cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Placental Ischemia Impairs Middle Cerebral Artery Myogenic Responses in the Pregnant Rat

One potential mechanism contributing to the increased risk for encephalopathies in women with preeclampsia is altered cerebral vascular autoregulation resulting from impaired myogenic tone. Whether placental ischemia, a commonly proposed initiator of preeclampsia, alters cerebral vascular function is unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that placental ischemia in pregnant rats (caused by reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP)) leads to impaired myogenic responses in middle cerebral arteries. Mean arterial pressure was increased by RUPP (1353 mm Hg) compared with normal pregnant rats (1032 mm Hg) and nonpregnant controls (1161 mm Hg). Middle cerebral arteries from rats euthanized on gestation day 19 were assessed in a pressure arteriograph under active (Ca 2 ) and passive (0 Ca 2 ) conditions, whereas luminal pressure was varied between 25 and 150 mm Hg. The slope of the relationship between tone and pressure in the middle cerebral artery was 0.080.01 in control rats and was similar in normal pregnant rats (0.050.01). In the RUPP model of placental ischemia, this relationship was markedly reduced (slope0.010.00; P0.05). Endothelial dependent and independent dilation was not different between groups, nor was there evidence of vascular remodeling assessed by the wall:lumen ratio and calculated wall stress. The impaired myogenic response was associated with brain edema measured by percentage of water content (RUPP P0.05 versus control and normal pregnant rats). This study demonstrates that placental ischemia in pregnant rats leads to impaired myogenic tone in the middle cerebral arteries and that the RUPP model is a potentially important tool to examine mechanisms leading to encephalopathy during preeclamptic pregnancies. (Hypertension. 2011;58:1126-1131.)
Implementing self-testing and self-repairable analog circuits on field programmable analog array platforms

This paper presents a methodology and experiments on implementing self-healing analog circuits on a hardware platform that consists of microcontroller, flash memory, and a switched-capacitor based field programmable analog array (FPAA) device. By taking advantage of FPAA programmability and the availability of redundant resources, the microcontroller programs the FPAA circuit into different circuit configurations to perform online testing. The microcontroller also monitors the online testing data to determine if circuit faults occur. Once a circuit fault is detected, the FPAA circuit will be reconfigured to replace the faulty circuit block by a redundant resource to achieve self-healing. Experiments results are presented to show the effectiveness of the fault detection method and demonstrate the feasibility of self-healing operations.
Relational Psychotherapy Mothers’ Group: A randomized clinical trial for substance abusing mothers

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of the Relational Psychotherapy Mothers' Group (RPMG), a supportive parenting group intervention for substance abusing women. Sixty mothers receiving RPMG were compared to 67 women receiving recovery training (RT); both treatments supplemented treatment in the methadone clinics. At the end of the 6-month treatment period, RPMG mothers showed marginally significant improvement on child maltreatment (self-reported) and cocaine abuse based on urinalyses when compared with RT mothers; notably, children of RPMG mothers reported significantly greater improvement in emotional adjustment and depression than children of RT mothers. At 6 months follow-up, however, treatment gains were no longer apparent. Overall, the findings suggest that whereas supportive parenting interventions for substance abusing women do have some preventive potential, abrupt cessation of the therapeutic program could have deleterious consequences.
Mechanical properties of suspended graphene sheets

Using an atomic force microscope, we measured effective spring constants of stacks of graphene sheets (less than 5) suspended over photolithographically defined trenches in silicon dioxide. Measurements were made on layered graphene sheets of thicknesses between 2 and 8nm, with measured spring constants scaling as expected with the dimensions of the suspended section, ranging from 1to5N∕m. When our data are fitted to a model for doubly clamped beams under tension, we extract a Young’s modulus of 0.5TPa, compared to 1TPa for bulk graphite along the basal plane, and tensions on the order of 10−7N.
Identity and the choice of social roles.

Choosing personally expressive social roles such as one's sex role and family orientation may be difficult for adolescents especially if their preferred self-definitions conflict with societal expectations.
Aggression Between Heterosexual Dating Partners An Examination of a Causal Model of Courtship Aggression

The authors used structural equation analyses of data obtained from a survey of 345 college undergraduates (232 women, 113 men) to test a predictive model of dating aggression based on the background-situational model proposed by Riggs and O'Leary (1989). Results offer initial support for the background-situational model. Among men and women, dating aggression was directly related to the individual's attitudes about dating aggression, history of aggressive behavior, and conflict within the relationship. However, the predicted association between family of origin violence and attitudes toward aggression and general aggressive behavior was found only among women. Among men, the predictors explained more than 60% of the variance in the latent variable of relationship aggression; among women, 32% of the variance was explained. Discussion focuses on the utility of the background-situational model for understanding etiological factors of dating aggression and indentifying targets for interventions aimed at redu...
Scheduling large-scale parallel computations on networks of workstations

Workstation networks are an underutilized yet valuable resource for solving large-scale parallel problems. In this paper, we present "idle-initiated" techniques for efficiently scheduling large-scale parallel computations on workstation networks. By "idle-initiated", we mean that idle computers actively search out work to do rather than wait for work to be assigned. The idle-initiated scheduler operates at both the macro and the micro levels. On the macro level, a computer without work joins an ongoing parallel computation as a participant. On the micro level, a participant without work "steals" from some other participant of the same computation. We have implemented these scheduling techniques in Phish, a portable system for running dynamic parallel applications on a network of workstations. >
Electron donor effect on nitrate reduction pathway and kinetics in a mixed methanogenic culture.

The effect of different electron donors on the pathway and kinetics of nitrate reduction in a sulfide- acclimated mixed, mesophilic (358C) methanogenic culture was investigated. A mixture of dextrin and peptone, glucose, propionate, acetate, and H2/CO2 were used as substrates at an initial chemical oxygen demand of 1,500 mg/L and the initial nitrate concentration ranged between 0 and 300 mg N/L. The fastest nitrate reduction was observed in the H2/CO2 and acetate-fed cultures. In the case of propionate, nitrate reduction was the slowest followed by partial recovery of methanogenesis and accumulation of volatile fatty acids due to inhibition as a result of accumulation of denitrification intermediates. Similarly, accumulation of nitrite and nitric oxide and partial or complete inhibition of methanogenesis was observed in the H2/CO2-fed cultures. Methanogenesis completely recovered in the dextrin/peptone-, glucose-, and acetate-fed cultures at all nitrate levels. Denitrification was the dominant pathway of nitrate reduction in the propionate-, acetate-, and H2/CO2-fed cultures regardless of the COD/N value. However, both denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) were observed in the dextrin/peptone- and glucose-fed cultures and the degree of predominance of either of the two pathways was a function of the COD/N value. Therefore, the type of electron donor used affected both the nitrate reduction pathway and kinetics, as well as the recovery of fermentation and/or methanogenesis in the mixed methanogenic culture. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;98: 756-763.
Ureteral Peristaltic Activity

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the ureteral peristaltic activity. The ureter is a muscular tube interposed between two cavities of low pressure, the renal pelvis proximally and the urinary bladder distally. It is responsible for the transport of a variable volume of urine from the pelvis to the bladder. Normal ureteral function has two separate phases, namely, ureteral filling, which is entirely passive, and ureteral emptying, which is entirely active. A small bolus of urine may stop temporarily in the mid-segment of the ureter. It traverses the upper ureteral segment unaided by peristaltic activity. There is a phase of progressive, passive filling of the upper ureter; after a definite lapse of time, the peristaltic wave appears, signaling the onset of the emptying phase. This biphasic functional activity, involving passive filling and active emptying, or transport, can be observed in both the dog and the human. The degree of bladder distention directly influences ureteral activity. This is not because of a rise in intravesical pressure, but because of the fact that with vesical filling and distention, there is a progressive stretching of the trigone.
Bootstrap of the ρ trajectory

The reaction ω+π→π+π is considered in a bootstrap calculation of the ρ trajectory. It is found that at each fixed value oft, there exists a unique solution. The calculated values of both the slope and the intercept are in reasonable agreement with those obtained from π−p charge-exchange experiments.
Multi-Layered Heterojunction Structure for Millimeter Wave Sources

We explored the usage of multi-layered heterojunction structures to generate power in millimeter wave frequencies by the transit-time effect. The discontinuities at the heterojunctions facilitate the increase of power by an increase of the active interaction volume in the semiconductors. A general discussion of the principle and a feasibility study of one special case are reported.
Photopatterning of Block Copolymer Thin Films

Block copolymers are potentially useful materials for large-area 2-D patterning applications due to their spontaneous self-assembly into sub-50 nm domains. However, most thin film engineering applications require patterns of prescribed size, shape, and organization. Photopatterning is a logical choice for manipulating block copolymer features since advanced lithography tools can pattern areas as small as a single block copolymer domain. By exposing either the block copolymer or a responsive interfacial surface to patterned radiation, precise control over placement, orientation, alignment, and selective development of block copolymer domains can be achieved. This Viewpoint highlights some of the recent research in photopatterning block copolymer thin films and identifies areas of future opportunity.
Rapid detection of CMV in urine and bronchoalveolar lavage specimens

Two hundred eighteen urine specimens and 43 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens were cultured for cytomegalovirus (CMV) using a shell vial culture method and stained with a direct fluorescent antibody technique after 2 and 7 days. Results were compared with conventional tissue culture (CTC) incubated for 28 days. CMV was detected in 42 specimens (16.1%) by CTC and in 51 specimens (19.5%) by shell vial culture immunofluorescence (SV-IF). Average time required for detection of CMV by CTC was 11.4 days, whereas SV-IF required a maximum of 7 days. Cost per test was $21.25 for CTC and $14.64 for SV-IF.
The Zeb proteins δEF1 and Sip1 may have distinct functions in lens cells following cataract surgery.

Purpose. Posterior capsular opacification (PCO), the most prevalent side effect of cataract surgery, occurs when residual lens epithelial cells (LECs) undergo fiber cell differentiation or epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we used a murine cataract surgery model to investigate the role of the Zeb proteins, Smad interacting protein 1 (Sip1) and δ-crystallin enhancer-binding factor 1 (δEF1), during PCO.
Quinoxaline-Based Semiconducting Polymers: Effect of Fluorination on the Photophysical, Thermal, and Charge Transport Properties

A novel fluorinated quinoxaline-based acceptor has been synthesized and then copolymerized with an electron-rich benzodithiophene derivative to yield a low band gap polymer (PBDT-QxF). A non-fluorinated analogue of the same polymer (PBDT-Qx) has also been synthesized in order to disclose the effect of fluorination on polymer properties. PBDT-QxF exhibits better thermal and oxidative stability compared to non-fluorinated analogue. Fluorine atoms induce crystalline domains in solid state—possibly as a result of favorable C–F···H interactions—whereas such ordering is absent in PBDT-Qx. Principal component analysis on variable temperature absorption data collected in solution revealed a stabilization energy of ∼0.5 kcal mol–1 per repeat unit upon fluorination. Theoretical calculations predict higher oxidation potential for PBDT-QxF, which is confirmed by experimental data. Theoretical calculations also suggest inductive effect of fluorine atoms on electronic structure. The hole mobility of PBDT-QxF is also hi...
Why bacteriuria in pregnancy should be treated.

There seems to be no question that significant bacteriuria occurring during pregnancy should be treated whether or not it is symptomatic. The most accurate means of identifying significant bacteriuria is the quantitative colony count. As tests for this purpose become more sophisticated, let us not forget that old-fashioned microscopic examination of the urine is an inexpensive, reliable way of obtaining a great deal of information.
Erratum to: Further Manipulations in Response Effort or Magnitude of an Aversive Consequence to Increase Self-Feeding in Children with Feeding Disorders

Although some children with feeding disorders may have the necessary skills to feed themselves, they may lack motivation to self-feed solids and liquids. Rivas, Piazza, Roane, Volkert, Stewart, Kadey, and Groff (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47, 1–14, 2014) and Vaz, Volkert, and Piazza (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 915–920, 2011) successfully increased self-feeding for children who lacked motivation to self-feed by manipulating either the quantity or the quantity and quality of bites that the therapist fed the child if he or she did not self-feed. In the current investigation, we present three case examples to illustrate some challenges we faced when using these procedures outlined in the aforementioned studies and how we addressed these challenges.
Alteration of cellular cytosolic calcium and chemotactic peptide binding by an inhibitor of neutrophil function

The lung is frequently exposed to particulate material that can potentially stimulate release of factors that attract polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). However, few PMN are noted in the airways of normal subjects, suggesting there is some mechanism to dampen influx of these cells. We have isolated from bronchial lavage a peptide that inhibits PMN chemotaxis to formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). In the present study we examined effects of this molecule on 1) chemotaxis to other agonists, 2) FMLP-stimulated PMN superoxide production, 3) PMN calcium fluxes, and 4) binding of FMLP. Our results show that purified inhibitor attenuates PMN chemotaxis to C5a and leukotriene B4. This molecule also inhibits PMN superoxide release in response to FMLP. Exposure to this inhibitor causes an abrupt rise in cytosolic calcium concentration due to a pertussis toxin-sensitive shift of intracellular calcium and attenuates subsequent influx of extracellular calcium in response to FMLP. Binding studies demonstrate the inhibitor induces increased FMLP binding at 37 degrees C but has no effects at 4 degrees C. Inhibition of chemotaxis and increased FMLP binding mediated by this molecule are attenuated by buffering PMN calcium transients. These studies suggest an inhibitor of neutrophil function present in the bronchial environment alters PMN through effects on calcium homeostasis.
Sensitivity analysis of the probability-based inverse modeling method for indoor contaminant tracking

Accurate and prompt identification of contaminant sources ensures that the contaminant sources can be quickly removed and contaminated spaces can be isolated and cleaned. The adjoint probability method shows great potential to identify indoor pollutant sources with limited pollutant concentration data from sensors. Application of the method to the reality with unideal conditions such as transient velocity and inaccurate measurement of contaminant concentration requires a sensitivity analysis of the method to these critical parameters. The study finds that with up to 90% of random errors in indoor air flow velocity, the inverse algorithm is still able to produce acceptable predictions, as long as the flow pattern remains the same. In a reasonable yet wide range of contaminant concentration accuracy ([0.01, 100] of the sensor accuracy), the measurement error will not influence the capability of the inverse algorithm to predict the correct source location. This paper further proposes an approach to prescribing the required but presumed contaminant mass range so that the algorithm is able to properly predict the source location.
Models and algorithms for coscheduling compute-intensive taks on a network of workstations

Abstract The problem of using the idle cycles of a number of high performance workstations, interconnected by a high speed network, for solving computationally intensive tasks is discussed. The classes of distributed applications examined require some form of synchronization among the subtasks, hence the need for coscheduling to guarantee that subtasks start at the same time and execute at the same pace on a group of workstations. A model of the system is presented that allows the definition of an objective function to be maximized. Then a quadratic time and linear space algorithm is derived for computing the optimal coschedule, for the given model and class of applications addressed.
Solving for the pitching moment damping coefficient of aircraft canard surface

Canards are basically horizontal tail installed ahead of centre of gravity which makes aircraft to pitch up or pitch down with the help of moving parts of canard surface. In canards, configuration point of lift on the wing is behind the centre of gravity of the aircraft. To adjust the characteristic nose down inclination, the canard produces an upward lifting power which opposes weight. It also makes airplane unstable if wind gust increases its angle of attack. In some cases wing lift occurs because of increase in angle of attack. In this work an analytical method has been used to evaluate the pitch damping coefficient for the canard surface of an aircraft. The method is appropriate for a typical aircraft with canard surface. This expression is extracted out by evaluating the moment added to the pitching moment because of the change in the lift of the canard surface. No estimations of physical parameters were useful on the grounds that the primary objective is to find out the expression. The results show that the damping ability is similar as that of the tail. The significance of this particular work is to develop an expression for damping coefficient. The pitch rate causes effective increase in wing angle of the attack resulting in more lift. If the canard's lift is greater than the wing, the nose will pitch further up and hence longitudinal stability of aircraft is more than steady flight condition.
Incorporating Blended Format Cybersecurity Education into a Community College Information Technology Program

ABSTRACTThe main goal of this project is to expand cybersecurity curriculum. This was accomplished by developing six new courses. The curriculum for each course utilized a common online course for all class formats including web-enhanced, hybrid, or online. In this article, we will discuss the online components used, faculty professional development, and the development process. We will present challenges as well as recommendations for support and future research.
RNA in extracellular vesicles

Cells release a range of membrane-enclosed extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the environment. Among them, exosomes and microvesicles (collectively measuring 40-1000 nm in diameter) carry proteins, signaling lipids, and nucleic acids from donor cells to recipient cells, and thus have been proposed to serve as intercellular mediators of communication. EVs transport cellular materials in many physiologic processes, including differentiation, stem cell homeostasis, immune responses, and neuronal signaling. EVs are also increasingly recognized as having a direct role in pathologies such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Accordingly, EVs have been the focus of intense investigation as biomarkers of disease, prognostic indicators, and even therapeutic tools. Here, we review the classes of RNAs present in EVs, both coding RNAs (messenger RNAs) and noncoding RNAs (long noncoding RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs). The rising attention to EV-resident RNAs as biomarkers stems from the fact that RNAs can be detected at extremely low quantities using a number of methods. To illustrate the interest in EV biology, we discuss EV RNAs in cancer and neurodegeneration, two major age-associated disease processes. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1413. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1413 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Ultrapulse carbon dioxide laser resurfacing and facial cosmetic surgery

Over 100 patients have been treated with the ultrapulse carbon dioxide laser since July 1994. The high power square wave pulse of 600 watts at less than 1 msec (which is less than the thermal relaxation time of tissue) dissipates heat during vaporization, thus producing a ‘cold beam’ and decreasing thermal injury. Similarly, hemostatic incision may be achieved by the focus beam at short repetition rates allowing incision with simultaneous coagulation of small vessels. Seventy-four patients underwent resurfacing for rhytides and photo aging with excellent cosmetic results and no texture or pigmentary change. Facial cosmetic surgery (facelift/eyelid lift/forehead lift) was accomplished in 41 patients using the laser scalpel. Patient selection, preparation, sequence of the laserbrasion and incisional techniques are summarized.
Finished Whole-Genome Sequences of Two Clostridium botulinum Type A(B) Isolates.

ABSTRACT Clostridium botulinum secretes a potent neurotoxin that causes devastating effects when ingested, including paralysis and death if not treated. In the United States, some clinically significant strains produce toxin type A while also harboring a silent B gene. These are the first two closed genome sequences published for this subset.
Automated smartphone audiometry: Validation of a word recognition test app.

Objectives/Hypothesis Develop and validate an automated smartphone word recognition test. Study Design Cross-sectional case-control diagnostic test comparison. Methods An automated word recognition test was developed as an app for a smartphone with earphones. English-speaking adults with recent audiograms and various levels of hearing loss were recruited from an audiology clinic and were administered the smartphone word recognition test. Word recognition scores determined by the smartphone app and the gold standard speech audiometry test performed by an audiologist were compared. Results Test scores for 37 ears were analyzed. Word recognition scores determined by the smartphone app and audiologist testing were in agreement, with 86% of the data points within a clinically acceptable margin of error and a linear correlation value between test scores of 0.89. Conclusions The WordRec automated smartphone app accurately determines word recognition scores. Level of Evidence 3b Laryngoscope, 2017
Influence of Dates and Frequency of Drive Treatments On Large Crabgrass Control in Tall Fescue Turf

Abstract When postemergence (POST) herbicides are used to control large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] in turfgrasses, it is desirable to maintain a high level of control with minimum number of applications. A field experiment was conducted during 1992 and 1993 to determine the influence of timing and frequency of applications with Drive (quinclorac) on large crabgrass control in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) turf. Drive (quinclorac) applied as a single application at 0.84 kg/ha (0.75 lb/A) on June 11 controlled 98% large crabgrass throughout the summer in tall fescue turf. The control was consistently higher than when the herbicide was applied earlier (April 12 or May 3) at the same rate. There was no increase in large crabgrass control with multiple Drive (quinclorac) applications, when compared to a single application made on June 11. Drive (quinclorac) applied on June 11 caused a maximum of 35% injury to tall fescue in 1992, but the turfgrass recovered to an acceptable level ...
Who Discovers and Invents

(1989). Who Discovers and Invents. Research-Technology Management: Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 43-50.
Humility, religion, and spirituality: A review of the literature.

The study of positive psychology provides a strong opportunity for interdisciplinary work that integrates theorizing from theology and psychology of religion. The purpose of the current article is to provide a systematic review of empirical work on humility and religion/spirituality. We review defin
The Effect of Pulsing on Transverse Ultrasound Efficiency and Chatter

Purpose To evaluate the effects of micropulse, long pulse, and continuous ultrasound on transverse ultrasound using Abbott Medical Optics' (AMO) WhiteStar Signature Pro with the Ellips FX handpiece. Design In vitro laboratory study. Methods This study was conducted at the John A. Moran Eye Center Laboratory, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Porcine lenses were hardened in formalin for 2 hours and equilibrated in basic salt solution (BSS) over a 24-hour period. The lenses were then cubed in 2.0 × 2.0-mm pieces. These pieces were stored in BSS until the time of experimentation. The AMO WhiteStar Signature Pro machine (Abbott Medical Optics) with the Ellips FX handpiece and a 0.9-mm bent Dewey tip with a 30-degree bevel (Microsurgical Technology Inc) were used for phacoemulsification. Three runs of 20 lenses each were performed, measuring efficiency and chatter. Transverse ultrasound varied in the 3 runs and included continuous, 6 ms on/off micropulse, and 50 ms on/off long pulse. Results Micropulse was more efficient than long pulse by 43% ( P = .00003) and continuous by 42% ( P = .000387). There were also less chatter events with micropulse than with long-pulse and continuous ultrasound. However, this difference did not reach significance. Conclusion The 6 ms on and 6 ms off micropulse transverse 3-dimensional ultrasound is more efficient and produces fewer chatter events than both long-pulse and continuous ultrasound.
Stirrings Toward Usurpation: Defying the Rule of Law

This chapter analyzes the morality of President Obama’s policies of rendition, military commissions, and indefinite detention in regard to the Guantanamo Bay detainees. It also examines the effects of intervention and resulting blowback, looking specifically at the case of Yemen and the Saleh government.
Privacy-preserving optimal scheduling of integrated microgrids

Abstract The increasing penetration of microgrids in distribution networks, as a viable option for end-use customers to increase load-point reliability and power quality, will result in formation of many interconnected microgrids in a not so far future. This paper considers a case in which multiple microgrids are geographically close and electrically connected, and studies anticipated interactions among these microgrids and also between the microgrids and the utility grid, during grid-connected and islanded operation modes. A model for the optimal scheduling of integrated microgrids is further proposed. The model is first developed with the objective of minimizing the aggregated operation cost and is accordingly decomposed into individual optimal scheduling problems using the Lagrangian relaxation method to take prevailing privacy issues into account. The microgrids capability in operating in the islanded mode for multiple hours is scrutinized by a T–τ islanding criterion. Numerical simulations exhibit the merits and the effectiveness of the proposed model via simulations on a system of integrated microgrids.
A predictive business agility model for service oriented architectures

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is now considered a mainstream option for delivering solutions that promise business agility benefits. Unfortunately, there is currently no quantitative approach for predicting the expected agility of a SOA system under development. In this paper we present an empirically validated Predicted Business Agility Index (PBAI) which is designed to measure the expected business agility of a SOA deployment. The PBAI is constructed through statistically analyzing the relationship between 150 technical attributes and the attainment of business agility in 39 SOA deployments. 37 of the technical attributes, classified into three areas of architecture, business process management, and impact analysis are determined to be the primary contributors to achieving business agility. The PBAI is evaluated using a leave-one-out cross validation experiment of the SOA projects in our study.
Zero to Swarm: Integrating sUAS Swarming into a Multi-disciplinary Engineering Program

We present the results of a year-long effort to develop swarm tactics in the DARPA-sponsored Service Academies Swarm Challenge. Through the course of approximately 9 months, each Academy went from “zero to swarm” in capability and fielded swarms of 25 fixed and rotary wing small unmanned aerial systems. After a series of virtual scrimmages, teams competed in a live-fly swarm v. swarm aerial simulated combat competition. This paper provides an overview of the SASC architecture (i.e., hardware, software, simulation), swarm behaviors and tactics, testing, and the results from the competition.
Effects of Light on Catalytic Activities and Lifetime of Plasmonic Au Catalysts in the CO Oxidation Reaction

The catalytic oxidation of CO to CO2 allows for the removal of poisonous CO to improve indoor and outdoor air quality. Currently, industrial CO oxidation catalysts are not effective at low temperatures. A group of the most promising choices, Au catalysts supported on Mg(OH)2 and MgO, are highly active even at −70 °C, but show decreased activity between 20 and 100 °C. These catalysts also have short lifetimes. Here, we utilize knowledge of plasmonic catalysis in the study of the CO oxidation reaction over plasmonic Au catalysts. We hypothesized that light interacting with catalysts via surface plasmon resonances has the potential to dramatically improve such catalytic reactions. Initial experiments demonstrated a significant improvement of the catalytic activity and lifetime under light. Using the particular features in the temperature dependent conversion curve of this catalyst, we developed a method to separately examine the thermal and nonthermal contributions of light. Detailed studies on the relations...
Pancreatic development: one cell at a (pseudo)time.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the principles guiding lineage differentiation during organogenesis is a challenge. In this issue, Yu et al (2019) tackle this venture by taking advantage of single‐cell transcriptomic analyses and multiple mouse genetic tools. Their work provides new insights into pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cell differentiation landscapes and identifies new pathways regulating pancreatic lineage allocation in vivo .
Reliable and efficient scale to assess upper motor neuron disease burden in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Background Validation of biomarkers of upper motor neuron (UMN) impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) requires a reliable clinical assessment of UMN findings. The Penn Upper Motor Neuron Score© (PUMNS) is a standardized measure of UMN signs in ALS. Our aims were to evaluate its intra- and inter-rater reliability, and to examine inter-item reliability as a proxy for item relatedness and scale efficiency. Methods Study procedures were performed during routine clinic visits. We calculated intra and inter-rater reliability using Pearson's correlation coefficient and inter-item reliability using Cronbach's alpha. Results PUMNS had high intra and inter-rater reliability. Total and sub-score correlation coefficients were all ≥0.96. The inter-item reliability indicated appropriate item relatedness with reasonable efficiency and sub-score correlation coefficients between 0.68 and 0.85. Conclusions PUMNS is a reliable measure of UMN signs in ALS and would be a useful tool in validating imaging and laboratory biomarkers of UMN injury in ALS.
Mechanical and degradation properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) cement/borate bioactive glass composites.

Bone cement is used extensively in orthopedics to anchor prostheses to bone and fill voids. Incorporating bioactive glass into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based bone cement could potentially improve its effectiveness for these tasks. This study characterizes the mechanical and degradation properties of composites containing PMMA-based bone cement and particles of borate bioactive glass designated as 13-93B3. Glass particles of size 5, 33, and 100 μm were mixed with PMMA bone cement to create composites containing 20, 30, and 40 wt % glass. Composites and a bone cement control were soaked in phosphate-buffered saline. Compressive strength, Young's modulus, weight loss, water uptake, solution pH, and ionic concentrations were measured over 21 days. The compressive strengths of composites decreased over 21 days. Average Young's moduli of the composites remained below 3 GPa. Weight loss and water uptake of specimens did not exceed 2 and 6%, respectively. Boron concentrations and pH of all solutions increased over time, with higher glass weight fractions leading to higher pH values. Results demonstrated that the composite can sustain glass degradation and ionic release without compromising short-term mechanical strength.
Cell models of tight junction biology

Abstract Tight junctions are made by epithelial or endothelial cells in culture. Cultured cell models allow tight junction proteins to be added, removed, or mutated in a controllable manner. This chapter describes the key approaches used to manipulate tight junction proteins in cell cultures, which include general protocol for epithelial cell culture, calcium switch assay, retrovirus-mediated transgene expression for tight junction proteins, and retrovirus-mediated RNA interference to silence tight junction proteins.
Blue Light Exposure Enhances Neural Efficiency of the Task Positive Network During a Cognitive Interference Task

Abstract Exposure to light, particularly blue-wavelength light, has been shown to acutely increase brain activation, alertness, and some elementary aspects of cognitive performance such as working memory and emotional anticipation. Whether blue light exposure can have effects on brain activation and performance during more complex cognitive control tasks up to 30 min after light cessation is unknown. In a sample of 32 healthy adults, we examined the effects of a 30 min exposure to either blue (n = 16) or amber control (n = 16) light on subsequent brain activation and performance during the Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT) measured a half-hour after light exposure. Performance on the MSIT did not differ between the blue and amber conditions. However, brain activation within the task positive network (TPN) to the interference condition was significantly lower in the blue relative to the amber condition, while no group differences were observed for suppression of the default mode network (DMN). These findings suggest that, compared to control, a single exposure to blue light was associated with enhanced neural efficiency, as demonstrated by reduced TPN activation to achieve the same level of performance. Blue light may be an effective method for optimizing neurocognitive performance under some conditions.
Atopic Dermatitis in Pregnancy

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common skin disorder in pregnancy. Its pathogenesis is complex and likely multifactorial, including changes in the maternal immune system and de-escalation of medical interventions in pregnant patients. Management of this condition is possible through the cautious use of topical and systemic medications. While treatment of atopic dermatitis in pregnancy is of clear benefit to the pregnant patient, it was previously thought that the benefit of treatment did not extend to the unborn fetus. However, there is new evidence to suggest that failure to treat atopic dermatitis in pregnancy may have significant implications for the fetus, making an understanding of appropriate treatment options imperative.
Camera-enabled joint robotic-communication paradigm for UAVs mounted with mmWave radios

UAVs mounted with millimeter wave base stations will enable last-mile high bandwidth access, as well as help in rapidly deploying point to point aerial backhaul links. Because such transmitters use directional beamforming to increase capacity, UAV deployments require careful selection of the beamwidth. Even under regular hovering conditions, UAVs display minor relative rotations and displacements caused by GPS inaccuracies and environmental factors like wind. To ensure narrow beams are perfectly aligned in such practical conditions, we propose a beamforming framework that (i) fuses out-of-band information obtained from cameras and (ii) leverages antenna beam-patterns characterized online during flight. These inputs provide the UAV pair forming the link with an improved estimate of relative orientation, and furthermore, guide controlled and coordinated movements to ensure the mmWave beams remain aligned. We implement this joint robotics-communication framework within the robot operating system and evaluate the performance for emulated DJI M100 UAVs. Our results reveal 33% improvement in physical bitrate and 60.4% reduction in latency when compared to RF-only beam sweeping methods.
Data Properties or Analytical Methodologies: Too Much Attention to the Former Ignores Concerns About the Latter.

The paper by Dupras and Bunnik is a useful addition to the literature on privacy in regards to datasets of human tissue/materials (Dupras and Bunnik 2021). In particular, the paper addresses import...
Self-Reported Race as a Social Determinant of Stroke Risk in Observational Versus Clinical Trial Datasets.

Abstract Objectives Self-reported Black (SRB) Americans are approximately twice as likely to have a stroke as self-reported White (SRW) Americans. While social determinants of health and vascular risk factors account for some of the disparity, half the increased risk remains unexplained and may be related to unmeasured real-world factors of the racialized experience. Materials and Methods In this cohort study, we compared SRB and SRW participants in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) to the same groups in the observational Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study to evaluate if clinical trial participation mitigates disparities in stroke risk. We set the ARIC baseline at visit 4 and excluded participants with prior stroke to create an ARIC cohort similar in age to SPRINT participants. The study outcome was incident primary stroke. We report hazard ratios from Cox models and inverse-probability weighted Cox models with propensity score matching on participant age, sex, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and smoking. Results We included 10,094 patients from ARIC and 8,869 from SPRINT, of which 26.1% were SRB. The risk of stroke between SRW participants in SPRINT versus ARIC was not significantly different (IPW-Weighted HR 0.78 [0.52–1.19]). SRB ARIC participants were twice as likely to have a stroke as SRW ARIC participants (IPW-Weighted HR = 1.96 [1.41–2.71]). However, SRB SPRINT participants did not have higher stroke risk compared to SRW SPRINT or ARIC participants (IPW-Weighted HR 0.99 [0.68–-1.77] and 0.95 [.57–1.59], respectively). SRB SPRINT participants in the intensive BP control group had a lower risk of stroke compared to SRB ARIC participants (IPW-Weighted HR = 0.39 [0.20–0.75]). Conclusions SRB race, compared to SRW race, is associated with an increase in primary stroke risk in the ARIC study but not in the SPRINT trial. The absence of the racial disparity in stroke incidence in SPRINT indicates that aspects of the disparity are modifiable. Population-based interventions that test this hypothesis deserve further attention.
An Unusual Combination: KRAS and BRAF Co-mutated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the USA. The colonic cells go through various stages of carcinogenesis with accumulation of epigenetic and genetic alterations and finally resulting in cancer (CRC). Patients with CRC can harbor either KRAS or BRAF mutations which has both prognostic and predictive values. However, KRAS and BRAF mutations are mutually exclusive and only in very rare instances (∼1 %) that you see a patient with combined KRAS/BRAF mutation [1]. Also, microsatellite instability (MSI) is significantly lower in patients with mutated KRAS compared to wild-type cases. All the studies thus far have shown poor survival associated with KRAS/BRAF mutation [1]. Herein, we report the case of a middle-aged female who was diagnosed with proximal metastatic CRC with microsatellite unstable status (MSI-H). On molecular analysis, she was noted to be positive for both KRAS (codon 13) and BRAF (exon 11) mutations. Hence, she was t r ea t ed wi th mFOLFOX6 (5 f l uo rou rac i l , leucovorin, oxaliplatin) and bevacizumab with good response and has remained stable off chemotherapy for a little over 2 years now. Case Presentation
The interaction of calmodulin with regulatory peptides of phosphorylase kinase

The regulatory peptides Phk13 (301-327) and Phk5 (342-367) have been synthesized and their interaction with calmodulin studied. In the case of Phk13 modified forms were also synthesized in which a tryptophan group was placed at position 4 or 21, as well as a form with tryptophan at position 4 and nitrotyrosine at position 21. From tryptic digestion, circular dichroism, and radiationless energy transfer measurements, it appears that Phk13 forms an elongated complex with calmodulin in which the peptide is in a non-helical conformation, probably bent into a hairpin-shaped structure, the connecting strand of calmodulin is extended and exposed to the action of proteolytic enzymes, and the peptide makes contact with both the N- and C-terminal half-molecules of calmodulin. In contrast, the Phk5 peptide has an alpha-helical conformation in the complex, which is relatively compact in shape.
How a Generative Encoding Fares as Problem-Regularity Decreases

It has been shown that generative representations, which allow the reuse of code, perform well on problems with high regularity (i.e. where a phenotypic motif must be repeated many times). To date, however, generative representations have not been tested on irregular problems. It is unknown how they will fare on problems with intermediate and low amounts of regularity. This paper compares a generative representation to a direct representation on problems that range from having multiple types of regularity to one that is completely irregular. As the regularity of the problem decreases, the performance of the generative representation degrades to, and then underperforms, the direct encoding. The degradation is not linear, however, yet tends to be consistent for different types of problem regularity. Furthermore, if the regularity of each type is sufficiently high, the generative encoding can simultaneously exploit different types of regularities.
Linking Ecological Sustainability and World Food Needs

Ecological approaches to agriculture can provide useful guidelines for addressing world food needs, while avoiding adverse environmental and social impacts. Experiments in both natural and agricultural ecosystems suggest that systems with high plant diversity may be more productive, more stable and more resilient than species-poor systems. In addition, systems with high plant diversity support higher levels of biodiversity in other functional groups, which may enhance the productivity of the plant component. Given these benefits of diverse systems, various approaches for converting conventional high input agricultural systems to more sustainable systems are addressed. Andow and Hidaka's (1989) concept of production syndromes is considered in the context of conversion to sustainable agriculture.
Proton Conducting Material Ba3Ce ( PO4 ) 3 Synthesized by Coprecipitation

A proton conducting material, Ba 3 ce(PO 4 ) 3 , was synthesized by coprecipitation, with a calcination temperature of 1100°C and a dwell time 4 h. The obtained particle size was around 200-500 nm. Proton conduction of Ba 3 Ce(PO 4 ) 3 was studied by ac impedance spectroscopy under oxygen, air, nitrogen, and hydrogen atmospheres and by electromotive force measurements of dry hydrogen concentration cells. The conductivities of Ba 3 Ce(PO 4 ) 3 in dry and wet 4 vol % hydrogen was around 4.04 X 10 -5 and 1.46 X 10 -4 S/cm at 600°C, respectively. The proton transference number was -0.8 in dry hydrogen concentration cells at 600°C. Based on the conductivity and transference number measurement results, Ba 3 ce(PO 4 ) 3 is considered a promising candidate for an intermediate temperature proton conductor.
Modified Dough Preparation for Alveograph Analysis with Limited Flour Sample Size

Dough rheological characteristics obtained by alveograph testing, such as extensibility and resistance to extension, are important traits for determination of wheat and flour quality. A challenging issue that faces wheat breeding programs and some wheat research projects is the relatively large flour sample size of 250 g required for the standard alveograph method (AACCI Approved Method 54-30.02). A modified dough preparation procedure for a small flour sample size was developed for the alveograph test method. A dough was prepared by mixing 80 g of flour with 60% water absorption (2.5% salt solution) for 4 min in a 100 g pin mixer; it was then sheeted and cut into three patties of defined thickness. Data generated by the modified dough preparation method were significantly correlated with the results from the approved alveograph method. The correlation coefficients (r) for each of six alveograph dough characteristics of 40 different advanced breeding lines and wheat varieties were 0.92 for P (mm H2O), 0.7...