cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Over-the-scope clip for endoscopic closure of gastrogastric fistulae

Abstract Background Gastrogastric fistulae (GGF) are a well-known complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Endoscopic approaches for closure of GGF have gained popularity, but with limited data and efficacy. Objectives The primary arm of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the endoscopic closure of GGF using the over-the-scope clip (OTSC) device. Setting University hospital, United States Methods This is a retrospective review of consecutive patients at a single academic center from September 2013 to December 2014 who underwent upper endoscopy with attempted OTSC placement for closure of GGF related to RYGB. Preprocedural, procedural, and postprocedural data were collected. Outcome measures included technical success, primary success, and long-term success. Results A total of 14 patients underwent attempted GGF closure using OTSC. Twelve of the 14 patients (85.7%) had technical success. Four patients were lost to follow-up. Primary success was achieved in 5 of the 10 patients (50%) in which it was assessed, either by upper gastrointestinal series or endoscopy. One of the 5 patients who had primary success was then lost to follow-up. Of the 4 patients in whom primary success was achieved and had long-term follow up, 75% (n = 3) achieved long-term success at a mean follow-up of 6.6 months from initial OTSC placement (range, 3–9), making for a long-term success rate of 33% (3/9). There were no reported complications. Conclusion OTSC closure of small GGF is feasible, safe, and offers a reasonable alternative to surgical revision. Large GGF may undergo attempted endoscopic closure, acknowledging a high failure rate.
Syntax part 2: syntactic and morphosyntactic properties in AAE

Focal point For the most part, words in sentences in AAE are arranged in the same order as words in sentences in other varieties of English, but in AAE different combinations are allowed. For example, in AAE, the word order subject-auxiliary-main verb-object occurs in AAE I didn't see nothing just as in general American English I didn't see anything . The difference is that in AAE both the auxiliary and object can be negative. Also, AAE uses the same words that occur in other varieties of English, but these words can take on different meanings and functions. One case in point is that it can be used to indicate that something exists: It be just the right amount of decoration on those birthday cakes . When I rose this morning, I didn't have no doubt. [line from a song sung in African American church services] Introduction This chapter presents a description of patterns in the syntactic and morphological components of AAE. As in chapter 2, I will be concerned with the way words are combined to form sentences, and I will also consider morphology, that part of the system that deals with the function of smaller units of words such as suffixes. Oftentimes negative opinions are formed about AAE and the people who speak it based on the type of data that will be discussed in this chapter.
A Description of Settlement Pattern and Population Movement on the Papago Reservation

ABSTRACTThis paper presents a classification of present Papago settlement pattern. Farms, pastures, homesteads, ranches, and two types of villages are described. In the past, the Papago Indians migrated seasonally between two villages; one was located in the mountains and the other was located in the plain. The most drastic change has been the establishment of permanent residence in one or the other village. It is argued that this change was accompanied by changes in the economy. From the late 19th century to the present there has been increased participation in a cash economy and less involvement in subsistence activities.
2014 Federal Recommendations for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention With Persons With HIV: A New Road Map for High Impact Prevention

Background. In 2014, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 5 nongovernmental organizations issued Recommendations for HIV Prevention with Adults and Adolescents with HIV in the United States. This evidence-based guideline for clinical providers, nonclinical providers, and health departments updates 2003 federal guidance for clinicians to incorporate HIV prevention into HIV medical care. Methods. The new guideline compiles the latest federal recommendations on biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions to reduce HIV transmission from persons with HIV. Recommendations address linkage to and retention in HIV care; antiretroviral treatment (ART) and adherence; behavioral risk-reduction strategies; partner services; sexually transmitted disease (STD) services; and reproductive and pregnancy services. Results. Important new recommendations for clinicians include: inform all persons with HIV about the benefits of early ART to improve health and to reduce transmission; help with appointment scheduling, insurance enrollment, and other proactive linkage assistance; offer ART to all patients regardless of CD4 count; support care retention and long-term ART adherence (through patient monitoring, simplified regimens, and advice on managing ART dosing, side effects, and costs); offer evidence-based risk-reduction interventions; routinely screen genital and extra-genital sites for STDs that facilitate HIV transmission; offer reproductive health counseling, family planning, special conception methods, and pregnancy services that reduce sexual and perinatal HIV transmission; and screen partners for HIV, STD, and viral hepatitis. The guideline stresses use of multidisciplinary teams and collaboration of clinical, nonclinical, and public health sectors to improve quality of prevention and care services. Conclusion. Providers who implement these recommendations can advance goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy: prevent new HIV infections and reduce HIV-related illness and health disparities. Guideline sponsors are promoting guideline awareness among health professionals and persons with HIV, training, decision-support tools, and expanded access to services. Ongoing evaluations will assess the impact of recommended interventions on delivery of HIV services. Disclosures. All authors: No reported disclosures.
Microbial functional diversity alters the structure and sensitivity of oxygen deficient zones

Oxygen deficient zones (ODZs) below the ocean surface regulate marine productivity by removing bioavailable nitrogen (N). A complex microbial community mediates N loss, but the interplay of its diverse metabolisms is poorly understood. We present an ecosystem model of the North Pacific ODZ that reproduces observed chemical distributions, yet predicts different ODZ structure, rates, and climatic sensitivity compared to traditional geochemical models. An emergent lower O2 limit for nitrification lies below the upper O2 threshold for denitrification, creating a zone of microbial coexistence that causes a larger ODZ, but slower total rates of N loss. O2-dependent competition for the intermediate nitrite produces gradients in its oxidation versus reduction, the net ecological stoichiometry of N loss, and the balance of anammox versus heterotrophic denitrification. Consequently, an externally driven ODZ expansion is predicted to favor communities that more efficiently remove N, increasing the sensitivity of the N cycle to climate change.
I-01 Novel mechanism of action of anti-malarial drugs in the inhibition of type I interferon production

Background Anti-malarial drugs (AMD) such as Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Quinacrine (QC) are effective in the treatment of skin rash and arthritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, which mechanism(s) are responsible for their beneficial action is uncertain. Type I interferon, (IFN-I) is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE and ‘interferonopathies’ such as Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome (AGS) A new DNA activated IFN-I pathway, cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS), was recently discovered and linked to AGS and mouse models of Lupus. Preliminary data indicate that a subset of SLE patients also have elevated cGAs and cGAMP (the cyclic dinucleotide responsible for activation of STING and IFN-I. Materials and methods In silico structure-based drug screening were provided by the CANDO docking algorithm. Predictions made by CANDO were confirmed by Autodock Vina and analysed via PyMOL. cGAS activity/cGAMP production was analysed by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). DNA-binding to cGAS in the presence or absence of AMD was determined by an Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA). Following DNA cell transfections, cytokines were quantified by qPCR, ELISA or an ISRE-luciferase reporter assay. cGAMP in patient samples was quantified by mass spectrometry. Results In silico screening of drug libraries identified several antimalarial drugs (AMD) which could potentially inhibit cGAS activity by interacting with cGAS/DNA dimer complex. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay revealed that AMD disrupted the double stranded DNA-cGAS complex in a dose dependent manner. These AMD also inhibited IFN-I expression in THP1 cells transfected with dsDNA and in 293 T cells transfected with cGAS/STING plasmids validating that cGAS is a target of AMD. We synthesisedsynthesized several new AMD. One of these compounds, X6, had excellent water solubility and cell penetration. X6 localised to the cytosol and had a lower toxicity profile compared to QC. Biochemical and cellular assays revealed that X6 was a more potent inhibitor of IFN-I production than HCQ. We also validated mechanism of action and proof of concept in the animal model of AGS. Conclusions Our studies identify new DNA sensor cGAS as a target of AMD activity, which provide a novel mechanism of action of these AMD. We have synthesised new AMD like drugs that are also able to inhibit cGAS as well as Toll pathways. These drugs could be beneficial for the treatment of AGS and/or Lupus.
A simple technique for suppressor detection in Escherichia coli

To study the viability of a gyrA S83 stop mutation found in an Escherichia coli J53 ciprofloxacin-resistant strain (J53 CipR27), a pBR322 derivative was constructed with a TAG mutation in the bla gene knocking out ampicillin resistance. Ampicillin resistance was restored, suggesting that the strain contains tRNA suppressor activity able to suppress the UAG codon gyrA and allow viability. The method was applied to 22 unique clinical E. coli isolates, and all were found to have low-level suppressor activity.
B.F. Skinner's Radical Behaviorism: Logical Positivism or Dialectical Materialism? (Part 3)

Looking back upon the historical development of philosophical and scientific discourse in the West, one is tempted to remark—from the viewpointof a current science of human behavior-that it seems the world is in the business of gradually teaching us successively more accurate forms of describing what it is doing. And, in spite of the risk of oversimplification, I want to discuss this historical development as the generation of a triumvirate of verbal practices and explanations within the philosophical and scientific community. These three explanatory "languages," in their order of development, are (1) idealism, and its more recent variation, mentalism; (2) mechanistic materialism, and its contemporaneous moves to avoid slipping back into idealism, logical positivism; and (3) the most recent, and most accurate or "scientific" of these practices, dialectical materialism. It appears with the first two patterns of explanation must occur within a scientific verbal community before the third emerges, for this pattern has prevailed in both the development of science, in general, and the development of the science of behavior, in particular. I will say at the outset that the science of behavior is Skinner's Radical Behaviorism, and that this science should certainly be regarded as a form of dialectical materialism as the term is employed in this discussion. TABLE OF CONTENTS The Genesis of Idealism in Hellenistic Thought The Roman Empire as Mixing Pot The Rise of Science and Mechanistic Materialism Descartes' Entrenchment of Dualism—Plato Revisited Developments Until the Beginnings of American Psychology Psychology in the U.S., or the Genesis of Methodological Behaviorism Theology as Thesis, Darwin as Antithesis, and Freud as Pseudo-Synthesis The Three Arms of "Positivism" The Paradigmatic Revolution in Science Skinner and Private Events The Importance of Skinner to a Post-Transition Society Conclusion & Footnotes
William Howe and the American War of Independence: Smith, David. London: Bloomsbury Academic 201 pp., $112.00 ISBN (Vol. 1) 978-1-4725-8535-6 Publication Date: May 2015

General Sir William Howe has long been considered one of the most enigmatic figures of the American Revolution. As commander of the British army in America during the crucial campaigns of 1776 and ...
3 Halves of a Whole: Homosexuality and Self-Acceptance in BBC’s Sherlock

BBC’s Sherlock presents a variety of relationships as it follows the escapades of famous detective duo Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, as they maneuver through their daily lives and work to stop the efforts of super villain Professor James Moriarty. Over time, the character of Sherlock has been made and remade, presented to fit the day and age in which it is released. First released in 2009, Sherlock has been a discussion point regarding homosexual relationships between men by fans and critics alike. Through a deep reading with a utilization of Queer Theory, this paper will further explore the characters in Sherlock, their relations and contrasts with other characters of homosexual orientation, and how the three fit together to form one single person, displayed in three parts through three characters.
Tents and Harems: Alteration of Leaves by Foliage-Roosting Bats

When one thinks of "tents and harems," what often comes to mind is the Arabian desert and the harems that have for centuries been kept by wealthy sultans. Instead, this article is about bats, those which live beneath leaves that they modify and use as shelters. In Trinidad, and elsewhere throughout the New World tropics, several species of fruit-eating bats modify leaves of vines, epiphytes, and palms for their use as so-called "tents".
Clinical and socioeconomic factors associated with negative pediatric appendicitis.

Abstract Background Misdiagnosing appendicitis may lead to unnecessary surgery. The study evaluates the risk factors for negative appendectomies, as well as the clinical and socioeconomic consequences of negative appendectomy across three states. Materials and methods Data were obtained from the California, New York, and Florida State Inpatient Databases 2005-2011. Patients ( n = 156,660) were evaluated with hierarchical and multivariate negative binomial regression analyses on outcomes including hospital cost, length of stay (LOS), and associated morbidity. Results From 2005 to 2011, there was a decrease in the rate of negative appendicitis and perforated appendicitis, whereas the rate of true acute nonperforated appendicitis increased. Whites, females, and privately insured patients were associated with higher negative appendicitis rates, whereas those at an increased risk for perforated appendicitis were African-Americans, males, and those with public or no insurance. Compared to patients with acute nonperforated appendicitis, those with negative appendicitis have significantly higher morbidity (2.5% versus 1.3%), longer LOS (3.4 versus 1.8 d), and greater hospital costs averaged over time ($6926 versus $6492 per patient). Conclusions Despite a low incidence, negative appendicitis is associated with greater morbidity, longer LOS, and higher cost than acute nonperforated appendicitis. Certain subpopulations are at higher risk for undergoing surgery for negative appendicitis, whereas others are at greater risk for presenting with perforated appendicitis. Further research is needed to understand what drives such disparities and to inform efforts to improve quality of hospital care across all groups of patients.
A precision medicine strategy to identify the FGFR pathway as a novel target in colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

660Background: Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM) continues to be a major health problem and despite extensive efforts to develop new drugs, median survival remains at a mere 30 months. The purpose of our study is 1. Develop a precision medicine strategy for patients with CRCLM and 2. Discover novel pathways and treatments to improve outcomes. Methods: In order to develop a precision medicine strategy, 6 matched patient derived xenografts (PDX) and cell lines were established from patients undergoing resection of their CRCLM. A high-throughput drug screen containing over 100 FDA approved drugs was first used in vitro on 3 cell lines to identify therapeutic targets. The top therapeutic targets were validated in vivo. RNA seq was then performed to identify potential predictive markers of response. Results: Our high-throughput drug screen performed on 3 early passage CRC cell lines (CRC057, CRC119 and CRC240) identified ponatinib, a multi TKI, as the only agent to inhibit all 3 cell lines. Subsequent...
Using Full Genomic Information to Predict Disease: Breaking Down the Barriers Between Complex and Mendelian Diseases

While sequence-based genetic tests have long been available for specific loci, especially for Mendelian disease, the rapidly falling costs of genome-wide genotyping arrays, whole-exome sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing are moving us toward a future where full genomic information might inform the prognosis and treatment of a variety of diseases, including complex disease. Similarly, the availability of large populations with full genomic information has enabled new insights about the etiology and genetic architecture of complex disease. Insights from the latest generation of genomic studies suggest that our categorization of diseases as complex may conceal a wide spectrum of genetic architectures and causal mechanisms that ranges from Mendelian forms of complex disease to complex regulatory structures underlying Mendelian disease. Here, we review these insights, along with advances in the prediction of disease risk and outcomes from full genomic information.
The Analects and Moral Theory

This chapter explores the advantages and disadvantages of viewing the Analects through the lens of contemporary moral theory. It begins with methodological questions that center around whether the ways that philosophers—both East and West—have sought to use Western categories to interpret the Analects result in a troubling privileging of Western perspectives. In answering this question, it is helpful to distinguish between two scholarly modes: the interpretive and the dialogical. Categories not derived from the Analects itself are relevant to the philosophical interpretation of the text only insofar as a case can be made that they contribute to a better understanding of the text than is available without them (or via alternative categories). Philosophical dialogue, on the other hand, may have primary aims that are different from the best understanding of a given source text. The chapter then turns to detailed considerations of Kantian deontology, which Sinophone scholarship on the text has tended to stress; virtue ethics, which is more prominent in Anglophone secondary literature; and role ethics, which has emerged as a potential alternative to both deontology and virtue ethics. These discussions reveal that Sinophone and Anglophone philosophers are starting to engage one another, which is helping to spur the related (though not identical) process of dialogue between Western and Chinese philosophical traditions. Concern about an unhealthy hegemony of Western categories is by no means a thing of the past, but we are beginning to see glimpses of a future that is pluralistic, open, and global.
Structure and Bonding

A general discussion of the structural and bonding characteristics of polyhedral boranes and their derivatives is given from the viewpoint of both localized-bond and electron-delocalized approaches, and methods for correlating cage geometry with skeletal electron count via systematic rules are outlined. Several topics that are more fully developed in later chapters are introduced, including cage rearrangement and isomer stability, aromaticity in cluster frameworks, and the notion of electron deficiency as applied to boron cage compounds.
Advanced steels for lightweight automotive structures

Abstract: High strength steels are commonly used in the automotive industry to reduce mass and improve structural performance. This chapter discusses the history of steel in the manufacture of automobiles, the types of steels currently being used and the new advances in the types of steels that can be used for lightweighting automotive structures. The chapter also reviews the manufacturing and forming aspects of these steels along with some design considerations for the selection of these materials.
Unsupervised Domain Ranking in Large-Scale Web Crawls

With the proliferation of web spam and infinite autogenerated web content, large-scale web crawlers require low-complexity ranking methods to effectively budget their limited resources and allocate bandwidth to reputable sites. In this work, we assume crawls that produce frontiers orders of magnitude larger than RAM, where sorting of pending URLs is infeasible in real time. Under these constraints, the main objective is to quickly compute domain budgets and decide which of them can be massively crawled. Those ranked at the top of the list receive aggressive crawling allowances, while all other domains are visited at some small default rate. To shed light on Internet-wide spam avoidance, we study topology-based ranking algorithms on domain-level graphs from the two largest academic crawls: a 6.3B-page IRLbot dataset and a 1B-page ClueWeb09 exploration. We first propose a new methodology for comparing the various rankings and then show that in-degree BFS-based techniques decisively outperform classic PageRank-style methods, including TrustRank. However, since BFS requires several orders of magnitude higher overhead and is generally infeasible for real-time use, we propose a fast, accurate, and scalable estimation method called TSE that can achieve much better crawl prioritization in practice. It is especially beneficial in applications with limited hardware resources.
Interfacial shear stress transfer at nanowire-polymer interfaces with van der Waals interactions and chemical bonding

Abstract Interfacial mechanics between nanostructures and matrix is of critical importance for a range of device applications of the nanostructures. However, it is challenging to characterize interfacial shear stress transfer at such nanoscale interfaces. In this work, we report a new method to study the interfacial shear stress transfer of single Si nanowires on top of a polymer substrate that is subjected to uniaxial tensile loading. In-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) testing is used to measure the nanowire deformation, more specifically, average axial strain, as a function of the applied strain to the substrate. Two types of substrates, as-prepared and chemically treated, are selected to examine the effect of van der Waals interactions and chemical bonding. It is found that nonlinear and bilinear cohesive shear-lag models can well capture the interfacial shear stress transfer characteristics associated with the two types of interactions, respectively. For each type, the interface parameters such as interfacial stiffness, shear strength, and/or fracture toughness are identified by fitting the experimental results. This work provides valuable insights into fundamental mechanisms underlying the interfacial shear-lag models. In addition, a parametric study with different nanowire dimensions is carried out, which can provide a guide to experimental design of elastic strain engineering and fracture of Si nanowires.
Combining Partial host resistance with bacterial biocontrol agents improves outcomes for tomatoes infected with Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum

Abstract We selected six strains with in vitro antagonism against 15 South Asian strains of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum from among 54 previously characterized Pseudomonas and other bacterial biocontrol strains and evaluated the value of integration of these biocontrol agents with partial host resistance of tomato in management of bacterial wilt. Biocontrol strains were almost four times more effective in suppressing bacterial wilt in IRAT L3, a partially resistant tomato line, than in L390, a highly susceptible line. Pseudomonas brassicacearum 93D8 and Wood 1R, and P. fluorescens Clinto 1 were the most effective strains with biocontrol efficacy of 68, 47 and 56% respectively, in IRAT L3. Bacterial wilt incidence was suppressed in IRAT L3 in four of four experiments by P. brassicacearum 93D8, and in three of four experiments by P. protegens Clinto 1 and P. brassicacearum Wood 1R. However, in L390, biocontrol efficacy of P. brassicacearum 93D8 and Wood 1R, and P. fluorescens Clinto 1 was 7, 15 and 12%, respectively. There was no correlation between in vitro antagonism of the biocontrol strains against R. pseudosolanacearum and in vivo biocontrol efficacy. These results highlight the value of integration of biocontrol agents with host resistance in management of bacterial wilt.
Sociomaterial Relations in Asynchronous Learning Environments

In this research study, we engaged in experimentation with materiality in an attempt to explore how sociomaterial perspectives can inform theory and practice in equitable science education. This study took place in a biological science-focused asynchronous learning environment which consisted of a collection of technological tools designed for students to fully participate in science practices outside of a face-to-face or laboratory setting. We explored the data using theoretical perspectives that were new to us and helped us shed light on the intertwined roles of materials and humans in online learning in terms of equitable science assessment practices. Our work provided an opportunity for researchers and instructional designers to examine the social and material dimensions that affect learners in technology-enhanced science learning environments and address potentially oppressive sociomaterial assemblages.
The First-Order Theory of the Ring of All Entire Functions

The material of this chapter is drawn from the paper [3], “First-Order Conformal Invariants.” Let edenote the ring of all entire functions as an abstract ring. Much information about the theory of entire functions is present in the theory of e. For example, an entire function f omits the value 7 iff there exists an entire function g such that (f - 7)g= 1.
Sensitivity of Western U.S. power system dynamics to droughts compounded with fuel price variability

Abstract The energy sector is heavily dependent on surface water availability for reliable electricity generation. Power system operations are usually evaluated through system reliability and economic perspectives, with assumptions based on market prices and normal water availability. As natural gas technologies continue to dominate new thermal capacity, replacing retiring coal and nuclear generators, natural gas price stability becomes increasingly important and the impact of price volatility on grid operations must be understood. Here, we explore the range of Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) regional power operations, which represents the electric interconnection over the western half of the continental United States, using a production cost model driven by different fuel prices and an integrated hydrology model to simulate historical water availability. Our results show system-wide operation costs increasing in drought years or when gas prices increase, as expected. In addition, we found those system-wide increases can be of the same magnitude. Regional analysis of the responses to compounded droughts and price volatility highlight differences in magnitude and direction depending on regional generation technology portfolios. The Pacific Northwest is most sensitive to drought conditions, Southern California is most sensitive to gas prices, and the Desert Southwest is sensitive to both with the same magnitude. This analysis motivates further research in combined hydrology and power system modeling to characterize regional dynamics and associated uncertainties across scales, which is an important underpinning for the development of more resilient energy and water systems.
Severe Upper Limb Injuries in U.S. Military Personnel: Incidence, Risk Factor and Outcomes.

Background Severe upper limb injuries (SULI) may pose a significant public health challenge for the military; however, SULI has not been previously defined or studied in the US military. Objective: Determine SULI incidence, risk factors, and outcomes. Materials and methods Active Component (AC) U.S. military personnel who served during January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2012 who met the case definition for SULI (N = 213,745) and a random sample from the same population without SULI were included. Data from the Defense Medical Surveillance System and Defense Medical Epidemiology Database was used to calculate incidence. Multiple logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze SULI risk factors and attrition. Results SULI incidence was 15/1,000 person-years. Higher SULI risk was observed in men (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.22-1.27), age 25-29 (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.05-1.09) compared to age 20-24, E5-E9 (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.12-1.17) compared to E1-E4, serving in Coast guard (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.56-1.68) and Air Force (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.14-1.19) relative to Army and with a deployment history (OR 2.16, 95% CI 2.12-2.19) while SULI risk was lower for blacks (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.90-0.93) and those in the "other race" category (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.80-0.84) compared to whites. SULI was associated with 23% increased risk of attrition (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.22-1.24). Conclusion The study findings provide preliminary evidence on the incidence, natural history and distribution of SULI in this population. The findings indicate SULI may impact readiness and result in premature military separation.
Two-Color Laser Induced Fluorescence Measurements of Natural Convection in a Dielectric Fluid

Two-color Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) was used to experimentally capture the temperature profile above a horizontally oriented copper surface using PF-5060 as the dielectric working fluid. Natural convection was examined at heat fluxes ranging from 0.16 to 0.76 W/cm2 and ambient temperatures of 20-45°C. A two-color LIF technique with an NdYag laser was used in order to implement an in situ calibration standard. Sulforhodamine 101 is used as the calibration standard as its fluorescent intensity profile is independent of fluid temperature. Rhodamine B, which has a fluorescent intensity profile that does vary with respect to temperature, is compared to that of the in situ calibration standard. Since the attenuation experienced by the fluorescing light from both of these dyes is the same as they travel through the same path to reach the camera's CCD, the ratio of these intensities produced a reliable calibration standard for experimental measurements. The entire assembly is placed in a laboratory-grade oven with a clear viewing panel for laser access during calibration and testing. Temperature uniformity of +/− 0.25°C was established in the oven during calibration, producing a repeatable and consistent calibration curve for subsequent experimental measurements. A repeatable and unobtrusive method for measuring temperature profiles have been established in the single phase. This validated technique can be carried over to future two-phase and/or heterogeneous mixture studies.
Survey of current treatment practices for venous thromboembolism in patients with cystic fibrosis

Background Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) pose therapeutic challenges including potential drug interactions between CF-related therapies and anticoagulants. Despite these challenges, there are no recommendations for VTE management specific to patients with CF. Our objective was to describe VTE treatment practices among Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF)-accredited care centers and affiliate programs in the United States. Methods An online survey was distributed to CF center directors. The survey included questions regarding centers' demographics and posed a series of hypothetical clinical scenarios to gather centers' VTE treatment practices including choice of anticoagulant, dosing practices, duration decisions, and monitoring efforts. Descriptive statistics were utilized to summarize the survey results. Results The survey response rate was 56.3%. Most centers reported treating zero to five VTE episodes per year. The following anticoagulants were used most often for VTE treatment: low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) (73.2%), apixaban (36.6%), warfarin (35.2%), rivaroxaban (33.8%), and unfractionated heparin (18.3%). On a scale of 0 to 100, the median confidence level in managing anticoagulant therapy was 50. Many centers expressed a desire for a CF-specific VTE treatment guideline. The most commonly cited challenging clinical situations were managing anticoagulant therapy complications (26.5%) and drug-drug interactions (21.3%). For common VTE scenarios, pediatric patients were most often treated with LMWH and warfarin, whereas adult patients were more often treated with apixaban or rivaroxaban. Conclusions Survey results indicated CF care centers find managing VTE in patients with CF challenging and indicated that a CF-specific VTE treatment guideline would be helpful.
Is screening for psychosocial risk factors associated with mental health care in older adults with cancer undergoing surgery

BACKGROUND Surgery is a notable stressor for older adults with cancer, who often are medically and psychosocially complex. The current study examined rates of preoperative psychosocial risk factors in older adults with cancer who were undergoing elective surgery and the relationship between these risk factors and the provision of mental health services during the postoperative hospitalization. METHODS A total of 1211 patients aged ≥75 years who were referred to the geriatrics service at a comprehensive cancer center were enrolled. Patients underwent elective surgery with a length of stay of ≥3 days and were followed for at least 30 days after surgery. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was administered as part of routine preoperative care. Bivariate relationships between demographic and surgical characteristics and the preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment and the receipt of mental health services during the postoperative hospitalization period were examined. Characteristics with bivariate relationships that were significant at the level of P < .10 were entered into a multivariable regression predicting postoperative mental health service use. RESULTS Approximately one-fifth of the total sample (20.6%) received postoperative mental health services. In multivariable analyses, high distress (P = .007) and poor social support (P = .02) were found to be associated with a greater likelihood of the receipt of mental health services. Of those patients with high distress and poor social support, only approximately one-quarter (24.6%-25.5%) received mental health care. CONCLUSIONS Distressed older adults and those with low levels of support preoperatively were found to be more likely to receive mental health services after surgery. Nevertheless, less than one-third of these patients received inpatient postoperative mental health care, indicating that barriers to translating screening into the provision of psychosocial services remain.
I ride for MS: The impact of bike MS participation on motivation for physical activity in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Background Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that results in deficits in physical and cognitive functioning. Research supports the use of physical activity (PA) to aid in MS symptom management and slow disease progression, however individuals diagnosed with MS are generally physically inactive. Social support has been shown to increase PA behavior in group exercise settings. Events such as Bike MS, a charity bicycle ride where individuals raise money for MS, could increase motivation for participation and therefore may be an ideal setting to introduce PA to individuals diagnosed with MS. Objective /Hypothesis: The objective of the current research was to explore motives for participation in a Bike MS event in individuals diagnosed with MS and their family members, and examine if their Bike MS participation has translated to long-term PA behavior change and positive quality of life outcomes. Methods A descriptive qualitative approach using semi-structured focus group, individual, and phone interviews, combined with observational field notes, was used to explore the experiences of seven individuals diagnosed with MS and four family members from two regional self-help groups who all actively participated in a Bike MS event. Results Participants reported important social bonds, raising awareness for the cause, fundraising, long-term physical benefits, and overall increased quality of life as motives for participation. All participants reported long-term PA participation as a result of Bike MS participation. Conclusion Results support using Bike MS to increase long-term PA participation in individuals with MS, resulting in positive quality of life outcomes.
Toxicokinetics of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in male and female Hsd:Sprague dawley SD rats following intravenous or gavage administration.

Poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent chemicals associated with many adverse health outcomes. The National Toxicology Program evaluated the toxicokinetics ...
Does Social Constructionist Curricula Both Decrease Essentialist and Increase Nominalist Beliefs About Race

Increasingly, educators in the biological and social sciences teach about the concept of race from a social constructionist perspective. Scholarship on race pedagogy suggests that to fully appreciate the complexity of race, students must be able to both deconstruct multiple false beliefs about the fixed nature of race (i.e., racial essentialism) and be able to articulate the sociopolitical development of race (i.e., racial nominalism). In this study, a “knowledge in pieces” theory provides a framework for examining students’ learning about multiple beliefs about race. Participants (N = 116) were recruited online and were randomly assigned to watch either a video about the social construction of race or a video about stereotypes. Participants completed multidimensional measures of racial essentialism and racial nominalism before and after watching the videos. As predicted, participants in the social construction video condition showed significantly greater decreases in genotypic and behavioral racial essentialism but surprisingly showed moderate increases in phenotypic essentialism, relative to changes among participants in the stereotype video condition. Moderation analyses explored how changes in racial essentialism were concurrent with changes in racial nominalism, and whether these concurrences depended on which video participants were exposed to; for example, in the social construction video condition only, decreases in genotypic and behavioral essentialism concurred with increases in sociopolitical nominalism. Findings are discussed in light of pedagogical and curricular strategies for teaching the social construction of race.
KOH-activated high surface area Douglas Fir biochar for adsorbing aqueous Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II)

Abstract Biochar has become a popular research topic in sustainable chemistry for use both in agriculture and pollution abatement. To enhance aqueous Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal efficiency, high surface area (535 m2/g) byproduct Douglas fir biochar (DFBC) from commercial syn-gas production obtained by fast pyrolysis (900–1000 °C, 1–10 s), was subjected to a KOH activation. KOH-activated biochar (KOHBC) underwent a remarkable surface area increase to 1049 m2/g and a three-fold increase in pore volume (BET analysis). Batch sorption studies on KOHBC verses pH revealed that the highest chromium, lead and cadmium removal capacities occurred at pH 2.0, 5.0 and 6.0, respectively. KOHBC exhibited much higher adsorption capacities than unactivated DFBC. Heavy metal loadings onto KOHBC were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Sorption of Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II) all followed pseudo-second order kinetics and the Langmuir adsorption model. The highest Langmuir adsorption capacities at the respective pH’s of maximum adsorption were 140.0 mg g−1 Pb(II), 127.2 mg g-1 Cr(VI) and 29.0 mg g−1 Cd(II). Metal ions spiked into natural and laboratory waste water systems exhibited high sorption capacities. Desorption studies carried out using 0.1 M HCl revealed that Pb(II) adsorption onto the KOHBC surface is reversible. Portions of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) adsorbed strongly onto KOHBC were unable to be desorbed by 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaOH.
Measuring environmental (dis)amenity value during a pandemic: Early evidence from Maryland

Abstract With the outbreak of COVID-19 and the implementation of stay-at-home (SAH) orders aimed to mitigate its spread, households became less mobile and sheltered in place. This behavior has potential implications for how households’ value environmental (dis)amenities, especially those that are underutilized during the pandemic. In this paper, we explore changes in the valuation of two prominent environmental (dis)amenities – major roadway and open space proximity – by households within the Baltimore metropolitan region. We find evidence that the housing price capitalization of immediate major roadway proximity changes due to the SAH order and associated policies that impact economic activity, suggesting a shift in household perceptions, while there is no evidence of open space valuation changes. These results may have significant implications for homeowner welfare if the altered capitalization of environmental (dis)amenities is temporary due to the SAH order.
Engineering Posttranslational Regulation of Glutamine Synthetase for Controllable Ammonia Production in the Plant Symbiont Azospirillum brasilense.

Nitrogen requirements for modern agriculture far exceed the levels of bioavailable nitrogen in most arable soils. As a result, the addition of nitrogen fertilizer is necessary to sustain productivity and yields, especially for cereal crops, the planet's major calorie suppliers. Given the unsustainability of industrial fertilizer production and application, engineering biological nitrogen fixation directly at the roots of plants has been a grand challenge for biotechnology. Here, we designed and tested a potentially broadly applicable metabolic engineering strategy for the overproduction of ammonia in the diazotrophic symbiont Azospirillum brasilense. Our approach is based on an engineered unidirectional adenylyltransferase (uAT) that posttranslationally modifies and deactivates glutamine synthetase (GS), a key regulator of nitrogen metabolism in the cell. We show that this circuit can be controlled inducibly, and we leveraged the inherent self-contained nature of our posttranslational approach to demonstrate that multicopy redundancy can improve strain evolutionary stability. uAT-engineered Azospirillum is capable of producing ammonia at rates of up to 500 μM h-1 unit of OD600 (optical density at 600 nm)-1. We demonstrated that when grown in coculture with the model monocot Setaria viridis, these strains increase the biomass and chlorophyll content of plants up to 54% and 71%, respectively, relative to the wild type (WT). Furthermore, we rigorously demonstrated direct transfer of atmospheric nitrogen to extracellular ammonia and then plant biomass using isotopic labeling: after 14 days of cocultivation with engineered uAT strains, 9% of chlorophyll nitrogen in Setaria seedlings was derived from diazotrophically fixed dinitrogen, whereas no nitrogen was incorporated in plants cocultivated with WT controls. This rational design for tunable ammonia overproduction is modular and flexible, and we envision that it could be deployable in a consortium of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic diazotrophs for plant fertilization. IMPORTANCE Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in modern agriculture. Free-living diazotrophs, such as Azospirillum, are common colonizers of cereal grasses and have the ability to fix nitrogen but natively do not release excess ammonia. Here, we used a rational engineering approach to generate ammonia-excreting strains of Azospirillum. Our design features posttranslational control of highly conserved central metabolism, enabling tunability and flexibility of circuit placement. We found that our strains promote the growth and health of the model grass S. viridis and rigorously demonstrated that in comparison to WT controls, our engineered strains can transfer nitrogen from 15N2 gas to plant biomass. Unlike previously reported ammonia-producing mutants, our rationally designed approach easily lends itself to further engineering opportunities and has the potential to be broadly deployable.
Using lecture podcasts in the COVID-19 transition to virtual post-secondary education in agriculture

Abstract In the spring 2020 semester SFASU transitioned face-to-face classes to online instruction because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The east Texas region suffers from some of the poorest internet availability in the nation. Thus, limitations exist for streaming lectures or having students download large files. Podcasts are small audio files that can be downloaded from the internet for learning. Research has shown that the use of lecture podcasts have a variety of benefits for both faculty and students. Lecture podcasts provide students small file sizes to download and access and allow them to engage with the course material asynchronously. Therefore, the decision was made to record lecture podcasts for Cultivating Plants, Plant Propagation, and Plant Breeding to deliver educational content for the class. An end of semester survey conducted by the SFASU Agriculture Department indicated that 59% of students who engaged with this type of learning felt it was extremely effective. Additional student comments and semester reflections also provided feedback. This example provides further evidence that lecture podcasts can be a useful tool for educators in an ever-changing world. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Here Comes the Sun

The development, subsidization, and debate over solar energy are surveyed. Solar in recent years has taken a distinct backseat to wind, both in electricity generated and controversy sparked. Solar has also produced likely the single biggest black eye for subsidized alternative energy: the case of Solyndra, in which the poster child for the promise of solar energy became the source of its most scandalous episode. Innovation, effectiveness, and cost reductions will ultimately make renewables economically viable. But that day will not be hastened—indeed, it may be delayed—by government manipulation of the market. Private equity and venture capital have no irrational bias against solar. But crony capitalism and political favoritism will only pump up losers like Solyndra.
Computing regions decomposable into m stars

Motivated by an approach to image segmentation, we consider an optimization problem on a node-weighted planar grid graph, that of finding a maximum weight subset of nodes that can be partitioned into m subsets, each with a simple geometric structure. The problem has been considered in earlier papers, which give polynomial time algorithms for m = 2. We show that the problem admits a polynomial time algorithm for any fixed m ≥ 3.