cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional wind profiling of offshore wind energy areas with airborne Doppler lidar

A technique has been developed for imaging the wind field over offshore areas being considered for wind farming. This is accomplished with an eye-safe 2-micrometer wavelength coherent Doppler lidar installed in an aircraft. By raster scanning the aircraft over the wind energy area (WEA), a three-dimensional map of the wind vector can be made. This technique was evaluated in 11 flights over the Virginia and Maryland offshore WEAs. Heights above the ocean surface planned for wind turbines are shown to be within the marine boundary layer, and the wind vector is seen to show variation across the geographical area of interest at turbine heights.
Fast Mapping Of A Kalman Filter On Warp

A parallel algorithm for solving an n-state Kalman filter on an (n+2)-cell linear array is described. The algorithm is the basis for the mapping of a 9-state target tracking filter on the Warp computer. The Warp implementation is written in a high-level language and achieves a measured speedup of almost 300 over the same filter running on a Sun workstation.
Defining and ranking effects of individual agents based on survival times of cancer patients treated with combination chemotherapies

An important problem in oncology is comparing chemotherapy (chemo) agents in terms of their effects on survival or progression free survival time. When the goal is to evaluate individual agents, a difficulty commonly encountered with observational data is that many patients receive a chemo combination including two or more agents. Because agents given in combination may interact, quantifying the contribution of each individual agent to the combination’s overall effect is problematic. Still, if on average combinations including a particular agent confer longer survival, then that agent may be considered superior to agents whose combinations confer shorter survival. Motivated by this idea, we propose a definition of individual agent effects based on observational survival data from patients treated with many different chemo combinations. We define an individual agent effect as the average of the effects of the chemo combinations that include the agent. Similarly, we define the effect of each pair of agents as the average of the effects of the combinations including the pair. Under a Bayesian regression model for survival time in which the chemo combination effects follow a hierarchical structure, these definitions are used as a basis for estimating the posterior effects and ranks of the individual agents, and of all pairs of agents. The methods are illustrated by a data set arising from 224 pediatric brain tumor patients treated with over 27 different chemo combinations involving seven chemo agents.
What is a picture worth? Digital imaging applications in autopsy reports.

Abstract Context.—An image-enhanced report (IER) containing color digital images can serve as an educational tool and document important gross and microscopic findings in anatomic pathology. Objective.—To determine the clinical impression of IERs on an academic autopsy service. Design.—Autopsy IERs were initiated at this institution in December 2001. From January 2002 to July 2003, 261 hospital-service autopsies were performed; color images were produced for 39 (15%) of these autopsies. Of these IERs, 29 were distributed to 74 hospital-employed physicians. Each hospital physician recipient was sent a 6-question e-mail survey to evaluate his or her impression of image quality and added value. Results.—Of the 74 hospital-employed physicians sent an IER, 41 responded to the survey (response rate, 55%). Twenty-one respondents recalled receiving a report with color images. Image quality was uniformly rated as good or excellent. Ninety-five percent thought the images increased their understanding of the report,...
A scalable model for channel access protocols in multihop ad hoc networks

A new modeling framework is introduced for the analytical study of medium access control (MAC) protocols operating in multihop ad hoc networks. The model takes into account the effect of physical-layer parameters on the success of transmissions, the MAC protocol on the likelihood that nodes can access the channnel, and the connectivity of nodes in the network. A key feature of the model is that nodes can be modeled individually, i.e., it allows a per-node setup of many layer-specific parameters. Moreover, no spatial probability distribution or a particular arrangement of nodes is assumed; the model allows the computation of individual (per-node) performance metrics for any given network topology and radio channel model. To show the applicability of the modeling framework, we model multihop ad hoc networks using the IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function and validate the results from the model with discrete-event simulations in Qualnet. The results show that our model predicts results that are very close to those attained by simulations, and requires seconds to complete compared to several hours of simulation time.
Autopsy result utilization: a College of American Pathologists Q-probes study of 256 laboratories.

Abstract Objectives.—To document the level of involvement and communication with nonpathology clinical personnel regarding autopsies and to document the destination of autopsy reports. Design.—The College of American Pathologists Q-Probes format was used to collect information on 15 consecutively performed autopsies per institution or for 6 months, whichever occurred first. The following information was recorded for each autopsy: decedent’s age, hospital service, length of hospital stay, whether organs were donated, who was present at autopsy, methods of communicating preliminary and final autopsy results, special techniques used to arrive at a preliminary diagnosis, activities for which the autopsy was used, and destination of final report. Participants.—Two hundred fifty-six laboratories collected information on 2755 autopsies. Results.—The aggregate autopsy rate was 12.4% (median 8.5%). Nonpathology clinical personnel attended 35.8% of all autopsies. A clinical physician was more likely to attend an au...
Progress and Promise in the Treatment of Indolent Lymphomas

In the era of conventional alkylating agent-based chemotherapy, advanced stage indolent lymphoma has been considered incurable. The failure of our traditional therapies to cure these patients, coupled with the indolent course of the disease and the elderly population affected, has fostered a nihilistic attitude about the treatment of these diseases. Twenty years ago, in the absence of interesting alternatives to alkylating agents, judicious use and reuse of alkylators was perhaps the best we could do. There are now many reasons for optimism and excitement in the treatment of these diseases, including the availability of promising agents such as interferon-α, the nucleoside analogues, and rituximab. Radioimmunotherapy will also likely play a role in future therapy programs. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a high-risk approach that is not an option for all patients, but it has the potential to cure patients, even in the setting of relapse. Mini-allogeneic transplantation may permit an approach to allogeneic transplantation that is better tolerated than standard transplant strategies. In addition to these therapy options, biological insights have provided new options for monitoring patients. Molecular monitoring (polymerase chain reaction for bcl-2) is a stringent measure of short-term treatment efficacy, and one that correlates with durability of remission, i.e., it is a surrogate marker by which to judge treatment efficacy. There used to be a limited number of conventional treatment approaches, which consistently failed. The pendulum has swung. There are now many promising new options. It is time to plan and conduct trials that are geared for success. The Oncologist 2002;7:217-225
Design and implementation of a home stroke telerehabilitation system

Motor retraining following stroke can occur through intensive, repetitive motion tasks that require concentration to promote new connections in the brain. Conducting intensive, repetitive therapy in the clinic is time consuming for both patient and therapist. A home-based, clinician-directed tracking training system for rehabilitation is presented. Two biofeedback motion training systems have been developed, one for hand and wrist motor relearning and the other for the ankle. The systems include a potentiometer joint sensor, a smart box interface and a laptop host computer. An internet connection allowed for periodic video teleconferencing between patient and therapist. The hand/wrist system was evaluated in a pilot project with 24 subjects. The results demonstrated technical feasibility for the technology. The ankle system is currently undergoing evaluation.
Talking to Themselves: Autoregulation and Quorum Sensing in Fungi

Extracellular autoinducing compounds in the supernatants of microbial cultures were first recognized for their roles in the induction of genetic competence in gram-positive bacteria ([17][1], [94][2]) and in the regulation of light production in marine vibrios ([60][3]). In 1994, this form of
Antimicrobial efficacy of N-halamine coatings prepared via dip and spray layer-by-layer deposition

Abstract Antimicrobial coatings in which the active agent (e.g. N-halamine) can regenerate activity represent a promising way to prevent microbial cross-contamination. A reported method for applying coatings containing antimicrobial N-halamines is layer-by-layer (LbL) application of polyelectrolytes which form N-halamines upon cross-linking. Prior reports on dip LbL have demonstrated the potential of this technology; however, spray LbL represents a more commercially translatable technology. In this work, dip and spray LbL methods were used to coat polypropylene (PP) with N-halamine containing bilayers of cross-linked polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyacrylic acid (PAA). Materials were characterized using atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, contact angle, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and colorimetric assays for chlorine and amine contents. Both methods exhibited >99.999% reduction against Listeria monocytogenes with application time for spray LbL taking 6% of the time required for dip LbL. Spray LbL fabrication of N-halamines is a rapid and inexpensive method to fabricate rechargeable antimicrobial surfaces.
Overview: Recent Advances in Anti-ulcer Agents

(1993). Overview: Recent Advances in Anti-ulcer Agents. Current Opinion on Therapeutic Patents: Vol. 3, No. 9, pp. 1305-1312.
Initial Research on Producing Dimethyl Ether by Yellow Phosphorus Waste Gas

when producing one ton yellow phosphorus will let out waste gas of 2500Nm3～3000Nm3. through the procedure of purifying and affination, methanol synthesis and methanol catalytic dewater, the waste gas can be made dimethyl ether. If taking the example of producing 5 tons yellow phosphorus, the way will reduce to let out the waste gas of 1,280,000 Nm3 each year. This means that there will reduce 363 tons sulphur, 347 tons phosphorus and 014 ton fluorine to the air, at the same time, there will produce 3500 tons dimethyl ether and 500 tons methanol. The producing way is feasibility on technology and has good economic benefits and environmental benefits.
Composition of cerebroside acids as a function of age

The brains of from 11 to 30 rats of various age groups—23 to 418 days old—were pooled and analyzed for total lipids, total cerebrosides, and the individual cerebroside acids. Cerebroside deposition is evident over the range of ages studied, and its contribution to the total deposition becomes increasingly important with increasing age. Cerebronic acid is by far the major cerebroside acid, but appreciable amounts of the α-hydroxy C23 and C22 acids are also present. The unsaturated acids constitute a minor element, and the contribution of the hydroxy unsaturated acids is least. The odd-numbered acids show the greatest increases with age, compared to the other acids, while the hydroxy unsaturated acids show little accumulation except during the earliest period studied. Degradation experiments with the saturated hydroxy acids show that the hydroxyl groups are in the alpha position.
Pyk and ERK your way to the hub by taking a RSK 2. Focus on "Regulation of NHE3 by lysophosphatidic acid is mediated by phosphorylation of NHE3 by RSK2".

in the last quarter century, the status of the water-soluble phospholipid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), has risen from that of a simple intermediate in phospholipid metabolism to the lofty ranks of a multifunctional extracellular mediator regulating electrolyte transport, cell proliferation,
Gravity Probe B data analysis: I. Coordinate frames and analysis models

Gravity Probe B (GP-B) was a cryogenic, space-based experiment testing the geodetic and frame-dragging predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity (GR) by means of gyroscopes in Earth orbit. This first of three data analysis papers reviews the GR predictions and details the models that provide the framework for the relativity analysis. In the second paper we describe the flight data and their preprocessing. The third paper covers the algorithms and software tools that fit the preprocessed flight data to the models to give the experimental results published in Everitt et al (2011 Phys. Rev. Lett. 106 221101–4).
The impact of a multidisciplinary safety checklist on adverse procedural events during bedside bronchoscopy-guided percutaneous tracheostomy

BACKGROUND Bedside procedures are seldom subject to the same safety precautions as operating room (OR) procedures. Since July 2013, we have performed a multidisciplinary checklist before all bedside bronchoscopy-guided percutaneous tracheostomy insertions (BPTIs). We hypothesized that the implementation of this checklist before BPTI would decrease adverse procedural events. METHODS A prospective study of all patients who underwent BPTI after checklist implementation (PostCL, 2013-2014, n = 63) at our Level I trauma center were compared to all patients (retrospectively reviewed historical controls) who underwent BPTI without the checklist (PreCL, 2010-2013, n = 184). Exclusion criteria included age less than 16 years, OR, and open tracheostomy. The checklist included both a procedural and timeout component with the trauma technician, respiratory therapist, nurse, and surgeon. Demographics and variables focusing on BPTI risk factors were compared. Variables associated with the primary end point, adverse procedural events, during univariate analysis were used in the multiple variable logistic regression model. A p ≤ 0.05 was significant. RESULTS Of 247 study sample patients, no difference existed in body mass index, baseline mean arterial pressure, duration or mode of mechanical ventilation, cervical spine or maxillofacial injury, or previous neck surgery between PreCL and PostCL BPTI patients. PreCL patients were younger (48 [20] years vs. 57 [21] years, p < 0.01) but more often had adverse procedural events compared with PostCL patients (PreCL,14.1% vs. PostCL,3.2%, p = 0.020). After adjusting for age, vitals, BPTI risk factors, and intensive care unit duration after BPTI, multiple variable logistic regression determined that performing the safety checklist alone was independently associated with a 580% reduction in adverse procedural events (odds ratio, 5.8; p = 0.022). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the implementation of a multidisciplinary safety checklist similar to those used in the OR would benefit patients during invasive bedside procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic/care management study, level IV.
An Historical Perspective of Ancient Poisons

When it comes to the use of poisons to extinguish life, human nature remains the same from century to century and the motives of revenge or greed are universal. These deeds often remain hidden, are sometimes very close to home, and become exposed accidentally. Perhaps a modern experience will serve to illustrate the point.
Dairy Milk Components Differentially Affect Gastrointestinal Health Markers in C57Bl/6 Mice

Impaired gastrointestinal health is thought to play a causative role in chronic systemic inflammation leading to disease. The effects of individual protein sources, namely isolated soy protein (ISP...
IMPLEMENTATION OF A WIDEBAND LATE GADOLINIUM ENHANCEMENT CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE PROTOCOL TO IMPROVE ASSESSMENT OF MYOCARDIAL SCAR IN PATIENTS WITH IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATORS

Background: Severe susceptibility artifacts (SA) limit the use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). The use of a previously developed wideband (WB) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique may ameliorate these artifacts. We sought to
Resilience of California Black Oak Experiencing Frequent Fire: Regeneration Following Two Large Wildfires 12 Years Apart

Historically, oak woodlands in western North America were maintained by frequent fire that killed competing conifers. Today, these woodlands are often in decline as competition from conifers intensifies. Among oak species affected is the ecologically important California black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newberry). Within its range, large high-severity wildfires have become more common. We examined responses of black oak to two mixed-severity wildfires 12 years apart (2000 Storrie Fire and 2012 Chips Fire reburn). Regeneration was examined in relation to fire severity as measured by the Relative differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (RdNBR). We found that the RdNBR of the Storrie Fire was a useful predictor of the RdNBR of the Chips Fire reburn, suggesting that effects of the Storrie Fire on vegetation influenced fire behavior in the Chips reburn (t 12 = 2.892, P = 0.014, n =14, r = 0.641). After experiencing a second top-kill (complete cambium mortality above the root collar) in the Chips reburn, 95 % (99 of 104) of black oak sprout clumps resprouted. Twelve years after the Storrie Fire, we found lower proportions of sprout clumps produced acorns in places where more overstory trees survived the fire (t 5 = −3.023, P = 0.029, n = 7, r = 0.804). After both fires, the crown volume of entire sprout clumps was lower in areas of higher live overstory tree basal area (Storrie Fire: t 5 = 2.527, P = 0.053, n = 7, r = 0.749; Chips reburn: t 5 = −3.597, P = 0.016, n = 7, r = 0.849). Our finding that most black oak survived successive top-kill from repeat fire suggested that repeated high-severity or mixed-severity fire is not an immediate threat to black oak presence on the landscape. Our findings also suggest that, if high-severity fire is followed by historically normal fire return intervals, rapidly regenerating black oak may be favored over conifers and recover from decline.
A simple and improved method to determine cell viability in burn-injured tissue.

Abstract Background Cell viability is paramount to wound healing in burn injury. Current methods to determine depth of burn injury in the research setting are based on the subjective visualization of cell viability using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The purpose of this study was to develop a simplified method of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) staining to identify viable cells in frozen sections of human burn tissue that can be used in the research setting. Materials and Methods After surgical excision, human burn tissue was processed for histologic evaluation. Tissues were fixed and protected with sucrose incubation before cryopreservation. An LDH staining method was developed and evaluated for prolonged stain stability. To evaluate cellular viability in the tissues as demonstrated by enzymatic activity of LDH, digital images of tissue sections were obtained immediately after and 1 mo after staining. Results The cryopreserved sections of deep partial thickness human burn tissue revealed cellular viability throughout the tissue with the exception of the most superficial region of the tissue. Unlike the hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections, clear demarcation of cellular viability was evident in the LDH-stained sections. Conclusions Our simplified protocol identifies, without ambiguity, the viability of the cellular elements in deep partial thickness and full thickness burn injured tissue.
Ligand exchange based molecular doping in 2D hybrid molecule-nanoparticle arrays: Length determines exchange efficiency and conductance

Effective control of ligand exchange is important in the emerging field of nanoparticle-based meta-materials; controlling both the separation and electronic coupling between nanoparticles impacts the electrical, optical, chemical, and thermal properties of these materials. However, methods to evaluate exchange efficiency are generally lacking for solid state devices. In this paper, it is shown that controlling the initial ligand length determines the efficiency of the secondary ligand's substitution into the nanoparticle array. Controlling this ligand exchange efficiency determines the post-exchange conductance in a manner akin to doping in conventional semiconductor systems. For a series of initial ligand lengths the distribution of nanoparticle separations in the array is determined, and the ligand exchange efficiency is extracted using a bond percolation model. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations of charge transport in the arrays agree with the experimental conductance data for each molecular state and support the determination of the corresponding exchange efficiencies. This analysis provides a general framework for maximizing the efficiency of ligand exchange that will benefit the use of nanoparticle films in electronic, optoelectronic, plasmonic, and sensing systems.
Multi-dimensional finite volume scheme for the vorticity transport equations

Abstract A finite-volume scheme is developed for the three-dimensional, incompressible vorticity transport equations (VTE) using multi-dimensional upwinding, with the goal of efficient computations of vortex-dominated flows. By modifying the VTE with a term proportional to the divergence of the vorticity, a stable hyperbolic PDE system with a simple structure is revealed. The structure of the resulting eigensystem, including the vortex stretching term, makes the formulation and solution of the generalized Riemann problem and multi-dimensional upwinding more natural, when compared to the Euler equations. To reduce the computational costs of determining the transverse fluxes, a flux-based wave propagation approach is employed. In this approach, the transverse fluxes are computed via direct manipulation of the one-dimensional generalized Riemann problem with no additional Riemann problem solutions needed. The numerical scheme is implemented within an adaptive mesh refinement framework and evaluated on a series of canonical vortex-dominated flows. A translating vortex flow reveals that the multi-dimensional upwinding substantially outperforms one-dimensional schemes in terms of accuracy and computational time, especially when the vortex propagates oblique to cell surfaces. By including transverse fluxes in simulations of propagating vortex rings, key physical attributes including propagation velocity and impulse can be captured with better accuracy compared to one-dimensional schemes. Further vortex ring simulations demonstrate that the proposed multi-dimensional scheme can preserve vorticity with relatively coarse grids compared to simulations employing the incompressible Euler equations. Integrated quantities from leapfrogging vortex ring problems and energy spectra from decaying turbulent flows confirm that the multi-dimensional scheme can accurately reproduce flows with complex vortex stretching and multiple length scales.
ISR spectra simulations with electron-ion Coulomb collisions

This work was supported by NASA grants NNX14AI13G and NNX16AB80G and NSF grant PHY-1500439. This work used the XSEDE and TACC computational facilities, supported by NSF grant ACI-1053575. The work by Alex Fletcher was supported by NSF-AGS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship award 1433536 while at the Center for Space Physics, Boston University. Simulation produced data are archived at TACC and are available upon request. We thank John Swoboda of MIT Haystack Observatory for his suggestions on processing the simulated ISR spectra. (NNX14AI13G - NASA; NNX16AB80G - NASA; PHY-1500439 - NSF; ACI-1053575 - NSF; 1433536 - NSF-AGS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Center for Space Physics, Boston University)
Argyll Robertson: ’Twas better to be his pupil than to have his pupil

The Scottish ophthalmologist Douglas Argyll Robertson (1837-1909) is best known for his description of the syphilitic pupil. He also made important contributions concerning the ocular effects of physostigmine and to filtration surgery for glaucoma. Outside of his medical practice, he was club champion at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St. Andrews, and the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers many times. He was a champion archer of the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's Bodyguard in Scotland. Robertson was honored as surgeon-oculist in Scotland to Queen Victoria and to King Edward VII.
Bishops in Flight: Exile and Displacement in Late Antiquity

Flight during times of persecution has a long and fraught history in early Christianity. In the third century, bishops who fl ed were considered cowards or, worse yet, heretics. On the face, flight meant denial of Christ and thus betrayal of faith and community. But by the fourth century, the terms of persecution changed as Christianity became the favored cult of the Roman Empire. Prominent Christians who fl ed and survived became founders and influencers of Christianity over time. Bishops in Flight examines the various ways these episcopal leaders both appealed to and altered the discourse of Christian flight to defend their status as purveyors of Christian truth, even when their exiles appeared to condemn them. Their stories illuminate how profoundly Christian authors deployed theological discourse and the rhetoric of heresy to respond to the phenomenal political instability of the fourth and fifth centuries. “This exciting book offers the first sustained examination of flight during times of persecution. A significant contribution to the study of late antiquity that readers are sure to find highly stimulating.” SUSANNA ELM, author of Sons of Hellenism, Fathers of the Church: Emperor Julian, Gregory of Nazianzus, and the Vision of Rome “A fascinating meditative exploration of the shifting nature of exile and its uses in late ancient Christianity. Jennifer Barry depicts with lucid prose the adoptions and adaptations Christian bishops made of the concept in order to tap the authority exile could grant to those who managed it well. Those who study early church politics and imperial power will relish this book.” ELLEN MUEHLBERGER, author of Moment of Reckoning: Imagined Death and Its Consequences in Late Ancient Christianity JENNIFER BARRY is Assistant Professor of Religion at University of Mary Washington.
A Possible Case of Escitalopram-Induced Tardive Dystonia.

Abstract Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are known to rarely cause extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), including acute dystonia. The first treatment step for patients who suffer from drug induced acute dystonia is discontinuation of the offending agent. In addition, many patients require acute treatment using antimuscarinic or antihistamine agents. Case description We present the case of Ms. T, a 33 year old woman with generalized anxiety disorder who developed cervical dystonia one month after starting escitalopram which was persistent despite treatment. Due to the lack of treatment response, functional neurological symptom disorder was considered. Ms. T ultimately responded to deutetrabenazine, a medication typically used to treat tardive dyskinesia. Conclusion and Discussion: Despite initially being diagnosed with SSRI induced acute dystonia, Ms. T’s time course and treatment response did not fit well with this diagnosis. Ms. T ultimately received a diagnosis of SSRI induced tardive dystonia, though a functional disorder may have also contributed to her symptoms. This Case demonstrates the importance of a comprehensive workup in atypical dystonic reactions and a trial of all available pharmacological interventions. While deutetrabenazine is typically considered a treatment for tardive dyskinesia, other tardive syndromes, including tardive dystonia, may respond well to this treatment.
Tibetan Diaspora in the Shadow of the Self-Immolation Crisis: Consequences of Colonialism

This chapter for a forthcoming book on protracted refugee crises argues that the origins of both the unresolved Tibetan refugee crisis and the tragic and unprecedented wave of some 120 self-immolations in Tibet since 2009 lie in Tibet’s unacknowledged status as a colony. China illegally invaded and annexed Tibet in 1950, and it remains under belligerent occupation to this day. Contrary to the official views of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the United States, and (to my knowledge) every other state in the world, it is a fiction to refer to the Tibetan people as a Chinese 'minority nationality'. Every credible study (excluding, that is, PRC 'white papers') of Tibet and its people’s legal and historical status so concludes. The Tibetan people’s history as a nation extends back millennia. Despite the nebulous law on self-determination in the post-Cold War era, if any people merit what international law denotes 'external' self-determination — that is, the right (afforded to virtually all other colonies since 1945) to choose among independence as a sovereign state, integration with an existing state, or free association status based on a free and fair referendum — it is the Tibetan people. Their right to external self-determination arises from several facts, each independently sufficient, but even more compelling in combination: Tibet’s status as a colonized nation; the PRC’s continuing refusal to afford Tibetans any genuine autonomy consistent with the right of peoples to 'internal' self-determination; and more than half a century of systematic and severe human rights violations inconsistent with even the PRC’s own view of Tibetans as a minority nationality. Hence the self-immolation crisis within Tibet, a drastic act of dissent and protest in a political environment that enables few other forms of dissent, arises from the same circumstances that perpetuate the unresolved refugee crisis without (i.e., outside of Tibet). Acknowledging Tibet’s colonization is a necessary but insufficient step to resolving both crises.
Assessing mixed methods research quality in the European student mobility literature

Mixed methods research (MMR) integrates quantitative and qualitative research approaches to reach more valid, complete, or refined conclusions. MMR is emerging as a distinct research approach that ...
High mobility large area single crystal III–V thin film templates directly grown on amorphous SiO2 on silicon

In this Letter, we report the direct growth of single crystal III–V thin film mesas on amorphous SiO2 on Si using templated liquid phase growth. Unlike previous works, where crystal sizes demonstrated have been less than ∼10 μm, here, we show that by tuning the crystal growth conditions, crystals with dimensions greater than 100 μm and of high electron mobility can be directly grown on oxides. Specifically, InAs-on-oxide with mobilities reaching 5100 cm2/V s at 100 K, and ∼3200 cm2/V s at room temperature has been demonstrated. The excellent electronic performance is due to the single crystallinity of the grown material and creates new avenues for the monolithic direct integration of high-performance materials on non-epitaxial substrates, including silicon, and amorphous substrates, such as glasses and metals.
Liquid droplet germ granules require assembly and localized regulators for mRNA repression

Summary Cytoplasmic RNA-protein (RNP) granules have diverse biophysical properties, from liquid to solid, and play enigmatic roles in RNA metabolism. Nematode P-granules are paradigmatic liquid droplet granules and central to germ cell development. Here we analyze a key P-granule scaffolding protein, called PGL, to investigate the functional relationship between P-granule assembly and function. Using a protein-RNA tethering assay, we find that reporter mRNA expression is repressed when recruited to PGL granules. We determine the crystal structure of the PGL N-terminal region to 1.5 A, discover its dimerization and identify key residues at the dimer interface. In vivo mutations of those interface residues prevent P-granule assembly, de-repress PGL-tethered mRNA and reduce fertility. Therefore, PGL dimerization lies at the heart of both P-granule assembly and function. Finally, we identify the P-granule-associated Argonaute WAGO-1 as crucial for repression of PGL-tethered mRNA. We conclude that P-granule function requires both assembly and localized regulators.
0035 Ride safe reboot

Statement of purposeThe goal of the Ride Safe Pilot Program is to reduce motor vehicle crash (MVC) injuries among American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) children by promoting child safety seat use Initially developed in 2003, the Ride Safe Pilot Program was revised and implemented in collaboration with tribal partners and the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service Division of Environmental Health Methods/ApproachThe Ride Safe Program utilizes a community-based approach coupled with the following to achieve its goal: 1 ) Distribution of a child passenger safety (CPS) curriculum tailored for AI/AN communities;2 ) Provision of child safety seats;and 3 ) Completion of evaluation activities ResultsThe program was implemented in six tribal communities in Arizona, California, and Nevada A total of 657 car seats were acquired and 75% were distributed ConclusionsThe pilot project is a promising community-based compliment to evidence-based CPS activities aimed at addressing MVC At the start of the initiative, a majority of the participating programs had below 50% CPS usage rates;unfortunately due to COVID-19, the sites were not able to collect post observational data A positive outcome is the development of the COVID-19 CPS protocol to assist in the next cycle of the pilot program SignificanceIn 2017, MVCs were the leading cause of death for AI/AN ages 5–24, with the youngest family members disproportionately affected These losses are even more tragic because the majority of MVC injuries and deaths are preventable through the proper use of a child safety seat or seatbelt Ride Safe can be easily replicated in any community to reduce MVC-related injuries among children This serves as a testimony to the power of simple, well-informed, community-based models intended to reduce MVC injuries among children
Dementia care needs for individuals and caregivers among Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic Whites

Mexican Americans (MA) are more likely to have cognitive impairment and dementia (CID), be diagnosed at an earlier age and live with CID longer, compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). While studies...
Integration of millions of transcriptomes using batch-aware triplet neural networks

Efficient integration of heterogeneous and increasingly large single-cell RNA sequencing data poses a major challenge for analysis and, in particular, comprehensive atlasing efforts. Here we developed a novel deep learning algorithm called INSCT (Insight) to overcome batch effects using batch-aware triplet neural networks. We use simulated and real data to demonstrate that INSCT generates an embedding space that accurately integrates cells across experiments, platforms and species. Our benchmark comparisons with current state-of-the-art single-cell RNA sequencing integration methods revealed that INSCT outperforms competing methods in scalability while achieving comparable accuracies. Moreover, using INSCT in semisupervised mode enables users to classify unlabelled cells by projecting them into a reference collection of annotated cells. To demonstrate scalability, we applied INSCT to integrate more than 2.6 million transcriptomes from four independent studies of mouse brains in less than 1.5 h using less than 25 GB of memory. This feature empowers researchers to perform atlasing-scale data integration in a typical desktop computer environment. INSCT is freely available at https://github.com/lkmklsmn/insct . Single-cell RNA sequencing efforts have made large amounts of data available for transcriptomics research. Simon and colleagues develop a neural network embedding approach that avoids batch effects, such that it can rapidly and efficiently integrate large datasets from different studies.
Central nucleus of the amygdala projections onto the nucleus accumbens core regulate binge-like alcohol drinking in a CRF-dependent manner.

Abstract Rationale The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is important for regulating a number of behaviors, including alcohol and substance use. We previously found that chemogenetically manipulating neuronal activity in the NAc core regulates binge-like drinking in mice. The central amygdala (CeA) is also an important regulator of alcohol drinking, and projects to the NAc core. We tested whether neuronal projections from the CeA to the NAc core, or neuropeptides released by the CeA in the NAc core, could regulate binge drinking. Methods For experiment 1, mice were administered AAV2 Cre-GFP into the NAc core and a Cre-inducible DREADD [AAV2 DIO- hM3Dq, -hM4Di, or -mCherry control] into the CeA. We tested the effects of altering CeA to NAc core activity on binge-like ethanol intake (via “Drinking in the Dark”, DID). For experiment 2, we bilaterally microinfused corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), or somatostatin (SST) into the NAc core prior to DID. For experiment 3, we tested whether intra-NAc CRF antagonism prevented reductions in drinking induced by CNO/hM3Dq stimulation of CeA->NAc projections. Results Chemogenetically increasing activity in neurons projecting from the CeA to NAc core decreased binge-like ethanol drinking (p NAc projections. These findings demonstrate that neurons projecting from the CeA to NAc core that release CRF are capable of regulating binge-like drinking in mice.
Chapter 18 The Anti-Infective and Anti-Cancer Properties of Artemisinin and its Derivatives

Publisher Summary Artemisinin—a 1,2,4-trioxane sesquiterpene lactone with an atypical endoperoxide moiety—is found to be active against the deadly cerebral form of malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, viral infections, certain bacterial infections, shistosomiasis, and cancer. The use of artemisinin and its derivatives as broad-spectrum anti-infective agents has been patented recently. This chapter focuses on antiparasitic uses of Artemisinin, including antimalarial, anti-toxoplasmosis, anti-leishmaniasis, anti-shistosomiasis, and anti-trypanosomiasis activity. It also discusses the therapeutic uses of artemisinin and its derivatives. The wide therapeutic applications of artemisinin make it difficult to attribute artemisinin's effectiveness to a common mechanism. Intra-cellular or parasitic metabolic degradation of artemisinin is known to induce the formation of oxygen and carbon-centered radicals; therefore, radical-induced cell death is certainly one attractive possibility. Despite the increasing known breadth of activity, the most popular uses remain the antiparasitic uses. It is now widely believed that the 1,2,4-trioxane class of antimalarials, including artemisinin, exert their activity on the erythrocytic stage of the parasite life cycle. In addition, the fact that endoperoxide is vital for artemisinin's antimalarial activity has been well-established.
Pricing initial public offerings

Abstract Evidence on the pricing of initial public offerings is presented for Germany. A data set of 92 going publics over the years 1961–1987 is analyzed. On average, the initial return from the offer price to the first day of trading, adjusted for market movements, is more than 15°o. Tests of several hypotheses indicate that underpricing is related to ex-ante uncertainty about the value of the shares.
Design and Control Considerations for Industrial and Space Manipulators

This paper is a progress report summarizing theoretical and practical results concerning integration of design and control aspects of manipulator arms for industrial or space applications. The relationships between task specifications, gross motions, fine motions, actuator type and location, size and strength of structural members, control servos and strategies, and overall design evaluation are briefly discussed, with some technical examples.
Bug Sprays or Class (Insecta) Warfare

Secret Weapons . Defenses of Insects, Spiders, Scorpions, and Other Many-Legged Creatures. By Thomas Eisner, Maria Eisner, and Melody Siegler . Belknap (Harvard University Press), Cambridge, MA, 2005. 384 pp. $29.95, £18.95, €27.70. ISBN 0-674-01882-6. This collection of short essays (accompanied by striking, informative photographs) offers a splendid introduction to the behavioral chemical ecology of insects and other arthropods.
SPICE macromodel for a 1-megawatt power MOSFET switch

This paper presents a SPICE macromodel for a 1-megawatt high power electrical switch which uses power MOSFETs as the active switching elements. The model accurately predicts the time dependent switching current and provides a reasonable representation of the time dependent switch resistance and voltage drop across the switch. Techniques for extracting model parameters for commercial power MOSFETs are discussed along with suggestions for extending the model to spark gaps and other high power switches. >
High-performance silicon-germanium technology

This paper will focus on the various and ubiquitous uses of silicon-germanium (SiGe) in high-performance silicon-based semiconductor technology. SiGe can now qualify as a "mature" technology - it is almost 20 years since the first SiGe HBT work. It is 10 years since the qualification of SiGe as a manufacturable silicon technology in a high-volume silicon fabricator
Short Class I Major Histocompatibility Complex Cytoplasmic Tails Differing in Charge Detect Arbiters of Lateral Diffusion in the Plasma Membrane

Directed and Brownian movement of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on cell membranes is implicated in antigen presentation. Previous studies indicated that the class I MHC cytoplasmic tail imposes constraints on the molecule's diffusion. Here we used single particle tracking to study the mobility of the wild-type mouse H-2Ld class I MHC molecule and of seven cytoplasmic tail variants. Six of the variants have cytoplasmic tails of four or seven residues (differing in net charge), and one is tailless, yet all are susceptible to confinement in membrane domains. However, truncation of the cytoplasmic tail to 0–4 residues decreases the proportion of particles exhibiting confined diffusion and increases the proportion exhibiting simple diffusion. Particularly for the truncated mutants (tail length of 0–7 residues), many of the particles have complex trajectories and do not move at a constant speed or in the same mode of diffusion throughout the observation period. Several particles of the tailless H-2Ld mutant display a type of directed diffusion that is rarely observed for other H-2Ld mutants. Taken together, these data show that even short cytoplasmic tails can influence markedly class I MHC mobility and that cytoplasmic tail length and sequence affect the molecule's diffusion in the membrane.
Osteogenic Regulation of Vascular Calcification

Vascular calcification increasingly afflicts our aging and dysmetabolic population, predisposing patients to cardiovascular mortality and lower extremity amputation. Active osteogenic processes are evident in most histoanatomic variants, including elaboration of BMP2-Msx2 signals required for craniofacial bone formation. We developed an animal model of diet-induced diabetes, dyslipidemia, and vascular calcification. High-fat diets promote vascular calcification in male low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-deficient mice, with concomitant upregulation of aortic BMP2 and Msx2 gene expression. We wished to test if Msx2 exerts pro-calcific actions during vascular calcification, as it does in craniofacial bone. We studied CMV-Msx2Tg+;LDLR+ transgenic mice (C57Bl/6), a model previously demonstrated to recapitulate features of Msx2 signaling during craniosynostosis. After 16 weeks of fatty diets, vascular calcification was studied in CMV-Msx2Tg+ versus nontransgenic sibs. Only CMV-Msx2Tg+ mice fed high-fat diets exhibited vascular calcium accumulation by alizarin red staining, noted in the tunica media of coronary arteries and the aorta. Gene expression studies revealed that while Msx2 was expressed primarily in adventitial cells, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression and calcification occurred primarily in the tunica media. Msx2 promotes the elaboration of a pro-osteogenic milieu by upregulating expression of Wingless type (Wnt) ligands while downregulating the canonical antagonist, Dickkopf (Dkk1). Msx2 upregulates aortic Wnt signaling in vivo, revealed by the analysis of TOPGAL+ (Wnt reporter) versus CMV-Msx2Tg+; TOPGAL+ mice. Aortic Msx2 exerts pro-osteogenic signaling in vivo and in vitro, mediated in part via the enhancement of paracrine Wnt signaling. Strategies that selectively inhibit aortic Msx2-Wnt cascades may help diminish the initiation and progression of diabetic vascular disease.
Advances in contrast media research1

The need for contrast media to highlight structures of interest and thereby improve imaging technologies has existed since the first use of radiography to diagnose disease and dysfunction. Regardless of improvements in tissue contrast resolution afforded by the latest new imaging modality, the need for contrast media to distinguish between two dissimilar regions with similar imaging appearances has stimulated and fueled the field of contrast media development. Multiple areas of contrast media research are pursued that include
CHANGING AND UNCHANGING OF THE RADIUS OF A GRAPH

Abstract Harary introduced the concept of changing and unchanging of a graphical invariant i, asking for characterizations of graphs G = (V, E) for which i(G − v), i(G − e) or i(G + e) either differ from i(G) or are equal to i(G) for all v ∈ V, e ∈ E, or e ∈ E, respectively, where E is the set of edges in the complement of G. This paper examines changing and unchanging properties of the radius of a graph, an important parameter in network design.
Characterization of Na+−Ca2+ exchange activity in plasma membrane vesicles from postmortem human brain

Procedures were developed for measurement of Na+/Ca2+ exchange in resealed plasma membrane vesicles from postmortem human brain. The vesicle preparation method permits use of stored frozen tissue with minimal processing required prior to freezing. Vesicles prepared in this manner transport Ca2+ in the presence of a Na+ gradient. The kinetic characteristics of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange process were determined in membrane vesicles isolated from hippocampus and cortex. The Kact for Ca2+ was estimated to be 32 μM for hippocampal and 17 μM for cortical tissue. The maximal rate of Ca2+ uptake (Vmax) was 3.5 nmol/mg protein/15 sec and 3.3 nmol/mg protein/15 sec for hippocampal and cortical tissue, respectively. Exchange activity was dependent on the Na+ gradient, and was optimal in the high pH range. Therefore, membranes in which Na+-dependent o Ca2+ transport activity is preserved can be isolated from postmortem human brain and could be used to determine the influence of pathological conditions on this transport system.