cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of equilibration time on desorption rate measurements with chlorinated alkenes and aquifer particles

Sorption and desorption phenomena affect the uptake and release of contaminants from aquifer solids, and can play an important role in determining the duration of an aquifer remediation effort. Independent estimates of desorption rates are useful in evaluating various cleanup strategies (e.g., pump-and-treat, in situ biorestoration). In this study, two type of aquifer solids, a weakly sorbing sand (Borden) and a relatively strongly sorbing solids fraction (Moffett), were equilibrated for periods of one day and greater than 190 days with tetrachloroethane (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE), respectively. The samples were subjected to an intermittent purging technique, and the resulting contaminant release curves were analyzed using a radial pore diffusion model which incorporated the effects of equilibrium partitioning. Failure to account for the insufficient equilibrium conditions led to a moderate underestimation of the effective pore diffusion coefficient value (D[sub 9]) for the Borden under-equilibrated sample (one day), and a substantial overestimation of the D[sub p] value for the Moffett under-equilibrated system. A second set of simulations was used to find the D[sub p] value that best fit the observed release data while accounting for the nonequilibrium initial conditions. Given these adjustments, the Borden/PCE under-equilibrated system provided approximately the same desorption rate valuemore » (effective pore diffusion coefficient, D[sub p]) as its long-term sample. For the Moffett/TCE under-equilibrated sample, accounting for the insufficient equilibration time led to a significantly greater D[sub p] value than was obtained for the long-term sample. The results for the two solute/sorbent systems are discussed with respect to the pore diffusion mechanism, and the prospect of short-term parameter estimation methods. 29 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.« less
Infection decreases fatty acid oxidation and nuclear hormone receptors in the diaphragm

Respiratory failure is a major cause of mortality during septic shock and is due in part to decreased ventilatory muscle contraction. Ventilatory muscles have high energy demands; fatty acid (FA) oxidation is an important source of ATP. FA oxidation is regulated by nuclear hormone receptors; studies have shown that the expression of these receptors is decreased in liver, heart, and kidney during sepsis. Here, we demonstrate that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) decreases FA oxidation and the expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), FA transport protein 1 (FATP-1), CD36, carnitine palmitoyltransferase beta, medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD), and acyl-CoA synthetase, key proteins required for FA uptake and oxidation, in the diaphragm. LPS also decreased mRNA levels of PPARα and β/δ, RXRα, β, and γ, thyroid hormone receptor α and β, and estrogen related receptor alpha (ERRα) and their coactivators PGC-1α, PGC-1β, SRC1, SRC2, Lipin 1, and CBP. Zymosan resulted in similar changes in the diaphragm. Finally, in PPARα deficient mice, baseline CPT-1β and FATP-1 levels were markedly decreased and were not further reduced by LPS suggesting that a decrease in the PPARα signaling pathway plays an important role in inducing some of these changes. The decrease in FA oxidation in the diaphragm may be detrimental, leading to decreased diaphragm contraction and an increased risk of respiratory failure during sepsis.
A multi-bit Sigma-Delta modulator using ratio-independent feedback DAC

A 3-bit 3rd-order Sigma-Delta modulator employing a switched-capacitor multiply-by-N DAC is described in this paper. The DAC is implemented in a capacitor mismatch independent way to improve circuit linearity. Theoretical analysis on the effect of finite op amp DC gain on DAC linearity is given. A prototype Sigma-Delta modulator for verification purpose was built with discrete components on printed circuit boards. Experimental results and timing, area, power considerations are addressed.
Radar-Based Precipitation Processing for NWS Hydrologic Forecast Services

The National Weather Service (NWS) runs an operational, multi-stage, precipitation processing system which determines rainfall accumulation estimates over a variety of spatial and temporal scales for use in forecasting, warning and numerical modeling applications and for dissemination to the general public. The primary input data to this system are radar reflectivity factor returns provided by the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) radars of the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) program. Since 1991 over 160 of these radars have been deployed, providing nearly contiguous coverage across most of the United States. Rain gage data are also incorporated at various stages of the system, principally to provide calibration of radar rainfall estimates. As the processing proceeds across NWS venues from a local to a regional to a national level, numerous quality control operations are performed, radar rainfall data are composited together spatially (mosaicked), and a wide variety of products are generated including alphanumeric, graphics-display, and high-resolution, digital-data. The products, which are updated as often as every five minutes, provide guidance to forecasters and input to hydrologic and other numerical models. In some instances, they are made available to users outside the Weather Service, as well.
Impacts of Climate Change on the Growing Season in the United States

AbstractUnderstanding the effects of climate change on the vegetative growing season is key to quantifying future hydrologic water budget conditions. The U.S. Geological Survey modeled changes in future growing season length at 14 basins across 11 states. Simulations for each basin were generated using five general circulation models with three emission scenarios as inputs to the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS). PRMS is a deterministic, distributed-parameter, watershed model developed to simulate the effects of various combinations of precipitation, climate, and land use on watershed response. PRMS was modified to include a growing season calculation in this study. The growing season was examined for trends in the total length (annual), as well as changes in the timing of onset (spring) and the end (fall) of the growing season. The results showed an increase in the annual growing season length in all 14 basins, averaging 27–47 days for the three emission scenarios. The change in the spring and...
Intuitive Interaction with Encrypted Query Execution in DataStorm

The encrypted execution of database queries promises powerful security protections, however users are currently unlikely to benefit without significant expertise. In this demonstration, we illustrate a simple workflow enabling users to design secure executions of their queries. The Data Storm system demonstrated simplifies both the design and execution of encrypted execution plans, and represents progress toward the challenge of developing a general planner for encrypted query execution.
Sibelius: A Composer's Life and the Awakening of Finland. By Glenda Dawn Goss. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2009. Pp. xxi, 549. $55.00.)

The nineteenth century was an unusual epoch, when composers and their works could play a significant role in the emergence of national identity. Glenda Dawn Goss's account of Jean Sibelius examines...
The Politics and Aesthetics of Disability: A Review of Michael Davidson's Concerto for the Left Hand: Disability and the Defamiliar Body

Michael Davidson's Concerto for the Left Hand offers a major contribution to the growing field of disability studies, combining thematic and formalist approaches to experimental poetry, ASL and performance art, film noir, photography and other media. Davidson's aim is to push the conversation around disability beyond identity politics by demonstrating that disability often serves as a formal constraint that leads to aesthetic innovation in these media. He shows how certain works challenge sedimented assumptions about normative embodiment and compulsory "ableness." Davidson locates disability aesthetics within the tradition of modernist and avant-garde experimentation and draws equally upon the critical strategies of queer theory, film theory, contemporary poetics, Russian Formalism and theories of globalization to make legible the unrecognized problems of disability.
Genome-wide identification of differentially expressed genes under water deficit stress in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

Background: Cotton is the world’s primary fiber crop and is a major agricultural commodity in over 30 countries. Like many other global commodities, sustainable cotton production is challenged by restricted natural resources. In response to the anticipated increase of agricultural water demand, a major research direction involves developing crops that use less water or that use water more efficiently. In this study, our objective was to identify differentially expressed genes in response to water deficit stress in cotton. A global expression analysis using cDNA-Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism was conducted to compare root and leaf gene expression profiles from a putative drought resistant cotton cultivar grown under water deficit stressed and well watered field conditions. Results: We identified a total of 519 differentially expressed transcript derived fragments. Of these, 147 transcript derived fragment sequences were functionally annotated according to their gene ontology. Nearly 70 percent of transcript derived fragments belonged to four major categories: 1) unclassified, 2) stress/defense, 3) metabolism, and 4) gene regulation. We found heat shock protein-related and reactive oxygen species-related transcript derived fragments to be among the major parts of functional pathways induced by water deficit stress. Also, twelve novel transcripts were identified as both water deficit responsive and cotton specific. A subset of differentially expressed transcript derived fragments was verified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Differential expression analysis also identified five pairs of duplicated transcript derived fragments in which four pairs responded differentially between each of their two homologues under water deficit stress. Conclusions: In this study, we detected differentially expressed transcript derived fragments from water deficit stressed root and leaf tissues in tetraploid cotton and provided their gene ontology, functional/biological distribution, and possible roles of gene duplication. This discovery demonstrates complex mechanisms involved with polyploid cotton’s transcriptome response to naturally occurring field water deficit stress. The genes identified in this study will provide candidate targets to manipulate the water use characteristics of cotton at the molecular level.
Extracellular ATP Reversibly Increases the Plasma Membrane Permeability of Transformed Mouse Fibroblasts to Large Macromolecules

Extracellular ATP increases the plasma membrane permeability of transformed mouse fibroblasts (3T6 cells) to fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextrans (4 and 9 kDa) and [3H]inulin (5.2 kDa). This increase in permeability to large macromolecules occurred 20 to 30 min after ATP addition, subsequent to an increase in permeability to small macromolecules (<1 kDa). Permeability changes to small and large macromolecules were modulated in the same manner by pH, temperature, and ATP concentration. Likewise, conditions previously used to reseal 3T6 cells after ATP treatments that enabled the entry of molecules <1 kDa also resealed cells that had been treated with ATP for 20 to 30 min. Resealed cells propagated at the same rate as control cells, although many cells became detached from the culture dish. Aequorin, a 20-kDa Ca2+-sensitive photoprotein, was sealed inside ATP-treated 3T6 cells and then used to quantitate changes in the concentration of cytoplasmic free Ca2+. Both ATP and ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, increased aequorin luminescence in 3T6 cells, indicative of an elevation in levels of cytoplasmic free Ca2+. The time course for uptake of macromolecules (4-20 kDa) was similar to the time course of lactic dehydrogenase (150 kDa) release from 3T6 cells treated with ATP, suggesting that the procedure may be generally applicable for incorporation of high molecular weight macromolecules into viable, ATP-sensitive cells.
The roles of shape and motion in dynamic manipulation: the butterfly example

We study the juggler skill called the "butterfly". Starting with a ball resting on the palm of his/her open hand, a skilled juggler can accelerate and shape his/her hand so that the ball rolls up the fingers, over the top, and back down to the back of the hand. This paper describes a robotic implementation of the butterfly. The combined hand shape and motion set the rolling motion of the ball, and we find that the shape and motion parameters enter the dynamic equations in a similar way. We define parametrized spaces of hand shape and motion, and using a simulation based on the rolling equations, we identify shape and motion solutions that roll the ball from one side of the hand to the other. We describe an implementation of the butterfly on our planar dynamic manipulation testbed FLATLAND. This example is our first step toward exploring the roles of shape and motion in dynamic manipulation.
The synthesis and structural characterization of [ReCl2(PPh3)2(NNHCOPh)(NHNHCOPh)]·1/2Et2O, a complex exhibiting linear hydrazido(2–) ligation and end-on hydrazido(1–) ligation

The title ocmpound was prepared by treating [ReCl2(PPh3)2(NNCOPh)] with excess of benzoylhydrazine in methanol Solution: X-ray crystallography reveals a unique example of monohapto-co-ordination by a hydrazido(1–) grouping, –NHNHR, and an unusual instance of mixed hydrazido(2–) and hydrazido(1–) co-ordination to a metal site.
Regulation of glucose transporter GLUT-4 and hexokinase II gene transcription by insulin and epinephrine

Transport of glucose across the plasma membrane by GLUT-4 and subsequent phosphorylation of glucose by hexokinase II (HKII) constitute the first two steps of glucose utilization in skeletal muscle. This study was undertaken to determine whether epinephrine and/or insulin regulates in vivo GLUT-4 and HKII gene transcription in rat skeletal muscle. In the first experiment, adrenodemedullated male rats were fasted 24 h and killed in the control condition or after being infused for 1.5 h with epinephrine (30 μg/ml at 1.68 ml/h). In the second experiment, male rats were fasted 24 h and killed after being infused for 2.5 h at 1.68 ml/h with saline or glucose (625 mg/ml) or insulin (39.9 μg/ml) plus glucose (625 mg/ml). Nuclei were isolated from pooled quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius muscles. Transcriptional run-on analysis indicated that epinephrine infusion decreased GLUT-4 and increased HKII transcription compared with fasted controls. Both glucose and insulin plus glucose infusion induced increases in GLUT-4 and HKII transcription of twofold and three- to fourfold, respectively, compared with saline-infused rats. In conclusion, epinephrine and insulin may regulate GLUT-4 and HKII genes at the level of transcription in rat skeletal muscle.
CSI feedback for massive MIMO system with dual-polarized antennas

Massive MIMO is a promising technique to provide high data rate with good energy efficiency for the future wireless cellular communication. However, its performance benefit often can be realized only when accurate channel state information (CSI) is available at the transmitter to perform accurate beamforming. With large number of antennas, full CSI consumes too much overhead to feed back without compression. To reduce CSI feedback overhead, CSI feedback scheme with dual stage precoding structure is designed to quantize the long term spatial channel correlation information and short term linear precoder information. In this paper, we discuss how to optimize this dual stage precoding scheme in the typical dual-polarized massive MIMO system. The eigenvalues of spatial correlation matrix are used to improve feedback efficiency. By relaxing the constant modulus constraint in codebook design, more flexible long term precoding can be used and adapt to the channel. A specific structure of long term precoding matrix for dual-polarized MIMO system is proposed to ensure the orthogonality of the final precoder for multi-layer transmission.
Zinc-assisted synthesis of imidazolium-tetrazolate bi-heterocyclic zwitterions with variable alkyl bridge length

Zinc halide-complexed alkyl-bridged bi-heterocycles were obtained as zwitterions from the Click reaction of a series of N-cyanoalkyl-N-alkylimidazolium halide ionic liquids with sodium azide. Reaction optimization showed fast reaction times and milder conditions compared to conventional Click syntheses from neutral nitriles.
Bacterial-excreted small volatile molecule 2-aminoacetophenone induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in murine skeletal muscle

Oxidative stress induces mitochondrial dysfunction and facilitates apoptosis, tissue damage or metabolic alterations following infection. We have previously discovered that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) quorum sensing (QS)-excreted small volatile molecule, 2-aminoacetophenone (2-AA), which is produced in infected human tissue, promotes bacterial phenotypes that favor chronic infection, while also dampening the pathogen‑induced innate immune response, thus compromising muscle function and promoting host tolerance to infection. In this study, murine whole-genome expression data have demonstrated that 2-AA affects the expression of genes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, thus producing an oxidative stress signature in skeletal muscle. The results of the present study demonstrated that the expression levels of genes involved in apoptosis signaling pathways were upregulated in the skeletal muscle of 2-AA-treated mice. To confirm the results of our transcriptome analysis, we used a novel high-resolution magic-angle-spinning (HRMAS), proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method and observed increased levels of bisallylic methylene fatty acyl protons and vinyl protons, suggesting that 2-AA induces skeletal muscle cell apoptosis. This effect was corroborated by our results demonstrating the downregulation of mitochondrial membrane potential in vivo in response to 2-AA. The findings of the present study indicate that the bacterial infochemical, 2-AA, disrupts mitochondrial functions by inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis signaling and likely promotes skeletal muscle dysfunction, which may favor chronic/persistent infection.
Controlling Cell Growth and Membrane Topography using Nanostructured Thermoresponsive Scaffolds

Nanostructured thermoresponsive scaffolds have attracted significant attention in a wide range of biophysical investigations, from tissue engineering and biosensing applications to more fundamental studies of the assembly and dynamics in laterally-structured biomimetic membranes. The challenge in these systems is ensuring a suitable local environment for the studied cells/membranes while maintaining a good control over the nanostructures upon temperature cycling. We recently identified a system of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) coating atop a nanostructured solid substrate as an excellent thermally reversible scaffold with multiple adjustable parameters for controlled topography studies. Using microscopy and neutron reflectometry/diffraction, we demonstrated that, in the collapsed state, the PNIPAM coating conforms to the underlying nanostructures while retaining appropriate hydration levels whereas, in the swollen state, it expands beyond the substrate features and most likely acquires a quasi-flat surface architecture. These properties render the current system an ideal platform for controlled 2D cell growth with a thermally switchable nonextreme tissue-release mechanism. Indeed, the system has shown advanced performance in effective alignment of cultured fibroblast cells when collapsed, and easy release of the cells upon swelling. We also envision employing this tunable architecture in controlled studies of critical membrane phenomena such as protein binding, lipid domain reorganization, and signal transduction which are thought to strongly depend on lateral membrane structure. These studies will potentially provide new insights into curvature-mediated properties in complex biomimetic membranes and will open new avenues to thermally tunable biosensors.
A Mathematical Model for a Tire Sidewall

Abstract A number of previous experimental studies on the cord load distribution in loaded and inflated bias-ply tires have revealed greatly different cord load fluctuation patterns between the crown and the side-wall regions of the tire. Typical among these is data taken from reference, where the cord load fluctuation measured at the crown center line of a typical bias-ply tire is as shown in Figure 1. The symmetry of this figure is easily explained by either bending or shell membrane considerations or by some combination of these. On the other hand, cord load fluctuations measured in the side wall of a bias-ply tire typically show fluctuations such as shown in Figures 2 or 3, also taken from the previously cited reference. Both of these latter figures show considerable asymmetry of the cord load as a function of position diagrams as the loaded tire is rolled through the contact patch. Bending of the side wall cannot account for such behavior as shown in Figures 2 or 3, since the changes in radius of cur...
Constructing Men as Fathers: A Content Analysis of Formulations of Fatherhood in Parenting Magazines

Contemporary ideologies of fatherhood reflect the importance of instrumental support of breadwinning men; however, there has been an increased emphasis on the expressive and nurturing aspects of fa...
Insect Parasites of the Green Clover worm in Delaware

Collections containing 50 or 100 green clover worm larvae, Plathypena scabra (F.), were taken from the major leguminous crops in Delaware at approximately 7-day intervals throughout the 1965 growing season. A total of 285 insect parasites (6 species of Hymenoptera and 5 of Diptera) were reared from the 1400 green clover worm larvae collected. The total percent parasitism was 20.4. The predominant parasites and the percent of green cloverworms which they parasitized were: Rogas nolophanae Ashmead 6.5%, Apanteles marginiventris (Cresson) 4.1%, Microgaster facetosa Weed 2.8%, and Winthemia sinuata Rein, hard 6.2%. Four species ( Helicobia rapax (Walker), Charops annuiipes Ashmead, Isdromes lycaenae (Howard), and 1 undescribed of Chaetophlepsis ) of the 11 reared are reported as parasites of the green clover worm for the first time. The remaining 3 species were: Meteorus autographa Muesebeck, Compilura cancinnata (Meigen), and Euphorocera floridensis Townsend.
2,4,5 T and the metabolism of testosterone-1,2- 3 H 2 by mouse prostate glands.

High doses of 2,4,5 trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4,5 T) (6.25, 12.5, or 25 mg/kg ten times daily) were administered orally to mature male mice. The herbicide 2,4,5 T significantly reduced the assimilation of radioactive androgen by the proslate gland (P ≤ .05). This was reflected not only in a reduction in the total accumulation of testosterone-1,2-3H2 (T-3H2) by the prostate gland, but also in a decrease in the levels of its labeled metabolites. There was no change in the hepatic formation of either polar metabolites or of dihydrotestosterone, androstanediol, or androstenedione from T-3H2 in the 2,4,5 T treated mice. This pesticide had little or no effect on the weight responses of either the testes or the sex accessory organs. Prostate gland fructose, a chemical indicator of androgenic activity, was not altered by 2,4,5 T treatment.
Viral Epidemiology: Tracking Viruses with Smartphones and Social Media

Abstract The science of epidemiology has been developed over the last 200 years, using traditional methods to describe the distribution of diseases by person, place, and time. However, in the last several decades, a new set of technologies has become available, based on the methods of computer sciences, systems biology, and the extraordinary powers of the Internet. Technological and analytical advances can enhance traditional epidemiological methods to study the emergence, epidemiology, and transmission dynamics of viruses and associated diseases. Social media are increasingly used to detect the emergence and geographic spread of viral disease outbreaks. Large-scale population movement can be estimated using satellite imagery and mobile phone use, and fine-scale population movement can be tracked using global positioning system loggers, allowing estimation of transmission pathways and contact patterns at different spatial scales. Advances in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics permit more accurate determination of viral evolution and the construction of transmission networks, also at different spatial and temporal scales. Phylodynamics links evolutionary and epidemiological processes to better understand viral transmission patterns. More complex and realistic mathematical models of virus transmission within human and animal populations, including detailed agent-based models, are increasingly used to predict transmission patterns and the impact of control interventions such as vaccination and quarantine. In this chapter, we will briefly review traditional epidemiological methods and then describe the new technologies with some examples of their application.
Chloride-dependent potassium secretion in early and late renal distal tubules.

Potassium transport by subsegments of the rat surface distal tubule was studied using a modified in vivo microperfusion method. The nephron segments between 14 and 38% and between 62 and 83% of tot...
[How does China response A/H1N1 influenza pandemic more effectively].

一、我国疫情形势的特点与发展趋势 1.疫情形势的特点:自2009年5月10日发现首例甲型H1N1流感输入性病例以来,我国疫情已经历了3个明显不同的发展阶段.第一阶段:只有输入性病例,无二代病例及本土发生的散在病例;第二阶段:出现输入性病例造成的二代病例,以及国内本土发生的散在病例,但仍以输入性病例为主,至6月12日,我国输入性病例仍占总病例的78%;第三阶段:出现社区水平的H1N1流感暴发。
Surgical intrathoracic cardiovascular lesions.

The field of cardiovascular surgery has now become a complex field of surgical endeavor. Many exceedingly fine results are constantly being obtained. A general survey of the field is presented and some more detailed discussion is given of the surgical treatment of coarctation of the aorta and mitral stenosis.
Mood Disorders: Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Mood disorders are one of the most common causes of disability throughout the world. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have impairment in functioning and suffer from social stigma and rejection, which are known triggers of depressive episodes. Comorbid mood disorders augment preexistent disabilities and, although they are treatable, diagnosing them in this population can often be a challenge. They are commonly underdiagnosed and undertreated, treatment is often not individualized, and there is a paucity of evidence-based information. Clinicians who work with this population need a thorough understanding of both disorders and their management in order to maximize functioning and minimize suffering. To that purpose, we succinctly review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of mood disorders in individuals with IDD.
Fluctuation Theory for a Three-Dimensional Model of Maxwellian Molecules

Under suitable assumptions, a functional central limit theorem is obtained for a three-dimensional model of Maxwellian molecules. This model is related to a nonlinear Boltzmann-type equation. It will be proved that the family of the distributions induced by fluctuation processes converges weakly.
Transcriptional switches direct plant organ formation and patterning.

Development of multicellular organisms requires specification of diverse cell types. In plants, development is continuous and because plant cells are surrounded by rigid cell walls, cell division and specification of daughter cell fate must be carefully orchestrated. During embryonic and postembryonic plant development, the specification of cell types is determined both by positional cues and cell lineage. The establishment of distinct transcriptional domains is a fundamental mechanism for determining different cell fates. In this review, we focus on four examples from recent literature of switches operating in cell fate decisions that are regulated by transcriptional mechanisms. First, we highlight a transcriptional mechanism involving a mobile transcription factor in formation of the two ground tissue cell types in roots. Specification of vascular cell types is then discussed, including new details about xylem cell-type specification via a mobile microRNA. Next, transcriptional regulation of two key embryonic developmental events is considered: establishment of apical–basal polarity in the single-celled zygote and specification of distinct root and shoot stem cell populations in the plant embryo. Finally, a dynamic transcriptional mechanism for lateral organ positioning that integrates spatial and temporal information into a repeating pattern is summarized.
57-P: HLA ANTIBODY AGAINST SELF AND DONOR HLA-C∗04:01 MOLECULE: DSA OR NOT?

Aim “Natural” HLA antibodies are reported in non-alloimmunized healthy males, but these antibodies are normally not against self-HLA antigens. We report a C ∗ 04:01 antibody against both self and donor in a 47 year-old African American female who received a renal transplant. Methods Class I and class II PRA and specificity were performed by Labscreen PRA beads and Single Antigen beads (SAB) (One Lambda). The serum was further tested with acid-treated (denatured antigen) SAB and reduced-amount denatured antigen beads (iBeads, One Lambda) and C1qScreen beads (One Lambda). Results Pre-transplant sequential sera showed the presence of weak C ∗ 04:01 antibody (MFI∼900) though she was Cw4-positive (as determined by both DNA and cytotoxic methods). She received a kidney transplant from a 5/10 HLA mismatched C ∗ 04-positive deceased donor with negative flow cytometric and cytotoxicity allo-crossmatches. At 2.5 months post-transplant, her serum creatinine increased to 2.7 mg/dL and the C ∗ 04:01 antibody MFI increased to 2875. To determine whether the C ∗ 04:01 antibody was an allelic donor specific antibody, the patient and donor were HLA typed by high-resolution methods and it was confirmed that both carried the HLA-C ∗ 04:01 allele. The MFI of the C ∗ 04:01 antibody decreased along with titration of the serum, but did not change with DTT treatment. The C ∗ 04:01 antibody was also detected with acid-treated beads, but not detected with iBeads. Furthermore, this antibody did not show complement-binding activity by C1qScreen. No antibody mediated rejection/C4d deposition was observed in her graft biopsy. She was successfully treated for acute drug toxicity. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of a self-allelic HLA antibody detected in a kidney transplant patient when both donor and recipient carry the same allele. It may be an antibody against cryptic epitopes. Importantly, it does not show complement-binding capability, thus, it may not have a detrimental effect to the kidney graft.
Mathematical Modeling And Computational Thinking

The paper argues that mathematical modeling is the essence of computational thinking. Learning a computer language is a valuable assistance in learning logical thinking but of less assistance when learning problem-solving skills. The paper is third in a series and presents some examples of mathematical modeling using spreadsheets at an advanced level such as high school or early college.
Modeling and Performance Limits of Switched-Capacitor DC–DC Converters Capable of Resonant Operation With a Single Inductor

This paper explores generalized output impedance models and develops a new performance-limit figure of merit (FOM) for switched-capacitor (SC) dc–dc converters that can be resonated or soft-charged with a single inductor. Compared to past work, the output impedance model is greatly simplified through a two-port charge multiplier treatment, yet it maintains accuracy across conversion ratios and is valid in both slow- and fast-switching operation. Building on previous analytical treatments of SC and ReSC converters, the model is expanded to derive optimizations that include both conduction and switching losses. The process is used to identify a new FOM for hybrid–resonant SC converters that can be used to identify the most suitable architectures for a given conversion ratio and relevant (energy or area) constraints on flying capacitors. This is used to highlight the active-device and capacitance utilizations of common topologies, as well as which are most favorable for hybrid–resonant operation.
A reflectance-based cross calibration of the Landsat sensors

First launched in 1972, the Landsat satellite sensors have provided the longest continuous record of high quality images of the Earth’s surface that are used in both civilian and military applications. Extraction of quantitative information (e.g., surface reflectance) from the Landsat image data is only possible through an accurate absolute radiometric calibration. Typically, this calibration has been performed as a radiance-based cross-calibration between sensors. However, to convert radiance to reflectance, an accurate estimate of solar exoatmospheric irradiance is critical; and there are several solar models currently available which estimate exoatmospheric irradiance with varying levels of accuracy. Because of these inconsistencies in solar models, a TOA reflectance-based approach, independent of exoatmospheric irradiance, has been developed to provide a consistent cross-calibration of the Landsat series (from Landsat 8 OLI to Landsat 4 MSS), based on analysis of coincident and near-coincident scene pairs acquired with each sensor. The methodology uses Landsat-8 OLI reflectance measurements as the starting point (reference), as they are estimated with a 3% uncertainty (compared to the 5% uncertainty associated with radiance measurements). A set of radiometric calibration coefficients has been estimated based on the equations presented in this paper, which allows direct conversion of the digital numbers from the image data to TOA reflectance. The results obtained from application of these coefficients show significant improvement in consistency of reflectance measurements among the Landsat sensors.
Influence of needle gauge used for venipuncture on measures of hemostasis in cats.

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different needle sizes used to obtain blood via jugular venipuncture in cats on routine measures of hemostasis.MethodsThis was a ...
The Existence of Special Elements

Let M be a nonsingular quadratic module over a commutative ring R. The primary goal of this chapter is the proof of the following fact: If M is free of finite rank, then C(M) has a special element, or, equivalently, the Arf algebra A(M) of M is isomorphic to R[X](X2 - aX - b) for some a and b in R with a2 + 4b ∈ R*. This has the important consequence that the results developed in Chapters 7 and 8 for C(M) hold for any free M. In addition, we will establish that the discriminant a2 + 4b of X2 - aX - b is the classical discriminant of the quadratic module M (except for a factor 2 if rank M is odd). It was established in Chapter 9D that the Arf algebra A(M) is a separable quadratic algebra. The structural features of this algebra will play a decisive role in the proofs. Throughout, R is an arbitrary commutative ring.
Numerical prediction of the propagation of branched fatigue cracks

Publisher Summary A specialized finite element program is used to predict the propagation behavior of asymmetrically bifurcated cracks, which can cause crack growth retardation and arrest. The branched crack propagation path and associated stress intensity factors (SIF) are obtained for several bifurcation angles. It is found that very small differences among the branch lengths are enough to cause the shorter one to eventually arrest because of shielding effects. The SIF of the longer crack branch is also reduced because of the deflections, but it returns to the original non-bifurcated value as the crack propagates away from the influence of the shorter branch. It is verified that crack bifurcation may provide an alternate mechanistic explanation for overload-induced crack retardation.
Soliton Solutions of a Variation of the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation

The nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation is a classical field equation that describes weakly nonlinear wave-packets in one-dimensional physical systems. It is in a class of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) that pertain to several physical and biological systems. In this project we apply a pseudo-spectral solution-estimation method to a modified version of the NLS equation as a means of searching for solutions that are solitons, where a soliton is a self-reinforcing solitary wave that maintains its shape over time. We use the pseudo-spectral method to determine whether cardiac action potential states, which are perturbed solutions to the Fitzhugh–Nagumo nonlinear PDE, create soliton-like solutions. We then use symmetry group properties of the NLS equation to explore these solutions and find new ones.
Durability of Hollow-Core GFRP-Concrete-Steel Columns under Severe Weather Conditions

AbstractOne of the emerging applications of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes is hollow-core FRP–concrete–steel (HC-FCS) columns. HC-FCS columns demonstrate superior advantages in material savin...
Assessing Elementary In-Service Teachers’ STEM-Centric Lesson Plans

National and state-based science and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives expect educators to incorporate inquiry- and design-based practices into their STEM-centric lesson planning. While this is a new expectation and may be a challenge for all, it is an even more prohibitive barrier for elementary teachers who often find STEM outside of their comfort zones. Graduate coursework sensitive and attentive to elementary teachersâ€™ needs is essential to prepare teachers for these instructional demands. The Elementary STEM Instructional Leadership (ESIL) graduate program at McDaniel College, a small, liberal arts school in Maryland, developed such a program in conjunction with Carroll County Public Schools and the National Institute of Aerospace. The pilot cohort of elementary teachers for the ESIL program was the audience for this quantitative study. Lesson plans developed by this cohort were assessed to gauge the teachersâ€™ proficiencies in planning STEM-centric lessons. A proportion of agreement consensus and test of hypothetical value provided results that suggest that the sample population demonstrated proficient planning abilities for targeted standards. Findings from this research not only add to the fieldâ€™s knowledge of elements in the promotion of graduate coursework that leads to elementary in-service teachersâ€™ proficiency in planning STEM-centric lessons, but also have broader implications for teacher education at large. The McDaniel College ESIL model could frame flexible K-12 teacher education as it promotes analytical thinking and self-reflection.
Predictors of Mindfulness Meditation and Exercise Practice, from MEPARI-2, a randomized controlled trial.

Health-supporting behaviors can be challenging to initiate and maintain. Data from the MEPARI-2 randomized trial were used to assess predictors of sustained exercise and meditation practice. Adults aged 30 to 69 years not exercising regularly and without prior meditation training were randomized to 8-week trainings in mindfulness meditation, moderate intensity exercise, or observational control, and monitored for 8 months. Exercise participants reported day-to-day minutes of moderate and vigorous activity; mindfulness meditation participants reported minutes of informal and formal practice. Demographic characteristics and psychosocial factors were assessed as predictors of practice. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify higher and lower practice subgroups. Four hundred thirteen participants (75.8% female; mean (SD) age 49.7 (11.6) years) were randomized to exercise (137), mindfulness meditation (138), or control (138), with 390 (95%) completing the study. Seventy-nine percent of exercisers and 62% of meditators reported ≥ 150 min/week practice for at least half of the 37 weeks monitored. Self-reported minutes of mindfulness meditation and/or exercise practice were significantly (P < 0.01) predicted by baseline levels of: general mental health, self-efficacy, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, openness, neuroticism, physical activity, smoking status, and number of social contacts. Growth mixture modeling identified subsets of people with moderate (100–200 min/week) and high (300–450 min/week) levels of self-reported practice for both mindfulness meditation (62% moderate; 38% high) and exercise (71% moderate; 29% high). In this sample, participants randomized to behavioral trainings reported high levels of practice sustained over 37 weeks. Baseline psychosocial measures predicted practice levels in expected directions.
Hormonal Contraceptive Prescription in Young Women With Cerebral Palsy.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of prescription of hormonal contraceptive medications to young women with cerebral palsy (CP) and determine if CP topography or ambulatory status was associated with the type of contraceptive prescribed. Methods Data were extracted by manual chart review for women with CP between the ages of 15 and 25 years who were seen at a tertiary pediatric hospital and a rehabilitation hospital between the years of 2011 and 2013. CP topography was defined as the number and pattern of limbs affected (hemiplegia, diplegia, triplegia, or quadriplegia), and ambulatory status was defined as whether a wheelchair was used for community mobility. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between patient age, CP topography, ambulatory status, and contraceptive prescription. Results Data were collected for 483 women with CP with an average age of 19 years (standard deviation: 3 years). One hundred thirty-one patients (27%) were prescribed hormonal contraceptives. Estrogen–progestin combined oral contraceptives were most frequently prescribed (73%). Prescription of hormonal contraceptives was not associated with CP topography (p = .95) or ambulatory status (p = .44); however, older subjects were more likely to be prescribed hormonal contraceptives (p = .01). There was no association detected between CP topography and contraceptive composition (p = .09) or between ambulatory status and contraceptive composition (p = .06). There was also no association detected between CP topography (p = .18) or ambulatory status (p = .09) and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate prescription. Conclusion Ambulatory status and CP topography were not associated with the types of hormonal contraceptives prescribed in this cohort.
Coupled Active Systems Encode an Emergent Hunting Behavior in the Unicellular Predator Lacrymaria olor.

Summary Many single-celled protists use rapid morphology changes to perform fast animal-like behaviors. To understand how such behaviors are encoded, we analyzed the hunting dynamics of the predatory ciliate Lacrymaria olor, which locates and captures prey using the tip of a slender “neck” that can rapidly extend more than seven times its body length (500 μm from its body) and retract in seconds. By tracking single cells in real-time over hours and analyzing millions of sub-cellular postures, we find that these fast extension-contraction cycles underlie an emergent hunting behavior that comprehensively samples a broad area within the cell’s reach. Although this behavior appears complex, we show that it arises naturally as alternating sub-cellular ciliary and contractile activities rearrange the cell’s underlying helical cytoskeleton to extend or retract the neck. At short timescales, a retracting neck behaves like an elastic filament under load, such that compression activates a series of buckling modes that reorient the head and scramble its extensile trajectory. At longer timescales, the fundamental length of this filament can change, altering the location in space where these transitions occur. Coupling these fast and slow dynamics together, we present a simple model for how Lacrymaria samples the range of geometries and orientations needed to ensure dense stochastic sampling of the immediate environment when hunting to locate and strike at prey. More generally, coupling active mechanical and chemical signaling systems across different timescales may provide a general strategy by which mechanically encoded emergent cell behaviors can be understood or engineered.
Understanding the Why of College Student Food Insecurity

This study sought to understand why college students are food insecure and what the impact is on their academics. A generic qualitative study design was utilized that consisted of written surveys a...
Alpha-, beta-, and gamma-diversity of bacteria varies across global habitats

Abstract Bacteria are essential parts of ecosystems and are the most abundant organisms on the planet. Yet, we still do not know which habitats support the highest diversity of bacteria across multiple scales. We analyzed alpha-, beta-, and gamma-diversity of bacterial assemblages using 11,680 samples compiled by the Earth Microbiome Project. We found that soils contained the highest bacterial richness within a single sample (alpha-diversity), but sediment assemblages were the most diverse at a global scale (gamma-diversity). Sediment, biofilms/mats, and inland water exhibited the most variation in community composition among geographic locations (beta-diversity). Within soils, agricultural lands, hot deserts, grasslands, and shrublands contained the highest richness, while forests, cold deserts, and tundra biomes consistently harbored fewer bacterial species. Surprisingly, agricultural soils encompassed similar levels of beta-diversity as other soil biomes. These patterns were robust to the alpha- and beta-diversity metrics used and the taxonomic binning approach. Overall, the results support the idea that spatial environmental heterogeneity is an important driver of bacterial diversity.
Migrant Remittances and Demand for Redistribution

The literature on the political economy of remittances largely agrees that as households receive income from migrants abroad they will be less dependent on government goods and patronage. The underlying assumption is that remittance inflows are stable and increasing. The global economic recession of 2008 and 2009 led to major declines in remittance inflows. This paper asks two different but related questions: (1) Do remittance recipients support redistribution? and (2) Do preferences for redistribution change following a negative shock to remittances? Using three waves of survey data, I find that remittance recipients diverge from non-recipients in favoring redistribution following the sudden decline in remittances. I test for possible mechanisms such as dependence on remittances and relative income levels to explain this change in preferences. I find that remittance recipients who are more dependent on remittances or not inclined to emigrate are more likely to favor redistribution following the negative shock.