cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of DNA oligos containing 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-carboxylcytosine as hTDG inhibitor.

abstract As an important step of the active demethylation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC), human thymine DNAglycosylase (hTDG) efﬁciently excises 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) from double-stranded DNA (dsDNA).Here, we present synthesis of DNA oligos containing a 2 0 -deoxy-2 0 -ﬂuoro- D -arabinofuranosyl-5-carboxylcytidine (F-5caC) modiﬁcation that act as hTDG inhibitors. The glycosylase activity assayshowed that F-5caC oligos were resistant to excision by the hTDG catalytic domain (hTDG cat , residues111e308) and they could inhibit the excision of DNA oligos containing 5caC. The electrophoretic mobilityshift assay conﬁrmed that DNA oligos containing F-5caC could bind well with unmodiﬁed hTDG cat toform a stable complex, which makes it possible to obtain the crystal structure of the complex to revealdetails on how hTDG cat recognizes the DNA substrate. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. IntroductionAs one of the best characterized epigenetic modiﬁcations,5-methylcytosine (5mC) plays important roles in many biologicalprocesses including regulation of gene expression, genomic im-printing, X chromosome inactivation, and suppression of transpos-able elements propagation.
Bioavailability of Calcium from Tofu as Compared with Milk in Premenopausal Women

44 Ca. In “study 2,” calcium absorption was determined in Asian women from tofu set with CaSO 4 by appearance of 45 Ca in serum after 5 h. Analysis of the studies, both separately and pooled, showed that calcium absorption was similar between calciumset tofu and milk. Calcium-set tofu is a concentrated source of bioavailable calcium.
Enhancement of Manipulator Interactivity through Compliant Skin and Extended Kalman Filtering

In this paper we discuss control algorithms for real-time interaction between humans and robot manipulators sharing a common workspace. Unlike traditional robotic manipulators, we assume that the interaction between human and robot is not restricted to the wrist/end-effector of the robot, but that it can happen anywhere along the kinematic chain. Interaction forces are measured in some directions, and estimated in others via an extended Kalman filter. Sensory measurements used are traditional shaft encoders and also 1 dimensional force sensors via robotic "skin" placed on the robot links. We present simulation results with a CRS A465 showing the performance of our algorithms that compare the impedance response in the presence and absence of force measurements. We also show planned experimental validation on an actual robot using "Quickskin", a piezo-electric skin patch prototype in our lab.
The Magnificent Seventh

Chemokine signaling is a key regulator of stem cell migration and development. However, how chemokine gradients are generated for signaling purposes is not understood. Sanchez-Alcaniz et al. and Wang et al. in this issue of Neuron now describe how the discovery of a new chemokine receptor called CXCR7 helps to provide answers to this question.
Bulk Explosives Detection using Nuclear Resonance Absorption Technique

Summary form only given. The nuclear resonance absorption (NRA) of gamma rays at 9.17 MeV by nitrogen atoms with a significant cross section (~2b) but a rather narrow width of 122 eV is a well studied nuclear phenomenon. The substantial resonance attenuation of the gamma rays was shown to be an effective indicator of high concentration of nitrogen in an object under interrogation. The source of the 9.17 MeV gamma rays is from the radiative capture of 1.75-MeV protons by a 13C target, which results in the creation of 14N in an excited state. Gamma rays of 9.17 MeV are released during the de-excitation process. Analyses of the transmission profile of the 9.17 MeV gamma rays by tomographic techniques will result in the determination of nitrogen concentration, which is a strong signature of high explosives. The success of this method depends on the production of high current proton beams (>1 mA) with small energy spread (<2 keV) and small emittance (<15 pimm-mrad), advanced detector technology, and state-of-the-art tomographic reconstruction algorithms to achieve the desirable throughput rate with acceptable reliability. We will report on a collaboration with several Russian institutions (VNIITF, JINR, BINP, and IFI) to develop a high-current and compact (several meters in circumference) proton cyclotron with a storage ring incorporated with an energy recovery and electron cooling capabilities, which has potential to satisfy the stringent proton beam requirements for practical application of the NRA technique for explosives detection. We will present a conceptual design of the compact proton storage ring system and an estimate of electron cooling time for the proton beam. Preliminary optimization of the production of resonant gamma rays with respect to the proton energy spread will also be presented
Association effects in polymer solutions

The equilibrium theory of polymer solutions capable of association into complexes is presented. The principal thermodynamic functions of such a solution are given; in particular the average molecular weight of such a solution determined by extrapolation of the reduced osmotic pressure is that of the unassociated polymer. It appears unlikely that data on the temperature variation of the second osmotic virial coefficient can give reliable estimates of the degree of association.
Single channel function of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type-1 and -2 isoform domain-swap chimeras.

The InsP3R proteins have three recognized domains, the InsP3-binding, regulatory/coupling, and channel domains (Mignery, G.A., and T.C. Sudhof. 1990. EMBO J. 9:3893–3898). The InsP3 binding domain and the channel-forming domain are at opposite ends of the protein. Ligand regulation of the channel must involve communication between these different regions of the protein. This communication likely involves the interceding sequence (i.e., the regulatory/coupling domain). The single channel functional attributes of the full-length recombinant type-1, -2, and -3 InsP3R channels have been defined. Here, two type-1/type-2 InsP3R regulatory/coupling domain chimeras were created and their single channel function defined. One chimera (1-2-1) contained the type-2 regulatory/coupling domain in a type-1 backbone. The other chimera (2-1-2) contained the type-1 regulatory/coupling domain in a type-2 backbone. These chimeric proteins were expressed in COS cells, isolated, and then reconstituted in proteoliposomes. The proteoliposomes were incorporated into artificial planar lipid bilayers and the single-channel function of the chimeras defined. The chimeras had permeation properties like that of wild-type channels. The ligand regulatory properties of the chimeras were altered. The InsP3 and Ca2+ regulation had some unique features but also had features in common with wild-type channels. These results suggest that different independent structural determinants govern InsP3R permeation and ligand regulation. It also suggests that ligand regulation is a multideterminant process that involves several different regions of the protein. This study also demonstrates that a chimera approach can be applied to define InsP3R structure-function.
Application of thermoreflectance imaging to identify defects in photovoltaic solar cells

Thermoreflectance imaging is used to identify various defects in solar cells with sub-micrometer spatial resolution. Lock-in transient and four-bucket imaging techniques in a megapixel silicon-based CCD are used to obtain the thermoreflectance and electroluminescence signals simultaneously. Linear and non-linear shunts are discovered in thin-film a-Si, poly-Si, and CdTe solar cells. Electroluminescent defects are found in poly-Si solar cells at reverse biases of 5V. Thermal images of micrometer-size defects are taken through 3mm of glass encapsulation.
Effects of Complete Learning Trials on Child Engagement.

The effects on child engagement of adult use of systematic, naturalistic instructional strategies within an embedded instruction context were examined. Following baseline observations of two childr...
Gender and Economic Outcomes: the Role of Wage Structure

. Empirical research on gender pay gaps has traditionally focused on the role of gender-specific factors, particularly gender differences in qualifications and differences in the treatment of otherwise equally qualified male and female workers (i.e. labor market discrimination). An innovative feature of recent research is to focus on the role of wage structure — the array of prices set for various labor market skills — in influencing the gender gap. In this paper, I consider the determinants of gender differences in pay and summarize empirical evidence on the importance of various factors in explaining gender pay gaps, highlighting the role of wage structure. To illustrate how it can impact the gender gap, I summarize my research on international differences in male-female wage differentials, as well as preliminary findings on trends over time in gender differentials in the United States.
Decreasing Inpatient Length of Stay at a Military Medical Treatment Facility

This article describes an evidence-based approach to decreasing the length of stay of inpatient adults on the medicine oncology ward of a large urban military medical center. A strong and diverse team was formed, which worked together for the length of the project. A formalized approach involving weekly discharge-planning meetings with a discharge advocate as the planner, coupled with solid documentation, was adopted. There was a decrease in the average length of stay on the inpatient wards, resulting in cost savings for the facility. This approach using strong evidence can overcome institutional challenges, with a positive impact on patient care.
Total Thermal Expansion Coefficients of the Yttrium Silicate Apatite Phase Y4.69(SiO4)3O

The formation of the Y4.69(SiO4)3O apatite phase was observed in compositions targeted at the yttrium monosilicate and disilicate phases. Through the use of high-temperature in situ X-ray diffraction, the lattice parameters of the phase were characterized as a function of temperature, and thermal expansion coefficients were calculated. Phase fractions were assessed as a function of sintering temperature, and the apatite phase fraction increased with temperature.
Smoking out reproductive hormone actions in lung cancer

Experimental and population-based evidence has been steadily accumulating that steroid hormones are fundamentally involved in the biology of the lung. Both estrogen and progesterone receptors are present in normal and malignant lung tissue, and the reproductive hormones that bind these receptors have a role in lung development, lung inflammation, and lung cancer. The estrogen receptor-β (ER-β) was discovered in the 1990s as a novel form of ER that is transcribed from a gene distinct from ER-α, the receptor previously isolated from breast tissue. Interestingly, ER-β is the predominate ER expressed in normal and malignant lung tissue, whereas inflammatory cells that infiltrate the lung are known to express both ER-α and ER-β. Although there is evidence from animal models for the preferential effects of ER-β in the lungs of females, human lung tumors from males often contain comparable numbers of ER-β-positive cells and male-derived lung cancer cell lines respond to estrogens. Lung tumors from both males and females also express CYP19 (aromatase), the rate-limiting enzyme in estrogen synthesis that converts testosterone to estrone and β-estradiol. Thus, testosterone acts as a precursor for local estrogen production within lung tumors, independent of reproductive organs. This review discusses the recent literature findings about the biology of the ERs, aromatase, and the progesterone receptor in lung cancer and highlights the ongoing clinical trials and future therapeutic implications of these findings.
The Substitution of Corn with Soybean Hulls and Subsequent Impact on Digestibility of a Forage-Based Diet Offered to Beef Cattle1

To better understand the impact of corn and soybean hull supplementation on bermudagrass hay utilization, a digestion trial was conducted using 6 ruminally cannulated steers receiving bermudagrass hay supplemented with soybean hulls (HULLS), cracked corn (CORN), or soybean hulls and cracked corn (MIX; 75% and 25%, respectively) in a 3 × 3 Latin rectangle arrangement. Total DMI was not different among treatments as measured by kilograms per day (P = 0.06; from 6.52 to 7.48 kg/d) and percentage of BW per day (P = 0.67; from 2.41 to 2.79% BW/d). Similarly, hay DMI did not differ but tended to decrease (P = 0.06) among steers receiving HULLS (2.88 kg/d; 1.08% BW/d). Apparent NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose digestibilities were greatest (P < 0.001) among steers consuming HULLS (64.92, 65.39, and 64.01%, respectively) or MIX (62.66, 63.21, and 61.78%, respectively). Total ruminal VFA production was not different (P = 0.97) among treatments (232.6 to 289.7 mM); likewise, ruminal pH did not differ (P = 0.31; 6.8 to 6.0). Acetate-to-propionate ratios did not differ (P = 0.46; 3.7 to 4.7), whereas NH3-N concentrations were greater (P = 0.05) among steers consuming HULLS and decreased for all diets 4 to 8 h post-feeding. Data seem to indicate that replacing a portion of corn with soybean hulls may successfully improve fiber digestion and improve ruminal N utilization.
Antecedents of the Male Adolescent Identity Crisis: Age, Grade, and Physical Development

Erikson (1950) contends that the physical changes associated with puberty serve as a catalyst for adolescents to question childhood identifications and to consolidate these with current self-conceptions, personal ideologies, interpersonal values, and future aspirations. Erikson describes the adolescent identity crisis as the developmental period when identity development becomes salient. For males, pubertal changes have implications for sexual identity development and self-perceptions of masculinity, which are aspects of the identity exploration and integration process that occurs during adolescence. This study is an examination of the impact of age, grade, and physical development on male identity development. A purposive sample of 173 Anglo-American male participants in Grades 6 through 12 completed the Petersen Development Scale and The Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS) in their homes. Statistical analyses revealed that physical development shared more variability (20% explain...
Intracrine VEGF Signaling Mediates the Activity of Prosurvival Pathways in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

The effects of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A/VEGF) and its receptors on endothelial cells function have been studied extensively, but their effects on tumor cells are less well defined. Studies of human colorectal cancer cells where the VEGF gene has been deleted suggest an intracellular role of VEGF as a cell survival factor. In this study, we investigated the role of intracrine VEGF signaling in colorectal cancer cell survival. In human colorectal cancer cells, RNAi-mediated depletion of VEGF decreased cell survival and enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapy. Unbiased reverse phase protein array studies and subsequent validation experiments indicated that impaired cell survival was a consequence of disrupted AKT and ERK1/2 (MAPK3/1) signaling, as evidenced by reduced phosphorylation. Inhibition of paracrine or autocrine VEGF signaling had no effect on phospho-AKT or phospho-ERK1/2 levels, indicating that VEGF mediates cell survival via an intracellular mechanism. Notably, RNAi-mediated depletion of VEGF receptor VEGFR1/FLT1 replicated the effects of VEGF depletion on phospho-AKT and phospho-ERK1/2 levels. Together, these studies show how VEGF functions as an intracrine survival factor in colorectal cancer cells, demonstrating its distinct role in colorectal cancer cell survival. Cancer Res; 76(10); 3014-24. ©2016 AACR.
Referrals to Pediatric Orthopedics: Always Indicated?

Hsu EY, Schwend RM, Leamon J. How many referrals to a pediatric orthopaedic hospital specialty clinic are primary care problems?. J Pediatr Orthop. 2012; 32( 7): 727- 731; doi: org/10.1097/BPO.0b013e31826994a4[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Investigators from Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO sought to determine how many new patient referrals evaluated by pediatric orthopedic surgeons had conditions that a pediatrician could manage if she/he chose to do so. The authors utilized the 2002 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for referral1 in conjunction with the American Board of Pediatrics referral criteria2 to distinguish conditions manageable by pediatricians from those requiring pediatric orthopedic management. ### PICO Question : Of new patients referred to a pediatric orthopedic clinic, how many had conditions that could be readily managed by a primary care physician? Question type : Descriptive Study design : Cross-sectional A total of 529 new referrals to the pediatric orthopedic outpatient clinic during the month of August 2010 were evaluated. A total of 246 referrals (47%) … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJournal%2Bof%2Bpediatric%2Borthopedics%26rft.stitle%253DJ%2BPediatr%2BOrthop%26rft.aulast%253DCatena%26rft.auinit1%253DN.%26rft.volume%253D32%26rft.issue%253D7%26rft.spage%253D727%26rft.epage%253D731%26rft.atitle%253DHand%2Band%2Bupper%2Blimb%2Banomalies%2Bin%2Bpoland%2Bsyndrome%253A%2B%2Ba%2Bnew%2Bproposal%2Bof%2Bclassification.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1097%252FBPO.0b013e31826994a4%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22955538%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1097/BPO.0b013e31826994a4&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=22955538&link_type=MED&atom=%2Faapgrand%2F29%2F3%2F29.atom
Theoretical and experimental study on relative extinction coefficient of smoke particles to laser beams with different wavelengths

To compare the extinction ability of smoke screen to laser beams with different wavelengths,the concept of relative extinction coefficient was proposed.Based on the design of the experimental method,the transmission comparison method was used to measure the relative extinction coefficient.According to the calculated relative extinction coefficient and the extinction coefficient of the smoke to one of the laser beams,the extinction coefficient of the smoke to another laser beam could be deduced.Compared with the traditional measurement methods,the proposed method avoids difficulties in defining the density of smoke,which is a supplement to the trditional techniques.
Aristotle's Theory of Language and Meaning: Phantasia and Representation

In De Interpretatione 1, no sooner has Aristotle asserted that the mental states that words stand for are likenesses of the pragmata of the world, than he dismisses this topic with the words: This matter has, however, been discussed in my treatise about the soul, for it belongs to an investigation distinct from that which lies before us. (16a8–9; trans. follows Edghill) The place in the De Anima that Aristotle has in mind in the De Interpretatione is not easily discovered. Nor is it entirely clear which features of the theory of meaning will or should be explained there. Is it merely the nature of the psychic pathemata (internal states) or the likeness obtaining between the pathemata and their external correlates ( pragmata )? Speech is not mentioned in its own right in the De Anima but only in connection with hearing. Consequently speech [φωvή] is the impact of the inbreathed air against that which is called the windpipe by the soul in these parts … what produces the impact must have soul in it and must be accompanied by an act of imagination [φαvτασίζ] for speech is a sound with a meaning [σημαvτικόζ] and not merely the inbreathed air as a cough is. (420b27–33) Here the intent is to differentiate between speech and other types of noises produced by the respiratory system. What the passage adds to the De Interpretatione 's description is the explicit mention of imagination (τασία).
Hierarchies, Stress, and Logistical Strategies among Hunter–Gatherers in Northwestern North America

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses hierarchies, stress, and logistical strategies among hunter–gatherers in northwestern North America. It focuses on the shape of social change in western North America during the past 5000 years, the period when hierarchic societies developed along the Pacific Coast and perhaps in the interior as well. Processes working themselves out in particular, historical situations differ in their rates, pulses, and duration. The processes can be identified through comparisons among lengthy historical sequences and by diachronic comparisons of equivalent spatial scales. The social hierarchies arise out of changes in domestic labor organization among hunter–gatherers. The adaptive problems of interest involve labor organization and coordination. The organization of the domestic group is an accommodation to a number of sometimes contradictory circumstances, including group size and the labor requirements for production.
Osmium(0)-Catalyzed C-C Coupling of Ethylene and α-Olefins with Diols, Ketols, or Hydroxy Esters via Transfer Hydrogenation.

Osmium(0) complexes derived from Os3(CO)12 and XPhos (2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,4′,6′-triisopropylbiphenyl) catalyze the C–C coupling of α-hydroxy esters 1a–1i, α-ketols 1j–1o, or 1,2-diols dihydro-1j–1o with ethylene 2a to form ethylated tertiary alcohols 3a–3o. As illustrated in couplings of 1-octene 2b with vicinally dioxygenated reactants 1a, 1b, 1i, 1j, 1k, 1m, higher α-olefins are converted to adducts 4a, 4b, 4i, 4j, 4k, 4m with complete levels of branched regioselectivity. Oxidation level independent C–C coupling is demonstrated by the reaction of 1-octene 2b with diol dihydro-1k, α-ketol 1k, and dione dehydro-1k. Functionalized olefins 2c–2f react with ethyl mandelate 1a to furnish adducts 5a–8a as single regioisomers. The collective data, including deuterium labeling studies, are consistent with a catalytic mechanism involving olefin–dione oxidative coupling to form an oxa-osmacyclopentane, which upon reductive cleavage via hydrogen transfer from the secondary alcohol reactant releases the produ...
A Mechanistic Study of the Oxidative Reaction of Hydrogen-Terminated Si(111) Surfaces with Liquid Methanol

H–Si(111) surfaces have been reacted with liquid methanol (CH3OH) in the absence or presence of a series of oxidants and/or illumination. Oxidant-activated methoxylation of H–Si(111) surfaces was observed in the dark after exposure to CH3OH solutions that contained the one-electron oxidants acetylferrocenium, ferrocenium, or 1,1′-dimethylferrocenium. The oxidant-activated reactivity toward CH3OH of intrinsic and n-type H–Si(111) surfaces increased upon exposure to ambient light. The results suggest that oxidant-activated methoxylation requires that two conditions be met: (1) the position of the quasi-Fermi levels must energetically favor oxidation of the H–Si(111) surface and (2) the position of the quasi-Fermi levels must energetically favor reduction of an oxidant in solution. Consistently, illuminated n-type H–Si(111) surfaces underwent methoxylation under applied external bias more rapidly and at more negative potentials than p-type H–Si(111) surfaces. The results under potentiostatic control indicate...
Patch-Probe Excitation for Ultrahigh Magnetic Field Wide-Bore MRI

In this paper, we present the design of probe excitations for 7- and 10.5-T traveling-wave wide-bore magnetic resonance imaging systems. The probes are 297- and 447-MHz coaxially fed microstrip patches, designed to give a circularly polarized magnetic field when placed in the metallic bore waveguide. Images of a water phantom using the patch probes are obtained and compared with full-wave electromagnetic simulations. Additionally, periodic axial metal strip cylinders are inserted into the bore, resulting in improved field uniformity in a phantom with a simultaneous increase in SNR. The numerical analysis for nonquasi-static fields can be computationally intensive, and the numerical error for finite-element simulations is quantified using modified boundary conditions of the system. When the waveguide effects are taken into account, the mode content in the images compares well to full-wave simulations.
Simulation and scaling analysis of a spherical particle-laden blast wave

A spherical particle-laden blast wave, generated by a sudden release of a sphere of compressed gas–particle mixture, is investigated by numerical simulation. The present problem is a multiphase extension of the classic finite-source spherical blast-wave problem. The gas–particle flow can be fully determined by the initial radius of the spherical mixture and the properties of gas and particles. In many applications, the key dimensionless parameters, such as the initial pressure and density ratios between the compressed gas and the ambient air, can vary over a wide range. Parametric studies are thus performed to investigate the effects of these parameters on the characteristic time and spatial scales of the particle-laden blast wave, such as the maximum radius the contact discontinuity can reach and the time when the particle front crosses the contact discontinuity. A scaling analysis is conducted to establish a scaling relation between the characteristic scales and the controlling parameters. A length scale that incorporates the initial pressure ratio is proposed, which is able to approximately collapse the simulation results for the gas flow for a wide range of initial pressure ratios. This indicates that an approximate similarity solution for a spherical blast wave exists, which is independent of the initial pressure ratio. The approximate scaling is also valid for the particle front if the particles are small and closely follow the surrounding gas.
Transverse Momentum Dependent Fragmenting Jet Functions with Applications to Quarkonium Production

We briefly review the framework of fragmenting jet functions (FJFs) introduced in soft collinear effective theory (SCET) to describe the fragmentation of an identified hadron within a jet. We illustrate how FJFs can be integrated with the leading power (LP) factorization in non-relativistic quantum chromodynamics (NRQCD) in studies of quarkonium production within jets. We present recent theoretical, experimental, and computational developments. We also present the framework of transverse momentum dependent (TMD) FJFs which describe the fragmentation of a hadron within a jet and the transverse momentum of the identified hadron is measured with respect to the jet axis. We show how the measurement of the transverse momentum spectrum can help discriminate between the leading production mechanisms of J/ψ.
Epilogue: Implications for Intervention and Social Policy Development

The inquirydescribed in the preceding nine chapters focused on four classes of outcome variables that occurredat different but overlapping ages of the Danish cohort. The outcomes were analyzed in association with an array of medical, familial, and socialevents that took place over the lives of the adolescents and young adults.
QCD and Hadrons on a Lattice

These lectures provide an elementary introduction to the study of hadronic physics using QCD on a lattice. Path integrals are reviewed to show how field theory on a lattice is reduced to quadrature. The Wilson lattice action for gluon fields is motivated and explained, and evidence is presented showing that lattice calculations in the pure gauge sector approach the continuum theory. Difficulties arising when Fermion fields are placed on a lattice are discussed, and the principal methods of circumventing these problems are described. A brief guide to the current literature is given for pertinent aspects of the Monte Carlo method and relevant results of calculations of the properties and phases of hadronic matter and the structure of hadrons.
Droplet Mobility on Hydrophobic Fibrous Coatings Comprising Orthogonal Fibers

Water droplet mobility on a hydrophobic surface cannot be guaranteed even when the droplet exhibits a high contact angle (CA) with the surface. In fact, droplet mobility on a surface, especially a fibrous surface, has remained an unsolved empirical problem. This paper is a combined experimental-computational study focused on droplet mobility on a fibrous surface. Electrospun polystyrene (PS) coatings were used in this work for their ability to exhibit high CAs simultaneously with low droplet mobility. To simplify this otherwise complicated problem and better isolate droplet-fiber interactions, the orientation of the fibers in the coatings was limited to the x and y directions. As the earth gravity was not strong enough to mobilize small droplets on PS coatings, experiments were conducted using ferrofluid droplets, and a magnet was used to make them move on the surface. Experimentally validated numerical simulations were used to enhance our understanding of the forces acting on a droplet before moving on the surface. Effects of Young-Laplace CA and fiber-fiber spacing on droplet mobility were investigated. In particular, it was found that droplet mobility depends strongly on the balance of forces exerted on the droplet by the fibers on the receding and advancing sides.
Biosynthesis and chemical diversity of β-lactone natural products

Covering: up to 2018 β-Lactones are strained rings that are useful organic synthons and pharmaceutical warheads. Over 30 core scaffolds of β-lactone natural products have been described to date, many with potent bioactivity against bacteria, fungi, or human cancer cell lines. β-Lactone natural products are chemically diverse and have high clinical potential, but production of derivatized drug leads has been largely restricted to chemical synthesis partly due to gaps in biochemical knowledge about β-lactone biosynthesis. Here we review recent discoveries in enzymatic β-lactone ring closure via ATP-dependent synthetases, intramolecular cyclization from seven-membered rings, and thioesterase-mediated cyclization during release from nonribosomal peptide synthetase assembly lines. We also comprehensively cover the diversity and taxonomy of source organisms for β-lactone natural products including their isolation from bacteria, fungi, plants, insects, and marine sponges. This work identifies computational and experimental bottlenecks and highlights future directions for genome-based discovery of biosynthetic gene clusters that may produce novel compounds with β-lactone rings.
Using phenological monitoring in situ and historical records to determine environmental triggers for emergence and anthesis in the rare orchid Platanthera praeclara Sheviak & Bowles

Abstract Platanthera praeclara (western prairie fringed orchid (WPFO)) is a rare terrestrial perennial orchid found in wet to mesic prairies in the central Great Plains of the United States. Although much is known about this species, conservation efforts are hindered because the specific factors that contribute to its emergence and anthesis are unknown. We used long-term monitoring data from three sites in the central part of WPFO's range to determine which environmental variables contribute to the plant's emergence and anthesis. We then compared our anthesis model to 110 years of herbarium and iNaturalist.org records over WPFO's entire range. From our monitoring data, we found that accumulated growing degree days (GDD, 0 °C baseline and no maximum temperature) best explained plant emergence (199.05), while anthesis was best explained by GDD accumulation (1561.8), adequate precipitation, and the passage of the summer solstice. In our historical data set, anthesis occurred post-solstice in 95% of the records, which suggests that the strongest driver of anthesis in WPFO is day length. Understanding those conditions that contribute to WPFO phenology is critical for its conservation, and management, such as prescribed fire, which should be avoided during active growth periods. Although WPFO evolution occurred in a variable climate, it appears to have a fixed anthesis trigger, day length, which increases its vulnerability to climate change. WPFO is also sensitive to drought conditions, which are expected to increase in the future. Therefore, intervention may be necessary to ensure the species' long-term viability.
Phenotypic variation across the range of the lined shore crab Pachygrapsus crassipes Randall, 1840 (Decapoda, Grapsidae)

Two isolated clades of the lined shore crab, Pachygrapsus crassipes, live on opposite sides of the northern Pacific, presenting an interesting opportunity for studies of range limits and divergence. Prior to this study, P. crassipes’ Asian range was unclear; we confirmed that it is found throughout the main Japanese Archipelago, though sporadic or absent from the Ryukyu Archipelago. We examined phenotypic variation of this species’ chelae, which are conspicuously colored and larger in males, and found positive allometry for both sexes, which was stronger in males, a common feature of sexually selected ornaments and weapons. We also found that Asian and North American clades differ significantly in chela reflectance — in contrast to previous studies, which stated that these clades were phenotypically identical. We conclude that these clades are diverging phenotypically, but that these differences are not yet sufficient to warrant distinction as separate species.
The IL-12 Cytokine and Receptor Family in Graft-vs.-Host Disease

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is performed with curative intent for high- risk blood cancers and bone marrow failure syndromes; yet the development of acute and chronic graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) remain preeminent causes of death and morbidity. The IL-12 family of cytokines is comprised of IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, IL-35, and IL-39. This family of cytokines is biologically distinct in that they are composed of functional heterodimers, which bind to cognate heterodimeric receptor chains expressed on T cells. Of these, IL-12 and IL-23 share a common β cytokine subunit, p40, as well as a receptor chain: IL-12Rβ1. IL-12 and IL-23 have been documented as proinflammatory mediators of GVHD, responsible for T helper 1 (Th1) differentiation and T helper 17 (Th17) stabilization, respectively. The role of IL-27 is less defined, seemingly immune suppressive via IL-10 secretion by Type 1 regulatory (Tr1) cells yet promoting inflammation through impairing CD4+ T regulatory (Treg) development and/or enhancing Th1 differentiation. More recently, IL-35 was described as a potent anti-inflammatory agent produced by regulatory B and T cells. The role of the newest member, IL-39, has been implicated in proinflammatory B cell responses but has not been explored in the context of allo-HCT. This review is directed at discussing the current literature relevant to each IL-12-family cytokine and cognate receptor engagement, as well as the consequential downstream signaling implications, during GVHD pathogenesis. Additionally, we will provide an overview of translational strategies targeting the IL-12 family cytokines, their receptors, and subsequent signal transduction to control GVHD.
Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients are at Increased Risk of Postoperative Hyperglycemia When Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Diabetic patients are at an increased risk of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The relationship between insulin-dependence and PJI has not been investigated. We aimed at evaluating whether insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients were more susceptible to postoperative hyperglycemia and PJI than their non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) counterparts. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of diabetic patients undergoing TJA (hip or knee) from January 2011 to December 2016. Preoperative hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and postoperative glucose measurements were observed. Patients were stratified as IDDM or NIDDM. The A1c values that predicted hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL for each group were calculated. Primary end point was postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL and secondary end point was PJI. Results There were 773 patients meeting inclusion criteria. The IDDM cohort had a higher preoperative A1c (6.97% vs 6.28%, P 7.45% predicted postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/mL (odds ratio, 6.94; 95% confidence interval, 4.32-11.45). When separating our 2 cohorts, an A1c of >6.59% in IDDM, and >6.60% in NIDDM, was associated with an increased risk of postoperative hyperglycemia (P Conclusion IDDM patients undergoing TJA are 5.2 times more likely to have postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL than their NIDDM counterparts, although increased risk of PJI was not found in this study. Despite the higher A1c and postoperative hyperglycemia in IDDM patients, there was found to be no clinical difference between A1c cutoff values for postoperative hyperglycemia between IDDM and NIDDM patients.
African American Adolescent Girls’ Beliefs About Skin Tone and Colorism:

Colorism is a pervasive system of inequality shown to negatively affect psychosocial and economic outcomes among African American adults. Among African American women and girls in particular, the s...
Is Turning Down the Sun a Good Proxy for Stratospheric Sulfate Geoengineering

Deliberately blocking out a small portion of the incoming solar radiation would cool the climate. One such approach would be injecting SO$_2$ into the stratosphere, which would produce sulfate aero...
Risk-based contracting for high-need Medicaid beneficiaries: The Arkansas PASSE program

Abstract The high cost of health care for people with behavioral health (BH) conditions or intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States led one state to implement the Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) program. PASSE is a managed care model that puts provider-led organizations at risk for the highest need people with BH conditions or IDD in Medicaid, a public health insurance program for low-income residents. Drawing on key informant interviews and payment models across the United States, we describe the PASSE program, how it compares with state Medicaid programs for similar populations, and prospects for the program. Key informants cited several PASSE features as promising mechanisms to improve beneficiary outcomes: expanded care coordination, service flexibility, incentives for community investments, accountability for cost and quality across physical health, behavioral health, and long-term care, quality target accountability, fostered competition, and provider ownership. Informants worry that PASSE features will be insufficient to catalyze changes in provider behavior. Efforts may be targeted to control costs primarily through service reductions with uncertain effects on quality of care. PASSE hinges on improved care coordination and increased efforts to address social determinants of health. Success or failure in these areas will likely determine whether PASSE leads to improved outcomes for two of the most costly and vulnerable populations.
Some Like it (Less) Hot: Extracting Tradeoff Measures for Physically Coupled Amenities

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) provides direct evidence of how human activities contribute to a feedback loop that can result in multiple changes in ecosystem services by creating localized warming as well as differences in vegetated landscapes in areas surrounding the urban core. This paper develops a new spatial-temporal panel estimator to recover consistent estimates of household valuation of coupled landscape and temperature ecosystem services. Using data from Phoenix, AZ, we estimate a hedonic price function using an extension of the Hausman-Taylor model. The framework adapts the earlier Abbott Klaiber [2011] proposal to overcome challenges associated with the varying spatial scales of capitalization of landscape and temperature variables and the likelihood of spatially and temporally varying omitted variables. We find a positive and economically significant marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for measures of green landscaping at multiple spatial scales and a separate, MWTP for a one degree (F) reduction in outdoor temperatures of $56 monthly.Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Numerical study of the feasibility of coupling vacuum isolation panels with phase change material for enhanced energy-efficient buildings

Abstract Effective thermal performance of a building envelope is crucial to reduce total energy consumption in buildings. In the past decades, different insulating materials and techniques have been proposed to improve building energy efficiency. Among various insulating materials vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), due to their extremely low thermal conductivity, become one of the emerging materials, striving for replacing conventional insulation materials. From different perspectives, phase change material (PCM) is another promising material with a large amount of latent heat capacity to improve building thermal inertia. Much research has been conducted for PCMs or VIPs individually. However, there are rare studies found in the literature to integrate both materials in the building envelopes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an energy-saving building wall by coupling VIP with PCM as a compact unit that could significantly reduce heat flux through the wall, thereby leading to a tremendous reduction in energy consumption. The aging effect of VIP is also considered to examine its long-term thermal performance and compared with that of a traditional thermal insulation material-expanded polystyrene (EPS). The results reveal that the combined utilization of VIP and PCM in the same building envelope can reduce the heat flux oscillation through the wall more effectively, as compared to using the individual one. The maximum heat flux oscillation through the wall is found in direct proportion to the amplitude of the input loading, and inverse proportion to the VIP and PCM thickness. In addition to decreasing the heat flux oscillation through the wall, the integration of the PCM layer also causes a time delay on the peak heat fluxes, showing great potential to shift the electricity load from peak to off-peak hours. Results also show that the VIP with extremely low thermal conductivity allows the building envelope to achieve the same thermal performance with up to 77.3% of wall thickness saved compared with EPS. Moreover, the optimal integrating location of PCM is found to be on the interior side of the VIP layer under various loading conditions. The optimal PCM melting temperature of the PCM-VIP-based wall is highly dependent on the input loading conditions in direct proportion.
Motivation and learning strategies influencing performance in an aviation course

Collegiate aviation courses are very complex. The subject matter covered is oftentimes unfamiliar to students and unlike any topics they may have encountered during their high-school years. Since it is critical that students master the content, it is important to determine how they approach learning in these courses. Participants in this study completed a survey consisting of 81 motivation and learning strategies questions from the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), and an open-ended question asking them to indicate the lowest course grade acceptable to them. Regression analyses of the MSLQ motivation and learning strategies found self-efficacy to be most significantly related to final course grade. Other analyses seem to indicate that learning strategies may need to be improved to promote more successful learning in these types of courses.
A Kalman filter primer

Signal-Plus-Noise Models Introduction The Prediction Problem State-Space Models What Lies Ahead The Fundamental Covariance Structure Introduction Some Tools of the Trade State and Innovation Covariances An Example Recursions for L and L-1 Introduction Recursions for L Recursions for L-1 An Example Forward Recursions Introduction Computing the Innovations State and Signal Prediction Other Options Examples Smoothing Introduction Fixed Interval Smoothing Examples Initialization Introduction Diffuseness Diffuseness and Least-Squares Estimation An Example Normal Priors Introduction Likelihood Evaluation Diffuseness Parameter Estimation An Example A General State-Space Model Introduction KF Recursions Estimation of ss Likelihood Evaluation Appendix A: The Cholesky Decomposition Appendix B: Notation Guide References Index
“Fear” Psychology in Swimming

(1931). “Fear” Psychology in Swimming. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 24-63.
Farmers' definitions, goals, and bottlenecks of sustainable agriculture in the North-Central Region

Since its inception in 1988, the SAREprogram has sponsored hundreds of projects to exploreand apply economically viable, environmentally sound,and socially acceptable farming systems. Recognizingthat researchers often collaborated with producers andthat producer interest in sustainable agriculture wasincreasing, SARE's North-Central Region began directlyfunding farmers and ranchers in 1992 to test their ownideas on sustainable agriculture. The present articleis based on data from the formative evaluation of thefirst five years (1992 to 1996) of the NCR-SAREProducer Grant Program. The evaluation used acombination of mail surveys, non-response telephoneinterviews, and personal interviews.The evaluation revealed that the Program hassucceeded in showing that sustainable agriculturaltechnologies and practices can be viable andprofitable alternatives to conventional ways ofproducing crops and animals while simultaneously beingless environmentally damaging. On the other hand, thecontributions of the Producer Grant Program to thesocial and institutional spheres in which agricultureis embedded are less clear. Changes in these spheresare imperative for the success of sustainableagriculture, and for it to become more mainstream.Such changes cannot occur overnight, but they willremain the main challenge for SARE to tackle in thenear future.