cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Definitive Computation of Sand Discharge in Rivers

A procedure for an analytic determination of sand discharge in streams is presented especially adaptable to computer programming, requiring only a modicum of input or given data from which the sand discharge fractions are both separately and in combination completely described quantitatively and in distribution from bed to water surface. It has been tested by application and comparison with observed data in all types of rivers, small to large, under a full range of flow conditions, and to model flume experiments conducted under widely varying flow conditions with bed sands varying widely in size and size distribution. It is considered that the results by this procedure are sufficiently accurate to warrant its use in many types of studies involving quantitative sand transport, design of channels, channel regulation works, and the assessment of probable effects of channel modifications.
Visualizing Secularization Through Changes in Religious Stamp Issues in Three Catholic European Countries

A salient feature of Europe’s religious landscape is the continued increase in secularization and declines in formal religions practices and attendance at religious services. Whether the declines are attributed to increased affluence, mass consumerism or a rejection of theological positions taken by churches, the impacts are evident and visible in many ways. One way to monitor the visual changes is through the number and variety of religious stamps issued. What the state wishes to depict on these “visual representations” informs those inside and outside its borders about what it values and considers important. Stamps are seen as a “mirror” of contemporary society. I examine the number of religious stamp issues for three Catholic European countries that have experienced massive shifts from strong denominational identities towards secularization: Portugal, Spain and Ireland. I examine the religious stamps 10 years before and after a major watershed event in each country: the decade before and after Salazar’s death (1973) in Portugal, the decade before and after Franco’s death (1975) in Spain and the decade before and after the first pedophile priest scandal (1994) in Ireland. In Spain and Ireland the number and percentage of religious stamp issues declined sharply. In Portugal and percentage of religious stamps increased slightly, even though the numbers were very small. All three are examples where “stamp secularism” exists, that is, where these visual products parallel changes within their religious landscape. Examples of stamp issues are illustrated. Declines were especially evident in stamps depicting historical figures, religious architecture and anniversaries; tourism and Christmas topics remained popular.
Morphometric Analysis of Bone Resection in Anterior Petrosectomies.

Introduction The anterior petrosectomy is a well-defined skull base approach to lesions such as petroclival meningiomas, posterior circulation aneurysms, petrous apex lesions (chondrosarcomas, cholesteatomas), ventrolateral brainstem lesions, clival chordomas, trigeminal neurinomas, and access to cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VII. Methods and Materials Fourteen anterior petrosectomies on eight cadaveric heads were performed in a skull base dissection laboratory. Predissection and postdissection thin-cut computed tomography scans were obtained to compare the bone resection. A computer program was used (InVivo5, Anatomage, San Jose, California, United States) to measure the bone resection and the improved viewing angle. Results The average bone removed in each plane was as follows: anterior to posterior plane was 10.57 mm ± 2.00 mm, superior to inferior was 9.39 mm ± 1.67 mm, and lateral to medial was 17.46 mm ± 4.64 mm. The average increased angle of view was 13.01 ± 2.35 degrees (Table 1). The average volume was 1786.94 ± 827.40 mm 3 . Conclusions Anterior petrosectomy is a useful approach to access the ventrolateral brainstem region. We present a cadaveric study quantitating the volume of bone resection and improvement in the viewing angle. These data provide useful preoperative information on the utility of this skull base approach and the gain in the viewing angle after bony removal.
A Global Collection: Review of Lianos' & Sokol's the Global Limits of Competition Law

The Global Limits of Competition Law is the first installment in Danny Sokol’s and Ioannis Lianos’ ambitious new series from Stanford University Press, Global Competition Law and Economics. The project is ambitious because it takes on a potentially unbounded topic and one that is constantly changing. It is also ambitious because Sokol and Lianos enter a saturated market. This first volume is sufficiently captivating, and represents such an extraordinary breadth of national and regional perspectives, that they appear to have fulfilled their ambitions.
Modeling refractive metasurfaces in series as a single metasurface

Metasurfaces are boundaries between two media that are engineered to induce an abrupt phase shift in propagating light over a distance comparable to the wavelength of the light. Metasurface applications exploit this rapid phase shift to allow for precise control of wavefronts. The phase gradient is used to compute the angle at which light is refracted using the generalized Snell’s Law. [1] In practice, refractive metasurfaces are designed using a relatively small number of phaseshifting elements such that the phase gradient is discrete rather than continuous. Designing such a metasurface requires finding phase-shifting elements that cover a full range of phases (a phase range) from 0 to 360 degrees. We demonstrate an analytical technique to calculate the refraction angle due to multiple metasurfaces arranged in series without needing to account for the effect of each individual metasurface. The phase gradients of refractive metasurfaces in series may be summed to obtain the phase gradient of a single equivalent refractive metasurface. This result is relevant to any application that requires a system with multiple metasurfaces, such as biomedical imaging [2], wavefront correctors [3], and beam shaping [4].
Disease stabilization with pembrolizumab for metastatic acral melanoma in the setting of autoimmune bullous pemphigoid

To date, patients with pre-existing autoimmune conditions have been excluded from immunotherapy trials out of concern for severe autoimmune exacerbations. We describe the first case of a patient with metastatic cKIT mutated acral melanoma, brain metastasis, and pre-existing severe autoimmune bullous pemphigoid (BP) with stable and asymptomatic disease 10 months after treatment with pembrolizumab. The patient experienced severe BP exacerbation after therapy with ipilimumab requiring systemic immune suppression, but nonetheless pembrolizumab was administered on further disease progression. This case suggests that pembrolizumab may confer more benefit than risk even in patients with known severe autoimmune conditions who require intermittent systemic immunosuppression.
Developing a science of infrastructure ecology for sustainable urban systems.

Although urbancenters have become a primary driver of resource consumptionand waste production, they are also key leverage points in oureﬀorts to foster a sustainable society. Engineering research hasconceptualized and modeled cities as an organismic metabo-lism, consuming energy and materials, metabolizing them, andgenerating emissions and waste.
Effects of the Affordable Care Act's Dependent Coverage Mandate on Private Health Insurance Coverage in Urban and Rural Areas.

Purpose To evaluate the impact of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) dependent coverage mandate on insurance coverage among young adults in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 2006-2009 and 2011 waves of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. A difference-in-difference analysis was used to compare changes in full-year private health insurance coverage among young adults aged 19-25 years with an older cohort aged 27-34 years. Separate regressions were estimated for individuals in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas and were tested for a differential impact by area of residence. Findings Full-year private health insurance coverage significantly increased by 9.2 percentage points for young adults compared to the older cohort after the ACA mandate (P = .00). When stratifying the regression model by residence area, insurance coverage among young adults significantly increased by 9.0 percentage points in metropolitan areas (P = .00) and 10.1 percentage points in nonmetropolitan areas (P = .03). These changes were not significantly different from each other (P = .82), which suggests the ACA mandate's effects were not statistically different by area of residence. Conclusions Although young adults in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas experienced increased access to private health insurance following the ACA's dependent coverage mandate, it did not appear to directly impact rural-urban disparities in health insurance coverage. Despite residents in both areas gaining insurance coverage, over one-third of young adults still lacked access to full-year health insurance coverage.
Analysis and Improvement of Marine Incinerator on Operation and Management

The problem about operation and management of the KEI-50SDA marine incinerator is analyzed.Specific solutions for improving the efficiency and capacity of the incinerator are adopted.This also can reduce the consuming of the diesel oil.It has an important referring and instructing significance for engineers.
The Structure of Citizen Perceptions of Crime and Disorder: New Insights from a Caribbean Community

This study builds on existing research from US cities on the construct and discriminant validity of perceptual measures of crime and disorder. It seeks to determine whether citizens distinguish between crime and disorder. This study draws on quantitative and qualitative data from a high-crime community in Trinidad and Tobago, a small-island developing nation in the eastern Caribbean. Analysis of the quantitative data relies on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods designed for use with categorical observed variables and continuous latent variables. In contrast to previous research, we find that citizens do distinguish between physical disorder and general crime, but there is a perceptual overlap for some drug-related offenses and types of social disorder. This study raises questions about the external validity of research on the relationship between perceptions of crime and disorder conducted in the US, and contributes to ongoing discussions and debates about the meaning of disorder. The findings suggest the need for theory and research to explain how context shapes not only the magnitudes of these perceptions, but also their structures. The results also demonstrate the benefits of mixed-methods research approaches in this area of study.
The DO Loop, the IF-THEN-ELSE and the WHILE Loop

This chapter presents the DO loop, the IF–THEN–ELSE, and the WHILE loop. A DO loop is in general easier to use than the GO TO and IF; moreover, it is also easier for someone reading the program to understand. To follow a GO TO statement, one either has to go back to a previous part of the program or jump ahead to an unread part. Although this does not make a program impossible to understand, it adds to the difficulty. For this reason, whenever possible, GO TO statements are avoided in the programs. The DO loop is used to write a program that produces a trigonometric table that prints the values of the SIN, COS, and TAN for an angle that varies from 0° to 90° in steps of 15°. However, the initial value of the loop index cannot be zero. The way to circumvent this restriction is to add 1 to both the initial and limits of the loop index in the DO, making them 1 and 91, respectively.
Some Characteristics of a Protein a: ACP I Fusion in Plant Fatty Acid Synthesis

Much of what we understand of the regulation of plant fatty acid synthesis (FAS) involves acyl carrier protein (ACP). ACP is a soluble, acidic monomeric protein necessary in de novo FAS and the accumulation of certain lipids (1). Previous work has revealed that two or more isoforms of ACP exist in higher plants (2, 3). These isoforms are tissue-specific in expression and are derived from separate nuclear genes (2). We have shown that ACP isoforms effect the targeting of carbon from the plant plastid (4) . Our model for ACP isoform regulation of lipid accumulation suggested that ACP-I was the preferred cosubstrate for a specific oleoyl-ACP thioesterase (5). We recently synthesized and cloned a synthetic ACP-I deduced from the authentic purified spinach protein sequence (6). We have since characterized this recombinant ACP-I and have recently fused the coding sequence to the Fc-binding portion of Saureus protein A. We report that our fusion protein is fully functional in plant FAS, but that the rate of de novo FAS in vitro is distinct from the original recombinant protein. It appears from our findings that the protein A:ACP-I fusion would be most suitable for plant transformation programs designed to alter fatty acid metabolism.
An Edge-Based Channel Definition Algorithm for Rectilinear Cells

This chapter will describe an edge-based channel definition algorithm for circuits consisting of cells of any rectilinear shape. This algorithm is particularly well suited for channel definition just prior to placement refinement. Furthermore, the algorithm may be employed as a basic channel definer just prior to the execution of global and then detailed routers.
Networking and matchmaking in prostate cancer

Understanding the evolution of the drug-resistant state in prostate cancer is particularly challenging given the long natural history of this cancer, its wide range of clinical aggressiveness, and the variability of treatment responses observed among patients. Genomic studies of rapid autopsies have
Nano-scale Metamaterials: Fabrication and Optical Measurements from THz towards visible

We have designed, fabricated, and optically measured several different nano-scale metamaterials. We employ e-beam nano-lithography technology at LBNL's CXRO for fabricating these structures on extremely thin SiN substrates so that they are close to free-standing. Optical properties were measured as a function of incidence angle and polarization using the ALS synchrotron IR beamlines. We directly observe strong magnetic resonances consistent with negative magnetic permeability in our samples at THz through near-IR optical frequencies. We will compare the results to detailed simulations. Finally, we will report on our progress towards constructing a negative index of refraction nano-scale metamaterial.
17 Leading in an Unpredictable World

In an interview, Pierre Nanterme, chairman and CEO of the global professional services firm Accenture, talked about the challenges of digital transformation: for Nanterme's own organization, for leaders of the organizations he counsels, and for society. Nanterme has set an ambitious agenda for his $31 billion enterprise to at once undertake its own digital transformation while also bringing a new set of digital capabilities to market in service of the firms thousands of clients. As Nanterme describes it, Accenture is its own case study in digitization. Nanterme said the future of the organization and the business model will involve combining business and technology opportunities, and that digital technologies are becoming absolutely pervasive enablers of any new business model. The point is not for CEOs and other top leaders to be tech experts. The point is to have a basic understanding of technology capabilities to figure out the new business models. Nanterme said Accenture has digitized its governance and all of its corporate processes: finance, human resources, training, communications, and so on.
Dimethyl Fumarate ameliorates pulmonary arterial hypertension and lung fibrosis by targeting multiple pathways

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal condition for which there is no cure. Dimethyl Fumarate (DMF) is an FDA approved anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory agent with a favorable safety record. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of DMF as a therapy for PAH using patient-derived cells and murine models. We show that DMF treatment is effective in reversing hemodynamic changes, reducing inflammation, oxidative damage, and fibrosis in the experimental models of PAH and lung fibrosis. Our findings indicate that effects of DMF are facilitated by inhibiting pro-inflammatory NFκB, STAT3 and cJUN signaling, as well as βTRCP-dependent degradation of the pro-fibrogenic mediators Sp1, TAZ and β-catenin. These results provide a novel insight into the mechanism of its action. Collectively, preclinical results demonstrate beneficial effects of DMF on key molecular pathways contributing to PAH, and support its testing in PAH treatment in patients.
The Process and Experiences of Self-Employment Among People With Disabilities: A Qualitative Study:

Self-employment and business ownership may provide viable options toward overcoming employment disparities for people with disabilities. This qualitative study explored the process and experience o...
Public Understanding of and Support for the Courts: Survey Results

Using data from two nationally representative surveys, we examined public knowledge about the Constitution and courts: the impact of court exposure and news sources on perceptions of the courts, trust in the courts, perceptions of bias in the courts, and willingness to curb the power or influence of the courts. The surveys were conducted in the summers of 2005 and 2006 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International for the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Each has a margin of error of plus or minus three percent (details can be found in the Appendix). Unless otherwise indicated, the reported results are drawn from the 2006 survey. Disciplines Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/asc_papers/352 Public Understanding of and Support for the Courts: Survey Results KATHLEEN HALL JAMIESON AND MICHAEL HENNESSY*
Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding Restricts Gd–Aqua-Ligand Dynamics

Aqua ligands can undergo rapid internal rotation about the M-O bond. For magnetic resonance contrast agents, this rotation results in diminished relaxivity. Herein, we show that an intramolecular hydrogen bond to the aqua ligand can reduce this internal rotation and increase relaxivity. Molecular modeling was used to design a series of four Gd complexes capable of forming an intramolecular H-bond to the coordinated water ligand, and these complexes had anomalously high relaxivities compared to similar complexes lacking a H-bond acceptor. Molecular dynamics simulations supported the formation of a stable intramolecular H-bond, while alternative hypotheses that could explain the higher relaxivity were systematically ruled out. Intramolecular H-bonding represents a useful strategy to limit internal water rotational motion and increase relaxivity of Gd complexes.
Toward integrated image guided liver surgery

While clinical neurosurgery has benefited from the advent of frameless image guidance for over three decades, the translation of image guided technologies to abdominal surgery, and more specifically liver resection, has been far more limited. Fundamentally, the workflow, complexity, and presentation have confounded development. With the first real efforts in translation beginning at the turn of the millennia, the work in developing novel augmented technologies to enhance screening, planning, and surgery has come to realization for the field. In this paper, we will review several examples from our own work that demonstrate the impact of image-guided procedure methods in eight clinical studies that speak to: (1) the accuracy in planning for liver resection, (2) enhanced surgical planning with portal vein embolization impact, (3) linking splenic volume changes to post-hepatectomy complications, (4) enhanced intraoperative localization in surgically occult lesions, (5) validation of deformation correction, and a (6) a novel blinded study focused at the value of deformation correction. All six of these studies were achieved in human systems and show the potential impact image guided methodologies could make on liver tissue resection procedures.
Pretransplant functional imaging and outcome in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing autologous transplantation

Background Pretransplant functional imaging (FI), particularly a negative positron emission tomography (PET), is a strong predictor of outcome in adults with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), but data in pediatrics are limited. Methods The medical records of 49 consecutive pediatric patients, who received autologous transplant at a single institution, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had either gallium or PET scan before transplant and were conditioned with carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM). Deauville scores were retrospectively assigned for patients with PET (score ≥ 4 positive). Results Of the 49 patients (median age, 16.2 years), 41 (84%) were pretransplant FI negative and eight (16%) were pretransplant FI positive, after first- to fourth-line salvage therapy, and a median of two salvage cycles. Eighteen patients (37%) received posttransplant radiation. At a median follow up of 46 months, 45 patients (92%) were alive and disease free, and there were three nonrelapse deaths and only one relapse death (Deauville score of 5). The 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) for the entire cohort was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78–97), and PFS based on pretransplant disease status was 95% (95% CI: 82–99%) in the negative FI group versus 75% (95% CI: 31–93) if positive FI (P = 0.057). Conclusion Our analysis revealed outstanding outcomes for children and adolescents with relapsed/refractory HL. There were too few relapses to identify the predictive value of pretransplant metabolic status, but pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory HL and a negative pretransplant FI had excellent survival.
OR3 HLA-DPB1 single nucleotide polymorphism determines DP molecule expression and B lymphocyte crossmatch results

Aim HLA DSA are a major cause of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and allograft loss in solid organ transplantation. However, the role of DP DSA in solid organ transplantation is unclear. Recently, it has been shown that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at 3 ′ untranslated region (3 ′ UTR) of DPB1 genes upregulates DP expression and is associated with graft-versus-host disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The goals of this study are to 1) Investigate if the rs9277534G/A SNP at 3 ′ UTR affects the DP expression and correlates with the B cell flow crossmatch results. 2) Explore the expression of DP under inflammatory conditions to determine if DP DSA can be pathogenic and trigger AMR. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 14 healthy donors and 19 human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were treated for 48 hours with/without IFN- γ /TNF- α before DP expression was measured by flow cytometry with a monoclonal antibody. The rs9277534G/A SNP of DP was typed using Real Time PCR. B lymphocyte flow crossmatch was performed with sera from patients sensitized to DP to study the impact of DP expression on crossmatch results. Results GG and GA genotypes had higher expression of DP molecules compared to AA genotypes in both B cells and HAEC. High DP expression in B cells correlated with stronger B lymphocyte flow crossmatch as compared to low DP expression (Table 1). DP expression was undetectable under basal conditions in HAEC. However, interferon- γ and TNF- α -stimulated HAEC upregulated DP. Conclusions These data demonstrate that the differential DP expression on B lymphocytes and HAEC is regulated by the SNP at 3 ′ UTR of the DPB1 gene and correlates with B lymphocyte flow crossmatch results. We also identified the 3 ′ UTR polymorphisms in yet-characterized alleles of DP. IFN- γ and TNF- α pre-treatment up-regulates DP expression in HAEC and thus increases DP DSA binding. Therefore, under inflammatory conditions, DP DSA might contribute to antibody-mediated allograft rejection.
Occipital Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Intractable Headache Syndromes

Abstract Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) has matured significantly over the past 40 years in terms of a better understanding of the indications for its use and implant techniques necessary for a successful outcome. Picaza et al. in 1977 reported placing coiled electrodes around dissected exposed occipital nerves, with favorable results in controlling occipital neuralgia pain. Following the publication of initial data and a technique description using percutaneously placed wired electrodes in the region of the occipital nerves (Weiner and Reed, 1999), the inclusion of ONS as part of the chronic pain treatment armamentarium for a variety of intractable headache conditions has become mainstream despite its continued off-label status to date.
Adaptive Interference Suppression for Wireless Multiple-Access Communication Systems

Future wireless communication systems will involve significant adaptive signal processing capabilities to enhance the performance of high-rate transmission through limited-bandwidth, dynamic multiple-access channels. Structured interference is a dominant, performance-limiting characteristic of such channels, and this paper provides a brief overview of basic adaptive signal processing algorithms that are useful for combating this problem. We will focus primarily on adaptive linear methods for the suppression of multiple-access interference, although we will also discuss briefly the mitigation of such impairments as dispersion impulsive noise, and the exploitation of receiver diversity arising either from natural multipath or from the use of multiple antennas. Algorithms based on traditional techniques such as recursive-least-squares and on more recently developed methods involving subspace tracking will both be described.
The ghost of magnetism

In 'conventional' superconductivity, electrons form superconducting Cooper pairs through an attraction mediated by lattice vibrations. Are any other pairing mechanisms possible? As well as having intrinsic physical interest, such mechanisms might allow much higher transition temperatures. Perhaps surprisingly, as magnetic fields are usually anathema to superconductivity, evidence of a magnetic pairing mechanism has now been found in two materials.
Hannah Arendt on National Liberation, Violence, and Federalism

Hannah Arendt’s critical acceptance of the Jewish national liberation movement and her support for the formation of a Jewish Army during the Second World War stand in contrast to her later critique of armed anticolonial struggles. I address this tension in three steps. First, I explain the role of violence in her theory of liberation. Next, I address the problem with liberation in terms of a sovereign nation-state and the alternative of federation. Finally, I return to the case of Jewish liberation to show that the apparent tension can be resolved if it is understood within the framework of federalism. Instead of understanding national liberation as self-determination, federalism allows for a non-sovereign freedom that supports the plurality of nations within a shared political community.
Put Your Warning Where Your Link Is: Improving and Evaluating Email Phishing Warnings

Phishing emails often disguise a link's actual URL. Thus, common anti-phishing advice is to check a link's URL before clicking, but email clients do not support this well. Automated phishing detection enables email clients to warn users that an email is suspicious, but current warnings are often not specific. We evaluated the effects on phishing susceptibility of (1) moving phishing warnings close to the suspicious link in the email, (2) displaying the warning on hover interactions with the link, and (3) forcing attention to the warning by deactivating the original link, forcing users to click the URL in the warning. We assessed the effectiveness of such link-focused phishing warning designs in a between-subjects online experiment (n=701). We found that link-focused phishing warnings reduced phishing click-through rates compared to email banner warnings; forced attention warnings were most effective. We discuss the implications of our findings for phishing warning design.
"Sickling" in vertebrates: Animal studies vs. sickle cell disease.

Abstract Before the description of sickled cells in humans, erythrocytes of normal deer were found to deform, or sickle in vitro. Sickling required oxygenation and alkalization; human erythrocytes sickle because their abnormal sickle hemoglobin (HbS) polymerizes following deoxygenation in vivo and in vitro. HbS and some deer hemoglobins polymerize because of specific amino acid contacts between hemoglobin beta-globin chains, although different amino acid residues form the contact points of the polymer. Hemoglobin precipitation is found in other vertebrates. Most often it is a benign in vitro phenomenon. Natural selection established the balanced polymorphism accounting for the high prevalence of HbS where malaria is endemic. A similar selective advantage for “sickling” animal hemoglobins is unproven. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration is about 30 to 35 g/dL. Perhaps during in vitro studies of susceptible animal hemoglobins, minor changes in buffer pH, osmolality and the ligand state of the molecule increases mean cell hemoglobin concentration beyond its solubility limit allowing precipitation.
Genetic deletion of proteins resembling Type IV pilins in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: their role in binding or transfer of newly synthesized chlorophyll.

Upon non-denaturing gel electrophoresis of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 thylakoid extracts, a Type IV pilin-like protein encoded by open reading frame sll1694 was found in chlorophyll-containing bands. The Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 genome also encodes two similar open reading frames, sll1695 and slr1456. Even though transcripts of sll1694 and slr1456 could be detected, deletion of the three open reading frames in systems with normal chlorophyll content had no effect. However, Sll1694 was found to affect the rate of chlorophyll synthesis and of the assembly of chlorophyll-binding proteins. In the sll1694/sll1695 deletion mutant in a PS I-less/chlL− background, which is unable to synthesize chlorophyll in darkness, chlorophyll synthesis during the first hours of illumination after dark incubation was 30% slower than in the PS I-less/chlL− strain. Moreover, the biogenesis of chlorophyll-protein complexes with a 77K chlorophyll fluorescence emission maximum at 685 mm was delayed by several hours in this mutant whereas the rate of biogenesis of photosystem II was not significantly affected. Furthermore, results of non-denaturing gel electrophoresis indicated that a chlorophyll-binding complex formed during the early hours of chlorophyll synthesis was altered in stability and mobility upon deletion of the three open reading frames. We propose that the protein encoded by sll1694 is involved in, but is not absolutely required for, delivering chlorophyll to nascent photosystems and antennae.
On the Outside Looking In: Rural Girls, Trauma, and Involvement in the Criminal Justice System

ABSTRACTComplex trauma histories represent a common characteristic among incarcerated girls. Their childhoods include dysfunctional homes, emotional abuse, sexual and/or physical abuse, and witness...
Transforming refugees into migrants: institutional change and the politics of international protection

Since the 2015 refugee “crisis,” much has been made of the distinction between the legal category of refugee and migrant. While migration scholars have accounted for the increased blurring of these...
The troubling and troublesome worlds of urban soil trace element contamination baselines

Many urban areas feature soil pollution legacies that are augmented by recurring contaminant emissions. Because trace elements (like arsenic or lead) are not degradable like organic pollutants, tra...
The nephrologist's guide to cannabis and cannabinoids.

Purpose of review Cannabis (marijuana, weed, pot, ganja, Mary Jane) is the most commonly used federally illicit drug in the United States. The present review provides an overview of cannabis and cannabinoids with relevance to the practice of nephrology so that clinicians can best take care of patients. Recent findings Cannabis may have medicinal benefits for treating symptoms of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease including as a pain adjuvant potentially reducing the need for opioids. Cannabis does not seem to affect kidney function in healthy individuals. However, renal function should be closely monitored in those with CKD, the lowest effective dose should be used, and smoking should be avoided. Cannabis use may delay transplant candidate listing or contribute to ineligibility. Cannabidiol (CBD) has recently exploded in popularity. Although generally well tolerated, safe without significant side effects, and effective for a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions, consumers have easy access to a wide range of unregulated CBD products, some with inaccurate labeling and false health claims. Importantly, CBD may raise tacrolimus levels. Summary Patients and healthcare professionals have little guidance or evidence regarding the impact of cannabis use on people with kidney disease. This knowledge gap will remain as long as federal regulations remain prohibitively restrictive towards prospective research.
What universities in the Middle East can learn from the American online education system

In this paper, the author provides insights and lessons that can be learned from colleagues at American universities about their online education experiences. The literature review and previous studies of online educations gains are explored and summarized in this research. Emerging trends in online education are discussed in detail, and strategies to implement these trends are explained. The author provides several tools and strategies that enable universities to ensure the quality of online education. At the end of this research paper, the researcher provides examples from Arab universities who have successfully implemented online education and expanded their impact on the society. This research provides a strategy and a model that can be used by universities in the Middle East as a roadmap to implement online education in their regions.
Carbon:nitrogen ratio as a proxy for tissue nonpolar lipid content and condition in black sea bass Centropristis striata along the Middle Atlantic Bight

Spatial and temporal variability in fish tissue lipid content may reflect resource availability, reproductive or maturity state, or environmental suitability. Here, we analyzed nonpolar (storage) lipid and morphometric condition indices of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) collected from coastal waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to North Carolina, USA. We hypothesized that the elemental ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N) within C. striata white muscle and liver tissue would be a robust proxy for nonpolar lipid content (NPLC) and that NPLC would predictably covary with traditional condition indices. Further, we analyzed our NPLC tissue indices to determine how regional and biological patterns in muscle and liver NPLC aligned with traditional condition indices. Our results indicated that muscle tissue NPLC was low compared to liver tissue, and regression analysis revealed strong positive relationships between C:N and NPLC for both tissues (muscle—best fit was linear; liver—best fit was asymptotic nonlinear). Correlations of muscle and liver NPLC with other condition indices were index and region dependent (e.g., a reproductive index was positively correlated with muscle NPLC, but negatively correlated with liver NPLC). Tissue NPLC and standard condition indices differed significantly as a function of region, sex, and fish length, although the patterns were not consistent across the different indices. Our results support the use of muscle and liver C:N values to estimate tissue-specific C. striata NPLC. Further, our results indicate that NPLC indices provide additional insight into C. striata physiological condition and could assist studies examining habitat suitability across large spatial or temporal scales.
How Schools Often Make a Bad Situation Worse

A serious information gap exists between current practices to address threats of violence in pre-K-12 school settings in the USA and research on school climate and best practices in violence prevention. This article explores the nature and extent of gun violence on American school campuses and examines responses by school administrators and policymakers to address these threats. Further, it explores research that suggests that many efforts to prevent or prepare for gun violence in schools, such as zero-tolerance policies, profiling, physical security measures, lockdowns, and active shooter drills, may not only be misguided but may also cause significant unintended harm to children. Finally, it examines current research that points to policies and practices that are more likely to foster safe and humane school settings.
Impact of experiential learning on dental students' training in nitrous oxide inhalation sedation.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES Competence in nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2 O/O2 ) inhalation sedation is expected of dental graduates, but applying what is learned through didactic instruction to patient care can be challenging without firsthand experience. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of experiential learning on dental students' confidence and sense of preparedness for administration of N2 O/O2 . METHODS A biphasic, mixed methods study was conducted at a Midwestern dental school and included 2 cohorts of dental students. In Phase 1 (spring 2019), a cross-sectional study design was used to survey outgoing third-year and fourth-year students who received didactic N2 O/O2 instruction alone. In Phase 2 (summer 2019), a nonrandomized, preintervention-postintervention study design was used to survey incoming third-year students before and after a hands-on N2 O/O2 laboratory exercise. RESULTS Of the 79 Phase 1 students (99% response rate), all believed a firsthand learning experience with N2 O/O2 during didactic learning would increase their confidence and preparedness when administering to a patient (both P < .001). Of the 41 Phase 2 students (100% response rate), after the lab exercise, all felt that firsthand experience enhanced classroom instruction and increased confidence and preparedness when administering N2 O to a patient (all P < .001). Fifty-six (71%) Phase 1 and 39 (80%) Phase 2 students believed classroom instruction alone was inadequate to prepare them to administer N2 O/O2 (both P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Our results strongly suggest that experiential learning of N2 O/O2 inhalation sedation through a hands-on laboratory exercise should be incorporated into the predoctoral curricula of dental schools.
The Elephant in the Room: How COVID-19's Financial Impact Further Threatens Title IX Compliance

This scholarly commentary addresses COVID-19's financial impact by examining how current and proposed National Collegiate Athletic Association bylaw waivers could negatively affect women's collegiate athletics and Title IX compliance These potential bylaw changes come after years of misinformation, a lack of education, and minimal understanding of the law In the chaos of COVID-19's impact on American society and athletic programs, Title IX has become the elephant in the room The essay concludes with three recommendations that could help athletic departments alleviate Title IX compliance issues when enacting the bylaw waivers
The Role of Visceral Transplantation for Neoplastic Disease

Visceral transplantation has been utilized as the most radical surgical treatment for neoplasms not amenable to conventional resection. The main indications for this procedure include mesenteric desmoid tumors threatening the root of mesentery and metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. Published case-series of visceral transplantation for such indications are reviewed in this article. Patients with desmoid tumors associated with familial adenomatous polyposis are transplanted with intestinal or multivisceral allografts. With surgical modification of technique, the native spleen is preserved while duodenopancreatic complex is removed to obviate the risk of malignant transformation of duodenal polyposis after transplantation. Preservation of spleen decreased incidence of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, conferring therapeutic advantage. Patient survival is comparable to that of other indications, and desmoid tumor recurrence has been observed in the recipient tissue but not in the donor allograft. For visceral transplantation of metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms, the majority of these patients have diffuse liver involvement, thus requiring full multivisceral transplantation. Post-transplant patient survival is acceptable with limited data available on recurrence. Autotransplantation following ex vivo tumor resection using visceral allografts has been also performed in a limited, select cohort of patients with various pathologies. Adenocarcinomas are associated with a prohibitive recurrence rate following the procedure, and its use for this indication is therefore not recommended. A national database of visceral transplantation undertaken for neoplastic disease should be developed to better understand predictors of outcomes and to help produce and standardize selection criteria.
A Complicated Case of Transient Constrictive Pericarditis Secondary to Rivaroxaban-Associated Hemopericardium.

Abstract A 72-year-old man on rivaroxaban developed effusive constrictive pericarditis secondary to hemopericardium. His condition improved with anti-inflammatory therapy supporting a diagnosis of transient constrictive pericarditis. On follow-up, residual constriction developed requiring surgical pericardiectomy. Although many cases with transient constrictive pericarditis resolve with medical management, some may progress and require pericardiectomy. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)
NCOR2 Mutations Are Associated with IMiD Resistance in Human Myeloma Cells

The immunomodulatory drug thalidomide, and its analogs, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide (IMiDs) have significantly changed the treatment paradigm of multiple myeloma (MM). Despite this progress, IMiD resistance develops in the majority of patients resulting in the development of refractory disease. Cereblon (CRBN), a direct target, has been implicated in IMiD resistance. However, alternate mechanisms of IMiD resistance independent of CRBN remain largely unknown. To understand and study the mechanisms responsible for the development of IMiD resistance, we created lenalidomide-resistant (Len-R) and pomalidomide-resistant (Pom-R) human myeloma MM.1s cell lines, by continuous culture in the presence of lenalidomide or pomalidomide for 3 months. Whole genome sequencing of these 2 resistant cell lines compared with parental MM.1s revealed 172 genes with exonic mutations in both Len-R and Pom-R myeloma cells. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The PPI network demonstrated 8 genes that scored a high degree of protein-protein interaction. Among these genes, we identified NCOR2, a corepressor that negatively regulates gene expression, as a downregulated gene in resistant cell lines. To study this further, we created NCOR2 knock out MM.1s cell lines using CRISPR/cas9 gene modification. Our data demonstrates that depletion of NCOR2 confers IMiD resistance independent to CRBN. Interestingly, Len-R, Pom-R and NCOR2 knock out MM.1s showed increased MYC protein expression, which is essential for myeloma cell survival and proliferation. A BET inhibitor, known to disrupt the binding of BRD4 to chromatin, inhibited the proliferation of Len-R and Pom-R and NCOR2 knock out MM.1s by completely suppressing MYC expression. These results indicate that NCOR2 down regulation in IMiD resistant cells induces MYC upregulation which may in part result in IMiD resistance. Our findings reveal a novel molecular mechanism associated with IMiD resistance, independent of CRBN and suggest that NCOR2-MYC pathway may be a new target for IMiD refractory patients. Disclosures Raje: Celgene: Consultancy.
Staged Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Novel Technique in Managing Native and Periprosthetic Acetabular Insufficiency

Abstract Background There is no consensus on how to best address acetabular insufficiency. Several described techniques have a high rate of loosening and most rely on fixation to intact innominate bones. They also require extensive exposure and expensive implants. We present a novel technique for acetabular insufficiency management including discontinuity and a series with mean 6.5-year follow-up. Material and Methods After exposure, a femoral neck osteotomy is made, or the femoral component is removed. Bone graft is reverse reamed into the defect, and a porous coated acetabular shell is implanted with screws for supplemental fixation. In 3-6 months, after defect healing, the femoral component is implanted. All staged total hip arthroplasties for pelvic discontinuity from 2010 to 2015 by a single provider with minimum 5-year follow-up were identified. Implant survivorship, Merle d’Aubinge, and visual analog scale scores as well as complications were recorded. Results Nine patients were identified with mean 80.8-month follow-up (62-129). Merle D’Aubinge scores improved from 5.6 (4-8) to 15.3 (14-18), and Visual analog scale scores improved from 7.2 (6-9) to 0.8 (0-2). All implants were retained, and all patients were ambulatory at the terminal follow-up. There were 2 greater trochanter fractures, one calcar fracture managed with cerclage, and one patient developed heterotopic ossification. Conclusion Staged total hip arthroplasty can be used to address pelvic discontinuity with excellent short- to mid-term outcomes. This technique allows for a more limited exposure and the use of primary hip implants. Fixation is by ingrowth and does not rely on intact pelvic architecture.
Lunar Diastolic Hypertension of Neil Armstrong

Lunar dust was found to be highly toxic be-cause of its high iron content which could be taken up by a magnet. It is a unique portion of the regolith on the moon, consisting predominately of impact produced glass with nano-sized metallic iron particles. Epidemiological studies show that there is an association between airborne particulate matter and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is evidence of acute cardiovascular effects in instrumented large animals, exposed to concentrated ambient particles. Neil Armstrong’s single spacewalk, triggering heart failure, followed by inhalation of deadly lunar dust, exemplifies the problems encountered on Earth with progressively increasing urban pollution and exposure to automobile brake iron laden dust.
Selective Barrier for Cu Interconnect Extension in 3nm Node and Beyond

The continued scaling in logic technology poses significant challenges such as huge resistance-capacitance (RC) delays due to the shrinkage in dimensions. To address the BEOL Cu interconnect portion of RC delays, reducing the via resistance through Tantalum Nitride (TaN) barrier layer adjustment is critical while in the meantime must meet the reliability requirement. TaN barrier on via bottom contribute the major portion of Via R due to its high resistivity. Thinner TaN barrier approach, however, is limited due to its degraded barrier performance; In this paper, we presented the study of selective barrier approach that utilize gas phase metal passivation method to provide barrier free via bottom. >50% via R reduction is demonstrated with no reliability degradation.