cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Chilopods of Alaska

In this paper is summarized what is now known of the chilopods of Alaska. It is occasioned by the coming into my hands of the material collected at several points in the territory, more particularly in the Watanuska Valley, by Dr. Joseph C. Chamberlin during 1943, 1944, and 1945. This material has increased substantially our knowledge of the centiped fauna of the region. Of the twenty-two forms here listed twelve species are described as new, among these species being representatives of three new genera and one new subgenus. Types of new species as well as all other specimens are retained at present in the author's collection at the University of Utah.
Environmental management in the gut: fecal transplantation to restore the intestinal ecosystem

Restoring essential ecosystem services is a key goal of environmental managers following a disaster such as a forest fire. The recent attention being paid to the indigenous human microbiota, the co...
Analysis on monitoring results of influenza in Meizhou city in 2010

Objective:In order to find out the etiology and epidemic characteristics of influenza in Meizhou city,and provide the scientific basis for influenza control and prevention.Methods:The monitoring network sentinel was established.Throat swab of influenza-like illnesses were collected from sentinel hospital for influenza virus nucleic acid detection by Real-time PCR method.Results:510 samples had been examined in 2010.82 samples were positive,the positive rate was 16.08%.Among them,52 were type B(63.41%),22 were type H3(26.83%),8 were type H1N1(9.76%).Conclusion:Type B was the predominant strain of influenza in Meizhou city in 2010.The peak of epidemic of influenza was from April to June.Influenza infections mainly occurred in children under the age of 15.
The psychotherapies in the context of new developments in the neurosciences and biological psychiatry.

New empirical advances in psychotherapy research and in the neurosciences and biological psychiatry are steadily occurring. But the workers in these endeavors tend to go in parallel lines rather th...
HIV risks and risk reduction readiness in hard-to-reach, drug-using African American and Mexican American women: An exploratory study

In an exploratory study of the HIV risk-taking behaviors and risk reduction readiness of a sample of 74 hard-to-reach, out-of-treatment African American and Mexican American drug-using women who are at high risk for HIV infection, Mexican American women were found to be more likely than African American women to have drug-using sexual partners and to use drugs daily. Cocaine was the drug most commonly used by both groups. Heroin injectors were more likely than nonheroin injectors to use daily and to share needles. Women of both ethnicities expressed considerable readiness for HIV risk reduction. We describe two empirically derived interventions to reduce HIV risks among this population and share our observations regarding collecting data from and intervening with hard-to-reach, drug-using minority women who are at high risk for HIV infection.
Nodular fasciitis: A frequent diagnostic pitfall on fine-needle aspiration.

BACKGROUND Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign, self-limited, fibroblastic/myofibroblastic proliferation that is diagnostically challenging, often mimicking a malignant process due to its rapid growth clinically and its high cellularity, mitotic activity, and variable/nonspecific cytomorphologic findings. Herein, the authors report what to their knowledge is the largest and first multi-institutional study of the cytomorphologic characteristics of NF by fine-needle aspiration (FNA). METHODS The pathology archives at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Emory University Hospital were searched for soft tissue FNA cytology specimens of masses confirmed to be NF. The clinical history, actual FNA diagnosis, and cytomorphologic features were recorded by the authors. RESULTS A total of 34 patients were identified, 33 of which had material available for review. The mean age of the patients was 40 years (range, 1-80 years); 18 patients (52.9%) were male. The mean duration of symptoms was 3.75 months. Four cases (11.8%) and 2 cases (5.9%) were signed out as NF and “malignant neoplasm, NOS [not otherwise specified],” respectively. On average, cases were hypercellular (mean, 3.27/4). Thirty cases (90.9%) contained spindled morphology, whereas 30 cases (90.9%) and 28 cases (84.4%) contained cells with unipolar and curved cytoplasmic tails, respectively. Eccentric, ovoid, and spindled/elongated nuclei were observed in 31 cases (93.9%), 30 cases (90.9%), and 29 cases (87.9%), respectively. Nineteen cases (57.6%) lacked atypia. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, the diagnosis of NF was suggested in nearly 40% of cases. Combining the clinical presentation with the most commonly described cytomorphologic features will appropriately triage the majority of cases, although uncertainty will remain in a significant number of cases. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:20-29. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Effects of immunomodulatory nutrients on growth performance and immune-related gene expression in layer chicks challenged with lipopolysaccharide

Immunomodulatory nutrients alter the immune response to pathogens. This study was conducted to determine the effects of immunomodulatory nutrients on the immune response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge of layer chicks fed supplemental corn oil (control; 3%), fish oil (3%), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; 1%), lutein (0.05 g/kg), or vitamin E (90 I.U./ kg). Four-week-old layer chicks were allotted to 10 treatment groups arranged as a 2 × 5 factorial with 2 sexes and 5 dietary treatments (TRT; 5 replicate pens of 2 male and 2 female chicks per TRT). After a 2-week diet adaptation, all birds were injected intraperitoneal with 1.5 mg/kg BW LPS. Twelve hours post challenge, samples were collected. Fish oil fed birds had greater (P = 0.03) spleen weight (% final BW) than the CLA fed birds. In the liver, the fish oil TRT had higher (P = 0.040) IL-12 expression than the corn oil TRT, but the corn oil TRT had greater (P = 0.001) IL-4 expression than the CLA, lutein, and vitamin E TRT. There was a main effect of sex of the birds on growth parameters at 12 h post LPS challenge in which male birds had greater beginning BW (P < 0.001), final BW (P < 0.001), and greater 12-hour BW loss (P = 0.020) than the female birds, but not relative weight loss. There were also main effects of sex on immune-related gene expression with the females having greater gene expression than the males in the duodenal mucosal scrapings [IL-1β, IL-12, and TLR-4 gene expression (P = 0.026, 0.011, and 0.002, respectively)]; liver [IL-10, IL-4, and iNOS gene expression (P = 0.017, 0.032, and 0.006, respectively)]; and spleen [IL-1β, IL-10, IL-4, and iNOS gene expression (P = 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, and 0.005, respectively)]. Therefore, each immunomodulatory nutrient added to the diets of layer chickens resulted in different immune responses to an LPS challenge.
On Classes of One-dimensional Self-assembling Automata

An abstract model of self-assembling systems is presented where assembly instructions are written as conformational switches— local rules that specify conformational changes of a component. The self-assembling automaton model is defined as a sequential rule-based machine that operates on one-dimensional strings of symbols. An algorithm is provided for constructing a self-assembling automaton that self-assembles an one-dimensional string of distinct symbols in a given particular subassembly sequence. Classes of self-assembling automata are then defined based on classes of subassembly sequences in which the components self-assemble. For each class of subassembly sequence, the minimum number of conformations is provided which is necessary to encode subassembly sequences in the class. It is shown that three conformations for each component are enough to encode any subassembly sequences of a string with arbitrary length.
Paramagnetic resonance of Gd3+ in CeO2 single crystals

Abstract Gd 3+ has been incorporated into single crystals of CeO 2 (fluorite structure) in cubic sites and the ESR spectrum observed. The temperature dependence of the cubic crystal splitting has been measured from room temperature to ≈ 2°K and values of g , the fourth order parameter, c , and the sixth order parameter, d , in the spin Hamiltonian treatment for the crystal field potential have been obtained using a computer program. The parameters c and d were found to have the same sign and intensity observations of the temperature dependence of the resonance absorption lines showed that c was negative. The temperature dependence of the total splitting for H ∥[100] was found to be similar to that observed in Gd 3+ : ThO 2 . Forbidden transitions with ¦ Δ M 5 ¦ #62; 1 were observed, as well as axial spectra in heavily doped crystals. Lines due to transitions with Δ M 5 = ± 4 were identified in both ThO 2 and CeO 2 .
Divergent Soybean Calmodulins Respond Similarly to Calcium Transients: Insight into Differential Target Regulation.

Plants commonly respond to stressors by modulating the expression of a large family of calcium binding proteins including isoforms of the ubiquitous signaling protein calmodulin (CaM). The various plant CaM isoforms are thought to differentially regulate the activity of specific target proteins to modulate cellular stress responses. The mechanism(s) behind differential target activation by the plant CaMs is unknown. In this study, we used steady-state and stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the strategy by which two soybean CaMs (sCaM1 and sCaM4) have evolved to differentially regulate NAD kinase (NADK), which is activated by sCaM1 but inhibited by sCaM4. Although the isolated proteins have different cation binding properties, in the presence of Mg²⁺ and the CaM binding domains from proteins that are differentially regulated, the two plant CaMs respond nearly identically to rapid and slow Ca²⁺ transients. Our data suggest that the plant CaMs have evolved to bind certain targets with comparable affinities, respond similarly to a particular Ca²⁺ signature, but achieve different structural states, only one of which can activate the enzyme. Understanding the basis for differential enzyme regulation by the plant CaMs is the first step to engineering a vertebrate CaM that will selectively alter the CaM signaling network.
Impact of Comorbidities Among Medicaid Enrollees With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, United States, 2009

Introduction Multimorbidity, the presence of 2 or more chronic conditions, frequently affects people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many have high-cost, highly complex conditions that have a substantial impact on state Medicaid programs. We quantified the cost of Medicaid-insured patients with COPD co-diagnosed with other chronic disorders. Methods We used nationally representative Medicaid claims data to analyze the impact of comorbidities (other chronic conditions) on the disease burden, emergency department (ED) use, hospitalizations, and total health care costs among 291,978 adult COPD patients. We measured the prevalence of common conditions and their influence on COPD-related and non-COPD-related resource use by using the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. Elixhauser comorbidity counts were clustered from 0 to 7 or more. We performed multivariable logistic regression to determine the odds of ED visits by Elixhauser scores adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and residence. Results Acute care, hospital bed days, and total Medicaid-reimbursed costs increased as the number of comorbidities increased. ED visits unrelated to COPD were more common than visits for COPD, especially in patients self-identified as black or African American (designated black). Hypertension, diabetes, affective disorders, hyperlipidemia, and asthma were the most prevalent comorbid disorders. Substance abuse, congestive heart failure, and asthma were commonly associated with ED visits for COPD. Female sex was associated with COPD-related and non-COPD-related ED visits. Conclusion Comorbidities markedly increased health services use among people with COPD insured with Medicaid, although ED visits in this study were predominantly unrelated to COPD. Achieving excellence in clinical practice with optimal clinical and economic outcomes requires a whole-person approach to the patient and a multidisciplinary health care team.
Abstract 132: Association Between Perioperative Amiodarone and Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Following Cardiac Surgery

Background: Amiodarone effectively reduces the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in randomized trials and guidelines give a Class IIa recommendation for its use in high risk pat...
Molecular architecture of the Legionella Dot/Icm type IV secretion system

Legionella pneumophila survives and replicates inside host cells by secreting ~300 effectors through the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system (T4BSS). Understanding this machine's structure is challenging because of its large number of components (27) and integration into all layers of the cell envelope. Previously we overcame this obstacle by imaging the Dot/Icm T4BSS in its native state within intact cells through electron cryotomography. Here we extend our observations by imaging a stabilized mutant that yielded a higher resolution map. We describe for the first time the presence of a well-ordered central channel that opens up into a windowed large (~32 nm wide) secretion chamber with an unusual 13-fold symmetry. We then dissect the complex by matching proteins to densities for many components, including all those with periplasmic domains. The placement of known and predicted structures of individual proteins into the map reveals the architecture of the T4BSS and provides a roadmap for further investigation of this amazing specialized secretion system.
Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure Technologies for Condition Assessment and Structural Health Monitoring of Highway Bridges

The visual inspection routines mandated through the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) implemented after the 1967 catastrophic collapse of the Silver Bridge have nearly exclusively provided the framework for bridge management encompassing rehabilitation planning and reconstruction scheduling. Over the years, despite the numerous revisions of the NBIS to introduce special inspection procedures, such as for fracture critical and scour susceptible structures, it is evident that the visual inspection program falls short of ensuring a safe and efficient operational model for bridge management. All too often, imminent or unforeseen collapse predates reconstruction efforts and consequently the public is subjected to abrupt closures instead of anticipated and expediently scheduled rehabilitation projects. Sensor-based non-destructive condition assessment and anomaly detection technologies have long been proposed to supplement the limitations and subjectivity associated with the visual inspection program to provide timely and quantitative evaluation of the structural health of highway bridges. Presented is an overview of the role that intelligent transportation infrastructure technologies are increasingly assuming within bridge management as well as conceptual strategies for application of several monitoring approaches. Real-world field response measurements are also presented to demonstrate the current capabilities, typical data collection, and extraction of performance parameters from application of a wireless sensing network platform utilizing both strain transducers and accelerometers. Lastly, identification and localization of non-critical damage onset using a network of vibration sensors is explored through system identification and response prediction using forward innovations.
Neurologic complications of sickle cell disease.

Abstract Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of genetic blood disorders that vary in severity, but the most severe forms, primarily homozygous sickle cell anemia, are associated with neurologic complications. Over the last 90 years it has become established that some patients will develop severe arterial disease of the intracranial brain arteries and suffer brain infarction. Smaller infarctions and brain atrophy may also be seen and over time there appear to be negative cognitive effects in some patients, with or without abnormal brain imaging. Focal mononeuropathies and pneumococcal meningitis are also more common in these patients. Brain infarction in children can largely be prevented screening children beginning at age 2 years and instituting regular blood transfusion when the Doppler indicates high stroke risk (> 200 cm/sec). Iron overload and the uncertain duration of transfusion are disadvantages but overall this approach, tested in a randomized clinical trial, reduced first stroke by over 90%. Secondary stroke prevention has not been subjected to a randomized controlled trial except for one recently stopped comparison of regular transfusions compared to hydroxuyrea (results favored transfusion). The usual stroke prevention agents (such as aspirin or warfarin) have not been rigorously tested. Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography give evidence of subtle and sometimes overt brain injury due to stroke in many adults, but a preventive strategy for adults with SCD has not been developed. Bone marrow transplantation is the only cure, but some non-neurologic symptoms can be controlled in adults with hydroxuyrea.
Comprehensive characterization of perioperative reoperation following radical cystectomy.

Abstract Introduction To examine the nature, timing, and risk factors underlying return to the operating room (ROR) following radical cystectomy (RC). ROR has been proposed as a surgical quality metric based on data from the general surgery literature, but ROR has not been comprehensively characterized following RC. Patients and methods We queried our institutional Cystectomy Registry from 2000 to 2016 to identify patients with ROR within 90 days of RC. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between patient features and ROR. Survival outcomes were studied based on whether ROR was necessary. Results Of 1968 patients treated with RC, 112 (5.7%) underwent 125 reoperations within 90 days of RC, of which 93% were unanticipated and due to postsurgical complications. The most common reasons for ROR were facial dehiscence (29%), bowel obstruction (21%), and enteric anastomotic leak (8%). On multivariable analysis, increasing body mass index (odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.08, P = 0.045) and albumin Conclusion ROR principally occurred due to unanticipated complications and was associated with increased mortality after RC. These data suggest ROR may be a useful metric by which urological programs can track the efficacy of interventions aimed at improving perioperative care for RC patients.
Forecasting Indonesia's electricity load through 2030 and peak demand reductions from appliance and lighting efficiency

Author(s): McNeil, MA; Karali, N; Letschert, V | Abstract: Indonesia's electricity demand is growing rapidly, driven by robust economic growth combined with unprecedented urbanization and industrialization. Energy-efficiency improvements could reduce the country's electricity demand, thus providing monetary savings, greenhouse gas and other pollutant reductions, and improved energy security. Perhaps most importantly, using energy efficiency to lower peak electricity demand could reduce the risk of economically damaging power shortages while freeing up funds that would otherwise be used for power plant construction. We use a novel bottom-up modeling approach to analyze the potential of energy efficiency to reduce Indonesia's electricity demand: the LOAD curve Model (LOADM) combines total national electricity demand for each end use—as modeled by the Bottom-Up Energy Analysis System (BUENAS)—with hourly end-use demand profiles. We find that Indonesia's peak demand may triple between 2010 and 2030 in a business-as-usual case, to 77.3 GW, primarily driven by air conditioning and with important contributions from lighting and refrigerators. However, we also show that appliance and lighting efficiency improvements could hold the peak demand increase to a factor of two, which would avoid 26.5 GW of peak demand in 2030. These results suggest that well-understood programs, such as minimum efficiency performance standards, could save Indonesia tens of billions of dollars in capital costs over the next decade and a half.
Research Designs in Behavioral Cardiovascular Research

Science is a human activity in which we attempt to establish knowledge within particular domains of interest. There have been a number of attempts to specify how science works although no satisfactory solution has yet been achieved. Understanding science in a complete sense is a difficult if not impossible task since to specify science we would also need to specify the important parameters of those performing science which we lack at this time. However, the utility of science is assumed and stands as the major way of developing and establishing knowledge. In the development of knowledge we can begin to articulate the goals in which the scientific enterprise is directed. In science we attempt to articulate at least three different types of relationships or representations. First, there are theoretical representations. Second, there are research representations. And third, there exist Quantitative representations.
Trajectories of hemoglobin A1c and body mass index z-score over four decades among 2 to 18 year olds with type 1 diabetes.

Objectives To determine trajectories of glycemic control and body mass index (BMI) z-score in a large pediatric sample with type 1 diabetes (T1D) over a 38-year period, and to evaluate sex differences and temporal changes in the prevalence of these trajectories. Methods We conducted a longitudinal, retrospective study of 7002 2 to 18 year olds with T1D followed between 1978 and 2016 at a single center. Group-based modeling was used to identify trajectories for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and BMI z-score. Multinomial logistic regression identified predictors of membership to less favorable glycemic trajectories. Results Group-based modeling yielded 5 HbA1c trajectories. A total of 86% of the sample fell within 3 trajectories that were largely stable across childhood and adolescence, and 14% fell within 2 trajectories characterized by marked deterioration beginning in pre-adolescence. Girls were more likely to be in the HbA1c trajectory with the highest starting HbA1c and significant deterioration during adolescence, and in the highest two BMI z-score trajectories. Patients with non-white race had the highest odds of belonging to a less favorable HbA1c trajectory. Prevalence of the high stable HbA1c trajectory decreased and prevalence of the low stable HbA1c trajectory increased over the study period. Conclusions A minority of youth with T1D experienced deterioration of glycemic control during adolescence. Girls were more likely to belong to the worst HbA1c trajectory and to BMI z-score trajectories in the overweight/obese range, which may increase cardiometabolic risk. Addressing racial/ethnic disparities in glycemic control should remain a priority. Advances in T1D management correlated with favorable shifts in HbA1c trajectory prevalence.
Linguistic diversity and social justice in (Bangla)desh: a socio-historical and language ideological perspective

This paper analyses some key historical developments (from early twentieth century to present) in Bangladesh from a socio-historical and language ideological perspective to explore the social injus...
Muslim women against FEMEN: Asserting agency in online spaces

This essay considers the activist group FEMEN and the online reactions to their “International Topless Jihad Day” protests. Specifically, I analyze the vernacular discourses present in the Facebook...
Single-Bit Millimeter Wave Beam Alignment Using Error Control Sounding Strategies

Millimeter wave technology is an essential component of most solutions that address the coverage and throughput demands of next-generation cellular networks. To overcome the high propagation losses however, it is necessary to deploy large antenna arrays for spatial localization of energy by beamforming. This imposes a significant communication overhead, especially when channel reciprocity does not hold. In this work, we study the problem of successive one-bit feedback-assisted beam alignment. We exploit the sparse nature of the millimeter wave channel to pose the beamforming problem as a questioning strategy. We consider both adaptive ( closed-loop ) and non-adaptive ( open-loop ) channel sounding techniques which are robust to erroneous feedback signals caused by noisy quantization. In the adaptive case, we formulate new sounding signals by drawing a parallel with the well known Ulam's problem. In the non-adaptive case, the beams are designed in accordance to an open-loop code. We demonstrate that multiple paths can also be resolved by using ideas from group testing. Finally, we show the efficacy of our proposed techniques via simulations.
The Flipped Classroom Model Improves Undergraduate Test Performance in Human Physiology

The intent of this study was to assess whether a flipped classroom based curriculum affects student performance in a comprehensive human physiology course intended for sophomore level undergraduate...
The high resource impact of reformatting requirements for scientific papers.

Background Most research manuscripts are not accepted for publication on first submission. A major part of the resubmission process is reformatting to another journal’s specific requirements, a process separate from revising the scientific content. There has been little research to understand the magnitude of the burden imposed by the current resubmission process. Methods We analyzed original research article submission requirements from twelve randomly selected journals in each of eight scientific and clinical focus areas from the InCites Journal Citation Reports database. From the 96 journals selected, we randomly identified three recently published manuscripts and sent surveys to those first and/or corresponding authors (288 total) to solicit information on time spent reformatting resubmissions and opinions on the process. Findings There was significant variation in manuscript submission requirements for journals within the same scientific focus and only 4% of journals offered a fully format-free initial submission. Of 203 authors responding (71.5% response rate), only 11.8% expressed satisfaction with the resubmission process and 91% desired reforming the current system. Time spent on reformatting delays most publications by at least two weeks and by over three months in about 20% of manuscripts. The effort to comply with submission requirements has significant global economic burden, estimated at over $1.1 billion dollars annually when accounting for a research team’s time. Interpretation We demonstrate that there is significant resource utilization associated with resubmitting manuscripts, heretofore not properly quantified. The vast majority of authors are not satisfied with the current process. Addressing these issues by reconciling reformatting requirements among journals or adopting a universal format-free initial submission policy would help resolve a major subject for the scientific research community and provide more efficient dissemination of findings.
Trauma exposure, mental health, and quality of life among injured service members: Moderating effects of perceived support from friends and family

Poor mental health and quality of life (QOL) are common among service members exposed to trauma and may be more pronounced among those injured on combat deployment. It is vital to identify factors ...
A novel bovine CXCL15 gene in the GRO chemokine gene cluster

In our previous transcriptomic studies using DNA microarray analysis, a probe designed from an unknown expressed sequence tag (EST) showed significant differential gene expression in the pharyngeal epithelia. The objectives of this study are to annotate the gene sequence and compare the gene transcription levels among different bovine tissues based on our published microarray data. The gene transcribing the EST contains a 90-amino-acid protein sequence. The results of bioinformatic analyses using comparative genetics, multiple sequence alignments, phylogenetic analysis and promoter sequence analysis indicated that this gene is a novel ELR+ CXCL gene orthologous to mouse CXCL15. The gene is highly conserved in ruminants and exists in many other mammals but not in chickens, primates or pigs. Phylogenetic analysis and gene structures showed that CXCL15 is closer to CXCL8 than to other ELR+ CXCLs. Our microarray data show that bovine CXCL15 expression was higher in laser capture micro-dissected bovine pharyngeal epithelia than in the whole pharyngeal tissues, which agrees with the expression in mice. However, unlike the high expression in the mouse lung, our results showed that the bovine nasal turbinate, dorsal nasopharynx, dorsal soft palate and tongue expressed higher levels of CXCL15 than the lung and skins. Promoter analysis showed that ruminants have more immune-related transcription factor binding sites in the proximal promoters of CXCL15 than mouse. CXCL15 has previously only been reported in mice and has neutrophil chemotactic activity. Given the critical roles of neutrophils in innate immunity, this study provides useful information for further characterization of bovine CXCL15.
Developing Research Training Services at Asbury Seminary

Research training services at Asbury Seminary have been under development for many years and have been provided by several different librarians through those years. This presentation covered who our patrons are in terms of demographics and degree programs. The discussion then turned to their needs for information literacy and research training in both information access and methodologies for research. Finally, we discussed new strategies for engaging patrons, including faculty engagement and curriculum assessment standards that push the issue of information literacy and research training into the curriculum.
Process Development and Basic Studies of Electrochemically Deposited CdTe-Based Solar Cells: Final Technical Report, 15 May 1998 - 17 August 2001

This report describes the long-term research and development issues related to polycrystalline thin-film solar cells. Our general research approach is based on combining activities aimed at improvement of cell performance and stability with activities aimed at increasing our fundamental understanding of the properties of materials making up the cells: CdTe, CdS, multi-layer back-contact, and transparent conducting oxide (TCO) front-contact. We emphasize the relation between structural and electronic material properties and various processing procedures, as well as the microscopic mechanisms responsible for the cell performance and its degradation. There is a lack of knowledge and understanding of basic issues behind the CdTe/CdS cell performance and stability, such as the nature and electronic properties of impurities and defects that control the majority-carrier concentration, mechanisms of the dopant compensation, recombination centers, their nature and properties, diffusion, electro migration and transformation of defects under various processing, stress, and operating conditions. We believe that better basic understanding of the specific influence of polycrystallinity, especially for fine-grain materials characteristic of CdTe-based cells, is now one of the most important issues we must address. We need to clarify the role of grain boundaries in forming the film electronic properties, as well as those of the p-n junction.more » It is important to study and understand the influence of the grain boundaries on the spatial distribution and migration of impurities and electrically active defects. To fulfill these tasks, one needs to develop new methods and techniques (or adjust existing ones) for material characterization, as well as develop more sophisticated approaches to data analysis and modeling.« less
Precision UAV Landing Control Based on Visual Detection

Precision landing is critical for rapid launching and recovering of unmanned aerial vehicles in ship-based scenarios and space-limited environments. The solution presented here uses a deep convolutional network based vision pipeline to detect the landing mark and estimate system state in real-time. The landing sequence is controlled by vehicle trajectory points using a linear predictive algorithm. The trajectory points are fed to a low level position controller and velocity controller. Both controllers demonstrate satisfactory performance and achieve < 0.3-meter accuracy with the platform moving up to 80% of maximum UAV velocity.
Perioperative respiratory distress in a child due to plastic bronchitis triggered by allergic reaction to sevoflurane.

This was a 3-year-old boy, of weight 15 kg, with no significant medical history receiving tonsillectomy due to obstructive sleep apnoea. General anaesthesia was induced with midazolam, propofol, remifentanil and cisatracurium, and airway was secured with 4.0 mm oral endotracheal tube. After
Addressing Driver Disengagement and Proper System Use: Human Factors Recommendations for Level 2 Driving Automation Design:

Level 2 driving automation has the potential to reduce crashes; however, there are known risks when using these systems, particularly as they relate to drivers becoming disengaged from driving. Thi...
Association of Severe Acute Kidney Injury with Mortality and Healthcare Utilization Following Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the USA. While cardiopulmonary dysfunction can result in poor outcomes following severe TBI, the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) is poorly understood. We examined the association of severe AKI with hospital mortality and healthcare utilization following isolate severe TBI. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2014. We identified a cohort of adult patients with isolated severe TBI and described the incidence of severe AKI, corresponding to Acute Kidney Injury Network stage 3 disease or greater. We examined the association of severe AKI with the primary outcome of hospital mortality using multivariable logistic regression models. In secondary analyses, we examined the association of severe AKI with dialysis catheter placement, tracheostomy and gastrostomy utilization, and hospital length of stay. There were 37,851 patients who experienced isolated severe TBI during the study period. Among these patients, 787 (2.1%) experienced severe (Stage 3 or greater) AKI. In multivariable models, the development of severe AKI in the hospital was associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.64–2.52), need for tracheostomy (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.52–2.89), PEG tube placement (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.45–2.45), and increased hospital length of stay (p < 0.001). The overall incidence of severe AKI is relatively low (2.1%), but is associated with increased mortality and multiple markers of increased healthcare utilization following severe TBI.
Hollow AFM Cantilever with Holes

Since its invention, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has enhanced our understanding of physical and biological systems at sub-micrometer scales. As the performance of AFM depends greatly on the properties of the cantilevers, many works have been done to improving cantilevers by means of modifying their geometries via lithography [1] and ion-beam milling [2,3] that primarily involved opening areas on the cantilever’s face, resulting in high resonant frequency, low spring constant, and low hydrodynamic damping. Similar improvements were achieved using a hollow beam cantilever with nanoscale wall thickness [4]. In fact, the combination of these two approaches (in-plane opening and hollow beam) can result in unique metamaterial structures with tunable properties [5], but it has not been explored for AFM application. In this work, we explore the hollow AFM cantilevers with in-plane modifications. We accomplished this by (1) taking a commercial solid silicon cantilever, (2) making a different number of holes on the face using pulsed laser micromachining, and (3) coating them with alumina using atomic layer deposition and etching the internal silicon that results in a hollow probe with holes. We present the effects of these modifications on the cantilever’s resonant frequency, quality factor, and spring constant in air. This work provides an insight into strategies for tuning cantilever’s properties for both flexural and torsional modes. References: [1] Nilsen, M.; Port, F.; Roos, M.; Gottschalk, K.-E.; Strehle, S. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 2019, 29, (2), 025014. [2] Bull, M. S.; Sullan, R. M. A.; Li, H.; Perkins, T. T. ACS Nano 2014, 8, (5), 4984-4995. [3] Hodges, A. R.; Bussmann, K. M.; Hoh, J. H. Review of Scientific Instruments 2001, 72, (10), 3880-3883. [4] Cha, W.; Nicaise, S.; Lilley, D.; Lin, C.; Bargatin, I. Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Workshop, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 2018; Transducer Research Foundation: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, pp 232-233. [5] Lin, C.; Nicaise, S. M.; Lilley, D. E.; Cortes, J.; Jiao, P.; Singh, J.; Azadi, M.; Lopez, G. G.; Metzler, M.; Purohit, P. K.; Bargatin, I. Nature Communications 2018, 9, (1), 4442. [5] C. Lin, S. M. Nicaise, D. E. Lilley, J. Cortes, P. Jiao, J. Singh, et al., "Nanocardboard as a nanoscale analog of hollow sandwich plates," Nature Communications, vol. 9, p. 4442, 2018/10/25 2018.
Time to Act: Confronting Systemic Racism in Communication Sciences and Disorders Academic Training Programs.

Purpose The intent of this tutorial is to radically shift engagement around the “types of questions” we ask around racism in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). We propose to move conversat...
Lived experiences of patients with placenta accreta spectrum in Utah: a qualitative study of semi-structured interviews.

Objective To describe the lived experience of patients undergoing diagnosis and treatment of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). Design Qualitative study of semi-structured interviews. A content analysis was used to analyse interview data using a consistent set of codes to designate data segments that contain similar material. Codes were analysed and grouped based on thematic similarities. Thematic results were systematically reviewed, verified and audited to address trustworthiness and rigour of the data and analysis. Setting A single PAS programme in Utah, USA, from 2017 to 2020. Participants Patients with PAS during the study period were eligible. Those experiencing fetal demise or termination were excluded. Of 25 patients contacted at random, 17 agreed to participate in interviews. Those included were predominantly non-Hispanic white, highly parous, with average age of 34.7 years. Results The lived experiences of patients with PAS emerged across the time continuum from diagnosis, pregnancy, birth, to postpartum care and recovery. Themes common across the care continuum were: the emotional burden of diagnosis and management; fear and uncertainty related to health outcomes; and lack of autonomy and medical helplessness related to medical decision-making. Many patients experienced birth-related trauma, mourned the loss of future fertility and were dissatisfied with the lack of options for treatment for this serious pregnancy complication. Conclusions Patients undergoing diagnosis and treatment for PAS often experienced care that conflicted with their goals for pregnancy and birth. Clinical care for PAS would benefit from interventions aiming to engage patients and providers in shared decision-making and systems designed to address the social, psychological and emotional needs of patients with PAS.
Evaluation and Data Analysis of Sol-Gel Method with Acids to Determine Most Effective Sol-Gel Method

Synthesizing nanocomposite materials using sol-gel methodology is a cheap and effective method for creating quality U3O8 particles. To some degree acids can influence the synthesis of the nanoparticles by catalyzing the reaction. This paper presents important details comparing different acids used as catalysts in nanocomposite synthesis versus time manipulation to determine if an acid catalyst is necessary for the synthesis of U3O8/SiO2 nanocomposites.
The Tectonic Forces of Global Real Estate

Excerpt] There are major shifts underway in the fundamental structure, or the underlying tectonic plates, of the global commercial real estate industry. These massive plate movements are creating an entirely new landscape within real estate and challenging long-held assumptions about commercial real estate investment, development, and ownership. The industry is transforming from a highly localized, deal-driven business to an international market characterized by lower transactions costs, abundant information, lower risk premiums, and increasing sophistication. Even the perception of real estate as an investment class is changing—investors increasingly see real estate as a stable, secure investment, producing solid returns with less volatility than stocks or many other investments.
Engineering for Drought Tolerance in Horticultural and Ornamental Plants

Abstract Drought is one of the major factors limiting plant growth and productivity. Plant adaptation to drought is dependent on molecular networks for drought perception, signal transduction, expression of a subset of genes and production of metabolites that protect and maintain the structure of cellular components. In general, the drought response pathways can be classified into two categories: one is dependent on the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) and the other is ABA-independent. Many genes in these pathways have been identified, thereby providing guidance in choosing genes for engineering of drought tolerance. The review highlights the genes that mediate drought response and tolerance, and discusses lessons learned from engineering for drought tolerance in model plants, such as Arabidopsis, rice and tobacco. Because success of drought tolerance engineering is dependent on not only protein coding regions but also appropriate promoters, this article also reviews the promoters that are crucial for s...
Fibrin as an inducer of fibrosis in the tunica albuginea of the rat: a new animal model of Peyronie's disease

Objectives To investigate the role of fibrin in inducing fibrosis in the tunica albuginea (TA) of the rat penis, to develop a new animal model for Peyronie's disease (PD). Materials and methods The TA of rats (five per group per period) were injected with either saline, fibrin, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) or TGF-beta1 plus fibrin; the rats were killed at 1, 3, and 6 weeks after injection. Images were analysed quantitatively from tissue sections stained for collagen (Masson trichrome), fibrin (Verhoeff's stain) and elastin (Hart's stain), and immunostained for TGF-beta1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase 1 (HO1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (ASMA), apoptosis (TUNEL) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI). Collagen fibre organization was characterized by electron microscopy. Human PD plaque tissue and normal human TA were assayed for fibrin by immunohistochemistry in nine samples. Results At 1 week after injection of fibrin into the rat TA, only oedema was present; at 3 weeks, the oedema developed into a characteristic fibrotic PD-like plaque. The injection of TGF-beta1 into the TA also induced oedema in the TA at 1 and 3 weeks but there was very little evidence of a recognisable plaque at either time. Injection with TGF-beta1 plus fibrin resulted in oedema at 1 week but at 3 weeks there was a smaller plaque than with fibrin only. At 6 weeks the induced plaques in the fibrin-only and fibrin + TGF-beta1 groups persisted, and were comparable with those elicited at this time by TGF-beta1 alone. The control animals showed no pathology at any of the sample times. At 3 weeks the PD plaque induced by injection with fibrin alone had not only greater expression of TGF-beta1 than the TA of the animals receiving TGF-beta1 alone, but also greater levels of other markers of fibrosis, e.g. HO1 (reactive oxygen species), ASMA (presence of myofibroblasts), apoptosis, and PAI (inhibitor of fibrinolysis). iNOS, a known antifibrotic agent, was also increased. In human PD plaque tissue, fibrin was detected by immunohistochemistry in all nine specimens. Conclusions These results suggest that fibrin, when introduced into the TA of the rat penis, acts as a potential profibrotic protein, possibly via the local release of TGF-beta1, and induces a plaque not only histologically similar to that induced by TGF-beta1 but to that of the human condition. Because fibrin can extravasate from the blood into the human TA after an injury to the TA, and because fibrin persists in the plaque tissue, we hypothesise that fibrin may play a key role in the pathogenesis of human PD.
Happy Birthday, Dear Viruses

The first computer virus was created 25 years ago, but there is no end in sight to malicious software.
Phosphorylation of serine 208 in the human vitamin D receptor. The predominant amino acid phosphorylated by casein kinase II, in vitro, and identification as a significant phosphorylation site in intact cells

The human 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor (hVDR), like other members of the steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily, has been observed to undergo rapid phosphorylation. We report here that the hVDR is a substrate for casein kinase II (CK-II), a regulatory enzyme of significance in the function of nuclear proteins. Intact hVDRs produced by in vitro transcription/translation or in a baculovirus overexpression system served as efficient substrates for purified bovine CK-II, and the magnitude of this phosphorylation was not affected by the addition of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. CK-II-catalyzed phosphorylation of truncated hVDRs suggested that phosphorylated residues may occur between Arg121 and Asp232, including the region of hVDR which we have previously demonstrated to contain a major site(s) of phosphorylation in intact cells (Jones, B.B., Jurutka, P.W., Haussler, C.A., Haussler, M.R., and Whitfield, G.K. (1991) Mol. Endocrinol. 5, 1137-1146). Site-directed mutagenesis of serine/threonine residues in this region now reveals a site of phosphorylation at Ser208 contained within the sequence -S208 (P)EEDSDD-, a classic CK-II consensus recognition site. Mutation of this serine to a glycine drastically reduces phosphorylation of hVDR by CK-II, in vitro. The Ser208 mutant receptor also shows a dramatic decrease in [32P]orthophosphate incorporation when transfected into COS-7 cells. We therefore propose that phosphorylation of hVDR at Ser208 in target cells is mediated by casein kinase II or a similar enzyme, and that this quantitatively significant post-translational modification is a potential mechanism for the modulation of the activity of hVDR in controlling gene transcription.
Implant Materials and Structures

In contrast to biodegradable implant materials and appliances, many implant metals and alloys are permanent: teeth, cranial-facial, orthopedic appliances for knee and hip replacement, rods, screws, etc. The design and fabrication of biomechanically compatible orthopedic (bone) implants will be discussed, especially with regard to reducing or eliminating stress shielding through controlled density and porosity to reduce stiffness (or Young’s modulus).
Nature or nurture - is a successful neuroscientist born or created? Interview with rusty gage.

In the continuing series of interviews with famous Neuroscientists, I had the pleasure of meeting with Fred (Rusty) Gage at the last SfN meeting in Washington, DC. I was accompanied by a former student of mine, Anne Fagan, who had also been a graduate student in Rusty’s lab when he was at UCSD. Again, my main question was: “How did you become a famous neuroscientist?” I gave Rusty the choice of answering questions or just telling us about his life – he chose the latter.