cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cooperative Learning At A Distance: An Experiment With Wikis

The merits of incorporating group work into learning environments are well established. Online classes and other distance learning settings, however, can make it challenging to introduce traditional group projects. Wikis use technology to facilitate group work in distance learning settings. Wikis allow individuals in different locations to asynchronously post and edit content on a website to iteratively and cooperatively work toward a solution. We describe wikis and their use in an online MBA managerial accounting class. Student feedback on their experiences using wikis as well as instructor observations were mostly positive while negative comments were primarily administrative in nature and easily addressed. In general wikis can be implemented in any business course using group assignments. When using wikis for cooperative learning, the obstacles are minimal, but the potential benefits for students may be substantial. These benefits include developing a sense of community, participating in peer-to-peer learning and using critical thinking and communication skills while still enjoying the convenience of working asynchronously in disparate locations.
Muscular Pseudohypertrophy (Steatosis) in a Bovine Fetus

Muscular pseudohypertrophy was diagnosed in the cervical musculature of a full-term crossbred Simmental fetus delivered by fetotomy. Only head and cervical regions were submitted for pathologic exa...
Mean square stability of consensus over fading networks with nonhomogeneous communication delays

In this paper, we propose a discrete time consensus protocol which can solve the consensus problem in the network with nonhomogeneous communication delays. We give the sufficient conditions to reach consensus and provide a closed form formula for the consensus value. Furthermore, we investigate the mean square stability (MSS) of our protocol when each link of the network can break with a given probability at each time interval. The condition for checking MSS is equivalent to checking the spectral radius of a positive matrix. To gain more insight, we further restrict our attention to spatially invariant network structure and develop a more efficient expression to check the MSS. We derive a closed form formula to determine the MSS in the limit of large delays, get useful lower and upper bounds and analyze their implications for large classes of network topologies. We find that the consensus protocol is robust to link failures in the sense the system is always mean square stable if we put restrictions on the propagation gain.
Clinical and Economic Impact of a Quality Improvement Initiative to Enhance Early Recognition and Treatment of Sepsis

Background: Studies evaluating the clinical effectiveness of sepsis screening tools and methods to improve the time from diagnosis to antibiotic administration are needed to improve sepsis-related outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the clinical and economic impact of a sepsis quality improvement initiative to improve early recognition and treatment of sepsis. Methods: A retrospective observational study of adults with sepsis was performed in a 433-bed tertiary medical center. Baseline data were collected for 181 patients with sepsis diagnosis-related group (DRG) coding assignments from July through September 2013. The intervnetion group included 216 patients from October through December 2013. A First-Dose STAT Antibiotic policy was developed, and nurses were instructed to complete an electronic sepsis screening tool once per shift. Primary outcomes included in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included overall LOS and cost per case. Results: Nonsignif...
Phosphatidylcholine peroxidized by hemoglobin increases intracellular calcium in dog basilar artery smooth muscle cells.

Numerous studies in vitro and in vivo have identified hemoglobin as the primary spasmogen underlying cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) [8]. Numerous cellular mechanisms, however, remain implicated in the pathogenesis of vasospasm, and the existence of other spasmogen(s) is suggested by hemolysate fractionation studies [1, [9]. Lipid peroxides are attractive candidate spasmogens as they are key structural components of cell membranes and are abundant in the subarachnoid space after SAH, are readily formed following exposure to reactive oxygen species [3] and can have wide-ranging biological effects depending upon their putative downstream target(s) in ensuing free-radical chain reactions. We hypothesized that hemoglobin promotes the peroxidation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidylcholine peroxide (PCOOH), and that PCOOH contributes to cerebral vasospasm by mobilizing intracellular calcium in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Family and Community: Changing Roles in an Aging Society

A holistic approach to the provision of social care of the elderly can best meet their future needs for assistance. In this paper, the concept of social care is delineated, and a systemwide model presented. This model emphasizes the interrelatedness of the component parts--informal, mediating, and formal--and the need for well-articulated linkages among them. Trends affecting future demand for care, and the ability of family and community to respond, are discussed. Although the family will retain an important role, some of its functions may shift to formal care in the decades ahead. Within the proposed framework, a research and policy agenda is suggested.
Medium-Term Pricing and Operations Planning in Intermodal Transportation

Motivated by a real application that requires effective medium-term planning in intermodal transportation, we develop a mathematical programming model that jointly considers pricing and operations planning. Building on available work from marketing and transportation literature, we develop a new method for considering pricing, as well as develop distinctly different operations submodels that are appropriate for this context. We solve the resulting nonlinear optimization problem (with continuous and 0-1 variables) to optimality through a decomposition that exploits the structure of subproblems. Computational testing on industrial-sized problems shows that our algorithm is very quick, allowing for effective scenario testing and "what-if" analysis.
Narcissists are approach-oriented toward their money and their friends

According to the unmitigated approach model (UAM) of narcissism, narcissists possess strong approach motivation coupled with weak avoidance motivation. The present research tests the UAM in two independent contexts: social and financial. In Study 1, narcissists report having social goals that emphasize the promotion of positive outcomes (e.g., having fun). This predilection is mediated by strong approach motivation. In Study 2, narcissists report a preference for aggressive financial investment strategies (e.g., investing in volatile stocks rather than stable bonds). This preference is mediated by both strong approach and weak avoidance motivation. Discussion focuses on how these results support the UAM and more broadly on how the UAM provides a theoretical framework for understanding the costs and benefits of narcissistic personality.
Optimal control of demand-paging systems

Demand-paging systems are characterized as stochastic control processes, and optimal page replacement decisions are determined by means of dynamic programming. This approach is distinguished from others by its utilization of page structure information, which may be either supplied a priori or else dynamically learned. The main result is an optimal realizable solution for a general class of replacement problems. The resulting algorithm subsumes others (including ''A"0'') as special cases.
Irregular genetic transmission in Tetrahymena crosses.

LLEN (1960) reported briefly an aberration in the breeding behavior of a Astrain (C*) of variety 1 of Tetrahymena pyriformis. Her later studies (ALLEN 1963) established the genetic parameters of the aberration and lead to the conclusion that the total genome of the C* strain is systematically excluded at conjugation. Genomic exclusion does, however, involve a complete reorganization process and recombination of markers present in the normal parent if it is heterozygous. The occurrence of genomic exclusion in crosses to C* raises the possibility that similar aberrations may occur in other crosses and may bias breeding results in important ways. During the past few years many crosses have been made among group of strains of variety 1 in a study of the genetic basis for antigenic differences. Several of these crosses have provided indications of genetic anomalies similar to those reported by ALLEN. The purpose of this report is to document the occurrence of genetic aberrations and to indicate some of the methods whereby crosses may be screened.
Conversion of Angiotensin I to II In Vivo and In Vitro

It has long been believed that the conversion of the inactive decapeptide hormone angiotensin I (AI) to angiotensin II (AII) was mediated by a plasma dicarboxypeptidase (1). More recently the provocative experiments of Ng and Vane (2) suggested that the major site of conversion was the pulmonary circulation and that conversion in plasma could not account for the rapid pressor response to an intravenous injection of AI.
Discussion: Policy Issues and Problems in Outdoor Recreation

The authors state that emphasis in their paper is placed on economic conditions that need to be considered in formulating an outdoor recreation policy. Their application of the Pareto optimality conditions is appropriate. However, the framework provided by these conditions may be too confining to express certain important policy issues. The Pareto optimality conditions define a system which maximizes wel-
Partisan-Ideological Divergence at the Individual-Level: Considering an Affective Measure

The notion of divergence between a person's partisanship and their ideology is not new. It has been used in aggregated form to explain state differences (Erikson, Wright, and McIver) and to explain patterns in party competition (Brown and Bruce). In the current paper, I propose to model individual-level preferences using a model that incorporates an affective measure of divergence. The basic expectations are that voters with divergence are more likely to split their ticket, less likely to vote, and more likely to have inconsistent beliefs. The primary measurement of divergence is a two-dimensional space built from the four relevant thermometer scores. An alternative measure built from the traditional questions will be compared for an assessment of validity. Existing literature makes clear that there is a geographic pattern in the existence of divergence, and this paper will explore replacing geography with a more substantive explanation.
ATR vowel harmony in Akposso

This paper presents a description of the vowel harmony system of Akposso (Uwi), a Kwa language of Ghana and Togo, one of only a handful of Kwa languages with a complete ten vowel system with ATR harmony. However, the tenth vowel, hi, does not function as the harmonic counterpart of the low [-ATR] central vowel lal in affixes as it does in other ten vowel languages with crossheight vowel harmony systems. Rather, in some instances Ia! alternates with lei in [+ATR] contexts, while in other instances it surfaces invariably as lal in both [-ATR] and l +ATR] contexts. Formant measurements show the [+ATR] central vowel occupying the mid area of acoustic space, thus adding some support to the view that [+ATR] central vowels in ATR harmony systems are phonetically non-low rather than low, the more widely-assumed position. Although vowel harmony applies to a significant number of affixes, especially in the verb morphology, there are interesting limitations on how far harmony extends.
Dark laughter. Spanish film, comedy, and the nation

La produccion academica sobre el cine espanol en los Estados Unidos esta atravesada por un desequilibro basico. Por una parte, nos encontramos con una profusa cantidad de ensayos que tienen su base...
The partition of radiated energy between P and S waves

Seventy-three digitally recorded body waves from nine multiply recorded small earthquakes in Monticello, South Carolina, are analyzed to estimate the energy radiated in P and S waves. Assuming Qα = Qβ = 300, the body-wave spectra are corrected for attenuation in the frequency domain, and the velocity power spectra are integrated over frequency to estimate the radiated energy flux. Focal mechanisms determined for the events by fitting the observed displacement pulse areas are used to correct for the radiation patterns. Averaging the results from the nine events gives 27.3 ± 3.3 for the ratio of the S -wave energy to the P -wave energy using 0.5 〈 Fi 〉 as a lower bound for the radiation pattern corrections, and 23.7 ± 3.0 using no correction for the focal mechanisms. The average shift between the P -wave corner frequency and the S -wave corner frequency, 1.24 ± 0.22, gives the ratio 13.7 ± 7.3. The substantially higher values obtained from the integral technique implies that the P waves in this data set are depleted in energy relative to the S waves. Cursory inspection of the body-wave arrivals suggests that this enervation results from an anomalous site response at two of the stations. Using the ratio of the P -wave moments to the S -wave moments to correct the two integral estimates gives 16.7 and 14.4 for the ratio of the S -wave energy to the P -wave energy.
Hemophilia B Gene Therapy in Humans Shows Promise

### Study Hypothesis The initial hope that gene therapies might treat many diseases has not been largely realized, in part, owing to limitations of delivery mechanisms, adverse effects of therapies, and failure to produce results superior to standards of care. Hemophilia B, a known X-linked deficiency of the factor IX gene (FIX), results from low FIX levels and leads to increased mortality and substantial morbidity, including crippling chronic joint disease, requiring frequent and expensive prophylactic or acute protein therapy. This study hypothesized that the use of a single injection of a modified adenovirus-associated virus (AAV) vector expressing FIX could establish long-term therapeutically relevant levels of this blood protein in men affected with hemophilia B. ### How Was the Hypothesis Tested? AAV vectors allow for the delivery of transgenes and may have superior profiles to other targeting strategies, particularly, owing to muted immune responses, though it can still be challenging to obtain therapeutic doses without triggering host immune responses. The authors previously designed a FIX AAV vector (scAAV2/8-LP1-hFIXco) with several features, including a liver-specific promoter, designed self-complementary in a tail-to-tail dimer, to increase transcriptional activation …
OGlcNAcylation and Phosphorylation Have Similar Structural Effects in α-Helices: Post-Translational Modifications as Inducible Start and Stop Signals in α-Helices, with Greater Structural Effects on Threonine Modification

OGlcNAcylation and phosphorylation are the major competing intracellular post-translational modifications of serine and threonine residues. The structural effects of both post-translational modifications on serine and threonine were examined within Baldwin model α-helical peptides (Ac-AKAAAAKAAAAKAAGY-NH2 or Ac-YGAKAAAAKAAAAKAA-NH2). At the N-terminus of an α-helix, both phosphorylation and OGlcNAcylation stabilized the α-helix relative to the free hydroxyls, with a larger induced structure for phosphorylation than for OGlcNAcylation, for the dianionic phosphate than for the monoanionic phosphate, and for modifications on threonine than for modifications on serine. Both phosphoserine and phosphothreonine resulted in peptides more α-helical than alanine at the N-terminus, with dianionic phosphothreonine the most α-helix-stabilizing residue here. In contrast, in the interior of the α-helix, both post-translational modifications were destabilizing with respect to the α-helix, with the greatest destabilizatio...
You Are Not the Boss of Me: How Japanese Teachers Delegate Authority to Children Through Play

The word “play”—a concept universally associated with childhood—is used countless times each day by early childhood educators, parents, and children themselves around the world. However, its meaning, purpose, and relationship with child development and learning are anything but universally accepted. Many cultures view play as vital for fostering the development and future learning of children. Others, such as the Japanese, understand play more as something that should be appreciated for what it is in the present, without regard for future-oriented aims or potential impact. The role of teachers in the play process, whether as observers, facilitators, or even participants, is also the subject of much debate. In light of the growing global emphasis on child-centered education, an exploration of these diverse perspectives can help early childhood educators to reflect on their own beliefs, values, and assumptions related to this quintessential childhood pursuit.
The Use of Self-Regulated Learning Measure Questionnaires as a Predictor of Academic Success

This study examined the potential of utilizing the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) and the Online Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (OSLQ) as instruments in predicting academic success as measured by overall grade point average (GPA). These instruments were of particular interest because the MSLQ was designed to measure student motivation and the OSLQ was designed to include self-regulated learning within a distance learning environment. Participants of the study were 134 graduate students recruited from a large, urban university in the southeast region of the United States. Participants provided general demographic information and completed one survey that was composed of 81 questions from the MSLQ and 24 questions from the OSLQ. Results indicated that neither instrument was shown to be a more accurate predictor of academic success as measured by overall GPA. Results also indicated that independent variables such as age, gender, graduate status, department, and campus had no significant impact on either MSLQ or OSLQ scores.
Bilateral acute retinal necrosis in a patient with multiple sclerosis on natalizumab

Purpose The purpose of this study is to report a case of bilateral acute retinal necrosis in a patient with multiple sclerosis treated with natalizumab.
No Taxation Without Representation!!! (and only if both can be within the bounds of our legislative control)

A colonial New Englander wrote of the inherited birthrights of British citizens in the March 2, 1765, edition of the Providence Gazette in vindication of Governor Stephen Hopkins' "The Rights of the Colonies Examined," that "the subject's right of being represented where he can be taxed, lands almost the foremost." What did he mean? Though twenty-first-century textbooks have summarized his argument in the inherited colonial maxim of "No taxation without representation," this simplification of a prevailing eighteenth-century colonial ideological premise sheds little light on the intellectual milieu in which the concept operated. 1 While even in the second decade of twenty-first-century American politics many have taken up this revolutionary slogan to support their ideologies, few understand what it actually meant within its contemporary usage. It will be the purpose of this analysis to examine this ideological concept, the framework from which it evolved, and more importantly, the construct within which it operated.
Quantifying Image Quality Improvement Using Elevated Acoustic Output in B-Mode Harmonic Imaging.

Abstract Tissue harmonic imaging has been widely used in abdominal imaging because of its significant reduction in acoustic noise compared with fundamental imaging. However, tissue harmonic imaging can be limited by both signal-to-noise ratio and penetration depth during clinical imaging, resulting in decreased diagnostic utility. A logical approach would be to increase the source pressure, but the in situ pressures used in diagnostic ultrasound are subject to a de facto upper limit based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guideline for the mechanical index (
Completely blind sensing of multi-band signals

A solution for the completely blind sensing problem of determining the minimum number of measurements sufficient to recover multi-band signals without any spectral information beside an upper bound on the measure of the whole support set in the frequency domain is presented. The number of measurements sufficient for reconstruction is provided, as well as a tight converse bound. Results show that a factor of two in the measurement rate is the price pay for blindness, compared to reconstruction with full spectral knowledge. The minimum number of measurements is also related to the fractal (Minkowski-Bouligand) dimension of a discrete approximating set, defined in terms of the Kolmogorov e-entropy. A comparison with analogous results in compressed sensing is illustrated, where the relevant dimensionality notion in a stochastic setting is the information (Renyi) dimension, defined in terms of the Shannon entropy.
Tango y Lunfardo: un estudio transatlántico sobre la identidad argentina / Tango and Lunfardo: a Transtlantic study about Argentinian Identity

Resumen: Nacido en el arrabal bonaerense, producto de multiples influencias socio-culturales, el tango argentino indudablemente se encuentra entre los estilos de musica que mejor logran transmitir el pensamiento y el sentir de un pueblo. Este ensayo examina la funcion y el efecto de la experiencia transatlantica de la inmigracion europea como una fuerza que moldeo y transformo la cultura fundacional argentina, redefiniendo no solo su perfil racial, sino tambien gran parte de su panorama intelectual, social y cultural. Empleando como lente critico los estudios poscoloniales y transatlanticos, el presente ensayo analiza la evolucion de la musica y del baile del tango con el fin de definir la compleja red de referentes que conforman la identidad del pais. Palabras clave: tango, identidad, transatlantico, poscolonial, inmigracion, subalterno, lunfardo. Abstract: Born in the slums of Buenos Aires, a product of multiple socio-cultural influences, the Argentine tango is undoubtedly among the music styles that best conveys the thought and the feeling of the people. This essay examines the role and effect of the transatlantic experience of Europan immigration as a force that shaped and transformed Argentina’s foundational culture, redefining not only its racial profile, but also much of its spiritural, social, and intellectual landscape. Through the critical lens of postcolonial and transatlantic studies, the current essay analizes the evolution of tango music and dance aiming to determine the complex network of referents that conform the country’s identity. Keywords: tango, identity, transatlantic, postcolonial, immigration, subaltern, lunfardo .
Solar spectral lines with special polarization properties for the calibration of instrument polarization

We investigate atomic transitions that have previously been identified as having zero polarization from the Zeeman effect. Our goal is to identify spectral lines that can be used for the calibration of instrumental polarization of large astronomical and solar telescopes, such as the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, which is currently under construction on Haleakala. We use a numerical model that takes into account the generation of scattering polarization and its modification by the presence of a magnetic field of arbitrary strength. We adopt values for the Lande factors from spectroscopic measurements or semi-empirical results, thus relaxing the common assumption of LS-coupling previously used in the literature. The mechanisms dominating the polarization of particular transitions are identified, and we summarize groups of various spectral lines useful for the calibration of spectropolarimetric instruments, classified according to their polarization properties.
Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures and optical properties of (HIm)2Hg3Cl8 and (HIm)HgI3 (HIm = imidazolium)

Abstract We report synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, and optical properties of two new Hg-based zero-dimensional hybrid organic-inorganic halides (HIm)2Hg3Cl8 and (HIm)HgI3 (HIm = imidazolium). (HIm)2Hg3Cl8 crystallizes in the triclinic P-1 space group with a pseudo-layered structure made of organic imidazolium cation layers and anionic inorganic layers containing [Hg2Cl6]2- units and linear [HgCl2]0 molecules. (HIm)HgI3 crystallizes in the monoclinic P21/c space group featuring anionic [HgI3]- units that are surrounded by imidazolium cations. Based on density functional theory calculations, (HIm)2Hg3Cl8 has an indirect band gap, whereas (HIm)HgI3 has a direct band gap with the measured onsets of optical absorption at 3.43 and 2.63 eV, respectively. (HIm)2Hg3Cl8 and (HIm)HgI3 are broadband light emitters with broad photoluminescence peaks centered at 548 nm (2.26 eV) and 582 nm (2.13 eV), respectively. Following the crystal and electronic structure considerations, the PL peaks are assigned to self-trapped excitons.
The “Spooky” Quantum: Nonlocality

This chapter deals with nonlocality in quantum mechanics—or what is very often called “spooky action at a distance,” in deference to a famous Einstein quote. Open image in new window On the Web:http://forteana-blog.blogspot.com/2013/05/ spooky-action-at- distance.html.
Effect of Cycling Amplitude Variations on SnAgCu Solder Joint Fatigue Life

Reliability of conventional electronic assemblies in real service applications is typically limited by fatigue failure of a single solder joint in reversed cyclic loading. Fatigue damage accumulation in a lead-free solder joint is still not well understood, especially not for cycling with a varying amplitude; i.e., random vibration testing is not representative of realistic service conditions and the common reliability models fail to offer relatively accurate life predictions. Developing or modifying a fatigue life model should, of course, consider the interactive effect of stress amplitude variations, which is found to be substantial. Cycling real individual SnAgCu solder joints with systematically varying stress amplitudes allowed understanding of the fatigue damage accumulation through monitoring of the plastic work dissipation during cycling. The results show a significant amplification in the work dissipation compared to what was expected based on fixed stress amplitude cycling results. Cycling with combinations of 16- and 20-MPa stress amplitudes leads to amplification of the work (more fatigue damage) at the 16-MPa amplitude, but no significant change in damage accumulation at the 20-MPa amplitude. Cycling with combinations of three or more stress amplitudes leads to work amplification at the lowest amplitude, no change at the higher amplitude, and slight to moderate amplifications at the intermediate amplitudes. In addition, the value of the work amplification at any stress amplitude depends on the sequence of higher amplitudes applied immediately before it. It is also found that any high amplitude does not affect subsequent work at a lower amplitude if an even higher amplitude was applied just before it.
Revealing the specificity of regulatory T cells in murine autoimmune diabetes.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) control organ-specific autoimmunity in a tissue antigen-specific manner, yet little is known about their specificity in a natural repertoire. In this study, we used the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of autoimmune diabetes to investigate the antigen specificity of Tregs present in the inflamed tissue, the islets of Langerhans. Compared with Tregs present in spleen and lymph node, Tregs in the islets showed evidence of antigen stimulation that correlated with higher proliferation and expression of activation markers CD103, ICOS, and TIGIT. T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire profiling demonstrated that islet Treg clonotypes are expanded in the islets, suggesting localized antigen-driven expansion in inflamed islets. To determine their specificity, we captured TCRαβ pairs from islet Tregs using single-cell TCR sequencing and found direct evidence that some of these TCRs were specific for islet-derived antigens including insulin B:9–23 and proinsulin. Consistently, insulin B:9–23 tetramers readily detected insulin-specific Tregs in the islets of NOD mice. Lastly, islet Tregs from prediabetic NOD mice were effective at preventing diabetes in Treg-deficient NOD.CD28−/− recipients. These results provide a glimpse into the specificities of Tregs in a natural repertoire that are crucial for opposing the progression of autoimmune diabetes.
Multiscale Curation: Supporting Collaborative Design and Ideation

Design is difficult to learn. Novice designers often suffer from many challenges. This research focuses on addressing these challenges by transforming the ways in which designers collect, organize, and archive their design artifacts. This research proposes collaborative multiscale design curation which uses scale to organize and relate design artifacts to support creativity. Multiscale design curation will be investigated in a variety of university courses through an iterative, participatory research through design approach.
FAILURE OF CONCONAVALIN A-STIMULATED LYMPHOCYTES TO SUPPRESS RESPONSIVENESS TO PHA AND ALLOGENEIC CELLS AS A MARKER OF DISORDERED IMMUNOREGULATION

Publisher Summary This chapter an analysis of the failure of conconavalin A (ConA)-stimulated lymphocytes to suppress responsiveness to PHA and allogeneic cells as a marker of disordered immunoregulation. It describes an assay for evaluating normal suppressor cell activity amongst the lymphocytes found in human peripheral blood and explores the usefulness of this assay in investigating suppressor cell activity in patients with autoimmune disease. In a study described in the chapter, lymphocytes taken from normal human peripheral blood by Ficoll–Hypaque sedimentation were divided into two aliquots. The first was allowed to sit in culture for 3 days undisturbed. The second was stimulated with ConA for 3 days. At the end of this time, the cells that had been resting in culture for 3 days were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). To some of these PHA cultures, ConA-stimulated autologous cells treated with mitomycin C were added in a 1:1 ratio. This assay was used to study the suppressor cell activity of ConA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes from 16 normal subjects and two patients. The results showed the increased responsiveness to PHA obtained with cells that had been left in culture for 3 days, compared to cells from the same individual stimulated soon after their removal.
The Nucleus and Its Applications

The discoveries of radioactivity and isotopes were extraordinary advances. And as usual, they also raised new questions about the structure of atoms, questions that involved the atomic nucleus. We saw in Chapter 17 that the transformation rules of radioactivity could be understood in terms of the Rutherford-Bohr model of the atom. But that model said nothing about the nucleus other than that it is small, has charge and mass, and may emit an a or a β particle. This implies that the nucleus has a structure that changes when a radioactive process occurs. The question arose: Can a theory or model of the atomic nucleus be developed that will explain the facts of radioactivity and the existence of isotopes?
Hyaluronan and the functional organization of the interphotoreceptor matrix.

The interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) fills the part of the eye referred to by ophthalmologists as the subretinal space. Located between the outer limiting membrane of the retina and the apical border of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), this unique matrix surrounds photoreceptor inner and outer segments projecting from the outer retinal surface. Structure‐function activities of fundamental importance to vision occur within this matrix, including the trafficking of retinoids and other metabolites between photoreceptors and the RPE; retinal attachment; maintenance of photoreceptor specific microenvironments; photoreceptor alignment; and cellcell interactions involved in outer segment shedding and RPE phagocytosis. 1‐11 The molecular interactions responsible for these activities are not known. New evidence implicates hyaluronan (HA) and several HA-binding proteins as key participants in the organization of the IPM and in retinal attachment. In the space allowed for this short report it will not be possible to review all the important studies that have advanced our understanding of the IPM. For more detailed coverage and an extensive bibliography the reader is directed to comprehensive reviews published elsewhere. 12,13 This discussion will be limited to recent advances in understanding novel molecules present in the IPM; to HA and its properties that permit selfassembly into a complex matrix; and to a unifying organizational concept based on interactions between HA and HAbinding proteins located in and around the IPM. In early attempts to study the IPM, gentle saline rinses of the outer retinal surface were used to remove soluble matrix molecules for subsequent biochemical analyses. 14‐17 Using such procedures interphotoreceptor matrix retinoid binding protein (IRBP), a variety of enzymes, mucins, and immunoglobulins were successfully isolated from the IPM. Later, the presence of a relatively insoluble IPM complex was documented in studies of isolated Xenopus 18 and rat retina. 19 We now know that an aqueous insoluble IPM survives saline rinses and can be removed with water as an intact unit. 20 Distilled water detaches this matrix from the outer retina because polyanions, present in high density in the insoluble IPM, hydrate in the absence of salts, swelling the matrix
Association between chronic hepatitis B infection and metabolic syndrome

Purpose The association between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains inconclusive. This study was designed to determine the association between CHB infection and MetS among the US population with updated data and adjustments for a comprehensive set of risk factors.
CrystalBall: A Visual Analytic System for Future Event Discovery and Analysis from Social Media Data

Social media data bear valuable insights regarding events that occur around the world. Events are inherently temporal and spatial. Existing visual text analysis systems have focused on detecting and analyzing past and ongoing events. Few have leveraged social media information to look for events that may occur in the future. In this paper, we present an interactive visual analytic system, CrystalBall, that automatically identifies and ranks future events from Twitter streams. CrystalBall integrates new methods to discover events with interactive visualizations that permit sensemaking of the identified future events. Our computational methods integrate seven different measures to identify and characterize future events, leveraging information regarding time, location, social networks, and the informativeness of the messages. A visual interface is tightly coupled with the computational methods to present a concise summary of the possible future events. A novel connection graph and glyphs are designed to visualize the characteristics of the future events. To demonstrate the efficacy of CrystalBall in identifying future events and supporting interactive analysis, we present multiple case studies and validation studies on analyzing events derived from Twitter data.
Parent's Depression as a Moderator of the Association Between Offspring's Depressive Symptoms and Use of Combustible Cigarettes and Electronic Vapor Products.

Studies reported a positive association between depression and nicotine-containing product use. Although parents’ depression is a salient risk factor for offspring’s depression, previous studies have not considered the influence of parents’ depression on this association. This study examined the associations of depressive symptoms with current cigarette smoking and electronic vapor product (EVP) use among adolescents and young adults, and the moderation effect of the parent’s depression on the associations. Data of 354 parent-child dyads from the Rochester Intergenerational Study were used. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. Parent’s depression was a significant moderator of the associations. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with current cigarette smoking and EVP use among only the offspring of parent who suffered from depression. Depressive symptoms of both the parent and offspring should be considered simultaneously to clarify the susceptible populations more accurately and prepare better prevention strategies for young people’s cigarette smoking and EVP use.
OMI Total Column Water Vapor Version 4 Validation and Applications

Abstract. Total Column Water Vapor (TCWV) is important for the weather and climate. TCWV is derived from the OMI visible spectra using the Version 4 retrieval algorithm developed at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The algorithm uses a retrieval window between 432.0 and 466.5 nm and includes various updates. The retrieval window optimization results from the trade-offs among competing factors. The OMI product is characterized by comparing against commonly used reference datasets – GPS network data over land and SSMIS data over the oceans. We examine how cloud fraction and cloud top pressure affect the comparisons. The results lead us to recommend filtering OMI data with cloud fraction 750 mb or stricter criteria, in addition to the main data quality, fitting RMS and TCWV range check. The mean of OMI-GPS is 0.85 mm with a standard deviation (σ) of 5.2 mm. Smaller differences between OMI and GPS (0.2 mm) occur when TCWV is within 10–20 mm. The bias is much smaller than the previous version. The mean of OMI-SSMIS is 1.2–1.9 mm (σ = 6.5–6.8 mm), with better agreement for January than for July. Smaller differences between OMI and SSMIS (0.3–1.6 mm) occur when TCWV is within 10–30 mm. However, the relative difference between OMI and the reference datasets is large when TCWV is less than 10 mm. As test applications of the Version 4 OMI TCWV over a range of spatial and temporal scales, we find prominent signals of the patterns associated with El Nino and La Nina, the high humidity associated with a corn sweat event and the strong moisture band of an Atmospheric River (AR). A data assimilation experiment demonstrates that the OMI data can help improve WRF’s skill at simulating the structure and intensity of the AR and the precipitation at the AR landfall.
Fourth branchial cleft cyst and congenital absence of the contralateral thyroid lobe

Abstract Fourth branchial cleft anomalies are the rarest type of branchial anomalies. They arise from an incomplete involution of the fourth branchial cleft during development. We report the successful surgical excision of a left fourth branchial cleft cyst in a pediatric patient presenting with an enlarging painless lateral neck mass. Intraoperatively the patient was found to have a large left branchial cleft cyst, which displaced the left superior pole of the thyroid lobe. In addition, there was hemiagenesis of the right thyroid.
Microalgae biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles for application in the control of agricultural pathogens

The occurrence of diseases in cultivars has caused significant losses in global food production. The advancement of nanobiotechnology makes it possible to obtain new products to be used in the control of pathogens in cultivars. Silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by microalgae and are widely known for their antimicrobial activity. In addition, the biomass produced in microalgal culture for the biosynthesis of the nanoparticles also demonstrates antimicrobial properties, as it can increase the antibacterial and antifungal potential of the silver nanoparticles. In this context, this article addresses the use of microalgae to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles simultaneously with biomass production. In addition, we demonstrate the antimicrobial potential of these nanomaterials, as well as of the microalgal biomass produced in biosynthesis, to use in the control of pathogens in agriculture.
Meta-Analysis Comparing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With Balloon Versus Self-Expandable Valves

Two transcatheter aortic valve systems are currently in use in the United States; balloon-expandable valves (BEV) and the self-expanding valve (SEV). However, comparative data outcomes between the 2 systems are limited, as only one randomized trial (RCT) performed a head-to-head comparison between BEVs and SEVs. However, there are several RCTs comparing BEV or SEV to surgical valve replacement. In this analysis, we used Bayesian network meta-analysis techniques to compare BEVs and SEVs. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at maximum follow-up. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality, stroke, pacemaker implantation, reintervention, heart failure hospitalization, and moderate-severe paravalvular leak (PVL.). Eight RCTs with 8,095 patients were included. With the exception of less pacemaker implantation in BEV versus SEV (odds ratio [OR] 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11 to 0.77, I2 = 51%), there was no difference between BEV and SEV in 30-day outcomes. During long-term follow-up (mean 3 ± 2 years); there was no difference between BEV and SEV in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.1, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.5, I2 = 19.6%), cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.1, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.6, I2 = 18.5%), stroke (HR 1.3, 95% CI 0.73 to 2.1, I2 = 16.9%), hospitalization (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.6, I2 = 62%), and reintervention (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.2 to 2.3, I2 = 62%). New pacemaker implantation and PVL were significantly less in BEV group (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.80, I2 = 38.2%), and (HR 0.03, 95% CI 0.0004 to 0.28, I2 = 79%), respectively. In conclusion, similar outcomes were seen following transcatheter aortic valve implantation with BEV and SEV with the exception of higher rates of pacemaker implantation and PVL in SEV group.
Isotopic and element ratios fingerprint salinization impact from beneficial use of oil and gas produced water in the Western U.S.

Abstract Salinization of global freshwater resources is a concerning health and economic issue of the 21st century and requires serious management and study to understand how, and by what mechanism, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is changing in major watersheds. Oil and gas (O&G) produced water is a complex and saline (10–300 g/L TDS) wastewater often disposed to surface waters post-treatment. However, in western U.S. states, beneficial use of minimally treated O&G produced water discharged to ephemeral streams is permitted through the USEPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for agriculture and wildlife propagation. In a remote Wyoming study region, beneficial use of O&G NPDES effluents annually contributes 13 billion L of water to surface water resources. The primary O&G TDS constituents are sulfate and sodium followed by chloride and calcium. Significant TDS increases from 2013 to 2016 in a large perennial river (River C) impacted by O&G effluent disposal, slight TDS increases in a perennial river (River B) and chronically elevated TDS (upwards of 2500 mg/L) in a smaller tributary (Tributary A) comprised mainly of O&G effluents led to an investigation of O&G impacts to surface waters in the region. Chloride-normalized metal ratios such as Br/Cl and δ2H and δ18O distinguished evaporation as the mechanism for increasing TDS derived from O&G on Tributary A, which is causing O&G effluents that meet NPDES regulations to not only exceed outfall regulations downstream where it is beneficially used for irrigation and drinking water but also exceed aquatic life and livestock recommended limits. 87Sr/86Sr and δ34SSO4 suggested minor impacts from O&G TDS loading on River C but also support an additional salinity source, such as streambed geological controls, the cause of significantly increasing TDS. While lithium isotopes provided insight into the O&G effluent origin (δ7Li ranged 9–10‰) and water-sediment interactions along O&G effluent streams, they did not function as distinct salinity tracers in the larger downstream rivers. This study suggests a multi-isotope (87Sr/86Sr and δ34SSO4) approach is often necessary for fingerprinting salinization sources and determining best management practices because multiple salinity sources and environmental mechanisms may need to be identified to protect water quality.
New Rules for the Pandemic Era.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not the world’s first pandemic, and it is unlikely to be the last. In recent years, there have been actual or potential p
Mapping of Susceptibility Genes for Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and the Metabolic Syndrome in Human Populations

Obesity , type 2 diabetes (T2D) , and metabolic syndrome (MS) are complex diseases causing considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. These traits or diseases have multifactorial or oligogenic inheritance patterns, and are influenced by multiple genes, environmental factors, and their interactions. There have been continued efforts to localize and identify genetic variants that contribute to susceptibility to these diseases, although knowledge on actual causal variants influencing these traits is extremely limited. In this chapter, we first present an epidemiological overview on obesity, T2D, and MS, followed by a brief overview on the three genetic mapping approaches: candidate gene association study, and hypothesis-free genome-wide linkage and association approaches that have been widely used to decipher the genetic architectures of these complex diseases. We will then provide a comprehensive review on the common susceptibility loci localized to date, ~ 80 loci for obesity-related traits, ~90 loci for T2D and its related metabolic traits, and ~50 loci for MS and its component traits with a brief discussion on replication studies, lessons learned beyond GWAS, and potential sources of missing heritability. Finally, we provide a brief review of follow-up and fine-mapping studies, including next-generation sequencing studies, and their role in the discovery of rare variants with potential large effect sizes, which may contribute to the issue of missing heritability and facilitate further biological insights. Ultimately, susceptibility gene discovery efforts could help develop novel preventive and treatment strategies for obesity, T2D, and MS, and may eventually lead to personalized medicine.
Navigating (Queer) Sexuality in Islam

The purpose of the current paper is to review the state of the literature around sexual health and queer identities within Islamic cultures broadly. We sought to explore how individuals who identify as Muslim, particularly queer people, view and discuss sexuality, and to move away from focusing solely on the stigma of sexuality and queerness within Islam. Through this review, we found that literature on this topic in both the USA and internationally is quite limited and is largely focused on difficulties related to Muslim individuals’ sexuality. The majority of research found that Muslim individuals struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, rejection, and isolation related to sexuality and sexual orientation. However, some literature demonstrated that Muslim individuals are able to have healthy and positive relationships with queerness and sexuality as a whole, through community and finding alternate interpretations of the Quran. Future research should continue to delve into the topic of sexuality in Muslim individuals and attempt to elucidate how Muslim people have healthy and positive relationships with sexuality. The negative lens within research contributes to further stigmatization around sexuality and the view that Muslim individuals cannot have healthy sexuality or queer identities due to their religious beliefs. Furthering research in this area can help Muslim individuals reconcile their own relationship with their faith and sexuality, and guide clinicians on how to help Muslim clients have positive relationships with themselves as sexual beings.