cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neonatal Diagnostics: Toward Dynamic Growth Charts of Neuromotor Control.

Current rise of neurodevelopmental disorders, poses a critical need to detect risk early in order to rapidly intervene. One of the tools Pediatricians use to track development is the standard Growth Chart. The Growth Charts are somewhat limited in predicting possible neurodevelopmental issues. They rely on linear models and assumptions of normality for physical growth data —obscuring key statistical information about possible neurodevelopmental risk in growth data that actually has accelerated, non-linear rates-of-change and variability encompassing skewed distributions. Here we use new analytics to profile growth data from 36 newborn babies that were tracked longitudinally for 5 months. By switching to incremental (velocity-based) growth charts and combining these dynamic changes with underlying fluctuations in motor performance—as they transition from spontaneous random noise to a systematic signal— we demonstrate a method to detect very early stunting in the development of voluntary neuro-motor control and to flag risk of neurodevelopmental derail.
Critical Application of Tillich's Thought to Feminist Theology

The article intends to show how the ideas of Tillich influenced many feminist thinkers, especially in the field of religious studies, and continue providing insights to feminist theologians in the world today. After a brief overview of the critical incorporation of Tillich’s ideas in feminist reflection, especially concerning the passage of a predominantly masculine symbolism for the feminist, two topics are offered to the current debate: the critical use of tillichian approach of ethics and the religion of the concrete spirit. In both cases, it is to reconcile the universal with the particular. Feminist authors as Mary Daly, Elizabeth Johnson, Morny Joy and Sally McFague are brought into the discussion on the subject.
Health Status, Health Shocks, and Asset Adequacy Over Retirement Years:

This article uses data on a sample of retirees drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine changes in health over the retirement years and to estimate the effects of health changes in retirement on wealth. Using the framework of item response theory, we develop a novel measure of health that makes use of multiple indicators of physical health that are available in the HRS. We find that large negative shocks to the health of male retirees and their spouses are frequent in retirement and that when such shocks do occur, recovery to the preshock level of health is rare. Using a dynamic panel data model, we then estimate short- and long-run effects of changes in health on wealth. While our estimated short-run effects are modest, long-run estimates of the impact of health shocks on wealth are large, ranging from a 12% to 20% reduction in wealth by the 10th year, following a permanent one standard deviation decrease in health.
Troubling Stages of Life: Child-Woman, Child-Man

Inherited categories of age as referenced in Chaps. 3 through 5 are disrupted by atypical fusions of young and old. Carolyn Dinshaw’s notion of queer temporality is used here to frame the topoi of the puer and puella senex to demonstrate how assumptions about age-appropriate behaviors may be challenged and revised. Positioning Chaucer’s children within a context of “wise child” figures such as Child Merlin, Child Jesus, and the child saint, Nicholas, this chapter foregrounds Maurice and Custance of the Man of Law’s Tale, Sophie of the Tale of Melibee, and Virginia of the Physician’s Tale. And because there is a notable difference between childlikeness and childishness, two adult figures—Oswald the Reeve and the Prioress—are also considered.
Effect of neoadjuvant treatment with gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel on SPARC and Ki-67 in patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

322 Background: Nab-paclitaxel (nab-P) and gemcitabine (Gem) improve survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer (PCa). We sought to determine the impact of nab-P and Gem on the primary tumor and associated microenvironment in neoadjuvant treatment (NAT). Methods: All patients in the GAIN-1 study (NCT01470417) received NAT with nab-P and Gem with or without radiation depending on risk status. A comparator group without NAT was matched for age, sex, race, resection status, smoking, primary tumor site, and tumor size. Surgical specimens of tumor, associated stroma and lymph nodes were analyzed. Routine immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Ki-67 and TUNEL was performed. Immunolabeling was assessed using anti-SPARC antibody (Invitrogen) with scoring consistent with prior reports: Negative = intensity absent to weak (+) with extent <10%; Positive = intensity moderate (++) to strong (+++) with extent ≥ 10%. For Ki-67 and TUNEL, the percentage of positive tumor cells was averaged over four HPF/specimen. Study was conduct...
EPAs methodology to inform TSCA pre-manufacturing notification decision-making: A critical analysis based on chemicals regulated by consent order

Regulatory toxicology has emerged as a necessary discipline to ensure chemicals introduced into commerce are safe. The New Chemicals program is a regulatory toxicology program required under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) where the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluates new or significant new uses of existing chemicals. Submitters are not required to include human or environmental effects data, or undertake toxicity testing and so constrain the EPA and the basic data available to make informed decisions. We therefore sought to determine the methodology used by this program to inform regulatory, consent order decisions. We found that the EPA applied analogue analyses, or in silico methods to inform two-thirds of the decisions evaluated. No new tests were carried out. This study's findings are important for other regulators in the potential adoption of alternative testing methods to inform regulatory decisions going forward.
A simple formula for a planet's mean annual insolation by latitude

In this paper, we use a sixth order Legendre series expansion to approximate the mean annual insolation by latitude of a planet with obliquity angle β, leading to faster computations with little loss in the accuracy of results. We discuss differences between our method and selected computational results for insolation found in the literature.
A Musculoskeletal Medicine Clerkship for Medical Students

Musculoskeletal complaints represent one of the most common reasons people seek medical care—perhaps more than any other—yet the amount of time devoted to musculoskeletal topics in medical school is not commensurate to the burden of disease. It is therefore not unreasonable for departments of orthopaedic surgery to take their own initiative and create course offerings that will fill the gap. There are a few options for new courses in orthopaedic surgery: a traditional fourth-year elective is orthopaedic surgery; a selective option as part of the surgery clerkship; or a free-standing required clerkship in musculoskeletal medicine/orthopaedic surgery. We describe here our experience with a 1-week required clerkship for all students. Our aim is to identify some general principles and helpful suggestions that will allow a school to build its own coherent self-contained course.
A Randomized Trial on the Efficacy of Mastery Learning for Primary Care Provider Melanoma Opportunistic Screening Skills and Practice.

Early detection of melanoma represents an opportunity to reduce the burden of disease among people at increased risk for melanoma. To develop and demonstrate the efficacy of online training. Randomized educational trial. Primary care providers (PCPs). Mastery learning course with visual and dermoscopic assessment, diagnosis and management, and deliberate practice with feedback to reach a minimum passing standard. Pre-test/post-test diagnostic accuracy. Referral of concerning lesions for 3 months before and after the educational intervention. Among the 89 PCPs, 89.8% were internal medicine physicians, and the remainder were physician assistants embedded in internists’ practices. There were no differences between control and intervention groups regarding gender, age, race, or percentage of full-time PCPs. The control group had more PCPs who reported less than 5 years of practice (n = 18) than the intervention group (n = 6) (χ2 [6, n = 89] = 14.34, p = 0.03). PCPs in the intervention group answered more melanoma detection questions correctly on the post-test (M = 10.05, SE = 1.24) compared to control group PCPs (M = 7.11, SE = 0.24), and had fewer false-positive and no false-negative melanoma diagnoses (intervention, M = 1.09, SE = 0. 20; control, M = 3.1, SE = 0.23; ANCOVA, F[1,378] =27.86, p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.26). PCPs who underwent training referred fewer benign lesions, including nevi, seborrheic keratoses, and dermatofibromas, than control PCPs (F[1,79] = 72.89, p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.489; F[1,79] = 25.82, p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.246; F[1,79] = 34.25, p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.302; respectively). Those receiving training referred significantly more melanomas than controls (F[1,79] = 24.38, p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.236). Referred melanomas (0.8 ± 0.07 per month for intervention, 0.17 ± 0.06 for control) were mostly located on the head and neck. Mastery learning improved PCPs’ ability to detect melanoma on a standardized post-test and may improve referral of patients with suspected melanoma. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02385253.
No Gut No Gain! Enteral Bile Acid Treatment Preserves Gut Growth but Not Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Liver Injury in a Novel Extensive Short Bowel Animal Model.

BACKGROUND Parenteral nutrition (PN) provides nutrition intravenously; however, this life-saving therapy is associated with significant liver disease. Recent evidence indicates improvement in PN-associated injury in animals with intact gut treated with enteral bile acid (BA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), and a gut farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, which drives the gut-liver cross talk (GLCT). We hypothesized that similar improvement could be translated in animals with short bowel syndrome (SBS). METHODS Using piglets, we developed a novel 90% gut-resected SBS model. Fifteen SBS piglets receiving PN were given CDCA or control (vehicle control) for 2 weeks. Tissue and serum were analyzed posteuthanasia. RESULTS CDCA increased gut FXR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction; P = .008), but not downstream FXR targets. No difference in gut fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19; P = .28) or hepatic FXR (P = .75), FGF19 (P = .86), FGFR4 (P = .53), or Cholesterol 7 α-hydroxylase (P = .61) was noted. PN resulted in cholestasis; however, no improvement was noted with CDCA. Hepatic fibrosis or immunostaining for Ki67, CD3, or Cytokeratin 7 was not different with CDCA. PN resulted in gut atrophy. CDCA preserved (P = .04 vs control) gut mass and villous/crypt ratio. The median (interquartile range) for gut mass for control was 0.28 (0.17-0.34) and for CDCA was 0.33 (0.26-0.46). CONCLUSIONS We note that, unlike in animals with intact gut, in an SBS animal model there is inadequate CDCA-induced activation of gut-derived signaling to cause liver improvement. Thus, it appears that activation of GLCT is critically dependent on the presence of adequate gut. This is clinically relevant because it suggests that BA therapy may not be as effective for patients with SBS.
Utilization of head CT during injury visits to United States emergency departments: 2012-2015.

Abstract Introduction Studies have shown increasing utilization of head computed tomography (CT) imaging of emergency department (ED) patients presenting with an injury-related visit. Multiple initiatives, including the Choosing Wisely™ campaign and evidence-based clinical decision support based on validated decision rules, have targeted head CT use in patients with injuries. Therefore, we investigated national trends in the use of head CT during injury-related ED visits from 2012 to 2015. Methods This was a secondary analysis of data from the annual United States (U.S.) National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2012 to 2015. The study population was defined as injury-related ED visits, and we sought to determine the percentage in which a head CT was ordered and, secondarily, to determine both the diagnostic yield of clinically significant intracranial findings and hospital characteristics associated with increased head CT utilization. Results Between 2012 and 2015, 12.25% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.48–13.02%) of injury-related visits received at least one head CT. Overall head CT utilization showed an increased trend during the study period (2012: 11.7%, 2015: 13.23%, p = 0.09), but the results were not statistically significant. The diagnostic yield of head CT for a significant intracranial injury over the period of four years was 7.4% (9.68% in 2012 vs. 7.67% in 2015, p = 0.23). Conclusions Head CT use along with diagnostic yield has remained stable from 2012 to 2015 among patients presenting to the ED for an injury-related visit.
Computational Methods for Comparative Analysis of Plant Small RNAs

Small RNAs play an important role in plant development, stress responses, and epigenetic regulation, primarily through their role in transcriptional and post-transcriptional silencing of specific target genes and loci. Most if not all plants utilize these small RNA signaling networks. We have developed a deep- sequencing based dataset of plant small RNAs, based on the hypothesis that comparisons among the complex pool of small RNAs from diverse plants will identify novel types of conserved, regulated, or species-specific molecules. A database containing upward of hundreds of millions of plant small RNA sequences is being created for comparative analyses. This small RNA database will allow the experimental characterization of the majority of the biologically important small RNAs for a range of plant species. This database can be accessed from our website (http://smallrna.udel.edu/). A variety of web-based tools have been developed for analyses of these data. Here, we focus on these tools, and we describe how the users can implement these tools to analyze and interpret the small RNA data and how the users could use similar approaches for other sets of plant small RNAs from diverse species.
Androgyny and Adjustment in Later Life: Living in a Veterans' Home

This study builds on literature that suggests that interaction with friends in later life is important to the well-being of older adults and other research that argues that androgynous individuals may have a greater range of social skills with which to further their adjustment. We apply these arguments to later life through interviews from a pilot sample of 27 residents in a state-operated veterans' home. Findings suggest that women, who often hold high expectations for the interpersonal domain, are more likely to experience adjustment problems than are men. Men, who may have lower expectations for friendship and intimacy, seem less likely to report dissatisfaction, regardless of gender characteristics. A typology of adjustment and androgyny in later life is developed.
Grasping in an Unstructured Environment using a Coordinated Hand Arm Control

Dextrous hands used in robotic systems require equally dextrous control architectures in order to perform the complex tasks that the hands were built for. Even with its multitude of degrees of freedom, the hand must closely interact with the arm on which it is mounted. Coordination with the arm takes place at the planning level, where desired motions for the hand and arm are synchronized. At the reflexive level, more dynamic interactions between the hand and arm are required, such that the arm is capable of using the force information from the hand, to modify its own trajectory. This coupling between mechanisms is not restricted to hands and arm, and so we need a multi layered control architecture through the actions of various mechanisms and active sensors are coordinated.
Recognitive Immunity in Colon Cancer

The possibility of controlling cancer by immunological means continues to provoke the interest and excitement of many workers. Such a possibility, however, is entirely dependent on the fact that tumors express antigens which are associated with those tumors. Efforts have been made to demonstrate tumor antigenicity by serological methods. As early as 1930, Witebsky produced in guinea pigs a putative antiserum to a human stomach cancer. After adsorption of this antiserum with extracts of normal human stomach, he found that it was still capable of producing a precipitation reaction with the cancer extract. This work suggested that an antigen was present in a cancerous stomach which was not present in a normal stomach. Other serological evidence followed. Graham and Graham (1955) claimed the ability to demonstrate positive complement fixation reactions for some patients using extracts of autologous tumors. Other claims were made (Finney et al., 1960) for the demonstration of precipitating antibody in the sera of cancer patients against extracts of their own tumors.
Graphs and Matrices

In order to store a graph or digraph in a computer, we need something other than the diagram or the formal definition. This something is the adjacency matrix, a matrix of O’s and l’s. The l’s correspond to the arcs of the digraph. Certain matrix operations will be seen to correspond to digraph concepts.
Reflections on “The Politics of Informality”: What We Know, How We Got There, and Where We Might Head Next

Building on the methodological and empirical contributions of the various authors in this special symposium, this concluding reflection acknowledges the important role that informality plays in urban and national politics in the global South, even as it proposes a range of alternative ways, this critical topic could and should be inserted into contemporary scholarship in comparative politics. It begins with a discussion of two decades of research on urbanization and economic globalization, thus introducing a wider set of disciplinary concerns than merely urban servicing into the study of informality, ranging from the transformation of property rights regimes in the context of ascendant neo-liberalization to the recent emergence of more decentralized political structures for claim-making and governance. The essay then suggests that greater historical and contextual specificity in the study of informality, along with the methodological innovations highlighted in the papers, will further help reveal the range of responses to informality seen across the different case studies. Specifically, it proposes that closer attention to divergent urban and national pathways of democratization, attention to institutional variations within and across democratic regimes, political party dynamics at the local and national level, and the existence of urban violence, among other factors, will help explain how and why bureaucrats and elected officials may choose to deal differently with the existence of informality. The essay concludes by arguing that informality should be considered as both a form of governance and a means of enacting citizenship. It thus asks scholars to question the longstanding conceptual dichotomies that permeate much of the literature on informality, including the stark conceptual divide between the formal and informal, and instead to recognize that complex, interactive, and iterative relationships between citizens and the state in the arena of informality are what drive urban servicing and sociopolitical change.
Outpatient Surgical Management for Acquired Buried Penis.

Objective To demonstrate the safety and feasibility of outpatient surgical management for patients with acquired buried penis (ABP). Methods We conducted an Institutional Review Board approved review of patients who underwent surgical repair of ABP at a single institution from September 2014 to August 2017. Patient characteristics, operative details, and 30- and 90-day complications were assessed. Results Sixteen patients underwent surgical repair of ABP at the University of Kentucky during the study period. Mean age was 54 years (range 44-62). Median body mass index (BMI) was 47.7 (range 25.5-53.3). Patients largely underwent penile liberation, escutcheonectomy, and split thickness skin grafting. Concurrent scrotoplasty and urethroplasty were performed in select cases. The majority of patients 10/16 (62.5%) were discharged on the same day of surgery, while the remaining 6/16 (37.5%) were outpatient extended stay–and were discharged on postoperative day 1. The 30- and 90-day complications were 19% and 25% respectively, all were Clavien II. Split thickness skin graft take was 100%, and technical success was achieved in all patients. Patients with complications had higher BMIs, higher rates of diabetes, and higher rates of tobacco use, though only BMI reached statistical significance (P = .0150, P = .5846, and P = .0632) respectively. Conclusion Multi component repair of adult ABP can be safely done on an outpatient basis without need for routine inpatient admission and complex algorithms. The most common complication is surgical site infection, which arose in the first 30 days postoperatively. Higher BMI was a significant risk factor for complications.
Coupling Exascale Multiphysics Applications: Methods and Lessons Learned

With the growing computational complexity of science and the complexity of new and emerging hardware, it is time to re-evaluate the traditional monolithic design of computational codes. One new paradigm is constructing larger scientific computational experiments from the coupling of multiple individual scientific applications, each targeting their own physics, characteristic lengths, and/or scales. We present a framework constructed by leveraging capabilities such as in-memory communications, workflow scheduling on HPC resources, and continuous performance monitoring. This code coupling capability is demonstrated by a fusion science scenario, where differences between the plasma at the edges and at the core of a device have different physical descriptions. This infrastructure not only enables the coupling of the physics components, but it also connects in situ or online analysis, compression, and visualization that accelerate the time between a run and the analysis of the science content. Results from runs on Titan and Cori are presented as a demonstration.
Automated Cell Counts on Tissue Sections by Deep Learning and Unbiased Stereology.

Abstract In recent decades stereology-based studies have played a significant role in understanding brain aging and developing novel drug discovery strategies for treatment of neurological disease and mental illness. A major obstacle to further progress in a wide range of neuroscience sub-disciplines remains the lack of high-throughput technology for stereology analyses. Though founded on methodologically unbiased principles, commercially available stereology systems still rely on well-trained humans to manually count hundreds of cells within each region of interest (ROI). Even for a simple study with 10 controls and 10 treated animals, cell counts typically require over a month of tedious labor and high costs. Furthermore, these studies are prone to errors and poor reproducibility due to human factors such as subjectivity, variable training, recognition bias, and fatigue. Here we propose a deep neural network-stereology combination to automatically segment and estimate the total number of immunostained neurons on tissue sections. Our three-step approach consists of (1) creating extended-depth-of-field (EDF) images from z-stacks of images (disector stacks); (2) applying an adaptive segmentation algorithm (ASA) to label stained cells in the EDF images (i.e., create masks) for training a convolutional neural network (CNN); and (3) use the trained CNN model to automatically segment and count the total number of cells in test disector stacks using the optical fractionator method. The automated stereology approach shows less than 2% error and over 5× greater efficiency compared to counts by a trained human, without the subjectivity, tedium, and poor precision associated with conventional stereology.
Why Jazz? South Africa 2019

I consider the current state of jazz in South Africa in response to the formation of the nation-state in the 1990s. I argue that while there is a recurring sense of the precarity of jazz in South A...
Inhibitors of β-Glucosidases of Animal Tissues

Our first effort in the field of glucocerebroside manip­ulation stemmed directly from an observation by one of this meeting’s sponsors, Dr. Shimon Gatt. Dr. Gatt had purified glucocerebrosidase from brain to a certain degree and, in studying its properties, found that sphingosine produced good inhibition (1). It seemed likely that we could increase the strength and specificity of the effect by adding a glucosyl moiety to the sphingosine. John Erickson and I prepared glu­cosyl sphingosine from Gaucher spleen cerebroside and found that it was indeed a stronger inhibitor (2). When the com­pounds were tested with rat spleen cerebrosidase at the 0.3 mM level, sphingosine produced 59% inhibition and the glucoside produced 75% inhibition. Galactosyl sphingosine, the β-galac­toside made from brain cerebroside, had no effect at all, showing that the sugar residue was very important.
The Effect of SNAP and School Food Programs on Food Security, Diet Quality, and Food Spending: Sensitivity to Program Reporting Error

There is an extensive research literature on the effects of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on food‐related outcomes which has shown somewhat mixed results but generally favorable effects. However, most of the research has used data sets whose information on SNAP participation is gathered from responses on household surveys, and such responses are subject to reporting error. This study uses the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey data set to examine the effect of reporting error on food‐related outcomes, for that data set contains information on SNAP participation gathered from government administrative records. Our analysis shows that the degree of reporting error is small and has little effect on the estimated impact of participation in the SNAP program on food security, diet quality, and food spending. A supplemental analysis of the effect of school food programs likewise shows no difference in using survey or administrative data in the analysis.
Matching individual attributes with task types in collaborative citizen science

In citizen science, participants' productivity is imperative to project success. We investigate the feasibility of a collaborative approach to citizen science, within which productivity is enhanced by capitalizing on the diversity of individual attributes among participants. Specifically, we explore the possibility of enhancing productivity by integrating multiple individual attributes to inform the choice of which task should be assigned to which individual. To that end, we collect data in an online citizen science project composed of two task types: (i) filtering images of interest from an image repository in a limited time, and (ii) allocating tags on the object in the filtered images over unlimited time. The first task is assigned to those who have more experience in playing action video games, and the second task to those who have higher intrinsic motivation to participate. While each attribute has weak predictive power on the task performance, we demonstrate a greater increase in productivity when assigning participants to the task based on a combination of these attributes. We acknowledge that such an increase is modest compared to the case where participants are randomly assigned to the tasks, which could offset the effort of implementing our attribute-based task assignment scheme. This study constitutes a first step toward understanding and capitalizing on individual differences in attributes toward enhancing productivity in collaborative citizen science.
Pre-TKR genicular nerve ablation

To the editor, We read with interest the commentary submitted by Lavand’homme and colleagues. Indeed, preoperative pain severity predicts postoperative pain severity, and we agree with Lavand’homme and colleagues regarding the potential utility of measuring post genicular nerve radiofrequency
ADAMTS13 Promotes Angiogenesis and Modulates VEGF-Mediated Angiogenic Activities

Abstract 1145 Severe plasma ADAMTS13 deficiency results in the clinical disorder thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. However, other potential pathophysiological roles of ADAMTS13 in endothelial cell biology remain unexplored. To assess the possible role of ADAMTS13 in angiogenesis, cell proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were studied in vitro. ADAMTS13 was found to be a highly potent chemoattractant, and additionally was capable of neutralizing VEGF activity in two angiogenesis assays-cell proliferation and cell migration. In the Boyden chamber cell migration assay, treatment of endothelial cells with exogenous recombinant ADAMTS13 promoted cell migration in a dose-dependent manner, with 1 ng/mL increasing cell migration across a gelatinized polycarbonate membrane by 14-fold. In the same model, 5 ng/mL VEGF 165 (molar ratio of ADAMTS13:VEGF 165 = 1/19) only increased cell migration by 7 fold. A steady decrease in endothelial cell migration was observed when the concentration of ADAMTS13 exceeded 1 ng/mL (Figure 1). Coincubation of 30 ng/mL ADAMTS13 with 6.16 ng/mL VEGF 165 (molar ratio of ADAMTS13/VEGF 165 = 1.3/1) inhibited endothelial cell migration by 45% compared to VEGF alone (Figure 2). A second model using an in vitro scratch-wound assay confirmed the Boyden chamber data. Substitution of ADAMTS13 with ADAM17, an analog of ADAMTS13 without the thrombospondin domain reversed the inhibition of VEGF-mediated cell migration, suggesting that the thrombospondin domain of ADAMTS13 is responsible for the inhibitory interaction with VEGF 165 . This finding was in agreement with our previously published co-immunoprecipitation assay data ( Blood 2010, 116, 4307 ). Similar patterns of inhibition were observed with VEGF 121 and VEGF 189 , indicating that other isoforms of VEGF may interact with the TSP domain of ADAMTS13. Using a manual proliferation assay method, HUVEC treated with 30 ng/mL ADAMTS13 and 6.16 ng/mL VEGF 165 proliferated 40% slower than the control treated with VEGF alone. Combined with our findings on the inhibition of endothelial cell-tube formation in a Matrigel assay with ADAMTS13 and VEGF 165 previously reported, our cumulative data suggest that 1) ADAMTS13 promotes angiogenesis by increasing cell migration and 2) ADAMTS13 can modulate VEGF-mediated angiogenic activities. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Engineering Technology: Engaging Disciplinary Thinking and Doing

Engineering is a complex language that first-year students often find challenging to learn. In addition to mastering quantitative reasoning skills, students have to engage in abstract thinking and critical reasoning to ensure understanding of engineering principles and accurate application of an array of formulas, as well as to troubleshoot problems (ABET, 2019). This chapter focuses its discussion on a sequence of electromechanical engineering courses, including a hands-on manufacturing lab, a foundational Electromechanical Engineering course, and an advanced Electronic Circuits course. The specific approaches used to enhance student learning in acquiring content knowledge and developing disciplinary thinking in each course in the sequence are discussed.
Microwave-driven heterogeneous catalysis for activation of dinitrogen to ammonia under atmospheric pressure

Abstract This paper presents an innovative approach to producing energy-dense, carbon–neutral liquid ammonia as a means for carrying energy. This approach synergistically integrates microwave reaction chemistry with novel heterogeneous catalysis that decouples dinitrogen activation from high-temperature and high-pressure reactions, altering reaction pathways and increasing ammonia formation rate. Results presented here demonstrate that ammonia synthesis can be conducted at 280 ℃ and ambient pressure to achieve ~1 mmol ammonia/g cat/h over supported ruthenium catalyst systems utilizing microwave irradiation. It is further shown that adding promoter ions such as potassium, cerium, and barium significantly improves the ammonia production rate over undoped ruthenium-based catalysts. This effect could be attributed to enhanced dielectric loss processes that lead to stronger microwave absorption by the catalyst. Measurement of the equilibrium constant under microwave conditions showed a higher ammonia yield than under thermal equilibrium conditions for both the iron- and ruthenium-based catalysts. Finally, this study also illustrates the advantages of using a variable-frequency microwave reactor for ambient-pressure ammonia synthesis. Mechanistically, investigators believed that the oscillating electric fields of the radiation can couple with adsorbed nitrogen on the surface and accelerate its dissociation. Since dinitrogen dissociation on the surface is rate limiting, this effectively accelerates the reaction. Overall, the study provides an in-depth analysis of the parameters affecting the use of microwaves in catalyzed ammonia synthesis. This process is fundamentally different from the commercial Haber–Bosch process and provides an alternative method of ammonia synthesis for certain applications, as it is tolerant to intermittent supplies of renewable energy, therefore effectively operating at variable rates of production.
Microscopic modeling and optimal operation of plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition

Abstract Plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) is one of the most widely adopted deposition methods used in the semiconductor industry. It is chosen largely due to its superior ability to produce ultra-thin high-k dielectric films, which are needed for the further miniaturization of microelectronic devices with the pace of Moore's Law. In contrast to the traditional thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) method, PEALD allows for high deposition growth per cycle (GPC) under low operating temperature with the help of high energy plasma species. Despite the experimental effort in finding new precursors and plasmas, the detailed surface structures and reaction mechanisms in various PEALD processes remain hard to understand because of the limitation of current in-situ monitoring techniques and the deficiency of the first-principles based analysis. Therefore, in this work, an accurate, yet efficient kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) model and an associated machine learning (ML) analysis are proposed to capture the surface deposition mechanism and to propose optimal operating conditions of the HfO2 thin-film PEALD using tetrakis-dimethylamino-Hafnium (TDMAHf) and oxygen plasma. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations are performed to obtain the key kinetic parameters and the structural details, subsequently employed in the kMC model. After the kMC model is validated by experimental data, a database is generated to explore a variety of precursor partial pressure and substrate temperature combinations using the kMC algorithm. A feed-forward Bayesian regularized artificial neural network (BRANN) is then constructed to characterize the input–output relationship and to investigate the optimal operating conditions.
A MUD-Enhanced Multi-Beam Approach for Increasing Throughput of Dense Wireless Networks

Uncoordinated random access (URA) wireless communication schemes provide an attractive framework to enable the necessary communication backbone for the advancement of dense sensor systems, many sensors deployed in a relatively small area. By itself, URA is unsuitable for moderately dense networks due to the crippling levels of interference that result from within the communication network. Digital beamforming has been proposed to alleviate intra-URA-network interference with a post-reception formation of multiple simultaneous beams that allow a single receiver to “hear” only the transmissions meant for it and to block out all others. A high density network can result in interference originating from the same direction which cannot be mitigated with beamforming. We propose the addition of post-beamformed multiuser detection (MUD) with the use of direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) waveforms to help further combat the interference problem. Motivated by practical design choices such as transceiver weight and size as well as operational expectations of variable and/or evolving node densities, we explore trades between the DSSS time-spreading factor, number of antennas per node, and network node density. Our results show throughput improvements with the addition of MUD, while the most improvements are with the addition of MUD paired with an appropriate choice of spreading factor. Insights from these results provide guidelines for the development of future systems not only aided by MUD and beamforming, but also by on-the-fly adaptation of the DSSS signature waveform time-spreading factor to mitigate the level of interference present at any time.
Disproportionate Chemical Exposure: How the Marketing and Production of Beauty Products in the United States Impose Health Burdens on Women

The use of beauty products in the daily lives of women is more prevalent now than ever in this era of mass consumerism. Yet, a lack of FDA regulation for the production of beauty products puts women's health at great risk. Misleading labeling as well as lack of proper labeling allows companies to get away with having harmful chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and phenols in their products, thus leading to increased health burdens that may affect a woman's own health in addition to her future child(ren)'s health. Moreover, low-income women as well as women of color experience even greater chemical exposure due to lack of access to low-chemical products and disproportionate chemical contents in products marketed specifically towards them. A literary analysis will be performed of current scholarship that informs about the politics of the beauty industry as well as primary scientific research that details the health risks for women resulting from certain chemicals in beauty products. Additionally, an ecofeminist lens will be applied throughout this analysis to examine the relationship between the production and marketing of beauty products and disproportionate health burdens on women. Through highlighting data about the disproportionate chemical exposure women experience and the means through which this occurs, this article will bring attention to the injustices imposed on women's bodies and emphasize the need for enforceable policy with stricter regulations to decrease the use of such chemicals.
Simulation of potential formation of atmospheric pollution from aboveground storage tank leakage after severe storms

Abstract Damage by severe storms of infrastructure containing chemicals can cause widespread pollution of the atmosphere and nearby bodies of water. Because atmospheric monitoring equipment is inoperable in the periods after these storms, transport and fate modeling approaches are necessary to estimate the regional atmospheric concentrations of evaporated spill material and secondary pollutants from such events. Hypothetical spills from a single storage tank in Houston were used to evaluate the impact of different meteorological scenarios (Hurricanes Harvey in 2017 and Ike in 2008), leaked materials (oils and organic solvents), background chemical conditions, and cloud conditions on simulated air pollution. Due to differences in evaporation rate, downwind oil plumes are predicted to cover a broader region than organic solvent plumes, which remain concentrated along the path of the prevailing wind. Depending on assumptions regarding evaporation, mixing ratios of spilled material of up to 90 parts per million are predicted. Substantial formation of ozone (up to an enhancement of 130 parts per billion) and secondary organic aerosol (up to an enhancement of 30 μg m−3) could occur in the short-term aftermath of these storms within the downwind solvent plumes, with the magnitude dependent on the solar radiation, type of material, and background pollutant level. This highlights the potential vulnerability of residents and workers in downwind regions to evaporated spill materials and their degradation products.
Changes in Diet and Exercise in Pregnant Women after Diagnosis with Gestational Diabetes: Findings from a Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study.

Abstract Background Lifestyle changes are recommended for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), yet there are few data available documenting whether women change their diet and exercise after GDM diagnosis. Objective The aim of this study was to assess whether, and to what extent, pregnant women receiving usual prenatal care change their diet and exercise after a GDM diagnosis. Design This study was a post-hoc secondary analysis using data from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons (2009-2013), a prospective pregnancy cohort study. Participants/setting Pregnant US women without major chronic medical conditions were enrolled from 12 participating hospital centers at 8 to 13 weeks’ gestation. Diet analyses were based on 5,194 dietary recalls from 1,371 women. Exercise analyses were based on 6,440 physical activity assessments from 1,875 women. GDM was ascertained from medical records according to Carpenter and Coustan criteria. Women completed 24-hour dietary recalls and exercise assessments at weeks 16 to 22, 24 to 29, 30 to 33, 34 to 37, and 38 to 41 (exercise only). Main outcome measures The main outcome was the diet and exercise change from before to after GDM diagnosis or screening. Statistical analyses Diet and exercise changes with 95% CIs from before to after GDM diagnosis or screening for women with and without GDM were estimated using weighted multivariable linear mixed models. Results Women with GDM (n = 72) significantly reduced their total energy intake (–184 kcal/d; 95% CI –358 to –10 kcal/d) and carbohydrate intake (–47.6 g/d; 95% CI –71.4 to –23.7 g/d) from before to after GDM diagnosis; these changes were unique to women with GDM and not observed among women without GDM (n = 1,299). Women with GDM decreased intakes of juice (–0.4 cups/d; 95% CI –0.7 to –0.2 cups/d) and added sugar (–3.2 teaspoons/d; 95% CI –5.5 to –0.5 teaspoons/d) and increased cheese (0.3 cups/d; 95% CI 0.1 to 0.6 cups/d) and artificially sweetened beverages (0.2 cups/d; 95% CI 0.0 to 0.3 cups/d). Women with GDM (n = 84) did not change their exercise duration after diagnosis; women without GDM (n = 1,791) significantly decreased moderate (–19.5 min/wk; 95% CI –24.7 to –14.3 min/wk) and vigorous exercise (–8.8 min/wk; 05% CI –10.6 to –6.9 min/wk) after GDM screening. Conclusions Women with GDM made modest dietary improvements and maintained their prediagnosis exercise routine, yet opportunities remain to further improve dietary intake and exercise after a diagnosis of GDM.
Building an inclusive and equitable new blue economy

Abstract The new blue economy (NBE) will require a workforce educated in new ways. The old blue economy (OBE) is built of a legacy of labor relationships shaped by centuries of profit-motivated exploitation of workers and aquatic resources. This toll of exploitation falls hardest on people of color. Education of the workforce of the NBE must reject the tradition of exploitation for a new vision of shared ownership that places high value on human diversity and sustainable use of marine resources. This means educating all participants in the workforce, from laborers to managers, about alternative business models and the value of diversity and equity.
Risk Factors and Outcomes After a Brief Resolved Unexplained Event: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND The accuracy of the risk criteria for brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is unknown. We sought to evaluate if AAP risk criteria and event characteristics predict BRUE outcomes. METHODS This retrospective cohort included infants RESULTS Of 2036 patients presenting with a BRUE, 87% had at least 1 AAP higher-risk factor. Revisits occurred in 6.9% of ED and 10.7% of hospital discharges. A serious diagnosis was made in 4.0% (82) of cases; 45% (37) of these diagnoses were identified after the index visit. The most common serious diagnoses included seizures (1.1% [23]) and airway abnormalities (0.64% [13]). Risk is increased for a serious underlying diagnosis for patients discharged from the ED with a history of a similar event, an event duration >1 minute, an abnormal medical history, and an altered responsiveness (P CONCLUSIONS AAP BRUE risk criteria are used to accurately identify patients at low risk for event recurrence, readmission, and a serious underlying diagnosis; however, their use results inaccurately identify many patients as higher risk. This is likely because many AAP risk factors, such as age, are not associated with these outcomes.
Surgical Management Update in Metastatic Disease of the Pelvis Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics

Metastatic lesions of the pelvis present a surgical challenge as operative resection may result in impaired functionality or worsened disability. Accordingly, radiation and systemic medical therapy remain the mainstay options for local tumor control and pain relief. Surgical intervention is largely reserved for intractable pain, pending pathologic fracture, or severe disability. The pelvic anatomy is composed of the acetabulum, ileum, and pubis; each with varying biomechanical and surgical considerations. The acetabulum serves as the main load transmitter throughout the gait cycle, and resection with reconstruction may be necessary to preserve functionality. Current open operative techniques include total hip arthroplasty, saddle implants, or custom-made implants, while minimally invasive percutaneous surgical interventions have shown early promise. The Harrington classification system is a common method for guiding surgical management in periacetabular metastatic lesions, although recent modifications continue to be explored. In contrast to the acetabulum, the ileum and the pubis serve a limited weight-bearing function. Resections often do not require reconstruction and ambulation may be preserved.
Decisions to Prosecute Battered Women’s Homicide Cases: An Exploratory Study

Discretionary decisions to prosecute cases in which a battered woman kills her partner were investigated using several research strategies and targeting a range of case elements. Law students presented with case elements reported they would consider legal elements over nonlegal (or “supplemental”) elements when making a decision to prosecute. In contrast, law students assessed through an open-ended format as to important case factors for deciding to prosecute spontaneously generated high proportions of supplemental case elements compared with legal factors. Vignette comparisons of 42 case elements on participants’ likelihood to prosecute identified salient factors including legal and supplemental variables. Themes from the open-ended responses are discussed, as well as the extent to which supplemental factors were more likely to be considered in prosecution decisions when assessed through different methodological strategies.