polymers. The relationships deal with distributions of branch units: (1) between sol and gel, and (2) according to function, i.e. whether branch points, chain extenders, or chain terminators. Truly cross-linking branch points are distinguished from all others by a set of expressions, based on a hierarchy of branching coefficients, which define successively higher orders of branch units and chains.
Coherently modulated whistler mode waves simultaneously observed over unexpectedly large spatial scales

Utilizing simultaneous twin Van Allen Probes observations of whistler mode waves at variable separations, we are able to distinguish the temporal variations from spatial variations, determine the coherence spatial scale, and suggest the possible mechanism of wave modulation. The two probes observed coherently modulated whistler mode waves simultaneously at an unexpectedly large distance up to ~4.3 RE over 3 h during a relatively quiet period. The modulation of 150–500 Hz plasmaspheric hiss was correlated with whistler mode waves measured outside the plasmasphere across 3 h in magnetic local time and 3 L shells, revealing that the modulation was temporal in nature. We suggest that the coherent modulation of whistler mode waves was associated with the coherent ULF waves measured over a large scale, which modulate the plasmaspheric density and result in the modulation of hiss waves via local amplification. In a later period, the 500–1500 Hz periodic rising-tone whistler mode waves were strongly correlated when the two probes traversed large spatial regions and even across the plasmapause. These periodic rising-tone emissions recurred with roughly the same period as the ULF wave, but there was no one-to-one correspondence, and a cross-correlation analysis suggests that they possibly originated from large L shells although the actual cause needs further investigation.
Screening for Hypertension and Lowering Blood Pressure for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Events

Hypertension affects 1 in 3 American adults. Blood pressure (BP)-lowering therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends all adults be screened for hypertension. Most patients whose office BP is elevated should have out-of-office monitoring to confirm the diagnosis. Ambulatory BP monitoring is preferred for out-of-office measurement, but home BP monitoring is a reasonable alternative. Guidelines for treatment are stratified by age ( 60 years) and include cutoffs for recommended treatment BPs and target BP goals. Quality of hypertension care is improved by incorporating population health management using registries and medication titration.
How to bee aware

Bees are in the news at the moment due to the decline in their numbers and this makes it a good time to share lots of interesting facts about them. Engage children with a discovery table and a ‘bee aware’ day.
Acetabular labral tear description and measures of pincer and cam-type femoroacetabular impingement and interobserver variability on 3 T MR arthrograms.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the inter-rater agreement for description of labral tears and measures of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) on 3 T hip MR arthrography. Materials and methods 53 hip MR arthrograms were reviewed by three musculoskeletal radiologists. Labral tears were described (Czerny classification) with extents recorded. Cam- and pincer-type FAI measures were performed. Intraclass correlation (ICC) and kappa statistic (κ) assessed inter-observer agreement. Results There was fair agreement for labral tear description (κ = 0.25–0.39) and for alpha angles (ICC = 0.54), and fair to excellent agreement for other measures of FAI (ICC = 0.51–0.90). Conclusion There is moderate inter-observer variability reporting labral tears and measures of FAI.
Acid rock drainage passive remediation using alkaline clay: Hydro-geochemical study and impacts of vegetation and sand on remediation

Acid rock drainage (ARD) is one of the most adverse environmental problems of the mine industry, especially in regions with an abundance of coal refuse (CR) deposits (e.g. the Northern Appalachian Coalfield in the USA) where surface and ground waters are affected by this pollution due to the acidity and high content of sulfates and heavy metals. This study explores the effectiveness of the ARD passive remediation method using alkaline clay (AC) through a series of static and long-term kinetic laboratory experiments (over three years) complemented with field measurements and geochemical modeling. Two important issues associated with this passive and auto-sustainable ARD remediation method were investigated: 1) the hydrogeochemical study of the mixture in terms of the percentages of AC and CR, and, 2) impacts of vegetation cover and a saturated sand barrier on the remediation. Both the field measurements and the samples used for the experiments came from a local coal waste site. Through the analysis of the field measurements and the outcome of the laboratory experiments and the geochemical modeling, alkaline clay proved to be an effective remediation material for ARD, in terms of achieving a neutral pH in the leachate and immobilization of sulfate and metals such as Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Co. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the use of vegetation and a saturated sand barrier are beneficial. Vegetation acted as a phytoaccumulation/phytoextraction agent, causing an additional immobilization of metals. The saturated sand barrier blocked downward the oxygen and water diffusion, reducing pyrite oxidation rates. The proposed remediation approach ensures that the acidity consumption will likely occur before all the alkalinity is exhausted.
Effects of angiopoietin-1 on vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis in the mouse brain.

A better understanding of angiogenic factors and their effects on angiogenesis in brain is necessary to treat cerebral vascular disorders such as ischemic brain injury. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces angiogenesis and increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in adult mouse brain. The effect of angiopoietin-1 on BBB leakage during the angiogenesis process is unclear. We sought to identify the effects of combining VEGF with angiopoietin-1 on cerebral angiogenesis and BBB.
The Disruptive Effects of Optical Aids on Retinal Image Stability during Head Movements

Eye movements exist to aid vision by directing gaze toward objects of particular interest and, should those objects move, by tracking them. There are two basic kinds of eye movements: saccadic, which serve to shift fixation and thereby bring pertinent retinal images into the fovea where vision is most acute, and smooth, which serve to keep those images in the fovea by compensating for movements of the object or the observer. Visual acuity begins to deteriorate significantly when retinal images drift at more than a few degrees per second (Westheimer and McKee, 1975), and it is the smooth eye movements that operate to minimize such drift.
Nasa D3R: 2.0, Enhanced Radar with New Data and Control Features

The NASA dual-frequency, dual-polarization, Doppler radar (D3R) was developed to support development of algorithms and validation for the global precipitation measurement (GPM) missions dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR). The D3R has participated extensively in various field campaigns in North America with geographic features covering both summer and winter climatic regimes. During the year 2017, D3R went through a major upgrade, specially with the digital receiver and waveform generation subsystems. In this work, the D3R systems upgrade will be discussed with a focus on key features of the new system. The new flexible architecture will enable new research capabilities that will be described.
The Complete Chloroplast and Mitochondrial Genomes of the Diatom Nitzschia Palea (Bacillariophyceae) Demonstrate High Sequence Similarity to the Endosymbiont Organelles of the Dinotom Durinskia Baltica

Nitzschia palea is a common freshwater diatom used as a bioindicator because of its tolerance of polluted waterways. There is also evidence it may be the tertiary endosymbiont within the "dinotom" dinoflagellate Durinskia baltica. A putative strain of N. palea was collected from a pond on the University of Virginia's College at Wise campus and cultured. For initial identification, three markers were sequenced-nuclear 18S rDNA, the chloroplast 23S rDNA, and rbcL. Morphological characteristics were determined using light and scanning electron microscopy; based on these observations the cells were identified as N. palea and named strain "Wise." DNA from N. palea was deep sequenced and the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes assembled. Single gene phylogenies grouped N. palea-Wise within a clearly defined N. palea clade and showed it was most closely related to the strain "SpainA3." The chloroplast genome of N. palea is 119,447 bp with a quadripartite structure, 135 protein-coding, 28 tRNA, and 3 rRNA genes. The mitochondrial genome is 37,754 bp with a single repeat region as found in other diatom chondriomes, 37 protein-coding, 23 tRNA, and 2 rRNA genes. The chloroplast genomes of N. palea and D. baltica have identical gene content, synteny, and a 92.7% pair-wise sequence similarity with most differences occurring in intergenic regions. The N. palea mitochondrial genome and D. baltica's endosymbiont mitochondrial genome also have identical gene content and order with a sequence similarity of 90.7%. Genome-based phylogenies demonstrated that D. baltica is more similar to N. palea than any other diatom sequence currently available. These data provide the genome sequences of two organelles for a widespread diatom and show they are very similar to those of Durinskia baltica's endosymbiont.
Organ preservation in rectal cancer patients treated with total neoadjuvant therapy.

692Background: Retrospective case series suggest that watch-and-wait (WW) is a safe alternative to total mesorectal excision (TME) in selected patients with a clinical complete response (cCR) after...
Teacher Beliefs in Student Capabilities as a Mediating Factor in a Novel Understanding of Enactment of CT Curriculum

The integration of computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT) in STEM classes has been promoted as one strategy to engage all students in CS education. This approach aims to reduce inequities in access to computing education by placing CS within compulsory science classes. The Project GUTS CS in Science curriculum supports the integration of CT-rich computer modeling and simulation activities and has been promoted to serve the dual goals of exposing students to CS in a powerful context while simultaneously promoting students' understanding of modern scientific practices. This case study follows two middle school science teachers as they implement the curriculum that integrates CS within science classrooms through the use, modification, and creation of computer models of scientific phenomena. Their implementation stories represent the range of enactments from "use-only" in which computer models are used to demonstrate the behavior of a system, to "modify/create" in which teachers support students in the using, decoding and modifying computer models that are used as experimental test beds. These cases illuminate teacher characteristics and pedagogical decisions that impact enactment of the curriculum. Evidence is provided that teacher's belief in student capabilities is a factor correlated with enactment, and that has the potential to impact students' opportunities to learn. This finding suggests that addressing CS/CT skill building, content knowledge, and pedagogy within teacher professional development (PD) programs may be necessary but not sufficient to lead to enactment of CT-rich curricula and may inform others seeking to integrate CS in K-12 education.
The Characteristics Among Maltreatment, Special Education Service Delivery, and Personnel Preparation:

Children are experiencing abuse and neglect at alarming rates, and reported cases of maltreatment are increasing every year. Furthermore, children are 4 times more likely to receive special educati...
Soy protein nanoemulsions improve stability and bioavailability of vitamin D

BACKGROUNDDeficiency and insufficiency of vitamin D (VD) afflicts populations worldwide. Fortification of foods with VD has been present for decades; however, its stability in foods is often compro...
I’m Lonely. Who should I talk to?

Loneliness is becoming a global epidemic. As many as 33% of Americans report being chronically lonely, with similar percentages being reported in countries around the world. Additionally, this is a percentage that has risen in recent years. Many are turning to online forums as a way to connect with others about their feelings of loneliness and to begin to reduce these feelings. However, oftentimes, posts go unresponded to and online conversations do not take place, perhaps because those conversing did not find a connection with each other, potentially leaving the poster feeling even more lonely. This paper introduces a human-in-the-loop approach so that computers can mediate interactions online about loneliness and facilitate more intimate interactions. We also discuss ways to mitigate the bias when creating this system. The artificial intelligence in this approach takes into account the homophilous characteristics of the conversations that are taking place online by examining the homophily of the participants. Initial findings related to the correlation between homophily and successful conversations about loneliness on reddit are presented, and we lay the groundwork for being able to facilitate finding optimal conversation partners for those that are feeling lonely by proposing a human-in-the-loop approach.
Label-free purification of viable human T-lymphocyte cells from a mixture of viable and non-viable cells after transfection by electroporation

Recent developments in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for cancer have shown promising results. CAR T-cells are engineered mainly by AC or DC electroporation to express CAR molecules on their surfaces. Electroporation has detrimental effects on the majority of T-cells and causes cell death via apoptosis or necrosis. These non-viable cells have potentially harmful effects on other healthy T-cells. Because there are no unique biomarkers that pinpoint the apoptosis and necrosis of T-cells, currently available cell separation methods are incapable of purifying healthy T-cells after electroporation. To address this critical issue, we have used dielectrophoretic cell isolation in a simple microfluidics chip. Our results indicate that it is possible to purify cell samples after electroporation and achieve ~100% purity and??>90% target cell recovery. Therefore, this work presents a viable solution to a critical need in CAR T-cell manufacturing.
Catalytic Dehalogenation of Aryl Halides Mediated by a Palladium/Imidazolium Salt System

A convenient and efficient catalytic aryl halide dehalogenation protocol has been developed using an imidazolium salt/palladium/base system. The use of the ligand precursor SIMes·HCl ((2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)dihydroimidazolium chloride) in conjunction with Pd(dba)2 was found to be most effective for the dehalogenation of aryl chlorides, bromides, and polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Strong bases having β-hydrogens both perform deprotonation of the imidazolium salt and are hydrogen sources for the dehalogenation process. The oxidative addition of the imidazolium salt to the palladium(0) precursor generating a carbene palladium hydride species may also be involved in the dehalogenation process. This oxidative-addition reaction may have fundamental implications in low-valent metal carbene mediated transformations.
Population Genetic Analyses of Lampsilis cardium (Bivalvia: Unionida) Reveal Multiple Post–Glacial Colonization Routes into the Great Lakes Drainage

Freshwater mussels (order Unionida) are a historically abundant component of North American freshwater ecosystems, yet are among the most imperiled faunal groups. Understanding the underlying genetic structure and how it relates to historical geographic changes is critical for development of effective conservation strategies. Here we analyze mitochondrial gene fragments (COI) and 6 microsatellite loci of the freshwater mussel Lampsilis cardium (Rafinesque, 1820) in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River drainages to assess phylogenetic structure. The mitochondrial phylogeny shows geographic structure, with one divergent clade found exclusively in the Maumee and Wabash River. Phylogenies created using the COI sequences indicate divergence between two distinct clades of putative L. cardium (uncorrected p distance = 5.22%). Results from the microsatellite analyses suggest two genetically distinct populations corresponding to at least two glacial refugia, similar to the genetic structure observed for some other freshwater mussels in the region and are largely consistent to the results of mtDNA dataset. Three COI sequences from putative L. ovata (Say, 1817) were obtained from other published studies and included the phylogenetic analysis, these rendered the sequences from putative L. cardium generated in this study non–monophyletic. This suggests that more work is needed to determine whether L. cardium and L. ovata represent two distinct species or represent two divergent populations. Despite the highly divergent COI haplotypes in two monophyletic clades, nuclear microsatellite markers failed to detect differences in allele frequencies between individuals from these two clades in regions where they co–occur (FST = 0.004). These data aid in conservation strategies for unionids, providing guidance of best practices for maintaining natural genetic structure.
The Virtual Museum Based on HoloLens and Vuforia

Based on the current development of VR, AR, and MR (3R) technologies, this article comprehensively considers the limitations of physical museums in digital applications and proposes a new generation of virtual museums that break the cognitive boundaries between 3R. The significance, innovation and technology of virtual museums based on HoloLens and Vuforia technology are discussed. The multiple dimensions are used to evaluate the application value and development direction of the virtual museum in the future.
Is 'likely pathogenic' really 90% likely? Reclassification data in ClinVar.

In 2015, professional guidelines defined the term ‘likely pathogenic’ to mean with a 90% chance of pathogenicity. To determine whether current practice reflects this definition, ClinVar classifications were tracked from 2016 to 2019. During that period, between 83.8 and 99.1% of likely pathogenic classifications were reclassified as pathogenic, depending on whether LP to VUS reclassifications are included and on how these classifications are categorized.
Nephron progenitor maintenance is controlled through FGFs and Sprouty1 Interaction

Abstract The nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) give rise to all segments of functional nephrons and are of great interest due to their potential as a source for novel treatment strategies for kidney disease. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal plays pivotal roles in generating and maintaining NPCs during kidney development. However, molecule(s) regulating FGF signal during nephron development is not known. Sprouty (SPRY) is an antagonist of receptor tyrosine kinases. During kidney development, SPRY1 is expressed in the ureteric buds (UBs) and regulates UB branching by antagonizing Ret-GDNF signal. Here, we provide evidence that SPRY1 expressed in NPCs modulates activity of FGF signal in NPCs and regulates NPC stemness. Haploinsufficiency of Spry1 rescues bilateral renal agenesis and premature NPC differentiation caused by loss of Fgf9 and Fgf20. In addition, haploinsufficiency of Spry1 rescues NPC proliferation and cell death defects induced by loss of Fgf9 and Fgf20. In the absence of SPRY1, FGF9 and FGF20, another FGF ligand, FGF8 promotes nephrogenesis. Deleting both Fgf8 and Fgf20 results in kidney agenesis and defects in NPC proliferation and cell death. Rescue of loss of Fgf9 and Fgf20 induced renal agenesis by Spry1 haploinsufficiency was reversed when one copy of Fgf8 was deleted. These findings indicate the importance of the balance between positive and negative signal during NPC maintenance. Failure of the balance may underlie some human congenital kidney malformation. Significance Statement Nephrons are functional units of kidney to filter blood to excrete wastes and regulate osmolarity and ion concentrations. Nephrons are derived from nephron progenitors. Nephron progenitors are depleted during kidney development which makes it unable to regenerate nephrons. Therefore, understanding signaling molecules regulating nephron progenitor generation and maintenance is of great interest for the future kidney regenerative medicine. Here, we show that Sprouty1 regulates nephron progenitor maintenance by inhibiting FGF signal. Deletion of Sprouty1 rescues renal agenesis and nephron progenitor depletion in the Fgf9/20 loss-of-function kidneys. Further decrease of FGF signal by deleting one copy of Fgf8 makes kidneys irresponsive to Sprouty1 resulting in failure of nephron progenitor maintenance. This study thus identifies the reciprocal function of FGF-Sprouty1 signal during nephron progenitor development.
Recurrent versus new-onset depressive symptoms: Relationships with biomarkers of cardiovascular health following acute coronary syndrome.

Abstract Objective New-onset depressive symptoms commonly arise among persons without a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) in the setting of acute medical illness. Although depressive symptoms in general are associated with alterations in prognostic biomarkers following acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the nature of specifically new-onset depressive symptoms is less well-characterized. It is unclear whether such symptoms neurobiologically resemble recurrent symptoms of MDD or instead represent a distinct condition. In this exploratory analysis, we aimed to examine the effects of prior MDD history on the relationships between post-ACS depressive symptoms and cardiovascular biomarkers. Methods One-hundred sixty-four participants attended study visits 2 weeks and 6 months after ACS to complete self-report measures and provide biomarker samples. MDD history was identified by a psychiatrist through systematic electronic medical record review. Generalized estimating equations were performed to examine the moderating effects of MDD history on concurrent relationships between depressive symptoms and several biomarkers (endothelin-1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). Results Twenty percent (n = 33) of participants had a history of MDD. Depressive symptoms were more strongly associated with levels of endothelin-1 in patients with prior MDD compared to those without (B = 0.024, 95% CI [0.005, 0.043], p = .012), adjusting for age, sex, medical factors, and anxiety. MDD history did not moderate relationships between depressive symptoms and other biomarkers. Conclusion Recurrent post-ACS depressive symptoms are more strongly associated with elevated endothelin-1 levels than new-onset symptoms. Further work is needed to clarify the mechanism and clinical implications of this relationship.
The Caltech Prototype Scintillator Monopole Detector

A scintillator detector for magnetic monopoles was built, emphasizing enough redundancy for unambiguous detection of monopoles if a signal is found. This detector, now in operation, is intended as a prototype for a much larger detector required to reach the Parker bound.
Primary Corrosion Processes for Polymer-Embedded Free-Standing or Substrate-Supported Silicon Microwire Arrays in Aqueous Alkaline Electrolytes

Solar fuel devices have shown promise as a sustainable source of chemical fuels. However, long-term stability of light absorbing materials remains a substantial barrier to practical devices. Herein, multiple corrosion pathways in 1 M KOH(aq) have been defined for TiO2-protected Si microwire arrays in a polymer membrane either attached to a substrate or free-standing. Top-down corrosion was observed in both morphologies through defects in the TiO2 coating. For the substrate-based samples, bottom-up corrosion was observed through the substrate and up the adjacent wires. In the free-standing samples, uniform bottom-up corrosion was observed through the membrane with all wire material corroded within 10 days of immersion in the dark in 1 M KOH(aq).
From Engineering School to Careers: An Examination of Occupational Intentions of Mechanical Engineering Students

This paper examines the variation in career plans among U.S. senior year mechanical engineering undergraduates. The extent to which candidates persist from engineering school into engineering caree...
Sarcopenia in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the United States.

Background & aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with sarcopenia. However, mortality in the setting of NAFLD-related sarcopenia remains undefined. We aim to determine the all-cause and cause-specific mortality from sarcopenia among adults with NAFLD in the United States (US). Methods 11,065 individuals in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were studied and linked mortality through 2015 was analyzed. NAFLD was diagnosed based on presence of ultrasonographic hepatic steatosis without other known liver diseases. Sarcopenia was defined as skeletal muscle index determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality, and hazard ratio (HR) adjusted for known risk factors. Results During a median follow-up of 23 years or more, sarcopenia was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.44). Only in individuals with NAFLD, sarcopenia was associated with a higher risk for all-cause mortality, while this association was absent in those without NAFLD. Individuals with both sarcopenia and NAFLD had a higher risk for all-cause mortality (HR 1.28 95% CI 1.06-1.55) compared with those without sarcopenia and NAFLD. Furthermore, sarcopenia was associated with a higher risk for cancer- and diabetes-related mortality among those with NAFLD. This association was not noted in those without NAFLD. Conclusion In this nationally representative sample of US adults, sarcopenia was associated with a higher risk for all-cause, cancer- and diabetes-related mortality in individuals with NAFLD.
The Distributional Effects of Non-Resident Investors on Housing Market and Welfare

Despite much empirical evidence indicating that non-resident housing investment increases house price and rent in small open economies, the effects of non-resident housing investment on consumption and welfare across different types of resident households are unclear. This paper studies the distributional effects and welfare implications of non-resident housing investment in a two-sector dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with three types of agents: saving households, borrowing households, and renters. The model is estimated using Bayesian methods applied to Taiwanese quarterly data from 2001Q1 to 2017Q4. Three main results emerge. First, in line with empirical evidence, non-resident housing investment raises house price and rent, validating policy makers' concerns on housing affordability. Second, higher house price boosts property values of homeowners, generating a positive wealth effect that strongly promotes consumption. Housing production boom increases wage, further spurring consumption. Third, higher investment by non-residents increases government tax revenues, and the allocation of these revenues has important welfare consequences across agents. Borrowers and renters accrue the greatest welfare gains when tax revenues are used to provide productive public capital, while savers prefer the policy when revenues are allotted to non-productive government spending. When public and private goods are complements, using tax revenues to provide utility-enhancing public goods dominates direct subsidies, and is most effective at reducing the growth of house price and rent.
Certain public-reported immune-mediated adverse events for PD-1 inhibitors in melanoma occur at higher rates than in clinical trials

Pembrolizumab and nivolumab are PD-1 monoclonal antibodies which promote cell death, augmenting the immune response against malignancy. These agents are primary therapies for treatment of advanced melanoma, among other malignancies; therapy toxicities can lead to patient discontinuation especially in immune-related adverse events (irAEs)1,2 . We aimed to examine the risk of adverse events for these two PD-1 inhibitors since FDA approval December 2014, using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database, and determine whether the risk of these adverse events differ from clinical trial (RCTs) data.
Polyploid giant cancer cells and ovarian cancer: new insights into mitotic regulators and polyploidy

Current first-line treatment of patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) involves the use of cytotoxic drugs that frequently lead to recurrent tumors exhibiting increased resistance to the drugs and poor patient survival. Strong evidence is accumulating to show that HGSOC tumors and cell lines contain a subset of cells called polyploidy giant cancer cells (PGCCs) that act as stem-like, self-renewing cells. These PGCCs appear to play a key role in tumor progression by generating drug-resistant progeny produced, in part, as a consequence of utilizing a modified form of mitosis known as endoreplication. Thus, developing drugs to target PGCCs and endoreplication may be an important approach for reducing the appearance of drug-resistant progeny. In the review, we discuss newly identified regulatory factors that impact mitosis and which may be altered or repurposed during endoreplication in PGCCs. We also review recent papers showing that a single PGCC can give rise to tumors in vivo and spheroids in culture. To illustrate some of the specific features of PGCCs and factors that may impact their function and endoreplication compared to mitosis, we have included immunofluorescent images co-localizing p53 and specific mitotic regulatory, phosphoproteins in xenografts derived from commonly used HGSOC cell lines.
Secondary Impacts of Evidence-Based Treatment Training and Provision on Children’s Mental Health Care

Abstract Purpose Training therapists in evidence-based treatments (EBTs) is a strategy for improving the quality of mental health care. State and county-wide initiatives have focused on increasing EBT implementation, however, many clients seen in community mental health agencies do not fit into the age or diagnostic requirements of available EBTs. Given the limited reach of some EBTs, questions remain about how EBT implementation efforts may lead to a broader change in general practice. This study aimed to understand the secondary impacts of receiving training in and delivering one EBT, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), on therapists’ general provision of mental health care to children on their caseload who were not receiving PCIT. Methods Twenty-three therapists providing PCIT in community settings participated in hour-long semi-structured interviews about their experiences providing PCIT and general children’s mental health treatment. Thematic analysis illuminated themes and subthemes related to how PCIT training impacted the therapist’s general practice. Results Three primary themes emerged regarding how training in and providing PCIT impacted therapists’ general practice: (1) Treatment toolbox, (2) Involving caregivers in treatment, and (3) Confidence working with children. Conclusion This study highlighted how receiving training in an EBT impacts therapists’ general provision of services, such that child clients who are not receiving a full course of PCIT could still be receiving elements of evidence-based practices associated with improved quality of care, such as enhanced caregiver engagement and use of progress measures. Therapists’ increased confidence and skill set garnered from EBT training could generalize to their larger practice, which has significant implications for improving client care.
Pyrolysis-GLC studies on amniotic fluid: A prospective method for confirming inborn errors in fetuses

In the past 5 years, amniocentesis (removal of amniotic fluid in pregnancy) has been used to detect inherited chromosomal and biochemical disorders. Pyrochromatograms of skin biopsy cells cultured from patients with known inherited biochemical abnormalities differ from those of cells from a normal person. Analysis of abnormal fetal cells by pyrolysis-gas-liquid chromatography (PGLC) should provide useful diagnostic information in the same manner as cultured skin fibroblasts.
Spin Glasses and Neural Networks

In previous manuals you have learned that order can grow out of disorder and randomness. You may have noticed a remarkable property of disordered systems—the larger number of elements that comprise a disordered system or that take part in disordered dynamics, the more dependable are laws that govern the “new order.” The recognition of these laws is a triumph of modern science. In this workbook we apply these wonderful results to an even more awesome question: “How does the brain recognize patterns?” Strangely, the answer to this question begins with the tangle of molecules in glass.
STRV Cryocooler Tip Motion Suppression

The Space Technology Research Vehicle (STRV-1b), which was launched aboard an Ariane-4 on June 17, 1994, has a cryocooler vibration suppression experiment on board doing motion suppression of the tip of the coldfinger. STRV-1b is a bread box sized satellite containing a variety of technology demonstrations in addition to the vibration suppression experiment. To meet stringent power, weight, and space constraints, the vibration experiment uses a tiny 1/5-watt 80K Texas Instruments tactical Stirling cooler. Two different tip-motion cancellation techniques are implemented in the experiment: 1) an applique ceramic stretching the coldfinger; and 2) three commercial low voltage piezo-electric translators that move the cryocooler supports. Motion of the coldfinger tip is measured in three dimensions to 10 nanometers using commercial eddy-current transducers. Two different control systems are used: 1) an analog control system using a bandpass filter to suppress the cooler drive fundamental, and 2) a feed forward steady-state harmonic analyzer that continuously updates a command signal to each actuator.
Computers in control: Rational transfer ofauthority or irresponsible abdication of autonomy?

To what extent should humans transfer, or abdicate, ’’responsibility‘‘ to computers? In this paper, I distinguish six different senses of ’responsible‘ and then consider in which of these senses computers can, and in which they cannot, be said to be ’’responsible‘‘ for ’’deciding‘‘ various outcomes. I sort out and explore two different kinds of complaint against putting computers in greater ’’control‘‘ of our lives: (i) as finite and fallible human beings, there is a limit to how far we can acheive increased reliability through complex devices of our own design; (ii) even when computers are more reliable than humans, certain tasks (e.g., selecting an appropriate gift for a friend, solving the daily crossword puzzle) are inappropriately performed by anyone (or anything) other than oneself. In critically evaluating these claims, I arrive at three main conclusions: (1) While we ought to correct for many of our shortcomings by availing ourselves of the computer‘s larger memory, faster processing speed and greater stamina, we are limited by our own finiteness and fallibility (rather than by whatever limitations may be inherent in silicon and metal) in the ability to transcend our own unreliability. Moreover, if we rely on programmed computers to such an extent that we lose touch with the human experience and insight that formed the basis for their programming design, our fallibility is magnified rather than mitigated. (2) Autonomous moral agents can reasonably defer to greater expertise, whether human or cybernetic. But they cannot reasonably relinquish ’’background-oversight‘‘ responsibility. They must be prepared, at least periodically, to review whether the ’’expertise‘‘ to which they defer is indeed functioning as he/she/it was authorized to do, and to take steps to revoke that authority, if necessary. (3) Though outcomes matter, it can also matter how they are brought about, and by whom. Thus, reflecting on how much of our lives should be directed and implemented by computer may be another way of testing any thoroughly end-state or consequentialist conception of the good and decent life. To live with meaning and purpose, we need to actively engage our own faculties and empathetically connect up with, and resonate to, others. Thus there is some limit to how much of life can be appropriately lived by anyone (or anything) other than ourselves.