cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of molecular length on the electrical conductance across metal-alkanedithiol-Bi2Te3 interfaces

Controlling electronic transport across metal-thermoelectric interfaces is important for realizing high-efficiency solid-state refrigeration and waste-heat harvesting devices. We report up to 34-fold increase in electrical contact conductivity Σc across Cu-alkanedithiol-Bi2Te3 interfaces. Longer chain dithiols are more effective in curtailing Cu diffusion, telluride formation, and reducing interfacial oxides of Bi and Te, leading to higher Σc. In contrast, Σc is insensitive to the alkanedithiol chain length at Ni-alkanedithiol-Bi2Te3 interfaces due to weak Ni-S bonding. These results indicate that interfacial bonding and phase formation are primary determinants of Σc rather than charge transport through the alkanedithiol molecules. Our findings provide insights for tuning electronic transport across metal-thermoelectric interfaces using an interfacial nanolayer comprising molecules with suitably chosen chemical termini and molecular length.
Mapping the inter-organizational landscape of child maltreatment prevention and service delivery: A network analysis☆

Abstract Network analysis is uniquely suited to inform the complex interactions in contemporary child welfare practice. This study examined the community-wide interconnectivity of child welfare efforts that exist across organizations in a county system. Structural properties were measured for 11 activities, including sending/receiving referrals, case coordination, shared resources, education/awareness, fundraising, and evaluation. The sample was bounded to match the county-level implementation of local child welfare services and to emphasize the complex context in which organizations implement social interventions. Eighty organizations participated in a network survey and findings systematically quantify the breadth and degree of their interdependence, thus making a distinct contribution to the field's understanding of multidisciplinary participation and collective action. Differences in network cohesion across types of activities, including a dominance of referrals and a relative absence of fundraising and evaluation relationships, are discussed for policy and practice relevance, as are directions for future systematic network research in child welfare settings.
Analyzing Accessibility of Wikipedia Projects Around the World

This study, conducted by the Internet Monitor project at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, analyzes the scope of government-sponsored censorship of Wikimedia sites around the world. The study finds that, as of June 2016, China was likely censoring the Chinese language Wikipedia project, and Thailand and Uzbekistan were likely interfering intermittently with specific language projects of Wikipedia as well. However, considering the widespread use of filtering technologies and the vast coverage of Wikipedia, our study finds that, as of June 2016, there was relatively little censorship of Wikipedia globally. In fact, our study finds there was less censorship in June 2016 than before Wikipedia’s transition to HTTPS-only content delivery in June 2015. HTTPS prevents censors from seeing which page a user is viewing, which means censors must choose between blocking the entire site and allowing access to all articles. This finding suggests that the shift to HTTPS has been a good one in terms of ensuring accessibility to knowledge. The study identifies and documents the blocking of Wikipedia content using two complementary data collection and analysis strategies: a client-side system that collects data from the perspective of users around the globe and a server-side tool to analyze traffic coming in to Wikipedia servers. Both client- and server-side methods detected events that we consider likely related to censorship, in addition to a large number of suspicious events that remain unexplained. The report features results of our data analysis and insights into the state of access to Wikipedia content in 15 select countries.
Delivering perinatal depression care in a rural obstetric setting: a mixed methods study of feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness

AbstractObjectives: Universal screening for depression during pregnancy and postpartum is recommended, yet mental health treatment and follow-up rates among screen-positive women in rural settings are low. We studied the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of perinatal depression treatment integrated into a rural obstetric setting.Methods: We conducted an open treatment study of a screening and intervention program modified from the Depression Attention for Women Now (DAWN) Collaborative Care model in a rural obstetric clinic. Depression screen-positive pregnant and postpartum women received problem-solving therapy (PST) with or without antidepressants. A care manager coordinated communication between patient, obstetrician and psychiatric consultant. We measured change in the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) score. We used surveys and focus groups to measure patient and provider satisfaction and analyzed focus groups using qualitative analysis.Results: The intervention was well accepted by ...
Stability of supraglacial debris

Rock debris on the surface of ablating glaciers is not static, and is often transported across the ice surface as relief evolves during melt. This supraglacial debris transport has a strong influence on the spatial distribution of melt, and is implicated in the formation of hummocky glacial topography in deglaciated terrain. Furthermore, as ice-dammed lakes and ice-cored slopes become increasingly common in deglaciating watersheds, there is rising concern about hazards to humans and infrastructure posed by mass-wasting of ice-cored debris. The existing quantitative framework for describing these debris transport processes is limited, making it difficult to account for transport in mass balance, hazard assessment, and landscape development models. This paper develops a theoretical framework for assessing slope stability and gravitational mass transport in a debris-covered ice setting. Excess water pressure at the interface between ablating ice and lowering debris is computed by combining Darcy's law with a meltwater balance. A limit-equilibrium slope stability analysis is then applied to hypothetical debris layers with end-member moisture conditions derived from a downslope meltwater balance that includes production and seepage. The resulting model system constrains maximum stable slope angles and lengths that vary with debris texture, thickness, and the rate of meltwater production. Model predictions are compared with field observations and with digital elevation model (DEM)-derived terrain metrics from two modern debris-covered glaciers on Mount Rainier, USA. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optical Properties of Materials

In chapter 3, we will discuss modulators and switches. In this chapter, we discuss manners in which a waveguide’s refractive index can be altered in response to external electrical, mechanical and magnetic signals. Examples of materials and device configurations that have been used in the integrated optic sensors are also presented to illustrate the physical effects.
Hallux valgus surgery. Morton and Lapidus were right

More than 60 years ago an anatomist, Dudley Morton, and an orthopaedic surgeon, Paul Lapidus, independently published similar theories that implicated excessive mobility of the first metatarsal in forefoot dysfunction. Morton first studied in detail the evolution of the foot leading to bipedal gait and then examined the feet of many of his students in an attempt to correlate his tentative assumptions with the presence of or lack of symptoms. Morton's analysis of forefoot dysfunction provides the foundation of modern surgical procedures that restore normal forefoot balance and function to asymptotic feet.
Patterns in Outcomes Reporting of Operatively Managed Pediatric Patellofemoral Instability: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis:

Background:Traumatic patellofemoral dislocation is a common injury in pediatric patients, and surgical treatment is often recommended. Increasingly, it has been recognized that clinical studies nee...
COMPARISON OF CLINICAL FATIGUE PROTOCOLS TO DECREASE SINGLE-LEG FORWARD HOP PERFORMANCE IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS.

Background Return to activity decisions after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) are limited by functional performance tests often performed in a non-fatigued state. Fatigue can improve test sensitivity, but current methods to induce fatigue are typically bilateral tasks or focus on the quadriceps muscle in isolation. Hypothesis/Purpose To determine the effects of a two-minute lateral step-down fatigue test compared to a 30-second side-hop test on single-leg forward hop distance in healthy individuals. It was hypothesized that participants would demonstrate decreased hop distance with both tests, but the two-minute lateral step-down fatigue test would result in greater deficits in single-leg forward hop distance. Study Design Randomized crossover. Methods Twenty healthy participants (16 females, 4 males; age = 23.7±3.0 years, height = 153.8±36.2 cm; mass = 64.4±12.8 kg; Tegner = 6.8±1.2) were asked to perform single-leg forward hop for distance pre- and post-fatigue. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two fatigue tests, 30-second side-hop or 2-minute lateral step-down test, during the first visit. They returned within a week and performed the same sequence of tests but underwent whichever fatigue test was not assigned at the prior visit. Results There was a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in single-leg forward hop distance following the 30-second side-hop test (pre = 134.1±23.7 cm, post = 126.2±24.4 cm) and the two-minute lateral step-down test (pre = 135.0±26.1 cm, post = 122.7±27.4 cm). The decrease in hop distance was significantly greater (p < 0.001) for the two-minute lateral step-down test compared to the 30-second side-hop test. Conclusion The two-minute lateral step-down test resulted in a greater decrease in hop performance compared to the 30-second side-hop test. The results establish a threshold for expected changes that occur in a healthy population and that can then be compared with an injured athlete population. The two-minute lateral step-down exercise may be an effective method of inducing fatigue to better mimic performance in a sports environment to inform return-to-sport decisions. Level of Evidence Level 1b- Therapy.
Tracking Calmodulin Inside Cells

Calmodulin, originally identified by two independent laboratories as an activator of brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (Cheung, 1970; Kakiuchi et al., 1970), has since become widely recognized as one of the most important and abundant proteins in eukaryotic cells. Calmodulin is now understood to be one of the major intracellular target proteins for calcium and many important enzymes and membrane transport systems are directly regulated by calmodulin, including calcium calmodulin dependent kinases and phosphatases, adenylate cyclase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and calcium ATPases.
Intraneuronal and Extracellular Filaments in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Neuritic (senile) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) represent the principal structural alterations of neurons in presenile and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (Alzheimer’s disease). These two types of lesions are also found in much smaller numbers and in restricted topographical distribution in the brains of many neurologically normal individuals after the seventh decade. Tangles, plaques and other structural changes found in Alzheimer brain tissue (amyloid angiopathy of cerebral and meningeal vessels, granulovacuolar degeneration of hippocampal neurons, lipofuscin deposition in neurons and glia) are, therefore, qualitatively indistinguishable from the lesions that accompany normal brain aging but are quantitatively much increased in AD. Neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) are large, non-membrane-bound cytoplasmic masses of abnormal fibers found within the perikarya of neurons in hippocampus, amygdala, cerebral cortex and certain deep gray nuclear structures. Numerous electron microscopic studies have concluded that the vast majority of fibers in these tangles have the appearance of tightly adherent pairs of helically wound, intermediate-sized (10 nm) filaments, referred to as paired helical filaments (PHF), and having a maximum width of about 20 nm and a half-periodicity of roughly 80 nm (1,2,3). Many of the abnormal neurites (both axonal terminals and dendrites) making up the periphery of the senile plaque contain PHF (4).
Concurrent Validity of the Perkins-Binet Tests of Intelligence for the Blind:

The concurrent validity of the recently published Perkins-Binet Tests of Intelligence for the Blind was examined. Twenty-eight students from a residential school for blind children served as subjec...
Mothers’ Nonstandard Employment, Family Structure, and Children’s Health Insurance Coverage

Using data from two longitudinal studies on mothers and children (NLSY79 and NLSY79 Children), this study first examined the relationship between mothers’ nonstandard employment and children’s health insurance coverage while adjusting for various compositional characteristics of mothers, children, and families. This study also evaluated whether this relationship differed across family structures. Results from multinomial logistic regression models showed that mothers’ nonstandard work was associated with a higher likelihood of children being uninsured or relying on public programs. In addition, in single-mother families, children’s uninsurance rate was highest if the mother held a nonstandard job, even compared to children of non-employed mothers. These study findings contribute to the literature on access to health insurance for children in the United States.
Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Carbon Dots with Long-Wavelength Photoluminescence

Carbon dots have often been studied to investigate their unique optical properties such as excitation wavelength-independence emission. Carbon dots have also been shown to undergo electron transfer in different situations. This study endeavors to investigate the properties of carbon dots’ photoluminescence and electron transfer. Herein, the preparation and characterization of carbon dots which exhibit long wavelength photoluminescence has been reported. These carbon dots exhibit quenching when exposed to metal ions in proportion to the reduction potential of the metal, which experimental evidence has shown for the first time. This property of metal ion reduction potential-dependent quenching has been studied to show the collisional electron transfer from amine groups in carbon dots to the metal ions. Therefore, the photoluminescence in these carbon dots is directly related to organic functional groups on the surface of the carbon dots.
Stochastic Tree-Based Generation of Program-Tracing Practice Questions

Recent work [Erikson et al 2017 and Zavala et al 2018] has shown that mental program-execution exercises, in the form of Parson's puzzles or program-tracing, are effective in improving student performance in intro CS courses. This form of practice is promising because its low cost of creation and short duration (for the student) can promote the significant practice needed for learning. The goal of this paper is to enable wider use of such exercises through large-scale automated generation of short, multiple-choice mental execution questions. The challenge in automation is to algorithmically generate effective distractors (plausible, but incorrect choices), and to generate questions of varying levels of difficulty and whose difficulty level can be set by the instructor. In this paper, we propose a language-generalizable approach for automatically generating a practically unlimited number of such exercises, each constructed to a designated level of difficulty and incorporating the core programming-in-the-small themes: assignment, conditionals, loops, and arrays. The stochastic tree-based generation algorithm and a subsequent simulation of execution also enable generating effective distractors since all possible execution paths are readily available in the tree at the time of generation, and the distractors, therefore, correspond to reasonable (but ultimately incorrect) paths of execution. Furthermore, the approach is easily transferable to other languages with little effort. The generated questions are delivered through a mobile app that can be customized by the instructor to vary the questions generated and to introduce interleaving to take advantage of the spacing effect. Preliminary student feedback on the experience has been positive.
Using ΦC31 integrase to mediate insertion of DNA in Xenopus Embryos

The two most common methods used to generate transgenic Xenopus embryos, restriction enzyme-mediated insertion, and I-SceI meganuclease take advantage of relatively common but spatially unpredictable double-stranded breaks in sperm, egg, or early embryo genomes. These methods also tend to insert multimeric copies of the transgene. An alternative is to use bacteriophage- or transposon-derived integrase or recombinase to mediate more site-specific insertion of the transgene. The use of phiC31 integrase requires a defined sequence for insertion and is compatible with insertion of a single copy of the transgene. We describe the protocol we use to facilitate phiC31 integrase transgene insertion including the use of insulator sequences to reduce position effect disruption of transgene activity.
Isotopic Labeling of Proteins for Electrophoretic Analysis

One of the most commonly used methods for high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) has been analysis of proteins during their synthesis in vivo or in vitro in cell or tissue culture or in in vitro translation systems. These methods can also be used to analyze proteins undergoing posttranslational modification, e.g., glycosylation. The high specific activity of [35S]methionine has made this a popular reagent for radiolabeling proteins and is a sensitive method used to analyze many proteins in a variety of experimental systems. Other radiolabeled amino acids or mixes of several of these have also been used successfully to analyze synthesis of proteins. As with other methods of protein identification, isotopic labeling methods have certain advantages and limitations. It is important to appreciate these factors in all experimental designs.
British Radio Drama, 1945-1963: HUGH CHIGNELL, 2019 London, Bloomsbury Academic pp. xi + 185, $120.00 (cloth)

As befits his extensive background in sound and radio studies, Hugh Chignell’s exploration of this ‘peak’ moment in British radio drama covers the topic from several angles, from assessing the role...
Abstract P2-08-10: Mammographic breast density changes with endocrine therapy (ET) in women with hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer in a Utah population

Introduction: Women with extremely dense breast tissue on mammography have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to similarly-aged women with less dense breast tissue. Tamoxifen therapy has been observed to reduce breast density among both pre- and postmenopausal women with HR+ breast cancer and may predict benefit of therapy. Studies of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy and breast density change, however, are limited and results inconclusive. Factors associated with breast density change with ET, and effect of duration of ET on breast density change, have not been well studied. Methods: Using the Utah Population Database, women were identified who underwent screening mammography in 2005-2016 and who had no personal history of breast cancer. Those who were subsequently diagnosed with HR+ breast cancer and treated in one of the major health care systems in Utah (Intermountain Healthcare or University of Utah Health) were included in the analysis. ET prescription information and duration of ET were obtained from provider records and the Utah All-Payer Claims Database. Women with mammography results in the electronic medical record both before and within 3 years after the breast cancer diagnosis were included. BI-RADS density classification from mammogram reports 6-12 months, 13-24 months, and 25-36 months after ET initiation were compared to pre-diagnosis BI-RADS density classification. Breast density reduction was defined as a decrease of ≥1 BI-RADS category compared to baseline. Fisher’s exact test was used to examine ET and breast density reduction among women ≥55y and Results: In total, 1328 women with HR+ breast cancer and baseline BI-RADS breast density categories B-D were included. Women with BI-RADS density category A(almost entirely fatty) were excluded. A majority (61%) were age ≥55y at diagnosis, were non-Hispanic white (90%), and had BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (56%); 15% had a first-degree family history of breast cancer. At baseline, 602 (44%) women had scattered fibroglandular densities (BI-RADS category B), 697 (50%) had heterogeneously dense breasts (BI-RADS category C), and 83 (6%) had extremely dense breasts (BI-RADS category D). Half were treated with AI only (49%), 21% with tamoxifen only, and 29% with both during follow-up. In both the age ≥55y and Conclusion: Baseline breast density is associated with a demonstrable reduction in breast density during ET. Our findings suggest that AI therapy can reduce breast density similar to that seen with tamoxifen therapy. Citation Format: Mei Wei, Lisa Pappas, Emily Guinto, Carol Sweeney, Nicola Camp, Phoebe Freer, Saundra Buys, N. Lynn Henry, Karen Curtin. Mammographic breast density changes with endocrine therapy (ET) in women with hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer in a Utah population [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-10.
Nanoliposomal irinotecan and metronomic temozolomide for patients with recurrent glioblastoma: BrUOG329, a phase IB/IIA Brown University Oncology Research Group (BrUOG) trial.

e14548Background: Nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI)) is a novel formulation of irinotecan, encapsulating drug molecules within long-circulating liposome-based nanoparticles with resulting favorabl...
Abstract 4017: Biochemical and biophysical characterization of a covalent inhibitor of Src kinase

Background: c-Src was among the first oncogenes discovered. It encodes a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that regulates many cancer-related cellular processes including mitogenesis, angiogenesis, adhesion, invasion, migration, and survival. Src activity drives malignant phenotypes in hematologic and solid cancers including breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer. However, no specific Src-directed targeted therapies are in clinical use. Various Src inhibitors such as dasatinib, bosutinib and others have been tested in human trials, but with variable outcomes including dose-limiting toxicity, which is due to the multi-targeted nature of these compounds, which also hit Src, SFKs, BCR-ABL, c-KIT, PDGFR, c-FMS, EPHA2 and others. Improved selective Src inhibitors may overcome these challenges to enable Src-directed therapies. Engineering selectivity into Src inhibitors is challenging because of the high degree of sequence homology between Src family members and other receptor tyrosine kinases. The selective, covalent Src inhibitor DGY-06-116, which targets a relatively unusual targetable cysteine near the active site in the p loop, was recently reported. Here, we further characterize DGY-06-116. Methods: We characterized the inhibitory activity DGY-06-116 using an enzymatic assay and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). We also determined the co-crystal structure of DGY-06-116 bound to Src. Results: DGY-06-116 showed a substantial improvement over both SM171 and bosutinib for inhibition of Src kinase activity: SM1-71 (IC50, 26.6 nM); bosutinib (IC50, 9.5 nM); DGY-06-116 (IC50, 2.59 nM). Determination of kinact using SPR showed a value of 5.7 x 10-7 (s-1) for DGY-06-116, slower than FDA-approved neratinib (2 x 10-3 s-1) and afatinib (1 x 10-3 s-1). A 2.15 A resolution co-crystal structure of DGY-06-116 bound to Src (PDB ID: 6E6E) showed a covalent bond with Cys-280 and bending of the p-loop relative to other Src-inhibitor structures. Conclusions: DGY-06-116 demonstrates a slow inactivation rate that likely reflects the need for repositioning of the p-loop for a covalent bond to occur. Src inhibitors based on DGY-06-116 may benefit from optimization of p-loop, inhibitor interactions. Citation Format: Deepak Gurbani, Kenneth Westover, Asim Bera. Biochemical and biophysical characterization of a covalent inhibitor of Src kinase [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4017.
Prevalence and Impact of Ethical Problems in Forensic Science

The prevalence of ethical problems in the forensic sciences is difficult to discover because of the limited sources of this information. A clear understanding of ethical violations is essential to establish the extent to which justice is hindered by unethical conduct among forensic scientists and then to improve the ethical state of the profession by addressing these specific problems. Seven major classes of evidence of ethical conduct and examples of each are examined: proficiency testing studies, self-report surveys and focus groups, complaints to forensic science associations, court cases, content analysis of ethical codes, anecdotal data (news reports, the professional literature, and case studies), and circumstantial evidence. Three main categories of ethical problems emerged from the data: problems of competency, individual misbehavior, and problems of practicing science in an adversary system. There is a need for more studies and various data collections to improve understanding of ethical problems in the forensic sciences and to seek to ameliorate them.
Making It All Work

This chapter helps bring together all of the ideas, concepts, tools, resources, and processes. It provides additional lists and charts that can be useful in building programs. Also shared are some motivational words of wisdom and encouragement.
A mathematical estimation of the structural parameter for prediction of Forward Osmosis (FO) performance

Abstract Forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging novel filtration technology used to reclaim water from waste streams or concentrate the valuable component. Accurate water flux prediction of FO is essential to facilitate process optimization and scale-up of membrane systems The overall objective of this investigation was to propose and confirm a model for prediction of the structural parameter (S) which is required for flux determination of FO. Experimental measurements of water permeability (A) and solute permeability (B) revealed that these magnitudes were different for FO mode (Active layer facing feed) compared to PRO (Support layer facing feed) mode using the non-pressurized method. A comprehensive review of research literature identified eleven (11) models for prediction of tortuosity. After measurement of the membrane porosity, the structural parameter (S) was predicted for each of the eleven tortuosity models. Experimental validation was conducted to statistically determine the accuracy and bias of the proposed models. Statistical results of root mean square error, accuracy factor, and bias factor exhibited that the newly proposed equation originated from fractal theory is most accurate for water flux predictions in both FO and PRO mode of the two commercial membranes. Our results indicate that proper A and B values should be obtained and used depending on the operation mode while S can be mathematically predicted based on fractal theory.
Admission Practices And Cost Of Care For Opioid Use Disorder At Residential Addiction Treatment Programs In The US.

The use of acute, short-term residential care for opioid use disorder has grown rapidly, with policy makers advocating to increase the availability of “treatment beds.” However, there are concerns ...
Linking Students and Professional Associations: A Curricular Strategy

Students in professional social work programs in the United States traditionally receive little direct information about or contact with professional associations. What exposure they do get is haphazard and primarily through extracurricular means. This article describes and evaluates a curricular module to enhance student awareness of and connection to professional associations. The group work classes at a Midwestern United States university were adapted to include a course module addressing the role of professional associations. Components of the module include readings, discussions, presentations and attendance at a professional association meeting. Pre- and post-tests were administered to assess the initial impact of this module. The module appears to have had an impact upon students’ knowledge of and appreciation for professional associations. The authors advocate for increased curricular attention to facilitating this connection. Keywords: professional associations; social work curricula; professional education; NASW; MSW education; professional development
Establishing Equity in Medical Education — Supporting Clinical Trainees with Disabilities

Supporting Clinical Trainees with Disabilities No road map exists to help medical students with disabilities navigate the wards, and supervisors may challenge students’ accommodations or fail to br...
Twist1 is required for the development of UVB‐induced squamous cell carcinoma

The transcription factor Twist1 has been reported to be essential for the formation and invasiveness of chemically induced tumors in mouse skin. However, the impact of keratinocyte-specific Twist1 deletion on skin carcinogenesis caused by UVB radiation has not been reported. Deletion of Twist1 in basal keratinocytes of mouse epidermis using K5.Cre × Twist1flox/flox mice led to significantly reduced UVB-induced epidermal hyperproliferation. In addition, keratinocyte-specific deletion of Twist1 significantly suppressed UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis. Further analyses revealed that deletion of Twist1 in cultured keratinocytes or mouse epidermis in vivo led to keratinocyte differentiation. In this regard, deletion of Twist1 in epidermal keratinocytes showed significant induction of early and late differentiation markers, including TG1, K1, OVOL1, loricrin, and filaggrin. Similar results were obtained with topical application of harmine, a Harmala alkaloid that leads to degradation of Twist1. In contrast, overexpression of Twist1 in cultured keratinocytes suppressed calcium-induced differentiation. Further analyses using both K5.Cre × Twist1flox/flox mice and an inducible system where Twist1 was deleted in bulge region keratinocytes showed loss of expression of hair follicle stem/progenitor markers, including CD34, Lrig1, Lgr5, and Lgr6. These data support the conclusion that Twist1 has a direct role in maintaining the balance between proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes and keratinocyte stem/progenitor populations. Collectively, these results demonstrate a critical role for Twist1 early in the process of UVB skin carcinogenesis, and that Twist1 may be a novel target for the prevention of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Scientific timely actionable robotic data operating system (STARDOS): architecture and progress

Aerial remote sensing continues its progression into wider applications and functionality. At the same time, the field of robotics has generated many useful technologies such as the Robotics Operating System v.2 (ROS2) which allows researchers and designers to implement autonomous systems as a meta-operating system. In this paper, such a holistic autonomous data collection system (STARDOS) is shown with the goal of integration of remote sensing data collection (payload) and the robotic platform (in this case, unmanned aerial vehicles). The architecture of STARDOS is shown, along with example payload configurations and analysis use cases such as triangular greeness index (TGI) and feature extraction and matching for real-time 2d photogrammetry.
A cross-comparison of cognitive ability across 8 genomic disorders

Genomic disorders result from rearrangement of the human genome. Most genomic disorders are caused by copy number variants (CNV), deletions or duplications of several hundred kilobases. Many CNV loci are associated with autism, schizophrenia, and most commonly, intellectual disability (ID). However, there is little comparison of cognitive ability measures across these CNV disorders. This study aims to understand whether existing data can be leveraged for a cross-comparison of cognitive ability among multiple CNV. We found there is a lack of harmonization among assessment instruments and little standardization for reporting summary data across studies. Despite these limitations, we identified a differential impact of CNV loci on cognitive ability. Our data suggest that future cross-comparisons of CNV disorders will reveal meaningful differences across the phenotypic spectrum, especially if standardized phenotypic assessment is achieved.
Nucleus accumbens microstructure mediates the relationship between obesity and eating behavior in adults.

OBJECTIVE Basal ganglia regions are part of the brain's reward-processing networks and are implicated in the neurobiology of obesity and eating disorders. This study examines basal ganglia microstructural properties in adults with and without obesity. METHODS Diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) images were analyzed to obtain putative imaging markers of neuroinflammation. Relationships between basal ganglia DBSI metrics and reward sensitivity and eating behaviors were also explored. RESULTS A total of 46 participants (25 people with obesity; aged 20-40 years; 37 women) were included. Relative to the people in the normal-weight group, people with obesity had smaller caudate and larger nucleus accumbens (NAcc) volumes (p < 0.05) and lower DBSI fiber fraction (reflecting apparent axonal/dendrite density) in NAcc and putamen, higher DBSI nonrestricted fraction (reflecting tissue edema) in NAcc and caudate, and higher DBSI restricted fraction (reflecting tissue cellularity) in putamen (p ≤ 0.01, all). Increased emotional and reward eating behaviors were related to lower NAcc axonal/dendrite density and greater tissue edema (p ≤ 0.002). The relationships between emotional eating and adiposity measures were mediated by NAcc microstructure. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide evidence that microstructural alterations in basal ganglia relate to obesity and insights linking NAcc microstructure and eating behavior in adults.
Transactive memory and performance in work groups: Specificity, communication, ability differences, and work allocation.

The present study examined the effects of specificity, communication, ability differences, and work allocation, on the utilization of transactive memory in work groups. Clerical staff members (N 36) worked individually and then with a coworker to complete a quiz covering six domains of work-related knowledge and to allocate domains of knowledge or specific quiz items in a manner that maximized group performance. Allocations were made first individually and then collaboratively. Results indicated that transactive memory facilitated group performance. Specificity (item allocations vs. domain allocations) led to more effective utilization of member knowledge, but communication did not. Group performance was higher when members differed in ability and when they allocated more work to the more proficient member.
Development of Arterial Thrombosis in a Patient on Therapeutic Anticoagulation for COVID-19.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) virus has been known to manifest various non-pulmonary complications in the affected patient, including both venous and less frequently, arterial thrombosis. Ongoing research is necessary to determine who might benefit from therapeutic anticoagulation as well as potentially develop an algorithm to predict thromboembolic events in this patient population. We present a case of a 65-year-old man with a past medical history of hypertension, diabetes type 2, and a previous cerebrovascular accident who was admitted with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On admission to the hospital, the patient was initiated on therapeutic anticoagulation. Subsequently, he developed left lower limb ischemia. Imaging discovered arterial thrombosis in the bilateral deep femoral and left popliteal arteries. Consequently, the patient required catheter directed thrombolysis for partial reperfusion. Unfortunately, the patient succumbed to the complications of COVID-19. This case is notable in that it highlights the arterial thrombophilia associated with COVID-19 despite early intervention with therapeutic anticoagulation.
Genomic Autobiographies of Chlamydiae

The genome sequences of Chlamydia trachomatis and C. pneumoniae contain the respective autobiographies that have been translated, read, and begun to be interpreted. The C. trachomatis species contains three biovariants: trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), and murine (MoPn). Strains of C. trachomatis that are natural pathogens of humans are members of either the trachoma or LGV biovar. Chlamydiae have substantial capacity for DNA repair and recombination, including mismatch repair (MutL, MutS, and three parologous MutY proteins), the excinuclease UvrABCD complex, transcription-repair coupling factor (TRCF), and a number of proteins implicated in recombination-coupled repair such as RecA, RecBCD, and RecJ. One of the phenotypic hallmarks of chlamydial development is the remarkably condensed nucleoid structure observed in elementary bodies (EB). The central metabolism determined for C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae was found to be conserved. It appears that chlamydiae use fewer transport systems than free-living bacteria and rely on transport systems with broad specificity. The presence of an apparently complete glycolytic pathway was complemented by a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. The C. trachomatis genome contains genes encoding TrpA, TrpB, and TrpC, as well as a gene encoding a regulator of tryptophan gene transcription, TrpR. In the context of the unique biology and phylogeny of chlamydiae, the current challenges for productive microbiological research, and the medical imperative for progress in understanding chlamydial infection and disease, is that having a database available for the entire C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae genomes will provide enduring benefits for chlamydial research.
Flywheel: Google's data compression proxy for the mobile web

Mobile devices are increasingly the dominant Internet access technology. Nevertheless, high costs, data caps, and throttling are a source of widespread frustration, and a significant barrier to adoption in emerging markets. This paper presents Flywheel, an HTTP proxy service that extends the life of mobile data plans by compressing responses in-flight between origin servers and client browsers. Flywheel is integrated with the Chrome web browser and reduces the size of proxied web pages by 50% for a median user. We report measurement results from millions of users as well as experience gained during three years of operating and evolving the production service at Google.
Quorum Sensing in Fungi

The most well studied of the more recently identified quorum-sensing molecules in fungi are small primary alcohols, thus chemically different from the acyl-homoserine lactones and modified peptides preferred by bacteria. These primary alcohols include farnesol and tyrosol in Candida albicans, and phenylethanol and tryptophol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This chapter talks about molecules after a review of the mating pheromones and a more detailed discussion of the primary alcohol quorum-sensing molecules. In S. cerevisiae, members of the same mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade are involved in both pheromone response and agar invasion in haploid cells, and in Ustilago maydis, the loci expressed in response to mating pheromone contain genes involved in filamentous growth and pathogenicity. This coordination between mating and morphogenesis in fungi is analogous to the connection between competence and virulence in Streptococcus pneumoniae and other gram-positive bacteria, which is also regulated by quorum-sensing peptides. In addition to the mating pheromones and four primary alcohols discussed, there are various examples of quorum-sensing-like phenomena and molecules in the literature, indicating that quorum sensing may indeed be as ubiquitous among fungi as it is among bacteria.
Binding Characteristics of N2-Fixing Bacteria to Cereal Roots

The attachment of Rhizobium japonicum 61A89 and Rhizobium spp. 32H1 to the roots of wheat and rice seedlings is analyzed in terms of an equilibrium model. A Langmuir adsorption isotherm describes the binding. Strain 61A89 binds to a greater extent than does strain 32H1, and the equilibrium constants for each strain binding to wheat are strongly temperature dependent. Both time-dependent dissociation and association, predicted by an equilibrium model, have been found. The dissociation rate constant for 32H1 is approximately twice that of 61A89, and each is weakly temperature dependent. The rate equation for the binding of exponentially growing 61A89 to wheat roots has been solved as a function of time. Theory and experiment both indicate that the binding at very short times is much less than the equilibrium values. The binding of Azotobacter vinelandii 12837 to wheat roots has also been measured. Root-associated Azotobacter fixes nitrogen, whereas under aerobic growth conditions, root-associated 61A89 and 32H1 do not. The effect of metabolic inhibitors and antibiotics on the binding of Rhizobia and Azotobacter was examined.
Iron clad wetlands: Soil iron-sulfur buffering determines coastal wetland response to salt water incursion

Coastal freshwater wetland chemistry is rapidly changing due to increased frequency of salt water incursion, a consequence of global change. Seasonal salt water incursion introduces sulfate, which microbially reduces to sulfide. Sulfide binds with reduced iron, producing iron sulfide (FeS), recognizable in wetland soils by its characteristic black color. The objective of this study is to document iron and sulfate reduction rates, as well as product formation (acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and chromium reducible sulfide (CRS)) in a coastal freshwater wetland undergoing seasonal salt water incursion. Understanding iron and sulfur cycling, as well as their reduction products, allows us to calculate the degree of sulfidization (DOS), from which we can estimate how long soil iron will buffer against chemical effects of sea level rise. We show that soil chloride, a direct indicator of the degree of incursion, best predicted iron and sulfate reduction rates. Correlations between soil chloride and iron or sulfur reduction rates were strongest in the surface layer (0–3 cm), indicative of surface water incursion, rather than groundwater intrusion at our site. The interaction between soil moisture and extractable chloride was significantly related to increased AVS, whereas increased soil chloride was a stronger predictor of CRS. The current DOS in this coastal plains wetland is very low, resulting from high soil iron content and relatively small degree of salt water incursion. However, with time and continuous salt water exposure, iron will bind with incoming sulfur, creating FeS complexes, and DOS will increase.
6β-hydroxycortisol:a marker for hepatic enzyme inhibition by lead

Lead(Pb) ion is known to inhibit cytochrome P-450 dependent hepatic microsomal activity.To measure inhibitory effects of Pb on hepatic enzyme activity 6βOHF excretion was determined in 11 children(age 2-9 yrs)with mild to moderate Pb intoxication(n1 renal function) prior to chelation therapy.6βOHF is formed by the hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent mixed function oxidase system. Correlations were examined between 6βOHF and blood Pb, erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) and urinary Pb excretion after a CaNa2 EDTA provocative test.The CaNa2EDTA provocative test provides an accurate “chemical biopsy” of chelatable lead stores.6βOHF excretion in normal controls was 0.28±.03 mg/m2/24h.Excretion in Pb burdened children was reduced to 0.17±.02 mg/m2/24h;(p<.01).There was a highly significant correlation between 6βOHF and EP,(r=-0.7, p<.01) and 6βOHF and urinary Pb(r= -0.74,p<.01) but none between blood Pb and 6βOHF.17OH corticosteroid and free cortisol excretion were not different from normal controls and correlations between these cortisol metabolites and EP or urinary Pb were not significant.Conclusions:Children with undue Pb absorption may have decreased 6βOHF excretion.Since adrenal function is not impaired,reduced 6βOHF excretion may be secondary to inhibitory action of Pb ion on microsomal enzyme systems.6βOHF measurements provide a sensitive probe when evaluating inhibitory effects of foreign compounds on hepatic enzyme activity.
Modeling carbon dioxide transport in unsaturated soils

Transport of carbon dioxide in the unsaturated zone is important to soil geochemistry and vegetation health. In addition, CO 2 monitoring in unsaturated soils may shed light on various human-instigated activities involving manipulation of the carbon cycle. Examples of human activities that can impact the unsaturated zone include imposed changes in vegetation type and distribution, and deliberate injection of CO 2 into deep subsurface formations. Both manipulation of vegetation and injection of CO 2 are potential options for mitigation of the greenhouse gas and global warming problems. Changes in plant type and density, and leakage of CO 2 from deep to shallow subsurface zones, can impact the unsaturated zone. Because CO 2 is denser than air, transport in the unsaturated zone may show significant density dependence. In addition, careful analysis shows that a newly derived ‘slip coupling’ term might also be important in these gaseous systems. In this work, we present the general governing equations for CO 2 migration in unsaturated soils for a variety of boundary and initial conditions. A one-dimensional numerical model is used to investigate CO 2 migration under different leakage scenarios, where the leakage is assumed to be associated with large-scale injection operations as part of a deep-aquifer carbon storage strategy. We demonstrate how CO 2 migrates in the unsaturated zone, how the resulting distribution compares to natural background distributions, and what the results may imply both for monitoring strategies and for vegetation and ecosystem health.