cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing office and telephone follow-up after medical abortion

Abstract Objectives Compare proportion lost to follow-up, successful abortion, and staff effort in women who choose office or telephone-based follow-up evaluation for medical abortion at a teaching institution. Study design We performed a chart review of all medical abortions provided in the first three years of service provision. Women receiving mifepristone and misoprostol could choose office follow-up with an ultrasound evaluation one to two weeks after mifepristone or telephone follow-up with a scheduled telephone interview at one week post abortion and a second telephone call at four weeks to review the results of a home urine pregnancy test. Results Of the 176 medical abortion patients, 105 (59.7%) chose office follow-up and 71 (40.3%) chose telephone follow-up. Office evaluation patients had higher rates of completing all required follow-up compared to telephone follow-up patients (94.3% vs 84.5%, respectively, p = .04), but proportion lost to follow-up was similar in both groups (4.8% vs 5.6%, respectively, p = 1.0). Medical abortion efficacy was 94.0% and 92.5% in women who chose office and telephone follow-up, respectively. We detected two (1.2%) ongoing pregnancies, both in the office group. Staff rescheduled 15.0% of appointments in the office group. For the telephone follow-up cohort, staff made more than one phone call to 43.9% and 69.4% of women at one week and four weeks, respectively. Conclusions Proportion lost to follow-up is low in women who have the option of office or telephone follow-up after medical abortion. Women who choose telephone-based evaluation compared to office follow-up may require more staff effort for rescheduling of contact, but overall outcomes are similar. Implications Although women who choose telephone evaluation may require more rescheduling of contact as compared to office follow-up, having alternative follow-up options may decrease the proportion of women who are lost to follow-up.
Digital imaging standards and system interoperability.

Standards development in medical imaging originated in the field of radiology and has rapidly spread to numerous other medical specialties. Pathology is well represented in this effort, and it benefits from Interoperability made possible by the utilization of the DICOM 3.0 standard in the fabrication of pathology workstations. Because there currently exists a strong trend for both standards convergence and international harmonization, the formation for a world-wide electronic medical image standard is likely only several years away.
Short, Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Highly Oxidized Taxanes.

In the realm of natural product chemistry, few isolates have risen to the level of fame justifiably accorded to Taxol (1) and its chemical siblings. This report describes the most concise route to date for accessing the highly oxidized members of this family. As representative members of taxanes containing five oxygen atoms, decinnamoyltaxinine E (2) and taxabaccatin III (3), have succumbed to enantioselective total synthesis for the first time in only 18 steps from a simple olefin starting material. The strategy holistically mimics nature's approach (two-phase synthesis) and features a carefully choreographed sequence of stereoselective oxidations and a remarkable redox-isomerization to set the key trans-diol present in 2 and 3. This work lays the critical groundwork necessary to access even higher oxidized taxanes such as 1 in a more practical fashion, thus empowering a medicinal chemistry campaign that is not wedded to semi-synthesis.
Endothelin-1–Rho kinase interactions impair lung structure and cause pulmonary hypertension after bleomycin exposure in neonatal rat pups

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the chronic lung disease associated with premature birth, characterized by impaired vascular and alveolar growth. In neonatal rats bleomycin decreases lung growt...
Spatio-Temporal Aspects of Binocular Depth Discrimination

When I originally planned my presentation for this Symposium, convened to dedicate the new Optometry Building in Houston, I had intended to discuss some of our experiments on temporal factors in binocular vision. These experiments, many of which are still unpublished, deal with four interrelated classes of binocular functions: (i) the effects of exposure duration on stereoscopic thresholds; (ii) the effects of interocular delay on binocular depth discrimination; (iii) depth-displacement effects obtained in studies on the Pulfrich effect (1) in relation to correlative psychophysical and electrophysiological studies on simple visual reaction time and on visual evoked potentials; and (iv) depth-displacement effects obtained in the so-called Mach-Dvorak phenomenon (2). As I began to prepare and organize the necessary slides for my presentation, it became quite obvious that I could not effectively deal with more than one of these topics in the limited time alloted. I decided, finally, to limit my presentation to a discussion of some of my recent work on the Mach-Dvorak phenomenon, performed with the aid of several of my student assistants1.
Rapid fluvial incision of a late Holocene lava flow: Insights from LiDAR, alluvial stratigraphy, and numerical modeling

Volcanic eruptions fundamentally alter landscapes, paving over channels, decimating biota, and emplacing fresh, unweathered material. The fluvial incision of blocky lava flows is a geomorphic puzzle. First, high surface permeability and lack of sediment should preclude geomorphically effective surface runoff and dissection. Furthermore, past work has demonstrated the importance of extreme floods in driving incision via column toppling and plucking in columnar basalt, but it is unclear how incision occurs in systems where surface blocks are readily mobile. We examine rapid fluvial incision of the Collier lava flow, an andesitic Holocene lava flow in the High Cascades of Oregon. Since lava flow emplacement ∼1600 yr ago, White Branch Creek has incised bedrock gorges up to 8 m deep into the coherent core of the lava flow and deposited >0.2 km3 of sediment on the lava flow surface. Field observation points to a bimodal discharge regime in the channel, with evidence for both annual snowmelt runoff and outburst floods from Collier glacier, as well as historical evidence of vigorous glacial meltwater. To determine the range of discharge events capable of incision in White Branch Creek, we used a mechanistic model of fluvial abrasion. We show that the observed incision implies that moderate flows are capable of both initiating channel formation and sustaining incision. Our results have implications for the evolution of volcanic systems worldwide, where glaciation and/or mass wasting may accelerate fluvial processes by providing large amounts of sediment to otherwise porous, sediment-starved landscapes.
Design of graphene-based plasmonic nano-antenna arrays in the presence of mutual coupling

Graphene-based plasmonic nano-antennas are envisioned as an enabling component for compact communication systems in the Terahertz (THz) band (0.1–10 THz). Despite their high efficiency and due to their reduced size, the total radiation power of individual nano-antennas is expectedly very low. To overcome this limitation, plasmonic nano-antenna arrays are proposed. In this paper, the performance of such arrays is analyzed while taking into account mutual coupling effects. First, by utilizing coupled mode theory, the impact of mutual coupling on the nano-antenna response is modeled. Then, the array factor and total gain for nano-antenna arrays is derived. Extensive electromagnetic simulations are conducted to validate the developed models and provide numerical results. It is shown that a nano-array can provide significant gain in relation to only a single nano-antenna while still occupying a compact footprint.
The Moderating Effect of Appearance Self-Esteem on Females’ Identification of and Reaction to Sexually-Themed Advertising

This research examines whether the impact of thematic fit of product positioning with sexual themes on female consumer responses varies as a function of appearance self-esteem (ASE). Study 1 demonstrates that perceived identification with sexual themes leads to more negative attitudes toward advertising and brand. Study 2 shows that higher ASE participants have more negative ad attitudes when exposed to sexual themes paired with utilitarian product positioning (low fit) than with hedonic product positioning (high fit). Furthermore, our findings reveal that the feeling of disgust partially mediates the relationship between ASE and attitudes. Theoretical and practical marketing implications are discussed.
Theory of Sustained Optimal Challenge in Teaching and Learning

Yerkes-Dodson law suggests an optimal level of arousal for the best performance in learning tasks. Ideally, the instructors’ expectations should match the abilities and inabilities of students. Thi...
Redox Control of Vascular Function.

In the past several years, a significant body of work has been published in ATVB about new research in the field of vascular biology and redox signaling. We would like to highlight new publications that have enriched our understanding of redox signaling in the context of vasculopathy. Although redox balance and perturbation involve a plethora of proteins and signaling molecules, the focus of recent research has involved the examination of chemically reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and the interactions with other molecules or enzymes that lead to vascular pathology.1,2 There are often a variety of downstream targets and mechanisms of cross-talk that can lead to pathologies observed in the vasculature as a result of redox imbalance. The objective of this article is to underscore the novel research in the field devoted to vascular redox physiology and disease. The main sources of vascular ROS are NAD(P)H oxidase (NOX),3 mitochondrial-derived superoxide (O2−),4 uncoupled nitric oxide synthase (NOS),5 and to a lesser extent xanthine oxidase,6 cyclooxygenase,7 and myeloperoxidase.8,9 A delicate ROS balance exists within the vascular wall that can be either beneficial or deleterious, depending on the source of ROS or the mechanisms of ROS capture or quenching, and these topics have been extensively discussed in previous reviews.10–12 ROS-associated proteins and their expression profiles vary in depending on vessel location within the vascular tree and tissue origin. Indeed, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), endothelial cells, immune cells, and other hematopoietic cell types have vastly different expression patterns for the various ROS-related proteins. Moreover, these molecules readily change in response to stimuli and disease state.13–19 The balance between NOX protein expression and their role in disease is highly context and tissue …
Genetic regulation of chemoreceptor development in DBA/2J and A/J strains of mice.

The role of the carotid body (CB) in response to hypoxia is very well defined (Fitzgerald and Shirahata, 1997). The hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) is characterized by an increase in ventilation, but this response remains variable among individuals (Eisele et al., 1992; Vizek et al., 1987; Weil 1970). Genetics may play a critical role in explaining this variability. Indeed, longitudinal and twin studies do demonstrate the role of genetics in the HVR (Collins et al., 1978; Kawakami et al., 1982). Studies utilizing inbred strains of mice have also demonstrated the effect of genetics on the response to hypoxia (Tankersley et al., 1994 & 2000). Two strains of mice in these studies were identified as having extreme responses to hypoxia. The DBA/2J strain demonstrated the highest HVR, whereas the A/J strain demonstrated the lowest HVR (Tankersley et al., 1994). In another study analyzing the role of genetics in a mouse model of sleepinduced hypoxia, the DBA/2J strain demonstrated an increased sensitivity to hypoxia during sleep, compared to that of the A/J strain (Rubin et al., 2004). In order to elucidate a potential explanation that may contribute to this difference in hypoxic sensitivity, we examined CB morphology and volume in adult DBA/2J and A/J strains (Yamaguchi et al., 2003). Results demonstrated a significantly larger volume as well as an increased glomus cell quantity in the CB of DBA/2J strain compared to that of the A/J strain. A question arises whether these differences exist from early neonatal ages. Or, developmental plasticity may contribute to these strain differences. In this study, we analyzed CB volume, glomus cell quantity, and ventilation during development in the DBA/2J and A/J strains of mice. We also introduced a glimpse into the genetic influence on chemoreceptor development with emphasis on the role of glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).
Use of Mouse JB6 Cells to Identify Molecular Targets and Novel Agents for Prevention of Carcinogenesis

Identification of the natural or synthetic agents that block the rate-limiting phase of tumor promotion is essential to the goal of cancer prevention. In vitro model systems to study the promotion process and to screen potential preventive agents continue to be important. One well established system representing preneoplastic to neoplastic progression is the JB6 murine epidermal model, which consists of promotion-resistant (P-) and promotion-sensitive (P+) preneoplastic cell lines as well as irreversibly transformed, tumorigenic cell lines. The model has been used to study the molecular mechanisms of tumor promotion, identify potential promoters and promotion inhibitors, elucidate differences between neoplastic and preneoplastic cells (e.g., identification of genes required for maintenance of tumor phenotype), and evaluate agents for reversion potential. Additionally, apoptosis response variants of one of the tumorigenic JB6 lines allow the study of programmed cell death, a process important to the prevention of or susceptibility to carcinogenesis. Exogenous promoters such as the phorbol esters and endogenous promoters such as epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor, and tumor necrosis factor induce the anchorage-independent transformation of P+ cells. The antipromoting activity of a number of agents having cancer prevention potential has been demonstrated using P+ cells. These agents include classic antipromoters such as retinoic acid and food factors such as green or black tea and curcumin. Important insights into the mechanism of neoplastic transformation have been gained from comparison of JB6 P+ and P- cells, most notably the requirement for induction of transcription factor AP-1 transactivation activity. This understanding has led to the development of small molecule and transgene agents aimed at specifically blocking AP-1 activity; they are under evaluation for their ability to block cancer development.
The Popular Prosecutor: Mr. District Attorney and the Television Stars of American Law

What follows at pages 69-108 is the second installment of Mr. District Attorney on the Job (1941) – the only book of adventures of the fictional prosecutor who starred on radio from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. (He was known only as “Mr. District Attorney” until 1952, when he also became “Paul Garrett.”) He was tremendously popular with the listening public in those days, as leading modern scholars of law and popular culture have noted. Yet, unlike the heroes of some other golden-age radio dramas – Perry Mason, for example, or Joe Friday of Dragnet – Mr. District Attorney did not successfully transition to television. Moreover, in the years since television superseded radio, other fictional lawyers have come to the fore on-screen – Arnie Becker (of L.A. Law), Patty Hewes (of Damages), Charles Kingsfield (of The Paper Chase), Ben Matlock, Ally McBeal, Jack McCoy (of Law & Order), Horace Rumpole (of the Bailey), and the like. Thus, having survived and not thrived for only a few years on television, Mr. District Attorney has been largely forgotten and is today no more than a radio fossil. His place in the minds of lawyers has been taken over by the moderns. Or has it? Who are, really, the fictional television lawyers whose presence in our legal culture is so significant that it translates into appearances in the works of judges, practitioners, and legal scholars? The numbers presented on the following pages are not sufficient on their own to support unassailable answers to those questions, but they might be enough to prompt some preliminary thoughts. [NOTE: For a copy of the story referred to in this article (pages 69-108), please contact the author.]
3-(Trimethyl-sil-yl)prop-2-ynyl p-toluene-sulfonate.

In the title compound, C13H18O3SSi, the SO3 group displays a partial rotational (ca 50°) disorder about the C—S bond, with relative proportions 0.7744 (13):0.2256 (13). This disorder also forces the propynyl CH2 group to be disordered.
The Development of a Decision Analytic Model of Changes in Mean Deviation in People with Glaucoma: The COA Model

Results: Regressing the actual MD against the predicted produced an R 2 of 0.68 for the right eye and 0.63 for the left. The model predicted ending MD for right eyes of 65% of participants and for 63% of left eyes within 3 dB of actual results at 7 years. In external validation the model had an R 2 of 0.79 in the right eye and 0.77 in the left at 5 years. Conclusions: The COA model is a validated tool for clinicians, patients, and health policy makers seeking to understand longitudinal changes in MD in people with glaucoma. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. Ophthalmology 2012;xx:xxx © 2012 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Transovarial effects of insect growth regulators on Stephanitis pyrioides (Hemiptera: Tingidae).

BACKGROUND Azalea lace bug, Stephanitis pyrioides (Scott) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) is a serious insect pest of azaleas (Rhododendron L. spp.) in the USA. S. pyrioides feeding causes chlorosis, which affects the aesthetic value and marketability of azalea plants. Management of S. pyrioides primarily involves neonicotinoid insecticides and their use has been drastically reduced or discontinued. Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are known to elicit transovarial activity as IGR-exposed adults produce non-viable eggs, which is not documented for S. pyrioides. Thus, transovarial activity of novaluron, azadirachtin, pyriproxyfen and buprofezin has been explored against S. pyrioides. RESULTS A low number of S. pyrioides young instars was produced when adults were exposed to topical novaluron compared with non-treated adults. When adults contacted dried residues of novaluron and buprofezin, production of young instars was reduced relative to non-treated controls. When insects exposed to 1.0× and < 1.0× doses of novaluron were compared, the number of young instars produced was similar. CONCLUSION Transovarial activity was elicited in S. pyrioides when adults were exposed to IGRs, especially novaluron. When adults were exposed to < 1.0× (up to 0.25×) and 1.0× doses of novaluron, the transovarial effect was similar. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
Evaluation of viscoelastic characteristics of PTFE-Based materials

Abstract PTFE-based materials are widely used in areas of tribology, particularly in seal and bearing applications because of their outstanding self-lubricating properties. This paper concentrates on the viscoelastic response of PTFE-based materials. Using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), the storage modulus, loss modulus and tan δ, are measured and discussed in the frequency domain. The relaxation modulus and creep compliances are also measured and studied in the time domain. Finally, the materials’ compositions are studied using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer for composites measurement. The experimental data is then modeled with best fit curves using the Prony series and compared to the experimental data.
Initial clinical experience of a steerable access device for EUS-guided biliary drainage.

Background and Aims EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been used as a rescue procedure after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), and there is growing interest in EUS-BD as a primary therapy for distal malignant biliary obstruction. After EUS-guided needle puncture of an obstructed bile duct, directional control of wire advancement remains an area of need, potentially addressed by a new steerable EUS access system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this novel steerable access system in patients undergoing EUS-BD after failed ERC. Methods We performed a retrospective study of prospectively acquired data at 3 tertiary academic hospitals. Consecutive patients who had failed ERC followed by EUS-BD using the access device were included. Primary outcomes were safety and technical feasibility (successful completion of EUS-BD). Secondary outcomes were clinical success (75% improvement in liver function tests at 30 days) and device performance. Results Twenty-two consecutive patients underwent EUS-BD between October 10, 2018 and March 3, 2019. Needle puncture and selective wire advancement in the intended direction were both successful in 100% of cases (22/22). Technical success was 95% (21/22). Fifty-nine percent (13) underwent rendezvous, 32% (7) underwent choledochoduodenostomy, and 4.5% (1) underwent hepaticogastrostomy. One patient (4.5%) underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. There were no cases of wire shearing. The adverse event rate was 4.5% (mild pancreatitis in 1 patient). There was no bile leak, bleeding, or death at 30 days' follow-up. Conclusions This first clinical experience with a steerable access system for EUS-BD suggests it is safe and effective, particularly with regard to controlling direction of wire advancement.
Castañeda’s Theory of Deontic Meaning and Truth

Twentieth-century metaethics has been for some time an arena for combat between established theories that neatly fit into one of a few categories: emotivism, prescriptivism, naturalism, and intuitionism. Hector-Neri CastaŇeda’s analysis of deontic language, however, cuts across these categories and incorporates doctrines from each opposing camp. To come to terms with his analysis, we must identify the legitimate insights of each camp and determine whether he has done justice to them. I conclude that he is largely successful, though I criticize the radical distinction he makes between the meaning and truth conditions of deontic judgments. He believes that making such a radical distinction enables him to reconcile the insights behind naturalism and intuitionism, but he actually loses explanatory power with this move. I will propose an alternative analysis that brings the meaning and truth conditions closer together. I conclude more generally that CastaŇeda’s work demonstrates the need to redraw the theoretical map of metaethics, that the most fruitful work in the future will cut across the old categories as his work does.
Introduction: Reviving the Work of America’s Most Original Economist

The book begins with Andrew Mazzone, his desire to reexamine Henry George’s work, his sudden death, and how the book came to be written. It takes George’s dynamic vision and approach as a position from which to challenge mainstream economics’ obsession with equilibrium, enabling a focus on the paradoxical fact that progress also generates poverty. The book has three parts: the first on rents, land values, and the costs of government; the second filling in a picture of macroeconomics for George, who long preceded Keynes; and the third, drawing on George’s approach, examining the contribution of rents to the growth of inequality and financial instability.
The influence of website service quality on customer satisfaction towards online shopping: The mediating role of confirmation of expectation

Researching customer satisfaction becomes key for organizational competitiveness because satisfied customers become loyal customers. Therefore, it is important to measure customer satisfaction towards online shopping, since satisfied customers will make repetitive purchases and provide recommendations to others, thus generating the profit for a particular e-commerce company. Customer satisfaction towards online shopping can significantly be influenced by website service quality, hence many of the previous studies set up to show the relationship between website service quality and customer satisfaction. But still, limited literature has been focused on the mediating effects of the confirmation of customer expectation on the relationship between website service quality and customer satisfaction. Hence, the aim of this study is to measure customer satisfaction based on the website service quality with confirmation of customer expectation. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed to online customers who are working in the private banks in Bangladesh. Our of 500, a total of 342 questionnaires were used for further analysis, representing a response rate of 68.40%. The hypothesis for direct effect was tested by regression analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The result of the study revealed that website service quality has a significant and positive relationship with confirmation of customers’ expectations and in turn, their satisfaction level towards online shopping. Implications and directions for future research are also highlighted in this present study.
Safety Verification of Nonlinear Polynomial System via Occupation Measures

In this paper, we introduce a flexible notion of safety verification for nonlinear autonomous systems by measuring how much time the system spends in given unsafe regions. We consider this problem in the particular case of nonlinear systems with a polynomial dynamics and unsafe regions described by a collection of polynomial inequalities. In this context, we can quantify the amount of time spent in the unsafe regions as the solution to an infinite-dimensional linear program (LP). We approximate the solution to the infinite-dimensional LP using a hierarchy of finite-dimensional semidefinite programs (SDPs). The solutions to the SDPs in this hierarchy provide monotonically converging upper bounds on the optimal solution to the infinite-dimensional LP. Finally, we validate the performance of our framework using numerical simulations.
Neuroregenerative and protective functions of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor in perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Abstract Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy remains the most important neurological problem of the newborn. Delays in diagnosing perinatal brain injuries are common, preventing access to acute therapies. Therefore, there is a critical need for therapeutic strategies that are beneficial when delivered beyond 24 h after birth. Here we show that Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) functions as an essential injury-induced neurotrophic cytokine in the CNS and that non-invasively administering LIF as late as 3 days after a hypoxic-ischemic insult improves neurological function. Using a mouse model of late preterm brain injury we show that astroglial and microglial/macrophage reactivity to hypoxia-ischemia was diminished at 3 days of recovery, but then exacerbated at 2 weeks of recovery in LIF haplodeficient mice. There also were significantly more CD68+/Iba-1+ cells in the ipsilateral striatum in LIF-Het mice compared to WT mice at 2 weeks of recovery. This desynchronized glial response was accompanied by increased neuronal cell death in the striatum and neocortex (Fluorojade C), hypomyelination (reduced MBP staining and thinner external capsule), increased extent of brain damage (Nissl) and diminished neurological function on sensorimotor tests. To our surprise, injured LIF-Het mice had ~7-fold higher IGF-1 levels than injured WT mice at 3 days after H I injury. Intranasally administered LIF activated the Jak-Stat-3 pathway both within the subventricular zone and the neocortex at 30 min after administration. When delivered with a delay of 3 days after the insult, intranasal LIF reduced the extent of brain injury by ~60%, attenuated astrogliosis and microgliosis in striatum, improved subcortical white matter thickness, increased numbers of Olig2+ cells in corpus callosum and improved performance on sensorimotor tests at 2 weeks of recovery. These studies provide key pre-clinical data recommending LIF administration as a neuroprotectant and regenerative cytokine and they highlight the feasibility of pursuing new therapeutics targeting the tertiary phase of neurodegeneration for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathies.
Exploring Contextual Factors Associated with Suicide among Older Male Farmers: Results from the CDC NVDRS Dataset.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore how demographic, relationship, mental health, and life stressors are associated with suicide among older male farmers and to determine if these ...
Valuating Hydrocarbon Pipeline Facility Service Beyond 20--25 Year Economic Life: Accounting for Residual Value

The 20--25 years economic life for hydrocarbon pipelines in the investment decision model is at wide variance with historical statistical records of more than 90-percent world-wide. Opinions diverge, from service type to the product quality, and materials resilience as basis for this premise. While, financial experts consider time to fully depreciate a capital investment, irrespective of the rate of returns, engineers consider operational availability and reliability duration. The risk is that actual residue values of pipelines worldwide are erroneously omitted in every project’s economics Cash-flow computation, thus eroding the investment decision quality. Statistics showed that more than 60-percent of pipelines worldwide have already exceeded the 25 years economic life, while more than 40-percent have operated more than 30-years and above. This theoretical appraisal identified a gap in the economic model in handling multi-criteria risk management uncertainties like hedging, weighting, etc., and highlighted the exigency to craft and assign numeric residue values for pipelines in the investment Cash-flow models. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v40i2.7
Frontiers and opportunities in bioenergy crop microbiome research networks

Researchers from across the four U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers engaged in a microbiome workshop that focused on identifying challenges and collaboration opportunities to bett...
Chinese Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of Learning: The Role of Language and Culture in a Short-term Public Health Study Abroad Program

Due to globalization, the demand for cross-cultural experiences for healthcare professionals is on the rise (Drain, Primack, Hunt, Fawzi, Holmes, and Gardner 2007). Recently, short-term education abroad programs in the U.S. are becoming increasingly popular for Chinese students (Huang et al. 2018; Powell and Biederman 2017). Powell and Biederman (2017) mentioned several benefits of study abroad, such as improvement in language skills and cultural immersion. Powell and Biederman (2017) also argued that study abroad programs enhance global learning, global awareness, civic engagement, and positively impact personal development, social intelligence, and future career prospects of the participating students.
Systematizing the record of Earth's shapes and colors: a framework for data and metadata models

Summary form only given. Recent standards have provided a wide range of choices for representing large and complex arrays of environmental remote sensing data. The standards offer many features for the data arrays themselves and descriptive metadata. Current sensors for applications such multispectral and conical microwave imaging, or limb and vertical sounding produce complex data sets that can take good advantage of data standard features. To accommodate data set complexity, producers, users, and archivist create profiles for specific data sets within a standard. Depending on the data architect's view of the system, these profiles can represent the same underlying data set in any of several different ways. This paper introduces a consistent framework within which data profiles can be created. The work is motivated by the large number and wide variety of raw, sensor, and environmental data sets to be produced by the NPOESS polar environmental satellites. The goal is first to make clear and precise the relationship between digital measurements , corrected estimates, and modeled inferences; and second to make clear and precise the relationship between primary independent variables (such as time), associated independent variables (such as observed location), and dependent variables the measurements). The benefits should include more easily understood data sets, clarity in defining data and metadata structures, reduced duplication in software development effort, and consistent metadata application - especially within a large project. Scientists, sensor engineers, and data processors will all be able to grasp the relationships. Without attempting to force a single structure on all data sets, the framework may provide a simplifying way to view complex data sets, and make the features of powerful data and metadata standards more accessible.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle localization in a spatiotemporally varying water current field

Survey class Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) typically rely on Doppler Velocity Logs (DVL) for precise navigation near the seafloor. In cases where the distance to the seafloor is greater than the DVL bottom lock range, localizing between the surface where GPS is available and the seafloor presents a localization problem, since both GPS and DVL are unavailable in the mid-water column. Previous work proposed a solution to navigation in the mid-water column that exploits the stability of the vertical water current profile in space over the minutes scale. With repeated measurements of these currents with the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) mode of the DVL during vertical descent, along with sensor fusion of other low cost sensors, position error growth is constrained to near the initial velocity uncertainty of the vehicle at the sea surface during the dive. Following DVL bottom lock, due to correlations in the joint vehicle and water current velocity estimation, the entire velocity history is further constrained. In this paper a number of extensions are developed to improve navigation performance during missions characterized by prolonged time-scales and horizontal transits. This includes explicitly accounting for the temporal evolution of water currents while revisiting locations and during the re-observation itself, in addition to employing high fidelity spatial models to account for the horizontal water current field. Furthermore, the validity of our method is demonstrated on deep water data sets. Results from the Sentry AUV are presented from a hydrothermal vent flux estimation mission and a surveying mission at Deepwater Horizon, illustrating a real-time dead-reckoning method with results for up to 20 hours.
Parameterization of Integrated Aerosol Effects in Marine Stratocumulus Clouds

Abstract : The development and improvement of cloud microphysical parameterizations for use in cloud and numerical weather prediction models. The objectives are: a) Conduct detailed studies of marine stratocumulus cloud microphysical processes using a high-resolution large eddy simulation (LES) model with explicit microphysics. b) Achieve better understanding of interactions between microphysical, radiative and boundary layer thermodynamical processes in order to improve their formulation in numerical weather prediction models.
The Poisson Cloning Model for Random Graphs, Random Directed Graphs and Random k-SAT Problems

In the (classical) random graph model G(n,p) with p=O(1/n), the degrees of the vertices are almost i.i.d Poisson random variables with mean d=pn +O(1/n). Though this fact is useful to understand the nature of the model, it has not been possible to fully utilize properties of i.i.d Poisson random variables. For example, the distribution of the number of isolated vertices is very close to the binomial distribution B(n, de − − d ). In a rigorous proof, however, one has to keep saying how close the distribution is and tracking the effect of the small difference, which is not necessary if the degrees are exactly i.i.d Poisson. Since these kinds of small differences occur almost everywhere in the analysis of the random graph, they make rigorous analysis significantly difficult, if not impossible.
Neutron-Capture Elements in Planetary Nebulae: Identification of Two Near-Infrared Emission Lines as [Kr III] and [Se IV]

I propose that two previously unidentified lines at 2.199 and 2.287 μm seen in the spectra of planetary nebulae (PNs) are fine-structure transitions of Kr+2 and Se+3. These are the cosmically most abundant elements with Z > 32. The ionic stages and originating energy levels of the observed transitions are expected to be significantly populated under nebular conditions, and these elements—especially the noble gas Kr—are unlikely to be strongly depleted out of the gas phase into grains. Furthermore, their concentrations can be enhanced by s-processing, which occurs in the interiors of the PN progenitor stars. The observed line strengths are consistent with modest (factor of a few) overabundances. In support of the identification of the 2.199 μm line as [Kr III] 3P1-3P2, PNs that display this line also show [Kr III] 1D2-3P2 6828 A emission. I identify the 2.287 μm line as [Se IV] 2P3/2-2P1/2. These identifications suggest a new range of possibilities for line identifications in the infrared. In addition, the observability of emission lines from n-capture species introduces a novel approach for studying advanced evolutionary stages and nucleosynthesis in the progenitor stars and for more fully delineating the role of PNs as agents of galactic chemical enrichment.
Studies on the Severity of Various Amino Acid Imbalances in the Young Male Rat

Relative severities of amino acid imbalance were compared in young male rats fed diets having an amino acid imbalance with respect to various essential amino acids. In the imbalanced diets, one or more essential amino acids were made to be low, ranging from suboptimal to two times the requirement, while the other essential amino acids were present at three times the requirement. From the extent of depressions in food intake and growth, the severity of amino acid imbalance was found to be dependent upon the level as well as the type of the limiting amino acid(s) in each imbalanced diet. The overall results indicated that Met imbalance was very severe, followed in decreasing order by Ile, Trp, Leu and Val, His, Phe, Thr, Lys and Arg imbalance. The imbalance with respect to the large neutral amino acid appeared to be more severe than the imbalance with respect to the small neutral amino acid, while the imbalance with respect to the basic amino acid was least severe.
The Jeffords switch and legislator rolls in the U.S. Senate

On May 24, 2001 United States Senator James Jeffords announced that he was switching from Republican to independent and would vote with Democrats on organizational matters (i.e. votes deciding party membership and majority party status), effectively taking majority party control of the Senate from the Republicans and giving it to the Democrats. This created an unusually well controlled quasi-experimental opportunity for learning about the role of parties in the Senate—it held most important variables constant while one variable, majority status, changed. We use roll call data to evaluate the probability of individual members of each party being rolled on Senate final passage votes, before and after the switch. We find that, contrary to conventional wisdom on the Senate, majority status is an important factor in Senate decision-making. Our results show that Republicans were more likely to be rolled after the switch than they had been before, and that Democrats were less likely to be rolled than they had been before.
Sphingomyelinase in normal human spleens and in spleens from subjects with Niemann-Pick disease

This paper describes the purification and some of the properties of an enzyme from human spleen that cata- lyzes the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin with the formation of ceramide and phosphoryl choline. The enzyme, which is located in the subcellular particulate fraction that sediments between 700 and 8500 g, is readily made soluble and has been partially purified. Its pH optimum is between 4.5 and 5.0. It is unaffected by divalent cations, chelating agents, and sulfhydryl reagents, but is inhibited by phosphate. The enzyme attacks sphingomyelin and dihydrosphingomyelin, but is inactive toward sphingosine phosphoryl choline, 0- acetylsphingomyelin, and lecithin. In some of its properties, the enzyme from human spleen is different from the previously studied sphingomyelinase from rat tissues. The enzyme is absent or markedly reduced in spleens from patients with classical and visceral varieties of Niemann-Pick disease, but is present in normal amounts in the late infantile type of the disease. In the present study another enzyme, this one magnesium-dependent, capable of catalyzing the cleavage of sphingomyelin has been detected in the spleens of patients with the classical form of Niemann-Pick disease. Some implications of these findings for theories of the metabolic defect in Niemann-Pick disease are discussed.
Polarization-dependent enhancement of population inversion and of green upconversion in Er:LiNbO 3 by Yb codoping

We have investigated the polarization dependence of both the population inversion of the /sup 4/I/sub 13/2/ state and the green upconversion to the /sup 4/S/sub 3/2/ state in Er:LiNbO/sub 3/ optical fiber amplifier when codoped with Yb and pumped around 980 nm. The presence of Yb/sup 3+/ enhances the population of the /sup 4/I/sub 13/2/ state of the Er/sup 3+/ ions when pumped at /spl sigma/-polarization (>2.5 times) and at /spl pi/-polarization (>5.5 times), and introduces a broad useful pump band around 940-960 nm at /spl sigma/-polarization, relaxing fabrication tolerances on semiconductor pump sources. An enhancement of green upconversion is also observed by the Yb codoping. Lifetime measurements indicate that, as in glass substrates, nonradiative energy transfer is responsible for these enhancements.
29 CXXC-Finger Protein 1 Regulates DNA Methyltransferase 1 Protein Expression and Activity.

Epigenetic regulation refers to changes in gene expression that occur without changes in the nucleotide sequence. Cytosine methylation and histone tail modifications are two epigenetic modifications that influence gene expression. Elucidating epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation is becoming increasingly important as deregulation of epigenetic processes is observed in many diseases, including cancer. The CXXC1 gene encodes CXXC finger protein 1 (CFP1), a transcriptional activator that specifically binds unmethylated CpG dinucleotides. The specific binding activity of CFP1 makes it unique in that most CpG binding proteins bind methylated CpG dinucleotides and facilitate heterochromatin formation. CFP1 has recently been identified as a member of the mammalian SET1 histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferase complex. Disruption of CXXC1 in mice results in an early embryonic lethal phenotype, therefore CXXC1−/− embryonic stem (ES) cells were isolated from CXXC1−/− blastocysts to further characterize the function of CFP1. Embryonic stem cells lacking expression of CFP1 exhibit multiple epigenetic modification defects including altered histone modifications and reduced global cytosine methylation. DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) is the major source of DNA methyltransferase activity in mammalian cells and is responsible for copying methylation patterns during DNA replication. Dnmt1 protein level and methyltransferase activity are decreased by ~50% in CXXC1−/− ES cells and are rescued by stable expression of murine CFP1. Dnmt1 transcript level is not reduced in CXXC1 −/− ES cells, however. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed an interaction between CFP1 and Dnmt1 in vivo. Regulation of Dnmt1 protein level and activity by CFP1 is an exciting discovery in that it is the first example of reduced Dnmt1 protein without direct disruption of Dnmt1 gene function. The functional significance of this novel intersection of epigenetic regulatory proteins is the principle focus of ongoing experiments.
Tree-valued Markov chains derived from Galton-Watson processes

Abstract Let G be a Galton-Watson tree, and for 0 ≤ u ≤ 1 let G u be the subtree of G obtained by retaining each edge with probability u. We study the tree-valued Markov process ( G u, 0 ≤ u ≤ 1) and an analogous process ( G u∗, 0 ≤ u ≤ 1) in which G 1∗ is a critical or subcritical Galton-Watson tree conditioned to be infinite. Results simplify and are further developed in the special case of Poisson offspring distribution.
Clinical prediction model for differentiation of disseminated Histoplasma capsulatum and Mycobacterium avium complex infections in febrile patients with AIDS.

BACKGROUND Disseminated infection with Histoplasma capsulatum and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in patients with AIDS are frequently difficult to distinguish clinically. METHODS We retrospectively compared demographic information, other opportunistic infections, medications, symptoms, physical examination findings and laboratory parameters at the time of hospital presentation for 32 patients with culture documented disseminated histoplasmosis and 58 patients with disseminated MAC infection. RESULTS Positive predictors of histoplasma infection by univariate analysis included lactate dehydrogenase level, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet count, alkaline phosphatase level, and CD4 cell count. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, those characteristics that remained significant included a lactate dehydrogenase value > or =500 U/L (risk ratio [RR], 42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 18.53-97.5; p < .001), alkaline phosphatase < or =300 U/L (RR, 9.35; 95% CI, 2.61-33.48; p = .008), WBC < or =4.5 x 10(6)/L (RR, 21.29; 95% CI, 6.79-66.75; p = .008), and CD4 cell count (RR, 0.958; 95% CI, 0.946-0.971; p = .001). CONCLUSIONS A predictive model for distinguishing disseminated histoplasmosis from MAC infection was developed using lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase levels as well as WBC count. This model had a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 91%, and a misclassification rate of 13%.
Neoplastic transformation induced by a direct perturbation of DNA

Treatment of Syrian hamster embryo cells with 5-bromodeoxyuridine followed by near ultraviolet irradiation results in neoplastic transformation of these cells. This demonstrates that a direct perturbation of DNA is sufficient to initiate neoplastic transformation.
Variable-temperature ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry studies of electronic isomers of Kr2+ and CH3OH*+ radical cations.

Preliminary results from a liquid nitrogen-cooled ion mobility (IM) orthogonal-time-of-flight (o-ToF) mass spectrometer applied to the separation of electronic isomers of Kr2+ and methanol radical cations (conventional and distonic) are presented. Ab initio calculations were used to estimate the energies and energy barriers to interconversion between conventional (CH3OH•+) and distonic (CH2•OH2+) radical cations. In addition, computations and experiments are used to compare ion-neutral collision cross-sections for CH3OH•+ and CH2•OH2+ radical cations and suggest that the mobility separation is achieved by ion-neutral interactions between ions and neutral buffer gas.