cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Data-dependent bounds on network gradient descent

We study a consensus-based distributed stochastic gradient method for distributed optimization in a setting common for machine learning applications. Nodes in the network hold disjoint data and seek to optimize a common objective which decomposes into a sum of convex functions of individual data points. We show that the rate of convergence for this method involves the spectral properties of two matrices: the standard spectral gap of a weight matrix from the network topology and a new term depending on the spectral norm of the sample covariance matrix of the data. This result shows the benefit of datasets with small spectral norm. Extensions of the method can identify the impact of limited communication, increasing the number of nodes, and scaling with data set size.
Aggressive care at the end of life: A study of practice based factors in patients with stage IV cancer.

80Background: Numerous studies established that early utilization of palliative care-hospice services are beneficial to cancer patients. To reduce the incidence of aggressive care in terminal cancer patients, we conducted a quality improvement study to identify pertinent risk factors and develop interventions. Methods: Through chart review, we retrospectively identified patients with stage IV cancer that were followed by oncology clinic and were admitted to the University Hospital between 8/1/2015-10/31/15. For those patients who died during the last hospitalization or were discharged to hospice care, we obtained demographic, cancer related and practice related variables listed in Table. We used Mann Whitney U test and multivariable regression to find effects of factors related to length of stay (LOS) and cost of stay (COS). Results: Length of stay was significantly prolonged in those receiving chemotherapy within the past month (6 vs 3 p=0.035). Multivariate analyses found that patients with goals of car...
Contourites: Physical oceanography, process sedimentology, and petroleum geology

Abstract The purpose of this critical review is to address fundamental principles associated with contourites and other bottom-current deposits. The four basic types of deep-marine bottom currents are: (1) thermohaline-induced geostrophic contour currents, (2) wind-driven bottom currents, (3) tide-driven bottom currents, mostly in submarine canyons, and (4) internal wave/tide-driven baroclinic currents. Contourites are deposits of thermohaline-driven geostrophic contour currents. Contourites can be muddy or sandy in texture, siliciclastic or calciclastic in composition. Traction structures are common in deposits of all four types of bottom currents. However, there are no diagnostic sedimentological or seismic criteria for distinguishing ancient contourites from other three types. The Gulf of Cadiz is the type locality for the contourite facie model based on muddy lithofacies. However, this site is affected not only by contour currents associated with the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) but also by other factors, such as internal waves and tides, turbidity currents, tsunamis, cyclones, mud volcanism, methane seepage, sediment supply, porewater venting, and bottom topography. IODP (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program) 339 cores from the Gulf of Cadiz do not show primary sedimentary structures, which are necessary for interpreting depositional processes. Therefore, the contourite facies model is sedimentologically obsolete. Bottom-current reworked sands of all four types have the potential for developing petroleum reservoirs. Modern sandy carbonate contourites have a measured maximum porosity of 40% and a maximum permeability of 9881 mD due to the winnowing away of muds from the intergranular primary pores by vigorous contour currents. These carbonate contourites are hemiconical-shaped bodies that are up to 600 m in thickness and nearly 60 km in length. Empirical data of modern contourites also show potential for seal and source-rock development. Therefore, future petroleum exploration and development should focus attention on these often overlooked siliciclastic and calciclastic deep-marine reservoirs.
Abstract 337: Alternative Angiogenic Pathway Driven by Stimulus-Dependent Phosphorylation of Profilin-1

Angiogenesis, the outgrowth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is fundamental to development and post-injury tissue repair. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A guides and enhances directional endothelial cell (EC) migration to initiate angiogenesis, which can be driven by a multistep signaling cascade that directs actin polymerization. Profilin-1 (Pfn-1) is an actin-binding protein that enhances actin filament formation and cell migration, but stimulus-dependent regulation of Pfn-1 has not been observed. Here, we show that VEGF-A-inducible phosphorylation of Pfn-1 at Tyr129 is critical for EC migration and angiogenesis. Chemotactic activation of VEGF receptor kinase-2 (VEGFR2) and its immediate downstream kinase Src directly induce Pfn-1 phosphorylation in the cell leading edge, promoting Pfn-1 binding to actin and actin polymerization. Interestingly, Pfn-1 phosphorylation is robustly and preferentially elevated in blood vessels during tissue repair after myocardial infarction (MI) in humans. Conditional endothelial knock-in of phosphorylation-deficient Y129F Pfn-1 mutant in mice reveals that Pfn-1 phosphorylation is required for VEGF-A-induced EC sprouting migration and critical for angiogenesis in response to wounding and ischemic injury, but not for developmental angiogenesis. Thus, VEGFR2/Src-mediated phosphorylation of Pfn-1 bypasses canonical, multistep intracellular signaling events to initiate EC migration and angiogenesis, and may serve as a selective therapeutic target for angiogenesis-related disorders including ischemic heart disease.
Bread enriched with flour from cinereous cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea)

Abstract Animals and insects are the main sources of protein. The objective of the present study was to produce a flour from cinereous cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea) for protein enrichment of wheat bread. To prepare the flour, the dehydrated insects were crushed and sieved to reduce the granulometry to a particle size of 1.18 mm. The flour was analyzed microbiologically and then added in amounts of 5, 10, and 15% (based on wheat flour) in a bread formulation that was analyzed for chemical composition and color, firmness, and specific volume and compared to white wheat bread and whole wheat bread. Sensorial evaluation was carried out on bread enriched with 10% roasted flour as the one that presented the best nutritional characteristics, differing little from the white and whole wheat bread. It is concluded that the use of cinereous cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea) flour is an efficient way to enrich wheat bread without alterations in sensorial quality.
HIV-related thought avoidance, sexual risk, and alcohol use among men who have sex with men.

HIV-related "cognitive escape" refers to a tendency to avoid thoughts associated with HIV, which may be particularly common among men who have sex with men (MSM) who are often inundated with HIV information, potentially to the point of fatigue. HIV-related cognitive escape is associated with increased sexual risk behaviors, such as condomless sex, and heavier alcohol use patterns. Other studies show that some MSM may use alcohol specifically to facilitate sex. These sexual motives for drinking (SMDs) could be one mechanism whereby cognitive escape leads to health risk behaviors. In this study, we tested models exploring whether cognitive escape was associated with markers of sex risk (condom use, number of sex partners) and alcohol use/problems, and examined whether SMDs mediated these associations. Heavy drinking, HIV-negative men (N = 196) aged ≥ 21 years who self-reported past year condomless anal sex with men completed assessments as part of a larger study. Results suggest that cognitive escape was associated with higher number of anal sex partners (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.50, SE = 0.04, p < .001), decreased condom use (B = -0.30, SE = 0.14, p = .028), and increased alcohol-related problems (IRR = 1.28, SE = 0.07, p = .001) but not with drinking quantity. Sexual motives for drinking appeared to partially mediate the observed relationship between cognitive escape and alcohol-related problems, but other relationships did not show evidence of mediation. Findings suggest that those who tend to avoid HIV-related thoughts may be at increased risk for HIV and alcohol-related problems. Drinking to facilitate sex may partially account for the higher risk for alcohol-related problems conferred by cognitive escape. Alcohol interventions for MSM may be more effective if they address alcohol's role in coping with HIV threat and in facilitating sex under these circumstances.
Racial Constructs in Youth Mentoring: Reconsidering Race and Ethnicity

Youth mentoring has been enjoying a rapid growth in programs, research, and public support in the last few decades. What remains to be concluded in the literature, however, is the effect of various diversity variables in mentoring relationships. This chapter focuses on the debate around race and ethnicity matching of mentoring pairs, in support of the argument that more qualitative research is needed to reveal the more complicated interplay between structural inequalities, interpersonal power, and how mentors and mentees not only determine which inequalities are going to be salient in their relationship, but also define the meaning of these inequalities. Toward this end, this chapter offers a critical review of the literature from three angles: (a) Outcomes: Are same-race matches necessarily more beneficial than cross-race matches? (b) Process: Do ethnicity and race affect the way mentors and mentees relate? (c) Application: How should extant research shape future research and practices?
Parallelism semantics in modeling activities

In previous work, we proposed modeling and simulation of UML activities in Parallel DEVS. With respect to parallelism, either one of the following statements holds true about the semantics of activities in order to attain a valid execution. A time base, regardless of its granularity, shall be explicitly defined in order to account for parallelism in a simulation environment with sequential execution. Or, the environment shall be physically parallel in multiple processes. We examine the former by dissecting into some of its properties that are related to control constructs within activity modeling in the viewpoint of Parallel DEVS formalism.
A “Living Bioreactor” for the Production of Tissue-Engineered Small Intestine

Here, we describe the use of a mouse model as a living bioreactor for the generation of tissue-engineered small intestine. Small intestine is harvested from donor mice with subsequent isolation of organoid units (a cluster of mesenchymal and epithelial cells). Some of these organoid units contain pluripotent stem cells with a preserved relationship with the mesenchymal stem cell niche. A preparation of organoid units is seeded onto a biodegradable scaffold and implanted intraperitoneally within the omentum of the host animal. The cells are nourished initially via imbibition until neovascularization occurs. This technique allows the growth of fully differentiated epithelium (composed of Paneth cells, goblet cells, enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells), muscle, nerve, and blood vessels of donor origin. Variations of this technique have been used to generate tissue-engineered stomach, large intestine, and esophagus. The variations include harvest technique, length of digestion, and harvest times.
Harnessing TORC to boost the horsepower of aging immune systems

Treating elderly patients with two low-dose mTOR inhibitors that selectively block TORC1 led to a decrease in infection rates.
Pollen fillers for reinforcing and strengthening of epoxy composites

Pollen grains have the potential to be effective plant-based biorenewable fillers in polymer matrices due to their high modulus, strength, chemical stability, and unique nanoscale architectures. In this work, we present evidence for the effectiveness of pollen as a reinforcing filler in epoxy matrices, characterized as a function of pollen loading and surface treatment. Composites prepared with unmodified native defatted ragweed pollen (D) displayed decreased mechanical properties and increasing glass transition temperatures (Tg) with increasing pollen loading. A soft interphase was observed to form around native pollen that is likely due to incompletely cured epoxy, resulting in decreased mechanical properties. However, pollen treated via a common base-acid (BA) surface preparation was a load-bearing, toughening filler in epoxy composites, displaying simultaneously increased tensile strength (by 47%) and strain at break (by 70%), improving interfacial morphology (absence of soft interphase), and increasing Tg at 10 wt% pollen loading. Elastic modulus improves by 14% with 10 wt% BA pollen loading, and fitting of the modulus with the Halpin-Tsai and Counto models results in an estimated pollen exine modulus of 8 GPa, the first reported pollen modulus measurement from composite studies. Improvements in mechanical properties in BA pollen versus D pollen likely result due to crosslinks with the epoxy matrix due to the presence of protic functional groups (hydroxyls or carboxyls) on the BA surface. BA-treated ragweed pollen shows promise as a toughening filler for imparting higher strength to polymers without increasing mass.
Periodic limb movements in sleep: Prevalence and associated sleepiness in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort.

Abstract Objectives Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) are thought to be prevalent in elderly populations, but their impact on quality of life remains unclear. We examined the prevalence of PLMS, impact of age on prevalence, and association between PLMS and sleepiness. Methods We identified limb movements in 2335 Wisconsin Sleep Cohort polysomnograms collected over 12 years. Prevalence of periodic limb movement index (PLMI) ≥15 was calculated at baseline (n = 1084). McNemar's test assessed changes in prevalence over time. Association of sleepiness and PLMS evaluated using linear mixed modeling and generalized estimating equations. Models adjusted for confounders. Results Prevalence of PLMI ≥15 at baseline was 25.3%. Longitudinal prevalence increased significantly with age (p = 2.97 × 10−14). Sleepiness did not differ significantly between PLMI groups unless stratified by restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms. The RLS+/PLM+ group was sleepier than the RLS+/PLM− group. Multiple Sleep Latency Test trended towards increased alertness in the RLS−/PLM+ group compared to RLS−/PLM−. Conclusions A significant number of adults have PLMS and prevalence increased with age. No noteworthy association between PLMI category and sleepiness unless stratified by RLS symptoms. Significance Our results indicate that RLS and PLMS may have distinct clinical consequences and interactions that can help guide treatment approach.
SOX10 Immunoexpression in Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinomas: A Diagnostic Pitfall for Ruling out Salivary Differentiation

SOX10 immunoexpression is increasingly recognized in salivary gland tumors, including but not limited to those with myoepithelial, serous acinar, and intercalated duct differentiation. However, SOX10 expression has not been extensively evaluated in other epithelial tumors that can mimic salivary origin. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a unique variant of SCC that shows morphologic overlap with several salivary tumors, including adenoid cystic carcinoma, basal cell adenocarcinoma, and myoepithelial carcinoma. We performed SOX10 immunohistochemistry on 22 basaloid SCCs and 280 non-basaloid SCCs. If tissue was available, we also performed immunohistochemistry for S100 and p16, and in-situ hybridization for high-risk HPV RNA. SOX10 was positive in 13/22 basaloid SCCs (59%), including 5/6 (83%) that were HPV-positive and 6/12 (50%) that were HPV-negative. Only 2/12 basaloid SCC (17%) demonstrated focal S100 expression. All non-basaloid SCCs were SOX10 negative. Frequent positivity for SOX10 in basaloid SCC presents a significant diagnostic pitfall for distinguishing these tumors from various basaloid salivary carcinomas. The preponderance of SOX10 expression in the basaloid variant of HPV-positive SCC also presents a diagnostic challenge in separating it from HPV-related multiphenotypic sinonasal carcinoma. SOX10 may be more broadly considered a marker of basal differentiation and should not be assumed to be specific for salivary origin in epithelial head and neck tumors.
Expeditionary Anthropology: Teamwork, Travel and the 'Science of Man'

This collection aims to shake deep-rooted assumptions about the history of anthropology, particularly that the kind of extensive teamwork symbolized by the 1898 Cambridge anthropological expedition...
The Possibilities for “Humanizing” Posthumanist Inquiries: An Intra-Active Conversation:

What are the ethical responsibilities of doing and teaching qualitative inquiry at a time when Black and Brown bodies are under assault, an expression of White supremacy that has become ever more v...
The unifying role of dissipative action in the dynamic failure of solids

Abstract Dissipative action, the product of dissipation energy and transport time, is fundamental to the dynamic failure of solids. Invariance of the dissipative action underlies the fourth-power nature of structured shock waves observed in selected solid metals and compounds. Dynamic failure through shock compaction, tensile spall and adiabatic shear are also governed by a constancy of the dissipative action. This commonality underlying the various modes of dynamic failure is described and leads to deeper insights into failure of solids in the intense shock wave event. These insights in turn are leading to a better understanding of the shock deformation processes underlying the fourth-power law. Experimental result and material models encompassing the dynamic failure of solids are explored for the purpose of demonstrating commonalities leading to invariance of the dissipation action. Calculations are extended to aluminum and uranium metals with the intent of predicting micro-scale energetics and spatial scales in the structured shock wave.
Perspective of Structural Health Monitoring for Military Aviation in Poland

About 40 years have passed from introducing non-destructive testing inspections (NDI) as an inherent component of damage tolerant approach in order to ensure structural integrity of aircrafts. Over the years, non-destructive testing (NDT) methods became very accurate and reliable in damage detection and assessment, allowing to achieve very high level of safety in the aerospace. However, still there are some issues of this aircraft design paradigm which need to be addressed in the future. First, NDI are scheduled based on assumed or statistically represented loads spectrum, which doesn’t necessarily fit to the way which a given aircraft is operated. This jeopardize the safety, but also is connected with not scheduled inspections, whose costs are much higher than regular ones. In fact, the fraction of unexpected NDI prevail over scheduled inspections. Furthermore, application of new lightweight materials, e.g. composites, introduces new damage evolution pathways, making it difficult to use low cost NDT techniques like visual testing, which account for about 60% of overall NDI. Therefore, there is a strong need from the industry sector to introduce Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Operational Load Monitoring (OLM) systems, based on sensors permanently integrated with the aircraft structure. Application of such systems would definitely increase safety, especially when considering hardly accessible ‘hot-spots’, but it could also save up to 50% of necessary inspections time depending on the aircraft type. Furthermore, possessing the knowledge about the current state of an aircraft as well as the way it is used, would allow to predict its further performance and determine the optimal time for its overhauls. Clearly, damage detection and damage assessment capabilities of SHM systems, e.g. expressed in terms of PoD curves, are the most important ones. However, from the cost analysis perspective, also a very important property of SHM systems is their false calls ratio. Damage indication by SHM system will be verified with classical NDT methods, at least at their early stage of development, which would increase the number of unplanned NDI and could rise aircraft maintenance costs, if there would be too much false positive findings. Both, the improvement of damage detection capabilities as well as the reduction of false calls ratio of SHM systems, are as much important for their applicability.
Design and modeling of the off-axis parabolic deformable mirror laboratory

Coronagraph-equipped direct imaging missions need an active wavefront control system to cancel out the optical aberrations that degrade the performance of the coronagraphs. A fast steering mirror is used to control Line-of- Sight (LoS) pointing error caused by the telescope jitter. In addition to controlling other low-order aberrations such as astigmatism and coma, high stroke, high actuator density deformable mirrors (DMs) are also used to control the electric field at the required high spatial frequencies. We are designing a testbed to verify a different deformable architecture, where the powered optic in the optical train are controllable and have lower actuator count compared to the existing DMs with nominal surfaces. This simplifies the packaging issue for space missions and reduces both cost and risk of having the entire coronagraph instrument's performance depending on one or two high-actuator count DMs. The testbed would also be capable of testing different low-order wavefront sensing algorithms, which focuses in the near-term on a new adaptive Kalman filtering and gradient decent method to estimate the harmonic LoS errors that affect space telescopes. In the long run, we would test different machine learning techniques to estimate low-order aberrations and non-linear algorithms for digging the region of high contrast called the dark holes (DH).
LD side-pumped electrooptical Q-switched pulse laser at 532 nm

In order to achieve high reliability,narrow pulse width and high peak power laser output,an all-solid-state electrooptical Q-switched green laser with diode side pump was designed with the side-pumped and electrooptical Q-switched technology.The stable laser output of LD side-pumped Nd:YAG pulse green laser with extra-cavity frequency-doubled KTP was achieved by the simple and compact flat-flat cavity design.When the pump current is 120 A and repetition rate is 600 Hz,the highest pulse green output average power of 3.62 W,the conversion efficiency(from 1064 nm to 532 nm) of 15.3%,the pulse width of 21 ns,peak power of 300 kW,and single pulse energy of 6.01 mJ were achieved.Experimental results show that the stability of laser output is high,pulse width is relatively narrow,and peak power is high.
Tributary State and Transnationalism

China played a central role in geopolitical history of Northeast Asia. Beijing’s policy to keep North Korea out of Western control is traditional. The two countries had been closely connected since Korea became independent during the disunity of the third century, and China had been heavily involved in Korea for two millennia. Korea had long been most faithful to the Chinese in the tribute system, and China realized that the time had come to uphold its agreement. In 1592, the Ming emperor intervened promptly by sending Chinese forces to stop a foreign invasion in the Imjin War. In 1894, to answer the call of the Korean king, the Qing emperor dispatched troops to Korea in the Sino-Japanese War.
A Case of Psychosis in a Patient with Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: A Possible Etiological Role of a Hypocortisolemic-induced Increase in Proinflammatory Cytokines

Adrenal insufficiency is divided into three types based on the etiology of its development. In primary adrenal insufficiency, pathology resides in end-organ failure at the level of the adrenal cortex, while in secondary and tertiary adrenal insufficiency, impairment rests in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, respectively. Regardless of etiology, adrenal insufficiency results in a hypocortisolemic condition. While the relationship between neuropsychiatric symptoms, especially psychosis, and hypercortisolemia has been extensively documented, the development of hypocortisolemia-induced psychosis is less common. We present a case of secondary adrenal insufficiency caused by a pituitary tumor. During the course of evaluation and treatment, the patient developed a psychotic episode. We will briefly review the condition of adrenal insufficiency and propose how hypocortisolemia can result in psychosis.
Methods to Re-center the “Other:” When Discarding Outliers Means Discarding Already Marginalized Stories

In this conceptual essay, I argue that the way educationalresearch normatively addresses outliers is dismissive to queer narratives.Queering the approaches to “deal with outliers” can disrupt the furthermarginalization inflicted by researchers on already marginalized voices. Inthis paper, I provide guidance to queer the method of outlier managementthrough outlining alternative methodological approaches to center queer andtrans lived experiences. Applying queer theory and trans ways of knowing, I willillustrate general examples of how to carve new ways of amplifying queernarratives in quantitative inquiry and interrogate post-positivisticparadigms. In so doing, academics canqueer the way knowledge is accumulated and invite people to transcend the categoriesand standards typically perpetuated in quantitative research.
Similarity Based Binary Backdoor Detection via Attributed Control Flow Graph

The problem of backdoor detection aims at detecting whether binary backdoor functions coming from different embedded end devices are similar to some known backdoors. Existing approaches are using backdoor signature or approximate graph-matching algorithms. They all meet a problem that they are hard to adapt to a new task. Also, approximate graph-matching algorithms are inevitably slow and sometimes inaccurate. To address these issues, in this work, we propose a novel neural network-based approach to compute the embedding, i.e., a numeric vector, based on the control flow graph of each binary function, then the backdoor detection can be done efficiently by measuring the distance between the embeddings for functions in firmware and typical backdoor functions. We evaluate this method can achieve a F-1 score of 0.75 and detect backdoor in firmware significantly faster than graph-matching method.
Topological surrogates for computationally efficient seismic robustness optimization of water pipe networks

Abstract The criticality of seismic robustness of the water pipe networks cannot be overstated. Current methodologies for optimizing seismic robustness of city‐scale water pipe networks are scarce....
Making Every Liver Count: Increased Transplant Yield of Donor Livers Through Normothermic Machine Perfusion.

OBJECTIVE Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) enables optimized ex-vivo preservation of a donor liver in a normal physiologic state. The impact of this emerging technology on donor liver utilization has yet to be assessed. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA NMP of the donor liver and ex-vivo enhancement of its function has been envisioned for decades, however only with recent technological advances have devices been suitable for transition to clinical practice. The present study examines the effect NMP on liver utilization in the United States. METHODS The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried to identify deceased donor livers procured from 2016 to 2019 (n = 30596). Donor livers were divided by preservation method: standard cold-static preservation (COLD, n = 30,368) versus NMP (n = 228). Donor and recipient risk factors, liver disposition, and discard reasons were analyzed. The primary outcome was liver discard rate between 2 groups. RESULTS A total of 4037 livers were discarded. The NMP group had a 3.5% discard rate versus 13.3% in the COLD group (P < 0.001), and this was despite NMP donors being older (47.7 vs 39.5 years, P < 0.0001), more frequently donation after cardiac death (DCD) (18% vs 7%, P < 0.001), and having a greater donor risk index (1.6 vs 1.5, P < 0.05). The most common reasons for liver discard in the COLD group were biopsy findings (38%), DCD warm ischemic time (11%), and prolonged preservation time (10%). Survival analysis, following propensity score matching, found no significant difference in 1-year overall survival between recipients of NMP versus COLD livers. CONCLUSIONS NMP reduces the discard rate of procured livers despite its use in donors traditionally considered of more marginal quality. NMP maintains excellent graft and patient survival. Broader application of NMP technology holds the potential to generate a significant number of additional liver grafts for transplantation every year, thus greatly reducing the nationwide disparity between supply and demand.
Education for Environmental Equity and Justice: A Graduate Degree in Urban Environmental Education

The Urban Environmental Education M.A.Ed. program at Antioch University Seattle prepares graduates to work successfully in urban communities on issues of climate, health, and environmental integrity. Academics, on-the-ground practice, and participatory action research push the boundaries and pedagogy of traditional environmental education to intersect dynamically with race, equity, inclusion, and culture. Graduates (90% of whom are currently employed) work with each other to create safe and bold spaces where difficult issues can be explored. The program prides itself on its diversity in the student body and the faculty, changing the way that environmental education plays out in urban communities.
Innovation in teaching and learning invertebrate zoology in remote and online classrooms

The COVID‐19 global pandemic caused instructors to pivot to remote and online teaching, an especially challenging task in hands‐on classes such as invertebrate biology In this special 25th anniversary issue of Invertebrate Biology, the authors present a variety of clever and effective ways to help invertebrate biology instructors adapt to teaching in an online environment Student‐centered research and learning are essential in all biology classes, and we explore scientific writing, field trips, do‐it‐yourself laboratories, and more These techniques will be useful for classes of varying sizes and types, from non‐major undergraduates to graduate students, even after the pandemic is over Innovation for teaching invertebrate biology online may help facilitate more inclusive courses that serve diverse students more equitably Ideas for how to best move traditionally hands‐on laboratories into online or remote formats are currently also being informally discussed in a collaborative online space for instructors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Invertebrate Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )
Efficiency limitation of thin film coated planar semiconductor thermal neutron detector

Abstract Semiconductor thermal neutron detectors are increasingly been used in in-core thermal neutron flux measurements in nuclear reactors. One limitation of these detectors is that they suffer from low detection efficiency. In this work, the maximum efficiency of a planar structure thermal neutron detector was determined using two widely used computer codes: Geant4 and MCNP6. Diamond and SiC are used as based materials in this work because of their large electron-hole pair production efficiency which generally translates to high detection efficiency. The electron-hole pair production efficiency is the fraction of energy that goes into electron-hole pair creation and depends on the band-gap energy and the W-values. These two materials are also not susceptible to radiation damage which makes them suitable for high radiation environments such as nuclear reactors. Thermal neutron detection is achieved using 10B and 6LiF conversion layers coated on the surface of the detector. The maximum efficiency for 10B conversion layer was achieved at a thickness of 2 μ m. The efficiency at this thickness is 5.57 ± 0.09% and 5.49 ± 0.09% for diamond and silicon carbide, respectively. When 6LiF was used as a thermal neutron conversion layer, the maximum thickness of the conversion layer was determined to occur at 17 μ m. The efficiency at this thickness is 5.47 ± 0.06% and 5.38 ± 0.06% for diamond and SiC, respectively.
Association of Clear Cell Likelihood Score on MRI and Growth Kinetics of Small Solid Renal Masses on Active Surveillance.

Please see the Editorial Comment by Sanjay Sharma discussing this article. To listen to the podcast associated with this article, please select one of the following: iTunes, Google Play, or direct ...
Comparison of serum IgG half lives in dairy calves fed colostrum, colostrum replacer, or administered with intravenous plasma

The cotyledonary placenta allows minimal transfer of immunoglobulins from the cow to the fetus during pregnancy. Consequently calves are born hypogammaglobulinemic, thus making it essential to ingest and absorb colostral immunoglobulins to acquire passive immunity. Therefore, the half-life of maternally derived colostral immunoglobulin G (IgG) in dairy calves is important in the development ofthe calf immune system as well as determination of the age at which to vaccinate the calf without interference from the maternally derived IgG. Half-life of maternally derived colostral IgG is estimated to be 20 days in dairy calves. In clinical settings, bovine plasma is used as part of treatment of sick calves that require additional immunity via plasma administration. Currently, no studies have evaluated the half-life of colostrum replacer derived IgG or plasma derived IgG in dairy calves. We hypothesized that the half-life of maternally derived IgG has a significantly different half-life compared to colostrum replacer derived or plasma derived IgG in dairy calves. The aims of this study were to determine the half lives of IgG derived from colostrum, colostrum replacer or plasma in dairy calves.
Extensions of Instantaneous Route Choice Models

In this chapter, we first present optimal control formulations for instantaneous dynamic user-optimal route choice problems. In Sections 8.1 and 8.2, we present two instantaneous dynamic user-optimal route choice models. The equivalence of Model 1 with DUO route choice is demonstrated by proving the equivalence of the first order necessary conditions of the model with the instantaneous DUO route choice conditions. The second DUO model employs a different link travel time function assumption; its equivalence with the instantaneous DUO route choice conditions is also demonstrated. In Section 8.3 and 8.4, we generalize the variational inequality model of Chapter 7 to the situation of travel disutility and multi-class travelers instead of travel times for a single class of travelers only. The multi-class route-cost-based variational inequality model is first presented in Section 8.3. Then, the multi-class link-cost-based variational inequality model is presented in Section 8.4.
Grundsätzliches über das Sehen

Die Fahigkeit, Unterschiede in der Helligkeit und Farbe wahrzunehmen, nennen wir Sehen. Obwohl das Farbensehen im taglichen Leben eine weit grosere Rolle spielt als wir anzunehmen glauben, ist doch die wirkliche Grundlage des Sehens die Unterscheidung von Helligkeiten. Ist ein Gegenstand und sein Hintergrund in der Helligkeit gleich und einheitlich, dann konnen wir ihn nicht sehen. Das trifft zwar nur selten zu; denn es wird immer noch einen gewissen Farbunterschied geben, der uns dann den Gegenstand kenntlich macht. Es soll aber in den folgenden Erorterungen bzw. in den gezogenen Schlusfolgerungen vorwiegend auf die Wahrnehmung der Helligkeitsunterschiede von farblosen Einzelheiten eingegangen werden; das Thema Farbe soll nur dann Berucksichtigung finden, wenn es von grundsatzlicher Bedeutung ist. An anderer Stelle finden wir dieses Thema ausfuhrlicher behandelt1).
BUDGETING FOR PUBLIC CAPITAL

City governments provide much of the economic and social capital comprising urban infrastructure. A prevailing idea is that public managers should and can budget rationally and systematically for t...
Optimization of biotinyl-tyramide-based in situ hybridization for sensitive background-free applications on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens

Over the past five years in situ hybridization techniques employing tyramide amplification reagents have been developed and promise the potential detection of low/single-copy nucleic acid sequences. However the increased sensitivity that tyramide amplification brings about may also lead to problems of background staining that confound data interpretation. In this study those factors enabling background-free biotinyl-tyramide based in situ hybridization assay of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues have been examined. SiHa, HeLa and CaSki cell lines known to contain HPV integrated into the cell genome, and archival cervical pre-invasive lesions and carcinomas have been successfully assessed using biotinylated HPV and centromeric probes. The single most important factor both for sensitivity and clean background was a tissue unmasking regimen that included treatment with 10 mM sodium citrate pH 6.0 at 95°C followed by digestion with pepsin/0.2 M HCl. Concentrations both of probe and primary streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate and pH of hybridization mix and stringency washes were also critical for sensitivity. Certain probes were more associated with background staining than others. This problem was not related to probe purity or size. In these instances composition of hybridization mix solution was especially critical to avoid background. 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole was preferred over 3,3'-diaminobenzidene as a chromogen because background was cleaner and the 1–2 copies of HPV16 integrated in SiHa cells were readily demonstrable. HPV detection on metaphase spreads prepared from SiHa cells was only successful when a fluorescent detection method was combined with tyramide reagent. 'Punctate' and 'diffuse' signal patterns were identified amongst tissues consistent with the former representing integration and 'diffuse' representing episomal HPV. Only punctate signals were detected amongst the cell lines and were common amongst high-grade pre-invasive lesions and carcinomas. However it remains to be determined why single/low-copy episomal HPV in basal/parabasal cells of low-grade lesions is not also detectable using tyramide-based techniques and whether every punctate signal represents integration. A tyramide-based in situ hybridization methodology has been established that enables sensitive, background-free assay of clinical specimens. As punctate signals characterize HPV in high-grade cervical lesions the method may have potential for clinical applications.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with phenylephrine.

A patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, susceptible to tachydysrhythmias , presented for eye surgery under general anaesthesia. He developed a supraventricular tachycardia refractory to a variety of treatments. Phenylephrine consistently abolished the dysrhythmia, probably by acting directly to stimulate the arterial baroreceptors and hence vagal output. Vasopressor therapy should be considered in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome tachyarrhythmias, when circumstances permit.
Peritoneal dialysis infections recommendations.

Peritonitis remains a serious problem in peritoneal dialysis patients accounting for technique failure and contributing to mortality. Many peritonitis episodes are due to contamination at the time o
Encouraging Entrepreneurism with Internal Small Grants: The Strategic Directions Microgrant Program at the University of Houston Libraries

Since its inception in 2007, the Strategic Directions Microgrant Program (SDMP) at the University of Houston Libraries has funded a wide variety of activities, from late-night pancake suppers for students to technology training for librarians. This paper describes the origin, implementation, and evolution of the SDMP and presents the program as a potential model for other libraries interested in developing a small grants program that encourages creative, entrepreneurial projects to advance strategic goals.
Modeling of Actuator-Structure Interaction in the Slewing of Flexible Structures

This paper examines the modeling of a single link flexible slewing beam, torque driven by a DC electric motor at the slewing axis. A generalized model is achieved by including the interaction of the actuator and flexible structure. The effects of this interaction are also included in the motor dynamics. The boundary conditions of the structure are formulated in terms of the effective actuator inertia. A study is performed for systems with varying degrees of actuator-structure interaction using a controllability norm computation.
Predictors of Central Venous Catheter Use at the Initiation of Hemodialysis

Central venous catheter (CVC) use at hemodialysis (HD) initiation remains high, despite reports of CVC-associated morbidity and mortality, and efforts at early arteriovenous fistula placement. In order to determine predictors of CVC use at the start of HD, data from the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) Clinical Performance Measures (CPM) Project was linked to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medical Evidence (2728) Form. Of the 4071 incident hemodialysis patients in study years 1999-2003, 71.6% used a CVC at dialysis initiation. After controlling for demographic and co-morbid variables, patients with a CVC were 24% more likely to be female (p = 0.006), and 38% more likely to have ischemic heart disease (p = 0.002), while those with obesity (BMI > or = 30) were 24% less likely to start dialysis with a CVC (p = 0.006). Pre-ESRD hypoalbuminemia ( or = 11 g/dl. Patients receiving predialysis erythropoietin had a 41% lower odds of CVC use at dialysis initiation (p = < 0.001). Finally, dialysis year was predictive of CVC use; in 2002, 76% of patients initiated dialysis with a CVC compared with 66% in 1998 (p < 0.001). Overall, female gender, ischemic heart disease, lack of obesity, factors suggesting poor pre-ESRD care, and successive year of dialysis initiation were predictive of CVC use at hemodialysis initiation.
Model-based networked control for nonlinear systems with stochastic packet dropout

In this paper we analyze model-based networked control systems for a discrete-time nonlinear plant model, operating in the presence of stochastic dropout of state observations. The dropout is modelled as a Markov chain, and sufficient conditions for stability are provided using the stochastic version of Lyapunov's second method.
Synthesis of p-nitrophenyl 2-O-α- and -β-l-fucopyranosyl-β-d-fucopyranoside☆

Abstract Reaction of 2,3,4-tri- O -acetyl-α- l -fucopyranosyl bromide with p -nitrophenyl 3,4- O -isopropylidene-β- d -fucopyranoside in the presence of mercuric cyanide in acetonitrile, followed by removal of the isopropylidene group under mild conditions, gave a mixture of p -nitrophenyl 2- O -(2,3,4-tri- O -acetyl-α- and -β- l -fucopyranosyl)-β- d -fucopyranoside. These compounds were conveniently separated by preparative, thin-layer chromatography, and, on deacetylation, gave the title disaccharides, whose structures were established by 1 H- and 13 C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.
Lipid composition of adult female Xyleborus ferrugineus

Abstract The lipids (i.e. sterols, phospholipids, and fatty acids) of the female adult Xyleborus ferrugineus were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. Total lipid content was about 8 per cent of the fresh weight of the beetle. This was comprised of about 7 per cent neutral lipids (fatty acids, 6 per cent; sterols, 0·05 per cent; others, 1 per cent), and 1 per cent polar lipids. On a beetle basis, polar lipids, neutral lipid fatty acids, and sterols constituted 14, 75, and 0·6 μg respectively. The principal sterols were β-sitosterol (64 per cent) and cholesterol (22 per cent); two other minor steroidal components (2 per cent and 12 per cent) were unidentified. The high β-sitosterol content indicated accumulation of this dietary sterol in the tissues of the beetle. Major phospholipid components were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine, which together accounted for 90 per cent of the beetle's total phospholipids. The remaining 10 per cent were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, and cardiolipin. The high PE content (56 per cent) differentiated it from other coleopterans studied, it resembled instead the pattern usually found in dipterans. Lipid phosphorus content was 10 μmole/g of beetle. In the neutral lipids of the beetle 16- and 18-carbon fatty acids were predominant. Palmitic acid (35 per cent) and the C 18 acids (58 per cent) made up the bulk of the total. Of the unsaturated C 18 acids (42 per cent), half were polyunsaturated.
Atomistic modeling of crystal-defect mobility and interactions

Abstract A novel and efficient simulation method for determining the saddle-point configuration of a localized structural defect in a crystalline lattice is developed and applied to elucidate the dominant mechanisms of dislocation and self-interstitial mobility and of dislocation intersections. The method is able to locate the migration path between two prescribed defect configurations, and involves sampling a discretized path connecting two neighboring potential energy minima. Using the Stillinger-Weber interatomic potential for silicon, activation energies are found for the displacement of the 30°-partial dislocation (glide set) via the double-kink mechanism and the migration of a self-interstitial via a jump-rotation process. In the intersections of straight partial dislocations, jog and kink formations are observed and consequences of the strong core reconstruction on the energetics of intersection are examined.
Conservation of rDNA in Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae).

Restriction site variation in the nuclear 18S–25S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) was analyzed hierarchically in a species complex in the fern genusPolystichum. Two distinct rDNA repeat types were present in all individuals ofPolystichum examined. No variation was detected among individuals within a population ofP. munitum, among populations ofP. munitum orP. imbricans, or among the six diploid species ofPolystichum from North America, including the circumborealP. lonchitis. The identity of rDNA repeats across all six North American species ofPolystichum may reflect an overall similarity of the nuclear genomes of these species, an observation supported by isozyme data as well. However, this nuclear similarity contrasts sharply with the highly divergent chloroplast genomes of these six species. The conservative nature of the rDNA inPolystichum also is in contrast to the much more variable rDNAs of most angiosperms investigated. Perhaps the tempo and mode of evolution of rDNA in ferns differ from those of angiosperms; however, the data base for fern rDNA is very small. Furthermore, the number of repeat types per individual is consistent with a diploid, rather than polyploid, condition despite the high chromosome number (n = 41) of these plants, although homogenization of multiple, divergent rRNA genes cannot be disproven.