cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unprecedented size-sieving ability in polybenzimidazole doped with polyprotic acids for membrane H2/CO2 separation

Polymers with efficient and tight chain-packing and thus strong size-sieving ability are of great interest for H2/CO2 separation. Herein, we demonstrate a new approach to manipulating polymer structure by acid doping, leading to superior H2/CO2 separation performance. We have doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) with polyprotic acids, specifically H3PO4 and H2SO4. These acids cross-link PBI chains and drastically decrease free volume, improving the material's H2/CO2 selectivity to far surpass the Robeson's 2008 upper bound for membrane performance. For example, PBI doped with H3PO4 at a molar ratio of 1 : 1 exhibits an unprecedented H2/CO2 selectivity of 140 at 150 °C, which exceeds that of previously known polymeric materials and is superior or comparable to that of state-of-the-art 2D materials with sharp size separation, such as graphene oxide, MoS2, and metal–organic frameworks. This facile approach to enhancing polymer chain-packing efficiency opens up a new avenue for designing strong size-sieving polymers for membrane gas separations.
Dextran amines: Versatile tools for anterograde and retrograde studies of nervous system connectivity

Dextran amines are versatile and sensitive tools for anterograde and retrograde investigation of neural connectivity. Because of their tolerance of diverse fixatives, they are ideal for various light and electron microscopic studies. They can be iontophoretically or pressure-injected, and then depending on the type of dextran amine used and the type of detection method, visualized by transmitted light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, or electron microscopy. High-molecular-weight biotinylated dextran amines (BDAs; 10 kDa) yield sensitive and exquisitely detailed labeling of axons and terminals, while low-molecular-weight BDAs (3 kDa) yield sensitive and detailed Golgi-like retrograde labeling of neurons. Labeling with the BDAs can be visualized with an avidin-biotinylated horseradish peroxidase (ABC) procedure followed by a standard or a metal-enhanced diaminobenzidine (DAB) reaction, or with any of several fluorescent probes that bind to biotin. Fluorescent dextran amines can be directly visualized by fluorescence microscopy or rendered suitable for transmitted light or electron microscopic viewing by immunohistochemical detection of the given fluorophore. The variety of dextran amines and the methods for their visualization make them well-suited for multiple-label studies. The dextran amines can also be combined with other anterograde or retrograde tracers, or intracellular labeling, and the disparate markers separately visualized either by multicolor DAB or by DAB-VIP® labeling, or by multiple fluorescence viewing. In the same manner, pathway tracing with dextran amines and immunohistochemical labeling can be combined. The dextran amines are thus flexible and valuable pathway-tracing tools that have gained widespread popularity since being introduced.
Reaching Rigor for English Learners Through Responsive Interactions of Care

Citation: Holmes, M., Kavimandan, S., & Herrera, S. (2018). Reaching rigor for English learners through responsive interactions of care. In N. Guler (Ed.), Optimizing elementary education for English language learners (pp. 91-115). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Abstract 20903: A Novel Approach to Arrhythmia Risk Stratification in Patients With Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: We have recently developed a novel non-invasive and accurate test for arrhythmia risk stratification in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, termed Virtual Arrhythmia Risk Prediction (VA...
Polarization in France.

The special relationship between France and the polarization of light from the beginning of the 19th century until the present day is reviewed in the lives and works of Etienne Louis Malus, Francois Arago, Jean-Baptiste Biot, Augustin Fresnel, Louis Pasteur, Frederic Wallerant, Aime Cotton, Francis Perrin, and Alain Aspect. To avoid a redundant presentation of information that can be found with an Internet search engine, the author emphasizes how the aforementioned individuals have influenced the studies of stereochemistry, molecular chirality, and the polarization of light in his research group.
Myelodysplastic syndrome and sweet’s syndrome are associated with a mutation in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1

Background Sweet's syndrome (SS) is a febrile neutrophilic dermatosis that has been clinically linked to hematological malignancies, particularly myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), in a number of case series. Many epigenetic changes underlying MDS have been identified, such as a mutation in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) gene, which causes DNA hypermethylation and alteration of a number of genes that lead to leukemogenesis. However, the pathogenesis of malignancy-associated SS is unknown. Case report We present two patients who were diagnosed with SS and concomitant IDH1-mutated MDS. Immunohistochemical staining of their skin lesions showed neutrophils diffusely positive for the IDH1 mutation. Conclusion These cases demonstrate that IDH1 mutation may be implicated in the pathogenesis of malignancy-associated SS. Future investigation to elucidate this pathway is warranted. Establishing this molecular link can provide an earlier identification of patients with SS who are also at increased risk for developing MDS.
Is an FEV1 of 80% predicted a normal spirometry in cystic fibrosis children and adults?

Introduction FEV1 is considered the gold standard spirometric measure for the assessment and management of cystic fibrosis lung disease. Recent evidence suggests that tests at lower lung volumes may be more sensitive. Objectives To assess how many other spirometric tests are abnormal in the presence of a normal FEV1 (≥80%) and which spirometric tests are most sensitive in detecting airway obstruction. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 3169 spirometry tests on 184 patients with cystic fibrosis aged 6-57 years. Tests were acceptable if they met ATS criteria. Results Tests with normal FEV1 , FEF75 showed obstruction in 58% of tests, FEF25-75 in 31% and FEV1 /FVC ratio in 72%. Overall 75% of tests had an abnormality. FEF75 , FEF25-75 , FEF50 and FEV1 /FVC ratio were all significantly more sensitive in identifying obstruction than FEV1 . The FEV1 /FVC ratio was the most sensitive of all tests in identifying obstruction except in adults (> 20 years), in whom FEF75 at 90%, was more sensitive than the ratio at 85%. FEF25-75 was also at 85% sensitive. Even though the FEV1 /FVC ratio was the most sensitive of all tests, in the presence of a normal ratio, 35% other tests were abnormal. Conclusions Normal FEV1 , is not indicative of normal spirometry. FEV1 /FVC is the most sensitive measure of early or mild airway obstruction in children with cystic fibrosis. If only the FEV1 /FVC ratio was considered, many cases of obstruction would be missed, therefore all spirometric measures should be considered in the clinical evaluation of airway obstruction.
Sun Tzu Space Warrior

Although Space operations had yet to be envisioned at the time he lived, the timeless theories on war put forth by Sun Tzu almost 2,600 years ago remain relevant to military planners, especially in the context of the unconventional warfare our nation continues to wage against those who aim to harm our way of life. The continued conflict the United States faces requires the development of new and innovative strategies that surpass conventional thought to achieve victory against a non traditional enemy who is elusive, ideologically driven, and hides from direct confrontation on the battlefield. This article is the first in a series where we will explore the question of what if Space and Missile Defense operations existed at the time many of the world’s classical military theorists wrote their seminal works. What would they have said about these domains that are relevant to us today as we continue to develop, shape, and deliver the capabilities for today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow?
Diuretic resistance: physiology and therapeutics

Diuretic drugs are usually effective treatment for edema when used judiciously. However, some patients become resistant to their effects. Adaptation to diuretic drugs and diuretic resistance may be caused by similar mechanisms. Diuretic adaptations can be classified as those that occur during diuretic action, those that cause sodium retention in the short term (causing 'post-diuretic NaCl retention'), and those that increase sodium retention chronically (the 'braking phenomenon'). Recent experimental work has indicated ways in which kidneys adapt to chronic diuretic treatment. First, nephron segments downstream from the site of diuretic action increase NaCl reabsorption during diuretic administration because delivered NaCl load is increased. Second, when diuretic concentrations in the tubule decline, the kidney tubules act to retain Na until the next dose of diuretic is administered. Third, the ability of the diuretic to increase renal NaCl excretion declines over time, an effect that results both from depletion of the extracellular fluid volume and from structural and functional changes of kidney tubules themselves. These adaptations all increase the rate of NaCl reabsorption and blunt the effectiveness of diuretic therapy. Many times, a second diuretic drug is effective treatment for diuretic resistance. Recent experimental results suggest that a second drug may act synergistically because it blocks the adaptive processes limiting the effectiveness of the first diuretic. Based on an understanding of the mechanisms of diuretic adaptation and resistance, treatment regimens can be designed to block specific adaptive mechanisms and improve diuretic effectiveness.
Mental health conditions among South Asians in the United States.

South Asians, or individuals with ancestral roots in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, constitute one of the fastest growing groups of Asian immigrants in the United States (Inman and Tummala-Narra 2010; U.S. Census Bureau, Population projections of the United States by age, sex, race and Hispanic Origin: 1992 to 2050, 2010). South Asian immigrants and their children face acculturative stress, and specifically numerous challenges in the U.S., such as feelings of loss, separation, alienation, and anxiety about the new cultural environment, intergenerational stress, problems with English language communication, immigration status, and financial limitations. Stress related to acculturation, trauma, and discrimination has been linked with mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, substance abuse) among various groups of immigrants in the U.S. This chapter delineates the impact of the immigration and acculturation process on mental health among first (immigrant) and second generation South Asians in the U.S. Additionally, we address barriers to the identification of and access to culturally-informed mental health care.
Crypto Goes to War: The American Revolution

The birth of a new nation necessitated the creation of secret writing by the representatives and military officers of that nation. At the beginning of the American Revolution the use of codes and ciphers and secret inks to hide the contents of diplomatic and military intelligence messages was completely absent from American communications. It was up to the amateurs who ended up leading the Continental Army and the Congress to create and use systems that would protect their correspondence from British eyes. The British were not much more sophisticated in their secrecy systems than the Americans in cryptography and steganography. Regardless, when both sides are learning as they go there are successes and failures.
Mixing Beyond Measure: Integrating Methods in a Hybrid Effectiveness–Implementation Study of Operating Room to Intensive Care Unit Handoffs:

During hospital handoffs, patient care and information are transferred between teams. Handoffs can expose patients to preventable harm related to lost information or misunderstandings between care ...
Characterization of Internal Validity Threats to Phase III Clinical Trials for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Management: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Clinical Guidelines for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) management (48 Phase III trials reviewed) only recommend duloxetine. However, before concluding that a CIPN intervention is ineffective, scientists and clinicians should consider the risk of Type II error in Phase III studies. The purpose of this systematic review was to characterize internal threats to validity in Phase III CIPN management trials. Methods: The PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE®, and Scopus databases were searched for Phase III clinical trials testing interventions for CIPN management between 1990 and 2018. The key search terms were neoplasms, cancer, neuropathy, and CIPN. Two independent researchers evaluated 24 studies, using a modified Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Randomized Control Trials developed by the authors specific for CIPN intervention trials. Results: Two studies exhibited minimal or no design flaws. 22/24 Phase III clinical trials for CIPN have two or greater design flaws due to sample heterogeneity, malapropos mechanism of action, malapropos intervention dose, malapropos timing of the outcome measurement, confounding variables, lack of a valid and reliable measurement, and suboptimal statistical validity. Conclusions: Numerous CIPN interventions have been declared ineffective based on the results of Phase III trials. However, internal validity threats to numerous studies may have resulted in Type II error and subsequent dismissal of a potentially effective intervention. Patients may benefit from rigorous retesting of several agents (e.g., alpha-lipoic acid, duloxetine, gabapentin, glutathione, goshajinkigan, lamotrigine, nortriptyline, venlafaxine, and Vitamin E) to expand and validate the evidence regarding ASCO's recommendations for CIPN management.
A SNP of lncRNA gives HIV-1 a boost.

Although the molecular basis of most disease-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms has remained elusive, an HIV-1 viral load–associated polymorphism (rs1015164) has been identified that marks expression of a long non-coding RNA that regulates the co-receptor CCR5 and thereby influences infection of CD4+ T cells.
Understanding Youths’ Educational Aspirations in the Somali Diaspora

This article shares findings from a 10-month qualitative longitudinal study that offer insight into the educational aspirations of American youth (grades 6-9) who belong to the Minnesota Somali diaspora and highlight the social and cultural influences that shape these aspirations. The findings show that while the majority of youth participants (at one point in the study) expressed that they wanted to become doctors in the future, these aspirations were informed by family values around helping others in Somalia—not an interest in medicine or science. The findings also demonstrate that through time, as the high school youth began to engage more deeply in non-diasporic environments, such as school, their aspirations became more open-ended and individualized. Each of the youth in this study was a child of Somali-born parents; they were living and receiving an education in the United States, and their aspirations for the future were imagined and reimagined in these multiple contexts. The importance of these findings is that they demonstrate how youths’ cultural ties to Somalia enabled them to aspire. These findings also bring attention to the social and cultural conditions Somali diasporic youth navigate as they strive for a healthy transition into adulthood. It is my hope that the findings from this article will support educators’ and youth workers’ abilities to respond to and support the positive developmental processes of youth living in the American Somali diaspora by widening the sets of opportunities they have to healthily navigate early adolescence and achieve their aspirations for the future.
The Seductive Allure of Artificial Intelligence-Powered Neurotechnology

Neuroscience explanations-even when completely irrelevant-have been shown to exert a "seductive allure" on individuals, leading them to judge bad explanations or arguments more favorably. There seems to be a similarly seductive allure for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, leading people to "overtrust" these systems, even when they have just witnessed the system perform poorly. The AI-powered neurotechnologies that have begun to proliferate in recent years, particularly those based on electroencephalography (EEG), represent a potentially doubly-alluring combination. While there is enormous potential benefit in applying AI techniques in neuroscience to "decode" brain activity and associated mental states, these efforts are still in the early stages, and there is a danger in using these unproven technologies prematurely, especially in important, real-world contexts. Yet, such premature use has begun to emerge in several high-stakes set-tings, including the law, health & wellness, employment, and transportation. In light of the potential seductive allure of these technologies, we need to be vigilant in monitoring their scientific validity and challenging both unsubstantiated claims and misuse, while still actively supporting their continued development and proper use.
PROGNOSTIC IMPACT OF DIABETES IN PATIENTS WITH OR WITHOUT KNOWN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, RESULTS FROM THE REFINE SPECT REGISTRY

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor, however the concept of ‘DM as a CAD equivalent’ remains controversial. We aimed to explore the prognostic impact of DM and CAD in patients undergoing SPECT MPI. 20,309 patients (Age: 53±27, 57% male) with 4.5
Being a mother after a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy: Maternal psychosocial functioning and child cognitive development and behavior

Objective Up to 51.5% of women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy experience trauma (eg, intrusive thoughts, avoidance) and 20% report anxiety. Maternal anxiety can negatively affect child behavior among the noncancer population. This study aims to elucidate relationships between maternal distress, parenting style, and child behavior and development among women with cancer during pregnancy. Methods This cross-sectional study of child cognitive, language and motor development analyze child behavior in the context of maternal psychosocial well-being after a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy. A subset of women (N = 69) enrolled in the Cancer and Pregnancy Registry, had children undergo developmental testing. The majority underwent Bayley Scales III (children 6-42 months of age; 0-3.5 years) to assess language, cognitive, and motor performance. Women completed the Basic Symptom Inventory, Impact of Events Scale, Parent Behavior Checklist, and Child Behavioral Checklist. Maternal and child assessments were performed concurrently. Results Sixty-nine women and 71 children (2 sets of twins) ages 6 months to 12 years participated. Maternal depressive and somatic symptoms were associated with more externalizing behaviors. Among younger children (0-3.5 years), maternal somatic symptoms were associated with poorer language performance. Moderation analysis showed that mothers with fewer somatic symptoms and utilization of less discipline had children with less externalizing behaviors and higher language scores (ie, stronger verbal ability). Conclusions Given the interplay of psychosocial factors on child behavior and development, findings highlight the importance of early screening and psychosocial intervention and support for mothers diagnosed with cancer in pregnancy.
Sedentary behavior and kidney function in adults: a narrative review

There is increasing evidence for an association between SB and CKD, an emerging public health problem particularly affecting old people. For this reason a systematic literature search was carried out in Embase and PubMed (Jan 2000–Dec 2018) looking for an association between SB and kidney function. A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria (7 cross-sectional and 3 longitudinal investigations). A sedentary lifestyle was positively and independently of several confounders related to an impaired kidney function (chronic kidney disease or decrease of glomerular filtration rate), particularly in cross-sectional studies; however, more studies are needed to further establish the current evidence and to explore the exact independent mechanisms of sedentary behavior in relation to kidney function. Due to the inconsistency of the few longitudinal studies, future investigations are required to explore if SB is prospectively associated with a higher risk of developing CKD.
Earnings Dynamics, Changing Job Skills, and STEM Careers

This article studies the impact of changing job skills on career earnings dynamics for college graduates. We measure changes in the skill content of occupations between 2007 and 2019 using detailed job descriptions from a near universe of online job postings. We then develop a simple model where the returns to work experience are a race between on-the-job learning and skill obsolescence. Obsolescence lowers the return to experience, flattening the age-earnings profile in faster-changing careers. We show that the earnings premium for college graduates majoring in technology-intensive subjects such as computer science, engineering, and business declines rapidly, and that these graduates sort out of faster-changing occupations as they gain experience.
Development of machine learning based prediction models for hazardous properties of chemical mixtures

Abstract Lower flammability limit (LFL), upper flammability limit (UFL), auto-ignition temperature (AIT) and flash point (FP) are crucial hazardous properties for fire and explosion hazards assessment and consequence analysis. In this study, a comprehensive prediction model set was constructed by using expanded chemical mixture databases of chemical mixture hazardous properties. Machine learning based gradient boosting quantitative structure-property relationship (GB-QSPR) method is implemented for the first time to improve the model performance and prediction accuracy. The result shows that all developed models have significantly higher accuracy than other regular QSPR models, with the 5-fold cross-validation RMSE of LFL, UFL, AIT, and FP models being 1.06, 1.14, 1.08, and 1.17, respectively. All developed QSPR models can be used to estimate reliable chemical mixture hazardous properties and provide useful guidance in chemical mixture hazard assessment and consequence analysis.
Risk management for forest fires at a world heritage site: Vulnerability and response capacity by Rapa Nui indigenous community

Abstract This chapter analyzes the case of forest fires at a world heritage site: the Rapa Nui National Park. These fires have caused significant damage in recent years, affecting its valuable cultural heritage. Considering the insular condition of the site, the capacity to respond to an emergency was evaluated, headed by the new administration of the park: the Ma’u Henua indigenous group. The social, cultural, and environmental contexts were taken into consideration to evaluate their relationship and integrate them into the proposed mitigation strategies. The case of the devastating fire of September 2017, which affected about 300 ha, was analyzed. It was demonstrated that, despite the existing protocols, the community could not adequately face the emergency. Finally, strategies to reduce the risk of forest fires are proposed with an attempt to integrate aspects of the Rapanui culture through its customs and practices, as well as the new administration of the Rapa Nui National Park, validated by the local community.
Benchmark for Skill Learning from Demonstration: Impact of User Experience, Task Complexity, and Start Configuration on Performance

We contribute a study benchmarking the performance of multiple motion-based learning from demonstration approaches. Given the number and diversity of existing methods, it is critical that comprehensive empirical studies be performed comparing the relative strengths of these techniques. In particular, we evaluate four approaches based on properties an end user may desire for real-world tasks. To perform this evaluation, we collected data from nine participants, across four manipulation tasks. The resulting demonstrations were used to train 180 task models and evaluated on 720 task reproductions on a physical robot. Our results detail how i) complexity of the task, ii) the expertise of the human demonstrator, and iii) the starting configuration of the robot affect task performance. The collected dataset of demonstrations, robot executions, and evaluations are publicly available. Research insights and guidelines are also provided to guide future research and deployment choices about these approaches.
Barriers and Facilitators to the Prevention of Chronic Pain in the Subacute Phase After Cardiac Surgery.

Abstract Background Although a transitional approach promoting continuity of care is warranted to prevent chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) and opioid misuse, there is limited research examining interventions targeting the subacute phase after cardiac surgery. Contextual multi-level factors may explain this scarcity. Aims The purpose of this study was to explore the potential implementation of a nursing intervention to prevent CPSP in the subacute phase by describing nurses' viewpoints of current barriers and facilitators. Design A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using secondary data analysis. Settings A Web-based survey was used along with in-person interviews. Participants: 75 perioperative nurses. Methods Qualitative data from individual interviews (n=10) and open-ended responses to a survey (n=65) regarding the intervention's acceptability were used. Content analysis was conducted using a deductive approach. Results The introduction of nurses from various clinical settings to a new intervention allowed reflection on current practice and represented a shift toward a preventive approach. The main barrier expressed was the lack of communication and continuity of care between clinical settings. Several policy implications were outlined such as increasing the involvement of rehabilitation programs and strengthening collaboration between pain specialists and primary care providers. Conclusions Based on perceptions of nurses involved at different stages of the continuum, the findings provide a preliminary picture of clinical challenges and potential avenues for the prevention of CPSP in the subacute phase after cardiac surgery. An expanded pain management nursing role in primary care would allow earlier interventions and contribute to the prevention of CPSP for a tremendous number of patients undergoing surgeries.
Microgravity-induced alterations of mouse bones are compartment- and site-specific and vary with age.

Abstract The age at which astronauts experience microgravity is a critical consideration for skeletal health and similarly has clinical relevance for musculoskeletal disuse on Earth. While astronauts are extensively studied for bone and other physiological changes, rodent studies enable direct evaluation of skeletal changes with microgravity. Yet, mouse spaceflight studies have predominately evaluated tissues from young, growing mice. We evaluated bone microarchitecture in tibiae and femurs from Young (9-week-old) and Mature (32-weeks-old) female, C57BL/6N mice flown in microgravity for ~2 and ~3 weeks, respectively. Microgravity-induced changes were both compartment- and site-specific. Changes were greater in trabecular versus cortical bone in Mature mice exposed to microgravity (−40.0% Tb. BV/TV vs −4.4% Ct. BV/TV), and bone loss was greater in the proximal tibia as compared to the distal femur. Trabecular thickness in Young mice increased by +25.0% on Earth and no significant difference following microgravity. In Mature mice exposed to microgravity, trabecular thickness rapidly decreased (−24.5%) while no change was detected in age-matched mice that were maintained on Earth. Mature mice exposed to microgravity experienced greater bone loss than Young mice with net skeletal growth. Moreover, machine learning classification models confirmed that microgravity exposure-driven decrements in trabecular microarchitecture and cortical structure occurred disproportionately in Mature than in Young mice. Our results suggest that age of disuse onset may have clinical implications in osteoporotic or other at-risk populations on Earth and may contribute to understanding bone loss patterns in astronauts.
Relationship between ocean ecosystem indicators and year class strength of the invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas)

Abstract The annual abundance of the non-native European green crab, Carcinus maenas, in Oregon estuaries varies greatly with ocean conditions. Average numbers were high following the 1997–1998 El Nino, decreased and remained low ( 2 per trap) following the extended anomalous warming in 2014–2016. The year class strength of young crabs is strongly linked to ocean indicators during their planktonic larval development. Many of the same physical and biological ecosystem indicators used in salmon forecasting are also correlated with green crabs, but in the opposite direction. While cold ocean conditions benefit salmon, warm ocean indicators are positively linked to green crab year class strength. Among the best indicators for green crab year class strength are winter water temperatures, the sign of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation index, the day of physical and biological spring transitions, and negative biomass anomalies of northern copepods. These correlations suggest that green crabs need (1) warm winters (temperature > 10 °C), which enable larvae to complete their development in the near-shore, (2) strong northward flow of coastal waters during winter, which allows larvae to be transported from established populations to the south and (3) coastal circulation patterns that keep larvae close to shore, where they can be carried by wind and tidal currents into estuaries to settle. By using a relatively simple stoplight approach of ranking indicators, we were able to explain 69% of the inter-annual variability in green crab year class strength, while a quantitative metric of a combination of indicators explained 64% of the variability. Recruitment in 2018 and 2019 exceeded what was expected from the suite of ocean indicators. We discuss the possible role of additional larval sources, from the north or from local estuaries, that may have contributed to the increased recruitment during these years. If breeding populations of green crabs in Oregon and Washington continue to build, the relationships between ocean conditions and recruitment we have developed based solely on larval sources from the south could be greatly underestimating recruitment in the future.
Dietary Intake Patterns of Community-Dwelling Older Adults after Acute Hospitalization.

Background Malnutrition and sarcopenia are a growing concern in community-dwelling older adults. Hospitalization increases the risk of malnutrition and leads to a decline in functional and nutritional status at discharge. Persistent malnutrition after hospital discharge may worsen post-hospital outcomes, including readmissions. The aim of this study was to determine dietary intakes and nutrient distribution patterns of community-dwelling older adults after acute hospitalization. Methods Participants (≥65 yrs old, n=85) were enrolled during acute hospitalization and dietary 24-hour recalls were collected weekly for one month post-discharge. Analysis included: change in dietary intake over recovery timeframe; daily intake of energy, protein, fruit, vegetables, and fluids; comparison of intake to recommendations; distribution of energy and protein across mealtimes; and analysis of most common food choices. Results Most participants did not meet current recommendations for energy, fruit, vegetables, or fluids. Average protein consumption was significantly higher than the current recommendation of 0.8g/kg/day; however only 55% of participants met this goal and less than 18% met the 1.2 g/kg/day proposed optimal protein intake for older adults. The protein distribution throughout the day was skewed and no one met the 0.4 g/meal protein recommendation at all meals. Conclusions Our findings indicate that community-dwelling older adults did not meet their nutritional needs during recovery after hospitalization. These data highlight the need for better nutritional evaluation and support of geriatric patients recovering from hospitalization.
Multi-layered polymerized high internal phase emulsions with controllable porosity and strong interfaces

Abstract Porous elastomers possessing gradient morphology or chemistry are needed for new applications including biomaterial interfaces, additive manufacturing, and separation membranes. However, elastomers possessing a porosity gradient are often difficult to prepare requiring slow multistep synthesis techniques. In this work, layered porosity polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based polymerized high internal phase emulsions (polyHIPEs) with defined interfaces have been synthesized using one-step reactions. The total porosity, pore size, and surface area of the prepared polyHIPEs are controlled by varying the volume of aqueous dispersed phase in the emulsion. Analysis of SEM images and pore size calculations of layered porosity polyHIPEs proved the emulsion patterning method did not disrupt emulsion morphology and a clear porosity interface was maintained. Total porosity values dictate the storage moduli of the polyHIPEs, where highly porous materials possess the lowest observed moduli of ~70–90 kPa. Tensile testing shows that the interface between two layers is mechanically robust and does not split during elongation at break experiments. This work provides a simple technique to prepare layered porosity PDMS-based polyHIPEs having up to five tunable porosity layers with strong interfaces between the layers.
Fine-Scale Spatial Structure of Soil Microbial Communities in Burrows of a Keystone Rodent Following Mass Mortality

Soil microbial communities both reflect and influence biotic and abiotic processes occurring at or near the soil surface. Ecosystem engineers that physically alter the soil surface, such as burrowing ground squirrels, are expected to influence the distribution of soil microbial communities. Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) construct complex burrows in which activities such as nesting, defecating and dying are partitioned spatially into different chambers. Prairie dogs also experience large-scale die-offs due to sylvatic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which lead to mass mortality events with potential repercussions on microbial communities. We used 16S sequencing to examine microbial communities in soil that was excavated by prairie dogs from different burrow locations, and surface soil that was used in the construction of burrow entrances, in populations that experienced plague die-offs. Following the QIIME2 pipeline, we assessed microbial diversity at several taxonomic levels among burrow regions. To do so, we computed community similarity metrics (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, and weighted and unweighted Unifrac) among samples and community diversity indexes (Shannon and Faith Phylogenetic diversity indexes) within each sample. Microbial communities differed across burrow regions, and several taxa exhibited spatial variation in relative abundance. Microbial ecological diversity (Shannon index) was highest in soil recently excavated from within burrows and soils associated with dead animals, and was lowest in soils associated with scat. Phylogenetic diversity varied only marginally within burrows, but the trends paralleled those for Shannon diversity. Yersinia was detected in four samples from one colony, marking the first time the genus has been sampled from soil on prairie dog colonies. The presence of Yersinia was a significant predictor of 5 bacterial families and 8 microbial genera, most of which were rare taxa found in higher abundance in the presence of Yersinia, and one of which, Dictystelium, has been proposed as an enzootic reservoir of Y. pestis. This study demonstrates that mammalian modifications to soil structure by physical alterations and by mass mortality can influence the distribution and diversity of microbial communities.
Generating and testing the efficacy of transgenic Cas9 in Tribolium castaneum

Abstract CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has now expanded to many insect species, including Tribolium castaneum. However, compared to Drosophila melanogaster, the CRISPR toolkit of T. castaneum is limited. A particularly apparent gap is the lack of Cas9 transgenic animals, which generally offer higher editing efficiency. We address this by creating and testing transgenic beetles expressing Cas9. We generated two different constructs bearing basal heat shock promoter-driven Cas9, two distinct 3’ UTRs, and one containing Cas9 fused to EGFP by a T2A peptide. For each construct, we were able to generate a line that is homozygous viable, though variable reductions in reproductive success with each construct were noted. Analyses of Cas9 activity in each transgenic line demonstrated that both designs are capable of inducing CRISPR-mediated changes in the genome in the absence of heat induction. Overall, these resources enhance the accessibility of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing for the Tribolium research community and provide a benchmark against which to compare future transgenic Cas9 lines.
Wind disturbance in remnant forest stands along the prairie-forest ecotone, Minnesota, USA

Strong winds are an important disturbance agent in northern Minnesota forests. On June 19, 1994, strong winds (>160 km h(-1)) associated with a tornado damaged forested areas within the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, situated in Polk County Minnesota along the prairie-forest boundary. Field sampling was conducted immediately following the storm to quantify the type and extent of damage in four different community types, and to project future composition based on the nature of the storm damage and current understory characteristics, including the impact of overbrowsing by deer. Basal area in six sampled remnant forest stands was reduced by 33.5%, although the damage was heterogeneous; basal area in one stand was reduced by 68.1%. The overall effect of the storm was the removal of early- successional species (primarily Populus tremuloides) in larger size classes. Trees situated at stand edges were not more susceptible to snapping or uprooting than interior trees. Projections of future stand composition indicate that wind disturbance, unlike other agents of disturbance such as fire, may accelerate succession on the Refuge, such that early-successional stands will assume a later-successional character, while Acer-Tilia stands should maintain their late-successional character. Overbrowsing and preferential foraging by deer may significantly alter stand recovery patterns.
Interface Design for Mobile Applications

Interface design is arguably one of the most important issues in the development of mobile applications. Mobile users often suffer from the poor interface design that seriously hinders the usability of those mobile applications. The major challenge in the interface design of mobile applications is caused by the unique features of mobile devices, such as small screen size, low resolution, and inefficient data entry methods. Therefore, there is a pressing need of theoretical frameworks or guidelines for designing effective and user-friendly interfaces for mobile applications. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this paper proposes a novel framework for the design of effective mobile interfaces. This framework consists of four major components, namely information presentation, data entry methods, mobile users, and context. We also provide a set of practical interface design guidelines and some insights into what factors should be taken into consideration while designing interfaces for mobile applications.
Stabilization of input delayed systems via memoryless state feedback

This paper considers the problem of stabilization for input delayed systems. Using redundant descriptor representation, we derive a sufficient condition for stability of input delayed systems via memoryless (static) state feedback. Furthermore, we give a robust stabilization condition for input delayed system whose coefficient matrices depend rationally on real uncertainty parameters.
Valuing Dealers' Informational Advantage: A Study of Canadian Treasury Auctions

In many financial markets, dealers have the advantage of observing the orders of their customers. To quantify the economic benefit that dealers derive from this advantage, we study detailed data from Canadian Treasury auctions, where dealers observe customer bids while preparing their own bids. In this setting, dealers can use information on customer bids to learn about (i) competition, that is, the distribution of competing bids in the auction, and (ii) fundamentals, that is, the ex post value of the security being auctioned. We devise formal hypothesis tests for both sources of informational advantage. In our data, we do not find evidence that dealers are learning about fundamentals. We find that the “information about competition” contained in customer bids accounts for 13–27% of dealers' expected profits.
The Deacetylase Sirtuin 1 Regulates Human Papillomavirus Replication by Modulating Histone Acetylation and Recruitment of DNA Damage Factors NBS1 and Rad51 to Viral Genomes

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) regulate their differentiation-dependent life cycles by activating a number of cellular pathways, such as the DNA damage response, through control of post-translational protein modification. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a protein deacetylase that modulates the acetylation of a number of cellular substrates, resulting in activation of pathways controlling gene expression and DNA damage repair. Our studies indicate that SIRT1 levels are increased in cells containing episomes of high-risk HPV types through the combined action of the E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Knockdown of SIRT1 in these cells with shRNAs impairs viral activities including genome maintenance, amplification and late gene transcription, with minimal effects on cellular proliferation ability. Abrogation of amplification was also seen following treatment with the SIRT1 deacetylase inhibitor, EX-527. Importantly, SIRT1 binds multiple regions of the HPV genome in undifferentiated cells, but this association is lost upon of differentiation. SIRT1 regulates the acetylation of Histone H1 (Lys26) and H4 (Lys16) bound to HPV genomes and this may contribute to regulation of viral replication and gene expression. The differentiation-dependent replication of high-risk HPVs requires activation of factors in the Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) pathway and SIRT1 regulates the recruitment of both NBS1 and Rad51 to the viral genomes. These observations demonstrate that SIRT1 is a critical regulator of multiple aspects of the high-risk HPV life cycle.
A pseudo-flash A/D converter

The author proposes a compromise between a fully parallel and a half-flash converter. The novel circuit requires significantly less area than a flash converter but maintains its high conversion rate. The proposed pseudoflash approach represents an alternative for video range medium-resolution analog-to-digital converters. A complete n-bit conversion is achieved within a single clock cycle. By using sampled-data comparators, a rail-to-rail analog signal swing is possible. The practicality of the novel approach is demonstrated by a 7-b prototype circuit implemented by a 2- mu m double-poly CMOS process. >
Innovation and hard work: The 2015 George E. Palade Medal Award Lecture

The George E Palade Medal is the highest honor awarded by the International Association of Pancreatology and is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the pancreas and pancreatic diseases. Professor David C Whitcomb, University of Pittsburgh, is the 2015 recipient. The Palade Lecture, presented in Shanghai, China on August 28, 2015, included 5 personal stories that provide perspective from a life-time of achievement: "My life in a nutshell"; "Two old ladies"; "7777"; "I helped put a man on the moon"; and "Rugby". Together, the stories provide encouragement to a younger generation, struggling to find their way as physicians and scientists who are working on pancreatic or other diseases in a challenging world.
Primitives for workload summarization and implications for SQL

Workload information has proved to be a crucial component for database-administration tasks as well as for analysis of query logs to understand user behavior and system usage. These tasks require the ability to summarize large SQL workloads. In this paper, we identify primitives that are important to enable many important workload-summarization tasks. These primitives also appear to be useful in a variety of practical scenarios besides workload summarization. Today's SQL is inadequate to express these primitives conveniently. We discuss possible extensions to SQL and the relational engine to efficiently support such summarization primitives.
The Transition from Informal to Formal Mathematical Knowledge: Mediation by Numeral Knowledge.

The purpose of the present study was to determine if numeral knowledge—the ability to identify Arabic numerals and connect Arabic numerals to their respective quantities—mediates the relation between informal and formal mathematical knowledge. A total of 206 3- to 5-year-old preschool children were assessed on 6 informal mathematics tasks and 2 numeral knowledge tasks. A year later, these children were assessed on 2 measures of formal mathematical knowledge, namely, the Woodcock-Johnson III Calculation Subtest and a formal number combinations task. Mediation analyses revealed that the relation between informal and formal mathematical knowledge is fully mediated by numeral knowledge, but only when both the skill of numeral identification and an understanding of numeral to quantity relations are considered.
Lipid-dependent and phloretin-induced modifications of dipicrylamine adsorption by bilayer membranes

THE hydrophobic anions of dipicrylamine (DpA−) and of sodium tetraphenylborate (TphB−) have been shown to adsorb at deep potential minima near the surfaces of lipid bilayer membranes1. Use of a high field voltage-jump technique has led to direct measurement of the membrane surface charge density attributable to adsorption of these anions2,3, and analyses of such measurements have shown that the magnitude of the membrane surface potential resulting from adsorption of both DpA− and TphB− is too large to be accounted for by conventional Gouy–Chapman theory4,5. Crucial to an understanding of this discrepancy is the question of the location of the plane of adsorbed charge relative to the membrane–solution interface. Experimental results reported here are consistent with the conclusion that these planes are coincident.
The Kinetics of Analyte Capture on Nanoscale Sensors

This article presents a number of kinetic analyses related to binding processes relevant to capture of target analyte species in nanoscale cantilever-type devices designed to detect small concentrations of biomolecules. The overall analyte capture efficiency is a crucial measure of the ultimate sensitivity of such devices, and a detailed kinetic analysis tells us how rapidly such measurements may be made. We have analyzed the capture kinetics under a variety of conditions, including the possibility of so-called surface-enhanced ligand capture. One of the modalities studied requires ligand capture through a cross-linking mechanism, and it was found that this mode may provide a robust and sensitive approach to biomolecular detection. For the two modalities studied, we find that detection of specific biomolecules down to concentration levels of 1 nM or less appear to be quite feasible for the device configurations studied.