cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antagonistic epistasis for ecophysiological trait differences between Solanum species

Summary • Epistasis, the nonadditive interaction between loci, is thought to play a role in many fundamental evolutionary processes, including adaptive differentiation and speciation. Focusing on species differences in ecophysiological traits, we examined the strength and direction of pairwise epistatic interactions between target chromosomal regions from one species, when co-introgressed into the genetic background of a foreign species. • A full diallel cross was performed using 15 near-isogenic lines (NILs) constructed between two tomato species (Solanum habrochaites and Solanum lycopersicum) to compare the phenotypic effects of each chromosomal region singly and in combination with each other region. • We detected main effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for two of our three focal traits. Epistatic effects accounted for c. 25% of detected effects on trait means, depending on the trait. Strikingly, all but two interactions were antagonistic, with the combined effect of chromosomal regions acting in the opposite direction from that of one or both individual chromosomal regions. • Our study is one of the few to systematically examine pairwise epistatic effects in a nonmicrobial system. Our results suggest that epistatic interactions can contribute substantially to the genetic basis of traits involved in adaptive species differentiation, especially highly complex, multivariate traits.
Application of a bottom boundary layer model in contrasting wave and current environments : Grays harbor, washington

In the fall of 1999, stations for measuring waves, currents, and sea level were established near the entrance of and within Grays Harbor, Washington. The purpose of this study was to assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Seattle District (NWS) in the design and maintenance of the Grays Harbor federal navigation project. Benthic tripods were deployed inside, within, and outside the harbor entrance for a period of 2 months beginning in September. The contrasting wave and current environment between the open coast and the protected bay provide an opportunity to apply a bottom boundary layer model designed for arbitrary wave and current conditions including the limiting case of pure currents. Results show that, on the inner shelf, the total bottom shear stress is dominated by the wave-induced orbital motions. In the bay, waves are weak and the total bottom stress is dominated by the tidal current. The highest sediment transport is seen on the shelf and inlet throat, and it is correlated with period...
Helper T cell differentiation enters a new era: le roi est mort; vive le roi!

In the dark ages of T cell biology, we considered two fates for differentiated CD4+ T cells: T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cells. Now we know that the reality is much more complex and interesting. The newest Th cell subset produces the cytokine IL-17. New evidence shows that the IL-17–related cytokine IL-25 is essential for Th2 responses in two infectious disease models.
Wavelet Transforms for System Identification in Civil Engineering

: The time-frequency character of wavelet transforms allows adaptation of both traditional time and frequency domain system identification approaches to examine nonlinear and non-stationary data. Although challenges did not surface in prior applications concerned with mechanical systems, which are characterized by higher frequency and broader-band signals, the transition to the time-frequency domain for the analysis of civil engineering structures highlighted the need to understand more fully various processing concerns, particularly for the popular Morlet wavelet. In particular, as these systems may possess longer period motions and thus require finer frequency resolutions, the particular impacts of end effects become increasingly apparent. This study discusses these considerations in the context of the wavelet's multi-resolution character and includes guidelines for selection of wavelet central frequencies, highlights their role in complete modal separation, and quantifies their contributions to end-effect errors, which may be minimized through a simple padding scheme.
Heterocoagulation in mixed dispersions—effect of particle size, size ratio, relative concentration, and surface potential of colloidal components

Abstract Particle-particle interactions in aqueous dispersions containing two different metal oxides have been studied by measurement of sediment volume and viscosity. Experimental data were consistent with behavior predicted from interaction energies calculated by DLVO theory, and there was no evidence of exceptionally extensive coagulation in comparison with conventional coagulation of a single colloidal species. As expected, the presence of increasing concentrations of indifferent electrolyte inhibited mutual coagulation. Limitations imposed by the relative numbers of particles of the two dispersed components have been studied when (1) both types of particle have a similar size or (2) there was a considerable difference in particle size.
Equivalent models for multi-terminal channels

The recently introduced network equivalence results are used to create bit-pipe models that can replace multi-terminal channels within a discrete memoryless network. The goal is to create a set of simple “components” or “blocks” that can be substituted for the channel in such a way that the resulting network is capable of emulating the operation of the original one. We develop general upper and lower bounding models for the multiple access channel and for a class of broadcast channels. These bounds are sharp in the sense that there exists networks where the original channel can achieve the maximum sum rate permissible through the upper or lower bounding models. This approach provides a simple method for analyzing the capacity of large networks, which we illustrate with an example.
Extreme ultraviolet imaging spectrometer for thermospheric emissions.

One of the instruments that has been developed to fly on the Space Shuttle is the Imaging Spectrometric Observatory, an array of five imaging spectrometers to cover the 300-12,000-A wavelength range. In this paper the spectrometer designed to operate in the extreme ultraviolet is described. The instrument is intended for studies of the thermosphere and magnetosphere and support of various plasma experiments to be performed from the Shuttle. The design is modular so that various components such as gratings and detectors can be changed and optimized for a range of specific studies following the first survey mission. The detector is an intensified 2-D CCD which permits simultaneous spectral and spatial imaging. The spectral multiplexing gives the spectrometer a considerable speed advantage. The instrument has a small field of view and is thus capable of obtaining much needed scale height information on the atmospheric EUV emissions. Operating from the Shuttle, global and temporal coverage will be obtained, and the EUV data will be enhanced by the simultaneously acquired UV, visible, and near-IR observations.
Low-Cost Electronic Microwave Calibration for Rapid On-Line Moisture Sensing of Seedcotton

Abstract: In order to improve rapid on-line moisture sensing of seedcotton in cotton gins, a means by which to establish a reliable low-cost wide-band electronic calibration is critically needed. This calibration is needed to center the circuit due to changes in the internal signal delays and attenuation drift caused by temperature changes in the various system components and circuit elements. This research examines a hardware technique for use in conjunction with microwave reflective sensing probes having an extended bandwidth from 500 MHz through 2.5 GHz. This new technique was validated experimentally against known electrical propagation delay standards. Results of the measured propagation delay with this type of automatic electronic calibration method was found to agree with results using a vector network analyzer with a traditional S11 single port error correction calibration methodology to within 4% of the measurement, 95% confidence, with a standard error of +/−18.6 ps for the delay measurements. At this level of performance, the proposed low-cost technique exhibits superior performance, over the typical geosciences time-domain reflectometer “TDR”, instruments in common use in soil moisture testing and is suitable for use in cotton gin moisture sensing.
Investigation of Uranus, its satellites, and distant interplanetary phenomena by spacecraft techniques

Abstract A brief digest is given of the principal scientific objectives that can be addressed effectively, and perhaps uniquely, by spacecraft missions to Uranus. Practical considerations favor the launching of such missions in late 1979, with subsequent swing-bys of Jupiter and arrival at Uranus in late 1986.
A high sensitivity, low volume HPLC method to determine soluble reactive phosphate in freshwater and saltwater

Abstract A reverse phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to detect soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) in marine and freshwater samples. This technique is scalable over a range of sample volumes from 10 μl to 10 ml, requires minimal sample preparation, and responds linearly from 1 nM to 100 μM ( R 2 >0.964). Standard Murphy–Riley molybdenum blue reagents were used to react with phosphate in samples for analysis. Solid phase extraction tubes were used to clean the mixed complexing reagent prior to combining the reagent with samples. The method was applied to freshwater samples collected in July 2001 along an Andean mountain stream located in the Eastern Cordillera (∼2400 m) of Peru and marine samples collected in January 2002 within the low marsh of the estuarine Nueces Delta System, Texas Coastal Bend. For method comparison, field samples were analyzed using a standard manual spectrophotometric method. Field sample phosphate concentrations produced from each method were nearly identical. This method offers the advantages of low sample volume (1 ml or less) with high sensitivity, precision, and potential automation.
Recent progress in the study of one-dimensional gravitating systems.

: We review recent developments in the study of two different interacting gravitational systems: the system of parallel planar mass sheets and the system of concentric spherical mass shells. The approach to equilibrium of a system of parallel planar mass sheets is investigated. Parallels with three-dimensional systems are described. Mass segregation and kinetic energy equipartition in a two-component system of planar mass sheets is demonstrated via numerical simulation. The existence of two distinct phases is demonstrated in the system of spherical mass shells. The nature of the transition in the micro-canonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles is studied both theoretically in terms of mean-field theory and via dynamical simulation.
Small Interfering RNA-Mediated Gene Silencing in T Lymphocytes

Introduction of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into a cell can cause a specific interference of gene expression known as RNA interference (RNAi). However, RNAi activity in lymphocytes and in normal primary mammalian cells has not been thoroughly demonstrated. In this report, we show that siRNAs complementary to CD4 and CD8α specifically reduce surface expression of these coreceptors and their respective mRNA in a thymoma cell line model. We show that RNAi activity is only caused by a subset of siRNAs complementary to the mRNA target and that ineffective siRNAs can compete with effective siRNAs. Using primary differentiated T lymphocytes, we provide the first evidence of siRNA-mediated RNAi gene silencing in normal nontransformed somatic mammalian lymphocytes.
Treating desires not diseases: a pill for every ill and an ill for every pill?

My first recollection of modern pharmaceuticals is from the winter of 1942–1943, when my younger sister, suffering from pneumonia, was treated with M&B693 from May and Baker Pharmaceuticals (http://www.may-baker.com/). The doctor and my mother sat up all night nursing her through ‘the crisis’, which she survived. Most families, at least in the rich world, have similar stories to tell of how medicines developed in the past half century have saved their lives, shortened their illnesses and have made previously terminal diseases, if not curable, then at least treatable. For all of this, academic medicine and science and, notably, the pharmaceutical industry are owed much. However, these positive attributes of the industry are in danger of being obscured by a pattern of business practices that places profit above patient, emphasizes marketing over medicine and exaggerates disorders to promote drug sales. These practices, which are compounded by the extensive, Washington-based, political lobbying that is carried out by pharmaceutical companies, contribute to the increasing wave of public distrust directed at these companies. The 1 April 2006 issue of The British Medical Journal ran a short note by the Australian journalist Ray Moynihan describing a new disease – motivational deficiency disorder [1]. Apparently affecting one in five Australians and diagnosed by neurologist Leth Argos through both positron emission tomography scans and scoring scales, the disease was described as treatable with a new cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist indolebant. Several news organizations ran with this story, accepting it as authentic presumably for two main reasons. First, the story was released on 31 March (albeit 1 April in Australia), and, second, it sounds plausible. Motivational deficiency disorder fits in with restless legs syndrome, female sexual dysfunction, social anxiety disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, irritable male syndrome and other assorted contemporary ‘diseases’. It also fits well with the barrage of pharmaceutical advertising that viewers in the USA are subject to. Indeed, one knows exactly the demographics of a TV program audience by
Multi-scale predictive habitat suitability modeling based on hierarchically delineated patches: an example for yellow-billed cuckoos nesting in riparian forests, California, USA

The discipline of landscape ecology recognizes the importance of measuring habitat suitability variables at spatial scales relevant to specific organisms. This paper uses a novel multi-scale hierarchical patch delineation method, PatchMorph, to measure landscape patch characteristics at two distinct spatial scales and statistically relate them to the presence of state-listed endangered yellow-billed cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis) nesting in forest patches along the Sacramento River, California, USA. The landscape patch characteristics calculated were: patch thickness, area of cottonwood forest, area of riparian scrub, area of other mixed riparian forest, and total patch area. A third, regional spatial variable, delineating the north and south portions of study area was also analyzed for the effect of regional processes. Using field surveys, the landscape characteristics were related to patch occupancy by yellow-billed cuckoos. The area of cottonwood forest measured at the finest spatial scale of patches was found to be the most important factor determining yellow-billed cuckoo presence in the forest patches, while no patch characteristics at the larger scale of habitat patches were important. The regional spatial variable was important in two of the three analysis techniques. Model validation using an independent data set of surveys (conducted 1987–1990) found 76–82% model accuracy for all the statistical techniques used. Our results show that the spatial scale at which habitat characteristics are measured influences the suitability of forest patches. This multi-scale patch and model selection approach to habitat suitability analysis can readily be generalized for use with other organisms and systems.
Unlinkability Measure for IEEE 802.11 Based MANETs

In this paper, we propose a two-step unlinkability measuring approach for MANET, i.e., (a) evidence collection using statistical packet-counting traffic analysis, (b) evidence theory-based unlinkability measure. We use IEEE 802.11b-based MANETs as our analytical systems. Using our approach, we can collect a set of evidence to set up a probability assignment for each possible communication relation (i.e., the data sender and corresponding receiver); and then we can apply the evidence theory-based unlinkability measuring methods to derive the unlinkability evaluations of the 802.11b MANET.
Ultrasound-assisted hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde.

Abstract The hydrogenation, employing hydrogen gas, of cinnamaldehyde was performed using Pd-black and Raney Ni catalysts at 298 ± 3 K in a water-cooled (jacketed) reaction vessel. Sampling at pre-determined time intervals and GC/MS analysis yielded time-dependent product state distribution information. A kinetic modeling of the data revealed that cinnamaldehyde was both hydrogenated directly to the final product benzenepropanol, as well as a fraction being converted to the intermediate benzenepropanal, where the latter was subsequently hydrogenated to benzenepropanol. Comparing the ultrasound-assisted and blank (stirred) experiments revealed that a higher maximum relative concentration of the intermediate benzenepropanal was formed in the ultrasound experiments compared to the stirred experiment. The activity of the ultrasound experiments compared to blank were 9-fold and 20-fold greater for the Pd-black and Raney Ni catalysts, respectively. Finally, an application of the Bell–Evans–Polanyi principle to yield an estimate of the ratio of rate coefficients for benzenepropanal and benzenepropanol formation was performed by considering chemical group energy differences and surface adsorption energy differences in the first mechanistic step of hydrogenation.
Probabilistic Evaluation of Construction Deficiencies

A probabilistic procedure is formulated to evaluate construction deficiencies involving hundreds of identical structural elements in which uniformity of quality is desirable. These include welds in truss systems, pipe hanger systems, and shear studs in reinforced concrete structures to develop composite strength. A deterministic solution to this type of problem may be inadequate, as may a simple binomial distribution. The use of the hyperbinomial distribution is most appropriate since the success rate parameter is a random variable. The distribution also shows how added information could help make a better decision. The procedure is discussed using shear studs in reinforce concrete structures as an example. Some repair procedures are also suggested. This method may be a safe and economical way to deal with some construction deficiency problems.
Shared Values, Social Unity, and Liberty

May social unity - the unity of a society or social group - be a matter of sharing values? Political philosophers disagree on this topic. Kymlicka answers: No. Devlin and Rawls answer: Yes. It is argued that given one common 'summative' account of sharing values a negative answer is correct. A positive answer is correct, however, given the plural subject account of sharing values. Given this account, those who share values are unified in a substantial way by their participation in a joint commitment. Some consequences of such sharing of values for the liberty of the people involved are noted.
Social support quality and availability affects risk behaviors in offenders.

People involved in the justice system are at 2.5 times the risk of HIV infection compared to the general population, which is further complicated by substance abuse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of social network quality and quantity on unprotected sex, criminal risk, and substance use. We used data from 330 drug-involved offenders. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to model and test path directionality and magnitude between the latent constructs of social support quality and quantity on risky behaviors. The SEM indicated the latent construct of social support quality was significantly associated with reduced sexual risk behavior (β = −0.27), criminal risk (β = −0.26), and reduced substance use (β = −0.33). Additionally, the proposed model found that social support quantity was significantly positively associated with increased sexual risk behavior (β = 0.40) and substance use (β = 0.20). Social support quality is an important predictor of risky behaviors; as the quality of an offender’s social support increases, engagement in risky behaviors decreases. Probationers who had broader social support availability also had increased substance use and unprotected sex. Probation systems may be able to reduce substance use and STD/HIV infection risk in offenders by strengthening the quality of social support networks.
Rescue of Pressure Overload‐Induced Heart Failure by Estrogen Therapy

Background Estrogen pretreatment has been shown to attenuate the development of heart hypertrophy, but it is not known whether estrogen could also rescue heart failure (HF). Furthermore, the heart has all the machinery to locally biosynthesize estrogen via aromatase, but the role of local cardiac estrogen synthesis in HF has not yet been studied. Here we hypothesized that cardiac estrogen is reduced in HF and examined whether exogenous estrogen therapy can rescue HF. Methods and Results HF was induced by transaortic constriction in mice, and once mice reached an ejection fraction (EF) of ≈35%, they were treated with estrogen for 10 days. Cardiac structure and function, angiogenesis, and fibrosis were assessed, and estrogen was measured in plasma and in heart. Cardiac estrogen concentrations (6.18±1.12 pg/160 mg heart in HF versus 17.79±1.28 pg/mL in control) and aromatase transcripts (0.19±0.04, normalized to control, P <0.05) were significantly reduced in HF. Estrogen therapy increased cardiac estrogen 3‐fold and restored aromatase transcripts. Estrogen also rescued HF by restoring ejection fraction to 53.1±1.3% ( P <0.001) and improving cardiac hemodynamics both in male and female mice. Estrogen therapy stimulated angiogenesis as capillary density increased from 0.66±0.07 in HF to 2.83±0.14 ( P <0.001, normalized to control) and reversed the fibrotic scarring observed in HF (45.5±2.8% in HF versus 5.3±1.0%, P <0.001). Stimulation of angiogenesis by estrogen seems to be one of the key mechanisms, since in the presence of an angiogenesis inhibitor estrogen failed to rescue HF (ejection fraction=29.3±2.1%, P <0.001 versus E2). Conclusions Estrogen rescues pre‐existing HF by restoring cardiac estrogen and aromatase, stimulating angiogenesis, and suppressing fibrosis.
Guiding Clinical Judgment in Surgery for Limb Length Discrepancy: The Relationship Between Height and Income

Treatment for a child with limb length discrepancy is generally based on weighing the benefits of lower morbidity with epiphyseodesis versus avoiding surgery on the healthy leg, the ability to correct associated deformities, and greater ultimate height with limb lengthening. Although commonly ignored when balancing risks and benefits, mature height can affect patients socioeconomically. Though studies have noted an association between increased height and increased income as an adult, this relationship has not been rigorously investigated. Data from the …
Size-Dependent Photovoltaic Performance of CuInS2 Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells

The optical and electronic properties of quantum dots (QDs), which are drastically affected by their size, have a major impact on their performance in devices such as solar cells. We now report the size-dependent solar cell performance for CuInS2 QDs capped with 1-dodecanethiol. Pyramidal shaped CuInS2 QDs with diameters between 2.9 and 5.3 nm have been synthesized and assembled on mesoscopic TiO2 films by electrophoretic deposition. Time-resolved emission and transient absorption spectroscopy measurements have ascertained the role of internal and surface defects in determining the solar cell performance. An increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) was observed with the increasing size of QDs, with maximum values of 2.14 and 2.51% for 3.9 and 4.3 nm size particles, respectively. The drop in PCE observed for larger QDs (5.3 nm) is attributed to decreased charge separation following bandgap excitation. Because the origin of photocurrent generation in CuInS2 QDSC arises from the defect-dominated charge ...
Regionalism and Permanent Peace

ditions and behavior. Culture, accordingly, is anz historico-psychological product. So, also, is every tradition, every custom, and every institution. There is no need, therefore, of any conflict between the historical and functional methods of studying culture. Both are necessary if there is to be any scientific understanding. On the other hand, the methods of experiment and of exact measurement employed in the natural sciences give little promise in the study of cultural development. Anyone who thoroughly understands the relativity of all cultural and social forms to processes of learning and environmental conditions would hardly argue that quantitative measurements can do much more in the study of culture than help us to determine tendencies of various phases of culture at a given time and place. However, many things in human life can be studied only as tendencies. We can record facts here and there, over perhaps long periods of time, and thus get the direction of movements, even though we cannot observe their beginnings or their ends. This study of trends, or tendenvcies, in culture is surely a legitimate study in both cultural anthropology and in sociology and constitutes one of the most interesting phases of those sciences; for the development of the culture of any human group will largely determine the direction of its social evolution. The development of culture is, accordingly, not only the differential trait of human society; but as it is the human phase of social evolution, it is the controlling factor in the development and in most of the behavior of human groups. On the practical side, moreover, the social sciences as sciences of social adjustment will no longer study human society as if it were a machine of the gods which we can only describe but not control. For if social forms and institutions have been made by culture, they have been made by man, and the human sciences will show how they can be modified by man to human advantage.
Solving Koffee Karousel Design Problems: A Case Study in the Senior Mechanical Engineering Design Student Project

The University of Connecticut Department of Mechanical Engineering has developed an industry recognized Senior Design Capstone course. The course provides fourth-year students the opportunity for a “major design experience in which they apply the principles of engineering, basic sciences, and mathematics to model, analyze, design, and realize physical systems, components or processes, and it prepares students to work professionally” [1]. The course is taught by a class instructor and is supported by the faculty of the Mechanical Engineering department at UConn. In the 2013–2014 academic year there were over 40 projects in the course. This paper presents the issues and challenges that students faced when working on a project for Koffee Karousel’s coin-operated K-Cup vending machine. Work on the project began with the problem statement, and was followed by the generation of possible solutions (accepting the most promising ones) and finally, choosing the ideal solution. The subsequent steps involved preliminary and detailed design, structural analysis, creating a 3D CAD representation, generating drawings, and producing a prototype. The prototype was then tested to verify its capabilities. The example of switching from a coin-operated design, with its limited potential use, to an electronically operated solution is described in this paper. The objective of this senior design project was to implement a credit card reader onto the original Koffee Karousel design. To accomplish this goal, a redesign of the Koffee-Karousel’s coin mechanism was required. An electrical engineering team of four students worked independently on the credit card and display setup, while a mechanical team worked on a lever mechanism and gears activated by the validation of a credit card. The implementation of this new mechanism included designing a replacement face, a couple of brackets for electrical hardware, and several new parts, including an actuator and a mini-stepper motor. In addition, students designed the new cam that would interface with stepper motor. Some parts were accepted from the current design of the lever and ejector. The new design still allows the customer to choose which K-Cup flavor they want by hand by operating a rotating knob at the top of the carousel, but no longer requires the user to trigger the ejector mechanism manually. Students tested the new mechanism to ensure it was not only efficient, but also worked properly. The stresses on each individual part were calculated for the first design iteration to ensure the new design would not yield or fail over time due to fatigue.The project and its challenges are described in this paper, as well as the students’ contributions to the design of the Karousel mechanisms, switching it from a purely mechanical to a mechatronik solution.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Thoracic duct lymph flow responses to hemorrhage in the ovine fetus

Blood volume returns toward normal after hemorrhage much more rapidly in the fetus than in the adult due to a rapid entry of fluid and plasma proteins into the fetal circulation. One potential source of fetal fluids and plasma proteins is the lymphatic system, since basal lymph flow rate and interstitial protein concentration are high in the fetus. Furthermore, studies in adults suggest that lymph flow rate may increase following hemorrhage. To test the hypothesis that hemorrhage induces an increase in lymph flow in the fetus, 15 late-gestation ovine fetuses underwent left thoracic duct catheterization with low-resistance catheters and were studied 5 or more days after surgery at 134 +/- 1 (SE) days gestation. The protocol included three successive 30-min periods: control, hemorrhage, and recovery. During the first 5 min of the hemorrhagic period, 61 +/- 4 ml of fetal blood were removed. The blood was reinfused over the first 5 min of the recovery period. After the hemorrhage, fetal arterial pressure, venous pressure, and heart rate decreased (analysis of variance, P < 0.001). These variables significantly increased above basal levels following blood reinfusion. Fetal hematocrit (P < 0.001) and plasma protein concentration (P < 0.05) also decreased after the hemorrhage and returned to control values after the reinfusion. Fetal lymph flow rate was 0.55 +/- 0.06 (SE) ml/min before the hemorrhage and decreased by a maximum of 30.3 +/- 6.3% (P < 0.001) at 8 min after the end of the hemorrhage. Lymph flow rate was reduced by an average of 19.1 +/- 6.6% during the hemorrhagic period and returned to prehemorrhage levels following blood reinfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Association of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score With Mortality in Emergency General Surgery Patients.

Importance Emergency general surgery (EGS) patients have a disproportionate burden of death and complications. Chronic liver disease (CLD) increases the risk of complications following elective surgery. For EGS patients with CLD, long-term outcomes are unknown and risk stratification models do not reflect severity of CLD. Objective To determine whether the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is associated with increased risk of 90-day mortality following intensive care unit (ICU) admission in EGS patients. Design, Setting, and Participants We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with CLD who underwent an EGS procedure based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision ( ICD-9 ) procedure codes and were admitted to a medical or surgical ICU within 48 hours of surgery between January 1, 1998, and September 20, 2012, at 2 academic medical centers. Chronic liver disease was identified using ICD-9 codes. Multivariable logistic regression was performed. The analysis was conducted from July 1, 2015, to January 1, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was all-cause 90-day mortality. Results A total of 13 552 EGS patients received critical care; of these, 707 (5%) (mean [SD] age at hospital admission, 56.6 [14.2] years; 64% male; 79% white) had CLD and data to determine MELD score at ICU admission. The median MELD score was 14 (interquartile range, 10-20). Overall 90-day mortality was 30.1%. The adjusted odds ratio of 90-day mortality for each 10-point increase in MELD score was 1.63 (95% CI, 1.34-1.98). A decrease in MELD score of more than 3 in the 48 hours following ICU admission was associated with a 2.2-fold decrease in 90-day mortality (odds ratio = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22-0.98). Conclusions and Relevance In this study, MELD score was associated with 90-day mortality following EGS in patients with CLD. The MELD score can be used as a prognostic factor in this patient population and should be used in preoperative risk prediction models and when counseling EGS patients on the risks and benefits of operative intervention.
The Cottonship Program: A Partnership Model Designed to Enhance Undergraduate Education

A mini-internship program was envisioned to enable students to expand conventional classroom experiences by participatinginascientificmeetingandregionaltravel.TheCottonship Program was designed to integrate the interests of three stakeholders (university, industry, and students), with the goal of enabling undergraduate students to observe the diversity of scientific applications and career options in commercial agriculture. Duringtheweek-longCottonshipProgram,studentsattendedresearch sessions, technical exhibits, and met with academic and industry leaders at the annual Beltwide Cotton Conference. A multiday tour was organized to expose students to regional geography, soil and water management, agricultural enterprises and commerce, environmental issues, and cultural heritages. Academic expectations were completed when students shared their summary report with industry supporters. In a postevent surveyoftheparticipants,themostmeaningfulexperiencescited by students were an expanded awareness of science, the observation of unique crops and geographic regions in the USA, and agreaterawarenessofcareeroptions.BeforetheCottonshipexperience,only25%oftheundergraduateparticipantsexpressed any interest in graduate school; afterward, 58% enrolled in a graduate program after completing a B.S. degree. Industry representatives reported they gained a better understanding of today’s students and potential employees in noninterview discussions. The program was financially supported by 15 agriculturalfirms,withassistancefromthecotton(Gossypiumhirsutum L.) industry. The university expanded its traditional classroom learning process in cooperation with commercial firms. Participating faculty and tour hosts gained personal reward in organizing and providing these experiences for undergraduates.
Pharmacist-Led Model to Reduce Hospital Readmissions in Medically Complex Children

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study investigated the feasibility and effect on health care utilization of medically complex children participating in a pharmacist-led model for care coordination. Quality of life and satisfaction with care were secondarily assessed for each patient. METHODS: Four medically complex children were enrolled and contacted by the pharmacist weekly for 5 consecutive months. Time for each encounter with a patient was collected. Each patient's hospital admissions, days of stay, emergency department visits, and clinic visits were recorded. At enrollment and at the end of the study, each caregiver completed the PedsQL 4.0 questionnaire to evaluate the child's quality of life and the Patient Assessment of Care for Chronic Conditions questionnaire to assess satisfaction with care. Patients aged 5 years and older completed an age-appropriate version of the PedsQL 4.0 as well. RESULTS: The pharmacist spent on average 60 to 80 minutes per patient per week. Hospital admissions and days of stay de...
Active Optical Remote Sensing Sensors/Instrumentations for NASA’s Future Earth Science Missions

This presentation will provide an overview of enabling active optical remote sensing technologies and techniques, NASA’s future vision for Earth science missions for global observations, and the challenges associated in applying them for societal benefit. Article not available.
The Mind of the “Happy Warrior”: Eudaimonia, Awe, and the Search for Meaning in Life

The eudaimonic approach to well-being proposes that, in contrast to simply seeking pleasure and avoiding pain, a good life involves acting with excellence on one’s personal life projects. Our research suggests that beyond being subjectively pleasant, positive emotions promote the accomplishment of important life goals, and can therefore facilitate meeting our eudaimonic needs. Because eudaimonia is inherently multi-faceted, different positive emotions may support different aspects of eudaimonic well-being. As an example, we propose that one positive emotion, awe, may promote a particular aspect of eudaimonia: the sense of having meaning in life, a personal, coherent conceptual framework that helps individuals define who they are and what is most important to them. Existential philosophy emphasizes the role of conscious analysis in developing a meaning framework, and we suggest that powerful awe experiences facilitate a cognitive and motivational mindset that is especially conducive to this personal work. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Minimizing strain error for in vivo ultra-sound elasticity imaging of human tendon

Ultrasound elasticity imaging (UEI) is a noninvasive method for characterizing mechanical properties of soft tissue. This technique potentially provides important feedback for making treatment decision for advanced tendinopathies, such as posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD). Highly variable lateral strain along the length of the tendon has been observed during human experiments. To better understand the in vivo results, a dynamic ultrasound model of the PTT under cyclical loading was developed to analyze factors that affect tracking error (e.g., strain magnitude and out-of-plane motion) and compare different methods for calculating strain. The simulations demonstrated that linear fitting of the lateral displacement along the length of the tendon (“Method A”) produced less error for displacement and strain calculations compared to the median of the displacement gradients over the region-of-interest (“Method B”). Also, when out-of-plane motion was less than one acoustic wavelength, the strain error was 5.0 ± 4.2% for Method A and 8.3 ± 8.3% for Method B. Out-of-plane motion greater than one acoustic wavelength, produced large strain errors using either method. These results suggest that a linear fit of the displacements along the imaged portion of the tendon is an overall better approach for estimating lateral strain. Optimizing the imaging protocol and data analysis for UEI will lead to a more accurate and quantitative estimate of the mechanical properties of human tendon to help with the diagnosis, staging and treatment decisions for tendinopathies.
Can Cell Bound Complement Activation Products Predict Inherited Complement Deficiency in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Activation of the classical pathway complement system has long been implicated in stimulating immune complex mediated tissue destruction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). C3 and C4 complement levels are utilized as part of SLE diagnosis and monitoring criteria. Recently, cell bound complement activation products (CBCAPs) have shown increased sensitivity in diagnosing and monitoring lupus activity, compared to traditional markers. CBCAPs are increasingly utilized in rheumatology practice as additional serological markers in evaluating SLE patients. We report a case of a patient diagnosed with SLE that had chronically low C3 and C4, along with negative CBCAPs. We surmise that the patient has an inherited complement deficiency as the etiology of her SLE and that CBCAPs could be used to predict such deficiency.
Tibet Lost in Translation: Sovereignty, Suzerainty and International Order Transformation, 1904–1906

AbstractHow did Tibet become part of the modern Chinese state? Even today, as Tibet is an internationally recognized part of the People’s Republic of China, the evasive meaning of ‘Chinese suzerainty over Tibet’ is a reverberant point of contention in nationalist debates. The question of whether ‘suzerainty’ more strongly implicates Tibetan independence or Chinese sovereignty is a false controversy that has impeded progress in understanding China’s transition from empire to nation-state. This article examines Anglo–Chinese diplomatic negotiations following the 1904 British invasion of Tibet using newly uncovered Chinese archival documents to demonstrate the central role played by the appropriation and manipulation of international legal discourse in determining Tibet’s status in the international system and offers a generalizable theory of the mechanics of international order transformation.
Social Hierarchy and the Evolution of Behavior

This paper investigates how behavior evolves in a society with a social hierarchy consisting of high and low positions. Agents first collectively negotiate for high positions through a political in...
Chelator-free 89Zr-labeling of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with superb in vivo radiostability

277 Objectives To show that 89Zr (t1/2=78.4 h) can be labeled to mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with superb in vivo stability in a chelator-free manner. Methods MSN with controllable particle/pore sizes was synthesized as O donor for chelator-free 89Zr-labeling, via simple mixing of 89Zr-oxalate with MSN at pH 7-8 for 2 h. Dense silica nanoparticles (dSiO2) were also prepared as control. 89Zr-labeling yield of MSN and dSiO2 was studied via radio-thin layer chromatography (TLC). Serum stability of 89Zr-labeled samples was studied at 37 0C for 48 h. In vivo long-term stability of 89Zr-MSN and 89Zr-dSiO2 was studied by monitoring the dynamic uptake change in both liver (native tropism of 89Zr-labeled nanoparticles) and bone (detached 89Zr) with serial PET scans. Biodistribution on Day 21 (~7 t1/2 of 89Zr) post-injection (p.i.) was studied. Results Detailed particle size, morphology, and specific surface area characterizations confirmed successful synthesis of MSN and dSiO2. We observed ~70% of 89Zr-labeling to MSN at 75 0C in only 15 min, with 95%) of both 89Zr-MSN and 89Zr-dSiO2 for 48 h. Surprisingly, in vivo PET scans showed superb stability of 89Zr-MSN with 10-fold higher bone uptake was observed on Day 7 p.i., indicating detachment of 89Zr from 89Zr-dSiO2 hence lower stability of 89Zr on the outer surface of dSiO2. As expected, liver/spleen had high uptake of 89Zr-MSN, which remained stable over 3 weeks. No obvious kidney/bladder uptake of 89Zr-MSN was observed, confirming superb in vivo stability of such chelator-free 89Zr-labeling of MSN. Conclusions We report the first example of chelator-free 89Zr-labeled MSN, with superb radiostability in vivo. With long t1/2 of 89Zr and high potential of MSN for molecular imaging and drug delivery, this method offers a novel, simple, and accurate way for future PET image-guided drug delivery.
Swamp Rabbit Distribution on the Northern Edge of their Range in Missouri

Sylvilagus aquaticus (Swamp Rabbit) is an imperiled species in Missouri that inhabits highly fragmented bottomland forested habitats in the southeastern portion of the state. Between 2010 and 2012, we conducted repeated, extensive presence—absence winterlatrine surveys in 15 counties to document their distribution. We compared our results to those of 2 previous winter-latrine surveys (2001–2002 and 1991–1992) conducted at the same sites. In addition, we used the Program MARK to estimate detection probability and site occupancy, and evaluate the influence of survey-site size on detectability and occupancy, and temperature at the time of the survey on detectability. We located 264 of 278 survey sites that were first surveyed in 1991, but could only survey 211. We detected Swamp Rabbits at 144 of 211 sites in 12 counties yielding a naive occupancy estimate of 0.68. This estimate was higher than reported by both previous surveys: 0.53 in 2001–2002 and 0.40 in 1991–1992. Using occupancy modeling for the 2010–2012 survey, the estimated detection probability was 0.89 (SE = 0.02) and site occupancy was 0.70 (SE = 0.03). As expected, the size of a survey site influenced both detectability of and occupancy by Swamp Rabbits, and temperature influenced detectability. As the size of a site increased, both detectability and occupancy increased, and detectability increased as temperature decreased. Swamp Rabbits continue to occur in 13 counties and occupy fragmented, sometimes isolated blocks of bottomland forested habitat across the Mississippi River Alluvial Basin and along some Ozark Highlands streams.
Achieving selectivity for copper over zinc with luminescent terbium probes bearing phenanthridine antennas

A family of terbium probes was synthesized and evaluated for the luminescence detection of copper and zinc in water at neutral pH. Each probe incorporates a terbium ion chelated by a macrocyclic polyaminocarboxylate and conjugated to either one, two, or three phenanthridine antennas via a diamine linker. All three probes, Tb-1Phen, Tb-2Phen, and Tb-3Phen, exhibit similar responses toward copper and zinc. In each case, the terbium-centered time-gated phosphorescence decreases upon binding either CuI or CuII but not upon addition of ZnII. The phosphorescence of Tb-2Phen is also not significantly affected by other metal ions including MgII, CaII, MnII, FeII, NiII, CdII, and HgII. Tb-1Phen, on the other hand, responds weakly to MnII, FeII and NiII. The lack of affinity of each probe for ZnII was further confirmed by competition experiments with CuI and CuII. Notably, whereas the terbium-centered emission of each probe is quenched upon copper coordination, the phenanthridine-centered luminescence emission is not. As such, each probe functions as a ratiometric probe for the selective detection of copper over zinc. Theoretical calculations further demonstrate that the turn off response of the probe is due to an increase in the distance separating the lanthanide ion from its phenanthridine antennas upon coordination of copper, which in turn decreases the efficiency of terbium sensitization by the phenanthridines.
Ultrafast laser ablation of copper with ~GHz bursts

The recently reported copper ablation study using ultrafast IR lasers with unusually high burst repetition rates (∼ GHz) that claims “an order of magnitude” efficiency enhancement compared to non-burst processes due to “ablation cooling” warrants further investigation both experimentally and through modeling the process. We experimentally reproduce a subset of these results, compare it to the known best non-burst pulse results, and find that within our experimentally accessible parameter range, there is indeed an up to ∼ 3.5x benefit when punching (i.e. drilling holes) with 864 MHz pulse bursts. However, this efficiency increase does not translate from punching to milling (machining an area), which we find to be less than half as efficient as an optimized non-burst process, while also delivering worse process quality. We conclude that a hydrodynamic picture is needed to understand the discrepancy between punching and milling efficiency for a ∼ GHz burst process.