cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blood flow distribution as indicated by tracer microspheres in resting and hypoxic Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus).

Abstract 1. Radioactive microspheres were used to measure the distribution of blood flow to tissues from the dorsal aorta in Arctic grayling. 2. Liver, kidney and spleen received substantial flow, together accounting for about 18% of dorsal aortic flow. Other viscera received insubstantial amounts. White muscle accounted for about 50% of the flow, but received only about one tenth the supply of red muscle on a per gram basis. 3. One hour of experimental hypoxia (55 Torr) produced no significant change in the percentage distribution of blood flow to any organ or tissue examined. 4. The supply of blood to red and white muscle was found to vary from head to tail, with the highest relative flow to anterior red muscle and to midsection white muscle.
Firearm- and non-firearm-related homicide among children: an international comparison

Data from 26 industrialized countries are compared to understand the incidence of firearm-related and non-firearm-related homicide among children under 15 years of age. Comparisons were made between rates per 100,000 children for each country and for the United States and all non-U.S. countries combined. It was found that the U.S. rates far exceed those of other countries. The childhood homicide rate is five times higher in the United States than in all of the other countries combined (2.57 versus 0.51). The firearm-related homicide rate for children under 15 years of age is 16 times higher in the United States than in the 25 other countries (0.94 versus 0.06), and the non-firearm-related homicide rate is four times higher (1.63 versus 0.45). These findings suggest the value of conducting further research to explain cross-national differences.
Noise characterization of erbium-doped fiber lasers mode locked by semiconductor saturable absorbers

We compare the noise performance of a 980 nm laser-diode-pumped (LD-pumped) ring erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) with a Fabry-Perot (FP) EDFL that is pumped by a diode-pumped Nd: YLF laser. For frequencies greater than 200 Hz, the measured rms timing jitter is 3.2 ps for the FP EDFL and 1.8 ps for the ring EDFL, We find that the phase noise below 200 Hz in the FP EDFL is primarily due to mode hopping in the Nd:YLF pump laser. The performance of the ring EDFL is competitive with passively, mode-locked semiconductor lasers1 and should be appropriate for transmission, switching, and sampling applications.
Application of Effective Discharge Analysis to Environmental Flow Decision-Making

Well-informed river management decisions rely on an explicit statement of objectives, repeatable analyses, and a transparent system for assessing trade-offs. These components may then be applied to compare alternative operational regimes for water resource infrastructure (e.g., diversions, locks, and dams). Intra- and inter-annual hydrologic variability further complicates these already complex environmental flow decisions. Effective discharge analysis (developed in studies of geomorphology) is a powerful tool for integrating temporal variability of flow magnitude and associated ecological consequences. Here, we adapt the effectiveness framework to include multiple elements of the natural flow regime (i.e., timing, duration, and rate-of-change) as well as two flow variables. We demonstrate this analytical approach using a case study of environmental flow management based on long-term (60 years) daily discharge records in the Middle Oconee River near Athens, GA, USA. Specifically, we apply an existing model for estimating young-of-year fish recruitment based on flow-dependent metrics to an effective discharge analysis that incorporates hydrologic variability and multiple focal taxa. We then compare three alternative methods of environmental flow provision. Percentage-based withdrawal schemes outcompete other environmental flow methods across all levels of water withdrawal and ecological outcomes.
On a Cylinder the Intersection of Which With A Sphere Will Develop into an Ellipse

(1904). On a Cylinder the Intersection of Which With A Sphere Will Develop into an Ellipse. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 11, No. 10, pp. 186-187.
Proficiency effect on L2 pragmatic competence

This paper synthesizes cross-sectional studies of the effect of proficiency on second language (L2) pragmatics to answer the synthesis question: Does proficiency affect adult learners’ pragmatic competence? Findings have revealed an overall positive proficiency effect on pragmatic competence, and in most cases higher proficiency learners have higher pragmatic competence. However, increased proficiency does not guarantee a native-like pragmatic performance because proficiency effect varies depending on the nature of target pragmatic features such as types of speech acts (degrees of directness and conventionality) (e.g., Cook & Liddicoat, 2002; Felix-Brasdefer, 2007), modalities of pragmatic performance (comprehension and production) (e.g., Bradovi-Harlig, 2008, 2009), social variables involved in task situations, such as social status (e.g., Allami & Naeimi, 2011), social distance (e.g., Maeshiba, Yoshinaga, Kasper, & Ross, 1996), and power relationship (e.g., Al-Gahtani & Roever, 2012). Moreover, proficiency effect is mediated by contextual variables such as length of stay in the target language community (e.g., Shardakova, 2005; Taguchi, 2011, 2013; Xu, Case, & Wang, 2009).
Choose the Neighbor before the House: Agglomeration Externalities in a UK Science Park

This paper investigates the presence of agglomeration externalities and their eect on innovative activity of companies located in two geographically adjacent science parks in the UK. The analysis investigates whether technological proximity of
Day of Surgery Impacts Outcome: Rehabilitation Utilization on Hospital Length of Stay in Patients Undergoing Elective Meningioma Resection

Objective/Background Meningiomas account for approximately one third of all brain tumors in the United States. In high-volume medical centers, the average length of stay (LOS) for a patient is 6.8 days compared with 8.8 days in low-volume centers with median total admission charges equaling approximately $55,000. To our knowledge, few studies have evaluated day of surgery and its effect on hospital LOS. Our primary goal was to analyze patient outcome as a direct result of surgical date, as well as to characterize the individual variables that may impact their hospital course, early access to rehabilitation, and long-term functional status. Methods A retrospective database was generated for cranial meningioma patients who underwent elective surgical resection at our institution over a 3-year study period (2011–2014). Inclusion criteria included any patient who underwent elective meningioma resection and was discharged either home or to a rehabilitation facility with at least 6 months of follow-up. Exclusion criteria included any patient who was not discharged after resection (i.e., expired). Each patient's medical record was evaluated for a subset of demographics and clinical variables. Given that patients who undergo surgical resection of meningiomas have a national median LOS of 6 days, we subdivided the patients into 2 cohorts: early discharge (LOS Results We identified 139 (25 male, 114 female) meningioma patients who underwent surgical resection. Seventy of these patients had surgery during the early week (defined as Monday–Wednesday), and 69 had surgery in the later week (Thursday–Friday). The median age for both early and late groups was 58, and the median diameter of the tumor was 3.1 cm and 3.3 cm, respectively. Overall, 55% of the patients had public insurance and 43% had private insurance, with no significant variation between the early and late groups. The median LOS for the early and late populations was 3 and 4 days, respectively. Physical therapy recommendations for rehabilitation facility were made in 26% of early-week patients and in 42% of late-week patients. Additionally, we found a statistically significant decreased LOS ( P = 0.045, Mann-Whitney test). Conclusion Day of surgery may play a significant role in LOS for meningioma patients. Clinicians should remain aware of those factors that may delay optimal patient discharge and early access to rehabilitation facilities. Further studies will need to be performed to assess the social variables that may affect LOS, as well as the financial implications for such extended hospital courses.
Low-cost plasma immersion ion implantation doping for Interdigitated back passivated contact (IBPC) solar cells

Abstract We present progress to develop low-cost interdigitated back contact solar cells with pc-Si/SiO2/c-Si passivated contacts formed by plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII). PIII is a lower-cost implantation technique than traditional beam line implantation due to its simpler design, lower operating costs, and ability to run high doses (1E14–1E18 cm−2) at low ion energies (20 eV–10 keV). These benefits make PIII ideal for high throughput production of patterned passivated contacts, where high-dose, low-energy implantations are made into thin (20–200 nm) a-Si layers instead of into the wafer itself. For this work symmetric passivated contact test structures (~100 nm thick) grown on n-Cz wafers with pH3 PIII doping gave implied open circuit voltage (iVoc) values of 730 mV with Jo values of 2 fA/cm2. Samples doped with B2H6 gave iVoc values of 690 mV and Jo values of 24 fA/cm2, outperforming BF3 doping, which gave iVoc values in the 660–680 mV range. Samples were further characterized by SIMS, photoluminescence, TEM, EELS, and post-metallization TLM to reveal micro- and macro-scopic structural, chemical and electrical information.
Excavations in Pima-Coolidge Industrial Park, Southern Arizona

ABSTRACTDuring the spring of 1968, salvage excavations were conducted by the Arizona State Museum in the Pima-Coolidge Industrial Park about three miles north of Coolidge, Arizona. Nine Classic period Hohokam rooms were cleared, as well as a portion of a Sacaton phase pit house. The project was supported in part by the National Park Service and in part by the Sacaton Agency of the Gila River Indian Reservation.
Evolutionarily Conserved Coupling of Transcription and Alternative Splicing in the Protein 4.1R and 4.1B Genes Regulates N-Terminal Protein Structure.

The protein 4.1R gene is regulated by complex pre-mRNA processing events that facilitate the synthesis of protein isoforms with different structure, function, and subcellular localization in red cells and various nucleated cell types. One of these events involves the stage-specific activation of exon 16 inclusion in erythroblasts, which mechanically stabilizes the membrane skeleton by increasing the protein’s affinity for spectrin and actin. Some of the splicing factor proteins and RNA regulatory elements responsible for this tissue-specific alternative splicing event have been defined. Here we focus on another RNA processing event, in the 5′ end of the transcript that can affect the structure and function of the membrane binding domain of protein 4.1R. We have shown that 4.1R transcripts originating at three far upstream alternative promoters/first exons splice differentially to alternative acceptor sites in exon 2′/2 in a manner that suggests strict coupling between transcription and alternative splicing events. A precisely analogous gene organization and RNA processing pattern has also been shown to occur in the paralogous 4.1B gene. Now we demonstrate that this coupling is evolutionarily conserved among several vertebrate classes from fish to mammals. The 4.1R and 4.1B genes from fish, bird, amphibian, and mammal genomes exhibit shared features including alternative first exons and differential splice acceptors in exon 2. In all cases, the 5′-most exon (exon 1A) splices exclusively to a weaker internal acceptor site in exon 2, skipping a short sequence designated as exon 2′ (17-33nt). Conversely, alternative first exons 1B and/or 1C always splice to the stronger first acceptor site, retaining exon 2′. These correlations are independent of tissue type or species of origin. Since exon 2′ contains a translation initiation site, this regulated splicing event generate protein isoforms with distinct N-termini. We propose that these 4.1 genes represent a physiologically relevant model system for mechanistic analysis of transcription-coupled alternative splicing. We have recently constructed a 9kb “minigene” that successfully reproduces the differential splicing patterns of exons 1A and 1B to exon 2′/2 in transfected cells. This minigene will facilitate identification of the determinants that guide coupling. Current experiments are testing the importance for proper splicing of the transcriptional promoter, first exon sequences, length and sequence of the intron, and sequence of a conserved element within exon 2′. Ultimately these studies should provide new insights into the mechanisms of coupling between far upstream, transcription-related processes and downstream alternative splicing.
A computational framework for the analysis of rain-induced erosion in wind turbine blades, part I: Stochastic rain texture model and drop impact simulations

Abstract In the past decade, the power output of wind turbines has increased significantly. This increase has been primarily achieved through manufacturing larger blades resulting in high blade tip velocities and increased susceptibility to rain erosion. This paper is the first part in a two-part paper that presents a framework for the analysis of rain erosion in wind turbine blades. Two ingredients of the framework are presented. A stochastic rain texture model is developed to generate three-dimensional fields of raindrops consistent with the rainfall history at the turbine location by integrating the micro-structural properties of rain, i.e. raindrops size and spatial distribution with its integral properties such as the relationship between the average volume fraction of raindrops and rain intensity. An in-house GPU-accelerated computational fluid dynamics model of free-surface flows and a multi-resolution strategy are used to calculate the drop impact pressure as a function of time and space. An interpolation scheme is finally proposed to find the time evolution of impact pressure profile for any given drop diameter using the high fidelity simulation results, significantly reducing the computational cost. Other ingredients of the framework pertaining to drop impact-induced stresses and the blade coating fatigue life are presented in part II.
Activation of Insulin-PI3K/Akt-p70S6K Pathway in Hepatic Stellate Cells Contributes to Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are hallmark features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis (NASH). It remains unclear whether and how insulin contributes to the development of fibrosis in NASH. In this study, we explored insulin signaling in the regulation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and the progression of NASH-fibrosis. Phosphorylation of Akt and p70S6K were examined in primary HSC and in a rat model of NASH-fibrosis induced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 24 weeks. HSC activation was analyzed for the changes in cell morphology, intracellular lipid droplets, expression of α-SMA and cell proliferation. The serum markers and histology for NASH-fibrosis were also characterized in animals. Insulin enhanced the expression of smooth muscle actin-α in quiescent but not in activated HSC in culture. Insulin-mediated activation of the PI3K/Akt-p70S6K pathway was involved in the regulation of profibrogenic effects of insulin. Although insulin did not stimulate HSC proliferation directly, the insulin-PI3K/Akt-p70S6K pathway was necessary for serum-enhanced cell proliferation during initial HSC activation. In a rat model of NASH-fibrosis induced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet, hyperinsulinemia is associated with the activation of p70S6K and enhanced fibrosis. The insulin-PI3K/Akt-p70S6K pathway plays an important role in the early activation of HSC. The profibrogenic effect of insulin is dependent on the activation stage of HSC. Dysregulation of the insulin pathway likely correlates with the development of fibrosis in NASH, suggesting a potentially novel antifibrotic target of inhibiting insulin signaling in HSC.
Measurement of nanoparticle size, suspension polydispersity, and stability using near-field optical trapping and light scattering (Conference Presentation)

Nanoparticles are becoming ubiquitous in applications including diagnostic assays, drug delivery and therapeutics. However, there remain challenges in the quality control of these products. Here we present methods for the orthogonal measurement of these parameters by tracking the motion of the nanoparticle in all three special dimensions as it interacts with an optical waveguide. These simultaneous measurements from a single particle basis address some of the gaps left by current measurement technologies such as nanoparticle tracking analysis, ζ-potential measurements, and absorption spectroscopy. As nanoparticles suspended in a microfluidic channel interact with the evanescent field of an optical waveguide, they experience forces and resulting motion in three dimensions: along the propagation axis of the waveguide (x-direction) they are propelled by the optical forces, parallel to the plane of the waveguide and perpendicular to the optical propagation axis (y-direction) they experience an optical gradient force generated from the waveguide mode profile which confines them in a harmonic potential well, and normal to the surface of the waveguide they experience an exponential downward optical force balanced by the surface interactions that confines the particle in an asymmetric well. Building on our Nanophotonic Force Microscopy technique, in this talk we will explain how to simultaneously use the motion in the y-direction to estimate the size of the particle, the comparative velocity in the x-direction to measure the polydispersity of a particle population, and the motion in the z-direction to measure the potential energy landscape of the interaction, providing insight into the colloidal stability.
Targeted Calorie Message Promotes Healthy Beverage Consumption Better than Charity Incentive.

Objective Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is cited as a major contributor to the U.S. obesity epidemic. The objective of this paper was to leverage insights from behavioral economics to examine whether nudges would entice college students to save meal calories by choosing water over SSBs. Methods Three message-based nudge interventions, with washout periods between, were used during the 7-week study. Calorie savings (self-interest), charity (prosocial), or charity-plus-calorie message posters were displayed in a college-based food franchise. Multilevel logistic regressions compared the proportions of students choosing water during three experimental conditions. This study assessed whether the frequency of dining establishment visits over the study period moderated effects of the experimental conditions on beverage choices. Multiple data points from the same customer were treated as repeated measures. Results A total of 2,393 unique students purchased 6,730 meals. Posters displaying calorie information increased water choice relative to washout periods, while the poster without calorie information (charity only) had no effect. Controlling for fixed effects produced the same results. The calorie message poster influenced less frequent diners more than frequent diners. Conclusions Food-service operations can nudge college students to substitute water for SSBs with a simple calorie-based message to save hundreds of calories per meal.
From incidental harms to moral elevation: The positive effect of experiencing unintentional, uncontrollable, and unavoidable harms on perceived moral character

Abstract We contend that unintentional, uncontrollable, and unavoidable (i.e., incidental) hardships boost perceptions of volunteers' moral character because observers have a reflexive positive response to people who endure personal costs while serving others. Five experiments support this prediction. Participants judged a volunteer who suffered an incidental hardship (got stung by a bee, hit by a falling shingle, or unknowingly missed a fun opportunity while volunteering) to have greater moral character than a volunteer who did not experience these incidental hardships (Studies 1–4a). Observers' feelings of empathy emerged as a driver of this positive effect of incidental hardship on volunteers' perceived moral character (Studies 3 and 4a), and the prosociality of the target's activity (volunteering vs. not volunteering) moderated the effect (Study 2). A comparison of judgments in separate and joint evaluation contexts suggested that the effect is not due to a normative belief that volunteers should be praised for enduring incidental hardships (Studies 4a–4b). We address alternative explanations for the findings such as differences in the foreseeability of the hardship, task difficulty, and volunteers' perseverance. We discuss the implications of these findings for models of moral judgment and the processes by which people form impressions of others' positive moral character.
Improved Methods for Signal Processing in Measurements of Elemental Mercury Vapor by Tekran ® 2537A and 2537B Instruments

Atmospheric Hg measurements are commonly carried out using Tekran ® Instruments Corporation's model 2537 Hg vapor analyzers, which employ gold amalgamation pre-concentration sampling and detection by thermal desorption/atomic fluorescence spectrometry. A generally overlooked and poorly characterized source of analytical uncertainty in those measurements is the method by which the raw Hg atomic fluorescence signal is processed. Here I describe new software-based methods for processing the raw signal from the Tekran ® 2537 instruments, and I evaluate the performances of those methods together with the standard Tekran ® internal signal processing method. For test datasets from two Tekran ® instruments (one 2537A and one 2537B), I estimate that signal processing uncertainties in Hg loadings determined with the Tekran ® method are within ±[6 % + 0.94 pg]. I demonstrate that the Tekran ® method produces significant low biases (≥ 5 %) not only at low Hg sample loadings ( 3 ) under typical operating conditions (sample loadings of 5–10 pg). Signal processing uncertainties associated with the Tekran ® method therefore represent a significant unaccounted for addition to the overall ~ 10 to 15 % uncertainty previously estimated for Tekran ® -based GEM and THg measurements. In comparison, estimated signal processing uncertainties associated with the new methods described herein are low, ranging from within ±0.053 pg, when the Hg thermal desorption peaks are defined manually, to within ±[2 % + 0.080 pg] when peak definition is automated. Mercury limits of detection decreased by ~ 31 to 88 % when the new methods were used in place of the Tekran ® method. I recommend that signal processing uncertainties be quantified in future applications of the Tekran ® 2537 instruments.
Extended Self-Concept and Brand-Related Responses in the Sensory Modality Context

Self-concept has been addressed as an important factor that influences consumer behavior. Fashion brands, in particular, are frequently used a way of expressing self to others. However, recent resurgence of research interests in self-concept focuses not on the self-concept per se, but on the relationship between the self-concept and brand-related behavior (Kirmani, 2009).
Sodium Sulfate Resistance of Mortars Containing Combined Nanosilica and Microsilica

AbstractIn this study, the effect of combined nanosilica (nS) and microsilica (mS) on sulfate resistance of portland cement mortars was compared with cement-only control mortars and mixtures with e...
Forest farming in Georgia, United States: Three potential crops

Abstract Forest farming is the cultivation of shade-tolerant crops under forest canopy. This agroforestry practice involves propagation, maintenance, harvesting, marketing, and overall economics of non-timber forest products, each of which falls into at least one category - medicinal herbs, foods, and/or ornamental plants. Interest in forest farming has been increasing, yet general information about this practice, including its advantages and disadvantages, are not readily available for the state of Georgia, United States. With declining indigenous plant species due to wild harvesting, landowners have the potential for economic and ecological expansion in this market. The goal of this review article is to evaluate the prospective economic outcomes of farming non-timber forest products. Basic background information, propagation methods and harvesting techniques are explained, and market values for recent years are provided for three non-timber forest products: black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) (medicinal herb), shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) (food crop), and azalea (Rhododendron spp.) (ornamental plant). A list of other potential non-timber forest products in Georgia is also provided along with their uses and native status. The values of a few non-timber forest products of high demand, and consequently their potential profits, fluctuate widely from year to year leading to a wide range of reported profitability, depending on the source. Stability of the market depends on the steady availability of the product, which can be achieved once affected non-timber forest products are commonly cultivated instead of wild harvested.
Structure of Normal Hematopoietic Tissues

Abstract Bone marrow is a mesenchymal-derived complex structure consisting of hematopoietic precursors and a complex microenvironment that facilitates the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and supports the differentiation and maturation of the progenitors. All differentiated hematopoietic cells including lymphocytes, erythrocytes, granulocytes, macrophages, and platelets are derived from HSCs.
On the Macroeconomic Implications of Competition

Findings involving economic aggregates are developed assuming price-taking agents with limited information. The dynamic requirements for steady-state competitive equilibrium are derived. The expectations-augmented Phillips curve and its policy implications are found not to be robust to the competitive environment. A more general equilibrium-augmented Phillips curve is found to be compatible with a dynamic competitive economy. The model is sufficiently simple to lend itself to presentation in introductory courses yet provides powerful insights into dynamic macroeconomic phenomena that are not otherwise as easily understood. An important innovation for pedagogic purposes is the illustration of both equilibrium price and the inflation rate in simple graphs, which are capable of easily demonstrating disinflation and output growth rate reduction (rather than deflation and output level drops) from restrictive policy.
DAT-SPECT Imaging in Cases of Drug-Induced Parkinsonism in a Specialty Movement Disorders Practice (P3.074)

Objective: To compare clinical characteristics and patient outcomes in cases where DAT-SPECT imaging is used to distinguish Parkinson’s disease (PD) from Drug-Induced Parkinsonsim (DIP). Background: Clinical uncertainty in the diagnosis of PD is common when patients are on dopamine-blocking medications. DAT-SPECT imaging can improve diagnostic certainty in differentiating DIP from PD but little data are available on clinical characteristics and outcomes that characterize patients with normal and abnormal results. Design/Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients seen at the Northwestern University Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders Center from 2011–2017 where DAT-SPECT was ordered to distinguish PD from DIP. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables of interest and compared by scan result. Chi-squared analyses was carried out for categorical variables and students’ t-tests for continuous values. Results: 51 patients met the inclusion criteria with 36 having a normal scan and 15 having an abnormal scan. Those with greater than 2 TRAP (Tremor, rigidity, akinesia, postural instability) features were more likely to have an abnormal scan (63.89% vs 93.33%, p=0.04). None of the other clinical characteristics assessed, including asymmetry, were associated with scan results. The medications most commonly associated with suspected DIP in this cohort were atypical antipsychotics (aripiprazole 39.21% and olanzapine 31.37%) and mood stabilizers (valproic acid 33.33% and lithium 17.65%). A post-scan change in management occurred in 41.18% of patients. 55.56% of patients with normal scans reported a response to changes in the offending medication with 16.66% of patients taking longer than 3 months to show improvement. Conclusions: DAT-SPECT scans are commonly used to distinguish PD from DIP because clinical characteristics alone are unreliable. DAT-SPECT results lead to changes in management and the outcomes of these changes are consistent with the scan results. Disclosure: Dr. Yomtoob has nothing to disclose. Dr. Koloms has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bega has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Teva Pharmaceuticals, Acadia Pharmaceuticals.
The High-throughput WAFFL System for Treating and Monitoring Individual Drosophila melanogaster Adults

Non-mammalian model organisms have been essential for our understanding of the mechanisms and control of development, disease, and physiology, but are underutilized in pharmacological phenotypic screening assays due to low throughput compared to cell-based systems. To increase the utility of using Drosophila melanogaster in screening, we have designed the whole animal feeding flat (WAFFL), a novel, flexible, and complete system for feeding, monitoring, and assaying flies in a high throughput format. Our system was conceived keeping in mind the use of off-the-shelf, commercial, 96-well consumables and equipment in order to be amenable to experimental needs. Here we provide an overview of the design and 3-D printing manufacture specifications.
Updates in CKD-Associated Osteoporosis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with bone loss and fractures. The purpose of this review is to provide clinicians with an overview of the underlying pathogenesis of CKD-associated osteoporosis, and a summary of the current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this disease. In 2017, the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes Committee on Bone Quality updated their guidelines to include screening for osteoporosis and fracture risk by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in patients with CKD. Once a diagnosis of osteoporosis and/or fracture risk is established, it is not clear how nephrologists should manage their patients. Patients with CKD should be screened for CKD-associated osteoporosis and considered for strategies that prevent bone loss and fractures. Assessment of bone turnover via imaging, biochemical testing, or bone biopsy can help guide the choice of therapy. Randomized controlled trials are needed to assess safety and efficacy of treatments to prevent bone loss and fractures.
Correlation Between Surface Chemistry of Polycarbonate and its Adhesion Behavior to Electrolessly Plated Copper

A fundamental requirement for improving adhesion of electrolessly plated copper (Cu) on polycarbonate (PC) components is to understand the chemical and physical changes that occur on the PC substrate surface during the multi-step electroless Cu plating process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to study the surface chemistry of polycarbonate in the pre-copper plating steps, i.e., pre-etching, etching, and tin/palladium seeding reactions, of a commercial plating process. Surface imperfections, chemical changes in the polymer surface, and delamination between Cu and PC resulting from non-optimum conditions in the pre-etch and etch steps were observed. Furthermore, the relative concentrations of palladium and tin on the surface, which are known to be critical to the electroless plating ability, were also correlated with pre-etch and etch conditions.
Book Review: Chicana/o Remix by Karen Mary Davalos

Chicana/o Remix: Art and Errata since the Sixties , by Karen Mary Davalos. New York: New York University Press, 2017. 336 pp., 40 color illus. $30 (paper), ISBN 9781479821129. Reviewed by Adriana Zavala. Chicana/o art has been “monolithically defined” in the art history of the Americas. And
Biopolymers as a sustainable solution for the enhancement of soil mechanical properties

Improving soil engineering properties is an inevitable process before construction on soft soil. Increasing soil strength with chemical stabilizing agents, such as cement, raises environmental concerns. Therefore, sustainable solutions are in high demand. One of the promising solutions is the usage of biopolymers. Five biopolymer types were investigated in this study: Xanthan Gum, Beta 1,3/1,6 Glucan, Guar Gum, Chitosan, and Alginate. Their effect on the soil strength improvement was experimentally investigated by performing unconfined compression, splitting tensile, triaxial, and direct shear tests. All tests were performed with different biopolymer concentrations and curing periods. Additionally, in order to have an insight on the susceptibility to natural elements, plain soil, and biopolymer-treated specimens were exposed to real atmospheric conditions. The extensive experimental results showed that the soil strength tends to increase with the increase of biopolymer concentration and with the curing time. However, it was shown that the soil strength does not considerably change after a certain biopolymer concentration level and curing time. Furthermore, it has been observed that the biopolymer-treated specimens showed better resistance to the influence of the environmental conditions. In general, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, and Beta 1,3/1,6 Glucan showed the most dominant effect and potential for the future of sustainable engineering.
Dupilumab-Associated Mucin Deficiency (DAMD).

Purpose Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the interleukin-4 receptor subunit α (IL-4Rα) of IL-4 and IL-13, is increasingly being used to control atopic disease. Dupilumab use has been associated with a poorly understood conjunctivitis. In this study, we sought to investigate the hypothesis that dupilumab use and the associated IL-13 blockade causes a relative ocular mucin deficiency. Methods Tear levels of mucin 5ac (Muc5AC) and total tear protein levels were evaluated from 28 eyes of 14 patients. Bilateral tear samples were acquired from seven patients on dupilumab and seven patients with no exposure to dupilumab. Study subjects were age and gender matched. In addition to tear samples, photographic documentation of ocular surface findings and a questionnaire of ocular surface symptoms were obtained. Between-group mean differences were calculated. Results Compared with control, ocular Muc5AC levels normalized to total tear protein was statistically significantly lower. The average Muc5AC levels for persons on dupilumab was 1.54 ± 0.58 ng/mg and that of controls was 7.99 ± 1.16 ng/ mg. Persons on dupilumab reported a statistically increased occurrence of ocular fatigue/eye strain, uncomfortable sensation, pain, red eye, and itching. Conclusions This study demonstrates for the first time, a relative deficiency of Muc5AC in patients on dupilumab. Translational relevance The results of this study support the previously reported role of IL-13 in increasing goblet cell density and associated Muc5AC production. Further efforts are underway to better understand the relative contribution of Muc5AC deficiency in the overall presentation of conjunctivitis associated with dupilumab use.
Bleeding in Jail: Objectification, Self-Objectification, and Menstrual Injustice

In this first-person recollection, Roberts describes in frank detail an expert witness in a civil rights case on behalf of former inmates subjected to a strip and body cavity search in a women's jail. As Roberts relates, the procedure was monitored by female deputies and conducted en masse, and those who were menstruating had to remove their soiled tampons or pads in front of the group and, in some cases, bleed down their legs and onto the floor. Deputies are alleged to have verbally abused the inmates during the procedure. This case, Roberts says, has opened her eyes to the ways the shame and disgust that menstruation engenders gets deployed to debase disenfranchised women. Roberts asserts that this is a uniquely misogynist form of punishment, meted out by and against bodies and minds that have been colonized by objectification and self-objectification, becoming a grotesque platform to dehumanize women who land on the wrong side of the law and who live in bodies that menstruate.
Familial Autonomic Ganglionopathy Caused by Rare CHRNA3 Genetic Variants: Novel Genetic Cause of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension

Background: To identify and determine the molecular basis of a new Mendelian cause of familial neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH). Method: The proband developed disabling nOH at 39 yrs of age. He was evaluated at the Vanderbilt Autonomic Dysfunction Center and was diagnosed with severe autonomic failure and small nonreactive pupils. Plasma norepinephrine levels were abnormally low, and dopamine levels were within normal limits. Of note, his sister had onset of nOH in her late teens. Their parents, brother and the proband's three children were healthy. Findings: Patient was referred to the UDN where whole exome sequencing of DNAs from the proband and his affected sister showed that both were compound heterozygotes for c.907_908delCT (p.L303Dfs*115) /c.688G>A (p.D230N) variants in the acetylcholine receptor, neuronal nicotinic, alpha 3 subunit (CHRNA3) gene. CHRNA3 is a subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that regulates blood pressure through modulation of synaptic transmission in the autonomic ganglia. The frameshift (fs) and missense CHRNA3 variants were inherited from the sibs' mother and father, respectively, and their non-affected brother was a nl/p.D230N heterozygote. The fs variant is obviously pathogenic and the p.D230N variant is predicted to be damaging (SIFT)/probably damaging (PolyPhen2). Furthermore, we predict from structural modeling that the p.D230N variant lies on the interface between CHRNA3 and other nAChR subunits and that it would destabilize the nAChR pentameric complex. Interestingly, homozygous knock-out mice without detectable CHRNA3 had autonomic failure and dilated pupils. In humans, the presence of acquired nAChR autoantibodies against the alpha 3 subunit is associated with nOH and non-reactive pupils. Interpretation: We report sibs affected with autonomic failure and miosis of unknown etiology who are compound heterozygotes for CHRNA3 variants that co segregate with and have predicted effects on nAChR structure that suggest they likely cause this family's nOH. Funding Statement: The study was supported by Vanderbilt CTSA grant 1UL1 RR000445 from NACTS/NIH and NIH/NINDS U54 30 NS065736; JAP, JDC, JHN and RH was supported in part by NIH Common Fund and NIH/NHGRI UO1HG007674. Declaration of Interests: C.A.S. has received research grant from Doris Duke Foundation. I.B. and C.A.S. received grant support from Office of Orphan Products Development. Food and Drug Administration, Grant #FD-R-04778-01-A3. C.A.S. has received speaker honorarium from Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals. I.B., and C.A.S. received consulting honoraria from Lundbeck and Theravance Biopharma. C.A.S is member of the Board for the American Autonomic Society. Ethics Approval Statement: Both affected sibs were referred to the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN). They were enrolled at the Vanderbilt clinical site, and they consented to the study (IRB protocol NHGRI 15-HG0130) before any genetic studies were done.
Examining science teachers' enactment of argument-driven inquiry (ADI) instructional model

This paper examines three in-service science teachers’ use of argument-driven inquiry (ADI) instructional model in an urban school district. We explore the basis for teachers’ adaptation of the ADI...
Uavsar System Overview

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) project began as an Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) out of the NASA ESTO Program Office. After a year of study JPL presented to NASA an instrument concept that could be accommodated on the desired class of platforms, that would meet the original IIP science and instrument objectives and could be expanded to meet future airborne radar science needs. The UAVSAR project is a four year program consisting of a 3 year phase in which the radar system is designed and fabricated, the platform is modified, radar is installed on the aircraft and an initial flight testing program is begun. The last year of the program is designed to collect repeat pass data, to improve system robustness and to validate that the scientific objectives of the sensor are being met.
Top-Down Recognizers for MCFGs and MGs

This paper defines a normal form for MCFGs that includes strongly equivalent representations of many MG variants, and presents an incremental priority-queue-based TD recognizer for these MCFGs. After introducing MGs with overt phrasal movement, head movement and simple adjunction are added without change in the recognizer. The MG representation can be used directly, so that even rather sophisticated analyses of properly non-CF languages can be defined very succinctly. As with the similar stack-based CF-methods, finite memory suffices for the recognition of infinite languages, and a fully connected left context for probabilistic analysis is available at every point.
Apoptosis Has a Prolonged Role in the Neurodegeneration after Hypoxic Ischemia in the Newborn Rat

Birth asphyxia can cause moderate to severe brain injury. It is unclear to what degree apoptotic or necrotic mechanisms of cell death account for damage after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). In a 7-d-old rat HI model, we determined the contributions of apoptosis and necrosis to neuronal injury in adjacent Nissl-stained, hematoxylin and eosin-stained, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick end-labeled sections. We found an apoptotic-necrotic continuum in the morphology of injured neurons in all regions examined. Eosinophilic necrotic neurons, typical in adult models, were rarely observed in neonatal HI. Electron microscopic analysis showed "classic" apoptotic and necrotic neurons and "hybrid" cells with intermediate characteristics. The time course of apoptotic injury varied regionally. In CA3, dentate gyrus, medial habenula, and laterodorsal thalamus, the density of apoptotic cells was highest at 24-72 hr after HI and then declined. In contrast, densities remained elevated from 12 hr to 7 d after HI in most cortical areas and in the basal ganglia. Temporal and regional patterns of neuronal death were compared with expression of caspase-3, a cysteine protease involved in the execution phase of apoptosis. Immunocytochemical and Western blot analyses showed increased caspase-3 expression in damaged hemispheres 24 hr to 7 d after HI. A p17 peptide fragment, which results from the proteolytic activation of the caspase-3 precursor, was detected in hippocampus, thalamus, and striatum but not in cerebral cortex. The continued expression of activated caspase-3 and the persistence of cells with an apoptotic morphology for days after HI suggests a prolonged role for apoptosis in neonatal hypoxic ischemic brain injury.
Cloning of the human erythropoietin receptor gene.

We have isolated and characterized a genomic clone of the human erythropoietin (Epo) receptor from a placental genomic library using a cDNA probe for the murine Epo receptor. The coding region spans about 6.5 kb with seven intervening sequences ranging in size from 81 bp to 2.1 kb. A stretch of 123 purines is found in the 5′ region from -456 to -578 upstream from the first codon and flanking the Alu repetitive sequences located further upstream. The human Epo receptor contains a palindromic sequence 5′ of the translated region that consists of an almost perfect inverted repeat of 12 nucleotides (CAGCTGC(G/C)TCCG) centered about G at -92 from the first codon. An inverted SP1 binding site (CCGCCC) and an inverted GATA-1 binding site (TTATCT) are located at positions -151 and -179, respectively, and CACCC sequences are located at -585 and further upstream. No TATA or CAAT sequences are in this 5′ flanking region. However, this region as far as -275 has a 72% GC content compared with an overall GC content of 56%. A 1-kb BamHI fragment of the human Epo receptor containing 700 bp of sequences 5′ of the coding region was transcribed in an in vitro transcription assay; initiation of transcription appeared to be around 132 +/- 5 just downstream from the inverted SP1 site at -151. T1 analysis of human Epo receptor messenger RNA also maps the site of transcription initiation to this region. Within 180 nucleotides 5′ to the first exon are three regions with 70% or greater homology with the murine Epo receptor. The study of this gene, including its similarities with the murine Epo receptor, should help elucidate aspects of the transcriptional and possible translational control of the Epo receptor in human erythroid cells and thus its role in signal transduction and erythroid differentiation.
Wireless SAW sensors reader: architecture and design

This paper describes a prototype burst transceiver operating in the industrial, scientific and medical band that can be used to power, interrogate and receive response from a wireless passive surface acoustic wave sensor. While the transceiver architecture for this system has been previously described, this paper focuses on the prototype construction and component and system level performance testing. Key performance factors for the transceiver include the isolation provided by various radio frequency (RF) switches, the appropriate switch timing, and the digitization and collection of burst response signals for further processing. The isolation provided by RF switches generates the signal burst, switches the transceiver from the transmission to receiving mode, and provide receiver isolation from the transmission signal and path. The measurements taken in testing the transmitter and receiver sections are presented. In addition, the frequency spectrum of the in-phase and quadrature signals obtained after digitization and data collection is shown and briefly described
A Sampling Theorem for Computational Diffraction

A major challenge of many diffraction calculations, using some form of the RayleighSommerfeld formulas, is the integration of a highly oscillatory integrand. Here we derive a potentially useful alternative form of solution to the Helmholtz equation, which implies a sampling theorem for the evaluation of a diffracted scalar field. This alternative solution bears close resemblance to the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction formulas, but instead incorporates the boundary conditions digitally. Hence, the integration is replaced by a simple summation. This formulation may be more efficient for accuratecomputer-based calculation of the diffracted scalar field. c 2013 Optical Society of America