cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pre-Steady-State Kinetic Analysis of Single-Nucleotide Incorporation by DNA Polymerases

Pre-steady-state kinetic analysis is a powerful and widely used method to obtain multiple kinetic parameters. This protocol provides a step-by-step procedure for pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of single-nucleotide incorporation by a DNA polymerase. It describes the experimental details of DNA substrate annealing, reaction mixture preparation, handling of the RQF-3 rapid quench-flow instrument, denaturing polyacrylamide DNA gel preparation, electrophoresis, quantitation, and data analysis. The core and unique part of this protocol is the rationale for preparation of the reaction mixture (the ratio of the polymerase to the DNA substrate) and methods for conducting pre-steady-state assays on an RQF-3 rapid quench-flow instrument, as well as data interpretation after analysis. In addition, the methods for the DNA substrate annealing and DNA polyacrylamide gel preparation, electrophoresis, quantitation and analysis are suitable for use in other studies. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Roadmap to Justice

This white paper explores the gap between principle and practice concerning access to justice in America and what should be done to address it. The analysis grows out of a Roadmap to Justice forum involving over one hundred leading experts, co-sponsored by the Stanford University Center on the Legal Profession and the James Sokolove Charitable Fund.One group of Forum participants met in Boston in October 2008, and another in Stanford in March 2009. Their discussions centered on three main questions, which we examine more fully here: goals and priorities for the delivery of civil legal assistance; inadequacies in the current structure; and cost-effective strategies for addressing those inadequacies.
Mitigating Supply Risk of Critical and Strategic Materials: The Role of Trade Policies

Critical materials are minerals with potential supply chain risks that cannot be easily substituted in many of their applications, including, but not limited to, clean energy technologies, LEDs, smartphones, lasers, and microwave circuits. With increasing demand for these products, supply chain disruptions pose an ever-growing risk to the economic wellbeing of many nations, including the United States. One under-examined potential source of risk arises from sociopolitical instabilities and direct or indirect market manipulations, referred to generally as trade risks. To illustrate the potential challenges posed by some of these trade risks, US tariff policies for nine critical materials were examined for potential to inform future material-related trade policies. Two of these case study materials, gallium and tantalum, were examined in depth to estimate relevant economic impacts. Findings from these case studies suggest that a reduction or abolishment of tariffs in general may foster trade, economic growth, and a lowering of supply risk. Further work will be required to cement a cause and effect link between trade barriers and criticality risk.
Evaluation of Some Methods

In this chapter, we will examine some of the many methods that have been presented. We will try to point out the relative strengths and weaknesses of each, a task that is necessarily influenced by personal experience and opinion.
Misconceptions and Learning Algebra

Rather than exclusively focus on mastery of procedural skills, mathematics educators are encouraged to cultivate conceptual understanding in their classrooms. However, mathematics learners hold many faulty conceptual ideas—or misconceptions—at various points in the learning process. In the present chapter, we first describe the common misconceptions that students hold when learning algebra. We then explain why these misconceptions are problematic and detail a potential solution with the capability to help students build correct conceptual knowledge while they are learning new procedural skills. Finally, we discuss other potential implications from the existence of algebraic misconceptions which require further study. In general, preventing and remediating algebraic misconceptions may be necessary for increasing student success in algebra and, subsequently, more advanced mathematics classes.
Melon seed oil utilization for biodiesel production and analysis of liquid–liquid equilibrium for the system biodiesel + methanol + glycerin

In the present study, seeds from yellow melon (Cucumis melo l.), considered an industrial and domestic waste, were used as an oleaginous source to produce biodiesel by transesterification reaction in methanol and due to the importance and the lack of data, a study of phase equilibrium of the system biodiesel + methanol + glycerin was also conducted. The mean molecular mass the theoretical mass of biodiesel, and the conversion rate of the reaction were calculated. For the liquid–liquid study, Othmer-Tobias and Hand correlations were applied to evaluate the data reliability of the tie-lines and the NRTL and UNIQUAC models were used to predict the phase equilibrium. The results showed that oil from melon seeds could be a new alternative for the production of biodiesel, with a conversion rate close to 85%. The equilibrium data showed that the biodiesel obtained from melon seeds oil presented advantage in the production process, since the biodiesel is easily separated from the methanol and glycerol in the separation step, avoiding additional costs with steps of purification. Among the models evaluated, better agreement in the results was observed when NRTL was used (s.d. = 1.25%), followed by UNIQUAC model (s.d. 2.70%). © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 325–332, 2017
CNS syndromes associated with antibodies against metabotropic receptors

Purpose of reviewAutoantibodies to Central nervous system (CNS) metabotropic receptors are associated with a growing family of autoimmune brain diseases, including encephalitis, basal ganglia encephalitis, Ophelia syndrome, and cerebellitis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the state of kn
Prospects for Democratic Transition in China

The core tenet of modernization theory is that as nation-states develop both economically and socially, they will inevitably transition to democracy. Yet, despite 30-years of robust economic development and growth, including increases in civil society, democracy remains elusive in China. In this article, we conduct a critical and empirical analysis to understand the challenges and possibilities of democratization in China. Should China transition to democracy, it will most likely occur through a top-down process that transforms the state and its institutions of government or through a cooperative pact by joint forces of top-down and bottom-up processes. Under either a converted or cooperative transition, the modeling in this study strongly suggests that China is likely to be successful should it undertake the process of democratization.
Margin Proximity Correlates with Local Recurrence After Mastectomy for Patients Not Receiving Adjuvant Radiotherapy

Although considerable evidence exists regarding margin status and reexcision for patients undergoing breast conservation therapy, few data address the impact of a close margin for patients undergoing mastectomy without postmastectomy radiotherapy. This retrospective review identified 1147 patients who underwent 1206 mastectomies with negative final margins for breast cancer from 2006 to 2010. Margin distance was analyzed as a continuous variable and dichotomized variable ((≤2 vs >2 mm). Patients undergoing adjuvant radiation therapy were excluded from the study. Uni- and multivariable analyses were used to assess the association of reexcision, proximity of the final margin, adjuvant therapy, and other clinical and pathologic factors with local recurrence (LR). In 158 mastectomies (13.1%), a reexcision was performed for a close (n = 90) or positive (n = 68) margin. All but one were identified intraoperatively using frozen section analysis. The reexcision rates for skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomy (SSM/NSM) were higher than for simple mastectomy (SM) (19.8 vs 9.3%; p < 0.001). The overall 5-year risk for an LR was 3.8%. The risk was 3.1% for a margin greater than 2 mm and 11.2% for a margin of 2 mm or smaller. In the multivariable model, proximity of the final margin measured as a continuous variable was found to be a significant risk factor for LR (p = 0.009), whereas adjuvant endocrine therapy was found to be protective (p = 0.03). Intraoperative reexcision was not significant in the multivariable model (p = 0.23). For patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer, a wider final margin correlated with a reduced risk for LR. The rates for LR were similar between SSM/NSM and SM despite higher rates of intraoperative reexcision for SSM/NSM.
Adolescent suicide as a global public health issue

Youth suicide is a major global mental health problem. This review looks at the epidemiology, risk and protective factors associated with youth suicide, and global strategies to address this important issue. To better understand factors contributing to youth suicide, global gender differences in suicide were examined. Global rates of suicide amongst young men are higher than young women. However, there are anomalously higher rates of female youth suicide in India and China, and possible causes of this are examined further. It is likely that underestimation of youth suicide is a major factor affecting the accuracy of suicide epidemiology. Risk factors for youth suicide are varied. Psychiatric factors include various psychiatric illnesses, substance use (particularly amongst refugee and homeless youth). Psychosocial risk factors include family conflict, physical and sexual childhood abuse, isolation, socioeconomic disadvantage, discrimination and acculturation. Vulnerable populations are at increased risk, including refugee/immigrant/indigenous youth, those in foster care and homeless youth. Protective factors can include family cohesion and strong interpersonal relationships, as well as increased access to care. Global strategies to prevent youth suicide include reducing lethal means to suicide and reducing harmful media reporting. Various psychosocial interventions may be helpful, including individual support, and family, school and community based interventions. Strategies can also increase evaluation of psychiatric disorders and access to care, as well as promote psycho-education and reduce stigma against mental illness.
The nature and function of meditation and prayer in childhood and adolescence.

This article explores the nature and function of meditation and prayer in childhood and adolescence. Research has consistently demonstrated that not only can meditation and prayer be practiced in t...
E13. The Erdős Train Station

Paul Erdős’s articles remind me of train stations. They do not merely report a result or two that the author proved. Each Erdős’s classic papers is a treasure trove of many trains of thought. Let us take a ride here on a couple of such trains from the Erd?os Station-1946 [E0].
Introduction to transmission and distribution (T&D) networks: T&D infrastructure, reliability and engineering, regulation and planning

Abstract: Power transmission and distribution systems have evolved over the past twelve decades into vast interconnected systems of equipment built around large centralized generation plants. In the twenty-first century the evolution will begin to include significant portions of de-centralized, distributed generation and storage, much of it based on renewable and ‘micro-grid’ technologies. Power utilities will not evolve their systems completely to this type of configuration, but instead pragmatically combine their old central-station systems with additions and augmentation based on distributed generation and micro-grids when and where most suitable to their needs. Future power systems will be an amalgamation of old and new types providing considerably more flexibility as to reliability, economy and fit to extreme aesthetic and user demand requirements than traditional systems, but often requiring considerably more context-responsive and dynamic control than in the past.
Mechanistic Causation and Constraints: Perspectival Parts and Powers, Non-perspectival Modal Patterns

Any successful account of the metaphysics of mechanistic causation must satisfy at least five key desiderata. In this paper, I lay out these five desiderata and explain why existing accounts of the metaphysics of mechanistic causation fail to satisfy them. I then present an alternative account which does satisfy the five desiderata. According to this alternative account, we must resort to a type of ontological entity that is new to metaphysics, but not to science: constraints. In this paper, I explain how a constraints-based metaphysics fits best with the emerging consensus on the nature of mechanistic explanation.
The Role of Women in Cancer Control and Cancer Care in the Early 20th Century

In the early 20th century, thousands of women in the United States were involved in the cancer control movement as volunteers in the Women’s Field Army and as professional social workers caring for...
The Morphogenesis of Elastic Fibers

Elastic fibers have been shown to contain two proteins, insoluble elastin and the elastic fiber microfibril, a glycoprotein. The microfibril has been suggested to play a morphogenetic role in determining the presumptive shape and direction of the forming elastic fiber. The principal alteration seen in individuals with the disease Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum is in insoluble elastin which loses its amorphous appearance and affinity for anionic stains, and takes on a finely granular appearance and shows increased affinity for cationic stains. Normal elastic fiber microfibrils are sometimes associated with this material; although, in general, these structures are not present in the elastic fibers that are markedly altered in this disease.
Gender and AIDS Stigma

In the last decade, greater attention has been paid to AIDS stigma as a social process, including how stigma both reflects and reproduces entrenched power dynamics. While gender relations have been recognized as part of these processes, the links between stigma and gender power dynamics have not been systematically examined. This chapter presents a novel conceptual framework that links the structure of AIDS stigma to gender as a social structure. This framework helps clarify why women and men often experience AIDS stigma in different ways and the role gender relations play in these processes. Understanding these complex social dynamics will allow us to integrate a more robust gender analysis into AIDS prevention programs. This is an especially pressing issue today given advances in using antiretroviral drug therapy to reduce HIV transmission. For such biomedical approaches to fulfill their promise, they need to incorporate an awareness of how gender is intertwined with AIDS stigma.
Uncertainty or Ambiguity? Sources of Variation in Ideological Placements of Political Parties

In this paper we use CSES data to examine why there is variation in placement of political parties on left-right scales. In particular, we estimate multilevel models to assess the relative contribution of uncertainty and lack of information on the part of citizen-respondents, specific features of individual political parties, and the institutional designs of the various electoral systems as contributors to variability observed in citizen placement of the parties. Because lack of information on the part of the citizens may be revealed through failure to respond to the ideological scale questions or through random components to actual placements, we develop models that include assessments of both types of responses to reduce bias from considering only one source. We find that all three types of variables are relevant to understanding variation in perceptions of party positions. Finally, we demonstrate that uncertainty and variation have important consequences for the evaluation of political parties.
Rethinking Police Evaluation Research: Balancing “Zen” with the “Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”*

AbstractOver two decades the police have adopted more the trappings of science than its substance. Efforts to understand the police have taken queues from advocates of random controlled trials as t...
Suicide Gene Therapy of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Cervical Carcinoma In Vitro.

Suicide gene therapy induced by the Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) system has been utilized to successfully treat various cancers. We describe TransfeX-mediated transfection of pCMV.Luc into HeLa cervical carcinoma and HSC-3, FaDu, and H357 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines in the presence of 10% serum. This method has proved to be highly efficient, with low nonspecific cytotoxicity. The plasmid pNGVL1-tk encoding HSV-tk under the control of the CMV promoter was delivered to the cells in vitro via TransfeX, a cationic liposomal reagent, followed by treatment with ganciclovir. The Alamar Blue cell viability assay was used to determine levels of the suicide effect.
Fragility of randomized clinical trials of treatment of clavicular fractures.

Background Statistical significance, as reported by the P value, has traditionally been the most commonly reported way to determine whether a difference exists between clinical interventions. Unfortunately, P values alone confer little about the robustness of a study's conclusions. An emerging metric, the fragility index (FI), helps to address this challenge by quantifying the number of events per outcome group that would need to be reversed to the alternative outcome in order to raise the P value above the 0.05 threshold. Methods Using systematic search strategy, we identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) pertaining to clavicular fractures published in the last decade (2007-2017). Studies included for analysis involved 2 parallel arms, were published in English, allocated patients to treatment and control arms in a 1:1 ratio, and reported statistical significance (P Results Fifteen RCTs were included. The median FI was 2 (range, 0-17). Eleven studies (73.3%) had an FI of 2 or less. Seven of the trials (46.7%) reported that the number of patients lost to follow-up exceeded the FI. Conclusions The median FI reported in the recent literature on clavicular fractures is only 2. The FI is a useful metric to analyze the robustness of study conclusions that should complement other methods of critical data evaluation, including the P value or effect sizes. Future efforts are needed to increase institutional collaboration and patient recruitment to strengthen the robustness of RCT conclusions, especially in the realm of clavicular fracture management.
Impact of a Mentorship Program on Medical Student Burnout

Background Burnout can have negative consequences for providers' health and patient care. Mentorship has positive effects including stress mitigation. We sought to evaluate the impact of a mentorship program on burnout in fourth-year medical students during their 4-week emergency medicine subinternship. Methods This was a prospective, quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study at two institutions. We assessed burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, comprising three subscales: Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and Personal Accomplishment (PA). We compared changes in burnout scores before and after implementation of a resident-student mentorship program. We compared categorical variables using risk ratios and continuous variables using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. To account for potential confounders, we performed multivariable analysis. Students and mentors completed an evaluative survey. We reported descriptive statistics and performed thematic qualitative analysis on free-response data. Results A total of 135 students (intervention = 51; control = 84) and 59 mentors participated. Intervention students demonstrated decreased EE and DP and increased PA scores, medians of -2 (-4 to 4), -1 (-3 to 2), and 1 (-1 to 4), respectively, compared to controls, median difference of 0 for all subscales. After adjusting for potential confounders, there was no significant difference in EE (mean difference = -0.2 [-0.5 to 0.2], p = 0.4) or DP scores (mean difference = -0.2 [-1.8 to 1.5], p = 0.9). There was a significant difference in PA scores (mean difference = 2.2 [0.1 to 4.3], p = 0.04). Most students felt the program positively impacted their rotation (39/48) and decreased stress (28/48). Students felt that the program provided career guidance and positively impacted their personal and professional development. The majority (34/37) of mentors enjoyed participating. Qualitative analysis revealed five major themes: relationship building, different perspective, knowledge sharing, personal fulfillment, and self-reflection. Conclusion We found an increased sense of personal accomplishment after implementation of a mentorship program. Both mentors and mentees viewed the program positively and perceived multiple benefits.
Canonical Equation K 30 for Normalized Spectral Functions of Random Gram Block Matrices

We consider random Gram matrices composed of complex blocks. These matrices were discovered in [Gir45] and have been recently discussed as for their application in physics.
Glucose sensing by stamping surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (S-SERS)

We report glucose sensing 10 mM to 0.1 mM in water using stamping surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (S-SERS) technique with nanoporous gold disk (NPGD) plasmonic substrates, a reagent- and separation-free technique.
AGE-FRIENDLY UNIVERSITIES: POSSIBILITIES AND POWER IN CAMPUS CONNECTIONS

Populations are aging locally, nationally, and globally – and challenging institutions of higher education to consider how they can respond to these changing demographics through new approaches to teaching, research, and community engagement. The Age-Friendly University (AFU) initiative was recently launched by an international team convened by Dublin City University, and endorsed by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE). The AFU concept and 10 guiding principles provide a guiding campus-wide framework that colleges and universities can use for distinguishing and evaluating age-friendly programs and policies, as well as identifying institutional gaps and opportunities for growth. To date, over 45 institutions have joined the AFU global network. This presentation will describe how collaborations across aging-focused programs and campus units devoted to diversity, community engagement, professional studies, and related educational efforts offer prime opportunities to build and sustain an AFU vision.
Correlating serum alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma with response to Yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization with glass microspheres (TheraSphere™).

Abstract Background Few studies have assessed the relationship between serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of the study was to evaluate whether peri-procedural serum AFP was correlated with Y-90 therapy response in HCC. Methods Patients undergoing Y-90 radioembolization with glass microspheres (TheraSphere™) for HCC between 2006 and 2013 at a single center were evaluated. The relationship between AFP and 6-month radiographic improvement (complete or partial response by modified RECIST criteria), overall (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) were analyzed. Results Seventy-four patients underwent a total of 124 Y-90 infusions. Median age was 65 years, median AFP was 37 ng/mL (range: 2–112,593 ng/mL) and median model for end-stage liver disease score was 6.2 (range:1.8–11.2). Increased AFP was not associated with radiographic improvement (odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.75–1.30, p = 0.92). Median OS was 15.2 months and was increased in patients with low AFP compared to high AFP (30.8 months vs. 7.8 months, p Conclusion Pre-infusion AFP independently predicted survival after Y-90 treatment for HCC, but not radiographic response, and can help guide treatment decisions.
Preparation, characterization and analysis of zinc oxide nano-particles using a sol-gel technique as an inhibitor for bacteria

In this work, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO - NPs) were prepared using a sol-gel methodology and tested for their antibacterial activity against each of the following pathogenic species: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus by well diffusion assay. The sample prepared was characterized by different techniques: Atomic Force Microscope AFM; Fourier Transform Infrared FT-IR; Scanning Electron Microscope SEM and X-Ray Diffraction Spectroscopy XRD. The XRD result showed that ZnO - NPs presence in wurtzite the structure of ZnO. The AFM and SEM of the surface analysis indicate that the most ZnO – NPs appear approximately in a spherical shape with some agglomeration. The average particle size for ZnO - NPs is nearly 37 nm. Volumes 25µl, 50µl, 75µl, 100µl, 125µl, and 150µl of 10 mg\ ml concentration of ZnO - NPs were used, the antimicrobial activity results showed that ability for ZnO - NPs to inhibit the growth of S.aureus increased as the solution volume increased, while the growing of (K. pneumonia) and (E. coli) was inhibited only with the volume 75µl where the inhibition zones diameters were 15mm and 10mm respectively.
Spatial and biochemical interactions between bone marrow adipose tissue and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in rhesus macaques

Recent developments in in situ microscopy have enabled unparalleled resolution of the architecture of the bone marrow (BM) niche for murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). However, the extent to which these observations can be extrapolated to human BM remains unknown. In humans, adipose tissue occupies a significant portion of the BM medullary cavity, making quantitative immunofluorescent analysis difficult due to lipid-mediated light scattering. In this study, we employed optical clearing, confocal microscopy and nearest neighbor analysis to determine the spatial distribution of CD34+ HSPCs in the BM in a translationally relevant rhesus macaque model. Immunofluorescent analysis revealed that femoral BM adipocytes are associated with the branches of vascular sinusoids, with half of HSPCs localizing in close proximity of the nearest BM adipocyte. Immunofluorescent microscopy and flow cytometric analysis demonstrate that BM adipose tissue exists as a multicellular niche consisted of adipocytes, endothelial cells, granulocytes, and macrophages. Analysis of BM adipose tissue conditioned media using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed the presence of multiple bioactive proteins involved in regulation of hematopoiesis, inflammation, and bone development, with many predicted to reside inside microvesicles. Pretreatment of purified HSPCs with BM adipose tissue conditioned media, comprising soluble and exosomal/microvesicle-derived factors, led to enhanced proliferation and an increase in granulocyte-monocyte differentiation potential ex vivo. Our work extends extensive studies in murine models, indicating that BM adipose tissue is a central paracrine regulator of hematopoiesis in nonhuman primates and possibly in humans.
Publisher Correction: Dynamic Amplification Factor in Culverts: a Parametric Study Using Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. Due to a typesetting error made by the publisher, the co-authors of Dr. Kalehiwot Nega Manahiloh, which are Dr. Christy L. Bugher and Dr. Victor N. Kaliakin, were missing. The correct author group are as follows: Christy L. Bugher, Kalehiwot Nega Manahiloh and Victor N. Kaliakin.
Improving species distribution model predictive accuracy using species abundance: Application with boosted regression trees

Abstract Auxiliary information in the form of species abundance is frequently available as part of data collected for ecological investigations, yet when modeling distributions of species over large regions, species presence (and sometimes absence) are typically used. Incorporating abundances into species distribution models may greatly improve model predictive accuracy in practice. Boosted regression trees (BRT) models have been widely used in species distribution modeling, however no ecological study has been conducted to date that has assessed the predictive accuracy of BRT models that incorporates species abundance weights. We compared traditional, unweighted BRTs with species abundance-weighted BRTs for 55 fluvial fish species native to the Northeastern U.S. Overall model deviance explained and six diagnostic measures of predictive performance were compared between traditional BRTs and weighted BRTs. These comparisons indicated that unweighted BRTs performed better for fluvial fish species considered common, including those with greater numbers of presences and higher prevalence. Conversely, weighted BRTs were better suited for modeling distributions of species that had fewer presences, lower prevalence, and higher rarity, indicating the potential of species abundance-weighted distribution modeling to improve results for species of high conservation importance. Last, we offer insights into the applicability of using weighted approaches with other commonly used species distribution modeling methods.
MitoTALENs for mtDNA editing

Abstract The mixture of mutant and wild-type mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in cells from patients with mitochondrial diseases provides an opportunity to develop therapies by selectively eliminating the mutant fraction. Our laboratory has adapted TALENs, a gene editing platform, to specifically cleave mutant mtDNA. Ex vivo and in vivo experiments have provided proof-of-principle that the approach works in changing mtDNA heteroplasmy toward the wild-type mtDNA.
Improved crop row detection with deep neural network for early-season maize stand count in UAV imagery

Abstract Stand counts is one of the most common ways farmers assess plant growth conditions and management practices throughout the season. The conventional method for early-season stand count is through manual inspection, which is time-consuming, laborious, and spatially limited in scope. In recent years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) based remote sensing has been widely used in agriculture to provide low-altitude, high spatial resolution imagery to assist decision making. In this project, we designed a system that uses geometric descriptor information with deep neural networks to determine early-season maize stands from relatively low spatial resolution (10 to 25 mm) aerial data, which covers a relatively large area (10 to 25 hectares). Instead of detecting individual crops in a row, we process the entire row at one time, which significantly reduces the requirements for the clarity of the crops. Besides, our new MaxArea Mask Scoring RCNN algorithm could segment crop-rows out in each patch image, regardless of the terrain conditions. The robustness of our scheme was tested on data collected at two different fields in different years. The accuracy of the estimated emergence rate reached up to 95.8%. Due to the high processing speed of the system, it has the potential for real-time applications in the future.
Effect of Consolidation Effort on Mechanical Properties of Field-Mixed Polyester Polymer Concrete for Bridge Deck Overlays

Polyester polymer concrete (PPC) is a bridge deck overlay product that has been recently implemented in the state of Utah. The objective of this work was to quantify the effect of consolidation effort as a critical step in the development of a standard for quality assurance testing of PPC. Laboratory testing was conducted on a typical PPC mixture from actual bridge deck overlay placements in Utah, and the effect of consolidation effort on several mechanical properties of PPC specimens was investigated. In this study, the test specimens were not shown to be sensitive to the level of consolidation effort. Findings from this study are expected to be highly valuable to state departments of transportation and other agencies implementing the use of PPC overlays on bridge decks.
A New Perspective on the Use of Paul in the Gospel of Mark

This volume presents a detailed case for the plausible literary dependence of the Gospel of Mark on select letters of the apostle Paul. The book argues that Mark and Paul share a gospel narrative that tells the story of the life, death, resurrection, and second coming of Jesus Christ "in accordance with the scriptures," and it suggests that Mark presumed Paul and his mission to be constitutive episodes of that story. It contends that Mark self-consciously sought to anticipate the person, teachings, and mission of Paul by constructing narrative precursors concordant with the eventual teachings of the itinerant apostle–a process Ferguson labels Mark’s ‘etiological hermeneutic.’ The book focuses in particular on the various (re)presentations of Christ’s death that Paul believed occurred within his communities—Christ's death performed in ritual, prefigured in scripture, and embodied within Paul’s person—and it argues that these are all seeded within and anticipated by Mark’s narrative. Through careful argument and detailed analysis, A New Perspective on the Use of Paul in the Gospel of Mark makes a substantial contribution to the ongoing debate about the dependence of Mark on Paul. It is key reading for any scholar engaged in that debate, and the insights it provides will be of interest to anyone studying the Synoptic Gospels or the epistles of Paul more generally.
The Magnitude and Determinants of Partial Redemptions of Food Benefits in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

Purpose:WIC provides food assistance to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children ages 1- 4. A partial redemption (PR) occurs when a participant redeems only a portion of the ...
Abstract 14800: Presenilin 1 and Presenilin 2 Contribute to Mitophagy Including Alternative Pathway

Introduction: Presenilin 1 (PS1) and presenilin 2 (PS2) are proteins that compose γ-secretase, which is a protease present in late endosome lysosomes. Recently, amyloid beta accumulation was found ...
A perspective on pea allergy and pea allergens

Abstract Background Peas contain comparatively high levels of protein. With the recent trend for the development of alternative, high-protein food sources, pea flour, pea protein concentrate, and pea protein isolate have been incorporated into an increasing number of foods. Marketing materials sometimes claim that peas are hypoallergenic. Among the legume family, peanuts and soybeans are considered as commonly allergenic and regulations in many countries require special labeling and manufacturing control measures for foods containing peanuts or soybeans or ingredients derived from those two legumes. Peas are also legumes but are not on the lists of priority allergenic foods, so special labeling and manufacturing control measures are not needed for peas or pea-based ingredients. The increasing use of high-protein, pea-based ingredients in processed foods may necessitate further review of the placement of peas on the lists of priority allergenic foods. Additionally, peas are definitely allergenic and should not be marketed as hypoallergenic. Scope and approach The clinical allergy literature was searched for publications describing allergic reactions to peas, including both garden peas and field peas. The identification and characteristics of pea proteins are reviewed. The potential cross-reactivity of pea proteins with known allergens from peanut and soybean is assessed using a bioinformatics comparison. Key findings and conclusions Allergies to both garden peas and field peas are well documented. As consumer exposure to pea protein increases, an increase in allergies to peas should also be anticipated. Several allergenic proteins have been identified among the pea protein fractions. Pis s 1, a vicilin in the globulin fraction, appears to be the immunodominant allergen but additional studies on pea allergens are warranted. Pis s 2, a convicilin from the globulin fraction, is also identified as a pea allergen. The albumin fraction contains the two less well characterized allergenic albumin protein(s) known as PA1 and PA2. Furthermore, a non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP), a member of the pathogenesis-related protein family (PR14) involved in plant defenses has been identified as an allergen. Strikingly, pea seeds do not contain the classical type of 2S albumin proteins, with the conserved Cys motif, of high allergenic potency found in peanut (such as Ara h 2, 6, and 7), soybean (Gly m 8), and certain tree nuts, e.g. Ber e 1 in Brazil nut, Ana o 3 in cashew, and Jug r 1 in walnut. The effects of processing on the allergenicity of peas have not been thoroughly evaluated, although some evidence indicates that the allergenicity of peas can be reduced by blanching for at least some pea-allergic individuals and that the pea albumin allergens have some limited heat stability.
Decolonization, Compensation and Constitutionalism: Land, Wealth and the Sustainability of Constitutionalism in Post-Apartheid South Africa

While there are many good reasons to be critical of the South African government and the ruling African National Congress, particularly when it comes to the failure to address the extraordinary inequalities created by apartheid and colonialism, it is not possible to understand these failures without taking cognizance of both the historical legacies and the conditions of the country's democratic transition. This approach to understanding the process of decolonization in South Africa is especially important at a time when some political leaders, commentators and academics find it easier to lay the blame for present conditions on the choice to pursue a negotiated solution in the early 1990s rather than acknowledging the limits of that transition and seeking ways to address the continuing legacies of colonialism and apartheid today. By confronting the vast inequalities that reflect the country's historic legacies and using the political authority contained in the Constitution to do so, there is an opportunity to challenge the present failures to address these legacies and to build a common project of decolonization that might in time fulfill the 1955 Freedom Charter's promise '[t]hat South Africa belongs to all who live in it'.
Endovascular aneurysm repair with inferior mesenteric artery chimney in a high-risk patient with abdominal aortic aneurysm and iliac occlusion

Abstract A 63-year-old male presented for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the setting of bilateral internal iliac artery compromise from prior peripheral arterial disease treatments. The inferior mesenteric artery measured 5mm. Patient underwent coronary artery stenting 6 months prior and experienced left leg claudication. He underwent EVAR with chimney IMA grafting and a femoro-femoral bypass with uneventful recovery. At one year, CT angiogram shows no flow in the aneurysm sac, and his left leg claudication resolved. EVAR with chimney IMA grafting for colonic perfusion preservation is a reasonable alternative to open surgical repair with IMA re-implantation in high-risk patients.
Globalizing Social Media: A Study of LinkedIn in China

Navigating the Chinese market is a near impossible task for most American social media companies. Be it Facebook, Instagram, or even a basic search engine like Google; a technology firm from the West attempting to crack the Chinese market is ordinarily met with a wall of government restrictions. So how can social networking sites globalize in the face of increasing regulation and censorship? More narrowly, how can professional networking websites find success in China and be beneficial to users?
Gingival hyperplasia associated with nifedipine therapy: Report of a case

A case of gingival hyperplasia associated with the administration of nifedipine is reported. Clinically and histologically, the tissue resembled that seen in hyperplasia induced by phenytoin (Dilantin). We believe this to be the first reported case of gingival hyperplasia associated with this drug.
Clinical and Subclinical Eating Disorders in Counseling Center Clients: A Prevalence Study

Abstract Eating disorders on college campuses comprise a serious, yet understudied mental health issue. Specifically, prevalence studies of eating disorders among college counseling center populations are lacking in the current literature. Attempting to quantify the seriousness of this issue becomes an important first step in adapting counseling and outreach services for the larger campus community. Accordingly, this study utilized the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and Body Mass Index (BMI) to assess clients accessing counseling services at the university counseling center of a large state university. The study revealed a significant increase in the number of clients diagnosed with an eating disorder during the course of the survey. These results are discussed in terms of the need for a specific eating disorders protocol to increase client disclosure and counselor awareness.
Investigations of the Exothermic Reactions of Natural Graphite Anode for Li-Ion Batteries during Thermal Runaway

Advances in the comparative study of the thermal behavior of graphite during the thermal runaway process are reviewed. The differential scanning calorimeter was used to evaluate the thermal runaway behavior of natural graphite (Mag-10) electrode material with different amounts of intercalated lithium ions. The effect of the polyvinylidene fluoride binder on the thermal behavior of a fully lithiated sample was also investigated. This is the first time it has been noted that graphite loses its structure with more than 0.7 intercalated lithium when electrolyte is present at high temperature by detecting the existence of (002) graphite X-ray diffraction peak. © 2004 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Correction factors for PIC accumulation on radial grids

We show that use of linear weighting, the most common method of interpolating particle quantities to a spatial grid, produces errors in the accumulated particle quantities when applied on a radial grid for the uniform density case. An analysis of the error is given along with several strategies for correcting the erroneous results in order to produce the correct force at the particle locations.
Noonan syndrome and related disorders: Alterations in growth and puberty

Noonan syndrome is a relatively common multiple malformation syndrome with characteristic facies, short stature and congenital heart disease, most commonly pulmonary stenosis (Noonan, Clin Pediatr, 33:548–555, 1994). Recently, a mutation in the PTPN11 gene (Tartaglia, Mehler, Goldberg, Zampino, Brunner, Kremer et al., Nat Genet, 29:465–468, 2001) was found to be present in about 50% of individuals with Noonan syndrome. The phenotype noted in Noonan syndrome is also found in a number of other syndromes which include LEOPARD (Gorlin, Anderson, Blaw, Am J Dis Child, 17:652–662, 1969), Cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (Reynolds, Neri, Hermann, Blumberg, Coldwell, Miles et al., Am J Med Genet, 28:413–427, 1986) and Costello syndrome (Hennekam, Am J Med Genet, 117C(1):42–48, 2003). All three of these syndromes share similar cardiac defects and all have postnatal short stature. Very recently, HRAS mutations (Aoki, Niihori, Kawame, Kurosawa, Ohashi, Tanaka et al., Nat Genet, 37:1038–1040, 2005) have been found in the Costello syndrome and germline mutations in KRAS and BRAF genes (Rodriguez-Viciana, Tetsu, Tidyman, Estep, Conger, Santa Cruz et al., Nat Genet,2006; Niihori, Aoki, Narumi, Neri, Cave, Verloes et al., Nat Genet, 38:294–296, 2006) in the Cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome. Phenotypic overlap between these genetic disorders can now be explained since each is caused by germline mutations that are major components of the RAS-MAPK pathway. This pathway plays an important role in growth factor and cytokine signaling as well as cancer pathogenesis.
Psychobiological and Evolutionary Perspectives on Coping and Health Characteristics Following Loss: A Twin Study

An analysis of coping, grief and health characteristics is reported for a bereaved monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) same-sex twin sample. The data were examined with reference to psychobiological and evolutionary perspectives on behavior. A Coping Scale, included as part of a comprehensive Twin Loss Survey (TLS), assessed coping with daily responsibilities and activities 1-2 months before the co-twin's death, 1-2 months following the co-twin's death and currently. A Grief Intensity Scale obtained judgments of grief 1-2 months following the loss, and currently. Information on physical symptoms was available from the Somatization Scale of the Grief Experience Inventory. Psychobiological and evolutionary perspectives specified hypotheses for two twin groups: one model was specified to reflect bereavement experiences immediately following loss of the co-twin (retrospective twin group); a second model represented present bereavement response (current twin group). Consistent with psychobiological theory, twins' social closeness showed a positive association with grief intensity which, in turn, affected somatic symptoms and coping efficacy in predicted directions. With respect to evolutionary psychological theory, the effect of zygosity on current grief implicated correlates of genetic relatedness as factors in the bereavement process.
Systematic Identification of Barriers to Human iPSC Generation

Reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) holds enormous promise for regenerative medicine. To elucidate endogenous barriers limiting this process, we systematically dissected human cellular reprogramming by combining a genome-wide RNAi screen, innovative computational methods, extensive single-hit validation, and mechanistic investigation of relevant pathways and networks. We identify reprogramming barriers, including genes involved in transcription, chromatin regulation, ubiquitination, dephosphorylation, vesicular transport, and cell adhesion. Specific a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) proteins inhibit reprogramming, and the disintegrin domain of ADAM29 is necessary and sufficient for this function. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis can be targeted with small molecules and opposes reprogramming by positively regulating TGF-β signaling. Genetic interaction studies of endocytosis or ubiquitination reveal that barrier pathways can act in linear, parallel, or feedforward loop architectures to antagonize reprogramming. These results provide a global view of barriers to human cellular reprogramming.
Accessing NASA technology with the World Wide Web

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) began using the World Wide Web (WWW) in the summer of 1993, becoming the first NASA installation to provide a center-wide home page. This coincided with a reorganization of LaRC to provide a more concentrated focus on technology transfer to both aerospace and non-aerospace industry. Use of WWW and NCSA Mosaic not only provides automated information dissemination, but also allows for the implementation, evolution and integration of many technology transfer and technology awareness applications. This paper describes several of these innovative applications, including the on-line presentation of the entire Technology Opportunities Showcase (TOPS), an industrial partnering showcase that exists on the Web long after the actual 3-day event ended. The NASA Technical Report Server (NTRS) provides uniform access to many logically similar, yet physically distributed NASA report servers. WWW is also the foundation of the Langley Software Server (LSS), an experimental software distribution system which will distribute LaRC-developed software. In addition to the more formal technology distribution projects, WWW has been successful in connecting people with technologies and people with other people. >