cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inorganic Polyphosphate: Toward Making a Forgotten Polymer Unforgettable

Pursuit of the enzymes that make and degrade poly P has provided analytic reagents which confirm the ubiquity of poly P in microbes and animals and provide reliable means for measuring very low concentrations. Many distinctive functions appear likely for poly P, depending on its abundance, chain length, biologic source, and subcellular location. These include being an energy supply and ATP substitute, a reservoir for Pi, a chelator of metals, a buffer against alkali, a channel for DNA entry, a cell capsule and, of major interest, a regulator of responses to stresses and adjustments for survival in the stationary phase of culture growth and development. Whether microbe or human, we depend on adaptations in the stationary phase, which is really a dynamic phase of life. Much attention has been focused on the early and reproductive phases of organisms, which are rather brief intervals of rapid growth, but more concern needs to be given to the extensive period of maturity. Survival of microbial species depends on being able to manage in the stationary phase. In view of the universality and complexity of basic biochemical mechanisms, it would be surprising if some of the variety of poly P functions observed in microorganisms did not apply to aspects of human growth and development, such as aging and the aberrations of disease. Of theoretical interest regarding poly P is its antiquity in prebiotic evolution, which along with its high energy and phosphate content make it a plausible precursor to RNA, DNA, and proteins. Practical interest in poly P includes many industrial applications, among which is its use in the microbial depollution of P1 in marine environments.
Positive peritoneal cytology is an independent risk-factor in early stage endometrial cancer ☆

Objective In light of the recent changes in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system, the objective of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) among patients with early stage endometrial cancer.
THE METHODOLOGICAL ADEQUACY OF LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH ON CRIME

Hirschi and Gottfredson concluded in their 1983 article on Age and Crime (in Chapter 9 following) that an invariant age distribution of crime would make longitudinal research unnecessary, and this idea appears again and again in their writings. A companion piece to this article is Hirschi's review essay of Explaining Delinquency and Drug Use by Delbert Elliott, David Huizinga, and Suzanne S. Ageton ( Criminology 25, 1987:193-201), where some of the principles discussed here are applied to an ongoing longitudinal research project. At the time Gottfredson and Hirschi wrote, several large-scale longitudinal studies were in progress or just getting underway. It seems fair to say that by now we should have a better sense of the accuracy of their predictions about the costs and benefits of such efforts. If the answer is that we now need more and better longitudinal research, which sometimes seem to be the case, it would appear that Gottfredson and Hirschi were onto something!—JHL/TH
Field Experience and Dew Point Studies of a Retrofitted Roof

A symposium on insulating materials would not be complete without discussing the effect of the thermal and vapor performance on potential condensation problems in insulated assemblies. Retrofitting the top of an existing insulated roof with an impermeable rigid or foamed insulation can lead to serious condensation-related maintenance problems. Dew point studies in Alaska indicate that the thermal resistance of retrofitted assemblies should be at least two times greater than the existing insulated wall, or roof to avoid condensation in the cavity, depending on local heating degree days [1]. Further, an exterior impervious insulated wall or roof assembly should be provided with some type of natural venting to relieve vapor pressure and allow excess condensate to drain and evaporate. Unfortunately, most condensation problems do not become apparent for 5 to 10 years, long after the one year warranty is null and void. A computer spreadsheet will be presented that simulates dew point conditions in an insulated roof assembly to determine the proper selection and placement of the vapor retarder, insulation, and ventilation of the exterior skin to prevent further deterioration of the roof. This necessitated the computation and tabulation of surface temperatures, dew point temperatures, vapor pressures and relative humidities at various structural components of the insulated assemblies, particularly near the outer skin.
Phase difference-based multichannel phase unwrapping

This work addresses the derivation of the phase difference-based maximum likelihood (ML) phase unwrapping algorithm. To this end, we derive the joint statistics of the phase differences on a two-dimensional grid for the multichannel case, where several scaled wrapped phase values are available. Subsequently, we determine and study the structure of the phase difference-based ML estimator and compare it to known phase unwrapping techniques. This work allows us to frame single and multichannel algorithms in a common formulation. Moreover, among the known single-channel phase difference-based procedures, we identify those attaining an ML solution. We also show that multichannel phase difference-based and, recently proposed, phase-based ML algorithms achieve equivalent solutions.
Discontinuities in a Rectangular Waveguide Partially Filled with Dielectric

The modal spectrum for a rectangular waveguide with a dielectric slab at the bottom of the guide is obtained following the Characteristic Green's Function method developed by Marcuvitz. Then a four-terminal network is found as equivalent to the junction of the partially filled waveguide and an empty rectangular waveguide. An integral equation is written for the electric field at the plane of the junction and variational expressions are derived for the parameters of the four-terminal network connecting the transmission line equivalent to the partially filled waveguide to the transmission line equivalent to the empty guide. A reasonable guess for the electric field at the discontinuity gives approximate values for the parameters of the four-terminal network. These values agree with experiment. The parameters of the network are plotted vs frequency and thickness of the slab.
Psychological distress and marijuana use before and after treatment: Testing cognitive–behavioral matching hypotheses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological distress, self-efficacy, and marijuana use using data from a randomized controlled trial of treatments for marijuana dependence [J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 68 (2000) 898-908]. Adult marijuana users seeking treatment (N=291) were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: (1) cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention support group (RPSG), (2) individualized assessment and advice group (IAI), and (3) delayed treatment control group (DTC). As predicted, psychologically distressed individuals had lower self-efficacy for avoiding marijuana use in psychologically distressing (PD) situations as opposed to nonpsychologically distressing (NPD) situations. However, all participants tended to have lower self-efficacy for NPD situations than PD situations. Efficacy increased and marijuana use decreased following treatment but the RPSG treatment did not have greater benefit for psychologically distressed participants.
Defensive Behaviors in Leaf Beetles: From the Unusual to the Weird

Chrysomelid leaf beetles are a geologically ancient group of primarily herbivorous insects. As herbivores, they are important ecologically, in food chains, and economically, as pests or as bio-controls in agriculture. This paper reviews some of the interesting defenses they show in relation to living exposed on plants. Gregariousness and subsocial behaviors (maternal guarding) in two groups of chrysomelids help individuals to survive predators and parasites. Larvae, and sometimes eggs, may be covered with feces to avoid detection or to deter attacks. Sequestering noxious chemicals from host plants is another strategy for survival. Some chrysomelids maintain some chemicals that are so toxic, that in Bushmen tribes in southern Africa use the beetles as a source of poisons for their hunting arrows.
159 Impact of Bridging with Ventricular Assist Devices on Long-Term Survival Following Heart Transplantation

Purpose: Ventricular reserve is defined as the response of the ventricle to exercise or pharmacological stimulation. VR usually includes a change in stroke volume or ventricular elastance. In chronic right ventricular (RV) failure, impairment of VR had not been yet investigated. In an experimental model of pulmonary hypertension (PH) we studied non invasive parameters that could correlate with RV reserve alteration in order to be used in PH patients. Methods and Materials: Chronic PH was induced in pigs by ligation of the left pulmonary artery (PA) followed by weekly injections of n-butyl2-cyanoacrylate to progressively occlude right lower lobe arteries for 5 weeks (PH group, n 9). Those animals were compared to sham operated animals (n 9). Right heart catheterization to assess mean PA pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistances (PVR), echocardiography to assess RV myocardial performance index (RVMPI), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and isovolumic acceleration (IVA), and RV conductance catheterization to assess RV elastance without and with pharmacological stimulation using dobutamine (5 mcg.kg-1.min-2) were performed at baseline and 5 weeks. Results: At 5 weeks, mPAP (35 9 vs. 13 2 mmHg, p 0.001) and PVR (872 128 vs. 348 24 dynes.s.cm-5, p 0.012) increased in PH animals and remained unchanged in Sham group. Compared to controls, PH group had higher RVMPI (0.57 0.05 vs. 0.34 0.02, p 0.013), lower TAPSE (1.37 0.06 vs. 1.83 0.06 cm, p 0.001) and lower elastance in response to dobutamine (0.17 0.03 vs. 0.55 0.11 mmHg.ml-1, p 0.001). Right ventricular elastance response to dobutamine was positively correlated with TAPSE (r 0.811, p 0.002) and IVA changes (r 0.639, p 0.046) and inversely correlated with RVMPI changes (r 0.744, p 0.008). Conclusions: Ventricular reserve is early impaired in chronic PH and represents a sensitive marker of RV dysfunction. TAPSE, IVA and RVMPI are non invasive parameters that correlate with RV reserve impairment and may be used to predict RV dysfunction in PH patients.
Further Notes on Religious Transformation

Frank J. Lechner is annoyed with several scholars, including me, who claim that the secularization thesis a crucial pillar of Weberian-oriented approaches to the sociology of religion is less than persuasive. His recent Social Forces essay seeks to rebut "the case against secularization" (Lechner 1991). Although his style of argumentation is clever and well written, the substance of his argument is ultimately hollow. The purpose of my commentary is limited. First, I address the unusual grounds upon which Lechner launches his assault on critics of the secularization thesis. Second, I redress several errors made by Lechner in his assessment of my own work. Thus, I do not intend to take stock of his full argument. The several other scholars whose work he critically addresses with the exception of the late Talcott Parsons are capable of defending themselves. I begin with an assessment of Lechner's grounds of attack. He poses his argument in the form of a legal "brief for the defense" of the secularization thesis. He contends that "the charges against secularization theory are not as forceful as they seem, so that any conviction would be premature." Moreover, he asserts, in this legalistic frame of mind, that "the burden of proof is ... on the prosecution" (i.e., critics of the secularization thesis) (1991:1104). Now this strategy for defending the status of a scientific theoxy is rather peculiar. The "burden of proof" conventionally rests with proponents of a specific theory, not with its detractors. If the secularization thesis deserves classification as a rigorous scientific theory, Lechner ought to address its merits directly and fully. Instead, he grants the theoretical merits by fiat and, then, seeks to dismantle the efforts of his presumed adversaries. Professor Lechner should know better. A scientific community is not a court of law; adjudication of scholarly disputes need not necessarily be framed in adversative terms; and scientific standards for evaluating logic and evidence involve much more than a matching of clever wits. Nonetheless, having insisted that he need not defend the theoretical rigor of the secularization thesis, he briefly discusses its alleged merits. What are these merits? In what sense is the secularization thesis a "general theory of societal change, consisting of a coherent body of empirical generalizations" (Lechner 1991:1104, emphasis in original)? The principal proposition of secularization "theory," at least in Lechner's view, is that "in certain societies transcendentally anchored worldviews and institutions lose social and cultural influence as a result of the dynamics of rationalization ... and the secularizing impact of Christianity itself." Proceeding, Lechner notes that "rationalization produces a pattern of cultural pluralization, social differentiation, and
A Tem Study of the Metakaolin-to-Mullite Transformation in Kaolinite

Two different kaolinites were heated in the range 850–1000°C and subsequently analyzed using TEM to study the metakaolinite-to-mullite reaction sequence. Metakaolinite was found to exist as amorphous relics of the original kaolinites. Small particles of a spinel composition appeared and grew to a maximum size of ∼50A at temperatures below the 980°C exothermic reaction. Mullite was detected at and above 980°C which accounts for the 980°C exothermic reaction of these kaolinites.
Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering Reveals Fast Proton Diffusion in Ca-Doped LaPO4

We have investigated the diffusion dynamics of protons in hydrated 4.2% Ca-doped LaPO4, a candidate electrolyte for proton-conducting intermediate temperature fuel cells. The macroscopic and microscopic dynamics have been studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS), respectively. The conductivity of the bulk hydrated sample was determined in the temperature range of 500–850 °C by EIS and showed a clear signature of proton conductivity with an activation energy of about 1.0 eV. The QENS experiment revealed a fast dynamical process below 500 °C that was not observed by EIS. The activation energy of the fast proton diffusion is 0.09 eV in the temperature range from 150 °C to 500 °C.
The spore coat

Spores of Clostridiales and Bacillales are encased in a complex series of concentric shells that provide protection, facilitate germination, and mediate interactions with the environment. Analysis of diverse spore-forming species by thin-section transmission electron microscopy reveals that the number and morphology of these encasing shells vary greatly. In some species, they appear to be composed of a small number of discrete layers. In other species, they can comprise multiple, morphologically complex layers. In addition, spore surfaces can possess elaborate appendages. For all their variability, there is a consistent architecture to the layers encasing the spore. A hallmark of all Clostridiales and Bacillales spores is the cortex, a layer made of peptidoglycan. In close association with the cortex, all species examined possess, at a minimum, a series of proteinaceous layers, called the coat. In some species, including Bacillus subtilis, only the coat is present. In other species, including Bacillus anthracis, an additional layer, called the exosporium, surrounds the coat. Our goals here are to review the present understanding of the structure, composition, assembly, and functions of the coat, primarily in the model organism B. subtilis, but also in the small but growing number of other spore-forming species where new data are showing that there is much to be learned beyond the relatively well-developed basis of knowledge in B. subtilis. To help summarize this large field and define future directions for research, we will focus on key findings in recent years.
Role of aspirin desensitization in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Purpose of reviewThis review is set to revisit the pathogenesis of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), the diagnostic method used, and finally the real impact of aspirin desensitization on chronic sinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in aspirin intolerant patients.Recent findingsIn AE
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS IN MAIMONIDIAN SCHOLARSHIP

gigantic endeavors did not meet with immediate and unanimous approval among the conservative spokesmen of their coreligionists. Efforts had been made already within their lifetimes to have their views censored. Maimonides's Guide to the Perplexed, completed in 1185 2 raised bitter controversies among Jews, and for a century at least almost every Jewish scholar of note was either an ardent opponent or an equally ardent apologist for the Sage of Cordova. Enmity between both parties was heated to such a point that the dispute was referred by the anti-Maimonists in 1234 to a Christian authority, the papal legate at Montpellier, who ordered Maimonides's works to be burned.3 When the controversy quieted down, Maimon ides's works became the centre of Jewish thought throughout the
Habitat Restoration from an Ecosystem Goods and Services Perspective: Application of a Spatially Explicit Individual-Based Model

Estuarine ecosystems provide many services to humans, but these ecosystems are also under pressure from human development, which has led to large investments in habitat protection and restoration. Restoration in estuaries is typically focused on emergent and submerged vegetation with the goal of achieving target areal coverage based on historic conditions. Such restoration targets assume no spatial heterogeneity in habitat value and bypass the functional target of restoring or maintaining delivery of ecosystem goods and services (EGS). We have developed a spatially explicit individual-based behavioral model intended to explore the functional role of habitat restoration on EGS delivery in an index system (Tampa Bay, FL) and for an index EGS (recreational fishing). Model scenarios are based on interaction of inter-annual differences in salinity/temperature patterns (wet, dry, average) with hindcasted “increases” in coverage and distribution of seagrass. Model predictions indicated that the effect of seagrass restoration to historic (1950s) levels on both fish and fishery production is dependent on salinity and temperature. This dependence is based on predicted fish response both to habitat changes and the effective spatial scale of different habitat components. Overall, average salinity/temperature conditions facilitated the highest positive functional response to seagrass restoration with extreme wet/dry years yielding lower or even negative functional responses, but these responses were localized and not homogenous about the estuary. The results of this study provide a methodology for using functional targets in restoration planning and highlight the importance of considering the entire habitat mosaic in valuing restored habitat from an EGS perspective.
Correlation of serum leptin-to-adiponectin ratio with progression of carotid intima-media thickness in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Objective To investigate the correlation of serum leptin(LEP),adiponectin(ADPN) and leptin-to-adiponectin(L/A) ratio with the progression of carotid intima-media thickness(PROG-IMT) in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD) patients.Methods Twenty-nine MHD patients were involved in the study.Carotid ultrasound examinations were performed at the entry(1st test) and after 24 months(2nd test).Serum LEP and ADPN were determined by ELISA.Results ① PROG-IMT existed in 27 MHD patients,and the rest 2 MHD patients had no PROG-IMT.The intima-media thickness(IMT) in the 2nd test was significantly increased compared to that in the 1st test(P=0.003,paired t-test).Correlation analysis indicated that the 2nd test of IMT was positively correlated with the 1st test of IMT(r=0.616,P=0.000).② Correlation analysis also showed that L/A ratio was positively correlated with PROG-IMT(r= 0.405,P=0.029).③Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the higher L/A ratio was the risk factor for PROG-IMT.Conclusions IMT increased progressively in MHD patients.The PROG-IMT was significantly and positively correlated with the IMT at the entry.Higher L/A ratio was the risk factor for PROG-IMT.L/A ratio may become a sensitive predictor for insulin resistance in MHD patients.
Starlets, Subscribers, and Beneficiaries: Disney, Latino Children, and Television Labor

Children’s television networks are invested with moral value not attributed to other networks, yet they depend on the labor of children to advance their economic goals. Using a case study approach of Disney’s cable channels, we found that Latino children perform labor on behalf of the corporation in three ways: as subscribers to Disney’s cable networks, as actors in programming designed to deliver those subscribers, and as beneficiaries in the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts. We found that the logic by which Disney assigns various forms of labor to different types of Latino children helps to advance the company’s economic goals, rendering Latino children hypervisible in some spaces and invisible in others.
Should cost be a consideration in palliative care

A physician argues that cost should not be a major consideration in a hospital's decision to provide palliative care services to patients. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Screening for the Early Detection and Prevention of Oral Cancer

Screening by visual inspection of the oral cavity does not appear to reduce deaths from oral cancer in the general population, although there is some evidence that it could be effective in high-risk patients who use tobacco and alcohol.
EPIG-05RADIORESISTANCE OF PODOPLANIN-EXPRESSING GLIOMA STEM CELLS IS ASSOCIATED WITH EZH2-DRIVEN POLYCOMB REPRESSIVE COMPLEX ACTIVITY

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequently occurring malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system, and despite aggressive clinical intervention, GBM is uniformly fatal. Data from multiple expression profiling experiments suggest that the type-I integral membrane glycoprotein podoplanin (PDPN) is an important prognostic marker in astrocytic gliomas independent of a number of relevant clinical factors. We recently discovered that radiotherapy (RT) resistance of GBM is associated with global DNA hypermethylation and hypothesized that PDPN may be involved in this phenomenon. Indeed, we found that PDPN knockdown sensitized glioma sphere-forming cells (GSCs) to RT in vitro. Furthermore, upon profiling PDPN-sorted GSC subpopulations, enrichment analysis revealed that PDPN upregulates polycomb repressive complex (PRC) activity to promote EZH2-driven global DNA hypermethylation. EZH2 is known to directly control DNA methylation, and we have previously shown that EZH2 protects GSCs from radiation-induced cell death. This is the first report implicating PDPN in EZH2-mediated RT resistance, and we believe the membrane protein may be a meaningful therapeutic target in RT resistant GBM. In summary, PDPN is a novel prognostic marker for individuals with astrocytic gliomas and promotes EZH2-mediated RT resistance in GSCs.
4p16.3 microdeletions and microduplications detected by chromosomal microarray analysis: New insights into mechanisms and critical regions

Deletions in the 4p16.3 region cause Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a well known contiguous microdeletion syndrome with the critical region for common phenotype mapped in WHSCR2. Recently, duplications in 4p16.3 were reported in three patients with developmental delay and dysmorphic features. Through chromosomal microarray analysis, we identified 156 patients with a deletion (n = 109) or duplication (n = 47) in 4p16.3 out of approximately 60,000 patients analyzed by Baylor Miraca Genetics Laboratories. Seventy-five of the postnatally detected deletions encompassed the entire critical region, 32 (43%) of which were associated with other chromosome rearrangements, including six patients (8%) that had a duplication adjacent to the terminal deletion. Our data indicate that Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome deletions with an adjacent duplication occur at a higher frequency than previously appreciated. Pure deletions (n = 14) or duplications (n = 15) without other copy number changes distal to or inside the WHSCR2 were identified for mapping of critical regions. Our data suggest that deletion of the segment from 0.6 to 0.9 Mb from the terminus of 4p causes a seizure phenotype and duplications of a region distal to the previously defined smallest region of overlap for 4p16.3 microduplication syndrome are associated with neurodevelopmental problems. We detected seven Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome deletions and one 4p16.3 duplication prenatally; all of the seven are either >8 Mb in size and/or associated with large duplications. In conclusion, our study provides deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms, the critical regions and effective prenatal diagnosis for 4p16.3 deletions/ duplications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Shouldercam: evaluating the user experience of a depth camera system to measure shoulder range of motion

Assessment of patient condition is essential for understanding physical impairment severity and treatment efficacy. It is important that measurements are objective and observer-independent so patient progress can be meaningfully assessed over time. Orthopedic shoulder surgeons typically assess range of motion with a goniometer, a manual measurement tool, which has variability between measurers and techniques. To address these limitations, we developed ShoulderCam, an objective measurement technique utilizing the Microsoft Kinect. ShoulderCam was designed with medical professionals to be integrated into the clinic. After evaluating the utility of ShoulderCam in a qualitative study with 5 medical professionals and 11 patients, we found the majority preferred ShoulderCam due to perceived accuracy, more visual information, and less mental effort. This research can inform future medical clinic assessment technologies.
ArF excimer laser radiation transport in corneal tissue

Recently, we studied argon fluoride (ArF) excimer laser pulse propagalion in bovine cornea and aqueous collagen gels.5 Our results indicated that an ablative laser pulse induced a substantial transient decrease in target transmission, beginning during the 10 ns irradiation. Conversely, similar experiments performed on dehydrated films of extracted collagen exhibited a significant transmission increase during ablation. Therefore, we concluded that 193 nm laser ablation of cornea causes rapid changes in the tissue optical properties, which involve the water component.
An Expansion in Schur Functions and Its Applications in Enumerative Geometry

This chapter presents a method for calculating the coefficient \({{c}_{\left( {{\lambda }_{1,...,{{\lambda }_{n}}}} \right)}}\) for the expansion of polynomial powers of Schur functions $$(x_{1}^{k}+\cdot \cdot \cdot +x_{n}^{k})=\sum{{{C}_{({{\lambda }_{1}},\cdot \cdot \cdot ,{{\lambda }_{n}})}}}{{S}_{({{\lambda }_{1}},\cdot \cdot \cdot ,{{\lambda }_{n}})}}({{X}_{1}},\cdot \cdot \cdot ,{{x}_{n}})$$ and applies it to the discussion of some problems of enumerative geometry.
Development of strength-hardness relationships in additively manufactured titanium alloys

Abstract A major concern for additively manufactured (AM) Ti-6Al-4V components is how AM processing parameters and post-process heat treatments impact the resulting mechanical behavior. The applicability of using microhardness measurements as a predictive tool for yield and tensile strengths of AM Ti-6Al-4V would provide a rapid and useful screening mechanism for ensuring that properties meet requirements in complex geometries. However, microhardness measurements on Ti-6Al-4V exhibit high levels of data variability due to the orientational impact of the α phase. In order to overcome this variability in hardness measurements, a methodology for aggregating microhardness data in individual builds has been developed and validated. By compiling mean microhardness values from various AM components produced by electron beam based directed energy deposition (DED), laser based DED, and laser based powder bed fusion (PBF) processes in the as-deposited and post-process heat treated conditions, strong linear correlations between strength and hardness can be developed in AM materials having a lamellar α+β microstructure. With the addition of strain hardening and α phase orientation contributions to the mean microhardness measurement, the strength-hardness correlations of AM Ti-6Al-4V followed empirically derived models, opening the possibility of using these models to predict strengths from AM components regardless of the AM process or post-process state.
Task-Driven Programming Pedagogy in the Digital Humanities

In this chapter, we advocate for a task-driven approach to teaching computer programming to students of the digital humanities (DH). Our perspective is grounded first in Birnbaum’s (2014) plenary address to the University of Pittsburgh Faculty Senate (Birnbaum 2014), in which he argued that coding, like writing, should be taught across the liberal arts curriculum in domain-appropriate ways. This position argued that (1) coding is not an esoteric specialization to be taught solely by computer scientists, and that (2) coding might be taught most effectively in the context of different disciplines. Here, we present a method for embedding Digital Humanities education, and more specifically programming pedagogy, within the long-standing traditions of the Humanities and argue that this approach works most effectively when new learners have access to context-specific mentorship. Our second point of reference lies with oral-proficiency-oriented (OP) foreign language pedagogy. Within an OP model, the ability to communicate in a foreign language is a skill, and the primary goal for learners who seek to acquire that skill is not an academic understanding of the grammar of a language, but, instead, the ability to function successfully within realistic contextualized human interactions. Seen from this perspective, computer-programming curricula organized around the features of the programming language might be compared to older grammar-and-translation foreign-language pedagogies. What we advocate instead is that the ability to use a programming language (programming proficiency) is best acquired in the context of performing contextualized, discipline-conscious tasks that are meaningful to humanists, an approach that has parallels to OP language learning.
Insights from an experimental study on the crosswind flight of a lab-scale buoyant air turbine

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the crosswind motion of a lab-scale buoyant air turbine under a variety of flow conditions. A buoyant air turbine consists of a horizontal-axis turbine placed inside a helium-filled shroud and connected to the ground by tethers. Because of this setup, the system can reach higher altitudes where winds are typically stronger. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to improve power production by executing crosswind flight. This paper builds directly on (i) previous work that uses a water channel to develop a lab-scale setup that is dynamically equivalent to a full-scale system and (ii) previous work that uses this setup to execute crosswind motion induced by a square wave roll set-point trajectory. The water channel setup allows for many tests to be run at a relatively low cost. In this paper, we use the water channel to run crosswind experiments at a variety of flow speeds and with a variety of control parameters. These experimental conditions are selected using the G-optimal Design of Experiments. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that such a variety of crosswind flight conditions have been tested on a lab-scale buoyant air turbine. Results show that (i) crosswind motion can be achieved at a variety of flow speeds, (ii) roll set-points with periods between 4 and 6 seconds are most effective out of the conditions tested, and (iii) at low flow speeds, the system can oscillate, even when unprompted by a periodic roll set-point trajectory.
FACTOR IX DEFICIENCY (HEMOPHILIA B) IN A FAMILY OF BRITISH SHORTHAIR CATS

This report describes the clinical findings of a British shorthair cat with hemophilia B, the family pedigree surrounding the case, and how this disorder can be perpetuated in rare breeds of cats that may be inbred by necessity. Young cats with histories of bleeding episodes following elective or other surgical procedures, periodic shifting lamenesses, or the development of subcutaneous hematomas should be suspect for an inherited coagulation disorder. Hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) or hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency) are the most likely causes, although other inherited bleeding disorders also have been recognized in cats.
Low-Calorie Sweeteners: Disturbing the Energy Balance Equation in Adolescents?

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between low-calorie sweeteners (LCSs), energy intake, and weight in US youth. Methods Data were collected from individuals aged 2 to 19 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010 (n = 3,296), 2011-2012 (n = 3,139), and 2013-2014 (n = 3,034). Logistic regression, unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, energy intake, and physical activity, was used to estimate the odds of obesity in LCS consumers versus nonconsumers, both overall and across product categories (foods vs. beverages) and sociodemographic subgroups. Results Among adolescents, the odds of obesity were 55% and 70% higher in LCS beverage consumers than in nonconsumers in unadjusted and adjusted models, respectively. Energy intakes did not differ based on LCS consumption. In contrast, associations between LCS consumption and obesity risk were not statistically significant among children (2-11 y old), except in boys and those who self-identified as Hispanic. Conclusions LCS consumption is associated with increased odds of obesity among adolescents. This relationship is strikingly independent of total energy intake. Although findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the limitations of self-reported dietary intake and the cross-sectional nature of this analysis, the observational analysis in this study supports the need to investigate the mechanisms by which LCS may influence body weight, independently of changes in energy intake.
Future costs of fuel cell electric vehicles in California using a learning rate approach

Abstract Many countries and regions of the world are pursuing aggressive decarbonization policies in the transportation sector aiming to sharply reduce the sales of conventional gasoline and diesel-powered internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). Zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), have zero tailpipe emissions, but still can be considerably more expensive than ICEVs, which is one key factor hampering their wide-scale adoption. Still, many decarbonization roadmaps and plans call for a large ramp up of ZEVs in coming years. For example, the International Energy Agency's aggressive 2DS high H2 scenario estimates 11 M BEVs and 4 M FCEVs sold in 2030 and California has also set aggressive sales targets under its ZEV Mandate. This paper provides a detailed life cycle cost analysis comparison for FCEV versus other vehicle technologies, assuming these international adoption scenarios are implemented using a learning rate approach. Results show that the fuel cell system is the key factor in making FCEV life cycle costs comparable to ICEV costs. With an 18% learning rate, FCEVs are estimated to be cost competitive with ICEVs by 2025, but with an 8% learning rate, this cost-competitive point is pushed out almost 25 years.
Quantitation of cell-associated carbon nanotubes: selective binding and accumulation of carboxylated carbon nanotubes by macrophages.

To understand the influence of carboxylation on the interaction of carbon nanotubes with cells, the amount of pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (P-MWNTs) or carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (C-MWNTs) coated with Pluronic® F-108 that were accumulated by macrophages was measured by quantifying CNTs extracted from cells. Mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages and differentiated human THP-1 (dTHP-1) macrophages accumulated 80-100 times more C-MWNTs than P-MWNTs during a 24-h exposure at 37 °C. The accumulation of C-MWNTs by RAW 264.7 cells was not lethal; however, phagocytosis was impaired as subsequent uptake of polystyrene beads was reduced after a 20-h exposure to C-MWNTs. The selective accumulation of C-MWNTs suggested that there might be receptors on macrophages that bind C-MWNTs. The binding of C-MWNTs to macrophages was measured as a function of concentration at 4 °C in the absence of serum to minimize the potential interference by serum proteins or temperature-dependent uptake processes. The result was that the cells bound 8.7 times more C-MWNTs than P-MWNTs, consistent with the selective accumulation of C-MWNTs at 37 °C. In addition, serum strongly antagonized the binding of C-MWTS to macrophages, suggesting that serum contained inhibitors of binding. Moreover, inhibitors of class A scavenger receptor (SR-As) reduced the binding of C-MWNTs by about 50%, suggesting that SR-As contribute to the binding and endocytosis of C-MWNTs in macrophages but that other receptors may also be involved. Altogether, the evidence supports the hypothesis that macrophages contain binding sites selective for C-MWNTs that facilitate the high accumulation of C-MWNTs compared to P-MWNTs.
Prioritizing Goals in Cognitive Sonar: Tracking Multiple Targets

We consider the challenge of prioritizing among a set of simultaneous goals in an intelligent active sonar system. The cognitive (or intelligent) sonar system we propose is one that is capable of making decisions and tuning parameters to best achieve a set of possibly competing goals. Integrating intelligence in the sonar system reduces the burden on system operators and has the potential to greatly improve how quickly and how well systems can meet surveillance and tracking goals. We propose applying the goal-driven autonomy (GDA) architecture to intelligent active sonar, and in this paper we focus on the issue of assigning priority to system goals when multiple goals are simultaneously active. The goals are to track each of three targets simultaneously, and the decision to be made is which sector of the surveillance space to illuminate at each ping interval. We propose a metric for determining priority that incorporates both uncertainty about target state and the level of risk posed by the target. Simulation results indicate that the proposed goal management takes actions that decrease uncertainty about higher risk targets and has the potential to prioritize goals based on intelligence gathered from multiple system sources.
Two mechanisms underlying auditory dominance: Overshadowing and response competition.

Abstract There are occasions when infants and children have difficulty in processing arbitrary auditory–visual pairings, with auditory input sometimes attenuating visual processing (i.e., auditory dominance). The current research examined possible mechanisms underlying these auditory dominance effects in infants and 4-year-olds. Do auditory dominance effects stem from auditory input attenuating encoding of visual input, from the difficulty of inhibiting auditory-based responses, or from a combination of these factors? In five reported experiments, 4-year-olds (Experiments 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B) and 14- and 22-month-olds (Experiment 3) were presented with a variety of tasks that required simultaneous processing of auditory and visual input, and then we assessed memory for the visual items at test. Auditory dominance in young children resulted from response competition that children could not resolve. Infants’ results were not as robust, but they provided some evidence that nonlinguistic sounds and possibly spoken words may attenuate encoding of visual input. The current findings shed light on mechanisms underlying cross-modal processing and auditory dominance and have implications for many tasks that hinge on the processing of arbitrary auditory–visual pairings.
Characterization of lipid emulsions during in vitro digestion in the presence of three types of nanocellulose.

Abstract Hypothesis Nanocellulose (NC) has been a topic of significant interest due to its multiple applications, including that as a potential food ingredient. Due to the viscous property of NC and its potential use as emulsion stabilizers, presence of NC in food may affect properties and digestion of lipid emulsions systems. In this study, the behavior of three types of nanocellulose and its influence on lipid emulsions during digestion were investigated. Experiments The changes in physicochemical characteristics (including particle size, microstructure, viscosity, and zeta potential) of the emulsions as well as the amount of free fatty acid released were studied and compared among the addition of different types/concentrations of fiber as well as digestion phases. Findings The colloidal stability of three types of NC differed during each digestion phase. Specifically, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) formed hydrogel networks during the gastric phase, resulting in increased digesta viscosity. Cellulose nano-fibrils (CNF) were stable and had no morphological changes during digestion. TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nano-fibrils (TEMPO-CNF) de-swelled and showed aggregation at the gastric phase. Results showed that all three types of nanocellulose at high concentrations (1% CNF, 0.25–0.36% TEMPO-CNF or 2–3% CNC) delayed initial in vitro digestion of emulsions, though the final lipolysis extent was nearly the same amongst all (47–55%).
Inadequate oral feeding as a barrier to discharge in moderately preterm infants.

The objectives describe the frequency that inadequate oral feeding (IOF) is the reason why moderately preterm (MPT) infants remain hospitalized and its association with neonatal morbidities. Prospective study using the NICHD Neonatal Research Network MPT Registry. Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe associations between IOF and continued hospitalization at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). A total of 6017 MPT infants from 18 centers were included. Three-thousand three-seventy-six (56%) remained hospitalized at 36 weeks PMA, of whom 1262 (37%) remained hospitalized due to IOF. IOF was associated with RDS (OR 2.02, 1.66–2.46), PDA (OR 1.86, 1.37–2.52), sepsis (OR 2.36, 95% 1.48–3.78), NEC (OR 16.14, 7.27–35.90), and BPD (OR 3.65, 2.56–5.21) compared to infants discharged and was associated with medical NEC (OR 2.06, 1.19–3.56) and BPD (OR 0.46, 0.34–0.61) compared to infants remaining hospitalized for an alternative reason. IOF is the most common barrier to discharge in MPT infants, especially among those with neonatal morbidities.
Measuring collective behavior: an ecological approach.

Collective behavior is ubiquitous throughout nature. Many systems, from brains to ant colonies, work without central control. Collective behavior is regulated by interactions among the individual participants such as neurons or ants. Interactions create feedback that produce the outcome, the behavior that we observe: Brains think and remember, ant colonies collect food or move nests, flocks of birds turn, human societies develop new forms of social organization. But the processes by which interactions produce outcomes are as diverse as the behavior itself. Just as convergent evolution has led to organs, such as the eye, that are similar in function but are based on different physiological processes, so it has led to forms of collective behavior that appear similar but arise from different social processes. An ecological perspective can help us to understand the dynamics of collective behavior and how it works.
Noninvasive Measurement of Cardiac Strain with MRI

The motion sensitivity of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be exploited to measure the motion patterns within the heart wall and thus to noninvasively calculate the intramyocardial strain. The resulting large data sets pose a challenge for visualization, but offer the potential of a greatly improved picture of cardiac dynamics. This may have both basic research and clinical applications.
Twelve Carnarvon Writing Boards and their Provenances

Research for the final report of a large Middle Kingdom tomb dug jointly by the fifth Earl of Carnarvon and The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides provenance information for 12 writing boards from...
“It’s better to forget physics”: The Idea of the Tactical Nuclear Weapon in the Early Cold War

The American physicist John Wheeler once told his colleague Richard Feynman that, in case of war, “it’s better to forget physics and tell the admirals and generals how to do tactical and strategic this-and-that.” This article explores the history of this-and-that distinctions between tactical and strategic nuclear weapons in the early Cold War. The idea of tactical nuclear weapons was intertwined with the work of a small group of defense intellectuals on limited nuclear war who explicitly framed the idea of tactical nuclear weapons as “arbitrary” and “illogical,” but nonetheless crucial to the continued survival of the Free World, as they understood it. I follow several strains of this complex history to show how a subset of these theorists viewed the new category of tactical nuclear weapons as an antidote to declining civilization and the embodiment of an anti-rationalist and anti-empiricist way of making knowledge about the world.
Human-dominated land cover corresponds to spatial variation in Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) reproductive output across the United States

Studies examining impacts of land cover typically focus on abundance, distribution, and/or community richness, overlooking underlying demographic processes such as survival or reproduction. Here, we present findings from a unique dataset that allowed us to measure the relationship between land cover and reproductive output across the distribution of the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). We used hunter-derived, Mourning Dove wing data across 1,271 counties in the United States from 2008 to 2014 to estimate spatially explicit age ratios (juveniles: adults), an index of local reproductive output. We also used raster imagery data to estimate relationships between reproductive output and land cover and crop cover. We found that low reproductive output occurs in regions where Mourning Dove declines have been steepest. Our findings reveal that impacts of land cover vary geographically, but even at a coarse resolution, small changes in the relative proportion of human-dominated landscapes can have a significant impact on the reproductive output of this generalist species. Maize and soybean systems correlate with up to a 57% reduction in Mourning Dove reproductive output in the eastern United States. In the western United States, developed areas correlate with a 41% increase in reproductive output. Across the United States, native habitats had neutral or negative relationships with age ratios. Our study contributes continental-scale evidence that Mourning Dove reproductive output is largely driven by human-dominated land cover including agricultural and residential areas. With Mourning Doves declining across the range, discerning more fine-scale land cover factors is critical for ensuring Mourning Dove populations persist into the future.