cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of urban variable source area: a cross-sectional analysis of urbanized catchments in the United States

Many studies have empirically confirmed the relationship between urbanization and changes to the hydrologic cycle and degraded aquatic habitats. While much of the literature focuses on extent and configuration of impervious area as a causal determinant of degradation, in this article I do not attribute causes of decreased watershed storage on impervious area a priori. Rather, adapting the concept of variable source area (VSA) and its relationship to incremental storage to the particular conditions of urbanized catchments, I develop a statistically-robust linear regression-based methodology to detect evidence of VSA-dominant response. Using the physical and meteorological characteristics of the catchments as explanatory variables, I then use logistic regression to statistically analyze significant predictors of the VSA classification. I find that the strongest predictor of VSA-type response is the percent of undeveloped area in the catchment. Characteristics of developed areas, including total impervious area, percent developed open space, and the type of drainage infrastructure do not add to the explanatory power of undeveloped land in predicting VSA-type response. Within only developed areas, I find that total impervious area (TIA) and percent developed open space both decrease the odds of a catchment exhibiting evidence of VSA-type response and the effect of developed open space is more similar to that of TIA than undeveloped land in predicting VSA response. Different types of stormwater management infrastructure, including combined sewer systems (CSS) and infiltration, retention, and detention infrastructure are not found to have strong statistically significant effects on probability of VSA-type response. VSA-type response is also found to be stronger during the growing season than the dormant season. These findings are consistent across a national cross-section of urbanized watersheds, a higher resolution dataset of Baltimore Metropolitan Area watersheds, and a subsample of watersheds confirmed not to be served by (CSS). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Introduction: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Problem Solving

This introductory chapter traces my story. It focuses on my experiences as a student and faculty member at New York City College of Technology, which is the designated college of technology of the City University of New York. It chronicles the creation of interdisciplinary courses and research experiences that help students tackle complex problems and make connections between their major and general education courses. Practical information at the administrative level, such as governance issues, developing an application process for interdisciplinary course designation, forming an interdisciplinary studies committee, and the responsibilities of such a committee, are discussed. This chapter provides pedagogical strategies for team-teaching, as well as highlights supportive tools such as original case studies written by faculty for interdisciplinary courses.
Toward an Affirmative Biopolitics

This essay responds to German theorist Thomas Lemke’s call for a conversation between two distinct lines of reception of Foucault’s concept of biopolitics. The first line is comprised of sweeping h...
Teaching Individuals with Traumatic Stress

This chapter (1) aids in the development of a “trauma-informed” competency in mindfulness teachers and therapists working with general population groups which may contain persons with traumatic stress symptoms and histories; and (2) offers additional guidelines for those teacher-therapists who are delivering dedicated trauma-focused mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). The chapter includes a description of trauma-informed behavioral health intervention guidelines; applies those guidelines with practical suggestions from screening to follow-up; describes a trauma-informed method for beginning mindfulness meditations; offers specific guidelines for the body scan, mindfulness retreats, and additional adaptiions for dedicated trauma-focused MBI groups. Chapter 37, “Trauma-Informed Mindful Dialogue,” applies many of these guidelines to inquiry following a mindfulness exercise.
Ring-Opening Reaction of Furfural and Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol on Hydrogen-Predosed Iridium(1 1 1) and Cobalt/Iridium(1 1 1) Surfaces

The ring-opening of furfural is crucial for its conversion into value-added chemicals such as 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeD), an important polymer precursor. Ir-based catalysts have shown activity in ring-opening reactions, and the use of an oxophilic metal additive is reported to be beneficial. To better understand the effect of an oxophilic metal on Ir for the opening of the furan ring, a combination of DFT calculations and experimental surface science studies were performed to investigate the ring-opening of furfural and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. The experimental results suggest that Co/Ir(1 1 1) has a higher ring-opening activity for an unsaturated furan ring, however, the difference in activities between Ir and Co/Ir(1 1 1) is insignificant for a saturated furan ring. The DFT results reveal that Co/Ir(1 1 1) has a stronger interaction with an unsaturated furan ring than Ir(1 1 1); both surfaces show a weaker interaction with the saturated furan ring, which causes the lower ring-opening activity than that of furfural.
Structural and physicochemical properties of resistant starch from Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) prepared by autoclaving treatment and pullulanase hydrolysis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the properties of resistant starch (RS) from Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), which was prepared by autoclaving treatment and pullulanase hydrolysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the chestnut resistant starch (CRS) granules had a cohesive structure, an irregular shape, and diameters ranging from 6.0 to 7.2 µm. The enzymatic and retrogradation processes increased the yield of RS, and also decreased its swelling power, water solubility, and viscosity. An increase in transparency was also observed. The percent syneresis of the two starches increased steadily over time. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that autoclaving and pullulanase hydrolysis converted C-type native starch into a B-type pattern and increased the crystallinity. In addition, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results indicated a reduction in gelatinization temperature and enthalpy compared with native starch. The thermal properties of RS increased due to the retrogradation and recrystallization (p < .05). Practical applications Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is an important nut crop with high nutrition and planted in China widely. High water content in fresh chestnut leads to mildew attack easily, which will affect the chestnut market value and trade business. Therefore, it has great significance and practical demand to develop the deep processing technology and diversify its products. The resistant starch has been implemented as an ingredient for its resistant digestion properties for making flour food and functional food. However, the research and application of resistant starch from Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) has been rarely seen. This study investigated the structural and physicochemical properties of chestnut resistant starch and provided a reference for the application of chestnut resistant starch in the food processing industries. For example, an increase in transparency and syneresis suggested chestnut resistant starch could be potentially used as a functional ingredient in jelly, beverages, and other food products, but not be possible for use in the frozen food industry.
The Facet Satisfaction Scale: an Effective Affective Measure of Job Satisfaction Facets

Job satisfaction facets are theoretically and practically important variables. Most existing facet satisfaction scales, however, have two noteworthy limitations—they often do not clearly assess affective content, and they use non-parallel items. In the current paper, we examined the measurement qualities of the Facet Satisfaction Scale (FSS; [Beehr et al. (Journal of Applied Social Psychology 36:1523–1547, 2006)], a measure that may address the limitations of existing facet satisfaction measures. We conducted four studies to examine the measurement qualities of the FSS: (a) Study 1 examined the FSS’s factor structure, (b) Study 2 examined its test-retest reliability and construct validity, (c) Study 3 further examined its construct validity, and (d) Study 4 examined the extent to which the FSS assesses the affective and cognitive components of job satisfaction. We found that the FSS produced the hypothesized five-factor structure and that the FSS subscales each yielded high levels of internal consistency and test-retest reliability. We also found evidence of the construct validity of the FSS subscales, and we found that the FSS subscales are generally effective measures of the affective component of their respective job satisfaction facets. As a result of the current findings, we recommend the FSS when researchers wish to measure the affective component of job satisfaction facets. Little previous research has examined the FSS’s measurement qualities. The current studies address this gap by providing evidence for the reliability and validity of the FSS. This is of value because the FSS addresses some limitations inherent to other facet satisfaction measures.
Influence of Pyrrhotite on the Corrosion of Mild Steel

As a result of the electrical conductivity of pyrrhotite, it was hypothesized that its presence in the corrosion product layer on a steel surface could lead to localized corrosion. Mild steel specimens (API 5L X65) were pretreated to form a pyrrhotite layer on the surface using high-temperature sulfidation in oil. The pretreated specimens were then exposed to a range of aqueous CO2 and H2S corrosion environments at 30°C and 60°C. X-ray diffraction data showed that the pyrrhotite layer changed during exposure; in an aqueous CO2 solution it underwent dissolution, while in a mixed CO2/H2S solution it partially transformed to troilite, with some mackinawite formation. Initiation of localized corrosion was observed in both cases. It was concluded that this was the result of a galvanic coupling between the pyrrhotite layer and the steel surface. The intensity of the observed localized corrosion varied with solution conductivity (NaCl concentration); a more conductive solution resulted in higher localized corros...
Why Groups Show Different Fairness Norms? The Interaction Topology Might Explain

Computational models of prosocial norms are becoming important from the perspective of theoretical social sciences as well as engineering of autonomous systems, who also need to show prosocial behavior in their social interactions. Fairness, as one of the strongest prosocial norms has long been argued to govern human behavior in a wide range of social, economic, and organizational activities. The sense of fairness, although universal, varies across different societies. In this study, using a computational model based on evolutionary games on graphs, we demonstrate emergence of fair behavior in structured interaction of rational agents and test the hypothesis that the network structure of social interaction can causally explain some of the cross-societal variations in fairness norms, as previously reported by empirical studies. We show that two network parameters, community structure, as measured by the modularity index, and network hubiness, represented by the skewness of degree distribution, have the most significant impact on emergence of fairness norms. These two parameters can explain much of the variations in fairness norms across societies and can also be linked to hypotheses suggested by earlier empirical work. We devised a multi-layered model that combines local agent interactions with social learning, thus enables both strategic behavior as well as diffusion of successful strategies. We also discuss some generalizable methods that are used in the selection of network structures and convergence criteria used in simulations for work. By applying multivariate statistics on the results, we obtain the relation between network structural features and the collective fair behavior.
Correction: Geobacter sulfurreducens pili support ohmic electronic conduction in aqueous solution

Correction for 'Geobacter sulfurreducens pili support ohmic electronic conduction in aqueous solution' by Nicole L. Ing et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017, 19, 21791-21799.
Differences in postoperative maladaptive behavioral changes between partial and total tonsillectomy patients.

Abstract Introduction Behavioral difficulties associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) improve after tonsillectomy, but surgery may lead to the development of short-term postoperative maladaptive behavioral changes (PMBCs). These PMBCs have not been compared between total and partial tonsillectomy patients. Methods SDB patients aged 1–6 years undergoing tonsillectomy were recruited. Parent phone surveys were conducted at 48–72 hours and 1–2 weeks postoperatively. Parents identified PMBCs using the Post-Hospital Behavior Questionnaire (PHBQ), scoring changes in behavior compared to baseline. PMBCs were defined by PHBQ scores >0 and compared by one-tailed t-test. Postoperative pain was categorized as mild, moderate, and severe pain using the Parents' Postoperative Pain Measure (PPPM). Differences in pain levels were analyzed by Chi-squared test. A p-value Results Seventy-eight children completed the study, with 29 total tonsillectomy and 49 partial tonsillectomy patients. At both time points after surgery, PHBQ scores were higher in total tonsillectomy patients than in partial tonsillectomy patients (3.41 ± 3.53 versus 1.94 ± 2.25 at 2–3 days, p = .013). PMBCs were also more frequent in total than partial tonsillectomy patients (76% versus 59% at 2–3 days; 28% versus 7% at 1–2 weeks). Meanwhile, distribution of pain levels was similar between both partial and total tonsillectomy patients. Conclusions Our study indicates that total tonsillectomy patients more frequently experience PMBCs than do partial tonsillectomy patients despite similar distributions in pain levels postoperatively. This difference in PHBQ scores between total and partial tonsillectomy patients should be further explored.
Derivation and characterization of a UCP1 reporter human ES cell line

Interest in human brown fat as a novel therapeutic target to tackle the growing obesity and diabetes epidemic has increased dramatically in recent years. While much insight into brown fat biology has been gained from murine cell lines and models, few resources are available to study human brown fat in vitro, which makes the need for new ways to derive and study human brown adipocytes imperative. Human ES cell based reporter systems present an excellent tool to identify, mark, and purify cell populations of choice. In this study, we detail the derivation and characterization of a novel human ES UCP1 reporter cell line that marks UCP1 positive adipocytes in vitro. We targeted a mCherry reporter to the UCP1 stop codon via CRISPR-Cas9 based gene targeting. The brown adipocytes derived from reporter cells express UCP1, display high mitochondrial content, multi-locular lipid morphology, and exhibit functional properties such as lipolysis. The mCherry positive cells purified after cell sorting show elevated expression of brown fat marker genes and a high similarity to isolated human brown fat via RNA-seq analysis. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of this reporter to real time monitor UCP1 expression upon stimulation. This reporter cell line thus presents new opportunities to study human brown fat biology by enabling future work to understand early human brown fat development, perform disease modeling, and facilitate drug screening.
Ammonia Titration Methods To Quantify Brønsted Acid Sites in Zeolites Substituted with Aluminum and Boron Heteroatoms

Ammonia titration methods were developed to discriminate and quantify Bronsted acid sites of different strength that compensate aluminum and boron heteroatoms incorporated within zeolite frameworks. Borosilicate and boroaluminosilicate MFI zeolites (B-Al-MFI) were synthesized with different Al contents and crystallite sizes, which are typically correlated structural properties in aluminosilicates synthesized hydrothermally, but independently varied here by incorporating boron as a second framework heteroatom and using ethylenediamine as a structure directing agent. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of ammonia from B-Al-MFI samples saturated via liquid-phase NH4NO3 ion exchange resulted in quantifying the total number of Al and B heteroatoms. In contrast, TPD performed after NH4-form B-Al-MFI samples were purged in flowing helium (433 K), or after gas-phase NH3 adsorption (433 K) onto H-form B-Al-MFI samples, quantified only protons charge-compensating framework Al heteroatoms. Turnover rates for met...
Preparation and Properties of Platinum Crystallites Supported on Polycrystalline Tin Oxide

The preparation and characterization of highly dispersed platinum supported on polycrystalline, antimgny-doped tin oxide films is discussed. The usefulness of numerous surface characterization techniques (such as ESCA, AES, ESD, SIMS, etc.) in relating catalyst surface properties to the methods of preparation is demonstrated.
Racial Socialization through Children's Toys: A Sociohistorical Examination:

Children's play, games, and toys are particularly illuminating in providing a glimpse of history and echoing the consciousness of a people. According to Freud (1950), children repeat, in their play, things which have made impressions on them from real life, "and that in so doing they abreact the strength of the impression and. . . make themselves master of the situation." At the same time, the play of children reflects a wish to be grown up, to perform as adults do (Freud, 1 950: 16-17).
Eukaryotic Transcriptional Specificity Conferred by DNA-Binding Proteins

The pattern of gene expression in mammalian cells requires thousands of genes to be turned on and off in a temporally and spatially regulated manner. The control of transcription initiation is one means by which expression of genes can be varied. Regulation of transcription initiation is well characterized in prokaryotes, but in higher organisms such as humans, this phenomenon is only beginning to be clarified. One common approach to this problem has been the identification of important cis-acting DNA sequences in the region surrounding transcription initiation sites.
Methodological approaches to public regulation of water supply and wastewater sector

Creating an effective system of state regulation in the sphere of water supply and wastewater disposal, which would meet European quality standards, has balanced the interests of consumers, the state and water supply and sewerage enterprises, and requires an adequate scientific support. In this regard, a special role belongs to fundamental research, which will allow to consider government regulation not only from the point of its content, water supply and disposal, but also from other perspectives - as far as it can be described as a social, economic, legal phenomenon and determine practical value for society as a whole.Methodology is a set of subjects and objects, goals and objectives, principles, approaches and functions, criteria and indicators, forms and methods of state regulation. All elements of the state regulation methodology form an organic unity. The methodological guidelines and approaches that significantly affect all components of the state regulation methodology and directly related to public administration are the most crucial components of state regulation. The article is devoted to the methodological approaches study related to the state regulation in the sphere of water supply and wastewater disposal. The author explores the state regulation category, describes it as a social, economic, legal phenomenon and tries to determine its practical value for society as a whole.Special attention is paid to the sphere of centralized water supply and sanitation as a natural monopoly, and the causes of the natural monopoly origin in this sphere have been analyzed. The author explores and analyzes the subjects, object, forms and methods, principles and functions of state regulation in the field of water supply and wastewater disposal. The author also examines rationale for the causes and limits of state intervention in the economic and other processes in the field of water supply and sanitation, as well as the nature, practical value and direction of regulation.In the article, the author draws attention to some inconsistencies in the legislation on state regulation in the sphere of water supply and wastewater disposal, and gives suggestions concerning formation of a unified approach to the definition of natural monopolies, an understanding of the objectives of government regulation and reform, and perspective research.
What Makes a Terrorist: Economics and the Roots of Terrorism

Alan B. Krueger’s What Makes a Terrorist, reappearing in print to mark its tenth anniversary, considers terrorism through an economics lens. The author, who under President Obama served as the chai...
Breast Density Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitudes Among US Women: National Survey Results Across 5 Years.

Abstract Purpose To assess changes in breast density (BD) awareness, knowledge, and attitudes among US women over a period of 5 years. Methods Using a probability-based web panel representative of the US population, we administered an identical BD survey in 2012 and 2017 to women aged 40 to 74 years. Results In 2017, 65.8% had heard of BD (versus 57.5% in 2012; P = .0002). BD awareness in both 2012 and 2017 was significantly associated with race, income, and education. Among women aware of BD in 2017, 76.5% had knowledge of BD’s relationship to masking (versus 71.5% in 2012; P = .04); 65.5% had knowledge of BD’s relationship to cancer risk (versus 58.5%; P = .009); and 47.3% had discussed BD with a provider (versus 43.1% in 2012; P = .13). After multivariable adjustment, residence in a state with BD legislation was associated in 2017 with knowledge of BD’s relationship to risk but not to masking. Most women wanted to know their BD (62.5% in 2017 versus 59.8% in 2012; P = .46); this information was anticipated to cause anxiety in 44.8% (versus 44.9% in 2012; P = .96); confusion in 35.9% (versus 43.0%; P = .002); and feeling informed in 89.7% (versus 90.4%; P = .64). Over three-quarters supported federal BD legislation in both surveys. Response rate to the 2017 survey was 55% (1,502 of 2,730) versus 65% (1,506 of 2,311) in 2012. Conclusion Although BD awareness has increased, important disparities persist. Knowledge of BD’s impact on risk has increased; knowledge about masking and BD discussions with providers have not. Most women want to know their BD, would not feel anxious or confused as a result of knowing, and would feel empowered to make decisions. The federal BD notification legislation presents an opportunity to improve awareness and knowledge and encourage BD conversations with providers.
A re-examination of pair dynamics and L2 learning opportunities in collaborative writing:

Pair dynamics has received much attention in collaborative writing (CW) research. Prior research on the link between pair dynamics and L2 learning opportunities (often operationalized as language r...
A Validated Novel Tool for Capturing Faculty-Student Joint Behaviors with the COPUS Instrument.

The Classroom Observation Protocol Undergraduate STEM (COPUS) tool was developed to quantify the time instructors and students engage in various activities within STEM courses. We offer a matrix of joint instructor-student behaviors rather than a pie chart of individual behaviors as an alternative perspective on the presentation of the results from the COPUS instrument. We suggest that the presentation of the results using this matrix tool allows for finer-scale insights into the learning environment in a classroom. Using this matrix tool, we identified four profiles of instructor-student behavior in undergraduate STEM classes at our regional comprehensive Master’s institution: lecture, lecture plus (lecture with students posing questions to the instructor), standing clickers/IF-ATs (immediate feedback assessment technique—instructor poses questions using some form of immediate response method but does not move around groups), and roving groups (requiring instructor to move between groups). Prior to using the COPUS instrument we placed each of the observed faculty along the active learning spectrum. Our matrix tool was validated by alignment of the matrix tool profiles with these a priori designations. We offer suggestions regarding how this matrix tool can be best used to inform faculty professional development to move instructors along the active learning spectrum.
Multiple rendezvous maneuvers at synchronous altitude

Rendezvous techniques between synchronous satellites were found using a cotangential elliptic phasing (CEP) transfer. This transfer is a closed elliptic orbit which is cotangent to the synchronous orbits of the chase vehicle and target satellite. The cotangent point lies on the line of apsides of the transfer orbit which coincides with the line of intersection of the synchronous orbits. The rendezvous maneuvers accomplish plane changes and phase shifts simultaneously, and these maneuvers are found to be optimal when the plane change is split equally between the velocity increments. The CEP transfer can be extended to several revolutions for a further reduction of fuel usage. A set of synchronous satellites was used in a simulated mission. An optimal sequence for rendezvous among these satellites was established such that the total sum of velocity increments is within the realm of estimated 1980 technology.
A New Probability Density Function for Minimizing Geometric Dilution of Precision in Location-Aware Wireless Communications

Cellular site planners have long used propagation models for optimizing an architecture deployment strategy. The foundation of these models are a plethora of theoretical results that all contribute to a probabilistic understanding of this phenomenon. In lower-band frequencies, coverage and propagation phenomena were sufficient considerations for legacy infrastructure deployment; however, as cellular technology probes uncharted millimeter wave spectra and beyond, it is natural to inquire as to whether other metrics could contribute to an informed infrastructure deployment. As the benchmark goals for positioning accuracy grow more ambitious and location-aware communications becomes a reality, we argue that localization accuracy should also play a prominent role in cellular infrastructure deployment planning. To this end, we submit a new closed-form probability density function (PDF) to characterize the angular difference of a pair of base stations and a mobile terminal. The importance of the angular difference is demonstrated by showing that the Cramer-Rao lower bound for localization is solely a function of it and measurement accuracy. Further, we submit a computationally tenable algorithm for producing the required PDF. To demonstrate the power of the density, we show some base station deployments that are guaranteed to yield geometrically favorable environments for positioning. Finally, we demonstrate how this new distribution outperforms numerical analysis when planning wireless network architecture deployment for location-aware communications.
Positive Surgical Margins After Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy Predict Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes for Clinically Localized Renal Masses

Introduction: For patients with clinically localized renal masses, positive surgical margins (PSMs) after robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) have been associated with a higher risk of disease recurr...
Natural, artificial or imported? Ice supplies for the German distant-water fisheries as an example of renewable vs. fossil-fuel based supplies

From the early decades of the twentieth century the distant-water fishing fleets relied more or less completely on the use of artificially manufactured ice for the preservation of their catches. Large-scale fossil-fuel powered ice factories in the main European fishing ports provided the ice taken onboard trawlers before they left port for the fishing trip. When the fishing grounds of the Barents Sea and the Svalbard region were developed in the 1930s, bunker capacities of trawlers were no longer sufficient for a journey without re-bunkering coal or ice. Northern Norwegian ports therefore became regularly used as bunker stations for coal and ice, with huge natural ice factories being developed in northern Norway for the supply of trawlers. Those with interests in artificial ice production in continental Europe, particularly in Bremerhaven/Geestemunde, started a campaign against the use of natural ice based on the argument that natural ice was unsanitary and would cause bacterial contamination of the fish. Several authorities became involved and finally an expedition by the Reichskuratorium fur Technik in der Landwirtschaft was organized to investigate the issue of bacterial contamination of ice manufactured in northern Norway. With the findings of this expedition clearly showing that there was no contamination issue with the natural ice, it became obvious that the whole campaign against natural ice was not guided by quality concerns, but by the commercial interests of German artificial ice producers. In the end, the whole story can be understood as a key example of how a fossil-fuel powered industry tried to push a competitor using a renewable resource (natural ice) out of the market, and how certain authorities were complicit in this attempt.
Religiosity in Constitutions and the Status of Minority Rights

Minority rights and religion have never been topics that are simultaneously considered. However, arguably, the two have relevance, especially when combined with the topic and theory of constitutionalism. Historically and traditionally, minorities have been granted certain rights and have been denied certain rights under various constitutions. These grants and denials relate to cultural differences and values, arguably relating to a culture’s understanding and interpretation of religion.This article explores the relationship and status of minority rights as it relates to religiosity and constitutionalism. Essentially, there is a correlation between these topics and research shows where certain nations have used religion in a free, liberal manner, its citizens and visitors have less conflict and primarily are content and at peace and its economy have been at its best.
Dietary Potassium Intake and 20-Year All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults: The Rancho Bernardo Study.

We examined the association between dietary potassium intake and all-cause and cause-specific mortality among community-dwelling older adults. Potassium intake was assessed with a food frequency qu...
Geographic Variation in Trends and Disparities in Heart Failure Mortality in the United States, 1999 to 2017

Background Cardiovascular disease mortality related to heart failure (HF) is rising in the United States. It is unknown whether trends in HF mortality are consistent across geographic areas and are...
Recent work focused on race, class, and social mobility in Lima, Peru

How enlightening it was to spend a portion of my 2020 lockdown reading four recent books that examine race, class, and social mobility in Lima. At the same time, reading the works during the pandem...
Data-independent acquisition protease-multiplexing enables increased proteome sequence coverage across multiple fragmentation modes

The use of multiple proteases has been shown to increase protein sequence coverage in proteomics experiments, however due to the additional analysis time required, it has not been widely adapted in routine data-dependent acquisition (DDA) proteomic workflows. Alternatively, data-independent acquisition (DIA) has the potential to analyze multiplexed samples from different protease digests, but has been primarily optimized for fragmenting tryptic peptides. Here we evaluate a DIA multiplexing approach that combines three proteolytic digests (Trypsin, AspN, and GluC) into a single sample. We first optimize data acquisition conditions for each protease individually with both the canonical DIA fragmentation mode (beam type CID), as well as resonance excitation CID, to determine optimal consensus conditions across proteases. Next, we demonstrate that application of these conditions to a protease-multiplexed sample of human peptides results in similar protein identifications and quantitative performance as compared to trypsin alone, but enables up to a 63% increase in peptide detections, and a 27% increase non-redundant amino acid detections. Importantly, this resulted in 100% sequence coverage for numerous proteins, suggesting the utility of this approach in applications where sequence coverage is critical, such as proteoform analysis.
Cannabis: A vexing foe or a perioperative acquaintance?

Abstract The federal decriminalization of marijuana is enjoying a renaissance; Congress has currently delayed a vote on a bill to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. However, poised to legalize medical marijuana, many states will see an appreciable rise in the availability of cannabis products resulting in widespread use among patients within the perioperative setting. What is best practice to care for such patients remains elusive, although the list of therapeutic benefits of cannabis continues to grow. As we learn more by way of growing acceptance in the political and scientific realms, this summary serves as an appraisal to perioperative clinicians of the various subtleties of cannabis use by patients presenting for operative procedures.
CD8+ Regulatory T Cell - A Mystery to Be Revealed.

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential to maintain immune homeostasis and prevent autoimmune disorders. While the function and molecular regulation of Foxp3+CD4+ Tregs are well established, much of CD8+ Treg biology remains to be revealed. Here, we will review the heterogenous subsets of CD8+ T cells have been named "CD8+ Treg" and mainly focus on CD122hiLy49+CD8+ Tregs present in naive mice. CD122hiLy49+CD8+ Tregs, which depends on transcription factor Helios and homeostatic cytokine IL-15, have been established as a non-redundant regulator of germinal center (GC) reaction. Recently, we have demonstrated that TGF-β (Transforming growth factor-β) and transcription factor Eomes (Eomesodermin) are essential for the function and homeostasis of CD8+ Tregs. In addition, we will discuss several open questions regarding the differentiation, function and true identity of CD8+ Tregs as well as a brief comparison between two regulatory T cell subsets critical to control GC reaction, namely CD4+ TFR (follicular regulatory T cells) and CD8+ Tregs.
Dampen the Stop-and-Go Traffic with Connected and Automated Vehicles – A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach*

Stop-and-go traffic poses significant challenges to the efficiency and safety of traffic operations, and its impacts and working mechanism have attracted much attention. Recent studies have shown that Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) with carefully designed longitudinal control have the potential to dampen the stop-and-go wave based on simulated vehicle trajectories. In this study, Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) is adopted to control the longitudinal behavior of CAVs and real-world vehicle trajectory data is utilized to train the DRL controller. It considers a Human-Driven (HD) vehicle tailed by a CAV, which are then followed by a platoon of HD vehicles. Such an experimental design is to test how the CAV can help to dampen the stop-and-go wave generated by the lead HD vehicle and contribute to smoothing the following HD vehicles’ speed profiles. The DRL control is trained using real-world vehicle trajectories, and eventually evaluated using SUMO simulation. The results show that the DRL control decreases the speed oscillation of the CAV by 54% and 8%-28% for those following HD vehicles. Significant fuel consumption savings are also observed. Additionally, the results suggest that CAVs may act as a traffic stabilizer if they choose to behave slightly altruistically.
Metabotropic glutamate receptors are associated with non-synaptic appendages of unipolar brush cells in rat cerebellar cortex and cochlear nuclear complex

Unipolar brush cells (UBCs) are a class of small neurons that are densely concentrated in the granular layers of the vestibulocerebellar cortex and dorsal cochlear nucleus. The UBCs form giant synapses with individual mossy fibre rosettes on the dendrioles which make up their brush formations and are provided with numerous, unusual non-synaptic appendages. In accord with the glutamatergic nature of mossy fibres, our previous post-embedding immunocytochemical studies indicated that various ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits are localized at the post-synaptic densities of the giant synapses, whereas the non-synaptic appendages are immunonegative. On the contrary, the metabotropic glutamate receptors mGluR1α and mGluR2/3 are situated at the non-synaptic appendages and are lacking at the post-synaptic densities. Other authors, however, have shown that antibodies to these metabotropic receptors stain both appendages and post-synaptic densities. In the present study, we have re-evaluated the distribution of metabotropic glutamate receptors in the UBCs of the cerebellum and the cochlear nuclear complex by light and electron microscopic pre-embedding immunocytochemistry with subtype-specific antibodies. We confirm that UBCs dendritic brushes are densely immunostained by antibody to mGluR1α particularly in the cerebellum and that antibody to mGluR2/3 labels at least a percentage of the UBC brushes in both the cerebellum and cochlear nuclei. At the ultrastructural level, it appears that mGluR1α and mGluR2/3 immunoreactivities are not associated with the post-synaptic densities of the giant mossy fibre–UBC synapses, but instead are concentrated on the non-synaptic appendages of the cerebellar UBCs. The non-synaptic appendages, therefore, may be an important avenue for regulating the excitability of UBCs and mediating glutamate effects on their still unknown intracellular signal transduction cascades. We also show that the pre-synaptic densities of UBC dendrodendritic junctions are mGluR2/3 positive. As previously demonstrated, antibodies to mGluR1 α and mGluR2/3 label subsets of Golgi cells. Antibody to mGluR5 does not stain UBCs in the cerebellum and cochlear nucleus and reveals the somatodendritic compartment of Golgi cells situated in the core of the cerebellar granular layer, whilst cochlear nucleus Golgi cells are mGluR5 negative.
Long-term reductions in tinnitus severity

This study was undertaken to assess long-term changes in tinnitus severity exhibited by patients who completed a comprehensive tinnitus management program; to identify factors that contributed to changes in tinnitus severity within this population; to contribute to the development and refinement of effective assessment and management procedures for tinnitus. Detailed questionnaires were mailed to 300 consecutive patients prior to their initial appointment at the Oregon Health & Science University Tinnitus Clinic. All patients were then evaluated and treated within a comprehensive tinnitus management program. Follow-up questionnaires were mailed to the same 300 patients 6 to 36 months after their initial tinnitus clinic appointment. One hundred ninety patients (133 males, 57 females; mean age 57 years) returned follow-up questionnaires 6 to 36 months (mean = 22 months) after their initial tinnitus clinic appointment. This group of patients exhibited significant long-term reductions in self-rated tinnitus loudness, Tinnitus Severity Index scores, tinnitus-related anxiety and prevalence of current depression. Patients who improved their sleep patterns or Beck Depression Inventory scores exhibited greater reductions of tinnitus severity scores than patients who continued to experience insomnia and depression at follow-up. Individualized tinnitus management programs that were designed for each patient contributed to overall reductions in tinnitus severity exhibited on follow-up questionnaires. Identification and treatment of patients experiencing anxiety, insomnia or depression are vital components of an effective tinnitus management program. Utilization of acoustic therapy also contributed to improvements exhibited by these patients.
Henri de Lubac's Genealogy of Modern Exegesis and Nicholas of Lyra's Literal Sense of Scripture

According to Henri de Lubac's history of medieval exegesis, the fourteenth century marked the tipping point for the disintegration of history and allegory. The Postilla super totam bibliam of the Franciscan Nicholas of Lyra (1270-1349) plays a prominent role in this declension narrative by ceding the "spirit" of interpretation to the separate discipline of theology, and opening the space for critical biblical studies to attain autonomy. But what if Nicholas of Lyra was on the other side of this history? Arguing from the layout of early Postilla manuscripts and the institutional and manuscript culture of the fourteenth century, this article proposes that Nicholas's Postilla represents a vigorous and largely successful attempt to reintegrate Biblical text, historical scholarship, and theological exegesis. Nicholas's approach to the exegetical crises of his own day helps us to reassess the challenges and possibilities of theological exegesis today. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Communication & Global Power| Market Panics and the Limits of National Power and Authority: An Argumentative Analysis of the 2011 Italian Debt Crisis

An ongoing and prolonged debt crisis has undermined the authority of and confidence in the euro and in the European Union itself. A deep recession has diminished the dreams and opportunities for many people in those nations that experienced the highest rates of unemployment and falling property values. Mediated accounts of the crisis sparked fears throughout Europe that the contagion might spread. This article examines the crisis as it impacted Italy in 2011. The crisis demonstrated the inadequacy of institutional frameworks to end the panic and challenged the authority of national and EU leaders to protect the interests of citizens while responding to the demands of the hyperconnected global financial marketplace. The article considers how the trajectories of public discourse created to meet the demands of different argument spheres resulted in unanticipated outcomes that fueled rather than contained the market panics.
Application and effectiveness of a portable hydrodynamic test flume

The design and construction of a small test flume (i.e., recirculating water tank) to create a steady laminar flow that simulates the natural flow of fluid around a moving vehicle was developed at Florida Institute of Technology. The propulsion system of the flume is comprised of eight Tesla discs to create laminar flow using boundary layer effects. As the discs rotate, fluid drag is created and kinetic energy is transferred through layers of fluid molecules between the discs, generating outward velocities and pressure gradients creating a force that ‘pulls’ the water through the system in a smooth, pulsation-free flow. The use of laminar flow enables the engineer to study and record accurately the drag and resistance acting on vessels or other components. The flume is designed to be small and inexpensive allowing students, instructors, and researchers to conduct experiments in small places such as a classroom.
Exploring faculty health and wellbeing: Creating a caring scholarly community

Summary Background Nursing educators worldwide are challenged to integrate the care of culturally diverse people into coursework to prepare a nursing workforce to deliver culturally congruent care (CCC). Care that recipients consider safe, satisfying, and beneficial is the essence of CCC. To effectively teach and role model such care for students, it is important for faculty to experience it at work. While substantive literature exists on promoting health, wellbeing, and a healthy work environment for nurses in practice, there is a limited focus on these topics for nursing faculty. Purpose The purpose of this study was to discover care practices that helped faculty teach students to provide CCC. This article reports' findings related to the theme that care is essential for the health and wellbeing of general nursing faculty who prepare students to provide CCC. Theoretical Framework and Method This qualitative ethnonursing research study, guided by the culture care theory, used open-ended interviews to discover care practices that enhanced faculty's ability to teach students to provide CCC. The study was conducted in two public university baccalaureate nursing programs in urban and rural settings in the Southeastern United States. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 27 tenured, tenured-track, and clinical nursing faculty. Interview data were analyzed using Leininger's four phases of ethnonursing data analysis. Qualitative criteria were used to ensure rigor and included participant confirmation of patterns and themes. Findings and Discussion Faculty health and wellbeing were described as embracing each other's cultural similarities and differences, caring for self, caring for others, offering respect, and engaging in mentoring/co-mentoring. Evidence-based recommendations to promote faculty health and wellbeing are presented. Creating a caring scholarly community that supports nursing faculty health and wellbeing provided essential support for faculty who prepared students, often through role modeling, to provide CCC.
Fate of Spermatozoa in the Male: 1. Quantitation of Sperm Accumulation after Vasectomy in the Rabbit

Whether or not a significant number of spermatozoa sequestered in the male tract may dissolve there or be phagocytized by epithelial cells of the epididymis and vas deferens is a matter of basic interest and is central to understanding of the immediate sequelae of vasectomy. To investigate this, groups of rabbits were vasectomized bilaterally and left for 1, 2, 4 and 6 months. The numbers of spermatozoa found in the epididymis and vas deferens after each time interval were equivalent to the numbers estimated to be produced over the same period by the testis. Moreover, testicular sperm production did not change while the ducts remained intact after vasectomy. By contrast, two exceptions in which lesions developed in the corpus epididymidis showed degenerative changes in the germinal epithelium. These results demonstrate that while the epithelium of the duct remains intact, there is no significant resorption or dissolution of spermatozoa in the vas deferens and epididymis of the rabbit.