cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sparse Canonical Correlation Analyses of Multimodal Omics Data

There have been an increasing number of applications of sparse Canonical Correlation Analysis (sCCA) to genomic data during the past several years. Most of the research in this area has focused on the relationships between gene expression levels and phenotype variations. However, as multimodal omics data becomes available there is a need to integrate these data modalities into a framework that allows for simultaneous data analyses, thereby providing novel insight for various fields in the life sciences. The pioneering work of Schwartz et al. (2012) used the classical Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) to provide an integrative approach to the analysis of host gene expression and microbiota composition data from neonates with different feeding types. Although promising, the proposed approach has serious deficiencies. First, the statistical interpretation is problematic because the involved two-stage analysis makes the results sensitive to the variations of data and the original interpretation of CCA is lost. Second, the associated computational cost is tremendous, O(n 3 ) where n is the number of variables involved in the analysis. Thus, we developed a methodology based on the sCCA to overcome these problems. The performance of our approach is compared to that of Schwartz et al. (2012) and to the sparse Principal Component Analysis (sPCA) on a large synthetic data set with the subsequent application to a multimodal omics data (gene expression, microbiota composition, and metabolites) from neonates with two different feeding types.
A weighted location algorithm using statistics median

Received signal strength indication(RSSI) is widely used to measure the distance in the location of wireless sensor networks.There are random error and outliers in the RSSI signal.Usual algorithms cannot be used to delete the influence of the mixed errors.A weighted location method based on statistics median is proposed on the basis of analysis of error.The proposed method can delete outliers and filter random error,improve the precision of the location and coverage rate of nodes.The simulation experiments show that the proposed method works well.
Avian cecum: role of glucose and volatile fatty acids in transepithelial ion transport

In the fowl cecum in vitro, the influence of glucose and the three most prevalent naturally occurring volatile fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) on short-circuit current (Isc), electrical resistance, and transport of Na and Cl was determined. When glucose, acetate, or butyrate was present, ion transport was characterized by electrogenic Na absorption, greater than 65% of which was amiloride inhibitable, and Cl secretion, which also was electrogenic. Isc could be completely accounted for by net fluxes of Na and Cl. When glucose, acetate, or butyrate (10 mM both sides) was included in the incubation medium, cecal tissue maintained its Isc and a constant rate of net Na absorption and Cl secretion for a 5-h period. When no substrate was present or propionate was included in the medium, a marked fall in Isc and net Na and Cl fluxes was seen. Glucose caused an increase in Isc when added only to the serosal side. As 3-O-methylglucose (not metabolized) was not effective in stimulating Isc of the cecum (serosal or mucosal addition), it appeared that glucose increased Isc by acting as an energy substrate for active Na transport. Acetate and butyrate appeared to be equally effective in stimulating Na transport and Isc when placed on either side of the membrane. When the preparation was supplied with glucose (serosal side) and acetate was added to the mucosal side, no further stimulation of Isc occurred. Thus it appeared that acetate and butyrate were acting as substrates for active Na transport rather than stimulating Na transport by some other mechanism such as a cotransport with Na.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Politics-Commodity: The Rise of Mexican Commercial Documentary in the Neoliberal Era

Sanchez Prado studies the ways in which new forms of Mexican documentary filmmaking have allowed for the genre to be commercially distributed. Using the success of the film Presunto culpable (Roberto Hernandez and Layda Negrete, 2006) as a point of departure, he shows how certain documentary films, by directors like Juan Carlos Rulfo or Lynn Fainchtein, among others, stray from paradigms of activist politics and the “social documentary” to engage the politics and values of middle- and upper-class audiences who constitute the core of Mexico’s commercial market. The author discusses and critiques how these films participate in private structures of production and circulation, akin to those of successful fiction films, and how their politics is often intentionally ambiguous so as to have wide appeal.
Race, Ethnicity and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Unions in the United States

Recent political and cultural trends have led to an evaluation of the meaning of marriage within American society, and especially marriage as it concerns couples of the same sex. However, little research has been done to find out how attitudes toward same-sex marriage might vary according to race and ethnicity. Drawing on data from the 2004 National Politics Study, the author investigates same-sex marriage attitudes and tests hypotheses concerning the attitudes of various American race-ethnic groups. This study employs multinomial logistic regression analysis to compare attitudes of African Americans, Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. Results indicate that even when socio demographic factors such as education and gender are controlled for, ethnic groups still differ in their attitudes toward this topic. Analyses also indicate that the relationship between race/ethnicity and attitudes toward same-sex unions does not vary by gender and that foreign birth explains the relationship between Hispanic ethnicity and attitudes toward same-sex marriage.
What can five high cost patients teach us about healthcare spending

The highest cost patients account for a disproportionately large share of American healthcare costs and are increasingly the focus of research and policy efforts to stem the rapid growth of these costs. These patients tend to be medically complex and frail, but we know little about how such characteristics influence healthcare spending from the perspectives of the patients and their caregivers. Therefore, we examined five of the highest cost patients at an academic medical center in a case series. We interviewed the patients, their family members, and their clinicians and analyzed their claims data and medical charts to explore how patient and health system characteristics influenced their health costs. We found that their complex medical issues, physical disability/frailty, and mental illness/substance use seemed to be linked with increased costs, while their socioeconomic status, social network, activation, and trust in clinicians and the health system appeared to increase or decrease costs depending on context. In these patients' narratives, trust seemed to modify the interaction between patient activation and cost. Our observations raise questions about whether factors mediating costs in high-cost patients may be more heterogenous than previously described and if patient trust and activation may be important, potentially modifiable drivers of these costs. Our case series illustrates the challenges of unilateral policies to address high cost patients and the need for targeted approaches.
Working on the Railroad: Public Accounting Talent in the United States—The Case of Haskins & Sells (Now Deloitte)

Nineteenth century US railroads were the first ‘big businesses’ and had profound influence on society. This paper addresses one source of talent for the early US public accounting profession—railroads. Following the end of the US Civil War (1861–65), industrial expansion was a revolutionary experience, with large trusts appearing in the wake of the railroad's maturing influence on the development of a vast continental economy. Accounting practice also was impacted by railroads. For example, the development of annual reports, income measurement, the standardization of reporting by regulators, developing fixed and variable cost, and throughput concepts for capital intensive business—all were related to the railroads. This paper focuses on a significant link between the emerging public accounting profession and the railroads by examining how an early major US public accounting firm relied upon accounting skill developed within railroads as an important source of talent. Arguably, talent is the most important resource of a professional firm. While it is a commonly held view that the immigration of UK accountants in the late nineteenth century was the source of public accounting talent, this paper provides evidence of a competing explanation—the sourcing of talent from a firm (Haskins & Sells) that continues to the present day as Deloitte. Key leadership and personnel of that time gained their experience while working on the domestic railroads.
Early neurocognitive improvements following parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Objectives To establish a time frame for postoperative improvements in neurocognitive function in patients who undergo parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism by utilizing repeat neuropsychological assessment at multiple time points before and after surgery. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Methods A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary academic medical center between August 2014 and December 2015, including 50 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroidectomy. A panel of neurocognitive tests was administered at two separate time points: preoperative and 1-week postoperative. Validated neuropsychological assessment tools were utilized, including Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test, Trail Making Test A and B, Benton Controlled Oral Word Association, WAIS-IV Digit Span, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Insomnia Severity Index. Barona Information Sheet was used to collect demographic data. Paired t tests were to compare pre- and postoperative scores. Results Thirty-five patients completed the preoperative and 1-week postoperative testing. In cognitive testing, significant improvement was noted in immediate recall (P < 0.001), working memory (P = 0.011), and attention (P = 0.008) at 1-week postoperative. In mood testing, depression (P < 0.001), anxiety (P < 0.001), and negative affect (P = 0.001) scores were significantly improved at 1-week postoperative. Insomnia scores also were significantly improved at 1 week (P < 0.001). Conclusion Objective improvements in neurocognitive function following parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism were noted as early as 1 week after surgery, which is earlier than previously reported. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 2017
Chemically modified carbon paste ion-selective electrodes for determination of atorvastatin calcium in pharmaceutical preparations

Abstract A simple, rapid and sensitive method for the determination of atorvastatin calcium in pharmaceutical preparations using two modified carbon paste electrodes was developed. One electrode (sensor A) is based on ion-pair of atorvastatin with 5,6-diaminouracil hydrochloride (ATS-DAUH) and the other (sensor B) is based on atorvastatin with picric acid (ATS-PC). Among three different solvent mediators tested, dioctylphthalate (DOPH) exhibited a proper behavior including Nernstian slopes of the calibration curve at 58.76 ± 0.8 and 57.48±1 mV per decade for sensors A and B. The response times were 10 and 12 s, detection limits 1.3 × 10−6 and 2.2 × 10−6 M; the concentration range 2.5 × 10−6-7.9 × 10−2 M and 3.0 × 10−6 to 7.9 × 10−2 M respectively. The present electrodes show good discrimination of atorvastatin calcium from several inorganic, organic ions, sugars and some common excipients. The sensors were applied for the determination of atorvastatin calcium in pharmaceutical preparations using standard addition and the calibration curve methods. The results obtained were satisfactory with excellent percentage recovery comparable and sometimes better than those obtained by other routine methods for the assay. The proposed potentiometric methods offer the advantages of simplicity, accuracy, automation feasibility and applicability to turbid and colored sample solutions.
Rotation, Inducing Gauge Fields, and Exotic States of Matter in Cold Atoms

Rotating quantum systems leads to dramatic and exotic phenomena. The first rotational phenomena to be experimentally explored in cold atoms was vortices and vortex lattices in a rotating superfluid. Because a superfluid is irrotational, all rotation is contained in topological defects with circulation quantized in units of \(\hbar\). This is a phenomena that occurs in superfluid \(^{4} {\hbox{He}}\) and \(^{3} {\hbox{He}}\), as well as in type-2 superconductors (superconductors only show vortices in a certain limit, corresponding to type-2 superconductors, because the electromagnetic field energy has to be considered in addition to the electron fluid). Images of vortices in cold gas experiments directly showed this spectacular manifestations of superfluidity.
Widespread functional opsin transduction in the rat cortex via convection-enhanced delivery optimized for horizontal spread.

Abstract Background Widespread opsin expression in the cortex of rats, where transgenic models have not been established, is not practical to achieve with the traditional diffusion-based virus transduction methods (DBD). New method We developed protocols for convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of virus for optogenetic transduction of the rat cortex. Targeting the motor forelimb area as an example, we performed dual-site CED (6 μL of virus per site, 3 mm pitch between sites) in the rat motor cortex. Results We identified injection parameters optimized for horizontal spread of infusate in the agarose gel model and then demonstrated in vivo widespread opsin expression over the cortical area (7.4 ± 1.0 mm in the AP direction, 4.4 ± 1.1 mm in the ML direction, N = 13 rats) using CED. The optogenetic transduction was also functionally robust, in which both optical modulation of neuronal activity and elicitation of overt motor responses was reliably observed. Comparison with existing method(s) CED led to about 24-fold increase in the volume of opsin expression, compared with the conventional DBD method. The total injection time was also reduced by at least 10 times, if similar extent of expression were to be achieved with the conventional DBD method. Conclusions CED is a reliable and effective method of virus delivery for optogenetic transduction of planar superficial structures, such as the cortex in rats.
Case 88: Mixed-Type Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm

70-year-old man with a recent history of acute pancreatitis with a lipase level of 19,000 U/L was found on CT to have a cystic mass in the pancreas with main pancreatic duct dilatation.
Immunity in Invertebrates

The science of immunology, which has recently undergone an explosive development, has dealt almost exclusively with the mechanisms of acquired immunity in vertebrate animals, especially in humans and other mammals. It must be realized that the great bulk of animal life consists of invertebrates. These must have effective mechanisms for dealing with invading parasites. In the light of evolutionary theory one would expect these mechanisms to bear some relation to those of vertebrates. Moreover, invertebrates serve as intermediate hosts for parasites of medical and economic importance; their relative susceptibility and resistance to these parasites are highly relevant to practical problems. The degree of susceptibility of mosquitoes to malarial parasites is genetically controlled. For certain mosquito-malarial parasite combinations it has been shown that a single gene is largely responsible for innate resistance, but the effector mechanisms for this are unknown. The same is true for innate susceptibility of mosquitoes to filarial larvae, and also for the susceptibility of snails to the developmental stages of schistosomes. If more were known regarding the detailed genetic basis of such susceptibility of vectors, it might be possible to develop practical applications for control of the parasites, a matter to which I will return in a later chapter.
Will the Real Designer Please Stand Up? [Senior Design]

In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a popular television show called To Tell the Truth, on which three contestants claimed to be a person with an unusual occupation or distinction. Two of them were impostors, and the other was telling the truth. Four panelists asked the contestants questions to determine who was being truthful. After each panelist chose the contestant he or she thought was telling the truth, the host would ask "Will the real _____ please stand up?" To create drama, each contestant would rise at different times and then sit, leaving the contestant with the unusual occupation or distinction standing.
External bleeding versus dermal pocketing for distal digital replantation without venous anastomosis.

Venous congestion in distal digital replantations is a common problem as suitable veins are not always available. We compared two methods of venous decongestion, external bleeding (n = 15) and derm...
Hepatic steatosis and reduction in steatosis following bariatric weight loss surgery differs between segments and lobes

The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate proton density fat fraction (PDFF) distribution across liver segments at baseline and (2) compare longitudinal segmental PDFF changes across time points in adult patients undergoing a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) and subsequent bariatric weight loss surgery (WLS). We performed a secondary analysis of data from 118 morbidly obese adult patients enrolled in a VLCD-WLS program. PDFF was estimated using magnitude-based confounder-corrected chemical-shift-encoded (CSE) MRI in each hepatic segment and lobe at baseline (visit 1), after completion of VLCD (visit 2), and at 1, 3, and 6 months (visits 3–5) following WLS. Linear regressions were used to estimate the rate of PDFF change across visits. Lobar and segmental rates of change were compared pairwise. Baseline PDFF was significantly higher in the right lobe compared to the left lobe (p < 0.0001). Lobar and segmental PDFF declined by 3.9–4.5% per month between visits 1 and 2 (preoperative period) and by 4.3–4.8% per month between visits 1 and 3 (perioperative period), but no significant pairwise differences were found in slope between segments and lobes. For visits 3–5 (postoperative period), lobar and segmental PDFF reduction was much less overall (0.4–0.8% PDFF per month) and several pairwise differences were significant; in each case, a right-lobe segment had greater decline than a left-lobe segment. Baseline and longitudinal changes in fractional fat content in the 5-month postoperative period following WLS vary across segments, with right-lobe segments having higher PDFF at baseline and more rapid reduction in liver fat content. • Baseline and longitudinal changes in liver fat following bariatric weight loss surgery vary across liver segments. • Methods that do not provide whole liver fat assessment, such as liver biopsy, may be unreliable in monitoring longitudinal changes in liver fat following weight loss interventions.
Predicting Student Performance Based on Eye Gaze During Collaborative Problem Solving

Eye-gaze activity provides rich information about individuals' engagement in social interactions. Gaze is one of the strongest visual cues in face-to-face interaction. Previous studies have examined how eye gaze can be used to coordinate social interactions such as turn taking and identifying the focus of attention. In this study, we investigate the role of gaze during collaborative problem-solving tasks, specifically how individuals perform different gazing activities when holding different team roles in pair programming, and also whether the differences in eye gaze (if any) provide predictive insight into learning outcomes. We analyzed 40 students' eye-gaze activities, which were annotated for each second during a collaborative problem-solving task (~50 min on average). The results show that students' roles in the collaborative task have a significant relationship with eye-gaze activities. Moreover, participants' gaze activities can provide predictive insight into their post-test scores. These findings suggest that simple activity measures such as relative frequency of eye-gaze activities can be very useful in understanding the collaborative process.
Innovative Mental Health Interventions for Children: Programs That Work

Children and families are in increasing need of mental health services that are more effective and less costly. Are you prepared to make this happen?This vital book for clinical psychiatrists and trainers examines uniquely successful prevention programs addressing the most challenging mental health problems in children. In it, leading authorities in child and family mental health provide compelling descriptions of these model prevention programs, which are clinically proven and cost-effective.Each chapter describes an internationally recognized program, including program mission and goals, key treatment ingredients, logistical and operational considerations, evaluation data, and replicability/transportability considerations. With Programs That Work: Innovative Mental Health Interventions for Children, you will explore insightful, expert examinations of: an interpersonal cognitive problem-solving program that can reduce and help prevent high-risk behaviors in young children a video-based program aimed at reducing substance abuse and behavioral problems in young adolescents the Teaching-Family Model (TFM) which stresses the importance of a positive family environment for children and adolescents with emotional/behavioral problems in residential treatment centers a set of school-based intervention programs for parents, teachers, and children ages 3--10 which can help reduce or prevent conduct problems and drug abuse in children MST (multisystemic therapy) programs aimed at juvenile offenders and youths who abuse substances--people who are not typically compliant with treatment programs the Anger Coping Program which can improve the social/cognitive skills of aggressive children aggression replacement training which combines skill streaming, anger control, and moral education to prevent aggression in adolescents multidimensional treatment foster care for adjudicated youthThe programs and interventions you will find in Programs That Work: Innovative Mental Health Interventions for Children address a great variety of serious emotional problems in children and adolescents, and emphasize the importance of an ecological and multi-systems approach to treatment. Explore them and choose what will work best for the children and families in your community!
Management of Perianal Skin Tags

The incidence of skin tags in Crohn’s disease (CD) is likely underreported as few studies consider them to be as significant as other perianal manifestations such as fissure or fistula and may not even consider their existence. Skin tags can be typically classified into two types: “elephant ear” tags which are usually painless and can be soft or firm, broad- or narrow-based, and the more cyanotic, edematous, tender tags that generally arise after healing from another anorectal pathology. Skin tags likely occur more frequently in patients who demonstrate distal disease.
Compton-scattering tomography with one source and one detector: a simple derivation of the filtered-backprojection solution

Compton-scattering tomography is an imaging technique that exploits the energy dependence of Compton-scattered radiation. This image reconstruction problem is characterized by measurements of path ...
Weakly Supervised Building Segmentation from Aerial Images

We propose a novel framework for weakly supervised semantic segmentation from aerial images. Instead of requiring labels for every pixel, our method only requires a bounding box for each building and leverages domain information to translate these into pixel-level predictions. We convert the bounding boxes into probabilistic masks, each represented using a bivariate Gaussian distribution. We propose a loss function that encompasses our domain knowledge that the bounding box is an upper bound for the object it contains. Combining these two elements significantly improves over many baseline methods. We show extensive results on a recent, large-scale dataset prepared by the United Nations Global Pulse and compare with several baselines.
Well-posedness of networked scalar semilinear balance laws subject to nonlinear boundary control operators

Networked scalar semilinear balance laws are used as simplified macroscopic vehicular traffic models. The related initial boundary value problem is investigated, on a finite interval. The upstream boundary datum is determined by a nonlinear feedback control operator, representing the fact that traffic routing might be influenced in real time by the traffic information on the entire network. The main contribution of the present work lies in the appropriate design of nonlinear boundary control operators which meanwhile guarantee the well-posedness of the resultant systems. In detail, two different types of specific nonlinear boundary control operators are instantiated, one being Lipschitz continuous and taking into account traffic information from initial time up to present time, one using only delayed traffic information. This contribution thus presents simplified road traffic network dynamics where routing at intersections is dependent of the status of the entire network, incorporating also different classes of traffic flow.
The landscape of pharmacogenetic testing in a US managed care population.

Little is known about how many insured patients receive pharmacogenetic testing. We describe trends of single-gene pharmacogenetic testing in a US managed care population, and demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who received a test. We leveraged a random sample of nearly 11 million patients from a data set of paid medical and pharmacy claims to identify patients with at least one claim indicating receipt of at least one of these single-gene pharmacogenetic tests: CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, VKORC1, UGT1A1, and HLA class 1 typing. From 1 January 2013 to 30 September 2017, 5712 patients received at least one pharmacogenetic test (55% female; mean age = 43 years). The median number of tests per patient was 3 (mean = 2.7, max = 12); 54% were processed through Managed Medicare/Medicaid, while 45% were processed through commercial insurance. The total number of pharmacogenetic tests received more than doubled from 2013 (n = 1955) to 2015 (n = 4192), then decreased slightly in 2016 (n = 3946). The most common test was CYP2C19 (n = 4719), and “long-term (current) use of other medications” was the most common diagnosis. Pharmacogenetic testing through patients’ insurance was low, but more than doubled from 2013 to 2016. This study highlights the need to better understand utilization patterns and insurance coverage for pharmacogenetic tests.
"It Allows You to Challenge Your Beliefs": Examining Medical Students' Reactions to First Trimester Abortion

Abstract Background Abortion is a common medical procedure, integral to women's health, and a core educational topic for medical students. Medical schools often rely on brief clinical exposure to abortion during the obstetrics and gynecology clerkship to provide this learning. Abortion is also a highly politicized and stigmatized procedure. Given this potential conflict, we examine medical student reactions to their observation of abortion care. Study Design Medical students in their second and third years at an academic medical center who observed in a first trimester abortion clinic completed open-ended, written questionnaires. Questionnaires explored student reactions to participating in the abortion clinic. We used applied thematic analysis to code and qualitatively analyze 78 questionnaires. Results We identified the following five themes: (1) students found participating in abortion care deeply worthwhile, (2) some were challenged by their reactions, particularly when reactions conflicted with prior beliefs, (3) some demonstrated empathy for the patient, but (4) some expressed judgment of both the patient and the abortion provider, and (5) students reported a desire for curricular change around abortion education, requesting more time for reflection, and some felt that their abortion observation might better prepare them to serve future patients. Conclusions Observing in an abortion clinic is a valued experience that allows students to challenge their existing beliefs and may build empathy. Educators should provide students with adequate time for preparation and reflection around this topic and address areas of misunderstanding that may perpetuate abortion stigma. These findings may inform medical student curriculum changes around abortion.
Putting the Team in the Driver’s Seat: A Meta-Analysis on Team Autonomy and Team Effectiveness

Autonomy is a ubiquitous team design feature, as it is purported to relate positively to team effectiveness. However, the theoretical link between team autonomy and team effectiveness is not well u...
Periodontal Disease in the COVID-19 Era: Potential Reservoir and Increased Risk for SARS-CoV-2

Since December 2019, an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China and is now becoming a global Pandemic, with over 10.5 million cases worldwide. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) has been considered the main receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 entry into human cells, and they are known to be present not only in lungs (therefore the common viral pneumonia) but also in nasopharyngeal mucosa, salivary cells and oral epithelial cells. Moreover, there seems to be recent evidence showing that the crevicular fluid on the periodontal pockets of patients presenting periodontitis could harbor SARS-CoV-2 and act as a potential reservoir for increased viral load in the oral cavity of COVID-positive patients. Additionally, sites with active periodontal disease might contribute for virus binding and tissue infection due to elevated expression of furin and cathepsin L proteases, which play a major role in enabling the SARS-CoV-2 to bind ACE-2 receptors and facilitating endosomal fusion in the host cells. Taken together this news and views article highlight possible virus reservoirs in COVID-positive patients, as well as increased risk for infection in patients with active periodontal disease, further proposing potential targets for antiviral intervention on SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Why Alex Rosenberg — and a Number of Other Philosophers — Are Wrong Just about Everything: A Commentary on Scientistic Reductionism

There is a pernicious tendency these days among some philosophers to engage in a “nothing but” attitude about important questions. According to this attitude, consciousness, volition, reason, and morality are “illusions,” “nothing but” the epiphenomena of specific neural processes. Alex Rosenberg is a particularly good (though by no means the only) illustration of this problem, which is why his work is presented and analyzed in some detail in this contribution. The general attitude displayed by Rosenberg et al. falls squarely under the rubric of “scientism,” the notion that science (however vaguely and very broadly defined) is the only reliable source of knowledge and understanding, and that all other disciplines (especially the humanistic ones) ought to bow to its dictates. The results are, predictably, incoherent and pernicious, as it is illustrated here via a number of examples.
Beyond Whigs and Democrats: historians, historiography, and the paths toward a new synthesis for the Jacksonian era

This article reviews 30 years of synthetic works on Jacksonian America and argues that while most are still political narratives, the elements of a new synthesis are emerging. Recent scholarship su...
Kinetic variation in grass phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases provides opportunity to enhance C4 photosynthetic efficiency.

The high rates of photosynthesis and the carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM) in C4 plants is initiated by the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (PEPC). The flow of inorganic carbon into the CCM of C4 plants is driven by PEPC's affinity for bicarbonate (KHCO3 ), which can be rate limiting when atmospheric CO2 availability is restricted due to low stomatal conductance. We hypothesize that natural variation in KHCO3 across C4 plants is driven by specific amino acid substitutions to impact rates of C4 photosynthesis under environments such as drought that restrict stomatal conductance. To test this hypothesis, we measured KHCO3 from 20 C4 grasses to compare kinetic properties with specific amino acid substitutions. There was nearly a two-fold range in KHCO3 across these C4 grasses (24.3 ± 1.5 to 46.3 ± 2.4 μM), which significantly impacts modeled rates of C4 photosynthesis. Additionally, molecular engineering of a low HCO3 - affinity PEPC identified key domains that confer variation in KHCO3 . This study advances our understanding of PEPC kinetics and builds the foundation for engineering increased HCO3 - affinity and C4 photosynthetic efficiency in important C4 crops.
RISK MITIGATION FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN THE MIDDLE OF VOLATILITY IN THE WORLD’S ECONOMY CONDITION

ABSTRACT Indonesia's economic growth in the first quarter of 2020 of 2.97% was released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). It is undeniable, that number is the lowest growth rate in the last 19 years. We understand that the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic did occur in various parts of the world. A significant economic slowdown is a big task for many national leaders. Some world economic experts even mention that the disruption of the economy due to this pandemic can resemble the effects of the Great Depression of 1930 ago. If we review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused extraordinary disruption in the economic field, it is seen that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are a sector that is quite severe. Basically, the concept of risk management is not commonly used in SMEs business processes. This is because, in general, the resources owned by SMEs are quite limited. However, in this paper I want to illustrate at least there are simple concepts that can be applied by SMEs.
Das Zwerchfell hat so seine Lücken

Eine Lucke in der Barriere zwischen Brust- und Bauchraum stellt im Neugeborenenalter eine lebensbedrohliche Situation dar. Im Erwachsenenalter ist nur die Lebensqualitat reduziert, dennoch kann eine Operation indiziert sein.
Platelet count as a screening tool for compensated cirrhosis in chronic viral hepatitis.

Background Simple tools for clinicians to identify cirrhosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis are medically necessary for treatment initiation, hepatocellular cancer screening and additional medical management. Aim To determine whether platelets or other laboratory markers can be used as a simple method to identify the development of cirrhosis. Methods Clinical, biochemical and histologic laboratory data from treatment naive chronic viral hepatitis B (HBV), C (HCV), and D (HDV) patients at the NIH Clinical Center from 1985-2019 were collected and subjects were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. Laboratory markers were tested for their ability to identify cirrhosis (Ishak ≥ 5) using receiver operating characteristic curves and an optimal cut-off was calculated within the training cohort. The final cut-off was tested within the validation cohort. Results Overall, 1027 subjects (HCV = 701, HBV = 240 and HDV = 86), 66% male, with mean (standard deviation) age of 45 (11) years were evaluated. Within the training cohort (n = 715), platelets performed the best at identifying cirrhosis compared to other laboratory markers [Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve (AUROC) = 0.86 (0.82-0.90)] and sensitivity 77%, specificity 83%, positive predictive value 44%, and negative predictive value 95%. All other tested markers had AUROCs ≤ 0.77. The optimal platelet cut-off for detecting cirrhosis in the training cohort was 143 × 109/L and it performed equally well in the validation cohort (n = 312) [AUROC = 0.85 (0.76-0.94)]. Conclusion The use of platelet counts should be considered to identify cirrhosis and ensure optimal care and management of patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
The Use Culturally Proficient Professional Development to Enhance Learning Transfer

The National Staff Development Council recommends that principals devote 10% of the school budget and 25% of teacher time to professional development (PD). While PD requires time, it is crucial tha...
Development of autonomous monitoring and performance evaluation system of grid-tied photovoltaic station

Abstract This work aims to improve the existing monitoring systems MS for two grid-connected PV stations GCPVS of URERMS ADRAR, to eliminate its limitations. This improvement consists of developing an MS which is used for two PV stations with different configurations. This MS contains new LabVIEW-based monitoring software for visualizing real-time measured data and evaluating GCPVS performance. In addition, it illustrates the 2D and 3D real-time relationships of PV system parameters, which allow us to understand the dynamic behavior of PV system components. This developed monitoring software synchronizes also the various data acquisition units DAU of GCPVS, allowing simultaneous data access. To perform a reliable performance analysis and a comparative study of different GCPVS based on accurate measurements, the sensor's calibration is performed with its DAU. The MS autonomy is ensured by integrating developed PV-UPS. A graphical user interface is provided for the evaluation of PV-UPS performance.
Dual role of strigolactone receptor signaling partner in inhibiting substrate hydrolysis

Plant branch and root growth relies on metabolism of the strigolactone (SL) hormone. The interaction between the SL molecule, Oryza sativa DWARF14 (D14) SL receptor, and D3 F-box protein has been shown to play a critical role in SL perception. Previously, it was believed that D3 only interacts with the closed form of D14 to induce downstream signaling, but recent experiments indicate that D3, as well as its C-terminal helix (CTH), can interact with the open form as well to inhibit strigolactone signaling. Two hypotheses for the CTH induced inhibition are that either the CTH affects the conformational ensemble of D14 by stabilizing catalytically inactive states, or the CTH interacts with SLs in a way that prevents them from entering the binding pocket. In this study, we have performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to assess the validity of these hypotheses. We used an apo system with only D14 and the CTH to test the active site conformational stability and a holo system with D14, the CTH, and an SL molecule to test the interaction between the SL and CTH. Our simulations show that the CTH affects both active site conformation and the ability of SLs to move into the binding pocket. In the apo system, the CTH allosterically stabilized catalytic residues into their inactive conformation. In the holo system, significant interactions between SLs and the CTH hindered the ability of SLs to enter the D14 binding pocket. These two mechanisms account for the observed decrease in SL binding to D14 and subsequent ligand hydrolysis in the presence of the CTH.
Quantum Chemical Analysis of the Reaction Pathway for Styrene Epoxidation Catalyzed by Mn-Porphyrins

Publisher Summary The epoxidation of styrene and the formation of phenylacetaldehyde using Mn-porphyrin catalysts were analyzed in this chapter with QM/MM ONIOM calculations. For the epoxidation reaction, the calculations suggest a stepwise mechanism, in which a radical intermediate is formed before the concerted intermediate. The calculations reveal that the oxidation of the porphyrin with iodosylbenzene proceeds without a reaction barrier. The lowest energy barrier for the formation of the radical intermediate is 51 kJ/mol in the triplet state. The lowest energy barrier for the formation of the concerted intermediate from the radical intermediate is 15 kJ/mol in the quintet state. The barrier to form the side product, phenylacetaldehyde, is predicted to be much higher in energy, consistent with the selectivity of this catalyst to form styrene oxide over phenylacetaldehyde. The polarizable continuum model was used to take the solvent dichloromethane into account. In the presence of solvent, the energy barriers did not change significantly for any of the steps in the mechanism compared to gas-phase calculations.
What Price Electrolysis

And her high school?not exactly an ethnic melting pot. Eileen can remember this one black girl, Danita, who might have had a brother. And even though there were tons of Asians, called "Orientals" back then (How ignorant! Oriental, like a rug or something), the Asian kids had never seemed not white, partly because of their first names: Lila Huang and Mindy Hsu, Eileen's Tall Flags co-captains; Trent Sohn, her sophomore formal date. And those kids' English was better, practi cally: less slangy and accented than the white kids' stoner/mall rat/ surfer talk.
Authentication in very large ad hoc networks using randomized groups

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are self-organized networks that do not rely in their operation on wired infrastructure. As in any networking technology, security is an essential element in MANET as well for proliferation of this type of networks. But supporting secure communication in MANETs proved to be a significant challenge, mainly due to the fact that the set of nodes in the network can frequently and rapidly change and due to the lack of access to the wired infrastructure. In particular, the trust model and the authentication protocols, which were developed for wired and infrastructure-based networks, cannot be used in MANETs. In this paper, we address the problem of efficient authentication of mobile users distributed in geographically large networks and we propose a new authentication scheme for this case of MANETs. The proposed scheme exploits randomized groups to efficiently share authentication information among nodes that together implement the function of a distributive certification authority (CA). We evaluate the performance of the proposed randomized groups authentication scheme based on two metrics: the total cost of the scheme's operation and its reliability. As an example of the results and as a reference point, we show that the proposed scheme achieves successful authentication when the random group size is around 10 - 12 nodes, irrespectively of the number of mobile nodes, of the number of CAs, and of the mobility model of the nodes in the network
Sputtered–Anodized $\hbox{Ta}_{2}\hbox{O}_{5}$ as the Dielectric Layer for Electrowetting-on-Dielectric

Evaluating the anodized tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) that has been recently reported as a dielectric for low-voltage electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) devices, we find a severe deterioration in performance if the working liquid is actuated with positive dc voltage. In an effort to reduce the limitation of this otherwise attractive dielectric material for EWOD, proposed herein is a Ta2O5 layer prepared by anodizing a sputtered Ta2O5 film. This sputtered-anodized Ta2O5 allows the use of positive dc signals, while maintaining the low-voltage actuation for which the anodized Ta2O5 was originally introduced. All the EWOD tests were performed with a conductive liquid droplet in an air environment.
Identification of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Nodule Isolates from Wisconsin Soybean Farms

One-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was a more discriminating method than serotyping for identifying strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Analysis of 543 nodule isolates from southeastern Wisconsin soybean farms revealed that none of the isolates were formed by any of the inoculant strains supplied by either of two inoculant companies. Twenty-nine indigenous strains and six inoculant strains were identified. Strain 61A76, the most competitive indigenous strain, formed 21% of the nodules. Indigenous strains 3030, 3058, 0336, and 3052 formed 15, 11, 9, and 9% of the nodules, respectively. These predominant strains were not associated with a particular soybean cultivar, soil type, or farm location.
Firing characteristics of a miniature laser-triggered high-voltage vacuum switch

A miniature laser-triggered high-voltage vacuum switch with a fused KCl and Ni cathode has been developed. The switch uses metal-ceramic construction with a sapphire window in the anode to allow the laser beam to strike the cathode surface. Reliable triggering is achieved with only 20 to 40 mu J of laser energy. The switch was operated with a gap voltage ranging from 500 V to 3 kV with switching currents up to 5 kA peak. A switch life greater than 1000 shots without performance degradation has been observed on 25 prototype units. The function time of the switch varies from 10 ns+or-1 ns at 3 kV to 200 ns+or-100 ns at 500 V. Improved performance over a previously reported switch is derived from the fused KCl cathode, a lower inductance of switch and circuit, and the use of an ultra-high-vacuum switch that receives a 600 degrees C bakeout and is pinched off from a vacuum manifold in the 10/sup -9/-torr range. The switch triggering mechanism and the switch turn-on characteristics can be studied more clearly, since a higher-quality vacuum switch and a lower-inductance circuit are being investigated. >
α-Difluoromethylornithine-induced Inhibition of Growth of Autochthonous Experimental Colonic Tumors Produced by Azoxymethane in Male F344 Rats

Abstract Ornithine decarboxylase, the first regulatory enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, is inhibited by α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor. DFMO has been shown previously to inhibit experimental colonic tumorigenesis in rodents given the large bowel carcinogen azoxymethane or dimethylhydrazine. Therefore, we assessed the effects of DFMO on growth of established autochthonous experimental colonic tumors. Ten-wk-old male F344 rats were given 10 weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane, 10 mg/kg. Starting 5 wk after the last dose, colonoscopy to the splenic flexure was performed weekly with a pediatric fiberoptic bronchoscope. When a tumor was visualized, its growth was assessed by computer image analysis of weekly colonoscopic photographs which included a scale. After two measurements for baseline tumor growth, the tumor-bearing rats were assigned in predetermined alternating sequence to the DFMO group ( n = 26) or control group ( n = 28). DFMO, 30 mg/ml (3%), was given in drinking water for 4 wk, resulting in mean weekly intake of 16 ± 1 (SE) to 18 ± 1 mg of DFMO/g of body weight. Control rats were pair-fed, resulting in reduced body weights comparable to DFMO rats. DFMO dramatically inhibited tumor growth, beginning in the first week of administration: mean tumor volume of DFMO rats reached only 7.0 ± 2.0 mm 3 compared with 17.4 ± 3.2 mm 3 in controls ( P a ) ornithine decarboxylase plays a key role in growth of autochthonous experimental colonic tumors, and ( b ) DFMO may have potential for chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis of colorectal neoplasms in human beings.