cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Venus - Summary and review of science research activities 1983-87

The geology, geomorphology, and atmosphere of Venus are characterized on the basis of observations obtained with the Soviet Venera 15 and 16 spacecraft (including two international Vega balloon experiments), the Pioneer Venus Orbiter, and the Arecibo radio telescope during the period 1983-1986. Features discussed include impact craters, evidence of tectonic and volcanic activity, the high average age of the Venusian surface (apparently over 1 Gyr, indicating resurfacing rates much lower than on earth), and atmospheric temperature differences across the equator.
Irrigation and the Rise of the State in Hunza: A Case for the Hydraulic Hypothesis'

The former princely state of Hunza (now part of Pakistan's Northern Areas District) commands one of the largest and most complex irrigation systems in the whole of the western Karakoram mountain range. Built during the 18th century, Hunza's hydraulic works contributed significantly to the emergence of this small Central Asian state. Few writers, however, have explored the role of irrigation in Hunza's political evolution. Muller-Stellrecht (1981:55) has made some passing observations about the economic importance of irrigation in her paper on traditional Hunzakut society, Kreutzmann (1988) has provided some historical facts concerning the building of the canals and the present-day water distribution system in Hunza, while the French geographer Charles (1985) presents a significant body of data on Hunza's hydraulic works, but entirely from a physical perspective. In this paper, which is based on ethnohistorical data gathered during field research in Hunza, in 1990 and 1991, I examine the role of irrigation in the process of state formation in Hunza.
Weak Instrument Robust Tests in GMM and the New Keynesian Phillips Curve

We discuss weak instrument robust statistics in GMM for testing hypotheses on the full parameter vector or on subsets of the parameters. We use these test procedures to reexamine the evidence on the new Keynesian Phillips curve model. We find that U.S. postwar data are consistent with the view that inflation dynamics are predominantly forward-looking, but we cannot rule out the presence of considerable backward-looking dynamics. Moreover, the Phillips curve has become flatter recently, and this is an important factor contributing to its weak identification.
Fast Mapping in Late-Talking Toddlers.

This study investigated fast mapping in late-talking (LT) toddlers and toddlers with normal language (NL) development matched on age, nonverbal cognition, and maternal education. The fast-mapping task included novel object labels and familiar words. The LT group scored significantly lower than the NL group on novel word comprehension and production, as well as familiar word production. For both groups, fast-mapping performance was associated with concurrent language ability and later language outcomes. A post hoc analysis of phonotactic probability (PP) and neighborhood density (ND) suggested that the majority of NL toddlers displayed optimal learning of the nonword with low PP/ND. The LT group did not display the same sensitivity to PP/ND characteristics as the NL group.
Broadly neutralizing antibodies against influenza virus and prospects for universal therapies

Vaccines are the gold standard for the control and prevention of infectious diseases, but a number of important human diseases remain challenging targets for vaccine development. An influenza vaccine that confers broad spectrum, long-term protection remains elusive. Several broadly neutralizing antibodies have been identified that protect against multiple subtypes of influenza A viruses, and crystal structures of several neutralizing antibodies in complex with the major influenza surface antigen, hemagglutinin, have revealed at least 3 highly conserved epitopes. Our understanding of the molecular details of these antibody–antigen interactions has suggested new strategies for the rational design of improved influenza vaccines, and has inspired the development of new antivirals for the treatment of influenza infections.
Horizons of the State: Information Policy and Power

L'A. tente de definir l'etat et le pouvoir afin de comprendre pour quelles raisons la communication et la politique d'information sont des formes de pouvoir de l'etat. Il propose un pouvoir transformationnel resultant des changements qualitatifs de la societe d'information
A comparative study of multimaterial Lagrangian and Eulerian methods with pressure relaxation

We compare various Lagrangian and Eulerian hydrodynamics methods for two-material compressible flow. We investigate staggered and cell-centered Lagrangian schemes with Tipton’s mixture model for pressure relaxation. We compare direct Eulerian methods (five-equation model and a sharp Eulerian method) to a Lagrange plus remap method. We have tested our methods on classical one-dimensional shock tube problems with perfect and stiffened gas equations of state. In order to include Tipton’s mixture model in the cell-centered Lagrangian scheme, we have introduced a correction algorithm to ensure conservation of total energy. We have found that the tested algorithms compared favorably for averaged quantities. However, differences appear in multimaterial cell quantities and near the material interface discontinuity due to the localized effects of the mixture model and interface treatments.
Radical, Reformist and Aborted Liberalism: Origins of National Regimes in Central America

During the twentieth century, the countries of Central America were characterised by remarkably different political regimes: military-authoritarianism in Guatemala and El Salvador, progressive democracy in Costa Rica and traditional-authoritarianism in Honduras and Nicaragua. This article explains these contrasting regime outcomes by exploring the agrarian and state-building reforms pursued by political leaders during the nineteenth- and early twentieth-century liberal reform period. Based on differences in the transformation of state and class structures, three types of liberalism are identified: radical liberalism in Guatemala and El Salvador, reformist liberalism in Costa Rica and aborted liberalism in Honduras and Nicaragua. It is argued that these types of liberalism set the Central American countries on contrasting paths of political development, culminating in diverse regime outcomes.
Molecular Events in the Assembly of Retrovirus Particles

Retrovirus assembly results from the ability of a single gene product, the gag polyprotein precursor, to coalesce into a spherical particle capable of release from the cell. In conjunction with this primary process of capsid formation additional viral gene products such as the replicative enzymes and envelope glycoproteins as well as the genomic RNA are incorporated to form an infectious virus.
What Happens When You Can't Press Pause? The Effect of Interruptions on Detecting Threats in A Simulated Closed-Circuit Television Surveillance Feed

The present study investigated the effect of interruptions on the ability to detect and report threatening behaviors on 20-second clips of simulated low frame-rate closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. Participants reviewed clips and were occasionally interrupted approximately halfway through and asked to complete a secondary task for 20 seconds. When the interruption expired, participants resumed viewing the clip, either from where the clip left off or from a later point in time. An analysis of the threats reported by participants revealed that after being interrupted, threats in clips that resumed exactly where they were interrupted were more likely to be detected. If the clip resumed at a later point in time, participants were less likely to recall the threats they had observed before the interruption. This finding highlights the particularly disruptive nature of interruptions in a naturalistic setting and necessitates further investigation into how these effects can be mitigated.
Coplanar waveguides with sub-10 nm gold films

Coplanar waveguides (CPWs) with sub-10 nm gold films are fabricated and characterized up to 40 GHz. Such film thickness is much thinner than the electron mean free path (MFP) of bulk gold. Pressure-induced surface deformation technique is developed to form 7 nm continuous films, which are thinner than the nominal percolation threshold of gold (i.e. 8 nm). The measured results show that such CPWs have less dispersion, but high loss when compared with thick metal CPWs. In addition to possible RF nanofluidic channel development, such CPWs provide a new approach for disordered electronic system studies. Further work is needed to understand and model sub-10 nm CPWs.
Stories Remembered and Forgotten

Previous and recent writings on the Cuban missile crisis call into question the sorts of history that can and should be available for international security policy and analysis. The capacity of history is seriously limited with respect to evaluations of crisis outcomes, prescriptive and cautionary maxims, narrative completeness, and cause-and-effect inferences. Yet history as remembered is a valuable and inherent part of national security thinking. Ways are suggested to treat history to gain more from it. These principles apply at least as much to modern decision technology uses of history as to more traditional approaches.
Perspective on the use of LNT for Radiation Protection and Risk Assessment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bases its risk assessments, regulatory limits, and nonregulatory guidelines for population exposures to low level ionizing radiation on the linear no-...
A unified degree day model describes survivorship of Copitarsia corruda Pogue & Simmons (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) at different constant temperatures

Predictions of survivorship are critical to quantify the probability of establishment by an alien invasive species, but survival curves rarely distinguish between the effects of temperature on development versus senescence. We report chronological and physiological age-based survival curves for a potentially invasive noctuid, recently described as Copitarsia corruda Pogue & Simmons, collected from Peru and reared on asparagus at six constant temperatures between 9.7 and 34.5C. Copitarsia spp. are not known to occur in the United States but are routinely intercepted at ports of entry. Chronological age survival curves differ significantly among temperatures. Survivorship at early age after hatch is greatest at lower temperatures and declines as temperature increases. Mean longevity was 220 (+13 SEM) days at 9.7C. Physiological age survival curves constructed with developmental base temperature (7.2C) did not correspond to those constructed with a senescence base temperature (5.9C). A single degree day survival curve with an appropriate temperature threshold based on senescence adequately describes survivorship under non-stress temperature conditions (5.9‐24.9C).
Can medial temporal lobe regions distinguish true from false? An event-related functional MRI study of veridical and illusory recognition memory

To investigate the types of memory traces recovered by the medial temporal lobe (MTL), neural activity during veridical and illusory recognition was measured with the use of functional MRI (fMRI). Twelve healthy young adults watched a videotape segment in which two speakers alternatively presented lists of associated words, and then the subjects performed a recognition test including words presented in the study lists (True items), new words closely related to studied words (False items), and new unrelated words (New items). The main finding was a dissociation between two MTL regions: whereas the hippocampus was similarly activated for True and False items, suggesting the recovery of semantic information, the parahippocampal gyrus was more activated for True than for False items, suggesting the recovery of perceptual information. The study also yielded a dissociation between two prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions: whereas bilateral dorsolateral PFC was more activated for True and False items than for New items, possibly reflecting monitoring of retrieved information, left ventrolateral PFC was more activated for New than for True and False items, possibly reflecting semantic processing. Precuneus and lateral parietal regions were more activated for True and False than for New items. Orbitofrontal cortex and cerebellar regions were more activated for False than for True items. In conclusion, the results suggest that activity in anterior MTL regions does not distinguish True from False, whereas activity in posterior MTL regions does.
Reduction of the unintentional background electron density in AlSb/InAs/AlSb quantum wells

InAs quantum wells clad by AlSb barriers contain an unintentional electron density of approximately 1 10 12 cm 2 . This report concerns the compensation of these electrons by p-type modulation doping with Be. The electron concentration in the InAs quantum well decreases linearly with increasing Be doping as expected from lever rule arguments. Hall measurements show that the electron mobility increases with increasing electron concentration at temperatures between 10 and 300 K. These findings need to be considered in the design of field-effect transistors based on this material system. r 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 81.15.Hi; 73.61.Ey
ADPCM environment with a neural network predictor engine

Presented in this paper is an innovative technique to improve analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The methodology utilizes a built-in neural network engine to first learn, and then predict, the quantization step size. This produces a completely adaptable ADC, consisting of ADPCM samples fed back with the output of the neural network, which is capable of generating a better quantized output. The algorithmic solution, simulation methodology and results are also presented in this writing.
The International Monetary Fund, Structural Adjustment, and Women's Health: A Cross‐National Analysis of Maternal Mortality in Sub‐Saharan Africa

We conduct a cross-national analysis to test the dependency theory hypothesis that International Monetary Fund structural adjustment adversely impacts maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. We u...
Progress and Puzzles in Plutonium Superconductors

Recent progress revealing the unconventional nature of both normal and superconducting states of PuCoGa 5 and PuRhGa 5 has cast these materials in a broader context of strongly correlated materials and phenomena. In this regard, a comparison of the Pu-based superconductors to their isostructural Ce-based counterparts suggests a set of experiments that might lead to a clearer definition of the puzzles they present.
Thalamus provides layer 4 of primary visual cortex with orientation-and direction-tuned inputs

Understanding the functions of a brain region requires knowing the neural representations of its myriad inputs, local neurons and outputs. Primary visual cortex (V1) has long been thought to compute visual orientation from untuned thalamic inputs, but very few thalamic inputs have been measured in any mammal. We determined the response properties of ∼ 28,000 thalamic boutons and ∼ 4,000 cortical neurons in layers 1-5 of awake mouse V1. Using adaptive optics that allows accurate measurement of bouton activity deep in cortex, we found that around half of the boutons in the main thalamorecipient L4 carried orientation-tuned information and that their orientation and direction biases were also dominant in the L4 neuron population, suggesting that these neurons may inherit their selectivity from tuned thalamic inputs. Cortical neurons in all layers exhibited sharper tuning than thalamic boutons and a greater diversity of preferred orientations. Our results provide data-rich constraints for refining mechanistic models of cortical computation.
Detecting comatulid crinoid cryptic species in the fossil record

Abstract This work assesses the impact that taxonomic bias may exert on the richness history of the comatulid crinoids. While neontologists can use a whole organism for taxonomic description, paleontologists focus on only one element, the centrodorsal—the element most often described for fossil comatulids. With complete specimens available, one might expect that neontologists are able to discriminate more species, resulting in a bias that would result in a lower apparent richness of fossil versus extant crinoids. However, neontologists generally do not use many of the centrodorsal characters available for taxonomic description that are exploited by paleontologists. Potentially, this would bias upwards richness of fossil relative to extant crinoids, provided centrodorsals are a rich source of information. In this study, centrodorsal shape of Recent and fossil comatulid species was measured using quantitative methods that can be applied uniformly to both groups. Two different methods applied to centrodorsal shape—disparity and finite mixture modeling—reveal no obvious bias of over- or under-splitting of Recent versus fossil comatulid species. Interestingly, the methods identified high richness within a putative extant species complex, supported with molecular data. Lacking evidence of taxonomic bias influencing the richness record of fossil comatulids, sampling and preservation are the likely sources of bias producing the 10-fold higher richness of extant over fossil comatulids.
Comparison of the ankyrin (AC)n microsatellites in genomic DNA and mRNA reveals absence of one ankyrin mRNA allele in 20% of patients with hereditary spherocytosis

Combined deficiency of ankyrin and spectrin represents the most common biochemical abnormality in hereditary spherocytosis (HS). To examine whether a decrease in ankyrin mRNA represents a frequent cause of this type of HS, we took advantage of the reported (AC)n microsatellite polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of ankyrin cDNA. We first measured the number of AC repeats in genomic DNA encoding erythrocyte ankyrin in 36 unrelated Czech HS patients with combined ankyrin and spectrin deficiency and found 21 of these subjects (58%) to be heterozygotes for the (AC)n microsatellite size. Further analysis of reticulocyte RNA showed that ankyrin cDNA from 7 of these 21 heterozygotes (33%) contained only one of the two ankyrin alleles. We conclude that approximately 1/3 of ankyrin-deficient autosomal dominant HS is caused by reduced expression of one ankyrin allele which, in turn, is caused by either a reduced transcription of one allele of the mutated ankyrin gene or abnormal processing or decreased stability of the mutant ankyrin mRNA. Because ankyrin deficiency is detected in approximately 60% of HS subjects, this result suggests that approximately 20% of all HS is caused by a decreased expression of one ankyrin mRNA allele.
In Vivo Kinematics for Subjects Implanted With a Fixed or Mobile Bearing Revision Tka

Introduction Previous fluoroscopy studies have been conducted on numerous primary-type TKA, but minimal in vivo data has been documented for subjects implanted with revision TKA. If a subject requires a revision TKA, most often the ligament structures at the knee are compromised and stability of the joint is of great concern. In this present study, subjects implanted with a fixed or mobile bearing TC3 TKA are analyzed to determine if either provides the patient with a significant kinematic advantage. Methods Ten subjects are analyzed implanted with fixed bearing PFC TC3 TKA and 10 subjects with a mobile bearing PFC TC3 TKA. Each subject underwent a fluoroscopic analysis during four weight bearing activities: deep knee bend (DKB), chair rise, gait, and stair descent. Fluoroscopic images were taken in the sagittal plane at 10 degree increments for the DKB, 30 degree increments for chair rise, and at heel strike, toe off, 33% and 66% cycle gait and stair descent. Results The average weight bearing maximum flexion for the fixed bearing TKA group was 104 degrees (SD = 18.2 degrees). The average medial and lateral anterior-posterior (AP) translation for these subjects from full extension to maximum weight-bearing flexion was −6.74 mm and −8.0 mm in the posterior direction, respectively. The average femorotibial axial rotation was 1.27 degrees from full extension to maximum flexion. The average medial and lateral AP translations respectively from full extension to maximum flexion are shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the corresponding average femorotibial axial rotation pattern is shown in Figure 3. Subjects implanted with a mobile bearing device are presently being analyzed. Discussion The fixed bearing device, on average, does not allow for much axial rotation when compared to less constrained or mobile bearing TKA designs. Previous studies have mobile bearing rotating platform primary posterior stabilized devices have documented that the bearing does rotate with the femur. Therefore, it is assumed subjects having a mobile bearing TC3 TKA may achieve greater axial rotation. Subjects having the fixed bearing TC3 TKA did achieve posterior femoral rollback of both condyles, revealing that a fixed bearing revision TKA may act more like a hinged device.
The QBO and Stratospheric Warming

Detailed studies of a wave-2 stratospheric warming simulated by a general circulation model of the middle atmosphere are presented. The December-January warming is preceded by increases in both wave-1 and wave-2 amplitudes several days prior to the warming. The warming peaks with a maximum in wave-2 amplitude, wave propagation towards the pole as shown by E-P flux vectors and increased E-P flux convergence.Forcing the tropical winds to correspond to the QBO patterns significantly alter the warming event. The warming is strengthened during the easterly phase of the QBO and weakened during the westerly phase. For the upper stratospheric warming of this study, the important factor seems to be the presence of easterlies near the equator around 40km altitude, but the mechanism by which the equatorial winds influence the stratospheric warming is not clear.
Standing urogenital surgery.

Standing surgery is often the preferred method for correction of pathologic conditions or injuries to the urogenital tract. Epidural anesthesia desensitizes the region adequately, eliminating the need for general anesthesia. The standing patient positions the surgical field within comfortable reach of most surgeons. Patients are readily restrained in stocks with solid doors for surgeon safety. Compared with the recumbent patient, the caudodorsal location of the urogenital tract within the abdomen makes the structures in the standing patient less distorted and more accessible with respect to the abdominal viscera.
Abstract P54: Is Creatine Kinase-MB (CKMB) Really Necessary in the Diagnosis of Acute MI When Troponin Is Performed Simultaneously?

BACKGROUND According to Joint ESC/ACC/AHA/WHF Task Force, troponin I (Tn) is the preferred biomarker for the diagnosis of acute MI. However, it is still common practice to order both serial CKMB and serial Tn to rule out acute MI. OBJECTIVE Our hypothesis is that most clinicians only use Tn and not the CKMB results in the diagnosis of acute MI when both test results are available. Subsequent investigation and management decisions are based on Tn and not on CKMB. METHODS Our large regional academic medical center has about 150,000 ED visits /yr. We queried the electronic medical records of 65,950 patients from Jan 1, 2005 to Dec 31, 2010 who had a Tn within 4 hours of arrival in the ED and at least 2 sets of Tn and CKMB within 24 hours. Out of that cohort we selected the records of 9605 consecutive patients with symptoms suggestive of ACS , admitted to our Clinical Decision Unit, with the express purpose of ruling out acute MI, and then going on to further management pathways based on their initial course. All these patients had both serial Tn and CKMB. These patients were then divided into Group 1 ( 9204 patients- normal serial Tn and CKMB) :mean age 57.33 years, males 45.22%, Caucasian 72.11%, African-American 22.38% and Group 2 (401 patients- normal serial Tn and elevated CKMB ): mean age 58.33 years, males 72.82%, Caucasian 67.58%, African- American 27.43%. RESULTS (See Table) Chi square analysis was used to demonstrate that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the percentage of patients who proceeded to stress test or were discharged without a stress test or a cath. Also, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the percentage of patients who proceeded to cath. CONCLUSIONS In our patient population, elevated CKMB in the absence of elevated troponin did not influence further management decisions. View this table: TABLE
Structure of a Complete Mediator-RNA Polymerase II Pre-Initiation Complex

A complete, 52-protein, 2.5 million dalton, Mediator-RNA polymerase II pre-initiation complex (Med-PIC) was assembled and analyzed by cryo-electron microscopy and by chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry. The resulting complete Med-PIC structure reveals two components of functional significance, absent from previous structures, a protein kinase complex and the Mediator-activator interaction region. It thereby shows how the kinase and its target, the C-terminal domain of the polymerase, control Med-PIC interaction and transcription.
Giftedness and overexcitability: Investigating the relationship using Meta-Analysis

Current textbooks, websites, research articles, and popular resources have stated that gifted individuals have longer and more pronounced responses to stimuli than the general population. This overexcitable nature of gifted persons has provided a commonly used lens to conceptualize, identify, and understand giftedness and gifted persons’ behaviors. Yet there are reasons to be skeptical about the evidence demonstrating that the gifted population is more overexcitable than the nongifted population. A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the existence and strength of the giftedness–overexcitability (OE) relationship as presented in a number of studies comparing the OE scores of intellectually gifted and nongifted samples. Gifted samples were found to have higher mean OE scores than nongifted samples. However, the effect size for psychomotor OE was not statistically significant, while the effect sizes for the emotional and sensual OEs were small. Calculated effect sizes for intellectual and imaginationa...
Rigid and Multi-Body Systems

The dynamics of rigid body and multi-body systems are studied using the prior geometric developments. For each example system, a suitable configuration manifold is identified, and a Lagrangian function is obtained, using physical principles, that is defined on the tangent bundle of the configuration manifold. Variational methods are used to derive Euler–Lagrange equations and Hamilton’s equations. Special features of the dynamics are studied.
Probabilistic pharmacokinetic models of decompression sickness in humans: Part 2, coupled perfusion-diffusion models

Decompression sickness (DCS) can be experienced following a reduction in ambient pressure; such as that associated with diving or ascent to high altitudes. DCS is believed to result when supersaturated inert gas dissolved in biological tissues exits solution and forms bubbles. Models to predict the probability of DCS are typically based on nitrogen and/or helium gas uptake and washout in several theoretical tissues, each represented by a single perfusion-limited compartment. It has been previously shown that coupled perfusion-diffusion compartments are better descriptors than solely perfusion-based models of nitrogen and helium uptake and elimination kinetics observed in the brain and skeletal muscle of sheep. In this work, we examine the application of these coupled pharmacokinetic structures with at least one diffusion compartment to the prediction of the incidence of decompression sickness in humans. We compare these models to LEM-NMRI98, a well-described U.S. Navy gas content model, consisting of three uncoupled perfusion-limited compartments incorporating oxygen and linear-exponential kinetics. Pharmacokinetic gas content models with a diffusion component describe the probability of DCS in human bounce dives made with air, single non-air bounce dives, and oxygen decompression dives better than LEM-NMRI98. However, for the full data set, LEM-NMRI98 remains the best descriptor of the data.
Abstract 35: Enhanced Reprogramming of Human Fibroblasts into Cardiomyocytes Using Minimal Transcription Factors

The adult human heart has limited regenerative capacity and is thus an important target for novel regenerative approaches to replenish lost cardiomyocytes after cardiac injury. Cardiac reprogramming that converts fibroblasts to contractile induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) by overexpressing cardiac lineage specific transcription factors holds great promise as an alternative approach for cardiac regeneration and disease modeling. Significant advance has been made to generate mouse iCMs; however, human iCM (hiCM) generation remains challenging and the yield is low for clinical applications. Here, we leveraged the knowledge that we learned from studying mouse iCM reprogramming to define the optimal condition for hiCM induction. We titrated the dosage of the human reprogramming factors systematically and surprisingly found the minimal core components GATA4, MEF2C and TBX5 were sufficient to induce cardiac fate in human primary fibroblasts. This is in sharp contrast to what has been reported in the literature. Subsequently, we cloned these three factors into a polycistronic vector separated by 2A peptides for defined ratio of protein expression. By optimizing the growth condition, we further improved the efficiency of hiCM reprogramming. Mechanistically, we found the balanced expression of this minimal combination of transcription factors with tailored microenvironment enhanced the establishment of cardiac program in non-myocytes. In sum, our study demonstrates that the use of a single vector with only three transcription factors simplifies generation and improves the yield of hiCMs for potential future clinical applications.
The Idea of Moral Progress: Bush versus Posner versus Berlin

This essay is about the idea of moral progress. I plan to discuss the idea as an object of moral theory (hence, the comparison of the views of George W. Bush, Richard Posner, and Isaiah Berlin). I trust that my sympathies for Berlin’s theory of value-pluralism will become apparent; nevertheless, the contrast of Bush, Posner, and Berlin is instructive. I then plan to be upsetting (or at least a little bit unsettling), by moving from the abstract to the concrete, by suggesting that the aims of “identity politics” are in tension with the Socratic educational ideals of the academy, and by contesting two particular, popular, and politically charged claims about how moral progress can be, or has already been, achieved in two areas of life. I will begin, however, with a few other caveats, and a couple of confessions.
Prevalence and Onset of Pediatric Sickle Cell Retinopathy.

Purpose Children with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy (SCH) can demonstrate proliferative retinopathy with vision loss, but lack of consensus exists regarding screening regimens. We sought to determine the prevalence, age at onset, and risk factors associated with sickle cell retinopathy (SCR) to inform development of screening guidelines for asymptomatic children. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants Children with SCH over a 4-year period. Methods Prevalences of any retinopathy, nonproliferative retinopathy (NPR), and proliferative retinopathy (PR), determined as proportions of all children examined, were calculated. Subgroup analyses were completed by SCH genotype. Ages at first diagnosis were reported using standard descriptive statistics. The association of potential risk factors with retinopathy were assessed using univariate and multivariate linear and logistic regression. Main Outcome Measures Outcomes were prevalence, age at onset, and type of SCR, based on examination by an ophthalmologist. Markers of SCH severity (number of emergency room or hospital admissions for crises, number of blood transfusions, hydroxyurea therapy, transcranial Doppler–confirmed cerebral vasculopathy), genotype, gender, and race were evaluated as SCR risk factors. Results Of 398 children (mean age, 9.6±4.6 years; range 0–18 years), 208 (52%) showed sickle cell homozygote (SS) genotype, 113 (28%) showed sickle cell hemoglobin C (SC) genotype, and 77 (19%) showed trait genotype. Forty-eight children (12.1%) demonstrated SCR, 44 of 398 children (11.1%; 95% confidence interval, 8.3%–14.5%) demonstrated NPR, and 9 of 398 children (2.3%; 95% confidence interval, 1.2%–4.2%) demonstrated PR. Prevalence was higher for SC than SS genotype for NPR (21% vs. 9%) and PR (5% vs. 1%); onset for SC genotype was earlier than that for SS genotype for NPR (youngest diagnosis 4.8 vs. 6.1 years) and PR (12.2 vs. 15.4 years). No other risk factors were associated significantly with SCR. Conclusions Clinical markers of SCH severity assessed were not associated with SCR and are not necessary for screening guidelines. Based on our study and literature review, although screening could begin at age 5 years for NPR, screening of children without ophthalmologic symptoms to identify treatment-requiring PR could begin later, at 9 years of age for SC and 13 years of age for SS.
Spatial Spillover Effects: Domestic Violence in Nepal

One possible reason for the persistence of domestic violence in Nepal is a domestic violence spatial spillover effect in which the occurrence of domestic violence in one household or area impacts the incidence of domestic violence in a neighboring one. To test the hypothesis of a domestic violence spillover effect, we use the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, including global positioning system (GPS) data, to provide a detailed assessment of the spatial relationship between neighboring households’ opinions and incidence of domestic violence. Our a multivariate spatial autoregression model provides evidence of spatial spillover of less severe violence, the most common form of physical violence in Nepal, while controlling for other factors. Results suggest that focusing policy efforts to mitigate domestic violence in one area may reduce the incidence in neighboring areas, leading to an overall reduction across the country.
Rhizosphere microbiomes diverge among Populus trichocarpa plant-host genotypes and chemotypes, but it depends on soil origin

Plants have developed defense strategies for phytopathogen and herbivore protection via coordinated metabolic mechanisms. Low-molecular weight metabolites produced within plant tissues, such as salicylic acid, represent one such mechanism which likely mediates plant – microbe interactions above and below ground. Salicylic acid is a ubiquitous phytohormone at low levels in most plants, yet are concentrated defense compounds in Populus, likely acting as a selective filter for rhizosphere microbiomes. We propagated twelve Populus trichocarpa genotypes which varied an order of magnitude in salicylic acid (SA)-related secondary metabolites, in contrasting soils from two different origins. After four months of growth, plant properties (leaf growth, chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate) and plant root metabolomics specifically targeting SA metabolites were measured via GC-MS. In addition, rhizosphere microbiome composition was measured via Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S and ITS2 rRNA-genes. Soil origin was the primary filter causing divergence in bacterial/archaeal and fungal communities with plant genotype secondarily influential. Both bacterial/archaeal and fungal evenness varied between soil origins and bacterial/archaeal diversity and evenness correlated with at least one SA metabolite (diversity: populin; evenness: total phenolics). The production of individual salicylic acid derivatives that varied by host genotype resulted in compositional differences for bacteria /archaea (tremuloidin) and fungi (salicylic acid) within one soil origin (Clatskanie) whereas soils from Corvallis did not illicit microbial compositional changes due to salicylic acid derivatives. Several dominant bacterial (e.g., Betaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadete, Firmicutes) and one fungal phyla (Mortierellomycota) also correlated with specific SA secondary metabolites; bacterial phyla exhibited more negative interactions (declining abundance with increasing metabolite concentration) than positive interactions. These results indicate microbial communities diverge most among soil origin. However, within a soil origin, bacterial/archaeal communities are responsive to plant SA production within greenhouse-based rhizosphere microbiomes. Fungal microbiomes are impacted by root SA-metabolites, but overall to a lesser degree within this experimental context. These results suggest plant defense strategies, such as SA and its secondary metabolites, may partially drive patterns of both bacterial/archaeal and fungal taxa-specific colonization and assembly.
Some Geometric and Computational Challenges Arising in Structural Molecular Biology (Invited Talk)

Computational protein design is a transformative field with exciting prospects for advancing both basic science and translational medical research. New algorithms blend discrete and continuous geometry to address the challenges of creating designer proteins. I will discuss recent progress in this area and some interesting open problems. I will motivate this talk by discussing how, by using continuous geometric representations within a discrete optimization framework, broadly-neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies were computationally designed that are now being tested in humans - the designed antibodies are currently in eight clinical trials, one of which is Phase 2a (NCT03721510). These continuous representations model the flexibility and dynamics of biological macromolecules, which are an important structural determinant of function. However, reconstruction of biomolecular dynamics from experimental observables requires the determination of a conformational probability distribution. These distributions are not fully constrained by the limited geometric information from experiments, making the problem ill-posed in the sense of Hadamard. The ill-posed nature of the problem comes from the fact that it has no unique solution. Multiple or even an infinite number of solutions may exist. To avoid the ill-posed nature, the problem must be regularized by making (hopefully reasonable) assumptions. I will present new ways to both represent and visualize correlated inter-domain protein motions. We use Bingham distributions, based on a quaternion fit to circular moments of a physics-based quadratic form. To find the optimal solution for the distribution, we designed an efficient, provable branch-and-bound algorithm that exploits the structure of analytical solutions to the trigonometric moment problem. Hence, continuous conformational PDFs can be determined directly from NMR measurements. The representation works especially well for multi-domain systems with broad conformational distributions. For more information please see Y. Qi et al. Jour. Mol. Biol. 2018; 430(18 Pt B):3412-3426. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.06.022. Ultimately, this method has parallels to other branches of geometric computing that balance discrete and continuous representations, including physical geometric algorithms, robotics, computational geometry, and robust optimization. I will advocate for using continuous distributions for protein modeling, and describe future work and open problems.
Developing a Newborn Resuscitation Telemedicine Program: A Follow-Up Study Comparing Two Technologies.

Background: Early work has demonstrated that newborn resuscitation telemedicine programs (NRTPs) are feasible and improve the quality of high-risk newborn resuscitations in community settings. Rese...
Senescence of alveolar stem cells drives progressive pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract Tissue fibrosis is a common pathological outcome of chronic disease that markedly impairs organ function leading to morbidity and mortality. In the lung, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an insidious and fatal interstitial lung disease associated with declining pulmonary function. Here, we show that alveolar type 2 (AT2) stem cells isolated from IPF lung tissue exhibit characteristic transcriptomic features of cellular senescence. We used conditional loss of Sin3a in adult mouse AT2 cells to initiate a program of p53-dependent cellular senescence, AT2 cell depletion, and spontaneous, progressive pulmonary fibrosis. We establish that senescence rather than loss of epithelial stem cells serves as a proximal driver of Tgfβ activation and progressive fibrosis and show that either genetic or pharmacologic interventions targeting p53 activation, senescence, or downstream Tgfβ activation, block fibrogenesis.
Modeling technologies for desalination of brackish water — toward a sustainable water supply

Brackish groundwater is a largely untapped water resource that is available in much of the arid US. The low salinity of brackish water (1000–10 000 mg/L TDS) makes it a viable alternative water supply for municipal, industrial, and agricultural applications. Improvements in desalination technologies are required to fully utilize these waters. Electrodialysis (ED), capacitive deionization (CDI), and membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) are tunable techniques with low energy requirements and operational costs and have advantages over conventional reverse osmosis (RO) in many applications. The aim of the current effort is identifying the conditions under which these technologies may be applicable and developing models of these processes for the purposes of optimization and design. A steady-state 2D ion transport model for ED and a 2D transient ion transport-adsorption model for (M)CDI are presented. The models are capable of successfully describing the concentrations and potential distributions in the processes during brackish water desalination. The models are used to describe the effects of thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, and operating conditions on ion transport in these systems.
Understanding child labor in Myanmar

The problem of child labor is worse in Myanmar than nearly anywhere else in the world. Moreover, unlike in many other countries where this practice occurs, in Myanmar, child labor is conducted open...
Observation of Four-Fold Boron-Metal Bonds in RhB(BO-) and RhB.

The maximum bond order between two main-group atoms was known to be three. However, it has been suggested recently that there is quadruple bonding in C2 and analogous eight-valence electron species. While the quadruple bond in C2 has aroused some debates, an interesting question is: are main-group elements capable of forming quadruple bonds? Here we use photoelectron spectroscopy and computational chemistry to probe the electronic structure and chemical bonding in RhB2O- and RhB- and show that the boron atom engages in quadruple bonding with rhodium in RhB(BO)- and neutral RhB. The quadruple bonds consist of two π-bonds formed between the Rh 4dxz/4dyz and B 2px/2py orbitals and two σ-bonds between the Rh 4dz2 and B 2s/2pz orbitals. To confirm the quadruple bond in RhB, we also investigate the linear Rh≡B-H+ species and find a triple bond between Rh and B, which has a longer bond length, lower stretching frequency, and smaller bond dissociation energy in comparison with that of the Rh≣B quadruple bond in RhB.
Nanoscale density variations in sputtered amorphous TaOx functional layers in resistive switching devices

The density variations in reactively sputtered amorphous TaOx thin films deposited on planar and patterned substrates have been quantified by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The experiments have been performed both in plan-view and cross-sectional geometries. The planar films exhibit a cellular structure consisting of high-density cells with low-density boundaries. Laterally, cell sizes varied from 5 to 20 nm as the deposition temperature was changed from 298 K to 573 K. The corresponding density ratio of the cell boundary over the cell interior varied between 0.98 and 0.93 corresponding to 2%–7% free volume in the functional layer. The film microstructure is consistent with the self-shadowing effect of surface roughness. Similar low-density areas were found at the locations of steps of the patterned substrates with a local density decrease of up to 9%. The influence of the low-density region in the resistive random-access memory device is discussed.
Asymptotically Optimal Distributed Gateway Load-Balancing for the Internet of Things

Consider a network of N sensors that collect data. Each sensor transmits this data to one out of G gateways. The gateways perform the preprocessing of the data and store it in the cloud. In order not to lose data, sensors need to route their packets to the gateway that has higher chances of successfully receiving them. However, this might overload some gateways that are the best gateway for many sensors, forcing them to drop packets. We design an asynchronous distributed algorithm where each sensor randomizes its destination, taking into account both the transmission success probabilities and the average input data rate of each gateway. Sensors estimate the transmission success probabilities online by sending pilot sequences and gateways broadcast the input data rates to all sensors. We show that our algorithm converges to a close to optimal solution. Specifically, when the number of sensors N approaches infinity, the ratio of the total throughput of our algorithm to the optimal throughput converges in probability to one.
Reintroduced bison diet changes throughout the season in restored prairie

Grazing as a management tool is often intended to alter plant community dynamics through preferential foraging. Bison diet in the western United States has been well studied, especially in short and mixed grass remnant prairies. However, there is little known about what bison consume in restored and tallgrass prairies. As bison reintroductions are used more commonly in eastern tallgrass prairies, it is important to understand their diet to predict future impacts on prairie plant communities. This study aims to understand bison diet across different seasons, and asks whether diet differs among male and female, and differently aged bison. We used stable isotope analysis to quantify δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in plants and used a Bayesian isotope mixing model to estimate bison diet. We found bulls relied more heavily on C₄ plants and wetland plants than cows, which relied more heavily on forbs, but no differences in diet between ages. Our analysis shows that bison primarily grazed on C₄ grasses throughout the late spring and summer. However, bison foraged more on wetland species and forbs in the late summer and fall. This change in diet could have implications for wetland species and habitats, through dung inputs and trampling. The relatively high reliance on forbs for nearly one‐third of bison diet could mean intended impacts of reintroduced bison such as increased plant diversity through preferential grazing on grasses could be dampened. Managers reintroducing bison to restored prairie ecosystems should ensure adequate wetland and forb species, in addition to a mix of grasses.