cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The CIO at Bay: Labor Militancy and Politics in Akron, 1936-1938

CIO buttons "sprouted on overalls, shirtwaists, and workers' hats and caps ... badges of a new independence. Labor was on the march as it had never been before in the history of the Republic." Thus did Edward Levinson capture the excitement and potential of the union upsurge of the mid-1930s. Between 1936 and 1938 industrial unionism and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) became important innovative forces in American society. They transformed the labor movement and industrial relations, influenced the American political life, and raised hopes and fears of a unified working class. Yet Levinson emphasized only one side of the events of 1936-1938. At its height the industrial union movement revealed unexpected weaknesses. It lost organizing campaigns and strikes, suffered rebuffs, and failed to consolidate its power. By 1939-1940 Levinson's imagery was outdated if not inaccurate. Although the reasons for the reversal are as numerous and as imprecise as the membership of the CIO in the late 1930s, one conclusion seems inescapable: CIO men and women were neither so united nor so determined as Levinson's language suggested. The workers themselves bore much of the responsibility for the relative fall of the CIO.I The limits of labor power were nowhere more evident than in the 1937 CIO campaigns to extend the workers' influence from the union hall to city hall. In cities of all sizes, CIO leaders attempted to flex blue-collar muscles at the ballot box by electing local government officials. Their efforts, built on union
Development of Remote Terminal Unit of Integrated Total Testing Platform

Remote Terminal Unit of Integrated Total is responsible for the accurate data acquisition,storage and transmission.It's technical performance directly affects the operation of the system and the level of electricity settlement.In order to further regulate and ensure the terminal function and performance levels of the Remote Terminal Unit of Integrated Total,the testing platform was developed to detect the data acquisition,data correctness and communication protocol of the Remote Terminal Unit of Integrated Total.The platform uses the virtual meter and detection station so that the raw data can contrast to the test data,which called Closed-loop testing.
Predictive modeling for chronic pain after ventral hernia repair

Abstract Background Few studies predict which patients have dissolution of their postoperative discomfort or develop chronic pain after ventral hernia repair (VHR). This study develops a predictive model to determine which patients are at the greatest risk of chronic pain after VHR. Methods A prospective study of VHR patients was performed via the International Hernia Mesh Registry. Anonymous, self-reported, quality of life data using the Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS) was recorded preoperatively, and 1,6, and 12 months postoperatively. Pain was identified as a score of 2 or more (mild but bothersome to severe) for any Carolinas Comfort Scale pain-specific questions. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine statistically significant predictors of chronic pain. Univariate analysis selected potential predictors with a P value less than .15, and a subsequent multivariable model was built using backward elimination setting retention criterion at P Results A total of 887 patients underwent VHR between 2007 and 2014. The patients had an average age of 57.2 ± 12.8 years, 52.4% were female, 17.0% were active smokers, and 13.2% used narcotics preoperatively. With 74% follow-up at 1 year, 26.0% of the patients reported chronic discomfort. After logistic regression model, independent predictors of pain at 6 months were preoperative pain score 2 or more ( P P = .06), and 1-month postoperative pain score 2 or more ( P P = .03), female sex increased risk with an OR of 1.7(CI = 1.1 to 2.7, P = .02); preoperative pain, and recurrent hernia repair nearly doubled the risk of developing chronic pain postoperatively (OR = 3.0, CI=1.8 to 4.8, P P = .06, respectively). Importantly, presence of pain at 1 month was a strong predictor of chronic pain at 1-year follow-up (OR = 2.6, CI=1.7 to 4.2, P Conclusions Patients who have preoperative pain and at 1 month postoperatively are significantly more likely to have chronic pain. Both short- and long-term pain can be predicted from female sex, younger age, and repair of recurrent hernias. This predictive model may aid in preoperative counseling and when considering postoperative intervention for pain management in VHR patients.
Methane Emissions from Leak and Loss Audits of Natural Gas Compressor Stations and Storage Facilities

As part of the Environmental Defense Fund’s Barnett Coordinated Campaign, researchers completed leak and loss audits for methane emissions at three natural gas compressor stations and two natural gas storage facilities. Researchers employed microdilution high-volume sampling systems in conjunction with in situ methane analyzers, bag samples, and Fourier transform infrared analyzers for emissions rate quantification. All sites had a combined total methane emissions rate of 94.2 kg/h, yet only 12% of the emissions total resulted from leaks. Methane slip from exhausts represented 44% of the total emissions. Remaining methane emissions were attributed to losses from pneumatic actuators and controls, engine crankcases, compressor packing vents, wet seal vents, and slop tanks. Measured values were compared with those reported in literature. Exhaust methane emissions were lower than emissions factor estimates for engine exhausts, but when combined with crankcase emissions, measured values were 11.4% lower than p...
Evaluating Pekin duck walking ability using a treadmill performance test

Abstract Gait scoring is the most popular method for assessing the walking ability of poultry species. Although inexpensive and easy to implement, gait scoring systems are often criticized for being subjective. Using a treadmill performance test we assessed whether observable differences in Pekin duck walking ability identified using a gait scoring system translated to differences in walking performance. One hundred and eighty ducks were selected using a three-category gait scoring system (GS0 = smooth gait, n = 55; GS0.5 = labored walk without easily identifiable impediment, n = 56; GS1 = obvious impediment, n = 59) and the amount of time each duck was able to sustain walking on a treadmill at a speed of 0.31 m/s was evaluated. The walking test ended when each duck met one of three elimination criteria: (1) The duck walked for a maximum time of ten minutes, (2) the duck required support from the observer's hand for more than three seconds in order to continue walking on the treadmill, or (3) the duck sat down on the treadmill and made no attempt to stand despite receiving assistance from the observer. Data were analyzed in SAS 9.4 using PROC GLM. Tukey's multiple comparison test was used to compare differences in time spent walking between gait scores. Significant differences were found between all gait scores (P 0.05). In conclusion, the amount of time spent walking on the treadmill corresponded to gait score and was an effective measurement for quantifying Pekin duck walking ability. The test could be a valuable tool for assessing the development of walking issues or the effectiveness of treatments aimed at promoting leg health.
A Method of Predicting the Reliability of CDM Coil Insulation

This paper presents a method of predicting the reliability of the CDM coil insulation design. The method proposes a probabilistic treatment of electrical test data, stress analysis, material properties variability and loading uncertainties to give the reliability estimate.
Serially connected monolayer MoS 2 FETs with channel patterned by a 7.5 nm resolution directed self-assembly lithography

We demonstrate sub-10 nm transistor channel lengths by directed self-assembly patterning of monolayer MoS 2 in a periodic chain of homojunction semiconducting-(2H) and metallic-phase (1T') MoS 2 regions with half-pitch of 7.5 nm. The MoS 2 composite transistor possesses an off-state current of 100 pA/µm and an I on /I off ratio in excess of 105. Modeling of the resulting current-voltage characteristics reveals that the 2H/1T' MoS 2 homojunction has a resistance of 75 Ω.µm while the 2H-MoS 2 exhibits low-field mobility of ∼8 cm2/V.s and carrier injection velocity of ∼106 cm/s.
Surgical management of medullary thyroid carcinoma

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a malignant tumor of the parafollicular C cells of the thyroid and comprises only 1–2% of all thyroid cancer cases. Unlike most differentiated thyroid cancer, MTC is associated with a mean survival of 8.6 years and accounts for a disproportionate 8.6% of thyroid cancer deaths. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for loco-regional disease and the only current means of cure for MTC. The relatively low incidence of MTC has made the comprehensive study of this disease difficult and most research to date has been based largely on single institution, retrospective, and/or non-randomized studies. Despite various professional organizations such as the American Thyroid Association establishing guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with MTC, there is still significant variation in actual practice patterns with regard to the extent of surgery, as well as the management of persistent or recurrent disease. The purpose of this review is to discuss the latest updates in the surgical treatment of MTC, as well as the management of locally advanced, recurrent, and metastatic disease based on the most recent data and expert consensus guidelines.
Experiences of internationally educated nurses holding management positions in the United States: Descriptive phenomenological study.

Aims The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of internationally educated nurses in management positions in United States health care organisations to understand the obstacles and support these individuals' experience when pursuing and working in managerial roles. Background Although internationally educated nurses are an integral part of the US health care industry, few work in managerial roles. Little is known about the experiences of internationally educated nurses who do obtain management positions. Methods In this qualitative, phenomenological study, seven internationally educated nurses who were managers in Chicago, Illinois, responded to open-ended interview questions. Results Supervisors contributed to the participants' acceptance of management positions. The participants experienced challenges such as cultural differences, language, and communication. Despite these challenges, the participants had positive working relationships with staff and supervisors. Further, the participants had opportunities for education and professional growth. Conclusions Internationally educated nurses benefit from participating in organisational committees. They face challenges related to work responsibilities, cultural differences and communication but can succeed in management roles through developing strategies to overcome the challenges and through receiving support from staff, colleagues and supervisors. Implications for nursing management More internationally educated nurses may obtain managerial positions if supervisors provide encouragement and support.
Toward Effective Adoption of Secure Software Development Practices

Abstract Security tools, including static and dynamic analysis tools, can guide software developers to identify and fix potential vulnerabilities in their code. However, the use of security tools is not common among developers. The goal of this research is to develop a framework for modeling the adoption of security practices in software development and to explore sanctioning mechanisms that may promote greater adoption of these practices among developers. We propose a multiagent simulation framework that incorporates developers and manager roles, where developers maximize task completion and compliance with security policies, and the manager enforces sanctions based on functionality and security of the project. The adoption of security practices emerges through the interaction of manager and developer agents in time-critical projects. Using the framework, we evaluate the adoption of security practices for developers with different preferences and strategies under individual and group sanctions. We use a real case study for demonstrating the model and initialize the occurrence of bugs using a 13 year database of bug reports for the Eclipse Java Development Tools. Results indicate that adoption of security practices are significantly dictated by the preferences of the developers. We also observed that repetitive sanctions may cause lower retention of developers and an overall decrease in security practices. The model provides comparison of security adoption in developers with different preferences and provides guidance for managers to identify appropriate sanctioning mechanism for increasing the adoption of security tools in software development.
Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Altered Sperm Histone Retention Sites

A variety of environmental toxicants and factors have been shown to induce the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease and phenotypic variation. Epigenetic alterations in the germline (sperm or egg) are required to transmit transgenerational phenotypes. The current study was designed to investigate the potential role of histones in sperm to help mediate the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance. The agricultural fungicide vinclozolin and the pesticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) were independently used to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease. Purified cauda epididymal sperm were collected from the transgenerational F3 generation control and exposure lineage male rats for histone analysis. A reproducible core of histone H3 retention sites was observed using an H3 chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-Seq) analysis in control lineage sperm. Interestingly, the same core group of H3 retention sites plus additional differential histone retention sites (DHRs) were observed in the F3 generation exposure lineage sperm. Although new histone H3 retention sites were observed, negligible change in histone modification (methylation of H3K27me3) was observed between the control and exposure lineages. Observations demonstrate that in addition to alterations in sperm DNA methylation and ncRNA previously identified, the induction of differential histone retention sites (DHRs) also appear to be involved in environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance.
Central precocious puberty in Boston boys: A 10-year single center experience.

Objective Recent studies in the US and abroad suggest that boys are undergoing puberty at a younger age. It is unknown if this secular trend extends to boys with central precocious puberty (CPP), who sit at the extreme end of the pubertal spectrum, and if neuroimaging should remain a standard diagnostic tool. Study design Retrospective chart review of all boys with CPP seen by Endocrinology at a US pediatric hospital from 2001-2010. Results Fifty boys had pubertal onset at an average age of 7.31 years (95CI 6.83-7.89), though many did not present until nearly one year thereafter, by which time 30% were mid-to-late pubertal. Boys were predominantly non-Hispanic White and 64% were overweight/obese. The majority (64%) of boys had neurogenic CPP (CNS-CPP) with neurofibromatosis type I being the most common diagnosis. Diagnosis of CPP led to discovery of a neurogenic lesion in only 3 of 32 (9%) CNS-CPP cases. The remaining boys, with idiopathic CPP (36%), were indistinguishable from those with CNS-CPP aside from four boys who endorsed a family history of PP (22% vs. 0% among CNS-CPP cases). Importantly, there was no change in the incidence of male CPP after accounting for the increase in clinic volume during this time period. Conclusion In this contemporary Boston-based cohort of 50 boys with CPP, most cases were neurogenic, consistent with older literature. Several idiopathic cases had a family history of PP but were otherwise indistinguishable from CNS-CPP cases. Thus, neuroimaging remains a critical diagnostic tool. We find no evidence for an increase in the prevalence of male CPP.
Negative Symptoms and Depression in Schizophrenia

The question of the relationship between negative symptoms and the various signs and symptoms of depression is an important one given the current great interest in both negative and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia and the potential similarity between the two concepts (1). Table 1 highlights this conceptual similarity between common definitions of both negative symptoms and depression. As should be apparent, the behavioral signs that are generally considered as indicators of the negative symptom syndrome partially overlap with the broader group of signs and symptoms that are usually taken as indicative of a depressive syndrome. The potential consequences of this conceptual ambiguity are made more acute by the differences in theoretical hypotheses that are generally held for each syndrome. Table 1 also outlines some of these discrepancies between hypotheses concerning negative and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia. As can be seen, most hypotheses predict that negative symptoms will be associated with more severe characteristics, whereas depressive symptoms are usually predicted to be related to more benign characteristics. Given such disparate hypotheses and yet such similar concepts, it becomes crucial to know to what degree “negative” and “depressive” symptoms may be distinguishable among schizophrenic patients. The aim of the current research was therefore to examine the nature of this relationship among schizophrenic patients between negative symptoms and the various signs and symptoms of depression.
Enzymological Characterization of Human DNA Polymerases-α and β

During the past few years, we have described the results of an extensive series of investigations of the enzymological properties of essentially homogeneous preparations of human DNA polymerases-α and β1-3 that are devoid of contaminating or associated endo- or exodeoxyribonuclease activities4,5. These studies have demonstrated a number of striking differences between the two enzymes with respect to their ability to catalyze deoxynucleotide incorporation on a variety of defined, natural and synthetic DNA primer-templates4-8 and have suggested that there might be equally profound differences, possibly of physiological significance, in the nature of the specific molecular signals that regulate their catalytic interactions with nucleic acids. To pursue these observations in the face of exceedingly limited quantities of purified enzyme protein, we have successfully exploited the power of classical steady-state kinetics methodology to illuminate many of the key features of the polymerase-primer-template interaction and to gain substantial new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of polymerase catalysis. In performing these studies, we have employed direct sedimentation binding assays and novel methods of analysis of polymerase products synthesized on DNA molecules of known sequence to obtain, in every instance, direct physical corroboration of the principal conclusions derived from the kinetics experiments. We have thus been able to provide important reassurance of the validity of the kinetics interpretations and obviate much of the concern that might appropriately arise from the indirect nature of kinetics analyses, particularly in complex systems.
How do developers resolve merge conflicts? an investigation into the processes, tools, and improvements

Most software development is done in teams. When more than one developer is modifying the source code, there is a change that their changes will conflict. When this happens, developers have to interrupt their workflow in order to resolve the merge conflict. This interruption can lead to frustration and lost productivity. This makes collaboration, and the problems associated with it, an important aspect of software development. Merge conflicts are some of the more difficult issues that arise when working in a team. We plan to bring in more information about the strategies developers use when resolving merge conflicts. We will gather information through in-situ observations and interviews of developers resolving conflicts when working on real development tasks, combined with analytical methods. The information obtained can then be used to improve the existing tools and make it easier for developers when working in a collaborative environment.
Genetic Gene Expression Changes during Environmental Adaptations Tend to Reverse Plastic Changes Even after the Correction for Statistical Nonindependence

Organismal adaptations to new environments often begin with plastic phenotypic changes followed by genetic phenotypic changes, but the relationship between the two types of changes is controversial. Contrary to the view that plastic changes serve as steppingstones to genetic adaptations, recent transcriptome studies reported that genetic gene expression changes more often reverse than reinforce plastic expression changes in experimental evolution. However, it was pointed out that this trend could be an artifact of the statistical nonindependence between the estimates of plastic and genetic phenotypic changes, because both estimates rely on the phenotypic measure at the plastic stage. Using computer simulation, we show that indeed the nonindependence can cause an apparent excess of expression reversion relative to reinforcement. We propose a parametric bootstrap method and show by simulation that it removes the bias almost entirely. Analyzing transcriptome data from a total of 34 parallel lines in 5 experimental evolution studies of Escherichia coli, yeast, and guppies that are amenable to our method confirms that genetic expression changes tend to reverse plastic changes. Thus, at least for gene expression traits, phenotypic plasticity does not generally facilitate genetic adaptation. Several other comparisons of statistically nonindependent estimates are commonly performed in evolutionary genomics such as that between cis- and trans-effects of mutations on gene expression and that between transcriptional and translational effects on gene expression. It is important to validate previous results from such comparisons, and our proposed statistical analyses can be useful for this purpose.
Abstract TP107: Acute Anticoagulation After Stroke in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Background: Despite reductions in major adverse events with the latest generation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), the incidence of thromboembolic complications remains high. Optimal ant...
Workplace Violence: Experiences of Internal Medicine Trainees at an Academic Medical Center.

Objectives Healthcare professionals are at higher risk for workplace violence (WPV) than workers in other sectors. This elevated risk exists despite the vast underreporting of WPV in the medical setting. The challenge of responding to this risk is compounded by limited empirical research on medical training environments. Understanding trainees' experience and educating them on workplace safety, WPV reporting, and awareness of resources are shared goals of educational and institutional leadership. In our setting, clear understanding and education were urgent after the enactment of a statewide "constitutional carry" law affording individuals a right to carry concealed firearms in all state-owned universities and hospitals, beginning in July 2017. We sought to examine the incidence of WPV affecting Internal Medicine trainees to understand the types of violence encountered, reporting rates, and the factors that influence reporting. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of Internal Medicine residents and fellows in practice for the previous 12 months. Survey items included both forced choice and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics were calculated and used to summarize the study variables. χ2 tests were performed to examine whether sex differences existed for each of the survey questions. Qualitative responses were content analyzed and organized thematically. Results Of 186 trainees, 88 completed the survey. Forty-seven percent of respondents experienced WPV, with >90% of cases involving a patient, a patient's family member, or a patient's friend. Verbal assault was the most common type of incident encountered. Trainees formally reported fewer than half of the violent incidents disclosed in the survey. Major factors that influenced reporting included the severity of the incident, condition of the patient, and clarity of the reporting mechanism. Conclusions Previous research indicates similar amounts and types of WPV. Likewise, a large percentage of the incidents are not reported. Addressing the key factors related to why physicians underreport can inform institutions on how to make systematic changes to reduce WPV and its negative impact. Future research is needed to examine whether specific interventions can be implemented to improve reporting and reduce the incidence of WPV.
The minipig as a potential model for pedicle screw fixation: morphometry and mechanics.

While there are several different animal models for use in the characterization of spinal fixation, none have emerged as a definitive model for comparative studies in spinal fixation methods. The purpose of this study is to establish morphometric data of porcine vertebrae and to characterize the feasibility of pedicle screw fixation in porcine spines for potential comparative human study. Four spines from 45 to 50 kg Hanford minipigs were cleaned of soft tissue and analyzed by computed tomography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Two 5 × 30-mm pedicle screws were placed in each vertebra and tested to failure using a combined moment-load protocol. Pedicle widths were measured from L6-T5. Widths ranged from 7.15 mm (T6) to 9.24 mm (T14). Posterior cortex to anterior cortex depth ranged from 25.9 to 32.6 mm. Mean bone mineral density was 1.0665 g/cm2 (range 1.139–1.016). Force-to-failure demonstrated mean 1171.40 N (+ 115.34). Our baseline morphometric and compositional data demonstrate that porcine vertebrae can serve as a useful model for comparative studies due to their similar pedicle widths and bone mineral density to the human vertebra. This biomechanical data could provide a baseline comparison for future studies. This study also suggests that the minipig could be a suitable model for comparative studies due to similarities in pedicle width and bone mineral density to the human vertebrae.
Internal and External Sources of Misinformation in Adult Witness Memory

At 8:30 pm on July 17, 1996, Trans-World Airlines flight 800 crashed into the ocean. Reports consistent with the theory that a missile attack may have caused the crash soon spread among witnesses, investigators, and the media. Despite physical evidence pointing to another cause, discussion of the missile theory of the crash persisted for years. How did so many witnesses become convinced they had seen a nonexistent missile? And why did their reports continue to convince investigators, the media, and interested observers despite accumulating evidence of another cause? Some analyses suggest that post-event suggestion in the form of widespread speculation about causes of the crash may have brought about the initial potentially false reports consistent with the involvement of missiles. Within days of the crash, the media further fueled the missile theory by publishing seemingly supportive evidence and witness accounts. For example, the New York Daily News ran a story with the headline “Was TWA Jet Shot Down? Missile Attack, Bombing Probed.” Other stories speculated about whether a bomb or possibly a surface-to-air missile more likely caused the crash. Witnesses claiming to have seen a missile were interviewed extensively, leading other witnesses to come forward with similar stories. Their stories in turn encouraged investigators to process evidence with the missile theory as a primary hypothesis, perhaps biasing interpretation of that evidence toward support of the theory.
Non-infarct related artery microvascular obstruction is associated with worse persistent diastolic dysfunction in patients with revascularized ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Abstract Background Infarct-artery (IRA) microvascular obstruction (MVO) is associated with diastolic dysfunction (DD) in STEMI patients. However, association between nonIRA MVO and DD in STEMI patients remains unknown. We hypothesized that revascularized STEMI patients with IRA and nonIRA MVO (IRA + nonIRA+), compared to those without nonIRA MVO (IRA + nonIRA-), have worse DD at presentation and long-term follow-up. Methods 87 IRA-revascularized STEMI patients had cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [to evaluate MVO] and TTE (to evaluate diastolic function) within 1 week of presentation. Diastolic function was re-assessed by TTE at 3.97 ± 3.24 years. Baseline and follow-up DD prevalence and grade were studied in IRA + nonIRA + vs. IRA + nonIRA- MVO patients. Results 54 (62%) patients were IRA + nonIRA+ and 33 (38%) IRA + nonIRA-at baseline. IRA + nonIRA + patients had higher DD frequency at baseline (40.7 vs. 6.1%, p = 0.006) and follow-up (50.0 vs. 13.0%, p = 0.05). Only IRA + nonIRA + patients had increase in mitral medial E/e’ (20.0%, p = 0.043) and trend towards increase in mitral E/A (31.1%, p = 0.063) at follow-up. IRA + nonIRA + patients had greater left atrial volume index increase (23.7%, p = 0.032 vs. 15.5%, p = 0.029) and smaller prolongation in deceleration time (15.4%, p = 0.018 vs. 18.7%, p = 0.044) at follow-up compared to IRA + nonIRA-. Grade 1 DD increased (60.9–73.9%) and combined grades 2/3 decreased (30.4–13.0%) at follow-up in IRA + nonIRA-patients. In contrast, grade 1 DD decreased (77.8–61.1%) and combined grades 2/3 increased (8.3–22.2%) at follow-up in IRA + nonIRA + patients. Conclusion Concurrent IRA and nonIRA MVO in revascularized STEMI patients is associated with higher DD prevalence and worse DD grade on long-term follow-up.
Transcriptome profiling of the branchial arches reveals cell type composition and a conserved signature of neural crest cell invasion

ABSTRACT The vertebrate branchial arches that give rise to structures of the head, neck, and heart form with very dynamic tissue growth and well-choreographed neural crest, ectoderm, and mesoderm cell dynamics. Although this morphogenesis has been studied by marker expression and fate-mapping, the mechanisms that control the collective migration and diversity of the neural crest and surrounding tissues remain unclear, in part due to the effects of averaging and need for cell isolation in conventional transcriptome analysis experiments of multiple cell populations. We used label free single cell RNA sequencing on 95,000 individual cells at 2 developmental stages encompassing formation of the first four chick branchial arches to measure the transcriptional states that define the cellular hierarchy and invasion signature of the migrating neural crest. The results confirmed basic features of cell type diversity and led to the discovery of many novel markers that discriminate between axial level and distal-to-proximal cell populations within the branchial arches and neural crest streams. We identified the transcriptional signature of the most invasive neural crest that is conserved within each branchial arch stream and elucidated a set of genes common to other cell invasion signatures in types in cancer, wound healing and development. These data robustly delineate molecularly distinct cell types within the branchial arches and identify important molecular transitions within the migrating neural crest during development.
HOW ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE GRADUATE STUDENTS ACQUIRE STATISTICAL COMPUTING SKILLS

Modern environmental science research increasingly requires computational ability to apply statistics to environmental science problems, but graduate students in these scientific fields typically lack these integral skills. Many scientific graduate degree programs expect students toacquire these computational skills in an applied statistics course. Agap remains, however, between the computational skills required for the implementation of statistics in scientific research and those taught in statistics courses. This qualitative study examines how five environmental science graduate students at one institution experience the phenomenon of acquiring the computational skills necessary to implement statistics in their research and the factors that foster or inhibit learning. In-depth interviews revealed three themes in these students’ paths towards computational knowledge acquisition: use of peer support, seeking out a singular “consultant,” and learning through independent research experiences. These themes provide rich descriptions of graduate student experiences and strategies used while developing computational skillsto apply statistics in their own research, thus informing how to improve instruction, both in and out of the formal classroom. First published November 2019 at Statistics Education Research Journal Archives
Tracking the Movement of Electronic Cigarette Flavor Chemicals and Nicotine from Refill Fluids to Aerosol, Lungs and Exhale

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) have been linked to lung diseases, including COVID-19, with little understanding of exposure, retention, and exhalation of EC aerosol chemicals. Here, flavor chemicals and nicotine were quantified in two refill fluids, their transfer efficiency to EC aerosols was determined, exhalation by human participants was measured, and chemical retention was modeled. Nicotine transferred well to aerosols irrespective of topography; however, transfer efficiencies of flavor chemicals depended on the chemical, puff volume, puff duration, pump head, and EC power. Participants could be classified as mouth inhalers or lung inhalers based on their retention and exhale of flavor chemicals and nicotine. Only mouth inhalers exhaled sufficient concentrations of flavor chemicals and nicotine to contribute to chemical deposition on environmental surfaces. These data help distinguish two types of EC users, add to our knowledge of chemical exposure during vaping, and provide information useful in treating EC-related diseases and regulating EC use.
Light Absorption and Scattering by Silver/Silver Sulfide Hybrid Nanoparticles

Plasmonic single-crystal silver nanoparticles exhibit high efficiency for the interaction with light and low intrinsic losses across the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges as manifested by w...
Infusing the UN Sustainable Development Goals into a Global Learning Initiative.

The Global Citizens Project (GCP) is a university-wide global learning initiative at the University of South Florida, aimed at enhancing undergraduate students’ global competencies through curricular and co-curricular experiences. The GCP uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for these experiences. Understanding the SDGs allows students to expand their ideas on issues that exist in the world and how we might respond to the challenges. The purpose of this article is to provide a case study showing how the GCP has introduced students from all disciplines and undergraduate degree programmes to the SDGs through interdisciplinary workshops, with the aim of helping them to better understand the SDGs and connect global issues to their academic goals, professional objectives and everyday experiences. To determine whether the aims of the workshops were met, qualitative content analysis is employed to analyse the constructed responses of students who attended them. The results of the study suggest that the SDGs provide a relevant and sufficiently robust framework for guiding undergraduate students in their thinking about global issues as well as their relationship with these issues.
Prediction of histologic grade and type of small (< 4 cm) papillary renal cell carcinomas using texture and neural network analysis: a feasibility study.

To predict the histologic grade and type of small papillary renal cell carcinomas (pRCCs) using texture analysis and machine learning algorithms. This was a retrospective HIPAA-compliant study. 24 noncontrast (NC), 22 corticomedullary (CM) phase, and 24 nephrographic (NG) phase CTs of small (< 4 cm) surgically resected pRCCs were identified. Surgical pathology classified the tumors as low- or high-Fuhrman histologic grade and type 1 or 2. The axial image with the largest cross-sectional tumor area was exported and segmented. Six histogram and 31 texture (20 gray-level co-occurrences and 11 gray-level run-lengths) features were calculated for each tumor in each phase. Feature values in low- versus high-grade and type 1 versus 2 pRCCs were compared. Area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was calculated for each feature to assess prediction of histologic grade and type of pRCCs in each phase. Histogram, texture, and combined histogram and texture feature sets were used to train and test three classification algorithms (support vector machine (SVM), random forest, and histogram-based gradient boosting decision tree (HGBDT)) with stratified shuffle splits and threefold cross-validation; AUCs were calculated for each algorithm in each phase to assess prediction of histologic grade and type of pRCCs. Individual histogram and texture features did not have statistically significant differences between low- and high-grade or type 1 and type 2 pRCCs across all phases. Individual features had low predictive power for tumor grade or type in all phases (AUC < 0.70). HGBDT was highly accurate at predicting pRCC histologic grade and type using histogram, texture or combined histogram and texture feature data from the CM phase (AUCs = 0.97–1.0). All algorithms had highest AUCs using CM phase feature data sets; AUCs decreased using feature sets from NC or NG phases. The histologic grade and type of small pRCCs can be predicted with classification algorithms using CM histogram and texture features, which outperform NC and NG phase image data. The accurate prediction of pRCC histologic grade and type may be able to further guide management of patients with small (< 4 cm) pRCCs being considered for active surveillance.
Spectacular Work: Labor as Entertainment at the World's Columbian Exposition Fairgrounds

Night is falling in the city. Holiday shoppers bustle down the sidewalk, some pausing to gaze at a colorful billboard publicizing the delights of an upcoming exposition. A few crafty rats scamper along a tall wooden fence, stalked by a sinister ratcatcher of the Dickensian mold. Children frolic, fight, and tease one another in front of the fence, the familiar syncopated strains of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker overture underscoring their exuberant street play. This is not, however, the early 1800s Germany of the upper-class Stahlbaum family. It's 1892 Chicago. In the Joffrey Ballet's 2016 production of The Nutcracker, the story of Clara Stahlbaum's innocent Christmas Eve dalliances with an anthropomorphic nutcracker and their journey to the Land of Sweets becomes the story of Marie, the daughter of a Polish immigrant single mother, whose fantasyland is the future Chicago World's Fair. Marie's mother, we learn, is a hired artist working on the fair's sculptures. Marie, Fritz, and their mother inhabit a wooden shack in the heart of the construction site, surrounded by the skeletal structures that will become the White City's buildings. Drosselmeyer is now “The Great Impresario,” a character of vision and magnetism inspired by the fair's Director of Works Daniel H. Burnham, and Marie's working-class mother transforms in the second act into the embodiment of the fair's golden Statue of the Republic, a less saccharine substitute for the Sugar Plum Fairy. The mutual affection of Mother and The Great Impresario spans both acts, and though the ballet leaves unclear the outcome of their budding romance, in it young Marie sees the promise of her American dream: a contented nuclear family.
Sleep duration and quality among U.S. adults with epilepsy: National Health Interview Survey 2013, 2015, and 2017.

Abstract Background Epilepsy is associated with a high prevalence of sleep disturbance. However, population-based studies on the burden of sleep disturbance in people with epilepsy are limited. This study assessed sleep duration and sleep quality by epilepsy status in the general U.S. adult population aged ≥ 18 years. Methods We pooled data of cross-sectional National Health Interview Surveys in 2013, 2015, and 2017 to compare the prevalence of sleep duration and quality among those without epilepsy (N = 93,126) with those with any epilepsy (a history of physician-diagnosed epilepsy) (N = 1774), those with active epilepsy (those with a history of physician-diagnosed epilepsy who were currently taking medication to control it, had one or more seizures in the past year, or both) (N = 1101), and those with inactive epilepsy (those with a history of physician-diagnosed epilepsy who were neither taking medication for epilepsy nor had had a seizure in the past year) (N = 673). We also compared these measures between those with active and those with inactive epilepsy. The prevalences were adjusted for sociodemographics, behaviors, and health covariates, with multivariable logistic regression. We used Z-tests to compare prevalences of sleep duration and quality at the statistical significance level of 0.05. Results Adults with any epilepsy reported significantly higher adjusted prevalences of short sleep duration ( 9 h per day) (6.7% vs. 3.7%) but a lower prevalence of healthy sleep duration (7–9 h per day) (57.4% vs.64.6%) than those without epilepsy. In the past week, adults with any epilepsy reported significantly higher adjusted prevalences than adults without epilepsy of having trouble falling asleep (25.0% vs. 20.3%), staying asleep (34.4% vs. 26.3%), nonrestorative sleep (adults did not wake up feeling well rested) (≥3 days) (50.3% vs. 44.3%), and taking medication to help themselves fall asleep or stay asleep (≥1 times) (20.9% vs. 13.5%). However, adults with active epilepsy did not differ from adults with inactive epilepsy with respect to these sleep duration and quality measures. Conclusions Adults with epilepsy reported more short or long sleep duration and worse sleep quality than those without epilepsy. Neither seizure occurrence nor antiepileptic drug use accounted for these differences in sleep duration and quality. Careful screening for sleep complaints as well as identifying and intervening on the modifiable risk factors associated with sleep disturbances among people with epilepsy could improve epilepsy outcomes and quality of life.
Baloxavir Treatment Delays Influenza B Virus Transmission in Ferrets and Results in Limited Generation of Drug-Resistant Variants.

Clinical efficacy of the influenza antiviral baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) is compromised by treatment-emergent variants harboring a polymerase acidic protein I38T (isoleucine-38-threonine) substitution. However, the fitness of I38T-containing influenza B viruses (IBVs) remains inadequately defined. After the pharmacokinetics of the compound were confirmed in ferrets, animals were injected subcutaneously with 8 mg/kg of baloxavir acid (BXA) at 24 h postinoculation with recombinant BXA-sensitive (BXA-Sen, I38) or BXA-resistant (BXA-Res, I38T) B/Brisbane/60/2008 (Victoria lineage) virus. BXA treatment of donor ferrets reduced virus replication and delayed transmission of the BXA-Sen but not the BXA-Res IBV. The I38 genotype remained dominant in the BXA-Sen-infected animals, even with BXA treatment. In competitive-mixture experiments, no transmission to aerosol contacts was seen from BXA-treated donors coinfected with the BXA-Sen and BXA-Res B/Brisbane/60/2008 viruses. However, in parallel mixed infections with the B/Phuket/3073/2013 (Yamagata lineage) virus background, BXA treatment failed to block airborne transmission of the BXA-Res virus, and the I38T genotype generally predominated. Therefore, the relative fitness of BXA-Res IBVs is complex and dependent on the virus backbone and within-host virus competition. BXA treatment of single-virus-infected ferrets hampers aerosol transmission of the BXA-Sen virus and does not readily generate BXA-Res variants, whereas mixed infections may result in propagation of BXA-Res IBVs of the Yamagata lineage. Our findings confirm the antiviral potency of baloxavir against IBVs, while supporting optimization of the dosing regimen to maximize clinical benefit.
Antibody-drug conjugates plus Janus kinase inhibitors enable MHC-mismatched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Despite the curative potential of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), conditioning-associated toxicities preclude broader clinical application. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) provide an attractive approach to HSCT conditioning that minimizes toxicity while retaining efficacy. Initial studies of ADC conditioning have largely focused on syngeneic HSCT. However, to treat acute leukemias or induce tolerance for solid organ transplantation, this approach must be expanded to allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT). Using murine allo-HSCT models, we show that pharmacologic Janus kinase 1/2 (JAK1/2) inhibition combined with CD45- or cKit-targeted ADCs enables robust multilineage alloengraftment. Strikingly, myeloid lineage donor chimerism exceeding 99% was achievable in fully MHC-mismatched HSCT using this approach. Mechanistic studies using the JAK1/2 inhibitor baricitinib revealed marked impairment of T and NK cell survival, proliferation and effector function. NK cells were exquisitely sensitive to JAK1/2 inhibition due to interference with IL-15 signaling. Unlike irradiated mice, ADC-conditioned mice did not develop pathogenic graft-versus-host alloreactivity when challenged with mismatched T cells. Finally, the combination of ADCs and baricitinib balanced graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia responses in delayed donor lymphocyte infusion models. Our allo-HSCT conditioning strategy exemplifies the promise of immunotherapy to improve the safety of HSCT for treating hematologic diseases.
Increasing Energy Resiliency to Hurricanes with Battery and Rooftop Solar Through Intelligent Control.

Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels together with batteries can provide resiliency to blackouts during natural disasters such as hurricanes. Without intelligent and automated decision making that can trade off conflicting requirements, a large PV system and a large battery is needed to provide meaningful resiliency. By utilizing the flexibility of various household demands, an intelligent system can ensure that critical loads are serviced longer than a non-intelligent system. As a result a smaller (and thus lower cost) system can provide the same energy resilience that a much larger system will be needed otherwise. In this paper we propose such an intelligent control system that uses a model predictive control (MPC) architecture. The optimization problem is formulated as a MILP (mixed integer linear program) due to the on/off decisions for the loads. Performance is compared with two rule based controllers, a simple all-or-none controller that mimics what is available now commercially, and a Rule-Based controller that uses the same information that the MPC controller uses. The controllers are tested through simulation on a PV-battery system chosen carefully for a small single family house in Florida. Simulations are conducted for a one week period during hurricane Irma in 2017. Simulations show that the size of the PV+battery system to provide a certain resiliency performance can be halved by the proposed control system.