cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Embryo production in a parthenogenetic snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is negatively affected by the presence of other parthenogenetic females

. Stimuli associated with copulatory behavior are often needed to maximize reproductive output in internally fertilized sexual taxa. Although non-pseudogamous parthenogenetic females have no need for sperm, parthenogens descended from sexual ancestors may still require copulatory stimuli to reach their full reproductive potential. Retention of physiological dependence on copulation in parthenogens could facilitate the maintenance of sexual reproduction in species where sexual and parthenogenetic individuals coexist if parthenogens do not receive enough copulatory stimuli to achieve maximal daughter production. A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine whether embryo production in parthenogenetic female snails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is dependent on male presence. Rather than male presence, this experiment showed that embryo production is affected by the number of coexisting parthenogens. Specifically, parthenogens housed with fewer other parthenogens produced significantly more embryos than parthenogens housed with a greater number of other parthenogens, regardless of male presence and total population size. This result indicates that copulatory dependence is not likely to contribute to the maintenance of sex in P. antipodarum. Instead, it demonstrates that females of P. antipodarum negatively affect each other's reproduction, and suggests that females of P. antipodarum may exert a larger competitive influence than males of P. antipodarum. Moreover, this finding raises the possibility that highly parthenogenetic and consequently female-dense populations of P. antipodarum may experience decreased reproductive output when population size is large and resources are limiting.
Achromatopsia: the CNGB3 p.T383fsX mutation results from a founder effect and is responsible for the visual phenotype in the original report of uniparental disomy 14

Achromatopsia (ACHM) or rod monochromacy is an autosomal recessive and genetically heterogeneous retinal disorder. It is characterized by a lack of color discrimination, poor visual acuity, photodysphoria, pendular infantile nystagmus, and abnormal photopic electroretinographic (ERG) recordings with preservation of rod-mediated function. Mutations in three known genes are causative; including genes for the α and β subunits of the cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel (CNGA3 and CNGB3, respectively) and cone photoreceptor transducin—GNAT2. We investigated the prevalence of mutations in achromatopsia-causing genes in a cohort of 16 families with both clinical and electrophysiologic evidence consistent with autosomal recessive transmission, including one subject with achromatopsia and maternal isodisomy for chromosome 14. The most frequent mutation, p.T383fsX in CNGB3, accounted for 75% (18/24) of disease-associated alleles; intragenic SNPs in unrelated patients revealed transmission of a common haplotype consistent with a founder effect. Homozygous p.T383fsX mutation in CNGB3 that maps to chromosome 8 was detected in a patient with achromatopsia and systemic features associated with uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 14. Two novel variants, p.R223G and p.A621E were found in CNGA3. We conclude that CNGA3 and CNGB3 mutations are responsible for the substantial majority of achromatopsia. Furthermore, the CNGB3 mutation p.T383fsX is a predominant mutation, results from a founder effect, and is responsible for the ACHM in the original clinical report of UPD 14.
Mid-IR electroluminescence of Cr:ZnSe crystals co-doped with donor and acceptor impurities

Studies of divalent Chromium ions compensation in ZnSe crystals after thermo-diffusion of Al and Ag co-dopants are presented. We report 2-3mm Mid-IR electro-luminescence in the Al:Cr:ZnS and Ag:Cr:ZnSe bulk samples.
An Operations Research Approach to Leveraging New Technology Opportunities

Abstract Operations research, the science of decision-making, offers a logical structure to management decisions. Operations research is known by several synonyms including systems analysis, quantitative analysis, and management science. Systems decisions can be classified as allocation, scheduling and routing, competition, queuing (waiting) lines, inventory control, searching, replacement, and maintenance. Operations research offers tools such as linear programming, nonlinear programming, decision analysis, neural networks, genetic algorithms, etc., to approach those decisions in an efficient and effective manner. An example from operations research literature is given for the successful application of systems analysis to optimize products and profits at Sadia, the largest poultry producer in Brazil.
Reading, writing, and the wrath of my father

The author, a researcher, teacher educator, and early childhood educator, uses autobiography and personal narrative to explore the learning of language and use of literacy in the early years of life.
Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaws

Bisphosphonates are important drugs that are increasingly prescribed to reduce the morbidity associated with osteoclast-mediated bone diseases. Shortly after the turn of the century, a variety of case reports described a necrosis of the jaw bone in patients using bisphosphonates. Currently, an exposed area of necrotic jaw bone present for at least eight weeks in patients using bisphosphonates has been defined as a bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis (BON) by the American Dental Association. BON may occur spontaneously but is more frequently associated with local trauma to the jaw. At this time, a causal relationship between BON and bisphosphonates has not been demonstrated. This review will evaluate current data related to the occurrence, risk, prevention, treatment, and management of BON.
STUDIES ON CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE-INDUCED TOLERANCE TO SHEEP ERYTHROCYTES

Complete immunological tolerance to sheep cells can be induced in mice when cyclophosphamide is injected together with sheep cells or up to 72 hr before or 48 hr after the antigen. As is true for radiation-induced immune suppression, the drug is most effective when given in the 24 hr prior to antigen. Complete cyclophosphamide-induced immunological suppression requires large doses of sheep cells (6.2 x 109 cells), presumably to enable antigen to reach sequestered receptor sites. The cyclophosphamide tolerance system has been analyzed with the Jerne technique to determine plaque-forming cells and with isotopic methods to measure rates of nucleic acid synthesis. This drug suppression has been found to consist of two components. The first is nonspecific injury to the lymphoid system caused by the cytotoxic drug and is related to the proportion of spleen cells killed. The second is antigen-specific immunological tolerance and appears to correlate with profound depression of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the surviving cells. This tolerance is thought to be most consistent with a mechanism in which antigenic stimulation in the presence of cyclophosphamide-inhibited DNA synthesis and mitosis leads to the elimination or death of the specific immunological clone. Tolerance induction with cyclophosphamide is associated with loss of the 19S hemolysin plaques which are seen in nonstimulated mouse spleen, implicating these cells in immune responsiveness. The ability to induce tolerance is lost on the 3rd postantigen day at the end of a 24-hr period in which 19S cells have increased 8-fold and 7S cells 200-fold. The data suggest that loss of sensitivity is due to the emergence on day 3 of drug-resistant plaque-forming cells, particularly those of the 19S variety. In the succeeding days after antigen injection there is a progressive increase in the resistance of plaque-forming cells to cyclophosphamide administration.
What’s New in Obesity: Current Understanding of Adipose Tissue Morphology

Obesity is, by definition, an increase in the amount of adipose tissue. Clearly, the additional mass of fat in obesity must be stored in adipose tissue consisting of either large adipocytes or more adipocytes, or in tissue with some mixture of cellular hyperplasia and hypertrophy. This obvious fact was brought to the attention of clinicians and investigators over two decades ago by the work of Reh (1953) and Bjmulf (1959). Yet, the meaningfulness of the cellular morphology of adipose tissue in either the pathogenesis or perpetuation of obesity remains uncertain. On the one hand, the cellular disposition of triglyceride in the unilocular adipocyte of white adipose tissue may be a totally passive event with no consequences for metabolism or energy regulation. At the other extreme, it could be that adipocyte size and number are controlling elements in a caloric- intake-storage-energy-output system and thus are of central concern to our understanding of obesity. The latter possibility, which might be called the “adipocyte theory of obesity,” deserves thorough investigation, since there has been amassed a wealth of data to suggest that the adipocyte is metabolically highly active and very sensitive to hormones. It is the purpose of this review to consider recent findings on adipose cellularity, chiefly from work with animals, but also with human subjects, in order to evaluate the “adipocyte theory of obesity.”
Multiplicative Noise in Microstructure Evolution

Multiparticle diffusion equations were modeled to simulate the dynamics of phase coarsening. Local environmental information andparticle interactions within the microstructure are included in our simulations. These studies reveal that the growth rates of particles with the same radii can differ, and thatparticles with the average radius can grow, shrink, or remain conditionally stable. These results are in contrast to mean-fieldpredictions, whereparticle growth rates are strictly deterministic. Multiparticle simulationsprove that fluctuations occur in theparticle growth rates, even at extremely low microstructural densities. Multiplicative noiseprovides a good basis to describe microstructural fluctuations.
Antimicrobial therapy of gastrointestinal infections.

This article examines the current concepts regarding nonspecific and specific therapy of patients infected with enteropathogens known to produce acute infectious gastroenteritis.
Kaluza-Klein graviton phenomenology for warped compactifications, and the 750 GeV diphoton excess

A generic prediction of scenarios with extra dimensions accessible in TeV-scale collisions is the existence of Kaluza-Klein excitations of the graviton. For a broad class of strongly warped scenarios one expects to initially find an isolated resonance, whose phenomenology in the simplest cases is described by a simplified model with two parameters, its mass, and a constant $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ with units of mass parametrizing its coupling to the Standard Model stress tensor. These parameters are in turn determined by the geometrical configuration of the warped compactification. We explore the possibility that the 750 GeV excess recently seen in 13 TeV data at ATLAS and CMS could be such a warped Kaluza-Klein graviton, and find a best-fit value $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\ensuremath{\approx}60\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$. We find that while there is some tension between this interpretation and data from 8 TeV and from the dilepton channel at 13 TeV, it is not strongly excluded. However, in the simplest scenarios of this kind, such a signal should soon become apparent in both diphoton and dilepton channels.
Application of Dynamic Headspace Analysis for Trihalomethanes in Flowing Water

A simple, fast, and convenient dynamic headspace method for the analysis of trihalomethanes (THMs) in flowing water is described. A portable gas chromatograph with an on-line preconcentrator and an electron-capture detector is used with a glass sparger. Distilled water spiked with mixed concentrations of THMs is allowed to flow into the sparger, and the headspace is preconcentrated to a trap, desorbed, and analyzed by gas chromatography. The linear working concentration ranges are 0.1-25 ppb for dichlorobromomethane (DCBM) and dibromochloromethane (DBCM), 0.1-200 ppb for bromoform (BF), and 3-175 ppb for chloroform (CF). The relative standard deviation of peak areas obtained ranges from 4.4 to 8.4% for CF, 2.6 to 5.7% for DCBM, 2.4 to 6.0% for DBCM, and 5.8 to 9.4% for BF. Recoveries of tap water spiked with THM samples are estimated to be in the range of 92.8-131.1 % for CF (5-15 ppb), 79.5-166% for DCBM (0.5-2.0 ppb), 94.1-107.5% for DBCM (1.0-3.0 ppb), and 77.2-118.0% for BF (5-20 ppb). The limits of detection are 0.01 ppb for DCBM, DBCM, and BF and 0.10 ppb for CF. The addition of salt (Na 2 SO 4 ) to the water increases the chromatographic response of THMs
Role of isopentenyl-diphosphate isomerase in heterologous cyanobacterial (Synechocystis) isoprene production

Heterologous production of isoprene (C5H8) hydrocarbons in cyanobacteria, emanating from sunlight, CO2, and water, is now attracting increasing attention. The concept entails application of an isoprene synthase transgene from terrestrial plants, heterologously expressed in cyanobacteria, aiming to reprogram carbon flux in the terpenoid biosynthetic pathway toward formation and spontaneous release of this volatile chemical from the cell and liquid culture. However, flux manipulations and carbon-partitioning reactions between isoprene (the product) and native terpenoid biosynthesis for cellular needs are not yet optimized for isoprene yield. The primary reactant for isoprene biosynthesis is dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), whereas both DMAPP and its isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) isomer are needed for cellular terpenoid biosynthesis. The present work addressed the function of an isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) isomerase in cyanobacteria and its role in carbon partitioning between IPP and DMAPP, both of which serve, in variable ratios, as reactants for the synthesis of different cellular terpenoids. The work was approached upon the heterologous expression in Synechocystis of the "isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase" gene (FNI) from Streptococcus pneumoniae, using isoprene production as a "reporter process" for substrate partitioning between DMAPP and IPP. It is shown that transgenic expression of the FNI gene in Synechocystis resulted in a 250 % increase in the "reporter isoprene" rate and yield, suggesting that the FNI isomerase shifted the endogenous DMAPP-IPP steady-state pool size toward DMAPP, thereby enhancing rates and yield of isoprene production. The work provides insight into the significance and functional role of the IPP isomerase in these photosynthetic microorganisms.
Global convergence analysis of swarm optimization using paracontraction and semistability theory

We prove the global convergence of the original, standard version of particle swarm optimization (PSO) under some mild, matricial and algebraic, practically checkable conditions. Our method is based on a novel integration of miscellaneous techniques from matrix paracontraction in numerical analysis and semistability in control theory. The proposed analysis framework is quite general and can be used to analyze global convergence of many variants of PSO and other types of swarm optimization algorithms such as multiagent coordination optimization (MCO).
A Long Walk Home: The Role of Class and the Military in the Springsteen Catalogue

This article analyzes the themes of class and military service in the Springsteen canon. As a member of the baby boom generation who narrowly missed service in Vietnam, Springsteen’s reflection on these heretofore unappreciated themes should not be surprising. Springsteen’s emergence as a musician and American icon coincide with the end of conscription and the introduction of the All-Volunteer Force in 1973. He became an international superstar as Americans were debating the meaning of the post-Vietnam era and the patriotic resurgence of the Reagan era. Because of this context, Springsteen himself became involved in veterans issues and was a voice of protest against the 2003 Iraq War.
Influence of low concentration V and Co oxide doping on the dissolution behaviors of simplified nuclear waste glasses

Abstract Transition metal oxides are commonly present in nuclear waste and they can alter the structure, property and especially dissolution behaviors of the glasses used for waste immobilization. In this paper, we investigated vanadium and cobalt oxide induced structural and properties changes, especially the dissolution behavior, of International Simple Glass (ISG), a simulant nuclear waste glass system. Static chemical durability tests were performed at 90 °C with a pH value of 7 and a surface-area-to-solution-volume of 200 m− 1 for 112 days on three glasses: ISG, ISG doped with 0.5 mol% Co2O3, and ISG doped with 2.0 mol% V2O5. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze the dissolved ion concentrations. It was found that doping with vanadium and cobalt oxide, even at the low doping concentration, significantly reduced the extent of the ISG glass dissolution. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that vanadium oxide doping reduced the glass transition temperature (Tg) while cobalt oxide did not significantly change the Tg of ISG. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the glass samples before and after corrosion to understand the phase and microstructure changes. These results show that transition metal oxide can have a profound effect on the physical properties and dissolution behaviors of nuclear waste glasses.
Low-cost non-contact microwave probe design for insulating materials characterization

In this paper, we present the design, fabrication and testing of a low-cost non-contact near-field microwave probe for materials characterization operating at 5.78 GHz. The resonant probe consists of a commercial tungsten tip coupled to a dielectric resonator through a non-resonant microstrip line. Changes in the resonant frequency and quality factor of the resonant probe due to the proximity of different bulk materials to the tip are studied. The probe was simulated in the High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) and a lumped-element circuit model of the microwave probe is presented. Measured results, in agreement with simulations, show a shift in the resonant frequency and quality factor as the dielectric constant of the insulating material increases. A shift of 5.84 MHz and 679 in the resonance frequency and quality factor were measured for an Alumina substrate, respectively. The tip-sample distance was fixed to be 5μm.
Nonlinear dynamics of hourly ozone concentrations. nonparametric short term prediction

Due to inherent spatial and temporal variability of emission concentrations, influence of meteorological conditions, and uncertainties associated with initial and boundary conditions, it is very difficult to model, calibrate, and validate ozone variations from first principles. This paper describes a new procedure, based on dynamical systems theory, to model and predict ozone levels. A model is constructed by creating a multidimensional phase space map from observed ozone concentrations. Predictions are made by examining trajectories on a reconstructed phase space that applies to hourly ozone time series from the Cincinnati area. The proposed phase space model is used to make one-hour to one-day ahead predictions of ozone levels. Prediction accuracy is used as a diagnostic tool to characterize the nature, random vs deterministic, of ozone variations. To demonstrate the utility of this diagnostic tool, the proposed method is first applied to time series with known characteristics. Results for the ozone time series suggest that it can be characterized as a low-dimensional chaotic system. Then, the performance of the proposed phase space and optimum autoregressive model are compared for one-hour and one-day ahead predictions. Three performance measures, namely, root-mean-square error, prediction accuracy, and coefficient of determination yield similar results for both phase space and autoregressive models. However, the phase space model is clearly superior in terms of bias and normalized absolute error of predictions, specially for one-day ahead predictions. In addition, the ability of the proposed model to identify the underlying characteristics from a time series makes it a powerful tool to characterize and predict ozone concentrations.
Tryptophan Synthase Uses an Atypical Mechanism To Achieve Substrate Specificity

Tryptophan synthase (TrpS) catalyzes the final steps in the biosynthesis of l-tryptophan from l-serine (Ser) and indole-3-glycerol phosphate (IGP). We report that native TrpS can also catalyze a productive reaction with l-threonine (Thr), leading to (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan. Surprisingly, β-substitution occurs in vitro with a 3.4-fold higher catalytic efficiency for Ser over Thr using saturating indole, despite a >82000-fold preference for Ser in direct competition using IGP. Structural data identify a novel product binding site, and kinetic experiments clarify the atypical mechanism of specificity: Thr binds efficiently but decreases the affinity for indole and disrupts the allosteric signaling that regulates the catalytic cycle.
Cyrildene Chinatown, Suburban Settlement, and Ethnic Economy in Post-Apartheid Johannesburg

By putting the growth of Cyrildene Chinatown in the contexts of new waves of Chinese migration in Africa and the dramatic suburbanisation of post-apartheid South African cities, this chapter traces the development of Chinese settlement in the Cyrildene area and the resultant birth of the city’s emerging Chinatown. It presents a critique to the notion of “ethnic enclave” and argues that the Cyrildene Chinatown functions more as an integral part of Chinese “ethnoburb” in Johannesburg’s eastern suburbs and interacts with the host society and wider networks in complex and intimate ways. By evaluating both the achievements of and challenges facing Cyrildene Chinatown, this chapter then suggests that suburbanisation in post-apartheid South Africa has boosted the degrees of civic engagement amongst its suburbanites.
The Vision Outreach Project: A Pilot Project to Train Teachers of Visually Impaired Students in Alabama.

This article describes the Vision Outreach Project—a one-year pilot project for training teachers of visually impaired students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The project used video mo...
Knowledge considerations in robotics and distribution of robotic tasks

We develop a formal tool for representing and analyzing informational aspects of robotic tasks, based on the formal concept of 'knowledge.' Specifically, we adopt the notion of knowledge-based protocols from distributed systems, and define the notions of knowledge complexity of a robotic task and knowledge capability of a robot. The resulting formalism naturally captures previous work in the areas of robot information management, but is sufficiently rigorous and natural to allow many extensions. In this paper we show one novel application - the automated distribution of robotic tasks.
Treatment of sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: so close, and yet so far.

More evidence that sarcoidosis patients with pulmonary hypertension respond to therapy http://ow.ly/H40c30fetN4
Wind power project size and component costs: An Alaska case study

Many communities in Alaska, especially along the coast, have excellent wind resources and serve as ideal laboratories for microgrids around the Arctic and the world. Wind power systems have been installed in a number of locations in Alaska, both in remote areas and along the road system. As more isolated microgrids are developed worldwide, understanding the cost and performance of wind power in these systems is of increased importance. In this review of wind power project sizes and costs in Alaska, the costs per kilowatt for the different components of wind turbine installations generally were found to decrease with increasing sizes. Capacity factors ranged from approximately 10% to 40%, with variability from rated wind speeds, wind turbine heights, and the resolution of the wind power class map. Due to the size of communities in Alaska as well as other factors, turbines installed in Alaska are smaller than the trend in the larger market. Evidence indicates that installing overcapacity wind farms, togethe...
Comparison of cardiac troponin I and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes for the late diagnosis of myocardial injury

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a highly specific marker that is elevated in the blood for several days following myocardial infarction. The lactate dehydrogenase (LD) isoenzyme 1 to isoenzyme 2 ratio (LD1/LD2) is the established marker for the late diagnosis of myocardial infarction. In this study, the sensitivity of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and LD1/LD2 were compared as late markers of myocardial injury over a 5-day period in 36 patients admitted with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction to the coronary care unit. Over this period, the sensitivity of cTnI was significantly greater than that of LD1/LD2 (P < .05). The concurrent elevation of both cardiac markers of the five day period range from 53.1% to 79.4%. However, this low concordance was largely due to an LD1/LD2 < 1 in the presence of an increased cTnI. The average discordance over the 5-day period was 29.5%. Because cardiac troponin I (cTnI) has greater sensitivity than lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes for delayed diagnosis of myocardial injury and is a more cost-effective test, the authors recommend it as a test of choice in this setting.
Annealing Temperature Effects on Spin Hall Magnetoresistance in Perpendicularly Magnetized W/CoFeB Bilayers

In this paper, we studied the annealing temperature effects on the spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) in W/CoFeB metallic bilayer systems. The bilayers were deposited using dc magnetron sputtering. The angle-dependent magnetoresistance was performed in a field of 8 T. The sample was rotated in the yz plane to isolate the SMR signal from the anisotropic magnetoresistance present in metallic systems. For annealing temperatures above 350 °C, we found the SMR signal reduces with an increase in annealing temperature. By measuring the SMR for samples with a varying W layer thickness we were able to find that the spin Hall angle decreases as annealing temperature increases and the spin diffusion length for W remains almost constant with annealing temperature.
A New Method for Software Test Data Generation Inspired by D-algorithm

Test generation for digital hardware is highly automated, scalable (in practice), and provides high test quality. In contrast, current software automatic test data generation approaches suffer from low test quality or high complexity. While mutation-oriented constraint-based test data generation for software was proposed to generate high quality test data for real program bugs, all existing approaches require symbolic analysis for the whole program, and hence are not scalable even for unit testing, i.e., testing the lowest-level software modules. We propose a new method inspired by hardware D-algorithm and divide and conquer for software test data generation. To reduce runtime complexity and improve scalability, we combine global structural analysis and a sequence of small reusable symbolic analyses of parts of the program, instead of symbolically executing each mutated version of the entire program. We also propose a multi-pass test generation system to further reduce runtime complexity and compact test data. We compare our tools with one of the best software test generation tools (EvoSuite[20], which won the SBST 2017 tool competition) and demonstrate that our approach generates higher quality unit tests in a scalable manner and provides a compact set of tests.
A comprehensive spectroscopic and computational investigation on the binding of the anti-asthmatic drug triamcinolone with serum albumin

The biomolecular interaction of triamcinolone with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied using various multi-spectroscopic techniques in combination with in silico studies. UV-visible absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and resonance Rayleigh scattering studies confirmed the formation of a BSA–triamcinolone complex. The binding constant was found to be in the order of 103 M−1. Conformational and microenvironmental changes in BSA after addition of triamcinolone were confirmed by circular dichroism and 3D fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The negative values of ΔG and ΔH confirmed spontaneous and exothermic binding. The average binding distance between BSA and triamcinolone was also calculated through FRET. Additionally, the effect of metal ions and β-cyclodextrin on the binding of triamcinolone with BSA was also investigated. Molecular docking and site marker displacement experiments unveiled the binding of triamcinolone to BSA at site III located in subdomain IB of BSA. Molecular dynamics simulation showed lower RMSD values and negative total energy, suggesting favourable binding between BSA and triamcinolone.
Centers for Advanced Study: International/Interdisciplinary

The concept of ‘advanced study’ has taken on a special meaning in the twentieth century, due largely to the creation of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, New Jersey. It has become associated with research at the most remote frontiers of knowledge, carried out in centers populated with scholars of high talent interacting as peers, who are granted maximum freedom to pursue their evolving interests. A brief history of the emergence of centers of this kind is provided, with some review of the variations in institutional form that have been addressed to these key goals.
Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyclobutenes from Alkynes and Alkenyl Derivatives.

Discovery of enantioselective catalytic reactions for the preparation of chiral compounds from readily available precursors, using scalable and environmentally benign chemistry, can greatly impact ...
Ultrasound-Guided Musculoskeletal Procedures

Musculoskeletal procedures are commonly performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes by a variety of physician specialists. These procedures are traditionally performed via a landmark approach and have variable success rates. As point-of-care ultrasound has become more available, physicians are using the technology to increase the success of the procedure. By visualizing the target of interest, the clinician can guide the procedure while taking into account anatomic variability, thus increasing success rates. The use of ultrasound to facilitate the procedures requires minimal additional training and can be applied by those with basic knowledge of point-of-care ultrasound. In this chapter, we discuss common musculoskeletal procedures where the use of ultrasound has increased success rates. We cover common procedures performed in a variety of outpatient and inpatient settings, such as intraosseous access, foreign body removal, hematoma blocks, fracture reduction and arthrocentesis, as well as common procedures done in an office setting, such as joint injections and bursal aspirations.
The SIGCSE submission and review software: 10(hexadecimal) lessons

In 1999, SIGCSE 2000 Conference Co-Chairs, Boots Cassel and Nell Dale, asked Program Chair, Henry Walker, to develop the first iteration of a Web-based paper submissions and reviewing system. Due to the efforts of Ernie Ferguson, CCSC-CP was the first non-SIGCSE conference to use this system, and the system was used by CCSC-CP for 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The current system for CCSC-CP 2010 utilizes the 11th version of this software. Each version has implemented refinements, new capabilities, and adjustments. Reflections on the evolution of this system yield numerous lessons for software and Web-based systems. This paper discusses 10 (hexadecimal) observations that can help in the design of future software applications.
Does the Timing of the Second Surgery of a Staged Bilateral Total Joint Arthroplasty Affect the Rate of Hospital Adverse Events and Perioperative Outcomes

Abstract Background The optimal timing of the second surgery in primary staged bilateral total hip/knee arthroplasty remains uncertain. Perioperative hospital adverse events represent a significant issue, even “minor events” lead to substantial costs in workup tests, interconsultations, and/or increased hospital length-of-stay (LOS). Therefore, we sought to ascertain whether the timing of the second arthroplasty affects perioperative outcomes and/or rates of adverse events. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 670 primary staged bilateral total hip/knee arthroplasty performed by 2 surgeons (2010-2016) at a single institution. The days between both arthroplasties were calculated for each pair of hips or knees. We evaluated demographics and LOS, discharge disposition, adverse events (ie, nausea, pulmonary embolism), and transfusion rates. The second arthroplasties (n = 335) were set apart in 2 groups based on the time they were done with respect to their corresponding contralateral first arthroplasty using 3 different thresholds: (1) ≤90 vs >90 days, (2) ≤180 vs >180 days, and (3) ≤365 vs >365 days. Results No significant differences in outcome comparisons were observed using either 90 or 180 days thresholds. However, using the 365 days thresholds, the mean LOS (2.21 vs 1.92 days, P = .015), adverse event (26% vs 15.3%, P = .021), total transfusion (7.4% vs 1.5%, P = .020), and allogeneic transfusion (6.9% vs 1.5%, P = .033) rates were significantly higher in second arthroplasties performed at or less than 1 year apart from the first, respectively. Conclusion Staging the second arthroplasty more than a year apart from the first one seems to offer better LOS and rates of hospital adverse events, transfusions. However, unless patients are willing to wait a year between surgeries, our data also suggest no increased risk in regards to adverse events when proceeding before or after 90/180 days. Level of Evidence Level III.
Separation and concentration of ω-3 PUFA-rich phospholipids by hydration of krill oil

Abstract Krill oil (KO) is unique in contrast to fish oil because the ω-3 PUFAs, particularly eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA), are almost exclusively esterified on phospholipids (PL) rather than triglycerides (TAG) which improves bioavailability and water solubility. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to use the principles of water degumming to separate PL from TAG in KO. Water was mixed with KO in varying ratios, centrifuged for separation and freeze-dried. Separation into gum and oil fractions occurred in the 75:25 and 50:50 KO:H2O samples. TLC-densitometry revealed 67.6 ± 1.97% and 49.73 ± 3.90% PL concentrations (p
The Grotesque in Frankenstein in Baghdad: Between Humanity and Monstrosity

This paper analyzes Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad (2018) with a special emphasis on the grotesque bodily images of the monster, the novel’s exploration of justice, and the question of violence. I draw on the theoretical framework of the Russian philosopher and literary critic Mikhail Bakhtin (1895–1975), the ethics philosopher Emmanuel Levinas (1906–1995), and the German-American philosopher and political thinker Hannah Arendt (1906–1975). Saadawi’s unnamed monster, “The Whatsitsname,” comes into being via an accidental if honorably intentioned act, when the main character, Hadi, compiles remnant corpses that he finds in the streets of Bagdad into one body with the aim of conducting “a proper burial” in order to dignify the dead. Interestingly, while the monster is the enemy in the eyes of the Iraqi government, he is a savior for the ordinary people— their only hope of putting an end to the violence and achieving justice. In this paper, I argue that Saadawi draws on the metaphor of Frankenstein’s monster not only to capture the dystopian mood in post-2003 Baghdad, but also to question the tragic realities, and the consequence of war, as well as the overall ramification of colonialism. In addition, Saadawi’s embodiment of the metaphor of Frankenstein’s monster actualizes a new literary role for Frankenstein in literature—the representation of the Other: In this instance, the entire Iraqi community is literary represented in Frankenstein’s body. Of equal importance, is the fragmented nature of his body, which is literally compiled of different body parts from different people, perhaps symbolizing the urgent need for unity in Iraq.
Self-similar dynamics of order parameter fluctuations in pump-probe experiments

Upon excitation by a laser pulse, broken-symmetry phases of a wide variety of solids demonstrate similar order parameter dynamics characterized by a dramatic slowing down of relaxation for stronger pump fluences. Motivated by this recurrent phenomenology, we develop a simple nonperturbative effective model for photoinduced dynamics of collective bosonic excitations. We find that as the system recovers after photoexcitation, it shows universal prethermalized dynamics manifesting a power-law, as opposed to exponential, relaxation, explaining the slowing down of the recovery process. For strong quenches, long-wavelength overpopulated transverse modes dominate the long-time dynamics; their distribution function exhibits universal scaling in time and space, whose universal exponents can be computed analytically. Our model offers a unifying description of order parameter fluctuations in a regime far from equilibrium, and our predictions can be tested with available time-resolved techniques.
Disentangling levels of mother-infant neuroendocrine attunement and longitudinal relations with maternal risk and protective factors.

Scientific understanding of mother-infant HPA axis attunement has been limited by discrepant methods for assessing attunement that often conflate different levels of association. We sought to refine the conceptualization of attunement by investigating whether mother-infant cortisol attunement exists as coupling of response trajectories within an acute stress episode, separate from shared developmental patterns and/or overall dyadic similarity in cortisol levels, and whether the degree of attunement depends on within- or between-dyad differences in maternal risk and protective factors. We examined these questions using a longitudinal study with mother/infant salivary cortisol during dyadic stressors at 6, 12, and 18 months postnatal. A three-level hierarchical linear model showed that sample-wide associations between mother and infant cortisol were not significant at any level, suggesting normative lack of attunement; however, there was significant variability in degree of attunement across dyads. Concurrent levels of family resources and social support satisfaction predicted lower mother-infant cortisol attunement within the session, and overall (mean) parenting stress predicted the opposite. Follow-up analyses showed this was typically due to an increase in infants' (but not their mothers') within-session cortisol response slopes with increasing support and decreasing stress. Implications for the role of mother-infant cortisol attunement in intergenerational stress transmission are discussed.
Contamination of 15+1 European Union polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in various types of tea and their infusions purchased on Hangzhou city market in China.

The purpose of this research was to determine the occurrence of 15 + 1 European priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (EUPAHs) in various types of tea purchased on Hangzhou city market in China...
Does this editorial have an ending

Full Disclosure: This is the fourth start of an invited editorial. Rapidly changing conditions and circumstances have made its topic, authoritarianism and the presence of strongman presidents, even...
Kinetic Separation of Oxidative and Non-oxidative Metabolism in Single Phagosomes from Alveolar Macrophages: Impact on Bacterial Killing.

Summary The relative contribution of the two phagosomal catabolic processes, oxidative and metabolic, was assessed in the killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in phagosomes of alveolar macrophages (AMs) from wild-type (p47-phox+/+) or NOX-defective (p47-phox−/−) mice. Free radical release and degradative acidification within AM phagosomes is sequential and separable. The initial NOX activity, identifiable as a transient alkalinization, leads to fast bacterial wall permeabilization by ROS. This is followed by V-ATPase-induced acidification and enzymatic bacterial degradation contributed through phagosomal-lysosomal fusion. The alkalinization/acidification ratio was variable among phagosomes within single cells of a given genotype and not as a function of macrophage M1 or M2 classification, possibly owing to uneven distribution of phagosomal transporter proteins. Irregular, excessive NOX activity prevents phago-lysosomal fusion, and the lack of V-ATPase-induced acidification leads to bacterial stasis in the phagosome. Thus, efficient phagosomal bacterial killing is a result of tightly balanced activity between two processes.
Integration of health solutions into government systems: a tool for assessing readiness.

Government partnerships are essential for many health solutions to sustain impact at scale, particularly in low-resource settings where strengthening health systems is critical for Universal Health Coverage. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and funders ultimately want solutions to be integrated into public health systems by transitioning solution ownership, management and/or operation to government. However, NGOs and their government partners have limited guidance on how to effectively determine when a solution is ready to transition in a way that will maintain impact long term. To address this need, VillageReach developed the Transition Readiness Assessment (TRA) based on our transition to government theoretical framework. The framework was developed to define both factors related to a solution, as well as external influences that affect a solution’s success. The framework identifies seven dimensions of solution readiness: the political, economic, and social context; solution design; resource availability; financial management; government strategy; government policy and regulations; and organizational management. The TRA measures those dimensions and assigns each one a readiness score. We developed the framework and TRA for VillageReach solutions, as well as to share with government partners and stakeholders. This Open Letter outlines the TRA development, details empirical examples from applying the tool on two VillageReach solutions, and presents recommendations based on our lessons learned. Stakeholders working to transition solutions to government can utilize both the TRA and our lessons.
Investigating the Impact of Electric Vehicles on the Voltage Profile of Distribution Networks.

This paper investigates the impact of high penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) on the distribution network in the presence of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Two models for EVs are presented and the voltage profile of buses is investigated considering both models and various penetration levels of EVs within the distribution network. The analysis is conducted by presenting an exact convex relaxed form of the full ACOPF problem of the distribution network with fixed power EVs and presenting the full ACOPF problem of the distribution network with fixed current EVs. The performance of each model is illustrated in the case studies leveraging the modified IEEE 33-bus system and considering time-of-use (TOU) pricing. Besides the sensitivity of the voltage profile of buses in the distribution network on the time-of-use prices is investigated in the case studies.
How Does Mangrove Expansion Affect Structure and Function of Adjacent Seagrass Meadows

Temperatures are increasing globally and causing species-specific geographic range expansions. In the Gulf of Mexico, mangroves are encroaching regions historically dominated by temperate salt marshes, changing animal communities and nutrient cycling in the intertidal zone. Marine systems are highly connected; therefore, we expect that changes in the intertidal will alter functions of adjacent subtidal seagrass meadows. We surveyed seagrass meadows adjacent to mangroves, salt marshes, and a mixture of the two and asked, do changes in intertidal plant composition influence (1) environmental conditions (subtidal water and sediment characteristics); (2) biogeochemical cycling (net oxygen and nitrogen gas fluxes); (3) seagrass meadow cover, biomass, and productivity; and (4) invertebrate community assemblage? There are clear differences in sediment organic matter and net nitrogen gas (N2) fluxes between adjacent intertidal habitats, but the magnitude or direction of change differs seasonally. We hypothesize that this seasonal pattern is due to outwelling from the intertidal, as mangroves senesce in fall, and marshes senesce later in winter. Therefore, changes in adjacent intertidal habitat can impact the timing of organic matter delivery. This also has implications for seagrass biomass. Thalassia testudinum belowground biomass adjacent to mangroves substantially decreased over the winter, suggesting vulnerability to stressors as the intertidal plant community shifts from marsh to mangrove dominance. Epifauna density and diversity did not vary among seagrass meadows based on adjacent intertidal habitats, but subtle differences in community assemblages associated with shifts in intertidal plant community were detected. This work demonstrates that impacts of species range expansions are far-reaching due to connectivity in marine systems.
Is Item Imputation Always Better? An Investigation of Wave-Missing Data in Growth Models

Questionnaire data present challenges, as a missing item of a multi-item scale would lead to a total missing scale. A researcher applying multiple imputation to an incomplete multi-item questionnai...
Rapid Mobilization of Medical Students to Provide Health Care Workers with Emergency Childcare During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PROBLEM: In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly within the United States and began overwhelming the health care system. To conserve PPE, reduce the spread of the virus, and keep student learners safe, leaders of medical schools across the country made the difficult decision to suspend in-person clinical experiences. As medical students were sent home and hospital systems ramped up their response to the virus, many essential health care workers (HCWs) faced an immediate challenge. As "non-essential" services such as schools and daycare centers abruptly closed, HCWs serving on the frontlines in inpatient settings needed a way to both fight the pandemic and care for their children. APPROACH: Medical students at Oregon Health & Science University were able to rapidly organize to provide childcare for essential HCWs. For roughly eight weeks following the state of emergency (March 13 through May 15, 2020) students used Twitter and emerging technology to match families in need of childcare with a trainee volunteer. OUTCOMES: By May 15th, the service had successfully fulfilled 181 of the 202 requests for childcare (90%) over the course of 8 weeks. Of the 181 completed childcare requests, 172 (95%) were fulfilled by an individual (1:1 volunteer-to-household pairing), and 9 (5%) were fulfilled by two or more volunteers. NEXT STEPS: The trainees who provided childcare will apply the skills learned (e.g., clear communication, grassroots organizing, triaging, leveraging new technology) to patient care. Broader applications for this system include organizing volunteers to conduct contract tracing or to provide public health information in languages other than English. Future research includes examining the effect of the service on the productivity, morale, and mental health of both those who provided and received childcare.