cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tower Water-Vapor Mixing Ratio

The purpose of the Tower Water-Vapor Mixing Ratio (TWRMR) value-added product (VAP) is to calculate water-vapor mixing ratio at the 25-meter and 60-meter levels of the meteorological tower at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) Central Facility.
Bi-Level Resource Allocation Framework for Retrofitting Bridges in a Transportation Network:

Bridges connect roadways over natural barriers to form transportation networks. Retrofitting at-risk bridges is a proactive strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the traffic network in the face of natural and man-made disasters. The challenge lies in the allocation of limited resources to different bridges that must not only capture the structural performance of a bridge, but also the impact of the bridge on a transportation network. This paper present a novel, bi-level resource allocation framework that integrates the network protection problem based on traffic optimization at the network level with the structural enhancement problem at the bridge level to achieve cost-effective retrofit strategies for at-risk bridges. In particular, a stochastic programming model was used at the upper level to allocate resources to the network of bridges considering the improvement in bridge traffic capacity through the allocated budget. At the lower level, finite element models were developed to estimate a relationsh...
The critical roles of DNA polymerases in genome stability and related human diseases

Genome replication and segregation are two key processes during the cell cycle, which ensure the fidelity of transmission of genetic materials during cell proliferation. As the only enzyme responsible for synthesis of double helical DNA strand, DNA-dependent DNA polymerase is among the most important factors in DNA replication. In each eukaryotic cell, there are dozens of DNA polymerases with different characteristics, required for DNA replication and/or DNA repair. How do so many DNA pols divide their labor of DNA synthesis and coordinate each other? What's the underlying mechanism of different DNA pols in maintenance of genome stability under normal or stressed environment? Furthermore, many somatic mutations in DNA pols have been identified to be associated with some particular tumors and genetic disorders. What's the exact molecular etiology of these DNA polymeraserelated diseases? These key issues of DNA polymerase are summarized in this review.
Online solution of two-player zero-sum games for linear systems with unknown dynamics

For two-player zero-sum games of continuous-time linear systems with unknown dynamics, we present an online adaptive learning algorithm based on the policy iteration(PI) scheme with only one loop. A new analytical method to prove the convergence of the PI scheme is presented. An approximate solution to the generalized game algebraic Riccati equation without using a priori knowledge of the system matrices is developed. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Rapid identification of cysteine-linked isoprenyl groups by metabolic labeling with [3H]farnesol and [3H]geranylgeraniol.

The posttranslational modification of proteins by the covalent attachment of farnesyl and geranylgeranyl groups to cysteine residues at or near the C-terminus via a thioether bond is now well established in mammalian cells (1–6). Most isoprenylated proteins are thought to serve as regulators of cell signaling and membrane trafficking. Farnesylation and geranylgeranylation of the cysteinyl residues have been shown to promote both protein–protein and protein–membrane interactions (6–8). Isoprenylation, and, in some cases, the subsequent palmitoylation, provide a mechanism for the membrane association of polypeptides, which lack a transmembrane domain, and appear to be prerequisite for their in vivo activity (6,9,10). Three distinct protein prenyltransferases catalyzing these modifications have been identified (1–5). Two geranylgeranyltransferases (GGTases) have been characterized, and are known to modify distinct protein substrates. The CaaX GGTase (also known as GGTase-1) geranylgeranylates proteins that end in a CaaL(F) sequence, where C is cysteine, a is usually an aliphatic amino acid, and the C-terminal amino acyl group is leucine (L) or phenylalanine (F). Rab GGTase (also known as GGTase-2) catalyzes the attachment of two geranylgeranyl groups to paired carboxyl-terminal cysteines in most members of the Rab family of GTP-binding proteins (11). These proteins terminate in a Cys-Cys, Cys-X-Cys or Cys-Cys-X-X motif, where X is a small hydrophobic amino acid. Another set
The Medieval Peutinger Map: Imperial Roman Revival in a German Empire. By Emily Albu

Emily Albu’s elegant little book, The Medieval Peutinger Map, brings together arguments that she has made across a series of articles concerning the origins, and especially the reception, of the Pe...
Two Variants of Anti-Slavery: Religious Organization and Social Mobilization in Britain and France, 1780–1870 (1980)

Dealing with its international aspects, histories of abolition tend to concentrate primarily on its Anglo-American dimension as a mutually reinforcing ‘connection’, rather than as a subject for comparative national analysis.1 In this context other European colonial powers are treated as peripheral. French anti-slavery is duly accorded recognition in the intellectual history of pre-abolitionism, and a brief dramatic role in the French Revolutionary era. Thereafter French abolitionists disappear into oblivion, or remain in the unfolding drama as modest members of the chorus.
Intraoperative Protection of the Myocardium: Effects of Age and Gender

Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death worldwide and affects both men and women. Each year more than 5.3 million patients in the United States present to emergency departments with chest pain and related symptoms and ultimately, more than 1.4 million individuals are hospitalized and require either interventional cardiologic procedures and/or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) (Nashef et al. Ferguson et al.; Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database to 2004).
Differential access to care: The role of age, insurance, and income on race/ethnicity-related disparities in adult perforated appendix admission rates

Background Differences in perforated appendix admission rates (PAAR) are an ambulatory-sensitive measure of access to care. While pediatric studies report disparities in PAAR, initial adult investigations suggest a lack of racial/ethnic inequity. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess for risk-adjusted, racial/ethnic differences in PAAR among adults on a national scale, (2) consider the extent to which variations (or lack thereof) are explained by age, insurance, and income, and (3) compare results within the United States population to a national segment of the population who are completely insured. Methods According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality definition of PAAR, adults (aged 18-64 years) in the 2006–2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample were queried for the occurrence and perforation of acute appendicitis. Risk-adjusted differences were compared by race/ethnicity over 5-year age increments using logistic regression with reweighted estimating equations. Noting disparate outcomes between younger (aged 18-34 years) versus older (aged 35-64 years) adults, age-stratified variations were further considered. Results were compared relative to differences among national military/civilian-dependent patients with universal insurance and were assessed for the extent to which disparities could be explained by variations in insurance and income. Results A total of 129,257 (weighted: 638,452) patients were included. Despite a lack of differences overall, significantly worse outcomes among younger (odds ratio point-estimates ranged from 1.11–1.32) and better outcomes among older (0.78–0.93) minority patients were found. This observation contrasted a lack of differences among completely insured military/civilian-dependent patients ( n = 12,154). A total of 22.4% (non-Hispanic black versus non-Hispanic white) and 39.0% (Hispanic versus non-Hispanic white) of younger adult differences were explained by insurance—12.2% and 13.6% by income, 29.8% and 44.0% combined. Conclusion This national assessment of differences in access to care among adults with acute appendicitis demonstrated the existence of racial/ethnic disparities in PAAR that varied with age and were partially, although incompletely, explained by variations in insurance and income.
Cardiac Structural Changes and Long-Term Survival in Patients With Prominent Thebesian Veins

Although rare, numerous case reports suggest that Thebesian veins confer increased morbidity and mortality. No study has evaluated their effects on cardiac structure or long-term patient outcomes. Patients undergoing coronary angiogram at the study institution from October 2002 and January 2015 were assessed for a diagnosis of prominent Thebesian veins. A matched control group was created and comparisons between clinical, echocardiographic, and survival measures were made. Of 50,116 total patients, 31 (0.06%) were found to have prominent Thebesian veins on angiography and were compared with a matched control group of 596 patients. Patients were matched for age, gender, angiogram date, location and extent of coronary disease, and dominance. Demographic and clinical data were similar between cohorts, with a median follow-up period of 26 months. Patients with Thebesian veins had lower Doppler E wave (0.7 vs 0.8; p = 0.007) and A wave (0.6 vs 0.8; p = 0.001) mitral inflow velocities suggesting some decrease in normal mitral inflow, potentially due to direct shunting into the ventricle from the Thebesian vein network. However, there was no observed difference in left ventricular size or ejection fraction between groups. There was also no significantly increased mortality associated with the presence of Thebesian veins (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% CI 0.58 to 2.13). In conclusion, although previous reports have suggested adverse outcomes from Thebesian veins, our case–control study demonstrated no significant associated adverse cardiac structural changes or increase in mortality, although patients with Thebesian veins were noted to have a decrease in mitral inflow velocities.
Notions of clinical excellence in hospital medicine: a brief reflection on specific case studies

Background: The individuals who are being admitted to our hospitals are generally sicker and more medically complex than ever before. These patients rely on highly skilled healthcare providers for this acute medical care, yet clinical excellence in hospital medicine has not been well described in the literature. Objective: The intention of this manuscript is to highlight examples of clinical excellence in hospital medicine, from published literature, as they relate to the definition formulated by the Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence. Results: Exemplary case reports and research studies in hospital medicine were identified to describe each of the domains of excellence: communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism and humanism, diagnostic acumen, skillful negotiation of the healthcare system, knowledge and having scholarly approach to clinical practice. Conclusion: Applying the definition of clinical excellence to hospital medicine can establish the standards for which physicians and trainees might aspire. Reflecting upon the efforts of commendable role models and praiseworthy teams in hospital medicine, may allow us all to improve along the continuum towards clinical mastery.
The Gender Bias of Science Faculty

If you were a science professor, and you received two equally strong applications for the position of laboratory manager, one from a female, one from a male, which one would you pick? The answer (1.usa.gov/1WhFwwZ) may surprise you.
The role of organizational structure in readiness for change: A conceptual integration:

The purpose of this review is to extend extant conceptualizations of readiness for change as an individual-level phenomenon. This review-of-reviews focuses on existing conceptual frameworks from the dissemination, implementation, quality improvement, and organizational transformation literatures in order to integrate theoretical rationales for how organization structure, a key dimension of the organizational context, may impact readiness for change. We propose that the organization structure dimensions of differentiation and integration impact readiness for change at the individual level of analysis by influencing four key concepts of relevance, legitimacy, perceived need for change, and resource allocation. We identify future research directions that focus on these four key concepts.
The Next Hurdle for Personalized Medicine-Radiation Therapy.

Testing for somatic mutations in cancer is currently a widely accepted and often used tool. The molecular profile obtained from such testing helps to make decisions regarding chemotherapy regimens or targeted therapeutics. However, there is no use of such testing in radiation oncology where a wide range of patients get identical therapy regardless of genetic information. At the most recent annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, multiple researchers presented data focused on incorporating genetic data into treatment decisions for radiation therapy (1). Areas of research included tumor profiling to determine radiation susceptibility and germline sequencing to determine the likelihood and severity of side effects of radiotherapy. Such research has the potential to greatly impact outcomes, since almost two-thirds of cancer patients receive radiation therapy of some form. While technologies …
The Universal Space Transponder: A next generation software defined radio

The Universal Space Transponder (UST) is a next generation transponder developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to meet a large variety of telecom, navigation, and radio science needs for future deep-space and near-Earth missions. This paper details the UST software defined radio design and describes how the combination of a modular hardware architecture and in-flight reprogrammability enables a new level of flexibility and expandability for a space transponder. The UST uses common power and digital processing assemblies that can be integrated with a variety of RF modules and is capable of simultaneous, multiband operations with data rates up to 37.5 Mbps RX and 300 Mbps TX. This allows a single radio to support all the direct-to-Earth and relay communication requirements for even complex mission scenarios, reducing the total cost, mass, and power. The discussion includes a description of the current UST engineering models that have been built and tested, as well as details about the next generation capabilities supported by UST, including advanced link coding and modulation, radiometric techniques, and in-radio protocol handling. Details are also presented on RF modules and digital processing in development for radio science and astronomy purposes, including a bistatic radar receiver and broadband planetary emissions receiver. These will demonstrate the ability to integrate low-cost science instruments into the UST architecture, further expanding the versatility of the UST.
Derivatives of 4-(2- N,N -Di- n -propylaminoethyl)-5-hydroxyindole: Synthesis and Pharmacological Effects

5-Methoxy-l-methyl-4-(2-N,N-di-n-propylaminoethyl)indole (12) was synthesized from 5-hydroxyindole by a multistep synthesis. This target compound was designed as a bioisostere of “p-dimethoxy” catechol congeners of dopaminergic agonists derived from a variety of ring systems, in some of which p-dimethoxy-substituted systems are potent, active dopaminergic agonists. To complete the indole series, all possible combinations of N- and O-demethylated derivatives of 12 were prepared and were also evaluated pharmacologically. All members of this indole-derived series showed a low order of cardiovascular activity, which appeared to be independent of dopamine receptors. The lack of dopaminergic activity of 12 is cited as yet another example of the unpredictable effect of replacement of the catechol moiety of a dopaminergic agonist with a p-dimethoxy moiety.
Optical design and simulation of a new coherence beamline at NSLS-II

We will discuss the optical design for a proposed beamline at NSLS-II, a late-third generation storage ring source, designed to exploit the spatial coherence of the X-rays to extract high-resolution spatial information from ordered and disordered materials through Coherent Diffractive Imaging, executed in the Bragg- and forward-scattering geometries. This technique offers a powerful tool to image sub-10 nm spatial features and, within ordered materials, sub-Angstrom mapping of deformation fields. Driven by the opportunity to apply CDI to a wide range of samples, with sizes ranging from sub-micron to tens-of-microns, two optical designs have been proposed and simulated under a wide variety of optical configurations using the software package Synchrotron Radiation Workshop. The designs, their goals, and the results of the simulation, including NSLS-II ring and undulator source parameters, of the beamline performance as a function of its variable optical components is described.
Moving forward: Collaborative accompaniment of human trafficking survivors by using trauma-informed practices

ABSTRACTThis article proposes a paradigm shift that redefines the implementation of trauma-informed care for human-trafficking survivors. Written from the multidisciplinary perspective of the authors, the article will develop and apply four strengths-based Trauma-Informed Practices (TIPs) that service providers, academics, and policy makers can utilize in improving response to all forms of human trafficking. The TIPs envision collaborative accompaniment as a way of creating safety and reciprocity with, for, and among survivors and those who accompany them. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that anti-trafficking response should give human-trafficking survivors something to move towards, not just something from which to “escape”.
Roadblocks to the Evaluation of Ore Reserves—The Simulation Overpass and Putting More Geology into Numerical Models of Deposits

Many factors including data scarcity, volume support effects, information effect, accessibility and pervasive uncertainty, make the early prediction of recoverable reserves a challenge that cannot be addressed by mere estimation or interpolation algorithms. There is the illusion that as long as one uses the ‘best’ estimation algorithm based on quality data and sound geological interpretation, one would provide the best possible evaluation.
Characterizing hydrologic networks: Developing a tool to enable research of macroscale aquatic networks

Abstract Addressing continental scale challenges affecting inland aquatic systems requires data at comparable scales. Critically, local in-situ observations for both lotic and lentic ecosystems are frequently fragmented across federal, state and local agencies, and nonprofit or academic organizations and must be linked to other geospatial data to be useful. To advance macro-scale aquatic ecosystem science, better tools are needed to facilitate dataset integration. Key to integration of aquatic data is the linking of spatial data to the hydrologic network. This integration step is challenging as hydrologic network data are large and cumbersome to manage. Here we develop a new R package, hydrolinks, to ease linking aquatic data to the hydrologic network. We use hydrolinks to evaluate the spatial data quality for all lake and stream sites available through the U.S. Water Quality Portal. We find that 76.5% of lake sites and 13.9% of stream sites do not correspond with mapped waterbodies.
The Future Is Present in California: Delivering on the Promise of Fuel Cell-Powered Transportation

For years, hydrogen fuel and fuelcell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have been consistently referred to as "five years away from commercialization," even among proponents of vehicles powered by alternatives to conventional gasoline. Year after year, commercialization seemed just out of reach. Critical FC technology advancements took longer than expected; hydrogen storage, compression, and dispensing standards needed more fine-tuning; and favorable business opportunities for fueling infrastructure came a bit slower. Today, in California, that is no longer the case.
Impact of Dietary Cholesterol on the Pathophysiology of Infectious and Autoimmune Disease.

Cellular cholesterol metabolism, lipid raft formation, and lipoprotein interactions contribute to the regulation of immune-mediated inflammation and response to pathogens. Lipid pathways have been implicated in the pathogenesis of bacterial and viral infections, whereas altered lipid metabolism may contribute to immune dysfunction in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly, dietary cholesterol may exert protective or detrimental effects on risk, progression, and treatment of different infectious and autoimmune diseases, although current findings suggest that these effects are variable across populations and different diseases. Research evaluating the effects of dietary cholesterol, often provided by eggs or as a component of Western-style diets, demonstrates that cholesterol-rich dietary patterns affect markers of immune inflammation and cellular cholesterol metabolism, while additionally modulating lipoprotein profiles and functional properties of HDL. Further, cholesterol-rich diets appear to differentially impact immunomodulatory lipid pathways across human populations of variable metabolic status, suggesting that these complex mechanisms may underlie the relationship between dietary cholesterol and immunity. Given the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020 revision to no longer include limitations on dietary cholesterol, evaluation of dietary cholesterol recommendations beyond the context of cardiovascular disease risk is particularly timely. This review provides a comprehensive and comparative analysis of significant and controversial studies on the role of dietary cholesterol and lipid metabolism in the pathophysiology of infectious disease and autoimmune disorders, highlighting the need for further investigation in this developing area of research.
Letter by Madias Regarding Article, “Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Revisited: Cell and Matrix Expansion Have Disease-Specific Relationships”

I was thrilled to read the paper by Treibel et al1 on the disease-specific relationships of cell and matrix expansion in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) for 2 reasons: (1) because the authors provide data on the cellular hypertrophy and expansion of extracellular matrix in patients with LVH of different etiologies, and (2) because the findings of this study could potentially be correlated with the characteristics of ECGs in this diverse population of patients with LVH. Traditionally, the ECG is the modality used when LVH is being considered, with the Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell voltage criteria usually used among the other 37 ECG-based …
Electrochemical and Optical Characterization of Materials Band Structure

The theoretical background and the experimental procedures for measuring bandgap (E g) and the band energy levels in solution are presented for these key properties for solar fuel production. Optical methods for bandgap and semiconductor electronic structure are discussed. Optical methods are combined with electrochemical methods to determine band energies, i.e., conduction and valence band edges in electrochemical scale to provide a broad description of the material electronics. Impedance methods applied to bulk crystalline materials are included. Photoelectrochemical methods and its application to both nanocrystalline films and bulk materials are introduced with attention to experimental complications. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence is also described as a way to obtain additional information of electron transfer processes at semiconductor quantum dots. CdSe is discussed as a case of study for well-passivated quantum dots with stable luminescence in aqueous systems.
CATECHOL-O-METHYLTRANSFERASE BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS

Low human erythrocyte (RBC) catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity (< 8 units/ml) is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Approximately 25% of a randomly selected population is homozygous for the allele for low RBC COMT. The enzyme in the erythrocytes of these subjects is biochemically different from that in subjects with higher enzyme activity, an observation that raises the possibility that this locus represents the structural gene for COMT in man.
Design and analysis of tracer experiments.

Tracer experiments have suffered the pains of all new endeavors, namely, a multiplicity of definitions and frequent inadequacy of terminology. Let us, therefore, begin the presentation with a set of definitions and suggestions of preferred usage.
Technical Note: Time-gating to medical linear accelerator pulses: Stray radiation detector.

Purpose CCD cameras are employed to image scintillation and Cherenkov radiation in external beam radiotherapy. This is achieved by gating the camera to the linear accelerator (Linac) output. A direct output signal line from the linac is not always accessible and even in cases where such a signal is accessible, a physical wire connected to the output port can potentially alter Linac performance through electrical feedback. A scintillating detector for stray radiation inside the Linac room was developed to remotely time-gate to linac pulses for camera-based dosimetry. Methods A scintillator coupled silicon photomultiplier detector was optimized and systematically tested for location sensitivity and for use with both x rays and electron beams, at different energies and field sizes. Cherenkov radiation emitted due to static photon beams was captured using the remote trigger and compared to the images captured using a wired trigger. The issue of false-positive event detection, due to additional neutron activated products with high energy beams, was addressed. Results The designed circuit provided voltage >2.5 V even for distances up to 3 m from the isocenter with a 6 MV, 5 × 5 cm beam, using a O3 × 20 mm3 Bi4 Ge3 O12 (BGO) crystal. With a larger scintillator size, the detector could be placed even beyond 3 m distance. False-positive triggering was reduced by a coincidence detection scheme. Negligible fluctuations were observed in time-gated imaging of Cherenkov intensity emitted from a water phantom, when comparing directly connected vs this remote triggering approach. Conclusion The remote detector provides untethered synchronization to linac pulses. It is especially useful for remote Cherenkov imaging or remote scintillator dosimetry imaging during radiotherapeutic procedures when a direct line signal is not accessible.
Diverse Family Structures Within Multiracial Families

Biracial families represent a growing segment of families in the United States today and improved societal attitudes towards interracial relationships have contributed immensely to this increase. For example, in 2013, 12% of all newlywed couples married someone from a different race and slightly over 6% of all married couples were from different racial groups (Pew Research Center, 2015a). In addition, the number of individuals claiming a multiracial heritage increased to represent nearly 3% of the total population in 2013. Biracial families comprise a diverse family structure that includes married couples, blended families, cohabiting families, grandfamilies, single-parent families, same-sex biracial families, and adoptive families. Regardless of the family structure, it is important to recognize the turbulent history that biracial families have experienced in the United States. Biracial children were once perceived as societal misfits who would experience a life of emotional confusion as a result of their mixed heritage (Stonequist, The marginal man: A study in personality and culture and conflict, Russell & Russell, New York, 1937). Furthermore, at certain points in history, interracial marriages and partnerships were legally prohibited. It was not until 1967 in Loving vs. Virginia that the Supreme Court ruled that laws prohibiting interracial marriages were unconstitutional. At that time approximately 16 states still had such laws on the books (Zack, Race and mixed race, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 1993). This chapter provides an overview of DBFs, addresses specific challenges encountered, and explores unique strengths. Supportive practice implications are also provided.
Experiences of School Counselor Mothers: A Phenomenological Investigation:

Researchers have identified some of the benefits and challenges working mothers experience. This phenomenological study extends this line of research to school counselor mothers. Themes highlighted...
Adhesiveless honeycomb sandwich structures of prepreg carbon fiber composites for primary structural applications

This study presents a comparative study of adhesiveless honeycomb sandwich structures of carbon fiber prepreg composites while assessing the structure with an adhesive film at the skin-to-core interface. Laminate and honeycomb sandwich panels were fabricated and tested with consistent layup, curing, and testing processes. Adhesive sandwich panels were produced using the CYCOM 977-2 prepreg system, while adhesiveless sandwich panels were constructed with the MTM45-1 prepreg system. Laminate panels were also fabricated using the two different prepregs. Specimens from the panels were tested for physical and mechanical properties as well as moisture-absorption performance. Test results obtained from non-destructive testing and experimental work confirmed that physical properties of the self-adhesive prepreg mainly met the component and void-content recommendations for use in primary structures. Mechanical tests were performed at room (24 °C), hot (82 °C), and cold (− 55 °C) temperatures, as well as under dry (low moisture) and wet (85 ± 2% humidity) conditions. In all environments tested, the adhesiveless sandwich panel with MTM45-1 exhibited a 14–16% higher tensile strength than the sandwich panel with 977-2 prepreg and AF191 adhesive film, testifying to the stronger bond at the skin-to-core interface. The short-beam shear strengths of the dry laminates above 58 MPa were also suitable indicators of polymeric composite materials for primary structural purposes in aircraft. The average short-beam shear strength of the 977-2 laminate was 28% higher than that of the MTM45-1 laminate, hence displaying a tougher and stronger epoxy resin. These experiments suggest that an aramid honeycomb sandwich structure with a self-adhesive carbon prepreg system compared to a similar structure using additional adhesive demonstrates the ability of these configurations for use as primary structures in aircraft. This study also confirms using adhesiveless composite panels for different industrial applications (e.g., wind turbine, automotive, ship, defense, and space).
Optimal Sphere-Sensor Ratio for Microsphere-Enhanced Photodetector Sensors in Cameras/Telescopes With and Without Central Obscuration

A microsphere lens on top of a photodetector sensor increases its sensitivity and reduces its Noise-to-Signal Ratio (NSR), as shown in our previous work. This paper discusses a methodology to determine the optimal sphere-sensor ratio, in terms of increased current sensitivity, for microsphere-lens-enhanced photodetectors, using computational analysis including a modeling, with an experimentally derived photo-detector sensor responsivity and simulation setup that emulates conditions generally found within cameras and telescopes. In particular, we study and analyze the effect that several variables have on such ratios. We focus on variables such as microsphere material type, photodetector hardware technology type, light source temperature, and in the case of reflective telescopes, central obscurations from a secondary mirror. Results of the effect of microsphere-sensor misalignment on such ratios are also presented. As we show in this paper, since the optimized ratio is dependent on a given wavenumber considered, therefore the proposed methodology uses an integral optimization over a given spectral band to derive the optimized ratio over that band. Some of our findings show, for the first time, that the optimal ratio is virtually independent of a given central obscuration. Finally, we demonstrate here the flexibility of the proposed methodology in showing performances of microsphere-enhanced photodetector sensors.
Recent applications of chiral phosphoric acids in palladium catalysis

Through the combined action of palladium catalysts and chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) a variety of catalytic asymmetric reactions have been realized during the past decade, including allylation, alkene functionalization, and C-H activation. This review surveys key examples across these various reaction types and examines the different mechanisms by which CPAs can affect stereoinduction in these reaction systems.
Tumor response score with neoadjuvant FLOT versus FOLFOX in gastric cancer patients: Results from a United States-based cohort.

e16573Background: A recent RCT comparing FLOT and ECF regimens for locally advanced gastric cancer found FLOT to be superior in pathologic complete response (PCR) rates: 16% versus 6%. We evaluated...
A telephone-based guided imagery tobacco cessation intervention: results of a randomized feasibility trial.

Background Evidence supports the use of guided imagery for smoking cessation; however, scalable delivery methods are needed to make it a viable approach. Telephone-based tobacco quitlines are a standard of care, but reach is limited. Adding guided imagery to quitline services might increase reach by offering an alternative approach. Purpose To develop and test the feasibility and potential impact of a guided imagery-based tobacco cessation intervention delivered using a quitline model. Methods Participants for this randomized feasibility trial were recruited statewide through a quitline or community-based methods. Participants were randomized to guided imagery Intervention Condition (IC) or active behavioral Control Condition (CC). After withdrawals, there were 105 participants (IC = 56; CC = 49). The IC consisted of six sessions in which participants created guided imagery audio files. The CC used a standard six-session behavioral protocol. Feasibility measures included recruitment rate, retention, and adherence to treatment. We also assessed 6-month quit rates and consumer satisfaction. Results Both the IC and CC protocols were feasible to deliver. We finalized protocols and materials for participants, coaches and study staff, and delivered the protocols with fidelity. We developed successful recruitment methods, and experienced high retention (6 months = 81.9%) and adherence (all sessions = 66.7%). Long-term quit rates (IC = 27.9%; CC = 38.1%) compared favorably to those of quitlines, and program satisfaction was high, suggesting that the protocols are acceptable to smokers and may contribute to smoking abstinence. Conclusions The guided imagery intervention is feasible and promising, suggesting that a fully powered RCT to test the efficacy of the intervention is warranted. Trial registration number NCT02968381.
Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics in Two-Dimensional Electron Gas-like K-Doped MoS2

Electronic interactions associated with atomic adsorbates on van der Waals layered transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 can induce massive electronic reconstruction that results in the for...
Positive Effects of Acclimation Temperature on the Critical Thermal Maxima of Ambystoma mexicanum and Xenopus laevis

An organism's thermal limits provide valuable insights into species distributions and potential climate change impacts. The critical thermal maximum (CTmax) in particular has been widely used for among-species analyses of thermal tolerances. However, CTmax measurements can depend on important context-dependencies, including acclimation temperature and experimental procedure. We investigated acclimation effects on CTmax in two amphibian species commonly used as laboratory models, Ambystoma mexicanum (Axolotls) and Xenopus laevis (African Clawed Frogs), using the standard dynamic method. Both species exhibited an increased CTmax following acclimation to a warm temperature (24°C) relative to cold acclimation (8°C). We also found that warm-temperature acclimation resulted in significant mass losses in both species, possibly reflecting metabolic costs of living at higher temperatures. Our CTmax measurements for A. mexicanum were consistent with CTmax measurements for closely related salamander species, but CTmax measurements for cold-acclimated X. laevis were inconsistent with a prior study of this species. This might have been because of the earlier study employing a less common curve-fitting method to estimate CTmax. These results highlight the importance of accounting for recent acclimation temperatures when estimating amphibian thermal limits and provide further support for the generalization that most amphibian species exhibit increased CTmax following warm-temperature acclimation.
Rotational Self-motion Cues Improve Spatial Learning when Teleporting in Virtual Environments

Teleporting interfaces are widely used in virtual reality applications to explore large virtual environments. When teleporting, the user indicates the intended location in the virtual environment and is instantly transported, typically without self-motion cues. This project explored the cost of teleporting on the acquisition of survey knowledge (i.e., a ”cognitive map”). Two teleporting interfaces were compared, one with and one without visual and body-based rotational self-motion cues. Both interfaces lacked translational self-motion cues. Participants used one of the two teleporting interfaces to find and study the locations of six objects scattered throughout a large virtual environment. After learning, participants completed two measures of cognitive map fidelity: an object-to-object pointing task and a map drawing task. The results indicate superior spatial learning when rotational self-motion cues were available. Therefore, virtual reality developers should strongly consider the benefits of rotational self-motion cues when creating and choosing locomotion interfaces.
Troponin Levels at Presentation Before Coronary Angiogram and Their Association With Cost, Mortality, and Readmission.

Background and objective In patients undergoing coronary angiogram, the degree of cardiac enzyme elevation at presentation has been thought of as a strong and independent predictor of in-hospital mortality and readmission. Recent studies, however, have suggested a lack of clarity regarding this speculation, particularly with regard to troponin elevations. Additionally, the impact of troponin levels (TnI) at presentations on cost is poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of Tnl at initial presentation with 30-day all-cause readmission and all-cause mortality as well as admission costs. Methods This study was a retrospective analysis of 7,388 patients who underwent coronary angiogram at our facility from 2015 to 2017. Patients were identified from a local CathPCI Registry® registry, and a subsequent chart review was performed for readmission and mortality data. Cost data were provided by our in-facility finance department. We excluded patients with incomplete records and those who required coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). After the exclusion of patients deemed ineligible, the final sample size eligible for analysis was 1,163. Patients were divided into two groups based on Tnl at presentation with a cut-off value of 0.04 ng/ml. Adjusted regression and multivariate analysis were used for clinical outcomes. Primary outcomes were 30-day readmission and mortality. The secondary outcome was the admission cost. Results Within our cohort, the average participant age was 64.6 years (SD: 12.7), and the majority of them were male (70.7%). Of these patients, 207 had lower TnI (<0.04 ng/ml), while 956 had higher TnI at presentation. The high TnI (≥0.04 ng/ml) group had a significantly higher number of patients with a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (13.8% vs. 7.7%: p=0.017) and those on dialysis (3.2% vs. 0.5%: p=0.028) compared to the low Tnl group. Additionally, we did not find any significant difference in 30-day mortality or readmission between the two groups in our cohort. On average, each patient in the high TnI group spent $936 more for hospital admissions compared to patients in the low Tnl group. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions Tnl at admission did not reveal a significant impact on 30-day mortality or readmission, which is consistent with the findings of previous studies. A high Tnl at admission increased the cost of admission; however, the difference was not statistically significant in our cohort.
Terahertz Chip-scale Systems

In this paper, we highlight the advances in chip-scale technologies in the terahertz spectrum between 100 GHz and 10 THz, particularly focusing on silicon-based integrated chip technology that can have a transformative impact in wireless communication, sensing and imaging.
Preparing School Leaders to Advance Equity in Computer Science Education

Background and Context: Most large-scale statewide initiatives of the Computer Science for All (CS for All) movement have focused on the classroom level. Critical questions remain about building school and district leadership capacity to support teachers while implementing equitable computer science education that is scalable and sustainable. Objective: This statewide research-practice partnership, involving university researchers and school leaders from 14 local education agencies (LEA) from district and county offices, addresses the following research question: What do administrators identify as most helpful for understanding issues related to equitable computer science implementation when engaging with a guide and workshop we collaboratively developed to help leadership in such efforts? Method: Participant surveys, interviews, and workshop observations were analyzed to understand best practices for professional development supporting educational leaders. Findings: Administrators value computer science professional development resources that: (a) have a clear focus on “equity;” (b) engage with data and examples that deepen understandings of equity; (c) provide networking opportunities; (d) have explicit workshop purpose and activities; and (e) support deeper discussions of computer science implementation challenges through pairing a workshop and a guide. Implications: Utilizing Ishimaru and Galloway’s (2014) framework for equitable leadership practices, this study offers an actionable construct for equitable implementation of computer science including (a) how to build equity leadership and vision; (b) how to enact that vision; and (c) how to scale and sustain that vision. While this construct applies to equitable leadership practices more broadly across all disciplines, we found its application particularly useful when explicitly focused on equity leadership practices in computer science.
Inducer expulsion in Streptococcus pyogenes: properties and mechanism of the efflux reaction.

Expulsion of preaccumulated methyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside-phosphate (TMG-P) from Streptococcus pyogenes is a two-step process comprising intracellular dephosphorylation of TMG-P followed by rapid efflux of the intracellularly formed free galactoside (J. Reizer, M.J. Novotny, C. Panos, and M.H. Saier, Jr., J. Bacteriol. 156:354-361, 1983). The present study identifies the mechanism and the order and characterizes the temperature dependency of the efflux step. Unidirectional efflux of the intracellularly formed [14C]TMG was only slightly affected when measured in the presence of unlabeled TMG (25 to 400 mM) in the extracellular medium. In contrast, pronounced inhibition of net efflux was observed in the presence of relatively low concentrations (1 to 16 mM) of extracellular [14C]TMG. Since net efflux was nearly arrested when the external concentration of [14C]TMG approached the intracellular concentration of this sugar, we propose that a facilitated diffusion mechanism is responsible for efflux and equilibration of TMG between the intracellular and extracellular milieus. The exit reaction was markedly dependent upon temperature, exhibited a high energy of activation (23 kcal [ca. 96 kJ] per mol), and followed first-order kinetics, indicating that the permease mediating this efflux was not saturated under the conditions of expulsion employed.
Informal care-two-tiered care? The work of family members and friends in hospitals and cancer centres

In a qualitative study conducted in Ontario, Canada, family members and friends of ill people defined a normal territory in which care from health professionals could not be counted on to be timely, effective or empathic. Under these conditions relatives and friends took on considerable responsibility, both for providing care and for securing care from health professionals. Yet considerable variation was apparent in this study in the sense respondents had of their own capacities to provide and secure care. Findings from this study suggest that service tiers exist in the institutional care system, linked to the time, knowledge and resources of informal carers.
Thermal Considerations in Murine Tumor Killing Using Hematoporphyrin Derivative Phototherapy

Tumor cell killing utilizing hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) phototherapy was studied in a murine tumor model to assess the relative importance of intratumor temperature in causing the tumoricidal effect. Temperature measurements and tumor killing without HPD strongly suggest that HPD phototherapy as reported previously by other workers has at least partially a hyperthermic effect. Also, it is shown that, in this tumor model, tissue light attenuation restricts the radius of action of the light-HPD interaction to approximately 4 mm.
An introductory review of parallel independent component analysis (p-ICA) and a guide to applying p-ICA to genetic data and imaging phenotypes to identify disease-associated biological pathways and systems in common complex disorders

Complex inherited phenotypes, including those for many common medical and psychiatric diseases, are most likely underpinned by multiple genes contributing to interlocking molecular biological processes, along with environmental factors (Owen et al., 2010). Despite this, genotyping strategies for complex, inherited, disease-related phenotypes mostly employ univariate analyses, e.g. genome wide association (GWA). Such procedures most often identify isolated risk-related SNPs or loci, not the underlying biological pathways necessary to help guide the development of novel treatment approaches. This article focuses on the multivariate analysis strategy of parallel (i.e. simultaneous combination of SNP and neuroimage information) independent component analysis (p-ICA), which typically yields large clusters of functionally related SNPs statistically correlated with phenotype components, whose overall molecular biologic relevance is inferred subsequently using annotation software suites. Because this is a novel approach, whose details are relatively new to the field we summarize its underlying principles and address conceptual questions regarding interpretation of resulting data and provide practical illustrations of the method.