cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Data on microRNAs and microRNA-targeted mRNAs in Xenopus ectoderm.

Small RNAs from early neural (i.e., Noggin-expressing, or NOG) and epidermal (expressing a constitutively active BMP4 receptor, CABR) ectoderm in Xenopus laevis were sequenced to identify microRNAs (miRs) expressed in each tissue. Argonaute-associated mRNAs were isolated and sequenced to identify genes that are regulated by microRNAs in these tissues. Interactions between these ectodermal miRs and selected miR-regulated mRNAs were predicted using the PITA algorithm; PITA predictions for over 600 mRNAs are presented. All sequencing data are available at NCBI (NCBI Bioproject Accession number: PRJNA325834). This article accompanies the manuscript “MicroRNAs and ectodermal specification I. Identification of miRs and miR-targeted mRNAs in early anterior neural and epidermal ectoderm” (V.V. Shah, B. Soibam, R.A. Ritter, A. Benham, J. Oomen, A.K. Sater, 2016) [1].
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Impact Characteristics of the E-Glass/Toughened Vinylester Composite Car Hood Panels

This study involves experimental and numerical investigation on the impact response of a section of typical car hood having reinforcement in its inner layer containing a common X-shaped hat section. The hood specimens were developed by utilizing E-glass/Vinylester prepreg. The effect of stiffening the inner layer’s reinforcement region by placing a balsawood layer in the X-shaped hat section was also studied. Impact test was performed by driving the impacting pendulum by using the pneumatic device at a velocity of 4.1 m/s to evaluate the impact response of the composite hood panels having balsawood layer and of those without it. Impact test results; load-time, displacement–time, load–deflection history from experimental is presented at 200 kJ impact energy. Explicit finite element analysis was performed by utilizing commercially available LS-Dyna code. The computational model was developed to predict the response of both types of composite car hood panels under dynamic loading. A comparison of the experimental results i.e., deflection-time, load-time histories and kinetic energy with FEA results for both types of composite car hood panels was made. Results correlate well and form the basis for analyzing and designing such new lightweight material systems for automotive applications.
Repressurization following eruption from a magma chamber with a viscoelastic aureole

I analyze an approximate solution for spherical magma chambers (radius R1) surrounded by Maxwell viscoelastic shells (radius R2) in elastic half-spaces following a sudden decrease in pressure. Mass flux into the chamber is proportional to the pressure difference between a deep source and chamber, P∞−p(t). Solutions depend on R2/R1, ≡βc/(βm+βc), where βm,βc are magma and chamber compressibilities, the relaxation time tR, and the recharge time for the elastic system, τ. Without recharge the system exhibits either post-eruptive deflation or, for incompressible magmas, partial reinflation. More generally immediate post eruptive inflation is favored by large ,tR/τ and small R2/R1. With short tR and large the time for magma chamber pressure to recover increases significantly. Post-eruptive creep increases the chamber pressure, decreasing the pressure gradient driving recharge, delaying pressure recovery. Following eruption the hoop stresses, which are initially compressive, relax toward the radial stress causing them to go through a local (relative tension) maximum. The magma pressure in excess of the dike normal compression at the chamber wall, can recover to pre-eruptive values well before the chamber pressure or erupted mass recovers. This suggests that dikes could nucleate at the chamber margin well before sufficient pressure has recovered to drive them far from the chamber. For some parameters co-eruptive deflation has not fully recovered when the magma overpressure relative to hoop stress in the elastic region is restored to pre-eruptive values, a condition assumed to be sufficient for eruption.
Ground flaxseed increased nitric oxide levels in adults with type 2 diabetes: A randomized comparative effectiveness study of supplemental flaxseed and psyllium fiber

Abstract Despite reported benefits of flaxseeds and psyllium, to our knowledge no studies have compared their effectiveness in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). While both psyllium and flaxseeds are plant-derived fibers, flaxseeds contain additional compounds associated with cardiovascular health including alpha linolenic acid, phytoestrogen lignans, vitamin E and carotenoids. The objectives were to determine primarily whether flaxseeds were more effective than psyllium at improving weight and cardiovascular health (glucose, lipids and blood pressure) and secondarily inflammation and oxidative stress in subjects with T2D. We hypothesized, when matched for fiber mass content, daily supplementation with ground flaxseeds (28 g/d) would be more effective than ground psyllium fiber (9 g/d) for improving adiposity and glycemic regulation, serum lipids, blood pressure and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in participants with T2D. In this comparative effectiveness parallel-design study, adults (18-75y) with T2D were randomized to consume either supplement for 8 weeks with anthropometrics and blood samples collected at baseline and week 8. Flaxseed and psyllium reduced waist circumference (−2.8 ± 2.0 and −1.2 ± 2.4 cm, respectively; p = 0.002 within groups) and oxidized lipoproteins (−2.8 ± 4.2 and −0.1 ± 1.5 nM/L, respectively; p = 0.037 within groups) without affecting body mass, lipids, or blood pressure. Flaxseeds alone increased nitric oxide (+2.4 ± 3.3 vs −0.9 ± 2.7 nM/L; p = 0.044 between groups) suggesting flaxseeds may offer additional vasoprotection. Thus, fiber supplementation is an effective means to reduce waist circumference and oxidative stress in individuals with T2D. In addition, this study was the first to show that flaxseeds increase nitric oxide bioavailability in the vasculature of subjects with T2D.
Heavy ion linear accelerator for radiation damage studies of materials

A new eXtreme MATerial (XMAT) research facility is being proposed at Argonne National Laboratory to enable rapid in situ mesoscale bulk analysis of ion radiation damage in advanced materials and nuclear fuels. This facility combines a new heavy-ion accelerator with the existing high-energy X-ray analysis capability of the Argonne Advanced Photon Source. The heavy-ion accelerator and target complex will enable experimenters to emulate the environment of a nuclear reactor making possible the study of fission fragment damage in materials. Material scientists will be able to use the measured material parameters to validate computer simulation codes and extrapolate the response of the material in a nuclear reactor environment. Utilizing a new heavy-ion accelerator will provide the appropriate energies and intensities to study these effects with beam intensities which allow experiments to run over hours or days instead of years. The XMAT facility will use a CW heavy-ion accelerator capable of providing beams of any stable isotope with adjustable energy up to 1.2 MeV/u for 238U50+ and 1.7 MeV for protons. This energy is crucial to the design since it well mimics fission fragments that provide the major portion of the damage in nuclear fuels. The energy also allows damage to be created far from the surface of the material allowing bulk radiation damage effects to be investigated. The XMAT ion linac includes an electron cyclotron resonance ion source, a normal-conducting radio-frequency quadrupole and four normal-conducting multi-gap quarter-wave resonators operating at 60.625 MHz. This paper presents the 3D multi-physics design and analysis of the accelerating structures and beam dynamics studies of the linac.
Behavioral Engagement Detection of Students in the Wild

This paper aims to investigate students’ behavioral engagement (On-Task vs. Off-Task) in authentic classrooms. We propose a two-phased approach for automatic engagement detection: In Phase 1, contextual logs are utilized to assess active usage of the content platform. If there is active use, the appearance information is utilized in Phase 2 to infer behavioral engagement. Through authentic classroom pilots, we collected around 170 hours of in-the-wild data from 28 students in two different classrooms using two different content platforms (one for Math and one for English as a Second Language (ESL)). Our data collection application captured appearance data from a 3D camera and context data from uniform resource locator (URL) logs. We experimented with two test cases: (1) Cross-classroom, where trained models were tested on a different classroom’s data; (2) Cross-platform, where the data collected in different subject areas (Math or ESL) were utilized in training and testing, respectively. For the first case, the behavioral engagement was detected with an F1-score of 77%, using only appearance. Incorporating the contextual information improved the overall performance to 82%. For the second case, even though the subject areas and content platforms changed, the proposed appearance classifier still achieved 72% accuracy (compared to 77%). Our experiments proved that the accuracy of the proposed model is not adversely impacted considering different set of students or different subject areas.
Trajectories of cannabis use beginning in adolescence associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in the mid-thirties

ABSTRACTBackground: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are related to a number of adverse consequences such as substance use and general medical conditions. The present longitudinal study seeks to find the longitudinal patterns of cannabis use as precursors of PTSD symptoms. Such information will serve as a guide for intervention programs for PTSD. Methods: Growth mixture modeling was conducted to identify the cannabis use trajectory groups using a community sample of 674 participants (53% African Americans, 47% Hispanics of Puerto Rican decent; 60% females) from the Harlem Longitudinal Development Study. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between earlier trajectories of cannabis use (ages 14 to 36) and later symptoms of PTSD (at age 36) for the full model including the entire sample (N = 674) as well as the reduced model including only participants who had experienced a traumatic event (n = 205). Results: Five trajectory groups of cannabis use were obtained....
Eye in the Sky: Investigating Spatial Performance Following Perspective Change

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) are becoming more prevalent in civilian use, such as emergency response and public safety. As a result, UASs pose issues of remote perception for human users (Eyerman, 2013). The purpose of this experiment was to test the effects of combining aerial and ground perspectives on spatial judgments of object positions in an urban environment. Participants were shown randomly ordered image pairs of aerial and ground views of objects in a virtual city and were asked to make judgments about where a missing object was in the second image of the pair. Response times and error were collected with error being calculated using the Euclidean distance formula. The results were consistent with previous research and showed that congruent trials (aerial-aerial and ground-ground) resulted in less error and response time. It was also shown that there was a significant four-way interaction between stimulus image, response image, object density, and stimulus duration. The results of this study ar...
Impact of upper body precooling during warm-up on subsequent time trial paced cycling in the heat.

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that cooling the upper body during a warm-up enhances performance during a subsequent 16.1-km simulated cycling time trial in a hot environment. Design Counterbalanced, repeated measures design. Methods Eight trained, male cyclists (peak oxygen uptake = 57.8 ± 5.0 mL kg−1 min−1) completed two simulated 16.1-km time trials in a hot environment (35.0 ± 0.5 °C, 43.8 ± 2.0% relative humidity) each separated by 72 h. Treatments were counterbalanced; participants warmed up for 20 min while either wearing head and neck ice wraps and an ice vest (COOLING) or no cooling apparatus (CONTROL). Results Following the warm-up mean skin temperature ( T ¯ sk), mean body temperature ( T ¯ b) and rating of thermal comfort were significantly lower than baseline following the COOLING trial (all P T ¯ sk and T ¯ b were not sustained during exercise, values for COOLING and CONTROL were not different throughout the time trial (P = 0.38). Nonetheless, time to completion was significantly faster following the COOLING intervention when compared to the CONTROL (29.3 ± 3.6 min, vs. 30.3 ± 3.1 min; P = 0.04). Conclusions These data suggest that in short distance time trials in hot conditions cyclists may benefit from utilizing a cooling modality during the warm-up.
An Ecology of the Russian Avant-Garde Picturebook

An Ecology of the Russian Avant-Garde Picturebook takes a new approach to interpreting 1920s and 1930s picturebooks by prominent Russian writers, artists, and intellectuals by examining them within the ecological environment that, first, made them possible and, then, led to their demise. It argues that naturalistic models of the complex interactions of dynamic systems offer effective tools for understanding the fraught interrelations of art and censorship in the early Soviet period. Through illustrative case studies, it mounts a close analysis of word and image and their synergistic interplay in avant-garde picturebooks, while also recontextualizing them within the ecology of their original environment where extraordinary countervailing forces played out a drama of which these books survive as telling artifacts. Ultimately, it argues that the Russian avant-garde picturebook offers a uniquely illustrative example of literary ecology that sheds light on issues of creativity and censorship, politics and art, more broadly as well.
Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes as Model Systems for Electrosorption Studies.

Highly ordered titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2 NTs) were fabricated through anodization and tested for their applicability as model electrodes in electrosorption studies. The crystalline structure of the TiO2 NTs was changed without modifying the nanostructure of the surface. Electrosorption capacity, charging rate, and electrochemical active surface area of TiO2 NTs with two different crystalline structures, anatase and amorphous, were investigated via chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The highest electrosorption capacities and charging rates were obtained for the anatase TiO2 NTs, largely because anatase TiO2 has a reported higher electrical conductivity and a crystalline structure that can potentially accommodate small ions within. Both electrosorption capacity and charging rate for the ions studied in this work follow the order of Cs+ > Na+ > Li+, regardless of the crystalline structure of the TiO2 NTs. This order reflects the increasing size of the hydrated ion radii of these monovalent ions. Additionally, larger effective electrochemical active surface areas are required for larger ions and lower conductivities. These findings point towards the fact that smaller hydrated-ions experience less steric hindrance and a larger comparative electrostatic force, enabling them to be more effectively electrosorbed.
Oxidation by Vanadium Compounds

According to IUPAC recommendations the abbreviation Va(V) is used to indicate pentavalent vanadium.
Agency Funding Strategies

There is no question that nanotechnology in its broadest sense will be a dominant force in our society in the early decades of the next century. The primary questions are how soon this destiny will arrive, what benefits and risks it presents, and how the United States can be in the best position to guide and capitalize on the development of nanotechnology for the benefit of Americans and for the world. U.S. funding agencies have both the opportunity and the obligation to seed the scientific efforts that will nurture nanotechnology to the point where they can realize their beneficial intellectual, economic, and societal potentials. The challenge for the funding agencies is to formulate a long-term and sustainable strategy that promotes the healthy development of nanotechnology within the constraints imposed by the annual cycle of the Federal budget. It is strongly recommended that this process begin with the creation of a high profile National Nanotechnology Initiative, which will have the short-term goal of doubling the Federal Government’s present investment in nanotechnology research in fiscal year 2001.
Decays τ → Khh(π0)ντ, KKh(π0)ντ from CLEO

Abstract Using a sample of 4.7 fb −1 integrated luminosity accumulated with the CLEO-II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR), we have measured the ratios of branching fractions β ( τ − → K − h + π − ν τ )/ β ( τ − → h − h + h − ν τ ) = (5.16±0.20±0.50) × 10 −2 , β ( τ − → K − h + π − π 0 ν τ )/ β ( τ − → h − h + π 0 ν τ ) = (2.54±0.44±0.39) × 10 −2 , β ( τ − → K − K + π − ν τ )/ β ( τ − → h − h + h − ν τ ) = (1.52|=−0.14±0.2) ×10 −2 , and the upper limit: β ( τ − → K − K + π − π 0 ν τ )/ β ( τ − → h − h + h − π 0 ν τ )_ τ − → K − π + π − ν τ decays. Relative of K 1 (1270) and K 1 (1400) resonances in these decays are measured. We study interference effects and the possibility of a non-zero strong phase in this process.
Use of biomarkers to identify phenotypes and endotypes of severe asthma

Abstract Objective Severe asthma can be classified into phenotypes and endotypes, which may inform clinicians about inflammatory pathways leading to disease and ultimately guide optimal therapeutic strategy. Biomarkers, objectively measurable characteristics of the disease, are of increasing interest to clinicians and researchers as powerful tools to distinguish among the severe asthma phenotypes and endotypes. The objective of this review is to highlight current knowledge of biomarker applications to identify phenotypes and endotypes of severe asthma. Data Sources Sources used include observational cohorts, clinical trials, translational studies, comprehensive reviews, and expert/taskforce statements. Study Selections Included studies were selected for their relevance to the topic and for strength of data or study design. Results In severe asthma, biomarkers can be used for diagnosis of phenotype or endotype, can also be predictive of clinical outcomes or response to therapy, and may be dynamic with time or therapy. Fully determining phenotype or endotype of severe asthma will require interpretation of combinations of commercially available biomarkers. Conclusion Biomarkers have multiple potential clinical applications in severe asthma. Novel biomarkers may add accuracy to this field.
Survival of metastatic metaplastic breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

e13126Background: Metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) is a rare, aggressive variant of breast cancer, usually triple negative disease and chemotherapy refractory. Despite this, the standard of care rem...
Sex, Gender and the Sacred: Reconfiguring Religion in Gender History

At a 2017 symposium on ‘Religion and Sexuality’ hosted by the University of Nottingham, one participant lamented the current overuse of the phrase ‘the religious turn’ in academia. She questioned t...
The Potential for Further Overstretch

Lake considers whether overstretch is likely to remain a problem for the foreseeable future. This chapter summarizes the initiatives the armed services are currently taking, and concludes that they are unlikely to have a major impact on the risk of overstretch. The chapter looks at the potential for the kind of fundamental transformation that is required, concluding that it is unlikely. Lake concludes analyzing the likely outcomes of the continuation of the status quo, including emulation by both allies and possible foes, attempts by foes to asymmetrically counter US technological superiority, likely recurrences of overstretch, and the possibility that the US military is no longer capable of major sustained operations.
The Arabidopsis pentatricopeptide repeat protein LPE1 and its maize ortholog are required for translation of the chloroplast psbJ RNA.

The expression of chloroplast genes relies on a host of nucleus-encoded proteins. Identification of such proteins and elucidation of their functions are ongoing challenges. We used ribosome profiling to revisit the function of the pentatricopeptide repeat protein LPE1, reported to stimulate translation of the chloroplast psbA mRNA in Arabidopsis. Mutation of the maize LPE1 ortholog causes a photosystem II (PSII) deficiency and a defect in translation of the chloroplast psbJ open reading frame (ORF) but has no effect on psbA expression. To reflect this function, we named the maize LPE1 ortholog Translation of psbJ 1 (TPJ1). Arabidopsis lpe1 mutants likewise exhibit a loss of psbJ translation, and have, in addition, a decrease in psbN translation. We detected a small decrease in ribosome occupancy on the psbA mRNA in Arabidopsis lpe1 mutants, but ribosome profiling analyses of other PSII mutants (hcf107 and hcf173) in conjunction with in vitro RNA binding data strongly suggest that this is a secondary effect of their PSII deficiency. We conclude that maize TPJ1 promotes PSII synthesis by activating translation of the psbJ ORF, that this function is conserved in Arabidopsis LPE1, and that an additional role for LPE1 in psbN translation contributes to the PSII deficiency in lpe1 mutants.
Justice "cost points": Examination of privatization within public systems of justice.

Research Summary In addition to outsourcing the management of correctional facilities, many local and state authorities contract with private companies to provide a variety of services and processes within U.S. courthouses, jails, and prisons. In this article, we explore the various "cost points" at which individuals who make contact with public systems of justice are charged by private entities. We provide two case studies with an in-depth look at how private companies make money within U.S. justice facilities-court-ordered programs and prison services. Policy Implications Through our examples, we show the extent to which private companies generate profits within U.S. systems of justice and the potential impacts of justice "cost points" on those involved in these systems. We end by suggesting policy makers more thoroughly explore the reasons for the privatization of justice system practices and services and develop transparent oversight to ensure private arrangements do not impose undue burdens on justice-involved individuals and their families.
Regional and Racial Differences in Drug-Induced Liver Injury

To summarize the growing epidemiologic and genetic data that suggest racial and regional differences in drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Several registries and population-based studies report incidence data across continents from 2 to 24 per 100,000 with China reporting the highest incidence estimate. The agents causing DILI vary by race and region as well. Hepatotoxicity from herbal and dietary supplement is on the rise globally with China reporting the highest levels. Genome-wide association studies are beginning to shed light on racial genetic and HLA variants which may determine the risk of DILI. DILI risk and outcome vary by race and region due to a combination of epidemiologic and genetic factors. The rise and maturation of DILI registries worldwide are beginning to allow important discoveries in how we should consider the diagnosis of DILI by region and race.
Explicit Associations with Autism and Disability

Objectives: Autistic people call for greater acceptance even though the general public has greater awareness of the autism spectrum. This study investigated explicit or conscious attitudes toward t...
Non-surgical management of primary invasive melanoma.

Surgical excision is standard-of-care for primary invasive melanoma, but best care can be unclear for patients who are surgically high-risk or for whom resection may be excessively morbid. Alternat...
Ethical Considerations in AI-Based Recruitment

Over the past few years, machine learning and AI have become increasingly common in human resources (HR) applications, such as candidate screening, resume parsing, and employee attrition and turnover prediction. Though AI assists in making these tasks more efficient, and seemingly less biased through automation, it relies heavily on data created by humans, and consequently can have human biases carry over to decisions made by a model. Several studies have shown biases in machine learning applications such as facial recognition and candidate ranking. This has spurred active research on the topic of fairness in machine learning over the last five years. Several toolkits to mitigate biases and interpret black box models have been developed in an effort to promote fair algorithms. This paper presents an overview of fairness definitions, methods, and tools as they relate to recruitment and establishes ethical considerations in the use of machine learning in the hiring space.
Optimizing Isotretinoin Treatment of Acne: Update on Current Recommendations for Monitoring, Dosing, Safety, Adverse Effects, Compliance, and Outcomes

Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease treated by dermatologists. It can be severe and result in permanent scars. Isotretinoin is the most effective treatment for acne and has the potential for long-term clearance. Prescribing and monitoring protocols can vary widely among prescribers. Recent studies, reports, and consensus statements help shed light on optimizing the use of isotretinoin for acne. A recent literature review is summarized in this article to help the practitioner optimize isotretinoin use for acne. The article outlines the advantages and disadvantages of standard, high-dose, and low-dose isotretinoin regimens; discusses the current status of controversies surrounding isotretinoin (including depression/suicide, pregnancy, and inflammatory bowel disease); reviews monitoring recommendations and treatment for hypertriglyceridemia and elevated transaminase levels; and discusses common adverse effects seen with isotretinoin, along with their treatment and prevention.
Theodore Gericault, Painting Black Bodies : Confrontations and Contradictions

This book examines Theodore Gericault’s images of black men, women and children who suffered slavery’s trans-Atlantic passage in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, including his 1819 painting The Raft of the Medusa. The book focuses on Gericault’s depiction of black people, his approach towards slavery, and the voices that advanced or denigrated them. By turning to documents, essays and critiques, both before and after Waterloo (1815), and, most importantly, Gericault’s own oeuvre, this study explores the fetters of slavery that Gericault challenged—alongside a growing number of abolitionists—overtly or covertly. This book will be of interest to scholars in art history, race and ethnic studies and students of modernism.
Basal Ganglia Circuits for Action Specification

Behavior is readily classified into patterns of movements with inferred common goals-actions. Goals may be discrete; movements are continuous. Through the careful study of isolated movements in laboratory settings, or via introspection, it has become clear that animals can exhibit exquisite graded specification to their movements. Moreover, graded control can be as fundamental to success as the selection of which action to perform under many naturalistic scenarios: a predator adjusting its speed to intercept moving prey, or a tool-user exerting the perfect amount of force to complete a delicate task. The basal ganglia are a collection of nuclei in vertebrates that extend from the forebrain (telencephalon) to the midbrain (mesencephalon), constituting a major descending extrapyramidal pathway for control over midbrain and brainstem premotor structures. Here we discuss how this pathway contributes to the continuous specification of movements that endows our voluntary actions with vigor and grace.
Can 'So Few So Quickly Change So Much?'

Many claim that George W. Bush sharply shifted the Court to the right and that it is exceptionally conservative after several decades of Republican appointments. My analysis provides only modest support. Nonetheless, it is clear that presidents can substantially affect Court ideology and decision making. Additional empirical testing shows that such influence depends on two factors: party unity between the White House and Senate and critical vacancies in which the president and departing justice are located on opposite sides of the Court median. Whether presidents enjoy unified government is determined by voters. Critical vacancies, on the other hand, occur more erratically and enable unfair and illegitimate advantage. The Republican Party is the most recent beneficiary, allowing it to dominate the Court without dominating national elections and enabling ideological continuity on the Court where there has been none electorally.
Aqueous Ammonia Wetting of Gas-Diffusion Media for Electrochemical Cells

Increased interest in liquid ammonia (NH3) for hydrogen storage can be attributed to its lack of carbon, high energy density to volume and mass ratios (17.6 wt.% hydrogen), a ubiquitous supply and distribution network, and lower cost. Recent progress in direct ammonia fuel cells for power generation, as well as ongoing work on the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia, motivate the need for fundamental investigations of aqueous ammonia interactions with electrode materials. Porous gas-diffusion media (GDM) play a large role in facilitating liquid, gas, and charge transport and are an inherent part of these technologies membrane-electrode assemblies (MEA). This work characterizes how key wetting properties such as contact angle, advancing/receding contact angles, adhesion force, and breakthrough pressure are influenced by GDM wet-proofing, thickness, and structure. These properties are studied for aqueous ammonia solutions with 0, 10, 20, and 30 wt.% NH3. The higher concentrations of NH3 along an electrode surface can lead to lower contact angles as surface tension is reduced. Wet-proofing with PTFE loadings up to 10 wt.% increases hydrophobicity, while higher loadings have diminishing effects. The results are useful to those involved with modeling, design, construction, and optimization of these systems.
Spring-like leg dynamics and neuromuscular strategies for hopping on a mini-trampoline in adults and children

Improved balance control is an often-cited potential benefit for trampoline interventions. However, it is unknown whether the soft, elastic surface of a trampoline elicits different motion and neuromuscular strategies between adults and children. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the center-of-mass (COM) dynamics and neuromuscular strategies for hopping on a mini-trampoline in adults and children. Fourteen children aged 7–12 years and 15 adults aged 18–35 years hopped on a stiff surface and a mini-trampoline. We evaluated the vertical displacement of COM and leg length, as well as the horizontal displacements between hops. We also assessed muscle activation from tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, and vastus lateralis during time periods surround landing and estimated fatigue across the hopping cycles. Our results indicated both groups used spring-like leg dynamics to regulate the COM movement while hopping on a mini-trampoline. Children increased horizontal displacements between hops on the mini-trampoline, requiring greater muscle activation during time-periods associated with proprioceptive input. Moreover, children might not have developed the adult-like ability to appropriately adjust muscle pre-activation for feedforward control. Hopping on a mini-trampoline might increase proprioceptive information and postural demand compared to a stiff surface while reducing neuromuscular fatigue.
Maturational patterns of left ventricular rotational mechanics in pre-term infants through 1 year of age.

Background:Pre-mature birth impacts left ventricular development, predisposing this population to long-term cardiovascular risk. The aims of this study were to investigate maturational changes in rotational properties from the neonatal period through 1 year of age and to discern the impact of cardiopulmonary complications of pre-maturity on these measures.Methods:Pre-term infants (<29 weeks at birth, n = 117) were prospectively enrolled and followed to 1-year corrected age. Left ventricular basal and apical rotation, twist, and torsion were measured by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and analysed at 32 and 36 weeks post-menstrual age and 1-year corrected age. A mixed random effects model with repeated measures analysis was used to compare rotational mechanics over time. Torsion was compared in infants with and without complications of cardiopulmonary diseases of pre-maturity, specifically bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary hypertension, and patent ductus arteriosus.Results:Torsion decreased from 32 weeks post-menstrual age to 1-year corrected age in all pre-term infants (p < 0.001). The decline from 32 to 36 weeks post-menstrual age was more pronounced in infants with cardiopulmonary complications, but was similar to healthy pre-term infants from 36 weeks post-menstrual age to 1-year corrected age. The decline was due to directional and magnitude changes in apical rotation over time (p < 0.05).Conclusion:This study tracks maturational patterns of rotational mechanics in pre-term infants and reveals torsion declines from the neonatal period through 1 year. Cardiopulmonary diseases of pre-maturity may negatively impact rotational mechanics during the neonatal period, but the myocardium recovers by 1-year corrected age.
Influence of demand and capacity in transportation simulations of short-notice, distant-tsunami evacuations

Abstract Distant tsunamis require short-notice evacuations in coastal communities to minimize threats to life safety. Given the available time to evacuate and potential distances out of hazard zones, coastal transportation planners and emergency managers can expect large proportions of populations to evacuate using vehicles. A community-wide, short-notice, distant-tsunami evacuation is challenging because it creates a sudden, significant, and concentrated demand on road-network systems. Transportation planners and emergency managers need methods to help them determine if a road network can handle an evacuation surge and if not, where interventions can best reduce overall clearance times. We use the coastal community of Bay Farm Island (City of Alameda, California, USA) and the distant-tsunami threat posed by Aleutian-Alaskan earthquakes as a case study to explore the use of agent-based, transportation simulation to support short-notice, tsunami-evacuation planning. Results demonstrate how vehicle simulation can characterize network performance during a tsunami evacuation in the absence of real-world measurements of vehicle demand and flow. Changes in vehicle demand had the greatest influence on reductions in clearance times and recommended reductions varied based on time of day. Doubling the capacity of certain road segments based on traditional vehicle-capacity ratios and level-of-service thresholds reduced overall clearance time in some cases but increased it in other cases. The proposed simulation approach can serve as an analytical foundation for future efforts to characterize distant-tsunami evacuations in other coastal communities throughout the world.
Healthcare Personnel Safety During Percutaneous Tracheostomy in Patients With COVID-19: Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background:Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the development of severe and persistent respiratory failure requiring long term ventilatory support. This necessitates the need for a reliable and easy...
Leibniz sur la contingence agentielle et l’explication de l’action rationnelle

Leibniz endorses several tenets regarding explanation: (1) causes provide contrastive explanations of their effects, (2) the past and the future can be read from the present, and (3) primitive force and derivative forces drive and explain changes in monadic states. I argue that, contrary to initial appearances, these tenets do not preclude an intelligible conception of contingency in Leibniz’s system. In brief, an agent is free to the extent that she determines herself to do that which she deliberately judges to be the best from several considered options that she could have brought about, had she come to the deliberative conclusion that these options were best. I develop a model which illustrates how Leibnizian agents could have come to different deliberative conclusions, and which thus illustrates how Leibnizian agents could have acted differently.
Answers are in the Blood: cfDNA to Enhance Precision Medicine for Breast Cancer

Identification of biomarkers to drive treatment using cell free DNA allows dynamic and safe assessment of tumor biology representing an important advance adding to tissue based genotyping. Caution must be exercised interpreting commercial matching information as validation is often lacking, and true matching is feasible in a minority of patients.
Comparison of the metabolic and cytotoxic effects of cisplatinum chemotherapy

1627 Objectives: Numerous clinical studies have shown that chemotherapy causes a rapid decrease of tumor FDG-uptake. However, it is largely unknown whether these early metabolic changes are due to loss of viable tumor cells or due to a reduction of the metabolic activity of still viable cancer cells. Therefore, we compared in this study the metabolic and cytotoxic effects of cisplatinum chemotherapy in an experimental model. Methods: Three human cancer cell lines (H1650 - non-small cell lung cancer, SKLMS, HT1080 – sarcoma cell lines) were treated in-vitro for 2 hour to 3 days with cisplatinum at concentrations ranging from 0.1 –100 µg/ml. Treatment was performed in 6-well plates, during the exponential growth phase of the cells. FDG-uptake was measured by incubating the cells with 1 µCi [18F]FDG for one hour in glucose free media. Cell numbers and viability were determined by trypan blue staining using an automated cell counting system (Coulter Vi-Cell-XR). Glucose transporter expression (Glut-1, Glut-3) was determined by Western blotting of cell lysates of treated and untreated cells. Results: The three cell lines demonstrated a comparable sensitivity to cisplatinum therapy. At a concentration of 1 µg/ml cisplatinum was cytostatic, whereas incubation with 10 µg/l cisplatinum caused within three days a 80%-90% loss of viable tumor cells. Compared to untreated controls cellular FDG-uptake showed a modest, statistically not significant increase two hours after the start of incubation with cisplatinum at cytostatic and cytotoxic concentrations (mean increase 18%±67%, p=0.37 and 27%±34%, p=0.28, respectively). At cytotoxic concentrations of cisplatinum this was followed by a marked decrease in cellular FDG-uptake at day one ( 67%±14%, p=0.004). At this time Western blots demonstrated a loss of glucose transporter protein levels in the treated cells. The decrease in cellular metabolic activity preceded a loss of viable tumor cells as determined by trypan blue staining (number of viable tumor cells on day one relative to baseline 105%± 38%, p=0.72). In contrast, treatment with a cytostatic concentration of cisplatinum did not cause a significant reduction of cellular FDG-uptake (mean change on day one: 2%±33%, p=0.51). No changes in glucose transporter levels were observed at this concentration of cisplatinum. Conclusions: These data indicate that reduction of cellular FDG-uptake is an early marker for cisplatinum induced cell death. Growth inhibition by lower doses of cisplatinum does not seem to significantly affect cellular FDG-uptake. Taken together these findings support the concept that the clinically observed reduction of tumor FDG-uptake during cisplatinum chemotherapy is mainly a reflection of cell death and not caused by a “metabolic stunning” of viable cancer cells.
Antagonism to Protagonism: Tracing the Historical Contours of Legalization in an Emerging Industry

We explore the legalization of the cannabis industry in the US, and point at the conflicted path through which this emerging industry has traversed. In particular, we highlight how this industry has navigated controversy to become one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The paper also offers a theoretical model that explains the role played by social movements to propel and shape early antagonism towards increasing protagonism. Evidence of the latter is seen in the form of cannabis laws passing at the state level in the US. We posit that resource mobilization and shaping effects were instrumental in laying the grounds for legalization. A detailed timeline of the legalization for over one and a half centuries (from 1840 to 2019) is also provided. Our synergistic approach integrates a historical perspective with social movement theory to address a relatively new and under examined phenomenon in the emerging US legal cannabis industry and ensuing ethical implications.
Decreased risk of non-infectious anterior uveitis with statin therapy in a large healthcare claims database

The purpose of this study is to determine if statin therapy decreases the incidence of non-infectious uveitis (NIU) using a retrospective cohort study. Patients enrolled in a national insurance plan who initiated statin (n = 711,734, statin cohort) or other lipid-lowering therapy (n = 148,044, non-statin cohort) were observed for NIU development. Incident NIU in the primary analysis was defined as a new diagnosis code for NIU followed by a second instance of a NIU code within 120 days. For the secondary outcome definition, a corticosteroid prescription or code for an ocular corticosteroid injection within 120 days of the NIU diagnosis code was used instead of the second NIU diagnosis code. Estimation of NIU incidence used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. The proportional hazards assumption was satisfied by creating two time periods of analysis, ≤ 150 and > 150 days. Subanalyses were performed by anatomic subtype. Overall, the primary outcome occurred 541 times over 690,465 person-years in the statin cohort and 103 times over 104,301 person-years in the non-statin cohort. No associations were seen in the ≤ 150-day analyses (p > 0.20 for all comparisons). However, after 150 days, the statin cohort was less likely to develop any uveitis [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51–0.97, P = 0.03] in the primary outcome analysis, but did not meet significance for the secondary outcome (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.63–1.15, P = 0.30). Similarly, in the anatomic subtype analysis, after 150 days, the statin cohort was less likely to develop anterior uveitis (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47–0.97, P = 0.03) in the primary analysis, but the association did not reach significance for the secondary outcome (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.56–1.20, P = 0.31). Our results suggest that statin therapy for > 150 days decreases the incidence of NIU.
Enhanced wickability of bi-particle-size, sintered-particle wicks for high-heat flux two-phase cooling systems

Abstract Two-phase thermal management systems such as heat pipes and vapor chambers offer high heat flux cooling performance in modern electronics and spacecrafts. However, the cooling performance is limited by poor wickability, i.e., ratio of permeability to capillary pumping capability, K/reff. In this study, we examine the enhanced wickability using bi-particle-size, sintered-particle wicks. The bi-particle-size wicks are sintered particle wicks having two different particle sizes (200/60, 200/100, 350/60, 550/60 μm) with two different particle weight ratios (75:25 and 50:50 wt%), and the wickability are characterized using a rate-of-rise method with FC-72 as a working fluid. It is found that the single-layer 200/100 μm (50:50 wt%) bi-particle-size wick enhances the wickability K/reff by 27% and 35%, compared to that of 200 and 60 μm uniform particle wick, respectively. This enhancement is due to the increased permeability from the large particle size and the reduced effective capillary meniscus radius from the small particles. This work provides an insight into advanced wick designs for high heat flux two-phase cooling systems.
Build What You Dream: Imaginary Worlds, Technology, and the Practice of Philosophy

Imaginary worlds flip the philosophical problem on its head. Normally we spend our time trying to discover what is and then judge whether it accords well with what ought to be. With an imaginary world, we first decide what should be, and then bring it into being. This backwards exercise was a scholar’s toy for many centuries, but of late, due to the ability of technology to fully immediate our sensations, the making of imaginary worlds has become a seriously pragmatic undertaking. In this essay, I will discuss the implications of imaginary worlds for human philosophical practice. A disclaimer: I will not be discussing particular philosophies in any great detail. Rather, I’ll discuss how the tools of imaginary worlds enable and channel the philosophical drive that exists among our race. What can we say about the future of humanity’s philosophical impulse, now that we are able to make imaginary worlds that people actually inhabit?
Chinese Diplomacy and the UN Security Council: Beyond the Veto

Introduction 1. China's First Forty Years in the UN Security Council, 1971-2011 2. Collective Security Decision-Making: An Analytical Framework 3. Pressuring Pyongyang: Debates on North Korea, 2006 4. Tangling with Tehran: The Iranian Nuclear Issue, 2010 5. Deploying to Darfur: Peacekeeping in Sudan, 2007 6. China Says "No": Political Repression in Burma, 2006 7. Conclusion
The national center for digital government integrating information and institutions

The mission of the National Center for Digital Government: Integrating Information and Institutions is threefold: to build global research capacity, to advance practice, and to strengthen the network of researchers and practitioners engaged in building and using technology for governance. We seek to apply and extend the social sciences in research at the intersection of governance, institutions and information technologies. The National Center is host to, or a collaborator for, several research studies undertaken by the principals, research fellows and affiliates.
Coherency of the long range beam-beam interaction in CESR

The main limitation to the maximum number of bunches the ring can accommodate is due to the long range beam-beam interaction that occurs when the bunches pass by each other in the arcs. We consider a single bunch current limited by the long range beam-beam interaction and the addition of more bunches. A number of machine studies described quantitatively address the question of coherency and bunch spacing. This work on coherency follows earlier long range beam-beam studies where we evaluated various phenomenological models and found that the limiting pretzel increases roughly as the square root of the bunch current.