cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for centrally located renal tumors.

Purpose: LPN is frequently reserved for small, peripherally located tumors. Centrally located tumors typically require complex intracorporeal suturing and reconstruction with hilar clamping, which is a laparoscopically advanced maneuver given the constraints of renal ischemia. We retrospectively compared our experience with central vs peripheral tumors treated with LPN.Materials and Methods: Between January 2001 and March 2004, 363 patients underwent LPN for tumor. The tumor was located centrally in 154 patients and peripherally in 209. Central tumors were defined as tumors centrally extending into the kidney in direct contact with or invading into the pelvicaliceal system and/or renal sinus on preoperative 3-dimensional computerized tomography. Lesions with no contact with the pelvicaliceal system were classified as peripheral. Preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative and pathological data were compared.Results: Central tumors were larger (median 3 vs 2.4 cm, p <0.001) and had larger specimens at surg...
A three-dimensional model of the yeast genome

Layered on top of information conveyed by DNA sequence and chromatin are higher order structures that encompass portions of chromosomes, entire chromosomes, and even whole genomes. Interphase chromosomes are not positioned randomly within the nucleus, but instead adopt preferred conformations. Disparate DNA elements co-localize into functionally defined aggregates or 'factories' for transcription and DNA replication. In budding yeast, Drosophila and many other eukaryotes, chromosomes adopt a Rabl configuration, with arms extending from centromeres adjacent to the spindle pole body to telomeres that abut the nuclear envelope. Nonetheless, the topologies and spatial relationships of chromosomes remain poorly understood. Here we developed a method to globally capture intra- and inter-chromosomal interactions, and applied it to generate a map at kilobase resolution of the haploid genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The map recapitulates known features of genome organization, thereby validating the method, and identifies new features. Extensive regional and higher order folding of individual chromosomes is observed. Chromosome XII exhibits a striking conformation that implicates the nucleolus as a formidable barrier to interaction between DNA sequences at either end. Inter-chromosomal contacts are anchored by centromeres and include interactions among transfer RNA genes, among origins of early DNA replication and among sites where chromosomal breakpoints occur. Finally, we constructed a three-dimensional model of the yeast genome. Our findings provide a glimpse of the interface between the form and function of a eukaryotic genome.
Effectiveness of bupivacaine administered via femoral nerve catheter for pain control after anterior cruciate ligament repair

Abstract Study Objective: To evaluate the quality of pain control achieved with continuous local anesthetic infusion via a femoral nerve catheter, and to determine the optimum concentration of bupivacaine necessary to maintain pain control after full surgical anesthesia is established with 0.5% bupivacaine. Design: Randomized, prospective study. Setting: Tertiary care teaching center. Patients: 25 ASA physical status I and II patients scheduled to undergo arthroscopically-aided anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by one surgeon, and who were willing to accept a femoral nerve catheter for postoperative pain control. Interventions: All patients received general anesthesia with propofol/alfentanil (10 ml/1 ml) mixture and nitrous oxide/oxygen (60%40%) mixture via endotracheal tube. After induction of general anesthesia, a femoral nerve catheter was inserted with the aid of a nerve stimulator, and 20 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine was administered. The surgery was completed in a standard manner and the patients were randomized into three groups for the concentration of local anesthetic to continue the pain relief into the recovery phase. On awakening, all patients were determined to have a functioning femoral nerve catheter. Group 1 received 0.0625% (n = 8) bupivacaine, Group 2 0.125% (n = 9) bupivacaine, and Group 3 0.25% (n = 8) bupivacaine; all doses were initiated in a blinded manner at 0.12 ml/kg/hr. Patients also received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with morphine via demand mode only, with a 1.0 mg dose and a 6 minute lock-out interval. Measurements and Main Results: Pain was determined at defined intervals by visual analog scale (VAS). Data collected included demographics, VAS scores, and total morphine administered. All patients were pain-free on emergence from general anesthesia. No patient required parenteral opioid for pain control while in the postanesthesia care unit. There were no significant differences in pain scores among groups, and average pain scores (2.5 to 4.0) indicate good pain control throughout the entire hospitalization. There were no complications. Conclusions: Low concentrations of bupivacaine delivered via femoral nerve catheter after an established femoral nerve block can provide excellent postoperative pain control after ACL reconstruction.
Destabilization of Conjugated Systems of α-Dicarbonyls and of Cyanogen

The formally conjugated system of α-carbonyls in 2,3-butanedione does not impart thermodynamic stabilization, but significant destabilization of 5.9 kcal mol–1. The conjugated triple bonds of cyanogen cause a large thermodynamic destabilization of 11.4 kcal mol–1, which is the difference in the enthalpies of hydrogenation of the first and second triple bonds. Experimental thermochemical and structural measurements and theoretical ab initio (G3) calculations support the destabilizations being reported. This work focuses only on the observable thermodynamic effects (enthalpies of hydrogenation), which are not necessarily related to the ability of conjugated groups to transmit electronic effects.
‘All the Best Bishoprics and Deaneries’: The Enigma of Arminian Politics

There are two old Arminian jokes: one can be recounted here, the other later. In the late seventeenth century, when English Arminianism was riding high, so the story goes, Bishop George Morley was asked: "What do the Arminians hold?" He replied: "All the best bishoprics and deaneries."1 The quip suggests that at some point Arminianism became something more than a theory about Romans 9 and had to do with power politics at high levels. Apparently beginning with the theories of a harassed Dutch professor, Arminianism was to become a matter of high state affairs in England. This article is a study of Arminianism as a political phenomenon and the relationship of early Dutch Arminianism and early English Arminianism as perceived in terms of political theory and reality.2 Arminianism as a political phenomenon in the Netherlands antedates the man whose name became the name of the game. Jacobus Arminius (c. 15591609) came into a situation in the Dutch church and state which was already developing a polarity along lines involving both national policy and church polity. William of Orange (1553-1584) represented one pole. At first he had hoped simply for the withdrawal of all foreigners from civil and military positions and for the restoration of the ancient liberties throughout the seventeen provinces. Then, when he saw various provinces and towns instituting a Protestant order, he hoped for a religious toleration which would not only permit local option in religion but would also grant public worship to the second religion wherever a hundred families requested it. When he himself declared for the Reformed, he refused to ally himself with the intolerant faction which treated the Roman Catholics with something of the same severity which they had known from the Catholics. He remained loyal to the King of Spain as long as possible, and only when he found his policy of moderation utterly rejected did he finally seek protection from England or France. But his moderation was rejected at home as well, by the Calvinist preachers and the middle classes, and although he lived to see signs of hope for victory over Spain, granted only for the seven northern provinces, his death in 1584 left the north with an uneasy alliance of Sea Beggars, local oligarchies, moderate Protestant clergy and Calvinist refugees from the south. There were also Catholics, indeed, Catholics who supported the cause of freedom and who hoped for the mutual toleration which William had espoused. After William's death, the Dutch sought help from France and from England. Queen Elizabeth responded in October 1585 by sending British troops and, in December, her court favorite, the Earl of Leicester. Leicester in his two years
Awareness of Internal Cues and Concordance among Verbal, Behavioral, and Physiological Systems in Dysfunction

- .., Summary.-It is proposed that persons suffering from a particular dysfunction lack awareness of internal cues associated with physiological activity in the dysfunctional system. Further, chis deficit in awareness results in a lack of concordance among verbal, behavioral, and physiological measures of the dysfunctional system; persons not suffering from the particular dysfunction have adequate perception of internal cues and exhibit concordance among these measures. To evaluate these hypotheses, relevant research is reviewed. Discussions of the potential relevance of the proposed theoretical orientation to treatment and methodological issues pertinent to empirical validation are included. Clinical psychophysiologists are confronted frequently with persons who exhibit a lack of concordance or low levels of covariation among verbal, behavioral, and physiological systems. A few examples of such discordance might be the person who reports a fear of snakes but willingly picks one up or the person who reports an increase in stress during a series of electrical shocks but who exhibits no increase in physiological arousal. In the past, such lack of concordance has been accepted as an unfortunate anomaly associated with multimodal assessment or viewed as a consequence of invalid or unreliable assessment. More recently, however, this topic has generated some interest and researchers have begun to investigate the situational, temporal, or individual variables which are associated with concordance among various systems. In reviewing the literature relevant to the covariation among systems, certain patterns became apparent w hich suggested the thesis of this paper. The hypothesis presented here is that persons suffering from a particular dysfunction2 lack awareness of internal cues associated with physiological activity in the dysfunctional system and that this deficit in awareness results in a lack of concordance3 among verbal, behavioral, and physiological measures
Risk factors for incision-healing complications following total ankle arthroplasty.

Background: The anterior incision used for the insertion of total ankle arthroplasty systems is at high risk for wound complications, and little has been documented regarding who is at risk for the development of these complications. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 106 total ankle arthroplasties. Independent risk variables, including age, sex, body-mass index, diabetes, smoking, medications, preoperative diagnosis, implant size, tourniquet time, closure method, and anticoagulation status, were recorded. Postoperative office notes were reviewed for wound-related complications. Outcomes were divided into three categories: no complications (uncomplicated wound-healing), minor complications (wounds requiring only local care/oral antibiotics), and major complications (requiring a return to the operating room for treatment). Simultaneously, categorical variables were compared with use of chi-square analysis. Multivariate logistic regression and odds ratio assessment were performed as well. Results: When patients who had no complications were compared with those who had minor complications, a history of diabetes was the only variable that was identified as resulting in a significant risk increase (p = 0.04). When patients who had no wound complications or minor wound complications were compared with those who had major wound complications, female sex, a history of corticosteroid use, and underlying inflammatory arthritis were all associated with increased risk. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated underlying inflammatory arthritis (p = 0.004) to be the only significant risk factor for major wound complications, with an odds ratio demonstrating a 14.03 times increased risk of requiring reoperation. Conclusions: We recommend that caution be used when selecting and educating patients with inflammatory arthritic conditions who are potential candidates for total ankle arthroplasty. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Constitutionalism: Principle and Policy

The novelty of the American Constitution (and Bill of Rights), apart from its evident nobility, lies in the scruple of its written or declared form. Nevertheless, except (perhaps) for the most extreme positivist conception of law, even the reading of the written law requires a grasp of the ongoing life of the society for which it was made; and that concession is entirely neutral as between the so-called “strict constructionist” and the “liberal” constructionist (if the ambiguity of the latter term is not permitted to mislead us). Still, there is a difference--or, a plausible difference may be suggested--between, say, the American and British constitutional traditions: because the fixed document of the American, even with its amending power and the actual Amendments of the Bill of Rights, signifies an essential difference between the potential pace of political history and the recognizable verities that yield a set of basic rights for the citizens of a free society. The American claims an essential difference between appealing to the one and to the other.
Elections: Pakistan 2013 to India 2014

In this essay, we analyze the results of the recently concluded elections in Pakistan through the prism of voting patterns of four non-overlapping social categories. Positing that these categories extend to contemporary India, offers us an insight into their likely voting behavior in the Indian elections scheduled for 2014.
Static and Dynamic Behavior of Small Footings

Small footings on sand have been subjected to static and dynamic loads; load-displacement characteristics for static loading from 82 tests are correlated for square, circular, and rectangular footings; loaddisplacement curves and typical sand failure patterns are examined, and compared with Terzaghi equations; energy of impact is correlated with settlement for 57 tests; differences in failure are shown in photographs.
Ethics for non-computer majors in a digital world

Ethical behavior is learned throughout a lifetime. Good morals, taught first at Mother's knee as she teaches the sharing of toys, continue into the formative years. Religious organizations reinforce the message each week through teaching the Ten Commandments [5], the scriptures and sermons, but ethical discussions should not stop at the church doors. The newly connected world of personal computing and mobile devices adds another dimension to the world of interactive behavior. One just needs to pick up a newspaper in any city to learn of bullying that occurs over the Internet [9] and of posted videos causing undue hardship and sometimes even death for the victim [1]. In the University's Computing Sciences (CS) Department a full course in ethics is taught as part of the ABET requirement in the junior year to computer science majors. Non-computer science majors are introduced to the subject of ethical computer behavior in the freshman course, Computing and the Web. This ethics introduction does not fulfill any university or ABET requirements but the author feels strongly that it is important to expose non-majors to the subject of computer ethics early in their university studies. This paper addresses ethics in the non-major freshman course. While ethics is not the main focus of the non-major course, ethics are discussed each week and a new topic is debated. The questions have changed over the years due to student suggestions and changes in the computer field. The techniques have also evolved and data collected. The findings are presented in this paper.
Antibody-Mediated Immunity in the Presence of Mirex and DDT,

Abstract The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the influence of Mirex (dodecachlorooctahydro-1,3,3,-metheno 2H cyclobuta (CD) pentaline) and DDT (1,1, bis-(p-chlorophenyl) 2,2,2-trichloroethane) on antibody-mediated immunity in the chicken. Feeding 200–400 p.p.m. of Mirex for up to 5 weeks of age did not significantly influence body weight, weights of the bursa, spleen, adrenal, thymus, or liver, level of immunoglobulin M (IgM) or IgG, antibody response as measured by precipitin levels to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and number of plaque forming cells to sheep red blood cells or absolute number of lymphocytes and heterophils. Only body weight was significantly reduced by feeding 800 p.p.m. Mirex. Feeding 500 p.p.m. of Mirex significantly depressed the levels of IgG and IgM, but did not influence antibody production. DDT was lethal only at 1000 p.p.m. when ¾ of all chicks died during the first 2 weeks after hatching. Feed withdrawal for 3–4 days before injecting BSA significantly depressed precipitin production and IgG levels in birds receiving 400 p.p.m. but not 200 p.p.m. of DDT. Feed withdrawal at the time of BSA injection and for the next 7 days did not influence birds receiving 200 p.p.m. DDT but significantly reduced titers in birds fed 400 p.p.m. DDT. The antibody response of Mirex birds (200 or 400 p.p.m.) was not modified. These data indicate that chickens exposed to high levels of DDT and faced with starvation and other possible environmental changes are less able to mount a normal antibody response.
Demonstration of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in rat pancreatic islets using radioligand binding (41498).

The type of the ..cap alpha..-adrenergic receptors on rat pancreatic islet cells was characterized directly using specific radioligands and displacement agonists and antagonists. Scatchard plots for binding of (/sup 3/H)clonidine (..cap alpha../sub 2/-agonist) revealed a dissociation constant, K/sub d/ of 0.542 +/- 0.1 nM and density of binding sites (B/sub max/) of 50.4 +/- 3.6 fmole/mg protein. Similar values were obtained with (/sup 3/H)dihydroergocryptine (antagonist). The various agonists displaced (/sup 3/H)clonidine with the following order of potency: clonidine > epinephrine approx. = norepinephrine > isoproterenol. Yohimbine, the ..cap alpha../sub 2/-antagonist, was very effective in displacing (/sup 3/H)clonidine, whereas the ..cap alpha../sub 1/-antagonist, prazosin, was much less effective. The data indicate that the ..cap alpha..-adrenergic receptors on rat pancreatic islets are of the ..cap alpha../sub 2/ subtype.
Integrated ultra-low-loss silicon nitride waveguide coil for optical gyroscopes

We demonstrate, for the first time, a Sagnac sensor using an on-chip 3 m ultra-low-loss silicon nitride waveguide coil.
FY15 Final Annual Report for the Regional Test Centers.

Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) manages four of the five PV Regional Test Centers (RTCs). This report reviews accomplishments made by the four Sandia-managed RTCs during FY2015 (October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015) as well as some programmatic improvements that apply to all five sites. The report is structured by Site first then by Partner within each site followed by the Current and Potential Partner summary table, the New Business Process, and finally the Plan for FY16 and beyond. Since no official SOPO was ever agreed to for FY15, this report does not include reporting on specific milestones and go/no-go decisions.
Initiative Games in Physical Education: A Practical Approach for Teaching Critical Thinking Skills — Part 1

As teachers prepare children for the future, the need for developing critical thinking skills in students becomes clearly evident. One way to promote this process is through initiative games. Initiative games are clearly defined problems that a group must find a solution to through cooperation, physical effort and cognitive functioning. The purpose of this article is to provide a series of five initiative games that can be used as a part of any team-building or initiative-game centered unit within a physical education curriculum for upper elementary through high school students. The activities described will appropriately address several SHAPE America National Standards for K-12 Physical Education. Each initiative game presented will include the activity name, a description, rules and conditions, equipment, organizational layout of the problem, and safety considerations.
2008-2010 monitoring and analysis of the quality of rural drinking water

Objective:To undertand and master the situation of rural drinking water in Yulin City,thus to provied a scientific basis for strenghtening the construction of rural drinking water safty project.Methods: Samples from centralized and decentralized water supply points in rural counties in Yulin area were detected in dry and wet season.The basic situation of these points were investigated.Results: 1457 water samples from 379 water supply points were detected in the 3-year monitoring period.Single or multiple indicators in 463 water samples exceeded the standard,which should be regarded as ineligible by the hygienic evaluation.Single qualified rate of 11 indicators such as pH and sulfate were higher than 95%.Fluoride、sulfate and total hardness exceeded standard seriously.Conclusion: We suggest that funding for rural water supply should be increased,technical transformation and finding of high-quality water source should be intensified,methods and measures of water disinfection should be regulated,so as to improve the quality of drinking water and ensure the safty of drinking water for rural residents.
Synthesis of the Cortistatin Pentacyclic Core by Alkoxide-Directed Metallacycle-Mediated Annulative Cross-Coupling

The pentacyclic core skeleton of the cortistatins has been prepared in a stereoselective fashion by strategic use of an alkoxide-directed metallacycle-mediated annulative cross-coupling. This metal-centered tandem reaction delivers a polyunsaturated hydrindane and establishes the C13 stereodefined quaternary center with high levels of stereocontrol. Subsequent regio- and stereoselective global hydroboration results in the realization of the DE-trans ring fusion and a tertiary alcohol at C8. Establishment of the ABC-tricyclic subunit was then accomplished through phenolic oxidation/trans-acetalization, chemoselective reduction, regioselective cleavage, and intramolecular alkylation at C5.
Chemodenervation does not alter cerebrovascular response to hypoxic hypoxia

We tested the hypothesis that sinoaortic chemodenervation would alter the increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) during isocapnic hypoxic hypoxia in 1- to 7-day-old lambs. Lambs were anesthetized wi...
[Neurobiology and molecular biology of Alzheimer's disease].

INTRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT The neuropathological characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) include the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), senile plaques (SP), neuronal death, and amyloid angiopathy. However, it is accepted that the accumulation of beta amyloid proteins, which are the main constituent of the SP, is the central neuropathological lesion in AD. All mutations that known to cause AD are related to an increase production of beta amyloid. An inflammatory process usually surrounds the SP, and it is though to contribute to the formation of the SP, and to the metabolic cascade that leads to neuronal death. There is seveltive vulnerability of the limbic system and heteromodal areas to AD pathology, and it is in these areas where amyloid deposits can induce a greater inflammatory response. The most affected neurotransmitter is acetylcholine, and it is associated with the loss of enzymes that are part of ots normal metabolism, and with loss of a presynaptic receptors (e.g. Muscarinic 2), and with a relative preservation of postsynaptic receptors (e.g. Muscarinic1). There is significant loss of nicotinic receptors. CONCLUSIONS Significant advances have been made with transgenic mice that enhanced our understanding of AD pathology. It has been identified enzymes that participate in the metabolism of amyloid, and the possible mechanisms of interaction between amyloid deposits and NFT. These advances are the starting point for future treatments that could interfere with amyloid formation
Assessment of all-atom potentials for modeling membranes: molecular dynamics simulations of solid and liquid alkanes and crystals of phospholipid fragments

On presente et evalue la performance d'une fonction potentiel tous atomes pour utiliser dans les simulations informatiques des lipides. La performance etait jugee par une comparaison entre les resultats des simulations dynamiques moleculaires a la pression et la temperature constante et des donees experimentales pour les alcanes normals: les solides octane et tricosane, et les liquides butane, octane, tetradecane, et eicosane. Le modele etait bien d'accord avec les structures crystallines, les densites, les energies, et les constants diffusions determines par experiment, bien que les structures liquides et les equilibres conformationels n'etaient pas reproduit completement. Nous avons verifie aussi la performance de quatre modeles differents pour les groupes polaires des molecules phospholipides par simulations a la pression constante des cristaux des fragments des phospholipides: glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC), cyclopentylphosphorylcholine monohydrate (CPPC), et dilauroylglycerol (DLG). Les simulations de GPC et CPPC ont montre que des modifications recentes aux parametres du phosphate ont ameliore la performance du potential CHARMM 22. Les resultats obtenus avec deux potentiels bases sur le travail de Stouch et al. ont bien reproduit toutes les structures crystallines.
Vaccines for Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is a serious problem for which there are no approved pharmacotherapies. An alternative approach is to use immunotherapy that has shown promise for the treatment of other addictions. In this chapter, we will discuss the rationale for using the immunotherapeutic approach by describing research conducted on the development of MA vaccines. Several laboratories have investigated the ability of various different MA vaccine constructs to induce immune responses and alter behavioral and physiological effects of MA in animals. In addition to demonstrating efficacy of an MA vaccine in animals, it will be beneficial to focus research efforts on those vaccines that are made from components that can be administered to humans. Although further research is needed, results support the potential utility of developing anti-MA vaccines for the treatment of MA abuse in humans.
Eye and Head Injuries

Ocular injuries caused by CEWs are rare occurrences. Some 30 years after its introduction, two case reports have documented the sight threatening potential of these weapons [1,2]. In discussing the impact of ocular injuries by CEWs, understanding pertinent ocular and adnexal anatomy as well as the terminology of ocular injuries is useful in effectively managing individuals requiring extrication of an embedded probe. In addition to ocular injuries, there have been two case reports of penetrating skull trauma. The case reports, evaluation, and management patients with intracranial penetration are presented in the final portion of this chapter.
Can “Secular” Mindfulness Be Separated from Religion?

This chapter questions the supposition that “secular” mindfulness programs teach a purely secular, universal technique. It argues that nominally secular programs instill culturally and religiously specific and contested worldviews, epistemologies, and values. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program receives special emphasis, given its unparalleled influence on cultural perceptions and other mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). The chapter explores three common patterns: (1) Code-Switching (skillful means, stealth Buddhism, Trojan horse, and scripting), (2) Unintentional Indoctrination, and (3) Religious and Spiritual Effects. Rather than argue that mindfulness is inherently or essentially religious, the chapter asks how, in particular cultural contexts, “mindfulness” might be conceptualized, communicated, and practiced in ways that explicitly or implicitly convey religious meanings or facilitate religious and spiritual experiences. This task requires defining the terms religious, spiritual, Buddhist, and secular, and assessing mindfulness programs in terms of these categories; yet, regardless of such classifications, particular individuals or cultural groups may retain deep convictions about the nature of mindfulness that cannot be negated by analytical fiat. The chapter concludes that although it may be theoretically possible to separate mindfulness from religion, and a specific interpretation of Buddhadharma, such a separation has often not occurred despite the use of secularizing rhetoric. Upon closer examination, the asserted boundaries between Buddhist and secular mindfulness in many instances dissolve.
Deficiency in ubiquitin-like protein Ubl4A impairs migration of fibroblasts and macrophages

Ubiquitin-like protein Ubl4A is a small, multi-functional protein with no ubiquitination activity. We have previously demonstrated that Ubl4A directly interacts with actin-related protein 2/3 complex (Arp2/3) and promotes Arp2/3-dependent actin branching, thereby accelerating plasma membrane translocation of protein kinase Akt upon insulin stimulation. Here, we show that Ubl4A is critical for plasma membrane protrusion and cell migration. Ubl4A, F-actin and Arp2/3 are co-localized at the cell leading edges during wound closure. Knockout of Ubl4A significantly reduces actin-mediated membrane protrusion and delays wound healing by primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Consistently, the ability of fibroblasts to migrate out of corneal tissue ex vivo is also impaired in Ubl4A-deficient mice. Furthermore, cell motility, but not phagocytosis, is significantly decreased in Ubl4A-deficient macrophages compared with wild-type controls. These results imply an important role for Ubl4A in cell migration-associated pathophysiological processes.
When a Diet Prompts a Gain: Impact of a Road Diet on Bicycling in Davis, California

With the goal to improve the integration of multiple travel modes into traditional roadway designs, many jurisdictions have considered road diets, characterized by reductions in vehicular traffic lanes and reallocation of right-of-way for other modes. Studies show that road diets can improve safety without slowing automobile traffic, but benefits for pedestrians and bicyclists have not been widely documented. To address this gap, this study examined the effects of a road diet project in Davis, California. Data were collected on the number of bicyclists and pedestrians at key intersections and automobile travel times along the corridor before and after the road diet treatment. Every intersection that was studied experienced a statistically significant increase in the number of bicyclists during the morning or the evening peak period or during both. On average across all intersections studied along the corridor, the number of bicyclists who used Fifth Street increased by 243%, but the change in pedestrian v...
Regulation of glomerulotubular balance: flow-activated proximal tubule function

The purpose of this review is to summarize our knowledge and understanding of the physiological importance and the mechanisms underlying flow-activated proximal tubule transport. Since the earliest micropuncture studies of mammalian proximal tubule, it has been recognized that tubular flow is an important regulator of sodium, potassium, and acid-base transport in the kidney. Increased fluid flow stimulates Na+ and HCO3- absorption in the proximal tubule via stimulation of Na/H-exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) and H+-ATPase. In the proximal tubule, brush border microvilli are the major flow sensors, which experience changes in hydrodynamic drag and bending moment as luminal flow velocity changes and which transmit the force of altered flow to cytoskeletal structures within the cell. The signal to NHE3 depends upon the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton; the signal to the H+-ATPase depends upon microtubules. We have demonstrated that alterations in fluid drag impact tubule function by modulating ion transporter availability within the brush border membrane of the proximal tubule. Beyond that, there is evidence that transporter activity within the peritubular membrane is also modulated by luminal flow. Secondary messengers that regulate the flow-mediated tubule function have also been delineated. Dopamine blunts the responsiveness of proximal tubule transporters to changes in luminal flow velocity, while a DA1 antagonist increases flow sensitivity of solute reabsorption. IP3 receptor-mediated intracellular Ca2+ signaling is critical to transduction of microvillus drag. In this review, we summarize our findings of the regulatory mechanism of flow-mediated Na+ and HCO3- transport in the proximal tubule and review available information about flow sensing and regulatory mechanism of glomerulotubular balance.
Exponential profiles from stellar scattering off of interstellar clumps and holes in dwarf galaxy discs

Holes and clumps in the interstellar gas of dwarf irregular galaxies are gravitational scattering centers that heat field stars and change their radial and vertical distributions. Because the gas structures are extended and each stellar scattering is relatively weak, the stellar orbits remain nearly circular and the net effect accumulates slowly over time. We calculate the radial profile of scattered stars with an idealized model and find that it approaches an equilibrium shape that is exponential, similar to the observed shapes of galaxy discs. Our models treat only scattering and have no bars or spiral arms, so the results apply mostly to dwarf irregular galaxies where there are no other obvious scattering processes. Stellar scattering by gaseous perturbations slows down when the stellar population gets thicker than the gas layer. An accreting galaxy with a growing thin gas layer can form multiple stellar exponential profiles from the inside-out, preserving the remnants of each Gyr interval in a sequence of ever-lengthening and thinning stellar subdiscs.
Optical metasurface based on hybrid high-contrast dielectric gratings for visible and near-IR ranges (Conference Presentation)

In the past decade, subwavelength high contrast gratings (HCGs) have been developed and studied, which has led to many applications. The broadband reflectance in HCGs mainly comes from the contrast between the grating material and its surrounding environment, so high-index and low-loss materials are required for making HCGs. Compared with infrared (IR) ranges, building HCGs in visible or near-IR wavelength ranges is much harder due to the limitation of optical materials. In order to overcome the challenge of materials in making HCGs in visible to near-IR ranges, hybrid HCGs are proposed. The design of hybrid HCGs is a combination of low-loss and low-index materials and high-loss and high-index materials. In order to reduce the optical loss due to the incorporation of high-loss material, optical modes must be manipulated to be confined in the low-loss region. In our work, the structure and parameters for hybrid HCGs are optimized based on numerical study (both FDTD and RCWA). As a proof-of-principle demonstration, hybrid HCGs composed of amorphous silicon, silicon nitride and silicon dioxide are optimized. The optimal structure has a broadband reflectance (>90%) in visible to near-IR ranges. The design demonstrates a great fabrication tolerance to line width, dielectric thicknesses and sidewall verticality. The hybrid HCGs are patterned by nanoimprint lithography. Reactive ion etching at cryogenic temperature is optimized for the best etching profile. More details on design, fabrication and measurement will be presented at the conference.
Race as a Durable "and" Shifting Idea: How Black Millennial Preservice Teachers Understand Race, Racism, and Teaching.

The rapidly changing landscape of 21st-century education has sparked intense conversations around the need for a more racially and ethnically diverse PK–12 teacher population. Drawing from critical...
Using electronic patient reported outcomes to identify gaps in quality of care in radiation oncology.

94Background: Improving quality of care involves identifying patient health needs and designing systems to meet those needs reliably. Within Radiation Oncology, patient health needs encompass measurable, physical quantities such as a reduction in tumor size, as well as subjective needs, as in freedom from pain. Patient reported outcomes (PRO) have the potential to identify subjective health needs and to guide treatment towards symptoms patients find most bothersome, thereby improving quality of care. Here we report the unmet health needs revealed by systematic electronic PRO data collection in a Radiation Oncology department. Methods: 50 consecutively treated patients for a variety of malignant and nonmalignant, primary and metastatic disease were surveyed within the CNS subdivision of a single Radiation Oncology department using electronic EORTC QLQ C30 or PRO-CTCAE CNS forms displayed on a touch screen tablet. Patients were then followed with PRO surveys at two additional time points, 1-2 weeks post rad...
Reducing Risk: Counseling Men Infected with HIV Who Have Sex with Men on Safer Sex Practices with Seroconcordant Partners.

ABSTRACTThe incidence of new HIV infections in the United States continues to be greatest among men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM infected with HIV often seek seroconcordant sexual partners based on intent to limit psychosocial, legal, and health risks they perceive as higher with serodiscordant sexual partners. However, the rationales for limiting sexual relationships exclusively with other MSM infected with HIV may be rooted in misinformation or misperception. Thus, these clients may have a unique sexual health knowledge deficit that nurses, social workers, and other clinicians need to address to help them reduce risk. This article focuses on sexually related health risks that are distinct to MSM infected with HIV seroconcordant partners. Data on the most recent HIV-infection incidence rates in MSM in the United States is provided. Discussion concentrates on the risk these individuals may have in communicating and acquiring sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV, the risk of HIV superinfection,...
Acid suppression medications reduce risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in Barrett's oesophagus: a nested case-control study in US male veterans.

Background Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) may reduce the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) in Barrett's oesophagus; however, current epidemiologic studies are inconclusive. Aim To evaluate the independent effects of PPIs and H2RAs on risk of OAC in patients with Barrett's oesophagus. Methods We conducted a nested case-control study of male veterans diagnosed with Barrett's oesophagus. Cases with incident OAC were matched by incidence density sampling on birth year and Barrett's diagnosis date to controls with Barrett's oesophagus who did not develop OAC. We identified prescription medication usage 1 year prior to Barrett's oesophagus diagnosis to 3 months prior to the OAC diagnosis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results Compared with 798 controls, the 300 cases were less likely to use PPIs (90.0% vs 94.5%, P = 0.01) and H2RAs (19.7% vs 25.7%, P = 0.04). In the multivariable model including the use of statins, H2RAs, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, PPI use was associated with 41% lower risk of OAC (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35-0.99). While risk reduction of OAC was stronger for high-dose PPIs (omeprazole daily dose >40 mg, adjusted OR 0.11, 95% 0.04-0.36), we did not find a dose-response relationship with PPI duration (P trend = 0.45). Likewise, H2RA use was independently associated with 30% lower risk of OAC (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50-0.99). Conclusion Use of PPIs and H2RAs among patients with Barrett's oesophagus are associated with lower risk of OAC. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm this possible chemopreventive effect.
Experimental Damage Diagnosis of a Model Three-Story Spatial Frame

Structural damage can be induced by a variety of events from short-term abnormal stresses to long-term natural aging. Detection of changes in a structure’s ability to withstand subsequent loads can aid decisions on safety, repair, rehabilitation, and demolition. Dynamic property shifts can show internal cracks and minor damage before propagation or failure occurs, but only if a proper indicator is selected. In order to evaluate potential damage indices, a three-story metal frame building was constructed. Using Star Modal software, dynamic structural properties were obtained from modal decomposition on experimental tap test responses. The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the structure established an as-built baseline for comparison to ten other scenarios with removed bracing. Once modal properties for each case were determined, six unique damage indicators were applied to identical experimental data via twelve algorithms. The effectiveness of each damage detection technique was assessed, and final recommendations for the three-story model building were made. Of all the implemented algorithms, frequency response function (FRF) subtraction using the FRFs as a direct indicator is the most accurate damage detection scheme for the three-story test structure.
Spectroscopy of photonic atoms: a means for ultra-sensitive specific sensing of bio-molecules

By combining bio-recognition using bio-nano-sensors with the transduction capability of resonant dielectric micro-cavities, we demonstrate the specific identification of protein and DNA. This is accomplished through the spectroscopy of a microcavity as molecular adsorption takes place on its functionalized surface. A surprising aspect is that this sensing paradigm is not only ultra-sensitive but also provides a measure of molecular weight and the thickness of molecular monolayers on the microcavity surface. *In New Developments in Optics and Related Fields: Modern Techniques, Materials and Applications, (Kluwer Publishers, 2006, in press).
A Theory of Fatigue

An important factor in the life of a rope is its fatigue life. In many cases, a rope fails because of fatigue rather than the load exceeding the rope’s ultimate strength. Because of the construction of a rope, the individual wires are subjected to tension, contact, frictional bending and torsional stresses. Many rope tests have been conducted resulting in empirical formulas for simulating the fatigue life of different wire ropes. However, there has been little research to predict the fatigue life of a wire rope by a detailed stress analysis.
Associations Among Romantic Attachment, Argumentativeness, and Verbal Aggressiveness in Romantic Relationships

This study examines attachment orientation and its associations with the argumentation-related traits of argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness. It examines the possibility that people's cogni...
Enhancement of charge transport in methylammonium lead halide thin films via solvent vapor annealing (Conference Presentation)

In hybrid halide perovskite, the effectiveness of charge transport in relation to film microstructure and processing has remained elusive. In this study we succeeded in tuning grain size and grain boundary chemistry through solvent vapor annealing, which resulted in an increase in charge-carrier mobility by one order of magnitude. To understand the mechanism responsible for the enhanced charge transport, we performed a series of complementary measurements. Atomic force microscopy revealed an increase in grain size and uniformity, and optical microscopy showed a macroscopic reorganization of the film structure. X-ray diffraction measurements of the MAPbI3-xClx films confirmed the removal of preferential orientation after 20 min of solvent annealing at room temperature, in N,N-dimethylformamide. The presence of additional peaks was assigned to the formation of the solvent complex MAI:DMF:PbI2 and the PbI2:DMF ligand, and the content of these phases was monitored as a function of annealing time. Charge-carrier mobility was evaluated from field-effect transistor measurements in devices with gold top contacts and SiO2 bottom-gate dielectric. We obtained ambipolar transport, with both hole and electron mobility exceeding 10cm2/Vs at room temperature. We propose that this remarkable enhancement in electrical properties resulted from an increase in the grain size and passivation of grain boundaries via formation of intermediate solvent complexes formed from unreacted material. This work has allowed us to gain unprecedented insight into the impact of film morphology on charge transport in perovskite materials, an important milestone towards achieving high-performance optoelectronic devices such as transistors, photovoltaics, light emitting diodes, and photodetectors.
PRMS-Python: A Python framework for programmatic PRMS modeling and access to its data structures

Abstract A persistent problem in numerical hydrologic modeling, is tracking provenance or how particular data came to be. With multiple modules available for individual flux parameterizations and over 100 parameters, the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) is a perfect example of why it is such a challenge to track the history of input and output of complex models. We present a lightweight, object-oriented Python framework with programmatic tools for management and visualization using PRMS as an example platform. Within this framework, a modeler can write intuitive code for a myriad of basic or advanced applications. The framework also includes methods that, for example, apply systematic or stochastic parameter modifications while simultaneously saving metadata on which parameters were varied and with what improvement in performance. We include a case study that uses built in Monte Carlo parameter resampling for global sensitivity analysis of eight PRMS parameters related to estimation of shortwave solar radiation.
Sensitivity of coda wave interferometry to fluid migration through rock.

The sound speed of a porous medium changes with fluid substitution when the fluids have different acoustic properties. The authors demonstrate that coda wave interferometry is capable of sensing subtle local sound speed changes associated with minute fluid displacements, Δh. In fact the resolution on fluid motion is given by a simple scaling relationship, Δ h min / λ ∼ t − γ e 2 α t, where t is the waveform time, λ is the wavelength, γ is a constant that varies based on the nature of the acoustic propagation, and α is a system specific acoustic attenuation coefficient. In contrast to the conventional notion that later arrivals (further into the coda) give greater sensitivity to fluid movement, this scaling relationship suggests that there is a temporal optimum in sensitivity to Δh. This is the case even though later arrivals exhibit signal intensities well above the noise floor. The authors elucidate the physical basis for determining the waveform time at which the sensitivity is optimal.