cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Switchgrass ecotypes alter microbial contribution to deep-soil C

Abstract. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a C4, perennial grass that is being developed as a bioenergy crop for the United States. While aboveground biomass production is well documented for switchgrass ecotypes (lowland, upland), little is known about the impact of plant belowground productivity on microbial communities down deep in the soil profiles. Microbial dynamics in deeper soils are likely to exert considerable control on ecosystem services, including C and nutrient cycles, due to their involvement in such processes as soil formation and ecosystem biogeochemistry. Differences in root biomass and rooting characteristics of switchgrass ecotypes could lead to distinct differences in belowground microbial biomass and microbial community composition. We quantified root abundance and root architecture and the associated microbial abundance, composition, and rhizodeposit C uptake for two switchgrass ecotypes using stable-isotope probing of microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) after 13CO2 pulse–chase labeling. Kanlow, a lowland ecotype with thicker roots, had greater plant biomass above- and belowground (g m−2), greater root mass density (mg cm−3), and lower specific root length (m g−1) compared to Summer, an upland ecotype with finer root architecture. The relative abundance of bacterial biomarkers dominated microbial PLFA profiles for soils under both Kanlow and Summer (55.4 and 53.5 %, respectively; P = 0.0367), with differences attributable to a greater relative abundance of Gram-negative bacteria in soils under Kanlow (18.1 %) compared to soils under Summer (16.3 %; P = 0.0455). The two ecotypes also had distinctly different microbial communities process rhizodeposit C: greater relative atom % 13C excess in Gram-negative bacteria (44.1 ± 2.3 %) under the thicker roots of Kanlow and greater relative atom % 13C excess in saprotrophic fungi under the thinner roots of Summer (48.5 ± 2.2 %). For bioenergy production systems, variation between switchgrass ecotypes could alter microbial communities and impact C sequestration and storage as well as potentially other belowground processes.
Louisiana Waterthrush and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Response to Shale Gas Development

Abstract Because shale gas development is occurring over large landscapes and consequently is affecting many headwater streams, an understanding of its effects on headwater-stream faunal communities is needed. We examined effects of shale gas development (well pads and associated infrastructure) on Louisiana waterthrush Parkesia motacilla and benthic macroinvertebrate communities in 12 West Virginia headwater streams in 2011. Streams were classed as impacted (n = 6) or unimpacted (n = 6) by shale gas development. We quantified waterthrush demography (nest success, clutch size, number of fledglings, territory density), a waterthrush Habitat Suitability Index, a Rapid Bioassessment Protocol habitat index, and benthic macroinvertebrate metrics including a genus-level stream-quality index for each stream. We compared each benthic metric between impacted and unimpacted streams with a Student's t-test that incorporated adjustments for normalizing data. Impacted streams had lower genus-level stream-quality index...
Theoretic and Empirical Research on Relationship between the Corporate Governance and Bankruptcy——Based on the Board Structure and Stated—owned Shares Percentage

This article applies the agency model to explore the relationship between the corporate governance and bankruptcy. Based on the theoretic analysis, the paper then use the L-R Logistic statistic method to examine the relationship assumption with Chinese listed corporation sample data. The study shows that corporate governance variables are prominently associated with the probability of bankruptcy, whereas the association would be complex.Among the Chinese corporate governance structure indicators, the state-owned shares percentage is prominently related to the bankruptcy, and we should be cautious to the negative impact of the interaction between jointly held CEO/board chairperson roles and relatively low state-owned shares percentage.
Essential competencies in palliative medicine for neuro-oncologists

Palliative care is an approach to practicing medicine that addresses symptom management, alleviation of pain, assessment of psychosocial and spiritual distress or suffering, and practical support for patients and their caregivers with a goal of improving quality of life for patients with serious and life-threatening illnesses. Although palliative care has gained acceptance as an important part of comprehensive cancer care at the end of life, early integration of palliative care is less common. Patients with high-grade malignant gliomas have an invariably poor prognosis and high morbidity. With short survival times and complex neurological and systemic symptoms, these patients require palliative care from the time of diagnosis. In this review, we highlight the palliative care needs of neuro-oncology patients at diagnosis, during treatment, and at the end of life. We identify some of the barriers to incorporation of palliative care in standard neuro-oncology practice and equate competency in neuro-oncology with competency in the basic tenets of palliative medicine.
Sovereignty Issues and Precedent Setting Problems

This chapter continues to deal with objections to the claim that the killing of Osama bin Laden was justifiable. Here I address the related worries that the raid itself violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and that the killing creates a bad precedent making the killing wrong, all things considered. In response, I concede much of the objection regarding the ways in which the United States engaged their ally on the raid, but discuss the countervailing reasons the United States had to worry about the risk of the mission being compromised were they to partner with Pakistan on the raid. I also discuss the “all things considered” objection and argue that, indeed, the raid was likely more than merely a pro tanto good, given the epistemic constraints in play.
Regional Climate Modeling of Vegetation Feedbacks on the Asian-Australian Monsoon Systems

AbstractThis study explores the hypothesis that subtropical and tropical monsoon regions exhibit unique responses to vegetation feedbacks. Using the Community Climate System Model (CCSM), M. Notaro et al. concluded that reduced vegetation cover led to an earlier subtropical Chinese monsoon and a delayed, weaker tropical Australian monsoon, yet significant climate and leaf area index (LAI) biases obfuscated the hypothesis’s reliability. To address these concerns, the Regional Climate Model, version 4 (RegCM4), likewise coupled to the Community Land Model but with “observed” LAI boundary conditions, is applied across China and Australia. The model matches the observed dominance of crops, grass, and evergreen trees in southern China and grass and shrubs in northern Australia. The optimal model configuration is determined and applied in control runs for 1960–2013. Monsoon region LAI is modified in a RegCM4 ensemble, aimed at contrasting vegetation feedbacks between tropical and subtropical regions. Greater LA...
Iron and nickel by carbonyl treatment

A new look at an old problem: How to get iron and nickel out of lateritic deposits economically.
IMPACT OF ACUTE ADMINISTRATION OF CORTICOSTEROIDS PRIOR TO PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY IN DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH CONTRAST ALLERGY

Steroid prophylaxis prior to coronary angiography is routine in patients with contrast allergy (CA). We aimed to assess the impact of steroid use in diabetic patients with CA undergoing elective angiography. We retrospectively analyzed records of diabetics with and without CA who underwent
"Hallucinations" Following Acute Cannabis Dosing: A Case Report and Comparison to Other Hallucinogenic Drugs.

Abstract Introduction: Cannabis has been historically classified as a hallucinogen. However, subjective cannabis effects do not typically include hallucinogen-like effects. Empirical reports of hallucinogen-like effects produced by cannabis in controlled settings, particularly among healthy research volunteers, are rare and have mostly occurred after administration of purified Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) rather than whole plant cannabis. Methods: The case of a healthy 30-year-old male who experienced auditory and visual hallucinations in a controlled laboratory study after inhaling vaporized cannabis that contained 25 mg THC (case dose) is presented. Ratings on the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS) following the case dose are compared with HRS ratings obtained from the participant after other doses of cannabis and with archival HRS data from laboratory studies involving acute doses of cannabis, psilocybin, dextromethorphan (DXM), and salvinorin A. Results: Scores on the Volition subscale of the HRS were ...
Acute adverse events associated with the administration of Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab antivenom within the North American Snakebite Registry

Background: Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Fab Antivenom) is the primary Viperid antivenom used in the United States since 2000. Adverse event data associated with its use are limited. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of acute adverse events associated with the use of Fab antivenom. Methods: The American College of Medical Toxicology's Toxicology Investigators Consortium maintains a prospective case registry of poisoned and envenomated patients managed by medical toxicologists at the bedside. This registry includes the North American Snakebite sub-registry. We performed a review of 438 cases entered into the Snakebite sub-registry. Results: A total of 373 (85.2%) received at least one vial of Fab Antivenom. Forty percent were children. Adverse events occurred in 10 patients (2.7%) of whom six were adults. Rash was the most common adverse event. More severe adverse events (hypotension, bronchospasm, and/or angioedema) occurred in four (1.1%) patients. Prophylaxis was administered prior to Fab antivenom in 4.0%. Eight patients received various treatments for their adverse events. Neither the initial number of Fab antivenom vials, atopic history, nor prior envenomation correlated with the prevalence of adverse events. Discussion: This prevalence of adverse events was lower than in previous studies and in a meta-analysis of 11 studies. The types of adverse events and treatments used are consistent with those in previous reports. There were no prior reports of prophylaxis use with which to compare. Conclusion: The prevalence of Fab antivenom adverse events in the North American Snakebite Registry was 2.7%.
Relations and Functions

Recall that there is no order imposed on the members of a set. We can, however, use ordinary sets to define an ordered pair, written 〈a, b〉 for example, in which a is considered the first member and b is the second member of the pair. The definition is as follows: $${\rm{ }}\left\langle {a,b} \right\rangle { = _{def}}\left\{ {\left\{ a \right\},\left\{ {a,b} \right\}} \right\}$$ (2-1)
Primer and Atlas for the Interpretation of Radioiodine Whole-Body Scintigraphy

Radioiodine whole-body scintigraphy remains an important diagnostic modality in the evaluation of patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The advantages and disadvantages of the various radioiodine isotopes, and how the images are obtained, were discussed in Chapter 14. This chapter presents a primer and atlas for the interpretation of radioiodine whole-body scintigraphy. The objective of the primer is to present a simple, consistent, and reliable approach to the evaluation and interpretation of radioiodine whole-body scans. The objectives of the atlas are to demonstrate (1) a spectrum of residual activity in the thyroid bed; (2) a spectrum of nonthyroidal physiological uptake; (3) various patterns of metastatic disease; (4) examples of false-positives and artifacts; and (5) several techniques to help the interpreter differentiate metastatic disease from physiologic uptake, false-positives, and artifacts. Although all patterns of physiologic uptake, false-positive uptake, and artifacts cannot be presented, a comprehensive review of the literature of thyroidal uptake, nonthyroidal uptake, false-positives, and artifacts of radioiodine uptake is presented in Chapter 16.
Maximizing Mentoring Relationships.

The purpose of this article is to provide strategies for music teacher mentors and mentees to use to proactively develop and strengthen their relationships—whether they are assigned by an administr...
Sampling artifacts in denuders during phase partitioning measurements of semi-volatile organic compounds

The partitioning of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) between the gas and particle phase plays an important role in understanding the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in the atmosphere. There are uncertainties and problems associated with measurements during the simultaneous sampling of both gas and particle phases. In recent studies, diffusion denuders have been used for separate sampling of gas and particle phases of organic compounds. The removal of the gaseous species in the denuder distorts the gas–particle equilibrium and leads to the dissociation of the particulate phase during the sampling. This phenomenon is particularly true for volatile organic species and leads to significant error in determining gas-to-particle phase partitioning of organic aerosols due to underestimation of the particle phase. In this study, a model for simultaneous gas diffusion and aerosol decomposition/evaporation in the parallel plate denuder was developed to investigate the effects of samplin...
A recent history of opioid use in the US: Three decades of change

Background: The opioid epidemic in the United States is a problem that has developed over decades. While clinical, regulatory, and legislative changes have been implemented to combat this issue, ch...
Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus Presenting as Acute Flaccid Paralysis: A Case Report

West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne infection, is known to cause a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to neuroinvasive disease. Advanced age is a known risk factor for developing neuroinvasive disease and also a prognostic indicator of long-term recovery. We present a case of neuroinvasive West Nile virus infection in a 78-year-old man who presented with acute flaccid paralysis and altered mental status. Positive IgM for West Nile virus in the cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis. Individuals presenting with meningitis, encephalitis, and/or acute flaccid paralysis should be assessed for West Nile virus especially if presenting during outbreaks in the summer and fall months. Although treatment remains supportive, prompt diagnosis and reporting of the infection can identify potential outbreaks, emphasize the importance of preventative measures, and promote clinician awareness. J Med Cases. 2019;10(1):21-23 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3212
Greater adherence to life’s simple 7 is associated with less arterial stiffness: The Atherosclerosis risk in Communities (ARIC) study

BACKGROUND Greater arterial stiffness is associated independently with increased cardiovascular disease risk. The American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended following "Life's Simple 7 (LS7)" to optimize cardiovascular health; we tested whether better LS7 in middle age is associated with less arterial stiffness in later life. METHODS We studied 4,232 black and white participants aged 45-64 years at the baseline (1987-89) visit of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort who also had arterial stiffness measured in 2011-13 (mean ± SD interval: 23.6 ± 1.0 years). We calculated a 14-point summary score for baseline LS7 and classified participants as having "poor" (0-4), "average" (5-9), or "ideal" (10-14) cardiovascular health. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for arterial stiffening: a high carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV, ≥13.23 m/s) or a high central pulse pressure (central PP, ≥ 82.35 mm Hg). RESULTS The age, race, sex, and heart rate-adjusted ORs (95% CI) for high cfPWV in the "ideal," "average," and "poor" LS7 summary categories were 1 (Reference), 1.30 (1.11, 1.53), and 1.68 (1.10,2.56), respectively (P-trend = 0.0003). Similarly, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) for high central PP across LS7 summary categories were 1 (Reference), 1.48 (1.27, 1.74), and 1.63 (1.04, 2.56), respectively (P-trend <0.0001). CONCLUSION Greater LS7 score in middle age is associated with less arterial stiffness 2-3 decades later. These findings further support the AHA recommendation to follow LS7 for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Advances in Genomic Profiling and Risk Stratification in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract Objective To review the current state of molecular and genetic profiling of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its implications. Data Source Peer-reviewed journal articles. Conclusion Significant advances in the understanding of the pathology of acute myeloid leukemia have led to refined risk stratification of patients and application of novel targeted therapies based on genetic profiles. Minimal residual disease testing allows for highly sensitive disease surveillance that can be used to predict relapse and assess treatment response. Implications for Nursing Practice Accurate prognostication and therapeutic decision-making for patients with acute myeloid leukemia is dependent on molecular profiling. Being knowledgeable of the implications of minimal residual disease testing is critical for patient-centered care.
Can biochar conserve water in Oregon agricultural soils

Abstract Few studies have evaluated the ability of biochar to improve soil water content under field conditions. Our objective was to assess the potential drought benefits of biochar across a range of soil textures by measuring indicators of hydraulic capacity and water-retention curves for field-amended soils. Two biochars, conifer wood and wheat straw, were incorporated by rotary tillage at amendment rates of 9−36 Mg ha−1 in four locations. All four soils showed a significant increase (p≤0.04) in saturated water content of 0.05–1.7 % volume per Mg ha−1 biochar added, but no increase in water content at field capacity. There were significant (p
Assessing the Veterans Health Administration’s response to intimate partner violence among women: protocol for a randomized hybrid type 2 implementation-effectiveness trial

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women in the United States (US) remains a complex public health crisis. Women who experience IPV are among the most vulnerable patients seen in primary care. Screening increases the detection of IPV and, when paired with appropriate response interventions, can mitigate the health effects of IPV. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has encouraged evidence-based IPV screening programs since 2014, yet adoption is modest and questions remain regarding the optimal ways to implement these practices, which are not yet available within the majority of VA primary care clinics. This paper describes the planned evaluation of VA’s nationwide implementation of IPV screening programs in primary care clinics through a randomized implementation-effectiveness hybrid type 2 trial. With the support of our VA operational partners, we propose a stepped wedge design to compare the impact of two implementation strategies of differing intensities (toolkit + implementation as usual vs. toolkit + implementation facilitation) and investigate the clinical effectiveness of IPV screening programs. Using balanced randomization, 16–20 VA Medical Centers will be assigned to receive implementation facilitation in one of three waves, with implementation support lasting 6 months. Implementation facilitation in this effort consists of the coordinated efforts of the two types of facilitators, external and internal. Implementation facilitation is compared to dissemination of a toolkit plus implementation as usual. We propose a mixed methods approach to collect quantitative (clinical records data) and qualitative (key informant interviews) implementation outcomes, as well as quantitative (clinical records data) clinical effectiveness outcomes. We will supplement these data collection methods with provider surveys to assess discrete implementation strategies used before, during, and following implementation facilitation. The integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework will guide the qualitative data collection and analysis. Summative data will be analyzed using the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. This research will advance national VHA efforts by identifying the practices and strategies useful for enhancing the implementation of IPV screening programs, thereby ultimately improving services for and health of women seen in primary care. NCT04106193. Registered on 23 September 2019.
A Photoprotective Effect by Cation-π-Interaction? Quenching of Singlet Oxygen by an Indole Cation-π Model System.

We investigated the effect of the cation-π interaction on the susceptibility of a tryptophan model system toward interaction with singlet oxygen, that is, type II photooxidation. The model system consists of two indole units linked to a lariat crown ether to measure the total rate of removal of singlet oxygen by the indole units in the presence of sodium cations (i.e. indole units subject to a cation-π interaction) and in the absence of this interaction. We found that the cation-π interaction significantly decreases the total rate of removal of singlet oxygen (kT ) for the model system, that is, (kT = 2.4 ± 0.2) × 108 m-1 s-1 without sodium cation vs (kT = 6.9 ± 0.9) × 107 m-1 s-1 upon complexation of sodium cation to the crown ether. Furthermore, we found that the indole moieties undergo type I photooxidation processes with triplet excited methylene blue; this effect is also inhibited by the cation-π interaction. The chemical rate of reaction of the indole groups with singlet oxygen is also slower upon complexation of sodium cation in our model system, although we were unable to obtain an exact ratio due to differences of the chemical reaction rates of the two indole moieties.
Quantification of cristae architecture reveals time-dependent characteristics of individual mitochondria

Recent breakthroughs in live-cell imaging have enabled visualization of cristae, making it feasible to investigate the structure-function relationship of cristae in real time. However, quantifying live-cell images of cristae in an unbiased way remains challenging. Here, we present a novel, semi-automated approach to quantify cristae, using the machine-learning Trainable Weka Segmentation tool. Compared with standard techniques, our approach not only avoids the bias associated with manual thresholding but more efficiently segments cristae from Airyscan and structured illumination microscopy images. Using a cardiolipin-deficient cell line, as well as FCCP, we show that our approach is sufficiently sensitive to detect perturbations in cristae density, size, and shape. This approach, moreover, reveals that cristae are not uniformly distributed within the mitochondrion, and sites of mitochondrial fission are localized to areas of decreased cristae density. After a fusion event, individual cristae from the two mitochondria, at the site of fusion, merge into one object with distinct architectural values. Overall, our study shows that machine learning represents a compelling new strategy for quantifying cristae in living cells.
Abstract WP299: Patients Transferred to Tertiary Care Centers with Fatal Ischemic Strokes Increase Center Specific Mortality Rates

Background: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) tracks annualized 30 day mortality data for patients with ischemic stroke across hospitals. Due to the increased complexity and sever...
State Readout of a Trapped Ion Qubit Using a Trap-Integrated Superconducting Photon Detector.

We report high-fidelity state readout of a trapped ion qubit using a trap-integrated photon detector. We determine the hyperfine qubit state of a single $^{9}{\mathrm{Be}}^{+}$ ion held in a surface-electrode rf ion trap by counting state-dependent ion fluorescence photons with a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector fabricated into the trap structure. The average readout fidelity is 0.9991(1), with a mean readout duration of $46\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$, and is limited by the polarization impurity of the readout laser beam and by off-resonant optical pumping. Because there are no intervening optical elements between the ion and the detector, we can use the ion fluorescence as a self-calibrated photon source to determine the detector quantum efficiency and its dependence on photon incidence angle and polarization.
Generating and capitalizing on the demographic dividend potential in sub-Saharan Africa: a conceptual framework from a systematic literature review

Background: Africa will double its population by 2050 and more than half will be below age 25. The continent has a unique opportunity to boost its socioeconomic welfare. This systematic literature review aims to develop a conceptual framework that identifies policies and programs that have provided a favorable environment for generating and harnessing a demographic dividend. This framework can facilitate sub-Saharan African countries' understanding of needed actions to accelerate their demographic transition and capitalize on their demographic dividend potential. Methods: The search strategy was structured around three concepts: economic development, fertility, and sub-Saharan Africa. Databases used included PubMed and EconLit. An inductive approach was employed to expand the reference base further. Data were extracted using literature records following a checklist of items to include when reporting a systematic review suggested in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. Results: The final review consisted of 78 peer-reviewed articles, ten reports from the gray literature, and one book. Data were categorized according to relevant demographic dividend typology: pre-dividend and early-dividend. The results from the literature review were synthesized into a framework consisting of five sectors for pre-dividend countries, namely 1) Governance and Economic Institutions, 2) Family Planning, 3) Maternal and Child Health, 4) Education, and 5) Women's Empowerment. An additional sector, 6) Labor Market, is added for early-dividend countries. These sectors must work together to attain a demographic dividend. Conclusions: A country's demographic transition stage must guide policy and programs. Most sub-Saharan African countries have prioritized job creation and employment for youth, yet their efforts to secure a productive labor market require preliminary and complementary investments in governance, family planning, maternal and child health, education, and women's empowerment. Creating a favorable policy environment for generating and capitalizing on a demographic dividend can support their stated goals for development.
The simplicity of completion time distributions for common complex biochemical processes

Biochemical processes typically involve huge numbers of individual reversible steps, each with its own dynamical rate constants. For example, kinetic proofreading processes rely upon numerous sequential reactions in order to guarantee the precise construction of specific macromolecules. In this work, we study the transient properties of such systems and fully characterize their first passage (completion) time distributions. In particular, we provide explicit expressions for the mean and the variance of the completion time for a kinetic proofreading process and computational analyses for more complicated biochemical systems. We find that, for a wide range of parameters, as the system size grows, the completion time behavior simplifies: it becomes either deterministic or exponentially distributed, with a very narrow transition between the two regimes. In both regimes, the dynamical complexity of the full system is trivial compared to its apparent structural complexity. Similar simplicity is likely to arise in the dynamics of many complex multistep biochemical processes. In particular, these findings suggest not only that one may not be able to understand individual elementary reactions from macroscopic observations, but also that such an understanding may be unnecessary.
Latinx Adolescents’ Peer Ethnic Discrimination in After-School Activities and Activity Experiences

Grounded in ecological frameworks, this study examines (a) the extent to which Latinx adolescents’ perceptions of peer ethnic discrimination were associated with their participation in organized after-school activities, activity type, and ethnic composition; (b) different patterns of perceived peer ethnic discrimination; and (c) associations between discrimination patterns with key activity experiences including psychological engagement, perceived peer support, perceived leader support, and positive feelings in the activities. Using a pattern-centered approach, we applied latent profile analysis to analyze the data from 204 Latinx adolescents (53% female, M age = 12.40) in Southwest United States. Latinx adolescents who did not participate in organized after-school activities perceived higher peer ethnic discrimination than Latinx adolescents who participated. Latinx adolescents who were the numerical ethnic majority in activities reported lower discrimination than those who were the numerical minority. Among those who participated, 4 patterns of peer ethnic discrimination Latinx adolescents experienced in activities were identified. These profiles included moderate discrimination (4%), minimal discrimination (21%), no discrimination (64%), and somewhat negative beliefs (11%), which were differentially related to adolescents’ activity outcomes. Adolescents in the no discrimination group reported the most positive activity outcomes and those in the moderate discrimination group reported the most negative activity experiences. Adolescents who experienced little discrimination but felt other peers held negative beliefs about their ethnicity reported significantly lower psychological engagement and peer support than the no discrimination group. These findings highlight the importance of examining adolescents’ varying patterns of perceived ethnic discrimination in activities and provides ways that activity practitioners can optimize organized activity settings for Latinx adolescents.
International Student Transitions: A Framework for Success

Andrade and James Hartshorn (2019) surrounds the transition that international students encounter when they attend universities in developed countries in pursuit of higher education. Andrade and James Hartshorn (2019) describe how some countries like Australia and the United Kingdom host more international students than the United States (U.S.) and provides some guidelines for the U.S. higher education institutions to follow to host more international students. This book contains seven chapters.
Renovating Healthcare Facility Maintenance Planning: A Case Study From Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC).

Purpose:This article documents the development and implementation of a new approach for health facilities construction and maintenance planning, the use of a Facilities and Clinical Coordination (F...
Radial trend in murine annulus fibrosus fiber orientation is best explained by vertebral growth.

The intervertebral disc (IVD) annulus fibrosus (AF) is composed of concentric lamellae with alternating right- and left-handed helically oriented collagen fiber bundles. This arrangement results in anisotropic material properties, which depend on local fiber orientations. Prior measurements of fiber inclination angles in human lumbar and bovine caudal IVDs found a significantly higher inclination angle in the inner AF than outer, though it is currently unknown if this pattern is conserved in smaller mammalian species. Additionally, the physical mechanism behind this pattern remains un-determined. In this study, AF fiber angles were measured histologically in murine caudal IVDs and compared to previously published values from bovine caudal IVDs. Fiber angles were also predicted using three theoretical models, including two based on adaptation to internal swelling pressure and one based on vertebral body growth. Fiber angle was found to significantly decrease from 49.5 ± 3.8° in the inner AF to 34.5 ± 6.6° in the outer AF. While steeper than in bovine discs at all locations, the trend with radial position was comparable between species. This trend was best fit by growth-based model and opposite of that predicted by the pressure vessel models. Trends in AF fiber orientation are conserved between mammalian species. Modeling results suggest that the AF tissue microstructure is more likely to be driven by adjacent vertebral body growth than adapted for optimal mechanical performance.
Differential Geometry Of Manifolds

Analysis of Multivariable Functions Functions from Rn to Rm Continuity, Limits, and Differentiability Differentiation Rules: Functions of Class Cr Inverse and Implicit Function Theorems Coordinates, Frames, and Tensor Notation Curvilinear Coordinates Moving Frames in Physics Moving Frames and Matrix Functions Tensor Notation Differentiable Manifolds Definitions and Examples Differentiable Maps between Manifolds Tangent Spaces and Differentials Immersions, Submersions, and Submanifolds Chapter Summary Analysis on Manifolds Vector Bundles on Manifolds Vector Fields on Manifolds Differential Forms Integration on Manifolds Stokes' Theorem Introduction to Riemannian Geometry Riemannian Metrics Connections and Covariant Differentiation Vector Fields Along Curves: Geodesics The Curvature Tensor Applications of Manifolds to Physics Hamiltonian Mechanics Electromagnetism Geometric Concepts in String Theory A Brief Introduction to General Relativity Point Set Topology Introduction Metric Spaces Topological Spaces Proof of the Regular Jordan Curve Theorem Simplicial Complexes and Triangulations Euler Characteristic Calculus of Variations Formulation of Several Problems The Euler-Lagrange Equation Several Dependent Variables Isoperimetric Problems and Lagrange Multipliers Multilinear Algebra Direct Sums Bilinear and Quadratic Forms The Hom Space and the Dual Space The Tensor Product Symmetric Product and Alternating Product The Wedge Product and Analytic Geometry
Wildfire impacts on soil-water retention in the Colorado Front Range, United States

[1] This work examined the plot-scale differences in soil-water retention caused by wildfire in the area of the 2010 Fourmile Canyon Fire in the Colorado Front Range, United States. We measured soil-water retention curves on intact cores and repacked samples, soil particle-size distributions, and organic matter content. Estimates were also made of plant-available water based on the soil-water retention curves. Parameters for use in soil-hydraulic property models were estimated; these parameters can be used in unsaturated flow modeling for comparing burned and unburned watersheds. The primary driver for measured differences in soil-water retention in burned and unburned soils was organic matter content and not soil-particle size distribution. The tendency for unburned south-facing soils to have greater organic matter content than unburned north-facing soils in this field area may explain why unburned south-facing soils had greater soil-water retention than unburned north-facing soils. Our results suggest that high-severity wildfire can “homogenize” soil-water retention across the landscape by erasing soil-water retention differences resulting from organic matter content, which for this site may be affected by slope aspect. This homogenization could have important implications for ecohydrology and plant succession/recovery in burned areas, which could be a factor in dictating the window of vulnerability of the landscape to flash floods and erosion that are a common consequence of wildfire.
Polynomial Time Approximation Scheme for Symmetric Rectilinear Steiner Arborescence Problem

The Symmetric Rectilinear Steiner Arborescence (SRStA) problem is defined as follows: given a set of terminals in the positive quadrant of the plane, connect them using horizontal and vertical lines such that each terminal can be reached from the origin via a y-monotone path and the total length of all the line segments is the minimum possible. Finding an SRStA has applications in VLSI design, in data structures used in some optimization algorithms and in dynamic server problems. In this paper, we provide a polynomial time approximation scheme for the SRStA problem, improving the previous best approximation ratio of 3 for this problem.
Three-dimensional object tracking using a Fourier transform of sine-coded range images

An efficient method for tracking the attitude and translation of an object from a sequence of dense range images is demonstrated. The range data are sine coded and then Fourier transformed. By this process, planar surfaces in the image produce distinctive peaks in the Fourier transform spectrum. The position of a peak provides a direct measure of the normal of the plane. Tracking the positions of these peaks enables tracking the orientation of a known object. After computing and undoing the rotation, the translation is obtained by measuring the 3-D centroid of the segmented planar surfaces. All computations are closed form. The Fourier transform method is also used for segmentation. The integrative nature of the Fourier transform is very effective in attenuating the effect of noise and outliers. Results of tracking an object in a simulated range image sequence show high accuracy [0.2 deg in orientation and 0.2% root-mean-square (rms) error in translation with respect to the width of the object]. The system runs presently at 3 to 5 frames/s. The method promises real-time (video rate) performance with the addition of accelerator hardware for computing the Fourier transform. The approach is well suited for dynamic robotic vision applications.
Changes in the Nucleotide Pool of Bacillus licheniformis During Sporulation

Leitzmann, Claus (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis), and Robert W. Bernlohr. Changes in the nucleotide pool of Bacillus licheniformis during sporulation. J. Bacteriol. 89:1506–1510. 1965.—An analysis of the amount of acid-soluble nucleotides in Bacillus licheniformis cells showed a 75% increase during presporulation over that in log-phase cells. Cultures in which presporulation was inhibited by actinomycin D showed a decrease in acid-soluble nucleotides during the same time interval. A separation and quantitative determination of the nucleotides in the pool revealed that the relative proportion of each nucleotide remained fairly constant during presporulation. The detection of an intracellular ribonuclease activity and a decrease of the total nucleic acid concentration in the cells suggest that the increased pool arises from polymer breakdown. The effect of actinomycin D on sporulation was examined on both a quantitative and a temporal basis. The data indicate that messenger ribonucleic acid is essential for the completion of the sporulation process and must be resynthesized constantly.
The glucocorticoid stress response in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus): comparing within and between breeding seasons, by age and colony, after fighting, and with other penguin species

Comparing baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoid hormone levels in animals is a popular tool to assess differences in stress experienced among groups. We compare corticosterone levels in Magell...
Filología y etnohistoria. Una breve historia de la "nueva filología" en Norteamérica

Este articulo revisa las afinidades metodologicas, los contextos academicos, los objetivos de investigacion y el perfil de una escuela de etnohistoria que se define a si misma como Nueva Filologia. Para definir y discutir las contribuciones particulares que los miembros de esta escuela han hecho a la etnohistoria de Mesoamerica, este ensayo plantea tres fases de desarrollo de la escuela: un periodo inicial de exploracion e innovacion (1976-1992); un segundo periodo de ramificacion de la etnohistoria nahua hacia otros grupos culturales de Mesoamerica (1992-2000) y un tercer periodo actual donde la escuela convive con otras ramas interdisciplinarias como la antropologia, linguistica y la historia del arte (1992-...). Despues de identificarse a si mismo como miembro de esta escuela, el autor ejemplifica los principales temas metodologicos y conceptuales que definen a la Nueva Filologia como una escuela autonoma en el campo de la etnohistoria americanista
The irrelevance of folk intuitions to the “hard problem” of consciousness

Abstract Recently, a number of philosophers have turned to folk intuitions about mental states for data about qualia and phenomenal consciousness. In this paper I argue that current research along these lines does not tell us about these subjects. I focus on a series of studies, performed by Justin Sytsma and Edouard Machery, to make my argument. Folk judgments studied by these researchers are mostly likely generated by a certain cognitive system – System One – that will generate the same data whether or not we experience phenomenal consciousness. This is a problem for a range of current experimental philosophy research into consciousness or our concept of it. If experimental philosophy is to shed light into phenomenal consciousness, it needs to be better founded in an understanding of how we make judgments.
Images and inference

It is frequently asked whether imagery differs in a fundamental way from other forms of knowledge representation, specifically the predicative forms employed in artificial intelligence programs. Frequently suggested distinctions are pictorial versus descriptional, and analog versus digital. This paper argues that these distinctions are not central in understanding the role of imagery in cognition, and moreover do not correctly capture the difference between visual perception and language. A distinction is proposed between the representation of images, on the one hand, and a calculus-plus-proof-procedure form of knowledge representation on the other. This distinction is not based upon differences in expressive power or form, but rather is based upon a distinction between how these two representations function, specifically how they are used to make inferences. On this view, an important functional role of imagery is to provide a non-proof-procedural method for inference, using a constraint satisfaction mechanism. Images, even the limited class of images here called diagrams, support inference in a way that is distinct from the way predicative representations support inference. This analysis offers an approach to solving the “frame problem” of cognitive science.
Selective homogeneous production of alkyl formate from CO and alcohol using metal carbonyl/alkoxide catalyst systems

Abstract The homogeneously catalyzed production of alkyl formates from alcohols and carbon monoxide by transition metal carbonyl complexes in the presence of alkali metal alkoxides is reported. A significant increase in the number of turnovers of this reaction by Group VI metal carbonyl/alkoxide catalysts over the alkali metal alkoxide-catalyzed process is due to the dual role of the metal carbonyl to provide a more electrophilic source of carbon monoxide and to promote the removal of trace water impurities through water-gas shift chemistry. The key intermediate in the proposed catalytic cycle is a short-lived metallo-ester derivative which at elevated temperatures (⪢100 °C) is protonated by alcohol to afford the alkyl formate product. The reactivity of the metal carbonyl with alkali metal alkoxides is sharply affected by the solvent system employed, e.g., tetrahydrofuran is much more effective than alcohols. Similarly, reactions of triruthenium dodecacarbonyl with alcohols in the presence of alkoxides and CO have led to the production of alkyl formates. In addition, a convenient route to 13CO-enriched Ru3(CO)12 is achieved in the presence of trace quantities of alkoxides. In the absence of CO, XRu3(CO)10Y (X = H or OR; Y = OR) derivatives are produced by direct reaction of Ru3(CO)12 with alcohols.
The fbpA/sapM Double Knock Out Strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Is Highly Attenuated and Immunogenic in Macrophages

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is the leading cause of death due to bacterial infections in mankind, and BCG, an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, is an approved vaccine. BCG sequesters in immature phagosomes of antigen presenting cells (APCs), which do not fuse with lysosomes, leading to decreased antigen processing and reduced Th1 responses. However, an Mtb derived ΔfbpA attenuated mutant underwent limited phagosome maturation, enhanced immunogenicity and was as effective as BCG in protecting mice against TB. To facilitate phagosome maturation of ΔfbpA, we disrupted an additional gene sapM, which encodes for an acid phosphatase. Compared to the wild type Mtb, the ΔfbpAΔsapM (double knock out; DKO) strain was attenuated for growth in mouse macrophages and PMA activated human THP1 macrophages. Attenuation correlated with increased oxidants in macrophages in response to DKO infection and enhanced labeling of lysosomal markers (CD63 and rab7) on DKO phagosomes. An in vitro Antigen 85B peptide presentation assay was used to determine antigen presentation to T cells by APCs infected with DKO or other mycobacterial strains. This revealed that DKO infected APCs showed the strongest ability to present Ag85B to T cells (>2500 pgs/mL in 4 hrs) as compared to APCs infected with wild type Mtb or ΔfbpA or ΔsapM strain (<1000 pgs/mL in 4 hrs), indicating that DKO strain has enhanced immunogenicity than other strains. The ability of DKO to undergo lysosomal fusion and vacuolar acidification correlated with antigen presentation since bafilomycin, that inhibits acidification in APCs, reduced antigen presentation. Finally, the DKO vaccine elicited a better Th1 response in mice after subcutaneous vaccination than either ΔfbpA or ΔsapM. Since ΔfbpA has been used in mice as a candidate vaccine and the DKO (ΔfbpAΔsapM) mutant is more immunogenic than ΔfbpA, we propose the DKO is a potential anti-tuberculosis vaccine.