cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Worldwide Overview of the Current Status of Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Lung cancer is the leading worldwide cause of cancer deaths. Smoking is the dominant cause of lung cancer and smoking cessation is the established method to reduce lung cancer mortality. While lung cancer risk is reduced in former smokers, they have a lifelong increase in risk, compared to never-smokers. Novel chemoprevention strategies, such as oral or inhaled prostacyclin analogs, hold promise for these subjects. Low-dose spiral computed tomography screening reduced lung cancer mortality by 20% in high-risk heavy smokers older than 50 years. However, the high false-positive rate (96%) means that screened patients required controlled follow-up in experienced centers. An increasing percentage of patients with advanced lung cancer have molecular drivers in genes for which oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed.
The auroral kilometric radiation - DE 1 direction finding studies

The directions of arrival of auroral kilometric radiation have been determined during three separate intervals using data from the DE 1 plasma wave instrument. In the case of the dominant extraordinary mode component, these directions were consistent with generation at the local electron cyclotron frequency on nightside auroral field lines. The ordinary mode component appeared to have a similar source in one case, but in other cases came from different directions. These other cases were consistent with reflection at the plasmapause and the wall of the auroral plasma cavity.
Heterogeneous expression of phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450 genes within the hepatic acinus in the rat.

Within the hepatic acinus, the functional unit of liver parenchyma, the induction of cytochrome P-450 protein by phenobarbital is manifested primarily in hepatocytes located closer to the hepatic venule, i.e., distal hepatocytes. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of cytochromes P-450b and P-450e mRNAs in populations of hepatocytes originating in the proximal or distal half of the liver acinus in the rat, as an approach to the elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for the heterogeneous zonal expression of cytochrome P-450 protein. The development of a new method to isolate hepatocytes originating from the proximal or distal half of the liver acinus enabled the measurement of total cytochrome P-450 content and of cytochromes P-450b and P-450e mRNAs in these hepatocytes. Levels of cytochromes P-450b and P-450e mRNAs were assessed in proximal and distal hepatocytes by Northern blot hybridization of poly(A+)RNA with a cDNA recognizing sequences of these two cytochromes. The kinetics of induction were defined by measuring these parameters after a single phenobarbital injection. Cytochrome P-450 mRNA levels reached maximum induction at 16 hr, returning to basal values by 48 hr. In contrast, total cytochrome P-450 microsomal protein content reached maximum induction after 33 hr. Hepatocytes of the distal half of the hepatic acinus responded to phenobarbital with higher levels of cytochromes P-450b and P-450e mRNAs than proximal hepatocytes. These results indicated that there is modulation of the expression of the cytochromes P-450b and P-450e genes within the hepatic acinus.
Practical review of self-mutilation in horses

Self-mutilation in horses includes biting, stomping and kicking, rubbing, and lunging into objects. Based on the author's clinical experience, three distinct types of self-mutilation are proposed and described. Type I represents normal behavioral response to continuous or intermittent physical discomfort. Type II, seen in stallions and geldings, can be recognized as self-directed intermale aggression. The behavior includes the elements and order of the natural interactive sequence typical of encounters between two stallions, except that the stallion himself is the target of his intermale behavior. Type III involves a more quiet, often rhythmically repetitive or methodical behavioral sequence of a stereotypy, for example nipping at various areas of the body in a relatively invariant pattern, stomping, or kicking rhythmically against an object. The prevalence of the various types of self-mutilation in horses is not known. In one survey, results suggested that self-mutilation of one form or another has been observed in as many as 2% of domestic stallions. Among and between stallions, self-mutilation varies in frequency and intensity, and can reach levels that are fertility and/or life threatening. Careful evaluation of the horse's behavior is often necessary to distinguish the specific type. Type I self-mutilation, where physical discomfort is the root cause, can be eliminated by relieving the discomfort. For Types II and III, understanding of intermale interactive behavior of horses and the environmental factors that may trigger or exacerbate the self-mutilative form, can be useful in guiding humane management or behavior modification. Pharmacologic interventions may be a useful adjunct to management and nutritional changes.
Frequency comb formation and transition to chaos in microresonators with near-zero dispersion

We investigate the frequency comb formation in microresonators with near-zero dispersion, study the route from integrability to chaos in the corresponding nonlinear system, and demonstrate the key role of nonlinear dynamics of such a system for frequency comb generation and stability.
Random walks in a supply network

This paper presents a power grid analyzer based on a random walk technique. A linear-time algorithm is first demonstrated for DC analysis, and is then extended to perform transient analysis. The method has the desirable property of localizing computation, so that it shows massive benefits over conventional methods when only a small part of the grid is to be analyzed (for example, when the effects of small changes to the grid are to be examined). Even for the full analysis of the grid, experimental results show that the method is faster than existing approaches and has an acceptable error margin. This method has been applied to test circuits of up to 2.3M nodes. For example, for a circuit with 70K nodes, the solution time for a single node was 0.42 sec and the complete solution was obtained in 17.6 sec.
Aerosol characteristics of 99mTc-pentetic acid (DTPA) and synthetic surfactant (exosurf)

This study evaluated the feasibility of using 99m Tc-pentetic acid (DTPA) as a radioactive tracer for aerosolized synthetic surfactant (DPPC, cetyl alcohol, tyloxapol). The 99m Tc-DTPA was admixed with surfactant and aerosolized using a nebulizer system interfaced to a ventilator with a cascade impactor attached to the endotracheal tube. Particle size distribution for DPPC, cetyl alcohol, and 99m Tc-DTPA were almost identical during the 0- to 15-, 15- to 30-, and 0- to 30-min collection periods. Tyloxapol exhibited a unique distribution pattern with increased deposition in large (>10 μ m) and small (0.65 to 1.1 µ m) particles. The mass median aerodynamic diameter for all aerosolized components was in the respirable range of 2.1 to 2.5 µ m. A mixture of 99m Tc-DTPA with synthetic surfactant appears to be a reasonable method to evaluate surfactant deposition.
Secondary structure polymorphism in Oxytricha nova telomeric DNA

Tandem repeats of the telomeric DNA sequence d(T4G4) of Oxytricha nova are capable of forming unusually stable secondary structures incorporating Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding interactions. The biological significance of such DNA structures is supported by evidence of specific recognition of telomere end-binding proteins in the crystal state. To further characterize structural polymorphism of Oxytricha telomeric DNAs, we have obtained and interpreted Raman, ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the tandem repeats d(G4T4G4) (Oxy1.5), d(T4G4)2 (Oxy2) and dT6(T4G4)2 (T6Oxy2) and related non-telomeric isomers in aqueous salt solutions. Raman markers of Oxy1.5 identify both C2'-endo/anti and C2'-endo/syn conformations of the deoxyguanosine residues and Hoogsteen hydrogen bonded guanine quartets, consistent with the quadruplex fold determined previously by solution NMR spectroscopy. Raman, UVRR and CD signatures and Raman dynamic measurements, to monitor imino NH-->ND exchanges, show that the Oxy1.5 antiparallel quadruplex fold is distinct from the hairpin structures of Oxy2 and T6Oxy2, single-stranded structures of d(TG)8 and dT6(TG)8 and previously reported quadruplex structures of d(T4G4)4 (Oxy4) and dG12. Spectral markers of the telomeric and telomere-related DNA structures are tabulated and novel Raman and UVRR indicators of thymidine and deoxyguanosine conformations are identified. The results will be useful for probing structures of Oxytricha telomeric repeats in complexes with telomere end-binding proteins.
Model Predictive Capability Assessment Under Uncertainty

*† This paper develops methods to address important decision-making issues in the use of model-based simulation for reliability analysis and design. When computational models are developed, the assumptions and approximations introduce various types of errors in the code predictions. In order to accept the model prediction with confidence, the computational models need to be rigorously verified and validated. While model prediction has uncertainty, validation experiments also have measurement errors. Thus model validation involves comparing predictions with test data when both are uncertain. A validation metric based on Bayesian hypothesis testing is presented and the method is extended to consider multiple response quantities or a single model response at different spatial and temporal points. Another decision in the use of model-based prediction is to extrapolate the validation inference in the tested region to an inference about the predictive capability in the untested region of actual application, and to establish a certain confidence in the extrapolation being performed. A methodology is developed to propagate inferences across domains using Bayesian networks. The proposed methods are illustrated for application to structural dynamics problems.
Nursing Home Design: A Student Challenge and Call for Change

Nursing homes are a major provider of long-term and healthcare services in the United States. Over 1.4 million people reside in a nursing home at any given point in time. Despite this growth, many nursing homes today resemble small hospitals due to cumbersome code regulations, functional requirements, and budget restraints. With the cging of America, interior design educators and students can play a proactive role in designing nursing homes that are more residential in nature but meet stringent codes and functional requirements. This report presents a nursing home project given to junior-level interior design students in a FlDERaccredited program and describes how students were encouraged to avoid the hospital image through the use of specific instructional tools. Students proposed change in the design of the nursing home by implementing residentially-oriented solutions that were appropriate for the facility and its residents. The literature on federal funding of nursing homes, along with code and budget requirements for new nursing home construction, is reviewed. The teaching precedents, instructional tools, project components, learning experiences, and student work ore described, along with student reactions to the project. The project successfully engaged students in creotive change in the design of residential nursing homes. In the future, however, more emphasis on the meaning of home, economic restraints, and exploration of other models of design should occur.
2009/H1N1 infection in pregnancy association with adverse perinatal outcomes

Commentary on: M Pierce, JJ Kurinczuk, P Spark, et al.. Perinatal outcomes after maternal 2009/H1N1 infection: national cohort study.BMJ2011;342:d3214.
Higher order Q-Learning

Higher order learning is a statistical relational learning framework in which relationships between different instances of the same class are leveraged (Ganiz, Lytkin and Pottenger, 2009). Learning can be supervised or unsupervised. In contrast, reinforcement learning (Q-Learning) is a technique for learning in an unknown state space. Action selection is often based on a greedy, or epsilon greedy approach. The problem with this approach is that there is often a large amount of initial exploration before convergence. In this article we introduce a novel approach to this problem that treats a state space as a collection of data from which latent information can be extrapolated. From this data, we classify actions as leading to a high reward or low reward, and formulate behaviors based on this information. We provide experimental evidence that this technique drastically reduces the amount of exploration required in the initial stages of learning. We evaluate our algorithm in a well-known reinforcement learning domain, grid-world.
The Power-to-Weight Relationships and Efficiency Improvements of Olympic Champions in Athletics, Swimming and Rowing:

The goals of this article are to provide power-to-weight relationships, changes in which are predictive of changes in performance for athletics (running, jumping and throwing), for swimming and for rowing. Also this article will estimate improvements in the efficient application of power exhibited by Olympic champions in those same events over the span of the modern Games. For the former goal, the ergometer power output of an athlete, measured under laboratory conditions, is modeled in terms of training, lean body mass and a cranking term as reflected in upper arm and shoulder volume. The laws of physics are used to relate event performance to efficiency and to a power-to-weight relationship specific to each event, with both efficiency and power-to-weight raised to an exponent specific to each event. The power-to-weight relationship, in turn, depends on training and on a lean-to-total body mass relationship. The ratios of female/male Olympic championship performances are then used since significant differ...
Coevolution of life and landscapes

The influence of organisms on landscapes, and of landscapes on organisms, has long been recognized. Darwin calculated that “if a small fraction of the layer of fine earth … annually brought to the surface by worms, is carried away, a great result cannot fail to be produced within a period which no geologist considers extremely long” (1). As our understanding of biogeochemistry, weathering, and geomorphology has grown, so have our observations of life’s imprint on earth’s surface morphology. It has been proposed that even plate tectonics (2) and the rise of continents (3) may be linked to the presence of life. Just as the land is shaped by life, life is shaped by the landscapes it inhabits (4). Geologic contacts often underlie ecological boundaries (5), and surface geology in soil-mantled landscapes is commonly inferred from the distribution of vegetation. In PNAS, Hahm et al. (6) provide an elegant illustration of the two-way interaction between the evolution of life and land. The authors show that subtle variations in soil parent rock across the granitic core of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California correlate with dramatic ecosystem differences, creating vegetation-free zones adjacent to groves of giant sequoias. Without substantial root activity, the vegetation-free zones denude more slowly than forested areas, leaving high bald mountain tops flanked by forests throughout the region (6).
Pose Locality Constrained Representation for 3D Human Pose Reconstruction

Reconstructing 3D human poses from a single 2D image is an ill-posed problem without considering the human body model. Explicitly enforcing physiological constraints is known to be non-convex and usually leads to difficulty in finding an optimal solution. An attractive alternative is to learn a prior model of the human body from a set of human pose data. In this paper, we develop a new approach, namely pose locality constrained representation (PLCR), to model the 3D human body and use it to improve 3D human pose reconstruction. In this approach, the human pose space is first hierarchically divided into lower-dimensional pose subspaces by subspace clustering. After that, a block-structural pose dictionary is constructed by concatenating the basis poses from all the pose subspaces. Finally, PLCR utilizes the block-structural pose dictionary to explicitly encourage pose locality in human-body modeling – nonzero coefficients are only assigned to the basis poses from a small number of pose subspaces that are close to each other in the pose-subspace hierarchy. We combine PLCR into the matching-pursuit based 3D human-pose reconstruction algorithm and show that the proposed PLCR-based algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithm that uses the standard sparse representation and physiological regularity in reconstructing a variety of human poses from both synthetic data and real images.
Nonionic Surfactant Micelles and Mixed Micelles with Phospholipids

The solution properties of nonionic surfactants of the polyoxyethylene variety and their interactions with various phospholipids are reviewed. Studies on polydisperse surfactants of the octylphenylpolyoxyethylene (OPE) class such as Triton X-100 as well as on homogeneous, monodisperse surfactants such as octylphenylnonaoxyethylene glycol (OPE-9) and n-dodecyloctaethylene glycol (C12EO8) are included. Physical properties such as CMC, cloud point, molecular weight, and aggregation number are provided and recently developed models for micellar structure are examined. In contrast to ionic surfactants, possible models include classical micellar structures such as oblate ellipsoids and non-classical spherical micelles in which some of the oxyethylene groups extend into the hydrophobic region giving rise to a less well-defined interface region. The use of 1H and 13C NMR techniques to study micellar structure is emphasized, particularly when phospholipids are included to form mixed micelles. Recent NMR studies have helped to delineate the precise 3-dimensional conformation of the phospholipid molecules in mixed micelles with nonionic surfactants.
High-frequency transfer of cloned herpes simplex virus type 1 sequences to mammalian cells by protoplast fusion.

The protoplast fusion technique of Schaffner (W. Schaffner, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77:2163-2167, 1980) has been adapted to introduce cloned herpes simplex virus genes into cultured mammalian cells. The technique involves digesting bacterial cell walls with lysozyme to produce protoplasts and then fusing the protoplasts to mammalian cells by treatment with polyethylene glycol. For monitoring transfer, protoplasts were labeled with the fluorescent dye fluorescein isothiocyanate before fusion. After fusion, greater than 50% of the mammalian cells were fluorescent, demonstrating that bacterial material was transferred with high frequency. Transfer of plasmid pBR325 occurred at frequencies of 1 to 2%, as measured by in situ hybridization. Fusion transfer of a chimeric plasmid consisting of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (strain KOS) EcoRI fragment F in pBR325 resulted in expression of some viral genomic sequences in about 5% of the mammalian cells, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence. One Ltk- cell in 300 to 500 was transformed to the TK+ phenotype after fusion with protoplasts carrying the chimeric plasmid pX1, which consists of pBR322 and the BamHI fragment coding for the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene.
Neural mechanism of the pressor response to obstructive and nonobstructive apnea.

Katragadda, Srinivas, Ailiang Xie, Dominic Puleo, James B. Skatrud, and Barbara J. Morgan. Neural mechanism of the pressor response to obstructive and nonobstructive apnea. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(6):...
Constraints as polymorphic connectors

The architecture of interactive systems does not match the procedural decomposition mechanisms available in most programming languages, leading to architectural mismatch. Constraint systems have been used only as black boxes for computing with primitive values of a specific type and for specific domains such as user interface layouts or program compilation. We propose constraints as a general purpose architectural connector for both describing the large-scale structure of interactive systems and matching that description with the actual implementation.
Comparison of Electrofishing Techniques and Effort Allocation across Diel Time Periods, Seasons, Sites, and Habitat in the Ohio Coastal Waters of Western Lake Erie

AbstractCoastal (<3-m depth) and nearshore (3–15-m depth) zones of large freshwater lakes are generally rich in complex habitats that are important for fisheries, but they are often highly degraded and understudied. We identified spatial and temporal sampling efficiencies for monitoring coastal fish communities in a large freshwater lake by use of electrofishing. During 2011 and 2012, we sampled 21 coastal sites in Lake Erie's western basin via daytime and nighttime electrofishing with multiple replicates throughout the summer sampling season. Nighttime electrofishing captured more species and more individuals with less effort than daytime electrofishing; nighttime electrofishing conducted early in the season (i.e., late spring and early summer) was more efficient than that conducted late in the season (i.e., late summer and early fall). A sampling design based on 500 m of shoreline per site required fewer sites and person-hours to attain 65% and 75% of total species richness (6 and 11 sites, respectively...
Extended noise-shaping in cascaded N-tone sigma-delta converters

An N-tone ΣΔ converter is obtained by introducing N zeros in the noise transfer function (NTF) while maintaining a flat signal transfer function (STF). N-tone ΣΔ converters are particularly well suited for multi-carrier systems. While over-sampling is a widely used technique to improve the resolution of the converter, different methods will have to be explored for systems with low over-sampling. Even though, the achievable resolution is limited by the number of bits per Nyquist sample, higher-order loop-filters and multi-bit loop quantizers can be used to achieve high resolution. But, the former is prone to instability and the latter is sensitive to DAC linearity. However, use of cascaded converters has proven to overcome these inherent disadvantages of the before-mentioned methods. In this paper, we extend this existing low-pass technique to the N-Tone ΣΔ converters.
Light pattern preservation in rodent's cortical tissue during optogenetic neuro-stimulation(Conference Presentation)

Optogenetics provides a tool for modulating activity of specific cell types by light pulses. Different light delivery mechanisms such as single optical fiber implanted on a skull or patterned illumination can be employed to direct light to a target area. For a highly scattering medium such as brain tissue, light distribution significantly depends on the scattering parameters of the tissue as well as the inherent inhomogeneity of the specimen. For in vivo studies, blood vessels which have considerable absorption coefficient in the visible spectrum play a major role in producing such inhomogeneity. Therefore, detailed information about brain optical properties and network of blood vessels which was ignored in previous studies is necessary to accurately predict light distribution and designing light delivery mechanism during optogenetic experiments to achieve the desired optical stimulation. In this paper, light pattern preservation while considering the impact of blood vessels is investigated in a rat cortex. First, the typical optical properties of rat cortical tissue were extracted by employing double integrated sphere technique, and then, optical coherence tomography was employed to obtain structure of blood vessels on the cortex. By combining the extracted optical properties and the network of blood vessels, a three-dimensional model of a rat cortical tissue was developed. Then, a Monte Carlo simulation code was used to predict light distribution in this model for different light source configurations and wavelengths. The results confirm that presence of vessels can significantly impact the light pattern in the tissue and affect the practical depth of penetration.
A Taming of the Passions

The uses of curiosity in early emergent Renaissance cultural and scientific practices are the focus of this chapter. As a pedagogical concern this chapter emphasizes curiosity’s pivotal role in the always socially enabled production of theory. Its focus is on the revaluation of curiosity from the sixteenth century onward toward Enlightenment culture. It traces a general harnessing and “taming of the passions” in the interest of the formation of social contracts, emergent nation-states, colonial enterprises, and the role of the natural and empirical sciences. Curiosity and intellectual inquiry were recast as allies in the countervailing discourses of exploration and economic “interest.” Curiosity was mobilized as a justification for mercantile trade and the mechanistic natural sciences. It served as a laudable rationale for investigations serving economic, artisanal, and utilitarian purposes in the establishment of empires and the plundering of the earth. In the wake of its medieval condemnations, curiosity is rechristened during the Renaissance. Curiosity is revalued and set into motion in the material interests and powers of the expanding imperial empires. This chapter introduces the claim that curiosity is an expression, response, and movement of embodied thinking or thinking bodies. I adapt Spinoza’s tenets regarding the affects and passions in breaking mind–body dualisms. It is presented to advance a non-reductive pedagogical appreciation of curiosity as a form of continual desire and force acting in and upon social fields of knowledge and practice.
A randomized, controlled study of an online intervention to promote job satisfaction and well-being among physicians

Abstract Although burnout, poor quality of life (QOL), depression, and other forms of psychological distress are common among physicians, few studies testing interventions to reduce distress have been reported. We conducted a randomized trial to determine the impact of a 10-week, individualized, online intervention on well-being among physicians (n = 290). Participants were randomized to either the intervention or control arm. Those in the intervention arm received a menu of self-directed micro-tasks once a week for 10 weeks, and were asked to select and complete one task weekly. Baseline and end-of-study questionnaires evaluating well-being (i.e., burnout, depression, QOL, fatigue) and professional satisfaction (i.e., job satisfaction, work engagement, meaning in work, and satisfaction with work-life balance) were administered to both arms. Overall quality of life and fatigue improved over the 10 weeks of the study for those in the intervention arm (both p
Unequal Classrooms: Online Higher Education and Non-Cognitive Skills

In this paper, I reflect on the changing role of higher education by focusing on the case of online education. I consider the promise of online education as a means to mitigate educational inequalities. Based on the available empirical evidence, I argue that this promise is unlikely to be fulfilled because online education is not well-suited to develop the social and emotional skills needed by students from low-income and minority backgrounds for social mobility. Nonetheless, the changing social, political, and economic role of the university should lead us to revise the classical vision of the university’s aims. I argue that the aim of the university should be sensitive to its new social, political, and economic role without falling prey to coarse pragmatism. This third approach delicately navigates the middle-ground between idealism and pragmatism.
Building creative thinking into the STEM undergraduate classroom experience using large databases: The Paleobiology Database example

Undergraduate research experiences have been linked to increased student recruitment and retention in STEM, particularly within traditionally underrepresented populations. However, research experiences can be cost prohibitive due to the infrastructure necessary to conduct experiments or collect field data. Existing, large scientific databases can be leveraged to provide students (including students in online courses) with authentic research experiences without the logistical costs. The Paleobiology Database (paleobiodb.org) is one of many publicly available (and free) scientific databases. This project describes authentic research activities which engage students at several 4 and 2-year institutions in the southeastern United States use the data available in the Paleobiology Database to engage in the creative process of developing their own research questions, hypotheses, and investigations. Once produced an evaluated, these research activities will be made available to instructors across the world on the Paleobiology Database website, which will also encourage educators to create and post their own activities as well.
High speed data transmission for the SSC solenoidal detector

High-speed data transmission using fiber optics for the Superconducting Super Collider solenoidal detector has been studied. The solenoidal detector system will consist of nine subsystems involving a total of more than 10/sup 7/ channels of readout electronics. Consequently, a new high-performance data acquisition system, incorporating high-speed optical fiber networks, will be required to process this large quantity of data. >
Real-time visualization of immune cell clearance of Aspergillus fumigatus spores and hyphae

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a disease of the immunocompromised host and generally caused by the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. While both host and fungal factors contribute to disease severity and outcome, there are fundamental features of IA development including fungal morphological transition from infectious conidia to tissue-penetrating hyphae as well as host defenses rooted in mechanisms of innate phagocyte function. Here we address recent advances in the field and use real-time in vivo imaging in the larval zebrafish to visually highlight conserved vertebrate innate immune behaviors including macrophage phagocytosis of conidia and neutrophil responses post-germination.
Live demonstration: A wirelessly powered highly miniaturized neural stimulator

The smallest wirelessly powered neural implant to date is demonstrated. Power is sent over a near-field inductive link. The implant system is realized on a single CMOS ASIC which includes the on-chip coil, the harvesting circuit, and the current driver. The entire system is fabricated in a 0.13 μm CMOS process and occupies merely 180 μm × 180 μm.
Ion transport mechanisms in lamellar phases of salt-doped PS-PEO block copolymer electrolytes.

We use a multiscale simulation strategy to elucidate, at an atomistic level, the mechanisms underlying ion transport in the lamellar phase of polystyrene–polyethylene oxide (PS–PEO) block copolymer (BCP) electrolytes doped with LiPF6 salts. Explicitly, we compare the results obtained for ion transport in the microphase separated block copolymer melts to those for salt-doped PEO homopolymer melts. In addition, we also present results for dynamics of the ions individually in the PEO and PS domains of the BCP melt, and locally as a function of the distance from the lamellar interfaces. When compared to the PEO homopolymer melt, ions were found to exhibit slower dynamics in both the block copolymer (overall) and in the PEO phase of the BCP melt. Such results are shown to arise from the effects of slower polymer segmental dynamics in the BCP melt and the coordination characteristics of the ions. Polymer backbone-ion residence times analyzed as a function of distance from the interface indicate that ions have a larger residence time near the interface compared to that near the bulk of lamella, and demonstrates the influence of the glassy PS blocks and microphase segregation on the ion transport properties. Ion transport mechanisms in BCP melts reveal that there exist five distinct mechanisms for ion transport along the backbone of the chain and exhibit qualitative differences from the behavior in homopolymer melts. We also present results as a function of salt concentration which show that the mean-squared displacements of the ions decrease with increasing salt concentration, and that the ion residence times near the polymer backbone increase with increasing salt concentration.
Motor affordance at home for infants living in poverty: A feasibility study.

Abstract Purpose To determine the feasibility of completing a randomized clinical trial of motor affordance program at home for infants living in poverty. Methods Fourteen infants living in poverty were randomized assigned to groups: intervention at 1st month (G-1), and at 2nd month (G-2). They were assessed into 3 visits: Visit 1 (baseline), Visit 2 (after 4 weeks), and Visit 3 (after 8 weeks). The motor affordance program was provided at home by parents/caregivers. To determine feasibility of the program, descriptive data was used. Effect sizes and non-parametric analysis were performed for motor and affordances at home. Results The motor affordance program was considered feasible and showed improvement on affordances at home and motor performance only for G-2. Conclusion Amplifying motor affordance at home may be considered appropriate for future clinical trials. It may be an efficient/low-cost early intervention strategy for infants at environmental risk.
ETS transcription factor Etsrp / Etv2 is required for lymphangiogenesis and directly regulates vegfr3 / flt4 expression.

The molecular mechanisms initiating the formation of the lymphatic system, lymphangiogenesis, are still poorly understood. Here we have identified a novel role in lymphangiogenesis for an ETS transcription factor, Etv2/Etsrp, a known regulator of embryonic vascular development. Through the use of fully validated photoactivatable morpholinos we show that inducible Etv2 inhibition in zebrafish embryos at 1 day post-fertilization (dpf) results in significant inhibition of lymphangiogenesis, while development of blood vessels is unaffected. In Etv2-inhibited embryos and larvae, the number of lymphatic progenitors is greatly reduced, the major lymphatic vessel, the thoracic duct, is absent or severely fragmented, and lymphangiogenesis-associated marker expression, including lyve1b, prox1a, and vegfr3/flt4, is strongly downregulated. We also demonstrate that lymphatic progenitors in Etv2 deficient embryos fail to respond to Vegfc signaling. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing (ChIP-Seq) studies using differentiated mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells as well as luciferase reporter studies in the ES cells and in zebrafish embryos argue that Etv2 directly binds the promoter/enhancer regions of Vegfc receptor Vegfr3/Flt4 and lymphatic marker Lyve1, and promotes their expression. Together these data support a model where Etv2 initiates lymphangiogenesis by directly promoting the expression of flt4 within the posterior cardinal vein.
Growth Retardant Application to Canna × generalis ‘Florence Vaughan’

Abstract The effects of 15 to 45 ppm Cutless (flurprimidol), 2500/1500 to 7500/1500 ppm B-Nine/Cycocel tank mixes (daminozide/chlormequatchloride), and 20 to 60 ppm Sumagic (uniconazole) on the vegetative growth and flowering of Canna x generalis ‘Florence Vaughan’ were determined during container nursery production and landscape establishment. Vegetative heights 30 and 60 days after treatment (DAT) and vegetative and inflorescence heights at first and second flower were suppressed by all plant growth retardants (PGRs). There was no delay in flowering of the first inflorescence from any PGR treatment, and a three to seven day delay in flowering of the second inflorescence with only Sumagic. Vegetative height was suppressed quadratically 14–28% (30 DAT) and linearly 19–40% (60 DAT) by increasing Cutless rates. Inflorescence heights of plants treated with 15 or 30 ppm Cutless were suppressed proportionally to foliage heights without any detrimental effect on floral display. Heights of plants treated with Cu...
Food offerings in Marshfield area businesses: a survey conducted in collaboration with the healthy lifestyles--Marshfield Area Coalition.

PURPOSE To survey Marshfield area businesses to determine the types of foods currently available to employees at the workplace and the potential need for nutrition information to facilitate the ordering of healthy food options at workplaces. METHODS A 2-page self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all businesses registered with the Marshfield Area of Chamber of Commerce. Questionnaires were mailed a second time to non-responders to improve the response rate. The questionnaire included items about foods available to employees at the workplace, cooking and eating facilities available to employees, and reasons for food choices made. Data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet, verified against the hard copies and transferred to SPSS for analysis. RESULTS Completed questionnaires were returned by 249 businesses (41.1% participation). The reported number of minutes that most employees take for their lunch ranged from 0 to 60 (median = 30). Eighty-one percent of businesses (n = 184) reported that most employees take 30 or more minutes for their lunch. Respondents were asked to list the most common menu items purchased for consumption on-site. One hundred fifteen respondents listed sandwiches (46.2%), 101 listed pizza (40.6%), 30 listed salad (12.0%), and 17 listed various sweets (6.8%). Employees were thought to be less likely than managers to select foods lower in calories if the foods are more expensive. DISCUSSION There is great potential to improve the health of employees through the provision of nutrition information to businesses. The survey employed in the current study can be used again in the future to track changes after implementation of worksite initiatives through the Business and Industry Committee of the Healthy Lifestyles--Marshfield Area Coalition.
Disorganization of the histone core promotes organization of heterochromatin into phase-separated droplets

The heterochromatin protein HP1 is proposed to enable chromatin compaction via liquid droplet formation. Yet, a connection between phase separation and chromatin compaction has not been experimentally demonstrated. More fundamentally, how HP1 action at the level of a single nucleosome drives chromatin compaction remains poorly understood. Here we directly demonstrate that the S. pombe HP1 protein, Swi6, compacts arrays of multiple nucleosomes into phase-separated droplets. Using hydrogen-deuterium exchange, NMR, and mass-spectrometry, we further find that Swi6 substantially increases the accessibility and dynamics of buried histone residues within a mononucleosome. Restraining these dynamics via site-specific disulfide bonds impairs the compaction of nucleosome arrays into phase-separated droplets. Our results indicate that chromatin compaction and phase separation can be highly coupled processes. Further, we find that such coupling is promoted by a counter-intuitive function of Swi6, namely disorganization of the octamer core. Phase separation is canonically mediated by weak and dynamic multivalent interactions. We propose that dynamic exposure of buried histone residues increases opportunities for multivalent interactions between nucleosomes, thereby coupling chromatin compaction to phase separation. We anticipate that this new model for chromatin organization may more generally explain the formation of highly compacted chromatin assemblies beyond heterochromatin.
Processing Pathway Effects in CoCrCuNi + X (Fe, Mn) High-Entropy Alloys

ABSTRACTA parallel study of mechanical alloying and solidification was carried out on FCC high-entropy alloys (HEAs) CoCrCuNi, CoCrCuFeNi and CoCrCuMnNi to investigate the effects of each processin...
Biology and the Social Sciences

It has already been noted in Section 4.3 that life, as it is recognized, must have begun on Earth with the elaboration of free-living unicellular organisms from simpler, prebiological material. Tree-living’ means that each individual in a population of similar organisms could function relatively independent of the rest of the population. In particular, each individual retained a full capacity to carry out all necessary biological activities, especially in the crucial area of reproduction.
Integrating Engagement Inducing Interventions into Traditional, Virtual and Embedded Learning Environments

The key to an effective learning environment is keeping the learner attentive and engaged [51]. The shift towards virtual learning environments, such as online and computer-based learning environments, distance the learner from the instructor and can lead to some less-than-engaging learning experiences. Such environments often lack key attributes necessary to fully engage learners, such as clear goals, adequate feedback, and instructor support. Decades of study in cognitive and educational psychology provide a foundation of knowledge regarding the factors that influence learner engagement, and how we can leverage this knowledge base to create engaging learning experiences in these new technology-driven learning environments. This paper presents a taxonomy that maps ten engagement-inducing learning interventions to learning environments in which they have been found to improve learner engagement, factors that influence learner engagement, and learning gains. Implementation of this taxonomy is then illustrated by presenting a use case implementation within a virtual learning environment, followed by a discussion of important considerations during implementation.
DNA Sequencing confirms Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris serrirostris) occurrence in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley in Arkansas, USA

First sighting records of rare occurrences may become increasingly important for recognizing changes in distribution, changes in migratory strategies, or increases in hybridization. We documented the first record of a Tundra Bean Goose in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, the outlet and historic floodplain for much of North America and one of the most important waterfowl wintering areas on the continent. We also document the first genetically confirmed record in the contiguous USA. Bean Goose (Anser fabalis and A. serrirostris) occurrences in North America are rare, especially outside of Alaska. On 24 January 2018, a Tundra Bean Goose (A. s. serrirostris) was harvested by a hunter in a winter-flooded rice field in Desha County, Arkansas, USA, near Dumas. The goose was mixed with a flock of 50 Greater White-Fronted Geese (A. albifrons). Because this individual was legally, albeit accidentally shot, we had the rare and exciting opportunity to obtain morphometric measurements and biological samples. As a result, we were able to verify the species and subspecies through genetic and morphological analysis. We determined the goose was an adult female Tundra Bean Goose, and mitochondrial DNA control region sequence data indicated this specimen was the subspecies A. s. serrirostris.
Studying human attention on the Internet.

“On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog” is the caption of a famous cartoon from the early years of the Internet. In the 1990s, this was meant as a light-hearted poke at the emerging medium. Today, this cartoon seems a prescient glimpse of a dystopian future, of an Internet of misleading Amazon reviews, fake news, and Russian trolls. “Falsehoods almost always beat out the truth on Twitter,” proclaimed The Atlantic , summarizing a major study in Science (1, 2). Yet, there has been relatively little science on the impact of inauthentic Internet content on what people believe and do. This gap reflects a major deficit in our collective capacity to conduct open science on the dynamics of human attention to content on the Internet (more below on this). Bail et al. (3) offer a critical evaluation of the potential impact of Russian troll content, finding little evidence that engagement with content in 2017 from (since revealed) Russian Twitter accounts is associated with increased polarization among US voters, one of the (inferred) objectives of Russian intervention in US political discourse. The paper uses panel data of Twitter users coupled with 2 survey waves from 2017, collected for other purposes (4), with the following question: Is exposure to Russian troll content associated with political polarization (captured by an array of attitudinal and behavioral measures)? The answer—within these data—is robustly no. This paper should therefore be reassuring that the effects of Russian social media interventions on polarization are minimal; however, readers should not sleep too easily at night. The paper, as with all … [↵][1]1Email: d.lazer{at}northeastern.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
THE GREAT MASQUERADE: A RARE CASE OF PRIMARY CARDIAC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMOR

Primary cardiac neuroendocrine tumors are exceedingly rare with an incidence of 0.0017% to 0.19% in autopsy series. We present a case of a primary neuroendocrine tumor found incidentally during surgery for aortic valve endocarditis. 44 year old man with a history of pulmonic stenosis s/p balloon
Multi-Point Near-Field RF Sensing of Blood Pressures and Heartbeat Dynamics

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure estimation using arm-cuff monitors is one of the most common cardiovascular evaluation criteria in healthcare today, however these measures lack critical heartbeat and pressure dynamics. Pulse-transit time can be used as an alternative for arm-cuff monitors, but gives only one parameter for two pressure quantities. Ultrasound, computed tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging can retrieve geometrical features of the heart, but cannot directly estimate vascular pressures. Here we show a novel radio-frequency heartbeat sensor based on multi-point near-field observation. By comparing to synchronized electrocardiogram and auscultation, the multi-point sensor can assess motion and pressure in different parts of the heart following the Wiggers diagram. By applying the Hilbert-Huang frequency-time transform, the central blood pressure can be derived from the vascular vibration characteristics as continuous transients, including during the pulmonary cycle which is previously inaccessible from branchial measurements. Our scheme can be further extended to a full multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel arrangement, producing rich content for diagnostic and biometric applications. We employ dynamic time warping analyses to illustrate the sensor's wealth of diversified information across different channels and persons. This new multi-point sensor, which can be worn conveniently over clothing, enables unprecedented monitoring capabilities of detailed central blood pressure transients and heartbeat dynamics under the given measurement instructions for at-home and clinical cardiovascular diagnostics.