cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Community Participation, Cultural Discourse, and Health Education Projects in Developing Areas: The Case of the Radio Communication Project in Nepal

Early entertainment-education programs based on the diffusion of innovation model were relatively unconcerned with community participation. New information and technology in health and agriculture was communicated from one group of elites to another. The indigenous or local elites were the targets for these programs because it was assumed that their education socioeconomic status and other resources made them innovators. When a new concept or product from an industrialized donor was transferred to them they quickly implemented it. Furthermore it was believed that the innovation would diffuse or "trickle down" to the lower strata of the developing nation and ultimately everyone would benefit. As social scientists documented the limited benefits in developing societies of top-down education programs local and international policy makers called for a more participatory approach. When fully implemented this meant community participation in a health education projects goal formation method of delivery and evaluation. Dutta and Basnyat (in press) provide us with an insightful and comprehensive critique of a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) entertainmenteducation program The Radio Communication Program (RCP) in Nepal which has been reported to be highly participatory. Despite the contention that this family planning project was built from the "ground up" with the full participation of rural Nepalese the authors using a conceptually based critical approach make a convincing case that the entertainment-education project was in reality a oneway hierarchical project primarily generated by national elites and foreign donors. This analysis is derived from the culture-centered approach to participation which assumes that community members and health educators are equal contributors to a project including joint participation in problem definition goal specification intervention development and evaluation. (excerpt)
The Supreme Court and abortion rights.

In Gonzales v. Carhart, the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that a physician can be prohibited from performing a particular medical procedure to abort a fetus, even if the physician believes the procedure is necessary to protect a woman's health. The author discusses the important implications of this decision for patients and physicians.
Response of a point source embedded in a layered medium

The paper shows the equivalence of propagating plane waves due to a source through a layered medium using the recursive propagation approach and the slab approach. It points to errors in equations (2.4.15) and (2.4.16) of a book by one of the authors (Chew, W.C., "Waves and Fields in Inhomogeneous Media", Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1990) and corrects them. In addition, it proves that both of these solutions satisfy the reciprocity relationship. Furthermore, a solution for odd and even symmetric sources in a layered medium is derived.
Distributed knowledge management for collaborative design

Collaborative design is a new method to meet the requirement of increasing competition in market, which can deal with different resource and various interests to attain a good result. Distributed knowledge in collaborative design is an important problem to complete design. A knowledge management system (KAM) is developed to share knowledge of various sections to meet the need of knowledge interaction. Firstly, concepts of collaborative design are given, which includes conceptions design, detail design, design analysis, assembly analysis and result evaluation. The knowledge of the experts should be interacted to make the information transmitted smoothly among varied activities. Secondly, distributed knowledge management is present. The knowledge based on ontology, knowledge capture and knowledge sharing are constructed for distributed knowledge. The knowledge management work model and the distributed knowledge management framework are present for collaborative design, which achieve the integration. At last, framework is realized based on the methodology.
Haplotype-based profiling of subtle allelic imbalance with SNP arrays

Due to limitations of surgical dissection and tumor heterogeneity, tumor samples collected for cancer genomics studies are often heavily diluted with normal tissue or contain subpopulations of cells harboring important aberrations. Methods for profiling tumor-associated allelic imbalance in such scenarios break down at aberrant cell proportions of 10%–15% and below. Here, we present an approach that offers a vast improvement for detection of subtle allelic imbalance, or low proportions of cells harboring aberrant allelic ratio among nonaberrant cells, in unpaired tumor samples using SNP microarrays. We leverage the expected pattern of allele-specific intensity ratios determined by an individual's germline haplotypes, information that has been ignored in existing approaches. We demonstrate our method on real and simulated data from the CRL-2324 breast cancer cell line genotyped on the Illumina 370K array. Assuming a 5 million SNP array, we can detect the presence of aberrant cells in proportions lower than 0.25% in the breast cancer sample, approaching the sensitivity of some minimal residual disease assays. Further, we apply a hidden Markov model to identify copy-neutral LOH (loss of heterozygosity) events as short as 11 Mb in mixtures of only 4% tumor using 370K data. We anticipate our approach will offer a new paradigm for genomic profiling of heterogeneous samples.
Rigidochromism as a Probe of Gelation, Aging, and Drying in SOL-GEL Derived Ormosils

The sol-gel derived ORMOSIL (organically modified silicate) composed of copolymerized tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), methylmethacrylate (MMA), and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propylmethacrylate (TMSPM) is a stable host for organic molecules. Due to the ORMOSILs utility as an optical host matrix, it is important to obtain a more detailed understanding of the changes that occur during gelation, aging and drying. A useful probe molecule for this purpose is ReCl(CO)3-2,2'-bipyridine. The emission band of this molecule shows a large blue shift as the medium is changed from fluid to rigid. In this paper the changes that occur during the gelation, aging, and drying of a sol-gel derived ORMOSIL are studied. The emission maximum shifts gradually from 615 nm in the sol to 575 nm in dried gels. The final wavelength is indicative of an environment that is not fully rigid, and suggests that the molecule is in a flexible organic site. The properties of the ORMOSIL are contrasted with those of silicate and aluminosilicate sol-gel matrices.
A Total Thyroidectomy Rarely Removes All Thyroid Tissue

The presence of residual thyroid tissue following thyroid cancer surgery has major implications for post thyroidectomy treatment and testing (Maxon 1990). It is therefore important for physicians who manage patients with thyroid cancer to understand that the recommendations presented in this book are based on the assumption that there is probably no such thing as a “total” thyroidectomy. By this we mean that the standard thyroidectomy procedure almost always leaves a small amount of thyroid tissue in the neck. Surgeons who object to the suggestion that their resection is in some way incomplete misunderstand that a small volume of residual thyroid tissue is the expected outcome. When it is necessary to make it clear that everyone in the conversation understands that there is almost certainly residual thyroid tissue we suggest that the term near-total thyroidectomy be used instead of total thyroidectomy. Throughout this book we use these terms interchangeably with the assumption that the reader understands that a total thyroidectomy does not remove every thyroid follicular cell. With medullary thyroid carcinoma, however, there is an attempt to do a more complete thyroid resection, including removal of the posterior thyroid capsule.
Competitive Deprotonation and Superoxide [O2-•] Radical-Anion Adduct Formation Reactions of Carboxamides under Negative-Ion Atmospheric-Pressure Helium-Plasma Ionization (HePI) Conditions

Carboxamides bearing an N–H functionality are known to undergo deprotonation under negative-ion-generating mass spectrometric conditions. Herein, we report that N–H bearing carboxamides with acidities lower than that of the hydroperoxyl radical (HO-O•) preferentially form superoxide radical-anion (O2-•) adducts, rather than deprotonate, when they are exposed to the glow discharge of a helium-plasma ionization source. For example, the spectra of N-alkylacetamides show peaks for superoxide radical-anion (O2-•) adducts. Conversely, more acidic amides, such as N-alkyltrifluoroacetamides, preferentially undergo deprotonation under similar experimental conditions. Upon collisional activation, the O2-• adducts of N-alkylacetamides either lose the neutral amide or the hydroperoxyl radical (HO-O•) to generate the superoxide radical-anion (m/z 32) or the deprotonated amide [m/z (M – H)−], respectively. For somewhat acidic carboxamides, the association between the two entities is weak. Thus, upon mildest collisional activation, the adduct dissociates to eject the superoxide anion. Superoxide-adduct formation results are useful for structure determination purposes because carboxamides devoid of a N–H functionality undergo neither deprotonation nor adduct formation under HePI conditions.
SUTime: A library for recognizing and normalizing time expressions

We describe SUTIME, a temporal tagger for recognizing and normalizing temporal expressions in English text. SUTIME is available as part of the Stanford CoreNLP pipeline and can be used to annotate documents with temporal information. It is a deterministic rule-based system designed for extensibility. Testing on the TempEval-2 evaluation corpus shows that this system outperforms state-of-the-art techniques.
A micromechanical model to create digital microstructures of asphalt mastics and crumb rubber-modified binders

AbstractThis paper presents a micromechanical model to develop digital microstructures of asphalt mastics and crumb rubber-modified binders. The micromechanical model was based on the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) model that is typically used for modelling suspensions. This paper utilises X-ray tomography images of particles to create microstructures. First, a database of 3D images of crumb rubber particles were generated by scanning specimens using X-ray computed tomography and X-ray microtomography. Once the 3D images were generated for individual particle shapes, a series of spherical harmonic (SH) functions were fitted to the surface of the particles and SH coefficients were determined. Utilisation of SH coefficients for each particle (rather than the actual 3D image voxels) allowed efficient numerical DPD simulations performed to generate microstructures. Example simulations were performed to generate microstructures and used to generate finite element meshes and exported to ABAQUS. The linear ...
The Mammoth “earthquake fault” and related features in Mono County, California

In undertaking this work it was our intention to investigate the well-known "Earthquake Fault" situated about two miles northwest of the town of Mammoth in Mono County, California. In working in the surrounding region we found, however, that this is only a part of an extensive system of similar features. The locations of those which have been found thus far are shown on the map (fig. 1), which is reproduced from U. S. Geological Survey topographical maps, Mount Lyell and Mount Morrison quadrangles. We consider that the southern and eastern limits of the features shown are real, whereas in the northern and western directions they represent only the extent of our investigations to date.
Bionomics of Stibadium spumosum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a Pest of Sunflower in the Southern Plains

Larvae of Stibadium spumosum Grote inhabit the inflorescence of common annual sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., in southern latitudes of the United States. A single larva of S. spumosum may consume up to 50% of achenes in an H. annuus receptacle. A minor part of the S. spumosum population appears to be bivoltine in the southern Plains. However, univoltinism is the rule, with an obligatory pupal diapause lasting from 6 to 13 months in varying laboratory conditions. At Bushland, Tex., pupal development required an average of 133 days in ambient soil conditions. Parasitization of second instars by six species of Hymenoptera ranged up to 50%. Small larvae also were preyed on by larvae of Phyllobaenus pubescens (LeConte) at Bushland, Tex.
Differences in Bactericidal Power of the Blood Within an Inbred Strain of Rats

During the course of experiments on the role of heredity in the resistance of rats to infection with S. enteritidis, some discrepancies from the uniform mortality rate to be expected in a highly inbred strain of animals were encountered.1 An immunological study of the animals from this strain showed marked differences in the bactericidal power of the whole blood. Loeb and King2 had previously found marked differences in reaction to tissue transplants in rats within each of the Wistar “A” and “B” strains.The animals used in our experiments were descended from one pair of rats of the Wistar “A” strain, obtained in 1924 from Doctor Helen Dean King. These rats were then in the 48th generation of brother-sister matings. These brother-sister matings have been continued in our tests. All rats used have been shown not to excrete S. enteritidis in their feces and were carefully kept free from exposure to this infection. Blood taken from the heart of each animal was mixed with just sufficient sodium citrate to prev...
Association of Trematosphaeria circinans with crown and root rot of alfalfa in South Dakota

(1983). Association of Trematosphaeria Circinans with Crown and Root Rot of Alfalfa in South Dakota. Mycologia: Vol. 75, No. 4, pp. 744-747.
The Four Narrative Perspectives in Absalom, Absalom!

In Absalom, Absalom!, as in The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying, Faulkner's concern is with the individual's subjective apprehension of the palpable world of experience. In the latter novels he distinguishes one character's point of view from another's by means of significant variations in language and style in those sections which present a different individual consciousness. The distinction among the four narrative perspectives in Absalom, Absalom!, however, is not stylistic, but formal. Faulkner differentiates the viewpoints in the novel by shaping each perspective after a different literary genre. It is a skillful adaptation of form to meaning, for the selection of these particular genres expresses, structurally, the imagination's subjective act of re-creating history, engaged in by four narrators emotionally involved in either Thomas Sutpen or the Southern myth: Rosa Coldfield, haunted by the moral “outrage” inflicted by the “demonic” Sutpen, shapes her narrative to the Gothic mystery; Mr. Compson, convinced of the epical proportions of the South, relates his narrative as a Greek tragedy; Quentin, obsessed by Henry's relationship with Judith because of his own involvement with Caddy, presented in The Sound and the Fury, expresses his narrative in the framework of the chivalric romance; and Shreve, the detached, intellectual Northerner, relieves the intensity of the preceding viewpoints by means of the ludicrous humor of the tall tale.
Growth, reproductive development and dormancy characteristics of paclobutrazol-treated tart cherry trees

SummaryA single spring application of paclobutrazol (0.5 g a.i. in 1986 or 0.75 g a.i. in 1987) round the bases of five (1986) or seven (1987) year-old ‘Montmorency’ tart cherry trees decreased shoot growth during both the first and second growing seasons following treatment. Paclobutrazol treatment increased the proportion of flower buds to vegetative buds as monitored during the first dormant period following treatment. The date of full bloom in the field, in the spring following treatment, was advanced two to four days by paclobutrazol. The number of growing degree (°C) hours required to reach full bloom was decreased by 700–900 in paclobutrazol-treated trees. Rest intensity curves, based upon the amount of GA3 needed to cause vegetative bud break under favourable environmental conditions, indicated that rest was completed at least by early December and that lateral buds completed rest about one week before terminal buds regardless of treatment. Paclobutrazol tended to decrease rest intensity in both t...
CPS security testbed federation: architectural design, implementation and evaluation

Experimental testbeds play an important role in spearheading the advancements in any given field, be it technology testbeds, energy testbeds, manufacturing testbeds or transportation testbeds. Each of the testbeds has their own resources and capabilities but a lot more can be achieved if they are not as disconnected as they are. When two or more testbeds form a federation, the federated testbed offers more in terms of functionality and resources, thereby opening more possibilities and avenues of research. This thesis is based on the federation of a cyber-physical security testbed located in Iowa State University, PowerCyber, to a cybersecurity testbed located in University of Southern California, DETERLab. This work is meant to address the milestones and challenges pertaining to the implementation, configuration and use-case scenarios of a Federated Testbed of this nature. This thesis primarily discusses the architectural design of the proposed Federated Testbed and discusses the milestones involved in its implementation. Further, this work also portrays the functionality of the Federated Testbed post-implementation through a use-case scenario, in order to showcase the experimental capabilities of the testbed. This work also goes on to evaluate the Federated Testbed’s metrics in terms of latency and volume of packet loss between the two testbed environments, PowerCyber and DETERLab and also compares the results to previous results in a non-federated environment. Finally, future work is suggested and conclusions are listed.
Effect of excess iron culturing on the proliferation and differentiation of mouse MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts

Objective To observe the changing pattern of proliferative and differentiatial indexes of mouse MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts in the culture with excess iron,and to investigate the effect of iron on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.Methods Mouse MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts were cultured at 37℃ in vitro.Under the induction of 10mmol/l β-glycerophosphate and 50μg/ml Lascorbic acid,MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts differentiated into osteoblasts.Meanwhile,different concentrations(50,100,and 200 μmol /l) of FAC were additioned into the medium for intervention.Proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was detected using MTT method.The mRNA expressions of Runx2,Osterix,bone sialoprotein(BSP),and osteocalcin(OC) were detected using RT-PCR.ALP activity was measured using ALP viability kit.Results The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells,the mRNA expressions of Runx2,Osterix,BSP,and OC,and ALP activity decreased along with the increase of FAC concentration,showing a dose-dependent manner(P0.05).Conclusion Excess iron culturing can significantly inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of mouse MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts.
Study of Subject Web Information Extractor Based on XML

Focused on the Web data extraction problem in web mining, a method of web data extraction based on XML is designed. Because the supreme characteristic of Web data is half-structured, Using XML, a kind of half-structured data model, to solve the hard problem of saving web data in traditional relation database, corresponds the document descriptions of XML with fields of database and realizes the query accurately and model extracting. Because most information of Web data is independent of extraction, using XSL to filter irrespective data and extract in realtime. At last, the uniting extraction data is saved in XML document. The test indicates that the method can solve the extraction and storage of web data elegantly.
Affectionate Touch to Promote Relational, Psychological, and Physical Well-Being in Adulthood A Theoretical Model and Review of the Research

Throughout the life span, individuals engage in affectionate touch with close others. Touch receipt promotes well-being in infancy, but the impacts of touch in adult close relationships have been largely unexplored. In this article, we propose that affectionate touch receipt promotes relational, psychological, and physical well-being in adulthood, and we present a theoretical mechanistic model to explain why affectionate touch may promote these outcomes. The model includes pathways through which touch could affect well-being by reducing stress and by promoting well-being independent of stress. Specifically, two immediate outcomes of affectionate touch receipt—relational-cognitive changes and neurobiological changes—are described as important mechanisms underlying the effects of affectionate touch on well-being. We also review and evaluate the existing research linking affectionate touch to well-being in adulthood and propose an agenda to advance research in this area. This theoretical perspective provides...
A Direct Data Fetch technology applied in disaster-tolerant model of Distributed File System

A geographically isolated disaster-tolerant system for Distributed File System (DFS) is essential for its enhancement in data security. However, the plain disaster tolerant model performs poor quality while a switch happens in hot-backup. In this study, we proposed a Direct Data Fetch (DDF) technology for the hybrid model. The DDF can fetch data directly from the data chunk server while the main server is temporarily unavailable. Then, we implemented the model on MooseFS, and compared it with IBM Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) technology. The test results indicate that DDF technology enhanced the stability and performance during the switch process of disaster tolerant model, and performs best in small quantities of files.
Don't say we weren't warned

Since the turn of the century it has been clear to some that sooner or later the fossil fuels would run out; but the warnings have gone unheeded, and even now the public prefers to wait until the next crisis hits
Adhesion energy and shape of nanogap InP/InGaAs microcantilevers

The adhesion energy is measured between InGaAs quantum wells that have collapsed across a 120 nm airgap in a InP/InGaAs heterostructure. The method relies on measuring the unadhered length and shape of collapsed microcantilevers with optical interferometry. The adhesion energy is found to be 72 plusmn 16 mJm-2. Since the airgap is much smaller than has been measured previously, the influence of van-der-Waals forces across the gap was included in theoretical modeling. It was found that the forces should not cause significant deviation from the standard adhesion models unless the adhesion energy drops below 25 mJm-2.
H →τ+τ−γ as a probe of the τ magnetic dipole moment

Low energy observables involving the Standard Model fermions which are chirality-violating, such as anomalous electromagnetic moments, necessarily involve an insertion of the Higgs in order to maintain SU(2) × U(1) gauge invariance. As the result, the properties of the Higgs boson measured at the LHC impact our understanding of the associated low-energy quantities. We illustrate this feature with a discussion of the electromagnetic moments of the τ -lepton, as probed by the rare decay H → τ + τ − γ. We assess the feasibility of measuring this decay at the LHC, and show that the current bounds from lower energy measurements imply that 13 TeV running is very likely to improve our understanding of new physics contributing to the anomalous magnetic moment of the tau.
Classroom-based L2 vocabulary learning and comprehension: Replications of Lesaux, Kieffer, Faller & Kelley (2010)

The field of language teaching and learning is in dire need of replications of vocabulary and comprehension research with diverse populations of learners. We propose for replication one large-scale vocabulary intervention carried out successfully in a middle-school with monolingual and multilingual students. This study was carried out several years ago, was published in the Reading Research Quarterly, and has been generously cited since then. The findings and the instruments from this study have been leveraged in subsequent extension studies by the same group of researchers, but have not been replicated in different contexts. We offer multiple reasons and methods of replicating this study in high school and adult contexts in which there is a serious need for learners to comprehend technical or academic materials using deep, nuanced foundations of vocabulary.
“Thank you for letting it be about me”: Women’s perceptions of holistic programming in a jail

ABSTRACTIncarcerated women often have trauma, substance misuse, and mental health concerns. These are often categorized as criminal activity. While data suggest women are incarcerated largely due to substance related issues, there is a gap in jail services. Women are often revictimized in jails, creating additional rehabilitation barriers. There is demand for programming to address substance misuse, mental health, life skills, and community building. This study’s purpose was to understand perceptions of holistic jail programming. Participants’ journals were analyzed (n = 132). Themes included intentionality, process feelings, self-worth, solidarity, programming justification, and emotional safety. The programming has promising elements to be replicated.
Declining transportation funding and need for analytical solutions: dynamics and control of VMT tax

There is a growing concern among policy makers and analysts regarding the mismatch between demand and supply of the revenue for improving and maintaining highway infrastructure. One possible solution is to link actual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) to the fee structure. The main objective of this paper is to model VMT dynamics and establish a methodology for designing an optimal VMT tax rate. The paper proposes a novel model for VMT dynamics and estimates the model parameters using historical data. An optimal control problem is then formulated by designing a cost function which aims to maximize the generated revenue while keeping the tax rate at a reasonable rate. Using optimal control theory, a solution is provided to this problem. Steady-state analysis of this model is provided and simulations are performed for the 50-year period showing the projected VMT, generated revenue, and the optimal tax rate. The model provides a parameter in the cost function which can be adjusted for achieving a certain amount of revenue in a given time frame.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal atrophy is preferentially associated with tau rather than amyloid β positron emission tomography pathology

Abstract Introduction Structural magnetic resonance imaging is a marker of gray matter health and decline that is sensitive to impaired cognition and Alzheimer's disease pathology. Prior work has shown that both amyloid β (Aβ) and tau biomarkers are related to cortical thinning, but it is unclear what unique influences they have on the brain. Methods Aβ pathology was measured with [ 18 F] AV-45 (florbetapir) positron emission tomography (PET) and tau was assessed with [ 18 F] AV-1451 (flortaucipir) PET in a population of 178 older adults, of which 123 had longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging assessments (average of 5.7 years) that preceded the PET acquisitions. Results In cross-sectional analyses, greater tau PET pathology was associated with thinner cortices. When examined independently in longitudinal models, both Aβ and tau were associated with greater antecedent loss of gray matter. However, when examined in a combined model, levels of tau, but not Aβ, were still highly related to change in cortical thickness. Discussion Measures of tau PET are strongly related to gray matter atrophy and likely mediate relationships between Aβ and gray matter.
Clinical evaluation of the NBD-PC fluorescence polarization assay for prediction of fetal lung maturity.

Objectives 1) To examine a fluorescence polarization (FP) assay with an independent set of data that contained more cases of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) than a previous study, 2) to determine whether the same reference ranges are applicable to infants born to diabetic women, and 3) to evaluate whether adding the lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) would substantially improve the prediction of RDS among women with an intermediate FP value (between 0.26-0.289). Methods We identified 389 women who had FP analysis performed at the University of Washington Medical Center from February 1986 to October 1988 and who delivered within 3 days of amniocentesis. We reviewed the medical records of these women and their infants to extract information for our study. Results For FP values of 0.26 or greater, the sensitivity and specificity for prediction of RDS were 90.2 and 84.6%, respectively, compared with 100 and 82.0% in the previous study. For FP values of 0.29 or greater, the sensitivity and specificity were 62.8 and 94.2%, respectively (80.8 and 96.2% in the previous study). Among diabetics, an FP result below 0.26 was associated with the same low risk of RDS as among non-diabetics. Among the patients with FP between 0.26-0.289, the addition of L/S did not provide a clinically useful improvement in the prediction of fetal lung maturity. Conclusion The NBD-PC FP assay can be used as the sole test of fetal lung maturity in most clinical circumstances.
Effects of Light Chilling on Photophosphorylation in Cucumber

The response of in situ photophosphorylation in attached cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves to chilling (5°C) under strong illumination (1000 µE·m‒2·1) was investigated. A single-beam kinetic spectrophotometer fitted with a clamp-on, whole leaf cuvette was used to measure the flash-induced electrochromic absorbance change at 518–540 nm (ΔΔ518–540) in attached leaves. The relaxation kinetics of the electric field-indicating ΔΔ518–540 measure the rate of depolarization of the thylakoid membrane. Since this depolarization process is normally dominated by proton efflux through the coupling factor during ATP synthesis, this technique can be used, in conjunction with careful controls, as a monitor of in situ ATP formation competence.
Triterpenoids from Cassia fistula L. regulate p53 & ERK2 genes to induce apoptosis in HT-29 colon cancer cells

Abstract Incidence of colon cancer is on a rise in the current decade. Though there are several modern means of medication to tackle the disease they cause several side effects. Hence, as an alternative means to reduce such risks, phytotherapeutics stands as a contemporary focus. Our study explored the anticancer efficacy of three triterpenoids, derived from ethyl acetate extract of Cassia fistula L., against human colon cancer cell line (HT-29). Of the three, compound 1 and 2 were found to be non-toxic on normal VERO cells but cytotoxic to cancer cells with 50 μM and 40 μM as their IC50 concentrations respectively. Apoptotic features such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, membrane leakage and enhanced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, with subsequent cell cycle arrest at S-phase and G2/M phase were observed. RT-PCR analysis revealed that both the compounds produced upregulation of p53 expression and downregulation of ERK2 expression. The rates of invasion and metastasis were significantly decreased on exposure to the compounds. Furthermore, antioxidant activity was evident on destruction of cancer cells. Docking results showed stable interactions between the compounds and the cancer targets (p53 & ERK2). The data suggests that both the compounds exhibit high antiproliferative effect in HT-29 cells and are promising as alternative cancer therapeutics.
Bacterial vaginosis and surgical site infections

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge or malodor, affecting up to one third of US women. Most women with bacterial vaginosis are unaware of the infection, making it difficult to diagnose in the absence of a microscopic examination of vaginal discharge or using point-of-care testing. Untreated bacterial vaginosis elevates the risk of postoperative surgical infections in women undergoing obstetric and gynecological procedures. Treatment with antimicrobial agents that target bacterial vaginosis has been shown to reduce the rate of postoperative infections following hysterectomy and surgical abortions. Furthermore, in a cost-comparison model, screening for and treatment of bacterial vaginosis prior to hysterectomy was shown to be superior to no screening in terms of infection rates and cost. The bacterial vaginosis diagnostic criteria are simple and screening tests are inexpensive; bacterial vaginosis screening is a relatively fast process in patients who present for preoperative appointments. Treatment options approved by the Food and Drug Administration include metronidazole, clindamycin, tinidazole, and secnidazole. Given the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and the risks associated with operating on a woman with untreated bacterial vaginosis, women undergoing hysterectomy, surgical abortion, and potentially cesarean delivery should be screened for bacterial vaginosis, and those who screen positive should be treated with an appropriate antimicrobial agent.
Federated Evaluation of On-device Personalization

Federated learning is a distributed, on-device computation framework that enables training global models without exporting sensitive user data to servers. In this work, we describe methods to extend the federation framework to evaluate strategies for personalization of global models. We present tools to analyze the effects of personalization and evaluate conditions under which personalization yields desirable models. We report on our experiments personalizing a language model for a virtual keyboard for smartphones with a population of tens of millions of users. We show that a significant fraction of users benefit from personalization.
Merging Macromolecular and Supramolecular Chemistry into Bioinspired Synthesis of Complex Systems

A brief and personalized historical review that describes the merger of macromolecular and supramolecular chemistry to generate the new field of bioinspired synthesis of complex systems is presented. Historical scientific events that took place during the days of Hermann Staudinger and after and influenced these developments as well as the experience of the author during his stays at the Hermann Staudinger House that hosts the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry from the University of Freiburg are also part of this review.
Bacteria and virus reduction in secondary treatment: Potential for minimizing post disinfectant demand

Abstract Today’s wastewater utilities are facing the dilemma of balancing pathological threats of bacteria and viruses in their effluent against health threats associated with the byproducts of disinfection. A possible solution to this dilemma is to adopt secondary treatment technologies capable of concurrent pathogen reduction, minimizing the demand for external disinfectants. Towards this end, bacterial and viral reductions possible in algal wastewater treatment (WWT) systems are highlighted here and compared with those in conventional activated sludge (AS) systems and membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems. High log reduction values (LRV) of E. coli [>5] and fecal coliform [>7] have been achieved without any external disinfectants in the classical photoautotrophic algal WWT systems and in an emerging mixotrophic algal WWT system. LRVs of E. coli, fecal coliform, and somatic coliphages in the mixotrophic system are higher than those in AS systems and, comparable to those in MBRs. But, LRVs of F-specific coliphages, Enterovirus and Norovirus GI are greater in MBRs than in the mixotrophic and AS systems. The low-energy algal WWT systems providing high inherent reductions of bacteria and viruses can serve as affordable alternatives to the capital- and energy-intensive AS and MBR systems for greener WWT, meeting several of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
A macromolecular assembly directed ceramic aerogel monolith material

Ceramic aerogels exhibit remarkable thermal insulation for energy efficient building applications, while it is indispensable to understand their nanoporous structure evolution to control their thermal regulation performance. In this study, we design and synthesize a lightweight porous silica aerogel monolithic material, and demonstrate its thermal insulation performance regulated by the morphology of porous nanostructures controlled by surfactant induced self-assembly. The micelle networks and in situ gas bubble formation guide the formation of uniform pores in the as-synthesized monolith, which shows superior thermal and acoustic insulation and robust mechanical stability with a thermal conductivity of 0.032 W m−1 K−1, a soundproof performance improvement by 17% at a frequency of 800 Hz, and a 1.3 MPa compressive strength with a Young's modulus of 15 MPa. These findings provide a new route to manufacture low-cost aerogel monolithic insulation materials for energy efficient building applications.
Cyano-ambivalence: Spectroscopy and photophysics of [Ru(diimine)(CN-BR3)4]2− complexes

Abstract The UV–visible absorption and luminescence spectra of [Ru(diimine)(CN)4]2− derivatives have been tuned over wide ranges through variations in solvent, substituents on the diimine ligand, and boronation of the cyanide ligands. Trifluoromethyl substitution at the 4 and 4′ positions of the diimine induces red shifts in metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption and luminescence bands. Boronation of the cyanide ligands produces substantial blue shifts in MLCT energies. The combination of diimine trifluoromethylation and cyanide boronation produces MLCT blue shifts that are about 75% as large as those produced by boronation alone.
The age of biology: When plant physiology was in the center of American life science:

For much of the twentieth century, plant physiologists considered themselves in an ideal position to study and explain the functions and processes of plants. Much of that authority stemmed from pla...
Put me on the front line: Doctors who have recovered from coronavirus should treat patients with COVID-19

A week ago, I began experiencing fevers, a persistent headache and strange muscle pains in my legs. As a physician working in Florida, I was pretty sure I knew what was going on. Later that day, I tested positive for coronavirus. I was lucky to have a mild course. I began my quarantine and wondered if I would be immune when I returned to the hospital. If recovered providers are unable to be reinfected—or, at least less likely to be than those who have never contracted the virus—what would be the implications? The evidence on reinfection is mixed.1–3 An initial study the Korean Center for Disease Control was hopeful. Researchers had identified 285 individuals who had recovered from coronavirus and, at a later date, tested positive again. However, of the ‘re-positive’ cases, viral cell cultures were negative in all of them and contact tracing showed that no new cases could be tracked to any of these re-positive individuals.4 Less optimistic news came on 18 June, when Chinese …
aFabric: Towards a Holistic View for Managing Hardware Accelerators in the Cloud

As hardware accelerators are widely used in the cloud to reduce response time, it is impending to orchestrate and unify heterogeneous accelerators. In this paper, we describe an operating system paradigm for heterogeneous accelerators in the cloud and introduce our sketch design of an operating system, aFabric, using P4 language as the programming language for offloaded accelerator programs. Finally, we elaborate on the evaluation plan as the guideline of concrete design and implementation of aFabric in the future.
Spatial distributions of job accessibility, housing rents, and poverty: The case of Nairobi

Abstract The inter-connectedness of workers’ residential locations and job opportunities is a key determinant of labor market outcomes. This study provides an analysis of the spatial distributions of job accessibility, housing rents, and poverty in a large African city. In Nairobi, Kenya, workers and jobs are not well connected: On average, residents can access fewer than 10 percent of existing jobs by foot within an hour. Even using a minibus, they can reach only about a quarter of jobs. This study further demonstrates that poorer households and residents living in informal settlements are even more limited. Living closer to job opportunities is costly in Nairobi. Not only are housing quality and living conditions frequently better in such areas, but the high value placed on job accessibility also makes these areas more expensive. This severely affects the residential location choices of low-income households.
A finite strain thermomechanically-coupled constitutive model for phase transformation and (transformation-induced) plastic deformation in NiTi single crystals

Abstract A 3D finite-strain constitutive model for the deformation response of NiTi at the single crystal level is proposed. The model accounts for reversible phase transformation from austenite to martensite habit plane variants, plastic deformation in the austenite phase, and rate effects induced from latent heat. It is developed within the formalism of irreversible thermodynamics with internal state variables based on the Eulerian logarithmic strain and its corrotational objective rate. The inelastic deformation is defined as an average over a representative volume element as classical in the micromechanics-based modeling approach. Transformation-induced plastic deformation is viewed as a mechanism for accommodation of the local deformation incompatibility at the austenite–martensite interface. It is accounted for by introducing an interaction term in the free energy, which is described through the Eshelby tensor by regarding the habit plane variants as ellipsoidal inclusions embedded in the austenite matrix, in order to accurately reflect the internal stress states that contribute to dislocation slipping. The numerical implementation of the model in an efficient scheme and its calibration are described in detail. The proposed model is validated by comparing simulations with available experimental data in single NiTi crystals. Numerical simulations of polycrystals are performed to obtain an insight into the interaction between phase transformation and plastic deformation induced by intergrannular constraints. The efficiency of the numerical implementation of the model is verified by simulations of indentation tests.
Assessing the System Resilience Trade-Off Space: Empirical Model of the Port of Houston Waterway Recovery Process

AbstractWhen they are disrupted, complex, technical-social systems, such as maritime ports, require operators to negotiate a resilient solution that satisfies a broad range of individual business a...
A mTORC1-mediated cyst(e)ine sensing mechanism governing GPX4 synthesis and ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a cell death mechanism triggered by lipid peroxidation. Our recent study linked cyst(e)ine availability with glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein synthesis and ferroptosis mitigation via a Rag-mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) axis, and proposed that co-targeting mTORC1 and ferroptosis is a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
O9 Sustained clinical and financial benefits of a nutrition support team

Background The evidence-based standard for optimal nutritional support is the multidisciplinary approach of a Nutrition Support Team (NST). Following a pilot study in 2012 showing reduced usage and wastage of parenteral nutrition (PN) a business case was accepted in 2014 to fund the NST at Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH). The initial focus of the team was to reduce PN usage and between 2012–2016 we reported a reduction in PN days of 20%. There was also an increase in the use of standard bags from 6% to 14.5% and a reduction in wastage from 5% to 3%. Cost savings were estimated to exceed £150,000. Between 2017–2020 the NST has continued to work at reducing PN use but have actively sourced more standard bags and improved education of clinical teams on appropriate use of standard PN. Aim To assess whether there has been a sustained reduction in overall PN usage, a further increase in standard bag usage and reduction in wastage between 2017–2020. Methods PN usage and PN wastage data for 2017–2020 was collated using the BCH pharmacy database. Data included number of PN referrals, total number of PN days per month,% standard bags and% wastage. This was compared with data from 2012–2016. Wastage was defined as unused and discarded PN. Results Mean PN usage has fallen from 752 PN days/month in 2016 to 634 in 2020 showing a further 15% reduction in the total number of PN bags used (figure 1). This is despite an increase in the mean number PN referrals from 26/month in 2016 to 39/month in 2020. Mean% standard bag usage has increased from 14.5% in 2016 to 29.5% in 2020 (figure 2) There is minimal change in wastage (figure 3) but wastage varied widely between different specialities (surgery: 2.2%, oncology and haematology: 3.6% and Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) 7.3%). Summary and conclusion The interventions of the NST have resulted in continued reduction in the number of PN days despite an increase in referral numbers, suggesting shorter episodes of PN. A sustained increase in the percentage of standard bags 2017–2020 is attributed to more frequent consideration of standard PN, particularly when starting and weaning PN. Using clinical expertise the NST has introduced a wider range of standard PN bags. This has also contributed to increased standard PN use without compromising the quality of nutritional support. There are a number of factors that contribute to reducing PN wastage including using standard bags as these can be recycled. The study has not been able to demonstrate any major impact of standard bag use on overall PN wastage. Wastage is multifactorial and data recording for PN wastage has been optimised to enable thorough evaluation of contributing factors. Most specialities have demonstrated reduced PN wastage, but wastage on PICU remains high. This clinical area will be prioritised for additional NST involvement in 2021.
Keeping Promises? Carbon Risk Disclosure and Mutual Fund Portfolios

Morningstar’s disclosure of fund level carbon risk (CR) scores reveals that pre-disclosure (environmentally) sustainable funds in the US had lower portfolio CR scores than convention funds and showed a further significant relative reduction post-disclosure, consistent with a causal impact of disclosures. Contrary to perception, conventional funds that are signatories to UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) or those with secondary sustainability mandates appear to be pretentious―behaving more like other conventional funds rather than sustainable funds. Indeed, fund managers are sensitive to disclosures only in the presence of binding commitments to environment sustainability. Sustainable funds lower their CR score by reducing exposure to fossil fuels, not by increasing exposure to renewables.