cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High altitude-induced changes in alpha1-adrenergic receptors and Ins(1,4,5)P3 responses in cerebral arteries

In response to high-altitude long-term hypoxemia, the cerebral arteries of fetal and adult sheep show decreased contractile responses to norepinephrine (NE) and other agonists. To test the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced developmental and vessel specific cerebral artery contractility changes are mediated, in part, by changes in alpha1-adrenergic receptor (alpha1-AR) density and/or NE-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] responses, we performed the following study. In common carotid (Com) and main branch cerebral (MBC) arteries from normoxic adult ewes and near-term fetuses and those acclimatized to high altitude (3,820 m), we quantified alpha1-AR density (maximal binding in fmol/mg protein) and affinity (dissociation constant in nM) with the alpha1-AR antagonist [3H]prazosin. In addition, we quantified NE-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 responses in these arteries. With long-term hypoxemia, alpha1-AR density in fetal and adult Com decreased 75% (from 113 +/- 18 to 28 +/- 5 fmol/mg protein) and 66% (from 54 +/- 3 to 18 +/- 4 fmol/mg protein), respectively, from normoxic control values. alpha1-AR density of the fetal and adult MBC decreased 76% (from 47 +/- 4 to 11 +/- 1 fmol/mg protein) and 61% (from 23 +/- 3 to 9 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein), respectively, from controls. In hypoxemic adult Com, the NE-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 response decreased 51% (from 309 +/- 38 to 151 +/- 24%) from the control value. In fetal and adult MBC, long-term hypoxemia was associated with decreases of 35% (from 345 +/- 40 to 225 +/- 30%) and 44% (from 355 +/- 55 to 199 +/- 16%), respectively, from control values. We conclude that in the adult Com and MBC vessels, acclimatization to high-altitude, long-term hypoxemia was associated with significant decreases in both alpha1-AR density values and Ins(1,4,5)P3 responses to NE. Similarly, in the fetal MBC arteries, high-altitude hypoxemia was associated with marked attenuation of both alpha1-AR density and NE-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 responses. The magnitude of decreases in NE-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 responses in these vessels correlated fairly well with the decreases in alpha1-AR density. These findings suggest that changes in noradrenergic receptor-second messenger coupling may play a role in altered cerebrovascular tone in association with high-altitude acclimatization and other forms of long-term hypoxia in both fetus and adult.
Observation of Radiation-Induced Defect Formation in Aluminum by High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the structure and growth kinetics of early-stage radiation-induced defects in commercially pure Al. The majority of defects were determined to be single and multiple interstitial Frank-partial loops, although some perfect dislocation loops and vacancy loops were also observed. The growth rates of loops with final radii less than 8 nm were recorded in situ and were found to be approximately 0.2 nm/sec for an electron density of about 8×1018 electrons/cm2.sec. These results are similar to previous high-voltage electron microscope analyses performed on larger radiation-induced defects in Al alloys.
Sampling-Based RBDO Using the Dynamic Kriging (D-Kriging) Method and Stochastic Sensitivity Analysis

This study presents how to carry out RBDO when surrogate models are used to represent true performance functions. The Dynamic Kriging (D-Kriging) method is used to generate surrogate models, and stochastic sensitivity analysis is introduced to compute sensitivities of probabilistic constraints with respect to the design variables, which are the mean values of the input independent or correlated random variables. To apply D-Kriging and stochastic sensitivity analysis for the sampling-based RBDO, which requires Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) to evaluate probabilistic constraints and sensitivities, this paper proposes new efficient strategies such as a local window for surrogate model generation, sample reuse, filtering of constraints, and an adaptive initial point for pattern search. Since the D-Kriging can accurately approximate true responses and there is no approximation in the estimation of probabilities, the sampling-based RBDO can yield very accurate optimum design. In addition, newly proposed strategies help find the optimum design very efficiently. Numerical examples verify that the proposed sampling-based RBDO can find the optimum design more accurately and efficiently than existing methods.
Gentamicin-induced ototoxicity in a carefully monitored renal-failure patient

A case of gentamicin-induced ototoxicity, documented by electronystagmography and audiometry, in a patient with chronic renal failure is presented. A 39-year-old white man was hospitalized for a renal transplant procedure. Multiple postoperative complications included infection, and the transplanted kidney was rejected eventually. The patient was carefully monitored with frequent serum gentamicin determinations and subsequent pharmacokinetic analysis throughout the six-week course of therapy. Ototoxicity became apparent 10 days after the discontinuance of gentamicin therapy even though predicted and measured levels never fell outside the range of 1.5 to 6.0 microgram/ml throughout the period of antibiotic administration. A brief review of the presentation of gentamicin ototoxicity with special emphasis on the renal-failure patient is included. Clinicians should be aware of potential toxicities and must be able to recognize those patients at high risk. Patients must be monitored carefully, and a risk-benefit analysis should precede proposed therapy.
Genetic deficiency in low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein confers cellular resistance to Pseudomonas exotoxin A : evidence that this protein is required for uptake and degradation of multiple ligands

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) is a large multifunctional receptor implicated in the cellular uptake of functionally diverse ligands. Biochemical evidence suggests that LRP is a clearance receptor for apoE-rich remnant lipoproteins, lipoprotein lipase, alpha 2-macroglobulin/protease complexes, plasminogen activator/inhibitor complexes, the active protease tissue-type plasminogen activator and exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mice genetically deficient in LRP die early during gestation, underscoring the essential physiological role of this gene in vivo. To study the effect of LRP deficiency at the cellular level, we have used Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PEA) to select murine embryonic fibroblasts that are genetically deficient in LRP. Our results demonstrate that this single gene defect is sufficient to confer resistance to PEA on cultured cells. In addition, embryonic fibroblasts lacking LRP are unable to bind, internalize and degrade methylamine-activated alpha 2-macroglobulin and complexes of urokinase with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Furthermore, cellular uptake and degradation of receptor-associated protein, a 39 kDa accessory protein of LRP, is reduced by 90% in the absence of LRP. These results provide genetic evidence for the multifunctional nature of LRP and its crucial role in protease/inhibitor complex metabolism.
Changes in Post-anthesis Assimilates in Stem and Spike Components of Italian Ryegrass {Lolium multiflorum Lam.). I. Water Soluble Carbohydrates*

Stem carbohydrate reserves, in ryegrass grown for seed, may play a vital role in maintaining seed growth, especially under conditions of limited photosynthesis. Little is known concerning the processes controlling stem carbohydrate utilization and partitioning in ryegrass with respect to seed growth. The objective of this investigation was to determine detailed post-anthesis changes in stem and spikelet carbohydrates as affected by modification of source and sink strength. Source-sink relations were altered by imposing detillering or detillering-defoliation treatments at anthesis. Patterns of carbohydrate distribution of the ryegrass stem were different, both among positions within the stem and with age. Stem carbohydrates accumulated during early stages of seed growth and then declined as seeds matured. Reducing sugars comprised only a small fraction of the stem's total water soluble carbohydrates. Detillering induced the formation of new tiller sinks, thus increasing sink strength and reversing the carbohydrate gradient from spikelet (seed) sinks to new tiller sinks. Defoliation, combined with detillering, decreased source strength by reducing total stem carbohydrate. In control plants, carbohydrate levels appeared adequate to support maximum seed set, whereas conditions for reduced carbohydrate levels, resulting from detillering or detillering plus defoliation, lowered seed set. Results suggest that under conditions of limited source strength (e.g. reduced photosynthetic capacity), the stem plays a major role in partitioning assimilates to compensate for sink demand. New tiller growth during the period of seed development may out-compete seeds for available carbohydrate and thus reduce seed set
Chapter 7 – Theory of Derivatives

This chapter discusses the theory of derivatives and the mean value theorem for pointwise derivatives. In the Mathematical Background book, it states the mean value theorem for derivatives in its ultimate generality, only assuming weakly approximating pointwise derivatives and those only at interior points. This complicates the proof but is the key in the Math Background to seeing why regular derivatives and pointwise derivatives are the same when the pointwise derivative is continuous.
Democratization and the Institutional Investor

As previous parts of this book suggest, institutional investors demand guarantees from sovereign governments. Institutional investors are not looking for a variety of economic or political choice, but rather the speed at which formulaic reforms take place without causing risk to future returns. If a country is committed to maintaining or attracting investments as a national priority, as the primary emerging market countries have been, then speed of reform and the maintenance of stability are crucial. Given the austerity of most reforms and their propensity to cause discontent among the population, are not these two goals at odds with each other? Does then political repression become a necessary means to serve both goals of economic reform and stability? In particular, does the speed and austerity demanded by large investors of the reform process encourage political repression and authoritarianism?
A dosimetric comparison of copper and Cerrobend electron inserts

The purpose of this work was to evaluate differences in dose resulting from the use of copper aperture inserts compared to lead-alloy (Cerrobend) aperture inserts for electron beam therapy. Specifically, this study examines if copper aperture inserts can be used clinically with the same commissioning data measured using lead-alloy aperture inserts. The copper inserts were acquired from .decimal, LLC and matching lead-alloy, Cerrobend inserts were constructed in-house for 32 com-binations of nine square insert field sizes (2 × 2 to 20 × 20 cm2) and five applicator sizes (6 × 6 to 25 × 25 cm2). Percent depth-dose and off-axis relative dose profiles were measured using an electron diode in water for select copper and Cerrobend inserts for a subset of applicators (6 × 6, 10 × 10, 25 × 25 cm2) and energies (6, 12, 20 MeV) at 100 and 110 cm source-to-surface distances (SSD) on a Varian Clinac 21EX accelerator. Dose outputs were measured for all field size-insert combina-tions and five available energies (6-20 MeV) at 100 cm SSD and for a smaller subset at 110 cm SSD. Using these data, 2D planar absolute dose distributions were generated and compared. Criteria for agreement were ± 2% of maximum dose or 1 mm distance-to-agreement for 99% of points. A gamma analysis of the beam dosimetry showed 94 of 96 combinations of insert size, applicator, energy, and SSD were within the 2%/1 mm criteria for > 99% of points. Outside the field, copper inserts showed less bremsstrahlung dose under the insert compared to Cerrobend (greatest difference was 2.5% at 20 MeV and 100 cm SSD). This effect was most prominent at the highest energies for combinations of large applicators with small field sizes, causing some gamma analysis failures. Inside the field, more electrons scattered from the collimator edge of copper compared to Cerrobend, resulting in an increased dose at the field edge for copper at shallow depths (greatest increase was 1% at 20 MeV and 100 cm SSD). Dose differences decreased as the SSD increased, with no gamma failures at 110 cm SSD. Inserts for field sizes ≥ 6 × 6 cm2 at any energy, or for small fields (≤ 4 × 4 cm2) at energies < 20 MeV, showed dosimetric differences less than 2%/1 mm for more than 99% of points. All areas of comparison criteria failures were from lower out-of-field dose under copper inserts due to a reduction in bremsstrahlung production, which is clinically beneficial in reducing dose to healthy tissue outside of the planned treatment volume. All field size-applicator size-energy combinations passed 3%/1 mm criteria for 100% of points. Therefore, it should be clinically acceptable to utilize copper insets with dose distributions measured with Cerrobend inserts for treatment planning dose calculations and monitor unit calculations.
Modeling scattering for security applications: A multiple beam X-Ray Diffraction Imaging system

In the past decades several authors have demonstrated the ability of X-Ray Diffraction Imaging (XDI) in providing spatial and material specific information about the object under investigation [1]. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Diffraction (EDXRD) systems detect diffraction patterns by using a polychromatic spectrum and measuring the coherently scattered beam at a specific angle. This type of molecular-specific information plays a key role in security screening modalities providing high detection as well as low false alarm rates [2]. In the past, one of the main limitations to the widespread use of this technology in airport screening was the slow scanning rate compared to conventional systems. With the advent of novel system topologies such as the 3rd Generation energy-dispersive XDI configurations [3], this issue can be overcome [4]. In the present work a simulation tool accounting for molecular interference and providing multiple collimation configuration options has been validated with a single source dual-channel geometry. The primary-scatter and cross-scatter signals generated by two neighboring voxels have been studied here, analyzing both coherent and incoherent scatter contributions; and a method for a first order material independent cross-scatter correction has been evaluated. The tool has then been applied for first investigations of a Multiple Inverse Fan Beam (MIFB) concept.
No bridge across the quantum rift

The last decade has seen a proliferation of books which attempt to explain the conceptual paradoxes of quantum mechanics in a non-technical way. This latest contribution, by David Albert, professor of philosophy at Columbia University, is brash, readable, provocative and at times breathtakingly naive and ill-informed. It will probably cause mild apoplexy, for both good reasons and bad, in a sizeable fraction of the professional quantum measurement community.
Global Studies and Community Engagement through Migration with Dignity in Middle Tennessee

Since the decade of the 1990s, Tennessee has been recognized as one of the fastest growing receiving states for recent migrant populations at the regional and national level in the United States. In concert with this transformative demographic change, state residents have also witnessed a rise of political nativism in the form of in-state, anti-immigrant legislation and dehumanization of the other. This article seeks to offer insights from coordinating a community-based global studies class project that centers on the experiences and perspectives of recent migrants and their families living in the state, which in turns contributes to a different public conversation at the local level.
Next-generation superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for cancer theranostics

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have been intensively studied for the development of contrast agents in MRI. First-generation SPIO nanoparticles had diagnostic capabilities only, whereas a new generation of SPIO nanoparticle has multifunctional characteristics for combined therapeutic and diagnostic applications. These theranostic nanoparticles hold great potential for image-guided cancer therapies. In particular, polymer-coated theranostic SPIO nanoparticles have enjoyed increasing attention as a result of good biocompatibility, biodegradability and versatile functionality endowed by polymeric matrices. This review provides an overview of recently developed polymer-coated multifunctional SPIO nanoparticles for cancer theranostics and discusses current challenges and future perspectives.
Face to Face Matters: Communication Modality, Perceived Social Support, and Psychological Wellbeing

This study examines the relationship between psychological wellbeing and perceived social support received from friends, differentiating groups of friends based on the communication modality the individual uses to communicate with them. Three communication modalities were examined: friends that communicate 1) only face-to-face, 2) only through computer-mediated communication, or 3) both. Results from a survey (N= 283) indicate that sociability, a dimension of extraversion, moderates the effect of communication modality on perceived social support. Social support-regardless of modality-increases positive affect, but only support from friends communicated with face-to-face is associated with lower levels of loneliness and higher levels of life satisfaction in comparison to support received from friends that only communicate through mediated means.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO BANKING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN KENYA.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to highlight the need for banks to develop financial products and services for small and medium enterprises. Methodology: The research design was descriptive survey study. The target population was 46 commercial banks .The sampling frame was the list of commercial banks given at the Central bank of Kenya Website. A sample of 17 banks was selected using random sampling. The second stage of sampling involved the selection of the respondents using a stratified sampling approach. The strata were the various departments that interact with SMEs in a bank. The respondents were the head of departments of the respective departments that form the strata. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire that consisted of both open ended and close ended questions. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS. Results: One of the study objectives was to establish the level of access to financial products and services offered by the banks to SMEs. Results from the bank manager’s perspective indicated that the level of access to finance was high, but the bank clients indicated otherwise, that it was low. The other objective of the study was to determine the factors that hinder the SMEs from accessing the financial products offered by banks. Results indicated that several factors influence access of SMEs to finance. These factors include gender, level of education, size of the business, age of the entrepreneur, collateral, and level of income for the entrepreneurs. All the factors had a negative effect on the access of finances from the banks by SMEs and hence indicate SMEs low access to financial products. Another objective of the study was to establish the tools or systems required to improve accessibility to financial products offered. Results indicated that there are tools and systems put in place by banks to improve accessibility to financial products offered to small and medium enterprises. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that training be emphasized to SME entrepreneurs on financial matters, all gender to be treated equally, the banks to introduce financial education programs for SMEs to improve their access to credit, banks to further make use of a credit scoring system to assess the credit worthiness of small businesses and to introduce the use of new credit bureau regulations to increase SME finances.
Abstract 613: Interactive Effect of Ace Inhibition and DPP4 Inhibition on Substance P-Stimulated T-PA Release

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors improve glycemic control in patients with T2DM by preventing the degradation of the incretin hormones. DPP4 inhibition prevents the degradation of other peptides with a penultimate proline or alanine, including the vasodilator substance P and the metabolite of bradykinin formed by its cleavage by aminopeptidase P. Substance P and bradykinin are normally inactivated by ACE. This study tested the hypothesis that during ACE inhibition, DPP4 inhibition would potentiate the effects of substance P. Ten healthy, lean (BMI 2 ) subjects, age 24-60 years of old (2 Black, 8 White, 6 Female) participated in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study. On separate study days separated by at least one week, Subjects received sitagliptin 200 mg po or matching placebo. Substance P (2, 4, 8 pmol/min) and bradykinin (25, 50, 100 ng/min) were given via the brachial artery before and after administration of intra-arterial enalaprilat (0.33 mcg/min/100mL forearm volume). Enalaprilat potentiated the FBF and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) responses to bradykinin and there was no effect of sitagliptin (Figure). Neither ACE inhibition nor DPP4 inhibition altered the FBF flow response to substance P. In contrast, there was an interactive effect of ACE inhibition and DPP4 inhibition on t-PA release in response to substance P (p=0.026).
Contraceptive Method Use During the Community-Wide HER Salt Lake Contraceptive Initiative.

Objectives. To describe a community-wide contraception initiative and assess changes in method use when cost and access barriers are removed in an environment with client-centered counseling.Methods. HER Salt Lake is a prospective cohort study occurring during three 6-month periods (September 2015 through March 2017) and nested in a quasiexperimental observational study. The sample was women aged 16 to 45 years receiving new contraceptive services at health centers in Salt Lake County, Utah. Following the control period, intervention 1 removed cost and ensured staffing and pharmacy stocking; intervention 2 introduced targeted electronic outreach. We used logistic regression and interrupted time series regression analyses to assess impact.Results. New contraceptive services were provided to 4107 clients in the control period, 3995 in intervention 1, and 3407 in intervention 2. The odds of getting an intrauterine device or implant increased 1.6 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5, 1.6) during interven...
Laser prostate ablation and enucleation: Analysis of a national cohort.

Objective To compare characteristics and outcomes of benign prostatic hyperplasia patients undergoing prostate laser ablation with those undergoing laser enucleation using a nationwide cohort. Methods Men who underwent prostate laser ablation (n=10054) or laser enucleation (n=1705) between 2011 and 2015 were identified by the common procedural terminology code as recorded in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative parameters were compared between the groups using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Prostate laser ablation patients were older, had more comorbidities and were more likely to have abnormal laboratory values. Enucleations were significantly longer and more likely to result in a hospital stay >1day. Enucleation patients were also more likely to require a blood transfusion postoperatively, but less likely to experience urinary tract infection and sepsis on both univariate and multivariate analysis adjusted for preoperative and intraoperative factors. Conclusions Although laser enucleation and prostate laser ablation are both considered minimally invasive techniques, significant differences in patient selection, intraoperative factors and postoperative complications are identified in this national cohort. The present study shows that despite similar outcomes in prospective single-center studies, prostate laser ablation and laser enucleation have distinct practice patterns in a broader national context.
Introduction: The Structure and Composition of Biomembranes

Membranes play a central role in both the structure and function of all cells, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, plant and animal. Membranes basically define compartments, each membrane associated with an inside and an outside. If this were all they did, membranes would be considerably less interesting than they are. But, membranes not only define compartments, they also determine the nature of all communication between the inside and outside. This may take the form of actual passage of ions or molecules between the two compartments (in and out) or may be in the form of information, transmitted through conformational changes induced in membrane components. In addition, attached to membranes are many cellular enzymes. Some of these enzymes catalyze transmembrane reactions, involving reactants on both sides of the membrane or molecular transport. Others are involved in sequential reactions involving a series of enzymes which are concentrated in the plane of the membrane, thus facilitating efficient interactions. Still other enzymes have membrane-bound substrates and/or are involved in the maintenance or biosynthesis of the membrane. Most of the fundamental biochemical functions in cells involve membranes at some point, including such diverse processes as prokaryotic DNA replication (e.g., refs. 807, 777, 803), protein biosynthesis, protein secretion, bioenergetics, and hormonal responses.
No Nation Is an Island: Navigating the Troubled Waters Between Indigenous Values and Donor Desire in the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Donor nation funding can have a significant impact on the educational priorities of the recipient nation. In the case of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) that impact is further complicated by a complex colonial heritage that includes the dramatic specter of nuclear testing and the ongoing relationship of the RMI to the United States through a Compact of Free Association. Issues of donor funding impact educational prioritization of non-native instructional language, foreign curricular content, and Western-values based teacher training programs. While not always explicitly tied to donor funding, the values and expected educational outcomes of the donor nation are often enforced through Western accreditation standards upon which much of the donor funding is dependent. This essay attempts to highlight areas where educational values and priorities in the RMI may have been impacted by the donor nations and highlights recent attempts by Marshallese educators to assert greater control over their own educational destiny.
Introduction: Natural Environmental Antimutagens

The topic. Natural Environmental Antimutagens, is thoroughly and provocatively discussed by Dr. Ames in this Volume. I should like to make only one small addendum.
Interplay between Substrate and Proton Donor Coordination in Reductions of Carbonyls by SmI2-Water Through Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer.

The reduction of a carbonyl by SmI2–water is the first step in a range of reactions of synthetic importance. Although the reduction is often proposed to proceed through an initial stepwise electron-transfer–proton-transfer (ET-PT), recent work has shown that carbonyls and related functional groups are likely reduced though proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET). In the present work, the reduction of an activated ester, aldehyde, a linear and cyclic ketone, and related sterically demanding carbonyls by SmI2–H2O was examined through a series of mechanistic experiments. Kinetic studies demonstrate that all substrates exhibit significant increases in the rate of reduction by SmI2 as [H2O] is increased. Under identical conditions, ketones and an aldehyde containing a methyl adjacent to the carbonyl are reduced slower than an unsubstituted variant by an order of magnitude, demonstrating the importance of substrate coordination. In the case of unactivated substrates, rates of reduction show excellent correlatio...
PHOSPHATASE REACTIVATION IN DAIRY PRODUCTS1

Equipment is available to the dairy industry for pasteurizing milk at temperatures much higher than those employed with conventional methods. Under certain conditions, ultra high temperature pasteurization results in reactivation of the enzyme phosphatase. Reactivation is influenced by several factors including temperature of heating, holding time, fat content of product, etc.
Comparative Stability of Oral Vitamin K Liquids Stored in Refrigerated Amber Plastic Syringes

Background: Compounded vitamin K oral liquids may be useful in some patient populations, or when an appropriate solid dosage form is not available. While vitamin K oral liquid is typically prepared...
Obstructed flow field designs for improved performance in vanadium redox flow batteries

In this study, we have investigated the effects of varying flow channel depths and addition of various channel obstructions on the electrochemical performance and pumping power requirements of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Specifically, 3D-printed ramps and prismatic obstructions were inserted into the channels of interdigitated flow field (IDFF) and parallel flow field (PFF) designs to observe the effect of non-uniform channel depth on the mass transport properties of open- and closed-ended flow channels. Results were compared with conventional flow field geometries. Integration of ramps into the closed-ended (i.e., IDFF) flow channels resulted in 15% improvement in peak power density (PPD) at a flow rate of 50 mL min−1. Addition of ramps to IDFF has also resulted in a significant 40% drop in required pumping pressure due to guided and gradual delivery of the electrolyte to the electrode plane. In addition, the effects of varying channel depths in open-ended (i.e., PFF) channels were found to be much more drastic with improvements in PPD up to 150%. Overall, findings of this study highlight the significance of varying channel depths on improving the mass transport characteristics of VRFBs and offer an alternative approach for design of high-performance flow cells.
Examining the impact of exercise tracking data on promoting regular exercise among university students

A smart bracelet accumulates exercise data like calories, step counts, and the length of exercise, etc. It is very convenient for a regular exerciser to follow up his exercise status or find out if he is exercising more than last month. The increasing data can serve as an incentive for consistent exercise. However, there isn’t much study in the extant literature if sports related devices can increase the behaviors of regular exercise. Based on the data smart bracelet collected, this study examined whether using a smart bracelet increases the users’ exercise behaviors and enhances their physical conditions. The study found that by using a smart bracelet, regular exercisers maintain their regular exercise pattern and non-regular exercisers enhanced their exercise performance.
The Archaeology and Ethnohistory of Walrus Ritual around Bering Strait

Nineteenth-century ethnohistoric sources describe rituals and beliefs related to the exploitation of walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) on the islands of the Bering Sea and the coast of Chukotka. These small-scale rites practiced by St. Lawrence Islanders, Siberian Yupiget, and Chukchi were intended to thank walrus and ensure future hunting success. Rituals conducted by walrus boat captains also facilitated integration of walrus hunting crews and their families. Archaeological evidence for the antiquity of walrus-related ritual is provided by concentrations of walrus skulls in structures and deposition of walrus bones in cemeteries. The centrality of walrus to subsistence, material culture, and ritual life of coastal peoples deserves more scholarly attention in both archaeological and historical reconstructions of Yupik and Chukchi multispecies pasts.
Cognitive and Behavioral Changes in Patients Treated With Droxidopa for Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension: A Retrospective Review.

Background:Droxidopa is a norepinephrine precursor that improves symptoms of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in conditions such as Parkinson disease, multiple system atrophy, and pure autonomic failure by inducing a pressor effect. Unlike other pressor agents, droxidopa crosses the blood-brain ba
Debris-bed friction during glacier sliding with ice–bed separation

Theory and experiments indicate that ice–bed separation during glacier slip over 2-D hard beds causes basal shear stress to reach a maximum at a particular slip velocity and decrease at higher velocities. We use the sliding theory of Lliboutry (1968) to explore how friction between debris particles in sliding ice and a rock bed affects this relationship between shear stress and slip velocity. Particle–bed contact forces and associated debris friction increase with increasing slip velocity, owing to increased rates of ice convergence with up-glacier facing surfaces. However, debris friction on diminished areas of the bed counteracts this effect as cavities grow. Thus, friction from debris alone increases only slightly with slip velocity, and for sediment particles larger than ~60 mm in diameter, debris friction peaks and decreases with increasing slip velocity. The effect on the sliding relationship is to steepen its rising limb and shift its shear stress peak to a slightly higher velocity. These results, which exclude the effect of debris friction on cavity size and debris concentrations above ~15%, indicate that the effect of debris in ice is to increase basal shear stress but not significantly change the form of the sliding relationship.
Modularity and cognitive architecture

The mind as a complex system Brains and bodies are obvious examples of things – physical entities or objects. Like other paradigmatic physical objects, they have stable spatial boundaries and a host of other properties such as mass, density, and internal composition and organization. But are minds, or the ideas that fill them, also things? Are they object-like in these ways? Cartesian substance dualism, while it denied that the mind was something physical, nevertheless took it to be a kind of object or entity. Descartes argued further that the mind was not only a nonphysical object, but that it was also an indivisible object: it could not be decomposed into parts in any way whatsoever. Ontologically, minds are systems , and some systems can also be object-like or entity-like. Atoms, solar systems, biological organisms, and hurricanes are all examples of entity-like systems. As systems they are decomposable into component parts and operations, but like many objects, they are also relatively persistent, coherent, and spatially circumscribed. Given the complex psychological and behavioral phenomena they give rise to, minds must be systems of extreme complexity. Like other complex systems, they have an internal design plan. For artificial computing devices, this plan corresponds to their circuit diagram – the description of their central processors (e.g., their instruction set), memory, system bus, various sub-controllers for storage, networking, audiovisual output, and so on. For biological organisms, this plan corresponds to their overall anatomical organization, their breakdown into organ systems (circulatory system, respiratory system, immune system), into individual organs and other active components (airway, lungs, diaphragm, etc.), and still further into specific types of specialized sub-organs, tissue and cell types, secretions and fluids, and so on.
Integrating and Interpreting Assessment Information

What are some reasons why assessment information may differ depending on who is providing it?
Observation of optical refrigeration in Ho:BYF crystal

The first demonstration of optical refrigeration in 1% Ho:BYF crystal with near unity external quantum efficiency (ɳ_{ext}~99.7%) is reported. Laser cooling efficiency, ɳ_{ext}, and background absorption (α_b) of 1% Ho:BYF crystal is obtained from laser induced temperature modulation spectroscopy (LITMoS) test, and its minimum achievable temperature (MAT) and optimum laser cooling wavelengths are extracted via temperature-dependent spectroscopic analysis. MAT of 120 K at the optimum laser cooling wavelengths of 2056 nm or 2063 nm is estimated for 1% Ho:BYF crystal with measured ɳ_{ext}=99.7% and α_b~1e-3 cm^-1. Additionally, MATs of 80 K and sub-80 K are estimated for this crystal considering improved background absorptions of α_b~2e-4 cm^-1 and α_b~5e-5 cm^-1 respectively.
Cell-induced confinement effects in soft tissue mechanics

The mechanical properties of tissues play a critical role in their normal and pathophysiological functions such as tissue development, aging, injury, and disease. Understanding tissue mechanics is important not only for designing realistic biomimetic materials for tissue engineering and drug testing but also for developing novel diagnostic techniques and medical interventions. Tissues are heterogeneous materials consisting of cells confined within extracellular matrices (ECMs), both of which derive their structural integrity, at least in part, from networks of biopolymers. However, the rheology of purified reconstituted biopolymer networks fails to explain many key aspects of tissue mechanics. Notably, purified networks typically soften under applied compression, whereas many soft tissues like liver, fat, and brain instead stiffen when compressed. While continuum models can readily capture this compression-stiffening behavior, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In this perspective paper, we discuss several recently proposed microscopic mechanisms that may explain compression stiffening of soft tissues. These mechanisms include (I) interactions between the ECM and volume-preserving inclusions that promote extension-dominated stiffening of fibrous ECMs when subject to uniform compression, (II) ECM interactions with rigid inclusions under non-uniform compression, (III) other internal physical constraints that cause compression stiffening of cells and ECMs, and (IV) propagation of compressive forces through jammed, compression-stiffening cells. We further identify a few of the many open problems in understanding the structure–function relationship of soft-tissue mechanics.
Evaluation of predictive model performance of an existing model in the presence of missing data

In medical research, the Brier score (BS) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) are two common metrics used to evaluate prediction models of a binary outcome, such as using biomarkers to predict the risk of developing a disease in the future. The assessment of an existing prediction models using data with missing covariate values is challenging. In this article, we propose inverse probability weighted (IPW) and augmented inverse probability weighted (AIPW) estimates of AUC and BS to handle the missing data. An alternative approach uses multiple imputation (MI), which requires a model for the distribution of the missing variable. We evaluated the performance of IPW and AIPW in comparison with MI in simulation studies under missing completely at random, missing at random, and missing not at random scenarios. When there are missing observations in the data, MI and IPW can be used to obtain unbiased estimates of BS and AUC if the imputation model for the missing variable or the model for the missingness is correctly specified. MI is more efficient than IPW. Our simulation results suggest that AIPW can be more efficient than IPW, and also achieves double robustness from miss-specification of either the missingness model or the imputation model. The outcome variable should be included in the model for the missing variable under all scenarios, while it only needs to be included in missingness model if the missingness depends on the outcome. We illustrate these methods using an example from prostate cancer.
Large deviations and rare events in the study of processes describing the spread of traffic congestions in urban network systems

In this paper, we present a mathematical framework that provides a new insight for understanding the spread of traffic congestions in an urban network system. In particular, we consider a dynamical model, based on the well-known susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model from mathematical epidemiology, with small random perturbations, that describes the process of traffic congestion propagation and dissipation in an urban network system. Here, we provide the asymptotic probability estimate based on the Freidlin-Wentzell theory of large deviations for certain rare events that are difficult to observe in the simulation of urban traffic network dynamics. Moreover, the framework provides a computational algorithm for constructing efficient importance sampling estimators for rare event simulations of certain events associated with the spread of traffic congestions in the dynamics of the traffic network.
Pragmatic extension in computer-mediated communication: The case of ‘#’ and ‘™’

Abstract There is a growing body of work discussing the evolving functions of computer-mediated communication (CMC) cues including emoticons, emojis, memes, punctuation and GIFs. Two such cues are the hashtag (#) and the trademark operator (™). Using a corpus of public Reddit comments from 10 distinct ‘subreddits’, I analyze the usage of the trademark operator across different online communities. I demonstrate that the trademark operator use is undergoing a shift to take on characteristics previously identified by Zappavigna (2018) to correspond with the hashtag. In addition to having shared metadiscursive properties, these operators have overlapping functions including construing evaluation, ambient affiliation, and critique. One possible motivation for the use of these symbols is the indexing of community membership, since the use of these contextually defined operators assumes a degree of shared common ground. I argue that the overlapping characteristics extend to a broader class of CMC cues that I refer to as artificial operators.
Exploring the potential of utilizing unsupervised machine learning for urban drainage sensor placement under future rainfall uncertainty.

Abstract Recently, advanced informatics and sensing techniques show promise of enabling a new generation of smart stormwater systems, where real-time sensors are deployed to detect flooding hotspots. Existing stormwater design criteria assume that historical rainfall frequency and intensity are reliable predictors to place real-time sensing devices. However, nonstationarity in rainfall due to climate change violates this assumption by disturbing hydrologic regimes and relocating flooding spots. This paper proposes a novel methodology of combining unsupervised machine learning (Agglomerative Clustering) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to optimize the sensor placement under uncertain rainfalls. An urban drainage network located in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, is chosen as the case study to demonstrate the application of the proposed method. Results show that: i) the proposed Agglomerative Clustering and ANOVA integrated approach can efficiently and accurately pinpoint sensor locations for drainage flooding detection; ii) rainfall uncertainty has limited impacts on the number of sensors, but it induces significant effects on sensor locations from the historical period (2000–2009) to the future period (2040–2049). By exploring the effects of climate nonstationarity on sensor placement, this work aims to help engineers and decision-makers better respond to the changing climates and rainfall extremes in urban drainage catchments.
Gods in Disorder

Commentators’ concerns occasion clarifications of positions in Hearing Voices and Other Matters of the Mind. Philosophical naturalism holds that philosophers needlessly handicap their projects if they ignore the sciences. Ecumenical Naturalism maintains that similar forms of cognition and experience associated with religiosity and mental disorders may submit to similar scientific explanations. The by-product theory, which looks to the operations of maturationally natural cognitive capacities to explain religious representations’ forms, offers explanatory leverage with regard to some mental disorders. The fact that examples are mostly American, Christian, and Western need not preclude the accounts’ broader applicability. Explanatory pluralism endorses many explanatory approaches. The aim is only to show how much cognitive considerations can do, not to suggest that they provide comprehensive theories of anything. Other telling proposals will enhance understanding of these matters. The operations of maturationally natural dispositions, regardless of how they are cued, contribute to what humans take to be meaningful.
A young woman with severe dehydration

A 28-year-old female presented with severe dehydration due to acute diarrhea and vomiting, which she developed after returning from a vacation in Togo. Her stool was watery, with flecks of mucous, also referred to as "rice-water" stool, which is typical for cholera and can amount to 1000 cc/hour. The infection was confirmedby stool culture.
On the Relationship Between Approaches to Marketing Strategy and Company Performance

This paper examines a number of basic questions regarding the ways in which marketing executives approach strategy development, and assesses the extent to which approaches to strategy have implications for company performance. Specific strategy development variables examined include formalization, managerial commitment, customization, and the use of conceptual planning tools. Causal modeling with LISREL is used to test a set of hypotheses concerning the impact of these variables on sales, profits, market share, and relative market position. Data is reported from samples of managers of U.S. and South Mrican firms. The results support the value of more formalized and customized approaches to strategy as well as the need for more sophisticated planning approaches and a strong managerial commitment to strategy.
Solar rotation from a number of fraunhofer lines

Solar differential rotation for 1982–83 obtained at the double pass spectrograph of the McMath telescope at Kitt Peak, are presented for lines of Fe, Mg, Na, K, Si, and O in the wavelength interval λλ3820–10827. The results are analyzed by representations in Legendre polynominals and a power series. The differential rotation is very close to the result obtained by Howard and Harvey in 1966–68 at Mt. Wilson but with a slightly greater amplititude. We find a mean equatorial rate of rotation of 1.977 km s-1. Day to day variations are observed in the equatorial zone; a stable rate of rotation is observed outside of the sunspot zone.
Telomeres. Bumps on the road to immortality.

Each time they divide cells lose their telomeres, the specialized structures at the end of chromosomes, leading to senescence and death. By expressing telomerase, an enzyme that repairs telomeres but is not usually found in adults, cells were thought to become immortalized. But a new study shows that things are not so simple, in certain types of epithelial cell at least, where inactivation of the p16/retinoblastoma pathway is also needed.