cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orthogonal Multifunctionalization of Random and Alternating Copolymers

A series of copolymers with varying degrees of alternation are synthesized by free-radical polymerization from 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene (PFS) and propargyl-containing styrene derivatives. The degree of alternation varied with the electronic nature of the styrene derivative: random copolymers were obtained using monomers with electron withdrawing moieties, whereas increasingly alternating copolymers were obtained by increasing the electron donating nature of the substituent. The copolymers could be functionalized in an orthogonal fashion using a nucleophilic substitution (with thiols) to functionalize PFS and the copper-catalyzed 3 + 2 cycloaddition between azides and the alkyne of the propargyl groups. This methodology allows for the facile synthesis of functional alternating copolymers.
Abstract 778: Cellular and molecular requirements for rejection of B16 melanoma in the setting of regulatory T cell depletion and homeostatic proliferation

We have recently demonstrated that adoptive transfer of regulatory T cell (Treg) -depleted polyclonal T cells into lymphopenic mice can result in rejection of B16 melanoma. In the current work, we investigated the cellular and molecular requirements for tumor rejection by CD25-depleted T cells in RAG−/− or irradiated C57BL/6 recipient mice. Consistent with the robust expansion of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells observed in this model, tumor antigen cross-presentation and B7 costimulation of T cells by host cells was required, as tumor rejection did not occur in irradiated Kb−/− bone marrow chimeric mice or B71/2−/− mice following CD25-depleted T cell transfer. Using donor T cells from CD4−/− or CD8−/− mice, we observed that both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were necessary for B16.SIY rejection. The contribution of conventional CD4+ T cells led us to investigate mechanisms of T cell help. Interestingly, tumor rejection occurred in irradiated CD40−/− hosts, and with transfer of IL2−/− CD4+CD25− T cells along with wildtype CD8+ T cells into RAG2−/− hosts. These results indicate that the role of CD4+ T cells was not to license antigen-presenting cells (APC) through CD40L, and not through provision of IL-2 to CD8+ T cells, and may be to directly recognize and kill B16 cells. At the effector phase, IFN-γ production by adoptively-transferred CD8+ or CD4+ T cells was sufficient for B16 elimination. Tumor rejection was lost when both host and B16 cells were incapable of signaling through IFN-γ. In a host environment completely devoid of IFN-γ, we found decreased intra-tumoral expression of CXCL-10 and increased tumor vascularity, suggesting that IFN-γ produced by adoptively-transferred T cells induced CXCL-10 expression by tumor and/or stromal cells which in turn, inhibited tumor angiogenesis, resulting in IFN-γ-dependent tumor rejection. Finally, production of TNF-α, perforin and expression of FasL by adoptively-transferred CD25-depleted T cells was dispensable, though B16 melanomas grew progressively in mice receiving CD25-depleted T cells deficient in perforin and FasL, arguing that B16 cells can be killed either through granule mediated lysis or apoptosis-induction. Collectively, these results support a model in which host tumor antigen cross-presentation and B7 costimulation to CD8+ T cells, along with an as yet undefined role of CD4+ T cells, generate effector cells that depend at least upon IFN-γ for tumor control. The elimination of Tregs and homeostatic proliferation maintain persistent T cell function in the context of a growing tumor. This straightforward adoptive transfer strategy has strong potential for translation to the clinic. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 778. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-778
Characterization of multiple sclerosis plaques with T1-weighted MR and quantitative magnetization transfer

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between the appearance of multiple sclerosis lesions identified on unenhanced T1-weighted images and their corresponding magnetization transfer ratios. METHODS A total of 119 white matter lesions seen on T2-weighted images in 17 patients with multiple sclerosis were evaluated. Axial T1-weighted images were used to classify the lesions as isointense to white matter (10 lesions), hypointense to white matter but hyperintense to gray matter (44 lesions), hypointense to gray matter (59 lesions), and relatively isointense to cerebrospinal fluid (6 lesions). The magnetization transfer ratio of each lesion was calculated, and an average magnetization transfer ratio for each subcategory was determined. RESULTS The magnetization transfer ratio values became progressively lower with increasing hypointensity of lesions on T1-weighted images. The average magnetization transfer ratio for lesions isointense to white matter, hypointense to white matter but hyperintense to gray matter, hypointense to gray matter, and relatively isointense to cerebrospinal fluid was 34.90 +/- 2.67 mean +/- SD), 30.93 +/- 3.57, 27.27 +/- 3.56, and 23.62 +/- 2.83, respectively. All groups were significantly different from each other. CONCLUSION Lesions isointense to white matter exhibited higher magnetization transfer ratio values than lesions that were hypointense. These findings are consistent with relative preservation of the myelin structure in the former, perhaps indicating that these lesions are predominantly inflammatory (edematous) in nature. The proportionately lower magnetization transfer ratio values of lesions that appear progressively more hypointense on T1-weighted images may reflect varying degrees of demyelination, with increasing lesion hypointensity corresponding to more breakdown in the macromolecular structure. These results suggest that T1-weighted images may be useful in characterizing the underlying pathologic substrate in multiple sclerosis plaques.
Studies on anabolic steroids. IV. The effects of oxandrolone on height and skeletal maturation in uncomplicated growth retardation

Data are reported on oxandrolone as a growth-promoting agent in children with uncomplicated growth retardation. The effects on height and skeletal maturation suggest that it has advantages over other anabolic agents. The mean rate of linear growth was approximately doubled, and the mean advance in height age was accelerated more than was the mean advance in skeletal maturation. The former observation demonstrates that oxandrolone is an effective growth-promoting drug, while the latter suggests that the children's ultimate adult heights may not be compromised because of the administration of this anabolic steroid.
‘Give us peace’: Gladys Avery Tillett and the search for women's political activism in the United States, 1945–1950

ABSTRACTAs previously demonstrated by scholars, the social justice feminism movement in the United States accomplished its two central goals by the time of that nation's official involvement in World War II. This article examines the subsequent development of former social justice feminists' search for political activism after World War II through the activities of one of the social movement's later, significant leaders, Gladys Avery Tillett, particularly in her participation in the controversial and bitter campaign of North Carolina United States Senator Frank Porter Graham to retain his seat in the 1950 Democratic party primary.
A concomitant ATP-depleting strategy markedly enhances anticancer agent activity.

Most anticancer agents effect DNA damage which initiate the cell death pathways of necrosis and apoptosis, but cancer cells of lesser sensitivity are only sublethally injured, and recover. The two death pathways and their interelationships in the presence of endogenous inhibitors of apoptosis and genetic deletions that facilitates only sublethal damage, are reviewed.
Technology Transfer and Outreach for SNL/Rochester ALPHA Project.

This report describes the next stage goals and resource needs for the joint Sandia and University of Rochester ARPA-E project. A key portion of this project is Technology Transfer and Outreach, with the goal being to help ensure that this project develops a credible method or tool that the magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) research community can use to broaden the advocacy base, to pursue a viable path to commercial fusion energy, and to develop other commercial opportunities for the associated technology. This report describes an analysis of next stage goals and resource needs as requested by Milestone 5.1.1.
Ethical Issues in Ethnographic Writing

Now that we have a sense of what makes for a good story and some ways in which we can connect with our readers, let’s turn our attention to the ethics of writing ethnography. Ethnographers grapple with a number of ethical decisions throughout the research process, and ethical questions continue to present themselves even in our writing up.
Towards a Global Civil Culture

Chapter 4, “Towards a Global Civil Culture,” synthesizes elements from nation-based theories of civil society with recognition of the specific challenges of cosmopolitanism in order to develop a model of global civil culture, of which human rights culture is a subset. The chapter traces the role of culture in theories of civil society from Locke through Mill and cultural sociology. To the extent that classical liberal theories of civil society considered culture, they did so in a national frame, not addressing the special challenges of a cosmopolitan culture at the transnational and global levels. Theories of globalized culture (e.g., Crane, Habermas, Jameson) have emphasized that cultural dissemination relies on cultural imperialism. The chapter recognizes networks striving to disseminate literature on global civil solidarity.
Scaling impact on analog performance of sub-100nm MOSFETs for mixed mode applications

The recent explosion in the demand for mobile telecommunication, computing and multimedia applications has resulted in much interest in system on chip (SOC) applications. In this work, an analysis of the analog characteristics of scaled MOSFETs is presented. An analog performance metric of intrinsic gain, f/sub T/, linearity, and g/sub m//I/sub ds/ ratio is considered. The effect of scaling on various trade-offs is presented It has been shown that while scaling gate length (L/sub g/) improves various trade-offs, scaling oxide thickness (T/sub ox/) and source/drain extension junction depth (X/sub j/) do not impact trade-offs significantly and they can be set by other constraints such as power supply and gate leakage currents.
Transcriptome Dynamics and Potential Roles of Sox6 in the Postnatal Heart

The postnatal heart undergoes highly coordinated developmental processes culminating in the complex physiologic properties of the adult heart. The molecular mechanisms of postnatal heart development remain largely unexplored despite their important clinical implications. To gain an integrated view of the dynamic changes in gene expression during postnatal heart development at the organ level, time-series transcriptome analyses of the postnatal hearts of neonatal through adult mice (P1, P7, P14, P30, and P60) were performed using a newly developed bioinformatics pipeline. We identified functional gene clusters by principal component analysis with self-organizing map clustering which revealed organized, discrete gene expression patterns corresponding to biological functions associated with the neonatal, juvenile and adult stages of postnatal heart development. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis with bootstrap inference for each of these functional gene clusters, highly robust hub genes were identified which likely play key roles in regulating expression of co-expressed, functionally linked genes. Additionally, motivated by the role of the transcription factor Sox6 in the functional maturation of skeletal muscle, the role of Sox6 in the postnatal maturation of cardiac muscle was investigated. Differentially expressed transcriptome analyses between Sox6 knockout (KO) and control hearts uncovered significant upregulation of genes involved in cell proliferation at postnatal day 7 (P7) in the Sox6 KO heart. This result was validated by detecting mitotically active cells in the P7 Sox6 KO heart. The current report provides a framework for the complex molecular processes of postnatal heart development, thus enabling systematic dissection of the developmental regression observed in the stressed and failing adult heart.
Kawasaki Syndrome in Saudi Children

ABSTRACT Kawasaki syndrome presenting mainly as fever of more than one week's duration is reported in four patients admitted to the Maternity and Children's Hospital, Riyadh. Three cases fulfill th...
CHANGING LEGITIMACY NARRATIVES ABOUT PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND INDEPENDENCE IN THE 1930'S JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTANCY

The 1930s in the U.S. were marked by an economic crisis, governmental regulatory response, and a significant audit failure. This paper examines the profession's struggle for legitimacy during these times through its choice of narratives regarding professional ethics and independence as revealed in the national professional organization's monthly, the Journal of Accountancy. Initially “ethics is a state-of-mind” or narrative of character was used but transitioned to a more objectively determinable narrative of technique as the decade progressed. To counter governmental regulation, the profession attempted to shift the independence discourse away from regulation of accountants to regulation of client companies.
Optical Activity of Structural Proteins

The rotatory dispersion and conformation of various globular proteins was reviewed in the preceding two chapters. Spectropolarimetry has been applied successfully in the study of these proteins which, as a rule, are soluble. The fibrous structural proteins are more difficult to study by this method, because only a few of them can be dissolved without degradation and possible change of conformation. The main reason for their resistance to mild solvents is their gross conformation, the highly asymmetric fibrous shape of the macromolecules. This can be illustrated by simple geometric consideration. It has been calculated that 8000 carbon atoms in a compact diamond packing form a cube with an edge length of 36.5 angstroms (A) and a surface area of 7993.5 A2, whereas in a fully extended chain the same 8000 atoms form a 10,200 A long chain which has a surface area of 177,0 A2. The larger the surface area the greater the number of contact points and the possibility of secondary bonding. Thus in highly extended polypetide chains, such as in silk or keratin, the secondary hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions link the chains at very many segments. Mechanical enmeshing may form structures from which the separation of any of the constituting macromolecules becomes quite difficult. Furthermore, in many protein fibers, such as the keratins, resilin, or elastin, the extended polypeptide chains are linked by covalent bonds. In such cases dissolution without chemical degradation is impossible.
Empirical likelihood inference in randomized clinical trials.

In individually randomized controlled trials, in addition to the primary outcome, information is often available on a number of covariates prior to randomization. This information is frequently uti...
New numerically stable solutions for minimum-snap quadcopter aggressive maneuvers

This paper addresses quadcopter minimum-snap trajectory generation for performing precise aggressive maneuvers. The solution that has been most widely used in recent works relies on using a set of truncated basis functions to generate a trajectory that satisfies waypoint specifications. This is typically performed through solving a quadratic programming problem minimizing translational snap of the vehicle. However, this previous solution is potentially subject to ill-conditioning issues that are strongly impacted by the problem's dimension. The present work introduces a new approach for finding the minimum snap trajectory for a quadcopter by using kinematics for trajectory generation, instead of truncated basis functions. We show that the new method provides better numerical stability, finding solutions in situations where the previous method fails. An example is shown for aggressive trajectory planning for flying through a vertical window.
Racism, Medievalism, and Anglo-Saxon

This chapter analyzes three case studies (of Bryn Mawr College, the Industrial Institute and College, and Spelman College) to demonstrate the ways that the study of Anglo-Saxon affirmed a student’s connection with the racial superiority assumed by an overwhelming proportion of the white population throughout the United States at the turn to the twentieth century. Rather than simply a triumphant and progressive history of women’s access to an academic specialty, the narrative of the study of Anglo-Saxon in the women’s colleges interrogates the shifting, intersectional power structures of race, class, and gender that those white, largely upper-middle-class women inhabited.
Association of intralipid intake in extremely low birthweight infants with neurodevelopmental outcomes.

AIM To determine whether high intake of intralipid (IL) in extremely low birthweight (ELBW) neonates is associated with higher rates of neuroimpairment and Bayley III scores at two years of corrected age. METHODS Quartiles of IL received by 389 ELBW infants were linked to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, were performed to determine the association between IL dose and neuroimpairment. Linear regression analyses were performed to predict Bayley III scores. RESULTS No association was found between IL dose and neuroimpairment A significant association was found between higher IL intake and lower Bayley Cognitive, motor and language scores. Adding breast milk intake to the linear regression eliminated the associations. CONCLUSION Higher IL intake was associated with lower cognitive, motor and language scores. Breast milk intake eliminated the latter associations, which underscores the important role of breast milk in developmental outcome.
Retinal Lesion Detection With Deep Learning Using Image Patches.

Purpose To develop an automated method of localizing and discerning multiple types of findings in retinal images using a limited set of training data without hard-coded feature extraction as a step toward generalizing these methods to rare disease detection in which a limited number of training data are available. Methods Two ophthalmologists verified 243 retinal images, labeling important subsections of the image to generate 1324 image patches containing either hemorrhages, microaneurysms, exudates, retinal neovascularization, or normal-appearing structures from the Kaggle dataset. These image patches were used to train one standard convolutional neural network to predict the presence of these five classes. A sliding window method was used to generate probability maps across the entire image. Results The method was validated on the eOphta dataset of 148 whole retinal images for microaneurysms and 47 for exudates. A pixel-wise classification of the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic of 0.94 and 0.95, as well as a lesion-wise area under the precision recall curve of 0.86 and 0.64, was achieved for microaneurysms and exudates, respectively. Conclusions Regionally trained convolutional neural networks can generate lesion-specific probability maps able to detect and distinguish between subtle pathologic lesions with only a few hundred training examples per lesion.
Probabilistic estimation of the driver's gaze from head orientation and position

Visual attention is an important factor when studying driver behavior. While the location of the pupil can provide accurate information about gaze, the vehicle environment poses challenges that prevent the use of off-the-shelf gaze detection algorithms in the car. Head pose can be used to approximate the driver's visual attention, providing a coarse estimate which can be good enough for many applications. However, the relation between head pose and gaze is not one-to-one, depending on the driver, cognitive load, and visual task. Instead of detecting a precise gaze direction, this paper proposes a novel approach which creates a probabilistic map describing visual attention. The approach relies on Gaussian process regression (GPR), which takes the position and orientation of the drivers' head to estimate the probability that the driver is looking at a given point. The approach creates confidence regions describing the most likely gaze directions. We evaluate the proposed approach with naturalistic recordings in real roads, where we estimate the position and orientation of the driver's head using a headband with fiducial markers. The experimental evaluation demonstrates that 89.4% of drivers' gaze are included in the 95% confidence region predicted by our model. The proposed system can provide valuable information for navigation, infotainment, safety and communication systems.
Surgery for Esophageal Cancer: Goals of Resection and Optimizing Outcomes

Determining what defines an adequate esophageal resection to optimize long-term outcomes in esophageal cancer is an elusive goal. The primary reason for this ambiguousness is the almost total lack of good quality prospective randomized surgical trials that examine this question adequately. Most available data are derived from small retrospective series typically representing single institution series and their treatment biases. The intent of this article is to identify the goals of an appropriate esophagectomy for cancer, essentially defining the targets that should be achieved from an operation.
Adam Smith’s Order for Distributing the Wealth of Nations

In An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith is concerned, among other things, with “the order” by which the wealth of a nation “is naturally distributed among the different ranks and conditions of men in the society,…”. We can look at this order as a decision procedure in the way in which flipping a coin or playing a game are decision procedures. The decision procedure is itself not value-neutral, and its continuous use over a period of time produces results that are anything but value-neutral. The decision procedure is best suited to self-interested individuals determined to do as well for themselves as they can, and among its predictable results are certain character traits that are less than fully praiseworthy and economic inequalities that, given those traits, grow significantly worse as the process continues.
Geochemical sourcing of fiber-tempered pottery and the organization of Late Archaic Stallings communities in the American Southeast

Abstract The oldest pottery technology in North America was innovated by hunter-gatherers belonging to the Late Archaic Stallings culture (ca. 5150-3200 cal B.P.) of Georgia and South Carolina. The culture history of Stallings societies is relatively well-known; however, the permanence and scale of Stallings communities, the nature of the connections among them, and the extent to which they changed over time remain poorly understood. In this study, 450 samples Stallings pottery and 24 raw clay resource samples from along the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers were submitted for neutron activation analysis (NAA). The NAA results show a significant shift in the nature of vessel transport at the outset of the Classic Stallings phase (4100–3800 cal B.P.), an interval marked by the appearance of the region's first formalized circular villages and dedicated cemeteries. This shift involved the funneling of pots with carinated rims into a few major middle Savannah River mortuary sites, providing evidence for a novel Stallings sociality that combined relatively localized village life with periodic large-scale ritual gatherings.
A Revision of Phyllanthus Section Hylaeanthus (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract: A revision of Phyllanthus sect. Hylaeanthus (subg. Conami) treats seven species, mostly with a primarily Amazonian distribution, as well as one species of uncertain affinity. The section is characterized within subgenus Conami by a tendency to dioecy, unramified branchlets, distinctive pollen grains with pilate exine ornamentation, and indehiscent fruits with sarcotestal seeds. Two species are described as new: Phyllanthus puntii from western Brazil (Acre) and Bolivia, and P. awaensis from northern Ecuador. Two new subspecies of Phyllanthus attenuatus are described: P. a. ssp. incarum from western Amazonia in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia; and P. a. ssp. tucuruiensis from Amazonian Brazil. Phyllanthus manausensis is reduced to a synonym of P. madeirensis. A key is provided to help distinguish specimens of taxa in sect. Hylaeanthus from superficially similar but unrelated species of other subgenera of Phyllanthus.
Mechanical design of the high-powered helicon antenna and stripline feed in the DIII-D Tokamak

Abstract A high-powered “comb-line” helicon antenna for use within the DIII-D Tokamak is currently in design and fabrication at General Atomics. The antenna will drive current in high beta discharges using electromagnetic helicon waves. The high-powered helicon antenna (HPHA) is expected to couple up to one MW of power into DIII-D plasmas at a frequency of 476 MHz. The antenna design includes 30 individual, inductively coupled modules fastened to six internally water-cooled Inconel back-plates. The end modules have special design features to provide RF stripline feed attachment points. Each back-plate is mounted to a pedestal, which is secured to the vessel wall via a combination of studs and welded brackets. The mechanical design includes features to minimize and survive disruption forces, thermal loading from RF losses, vacuum vessel bake (350C), and installation considerations. Thermal stress design challenges include plasma heat loads, thermal ratcheting, and bake-out cycles that result in thermal growth differences between the stripline and the vessel. Splitting the back-plate into six sections each with a central pedestal support significantly reduces the disruption loads. A single stripline folded in half, fed near the fold provides a 180° phase shift between the stripline module connections for driving the two module straps. This looped mono RF coaxial stripline design was chosen to enable using one feed-through, to optimize space limitations, ease of installation, structural rigidity, and RF tuning ability. The striplines are supported by a quarter-wavelength “stub”, mid span, for support during thermal cycling and plasma disruption events. Multiphysics FEA analyses are performed to optimize the geometric shapes to meet the aforementioned design challenges. A description of the mechanical design, fabrication, installation, and analyses of the HPHA and stripline feeds will be presented
Objetividade mais forte para ciências exercidas a partir de baixo de Sandra Harding

Este artigo (com excecao do “posfacio”) foi publicado como o segundo capitulo do livro Objectivity and Diversity: Another Logic of Scientific Research [Objetividade e Diversidade: outra logica para a pesquisa cientifica] . Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015. Autora: Sandra Harding Traducao: Rebeca Furtado de Melo Revisao: Ana Carolina Dantas
1711-P: Pancreas Single-Cell Patch-Seq Links Physiologic Dysfunction in Diabetes to Transcriptomic Phenotypes

Pancreatic islet-cells regulate glucose levels in the body through insulin and glucagon secretion; dysfunction of these cells leads to severe disease such as diabetes. Several single-cell transcriptome studies have shown heterogeneous gene expression in major islet cell-types such as beta and alpha cells. However, it has remained an open challenge to reconcile the heterogeneity in transcriptomic signatures with physiological observations of functional heterogeneity. Here we combined electrophysiological profiling and single-cell RNA sequencing of the same cells (pancreas patch-seq) to link transcriptomic phenotypes of islet cells to their physiologic properties. We collected 1,369 pancreas patch-seq cells from fresh and cryopreserved tissue and assessed function-gene expression networks in nondiabetic, type 1 diabetic (T1D) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) humans. We discovered that ‘hub’ genes and pathways drive functional heterogeneity in nondiabetic beta-cells and show that specific transcriptional programs correlate with physiologic dysfunction early in T2D. We have also found evidence that alpha-cell transcriptional plasticity acts as a driver of dysfunction in T1D. Disclosure J. Camunas Soler: None. X. Dai: None. Y. Hang: None. S. Kim: None. P. MacDonald: None. Funding Chan Zuckerberg Biohub; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine; National Institutes of Health
Autonomy and Types of Informational Text Presentations in Game-Based Learning Environments

Game-based learning environments (GBLEs) are being increasingly utilized in education and training to enhance and encourage engagement and learning. This study investigated how students, who were afforded varying levels of autonomy, interacted with two types of informational text presentations (e.g., non-player character (NPC) instances, traditional informational text) while problem solving with Crystal Island (CI), a GBLE, and their effect on overall learning by examining eye-tracking and performance data. Ninety undergraduate students were randomly assigned to two conditions, full and partial agency, which varied in the amount of autonomy students were granted to explore CI and interactive game elements (i.e., reading informational text, scanning food items). Within CI, informational text is presented in a traditional format, where there are large chunks of text presented at a single time represented as books and research articles, as well as in the form of participant conversation with NPCs throughout the environment. Results indicated significantly greater proportional learning gain (PLG) for participants in the partial agency condition than in the full agency condition. Additionally, longer participant fixations on traditionally presented informational text positively predicted participant PLG. Fixation durations were significantly longer in the partial agency condition than the full agency condition. However, the combination of visual and verbal text represented by NPCs were not significant predictors of PLGs and do not differ across conditions.
On-farm food loss in northern and central California: Results of field survey measurements

Abstract Prevailing estimates of food loss at the farm level are sparse and often reliant upon grower surveys. A more comprehensive review of food loss at the farm level using field surveys is required to gain an adequate understanding of the depth of this issue. This paper details the results of 123 in-field surveys and 18 in-depth interviews of 20 different, hand-harvested field crops performed largely on midsize to large conventional farms in northern and central California. We also provide estimates of the percentage of fields that go unharvested, commonly known as walk-by fields. The results show that food loss is highly variable and largely dependent upon the crop, variety, market price, labor costs, grower practices, buyer specifications, and environmental conditions. On average, we found 11,299 kg/ha of food loss at the farm level, which equates to 31.3% of the marketed yield. When walk-by losses are included, this figure rises to 33.7%. Our paper also demonstrates that grower estimates are typically very unreliable for estimating on-farm food losses. Actual, measured edible food loss exceeded growers’ estimates by a median value of 157%. Strategies to utilize this lost produce could play a significant role in reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment and providing food for the rapidly growing population.
Effects of Optic Neuritis, T2 Lesions, and Microstructural Diffusion Integrity in the Visual Pathway on Cortical Thickness in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis.

Background and purpose Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is associated with focal inflammatory lesions and the loss of cortical and deep gray matter. Optic neuritis (ON) and white matter (WM) lesions in the visual pathway can directly contribute to visual cortical mantle thinning. We determine the relative contributions of MS insult on anterior and posterior visual pathway integrity. Methods High- and low-contrast visual acuity, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and 3T MRI scans were obtained from 20 POMS patients (10 with remote ON) and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Cortical mantle thickness was measured using FreeSurfer. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity were calculated for postchiasmal optic radiations (with and without WM lesions). Groups were compared using Student's t-test (adjusted for multiple comparisons), and simple linear regression was used to investigate interrelationships between measures. Results Mean cortical thickness of the whole brain was reduced in patients (2.49 mm) versus controls (2.58 mm, P = .0432) and in the visual cortex (2.07 mm vs. 2.17 mm, P = .0059), although the foveal confluence was spared. Mean FA of the optic radiations was reduced in POMS (.40) versus controls (.43, P = .0042) and correlated with visual cortical mantle thickness in POMS (P = .017). Visual acuity, OCT measures, and lesion volumes in the optic radiations were not associated with cortical mantle thickness. Conclusions POMS negatively impacts the integrity of the anterior visual pathway, but it is the loss of WM integrity that drives anterograde loss of the cortical mantle. Preserved visual acuity and foveal sparing imply some degree of functional and structural resilience.
Implantable Smart Stent with Nanomembrane Soft Sensors for Wireless Monitoring of Hemodynamics

Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and atherosclerosis, account for over 30% of deaths worldwide. To diagnose and monitor these diseases, hemodynamic parameters, such as pressures, flow rates, and flow resistances, are measured. Current measurement techniques include expensive imaging processes and repetitive invasive catheterizations. These methods provide a narrow view of hemodynamics that may fail to capture significant abnormalities and may be inaccurate due to patient discomfort. Continuous monitoring would offer distinct advantages for clinical and research applications. However, implantable hemodynamic sensors are lacking due to stringent mechanical and electrical requirements. Wireless communication through tissue is required for noninvasive monitoring, but narrow blood vessels (<5 mm-diameter) with tortuous geometries prevent the use of conventional rigid electronic components. Additionally, implantable vascular sensors should be compatible with conventional catheter deployment procedures, which require mechanical stability under crimping, sheath introduction, and expansion. The only commercially available implantable sensor is a bulky, rigid package restricted for blood pressure monitoring in larger vessels. Existing research works are severely limited by short wireless communication distances and fragile designs.Here, we introduce a low-profile, wireless biosensor system comprised of an inductive medical stent and capacitive pressure sensor. The smart stent is designed and fabricated to maximize inductance to achieve functional readout distances, while maintaining its medical purpose. Analytical and experimental study optimizes the stent design for wireless communication via inductive coupling. The low-profile capacitive sensor is fabricated via aerosol jet printing, an additive manufacturing process. The sensor employs a microstructured PDMS layer as the dielectric of a highly flexible parallel-plate structure to achieve high pressure sensitivity (6 fF/mmHg). Experimental study optimizes the printed PDMS structures to maximize sensitivity. The capacitive sensor is integrated with the inductive stent to form an LC circuit with a resonant frequency dependent on pressure. The device is experimentally proven to be readily expandable by balloon catheter to allow for compatibility with existing catheter and stent placement procedures. The low-profile biosensor system is also shown to minimize disruption to normal hemodynamics compared to available commercial devices. Quantitative analysis of transient sensor signals identifies resonant frequency to allow for wireless monitoring of hemodynamics. Sensor functionality is displayed in mock blood vessels with pulsatile flow, which will enable continuous, wireless monitoring of hemodynamics throughout the vascular system.Figure 1
Metabolic Alkalosis: A Brief Pathophysiologic Review.

Metabolic alkalosis is a very commonly encountered acid-base disorder that may be generated by a variety of exogenous and/or endogenous, pathophysiologic mechanisms. Multiple mechanisms are also responsible for the persistence, or maintenance, of metabolic alkalosis. Understanding these generation and maintenance mechanisms helps direct appropriate intervention and correction of this disorder. The framework utilized in this review is based on the ECF volume-centered approach popularized by Donald Seldin and Floyd Rector in the 1970s. Although many subsequent scientific discoveries have advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of metabolic alkalosis, that framework continues to be a valuable and relatively straightforward diagnostic and therapeutic model.
A competitive analysis for the Start-Gap algorithm for online memory wear leveling

Abstract Erase-limited memory, such as flash memory and phase change memory (PCM), has limitations on the number of times that any memory cell can be erased. The Start-Gap algorithm has shown a significant ability in practice to distribute updates across the cells of an erase-limited memory, but it has heretofore not been characterized in terms of its competitive ratio against an optimal offline algorithm that is given all the update addresses in advance. In this paper, we present a competitive analysis for the Start-Gap wear-leveling algorithm, showing that under reasonable assumptions about the sequence of update operations, the Start-Gap algorithm has a competitive ratio of 1 / ( 1 − o ( 1 ) ) .
The Effect of Cigarette Taxation on Prices: An Empirical Analysis Using Local-Level Data

This paper combines new, author-collected tax data with data both from the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association (ACCRA) cost of living index (COLI) and from the Tax Burden on Tobacco (TBT) to measure the relative effects of city, county and state excise cigarette taxation on cigarette prices. The results suggest that a $1 increase in the state excise cigarette tax increases cigarette prices between $1.10 and $1.14, but that a $1 increase in a city or county-level excise tax increases prices by $1.07. These findings are similar between premium and generic cigarette brands. Additionally, the findings indicate that urban areas located near states with lower cigarette taxes tend to have lower cigarette prices relative to urban areas located near states with the same or higher tax rates.
Are telechelic polysiloxanes better than hemi-telechelic for self-cleaning applications?

Abstract Hypothesis Polysiloxanes are becoming new trend in self-cleaning (oil- and water‐repellent) applications due to their low-cost and environmentally friendly nature. Lower phase separation of polysiloxanes in coating matrix is critical to obtain excellent self-cleaning properties. We hypothesize that telechelic polysiloxanes can bind to coating matrix at both ends and thus will suppress phase separation of polysiloxane as compared to hemi-telechelic analog and thus will offer excellent self-cleaning properties. Experiment Eight PDMS additives were prepared via the free-radical polymerization of telechelic and hemi-telechelic methacryloxypropyl-based PDMS precursors with methylmethacrylate (MMA) and glycidylmethacrylate (GMA). The compositions of the prepared polysiloxane additives were optimized to obtain excellent self-cleaning performance. Findings Our breakthrough development confirms that telechelic polysiloxanes (PDMS-T) incorporated into epoxy-based anti-smudge coatings outperform hemi-telechelic polysiloxanes (PDMS-HT) by offering excellent repellency against difficult to repel liquids. These breakthrough findings will vertically advance Science and innovations in the self-cleaning field by offering robust guidelines for choosing suitable polysiloxane for self-cleaning applications.
Outcome and Timing of Ostomy Reversal Surgery for Diverticular Disease in Veterans Administration Hospitals.

BackgroundVeterans undergoing elective surgery for diverticular disease have an ostomy creation rate of 18%. The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcomes and timing of ostomy reversal surg...
Identification and management of pragmatic clinical trial collateral findings: A current understanding and directions for future research

While the embedded nature of pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) can improve the efficiency and relevance of research for multiple stakeholders, embedding research into ongoing clinical care can also involve ethical and regulatory challenges. An emergent challenge is the management of pragmatic clinical trial collateral findings (PCT-CFs). While PCT-CFs share some features with incidental or secondary findings that are encountered in conventional clinical trials and clinical care, the PCT context differs in ethically relevant ways that complicate PCT-CF identification and management. We report on the results of a two-year multi-method investigation of PCT-CFs. Overall, five core themes emerged: 1) the liminal nature of PCTs and the implications of this for PCT-CFs; 2) the context-specific nature of PCT-CF management; 3) the centrality of institutions; 4) the importance of prospective planning; and 5) patient expectations. Among the central lessons of this work are that prior ethics guidance from other settings cannot easily be adapted to address PCT-CFs, nor can a single approach readily accommodate all PCT-CFs. Moving forward, stakeholders, including researchers, institutions, ethics oversight bodies, and funders, should anticipate and plan for PCT-CFs in the design, conduct, and analysis of PCTs. Future scholarship is needed to examine experiences with PCT-CFs, and the practical and conceptual issues they raise for the future conduct of PCTs.
Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement: Minimum 10-Year Outcome and Risk Factors for Failure.

Background Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a well-known cause of hip pain and dysfunction in young adults. Surgical treatment has been widely popularized during the past decade. However, most reported results have been limited to short-term and intermediate-term follow-up. The long-term success rate and risk factors for failure are largely unknown. This study aimed to report the long-term (minimum, 10 years) clinical outcomes of surgical treatment of FAI and to describe the clinical and radiographic parameters associated with the failure of treatment involving femoroacetabular osteoplasty (FAO) and labral repair. Methods Using our prospective hip preservation database, 164 patients (178 hips) who had undergone FAO between January 2005 and April 2009 were identified. Patient demographic characteristics, clinical history, duration of preoperative symptoms, radiographic parameters (preoperative and postoperative alpha angles, hip dysplasia and retroversion, Tonnis grade for osteoarthritis), and intraoperative findings were reviewed and compared between the success and failure groups. At a minimum 10-year follow-up, clinical functional outcomes (modified Harris hip score [mHHS] and Short Form-36 [SF-36] at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 10 years) and failure rates (conversion to total hip arthroplasty [THA]) were collected. Results The mean patient age (and standard deviation) was 34.3 ± 8.4 years, and 65 patients (40%) were female. After the surgical procedure, there was significant improvement in the mean mHHS (59.3 ± 7.3 points preoperatively to 88.4 ± 7.3 points postoperatively) and the mean SF-36 (61.3 ± 8.4 points preoperatively to 89.1 ± 7.2 points postoperatively). At a mean follow-up of 12.5 years, 12% (22 hips) required conversion to THA, with a mean time to THA of 5.3 ± 2.0 years. Older age, longer preoperative symptomatic period, higher preoperative and postoperative alpha angles, presence of hip dysplasia, a higher Tonnis grade, joint space narrowing, and a full-thickness acetabular chondral lesion at the time of the FAO were identified as risk factors for failure and conversion to THA. Conclusions Patients with symptomatic FAI who undergo a surgical procedure experience pain relief and functional improvement that appear to endure over a decade in the majority of patients. This study on a relatively large cohort with a long-term follow-up has also identified patients who are at a higher risk for treatment failure. Level of Evidence Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
CD40 Activation Boosts T Cell Immunity In Vivo by Enhancing T Cell Clonal Expansion and Delaying Peripheral T Cell Deletion

In this report we show that activation of APC with an agonist anti-CD40 mAb profoundly alters the behavior of CD4 T cells in vivo. Stimulation of mice with anti-CD40 2 days before, but not 1 day after, administration of superantigen (SAg) enhanced CD4 and CD8 T cell clonal expansion by approximately threefold. Further, CD40 activation also delayed peripheral T cell deletion after activation. Dying, activated T cells were quantitated by detecting extracellular phosphatidylserine with concomitant staining for SAg-reactive T cells using a TCR Vbeta-specific mAb. Upon close examination, it was shown that CD40 activation delayed the death of the activated T cells. Additionally, it was found that enhanced survival of CD4 T cells was equally dependent on APC expression of B7-1 and B7-2. This is in contrast to CD8 T cells, which did not depend as much on B7-1 as B7-2. Thus, CD40 activation indirectly promotes T cell growth and delays the death of SAg-stimulated CD4 T cells in vivo. These data suggest that one way CD40 activation promotes a more robust immune response is by indirectly increasing the production of effector T cells and by keeping them alive for longer periods of time.
Branding the Google IPO (Teaching Case)

This Case Study discusses the branding impact of the Google IPO. In a longer, Article-length version of this paper which appears in volume 104 of the Michigan Law Review, I argue that branding is an unappreciated element of contract design. Corporate finance scholars generally assume that consumers focus on product attributes like price, quality, durability, and resale value. But consumers choose brands, not just attributes. The legal infrastructure of deals sometimes affects the brand image of the company. This Case Study explores the link between deal structure and brand image in one specific but noteworthy deal, the Google IPO. It is an extreme example of the branding impact of deal structure, but one that helpfully demonstrates the branding implications that exist, to a lesser degree, in other deals. The primary goal of structuring an IPO is to lower the cost of capital by managing the information asymmetry between the issuer and investors. From this perspective, the success of the Google deal is questionable. Few would call the deal elegant or efficient. But the auction structure allowed Google to do more than raise money. Google also reinforced its image as an innovative, egalitarian, playful, trustworthy company.