cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of enriching the diet with menhaden oil or daily treatment with resolvin D1 on neuropathy in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing the diet of a mouse model of type 2 diabetes with menhaden (fish) oil or daily treatment with resolvin D1 on diabetic neuropathy. The end points evaluated included motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, thermal sensitivity, innervation of sensory nerves in the cornea and skin, and the retinal ganglion cell complex thickness. Menhaden oil is a natural source for n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have been shown to have beneficial effects in other diseases. Resolvin D1 is a metabolite of docosahexaenoic acid and is known to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. To model type 2 diabetes, mice were fed a high-fat diet for 8 wk followed by a low dosage of streptozotocin. After 8 wk of hyperglycemia, mice in experimental groups were treated for 6 wk with menhaden oil in the diet or daily injections of 1 ng/g body wt resolvin D1. Our findings show that menhaden oil or resolvin D1 did not improve elevated blood glucose, HbA1C, or glucose utilization. Untreated diabetic mice were thermal hypoalgesic, had reduced motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, had decreased innervation of the cornea and skin, and had thinner retinal ganglion cell complex. These end points were significantly improved with menhaden oil or resolvin D1 treatment. Exogenously, resolvin D1 stimulated neurite outgrowth from primary cultures of dorsal root ganglion neurons from normal mice. These studies suggest that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from fish oil could be an effective treatment for diabetic neuropathy.
Temperature limits for preservation of primary calcite clumped isotope paleotemperatures

Abstract Solid-state reordering of C–O bonds in the calcite lattice can alter the clumped isotope composition of paleotemperature archives such as fossil brachiopod shells without inducing significant changes in shell microstructure and trace element concentrations, metrics commonly used to gauge preservation quality. To correctly interpret the paleoenvironmental significance of clumped isotope-derived paleotemperatures, it is necessary to understand the temperature–time domain in which solid-state C–O bond reordering is important. We address this question using a combination of laboratory and natural geological experiments on Paleozoic brachiopod shells. The laboratory experiments involve heating fossil brachiopod calcite at different temperatures and times to directly observe rates of 13 C– 18 O bond reordering. The resulting Arrhenius parameters are indistinguishable from values previously determined for an optical calcite with similar trace element compositions. We develop an alternative kinetic model for reordering that accounts for non-first-order reaction progress observed during the initial several hundred minutes of laboratory heating experiments, and show that the simplified first-order approximation model (Passey and Henkes, 2012) predicts reaction progress equally well for temperatures and timescales relevant to sedimentary basins. We evaluate our laboratory-based rate predictions by studying brachiopod calcite from several sedimentary basins with independently constrained burial temperature histories. Specifically, we use the laboratory-derived Arrhenius parameters to predict the evolution of brachiopod calcite clumped isotope compositions during successive one million-year time steps reflecting the burial and exhumation temperature paths of each basin. While this exercise is limited by the relatively large uncertainties in the temperature histories of these basins, we find general correspondence, within error, between predicted and observed clumped isotope values. We present simplified temperature–time diagrams for calcite showing domains where primary clumped isotope compositions will be preserved, partially reordered, and fully reordered. In conclusion, calcite samples dwelling at ∼100 °C or lower for 10 6 –10 8 year timescales should not be affected by solid-state C–O bond reordering.
Development of an in Vitro Screen for Compound Bioaccumulation in Haemonchus contortus

Abstract: The objective of the current study was to establish an in vitro screen and a highly sensitive analytical assay to delineate key physicochemical properties that favor compound bioaccumulation in the L3 life stage of a Haemonchus contortus isolate. Time-dependent studies revealed that absorption and elimination kinetics during the first 6 hr of exposure were sufficient to achieve maximum bioaccumulation for the majority of compounds tested. In subsequent studies, the larvae were incubated for 6 hr in a medium containing 146 compounds (5 μM initial concentration), including both human and veterinary medicines, characterized by a broad range of physicochemical properties. Bioaccumulation of the compounds by the nematodes was determined, and multiple physicochemical descriptors were selected for correlation. Data analysis using Bayes classification model and partial least-square regression revealed that clogD7.4, rotatable bond, E-state, and hydrogen bond donor each correlated with compound bioaccum...
Utility and Applications of Orthotopic Models of Human Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) for the Evaluation of Novel and Emerging Cancer Therapeutics

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Despite advances in chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, lung cancer continues to have a low 5-year survival rate, highlighting a dire need for more effective means of prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Mouse models that recapitulate the clinical features of advanced human lung cancer are critical for testing novel therapeutic approaches. This unit describes a highly reproducible, easy-to-establish orthotopic murine model of lung cancer, provides methods for in vivo imaging and monitoring of tumor growth, and discusses the usefulness of this model for translational lung cancer research and the development of therapeutic strategies.
Perspectivismo y verdad en sociología: Bourdieu y Giddens

Desde el punto de vista tradicional, no hay asociacion entre poder y verdad. Pero desde el Siglo XX existio un quiebre social e historico en las presuposiciones convencionales acerca de la relacion entre poder y verdad. De un lado, en general se acepta que los hechos cientificos son artificiales en el sentido que son construidos y se asume que esto no implica algun tipo de fraude ni significa que ellos son creados ex-nihilo. Pero la interpretacion de Kuhn, asi como tambien los desarrollos posteriores del Programa Fuerte, permite postular que la verdad es un asunto puramente social. Desde entonces, se ha sospechado cada vez mas que cualquier descripcion neutral u objetiva de la sociedad es tan dificil que llega a ser completamente ilusoria. Por eso, es necesario preguntarse nuevamente por la relacion entre las estructuras de la verdad y las estructuras sociales del poder y que tipo de impacto ellas tienen en la teoria sociologica contemporanea. En este trabajo, se discuten dos ejemplos de ese tipo de empeno, relacionado con las obras de los sociologos Bourdieu y Giddens.
Breaking the Law of Valgus: the surprising and unexplained prevalence of medial patellofemoral cartilage damage

Objectives To compare the prevalence of medial and lateral patellofemoral (PF) cartilage damage in three large osteoarthritis (OA) studies and determine the relationship of this damage to varus, neutral and valgus knee alignment. Methods In the Boston OA of the Knee, Framingham OA and Multicenter OA studies, MRIs were read for cartilage morphology at the medial and lateral patella and trochlea femoris using Whole-Organ MRI Scores (WORMS). WORMS scores ≥2 (any cartilage defect), ≥3 (areas of partial thickness loss), ≥4 (diffuse partial thickness loss) and ≥5 (extensive full thickness loss) were all variously considered as thresholds to identify damage that may indicate OA. Full-limb radiographs were measured for mechanical alignment, and varus ( 2°) knees were identified. Results The prevalence of medial PF cartilage damage exceeded that of lateral damage in all three studies and according to nearly every threshold. Only among severely involved knees (WORMS ≥4 or ≥5) did the prevalence of lateral PF cartilage damage approximate that of medial damage. The high prevalence of medial PF damage persisted in all strata of knee alignment. Even among knees with valgus alignment, the prevalence of lateral PF cartilage damage equalled or surpassed that of medial PF damage only when the threshold was specific to severely involved knees. Conclusions Medial PF cartilage damage is at least as prevalent within these older adult populations as lateral PF cartilage damage.
Modeling RNA degradation for RNA-Seq with applications

SUMMARY RNA-Seq is widely used in biological and biomedical studies. Methods for the estimation of the transcript’s abundance using RNA-Seq data have been intensively studied, many of which are based on the assumption that the short-reads of RNA-Seq are uniformly distributed along the transcripts. However, the short-reads are found to be nonuniformly distributed along the transcripts, which can greatly reduce the accuracies of these methods based on the uniform assumption. Several methods are developed to adjust the biases induced by this nonuniformity, utilizing the short-read’s empirical distribution in transcript. As an alternative, we found that RNA degradation plays a major role in the formation of the short-read’s nonuniform distribution and thus developed a new approach that quantifies the short-read’s nonuniform distribution by precisely modeling RNA degradation. Our model of RNA degradation fits RNA-Seq data quite well, and based on this model, a new statistical method was further developed to estimate transcript expression level, as well as the RNA degradation rate, for individual genes and their isoforms. We showed that our method can improve the accuracy of transcript isoform expression estimation. The RNA degradation rate of individual transcript we estimated is consistent across samples and/or experiments/platforms. In addition, the RNA degradation rate from our model is independent of the RNA length, consistent with previous studies on RNA decay rate.
High-speed, high-breakdown voltage InP/InGaAs double heterojunction bipolar transistors grown by MOMBE

Summary form only given. The authors report very-high-performance InP/InGaAs double-heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) with low output conductance and high breakdown voltage of at least 5.5 V at high current densities, with measured BV/sub CEO/ and BV/sub CBO/ of >7.5 V and 10.6 V, respectively. The 11 mu m/sup 2/ devices exhibited f/sub T/ of 134 GHz and f/sub max/ of 113 GHz at V/sub CE/=1.57 V and I/sub C/=16.22 mA. The epitaxial structure was grown by metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy (MOMBE) using tertiarybutylarsine and tertiarybutylphosphine as the group-V sources. >
Tryptase, a mediator of human mast cells

Tryptase, a mediator secreted by human mast cells during immediate reactions, has demonstrated effects on several pathways in vitro. This enzyme can rapidly inactivate fibrinogen and, as a complex with heparin, may prevent coagulation that may otherwise occur when plasma enters tissues at sites of immediate reactions. Tryptase may also activate prostromelysin, which in turn activates latent collagenase. When canine pulmonary smooth muscle is incubated with canine tryptase, the contractile response to histamine is increased. Tryptase, quantifiable in complex biologic fluids by immunoassay, can serve as a specific indicator of mast cell involvement in certain clinical settings. For example, after bee sting-induced anaphylaxis, tryptase levels in the blood peak at approximately 1 hour, then decline with a half-life of approximately 2 hours. Additionally, elevated tryptase levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asymptomatic, atopic persons with asthma suggest ongoing mast cell activation, which may relate to adenosine hyperresponsiveness and a persistence of bronchial hyperreactivity. Tryptase levels in bronchial lavage fluid of atopic patients with asthma rise markedly after endobronchial allergen challenge but not after an exercise challenge, suggesting a lack of mast cell involvement in the latter condition.
Anthropogenic climate change impacts on ponds: a thermal mass perspective.

Small freshwater aquatic lentic systems (lakes and ponds) are sensitive to anthropogenic climate change through shifts in ambient air temperatures and patterns of precipitation. Shifts in air temperatures will in" uence lentic water temperatures through convection and by changing evaporation rates. Shifts in the timing, amount, and intensity of precipitation will alter the thermal mass of lentic systems even in the absence of detectable ambient air temperature changes. # ese e$ ects are likely to be strongest in ponds (standing water bodies primarily mixed by temperature changes than by wind), for whom precipitation makes up a large component of in" ows. Although historical water temperature datasets are patchy for lentic systems, thermal mass e$ ects are likely to outweigh impacts from ambient air temperatures in most locations and may show considerable independence from those trends. # ermal mass-induced changes in water temperature will thereby alter a variety of population- and community-level processes in aquatic macroinvertebrates.
The Bachelor Embraces the American Fairytale

American society has come a long way over the years to a place where all are equal, but gender stereotypes are still very much alive and in some sense even embraced. Despite being constitutionally equal to A. Areias 1 5 men, Women are not always viewed this way by society the reality television show, The Bachelor, is the best example of this inequality, proving that many women still prefer a fairytale ending of being saved by Prince Charming to equality in romantic relationships. On the show, “women agree beforehand to claim [the bachelor], sight unseen, as their ideal spouse.”[1] The bachelor has the absolute power in determining the outcome of the women’s future. “[B]y far the most successful of the group (and the model for the rest), ABC’s The Bachelor.”[2] Even in the spin­off series The Bachelorette, when the roles are reversed and the woman holds the power, weak audience ratings make it clear that society is not as accepting of a “Princess” Charming.
Migraine and its psychiatric comorbidities

Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling neurological disorder associated with a wide range of psychiatric comorbidities. In this manuscript, we provide an overview of the link between migraine and several comorbid psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. We present data on psychiatric risk factors for migraine chronification. We discuss the evidence, theories and methods, such as brain functional imaging, to explain the pathophysiological links between migraine and psychiatric disorders. Finally, we provide an overview of the treatment considerations for treating migraine with psychiatric comorbidities. In conclusion, a review of the literature demonstrates the wide variety of psychiatric comorbidities with migraine. However, more research is needed to elucidate the neurocircuitry underlying the association between migraine and the comorbid psychiatric conditions and to determine the most effective treatment for migraine with psychiatric comorbidity.
Co-mmodifying the Gay Body: Globalization, the Film Industry, and Female Prosumers in the Contemporary Korean Mediascape

Gay people are now easy to find in Korean popular culture. Although increased representation of the gay body in media is encouraging, the current version of commodification raises questions. Why did Korean mainstream media decide to commodify gay sexuality despite the unfavorable public sentiment toward gay people in Korea? Who does the industry aim to reach, and what are the roles of the target audience in the commodification process of gay bodies? This article points to the liberalization and Hollywoodization of the Korean film industry and its active co-optation of local young female fandom for gay media commodities. Furthermore, it underlines how the commodification of the gay identity in Korean media is an ongoing process and cultural phenomenon in which female fans continue to participate.
Ultrasound-guided intratumoral delivery of doxorubicin from in situ forming implants in a hepatocellular carcinoma model

Background: Hepatocellular carcinomas are frequently nonresponsive to systemically delivered drugs. Local delivery provides an alternative to systemic administration, maximizing the dose delivered to the tumor, achieving sustained elevated concentrations of the drug, while minimizing systemic exposure. Results: Ultrasound-guided deposition of doxorubicin (Dox)-eluting in situ forming implants (ISFI) in an orthotopic tumor model significantly lowers systemic drug levels. As much as 60 µg Dox/g tumors were observed 21 days after ISFI injection. Tumors treated with Dox implants also showed a considerable reduction in progression at 21 days. Conclusion: Dox-eluting ISFIs provide a promising platform for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas by which drug can be delivered directly into the lesion, bypassing distribution and elimination by the circulatory system.
Representing Multiple Airlines to Study Fleet-Level Environmental Metrics

Assessing the fleet-level impact of a new aircraft concept on environmental metrics requires a model that determines how an airline will use the new aircraft within its existing fleet of older aircraft. Previous work by the authors employed an aircraft allocation / assignment model to simulate the decision-making process of a profit maximizing airline. Other models also exist to study the fleet-level impact of new aircraft concepts, however, many of these models only model a single airline. Proposed modifications to an existing aircraft allocation / assignment model allow the representation of multiple airlines to better capture actual operations within the United States air transportation network. A small problem consisting of five airlines using 12 aircraft models across ten airports helps evaluate several different representations of multiple airlines within the allocation / assignment problem. Preliminary results indicate that running separate allocations for each airline allows for relatively simple customization for each individual airline with the lowest computational expense.
Ovarian anatomy and physiological age-grading of the female boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Female boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, have a meroistic type of ovariole where each developing follicle is connected to the trophocytes by a nutritive cord. This ovariole subtype is known as teleotrophic. The oocytes are surrounded by a layer of follicular epithelial cells. Each follicle contains an enlarged nucleus or germinal vesicle, and follicles are joined to one another by interfollicular tissue. A physiological age-grading system is described with three nulliparous (N1–N3) and four parous stages (P1–P4). Nulliparous stages are separated primarily by the degree of follicle differentiation and vitellogenesis. Parous stages can be distinguished by the quantity and appearance of follicular relic deposition in the ovariole base and the presence or absence of degenerating follicular and germarial tissues. Parous stages P1–P3 correlate positively with the number of eggs oviposited. Higher numbers of ovipositions are associated with P3 individuals.
σ+ - σ- laser-cooling configuration with broadband laser fields: Instability at zero velocity

We investigate theoretically laser cooling with broadband σ + -σ - lasers acting on J=0→J=1 and J=1→J=2 transitions. For cross-correlated laser fluctuations an instability in the friction force at zero velocity is predicted for red laser detunings. The dependence of this instability on the cross-correlation and spectral line shape is investigated
Several functional equations defined on groups arising from stochastic distance measures.

SEVERAL FUNCTIONAL EQUATIONS DEFINED ON GROUPS ARISING FROM STOCHASTIC DISTANCE MEASURES Heather B. Hunt June 25th, 2014 Several functional equations related to stochastic distance measures have been widely studied when defined on the real line. This dissertation generalizes several of those results to functions defined on groups and fields. Specifically, we consider when the domain is an arbitrary group, G, and the range is the field of complex numbers, C. We begin by looking at the linear functional equation f(pr, qs) + f(ps, qr) = 2f(p, q) + 2f(r, s) for all p, q, r, s ∈ G. The general solution f : G×G→ C is given along with a few specific examples. Several generalizations of this equation are also considered and used to determine the general solution f, g, h, k : G×G→ C of the functional equation f(pr, qs) + g(ps, qr) = h(p, q) + k(r, s) for all p, q, r, s ∈ G. We then consider the non-linear functional equation f(pr, qs) + f(ps, qr) = f(p, q) f(r, s). The solution f : G×G→ C is given for all p, q, r, s ∈ G when f is an abelian function. It is followed by the structure of the general solution, f , dependent upon how the function acts on the center of the group. Several generalizations of the equation are also considered. The general structure of the solution f, g, h : G×G→ C of the functional equation f(pr, qs) + f(ps, qr) = g(p, q)h(r, s) is given for all p, q, r, s ∈ G, dependent upon how the function h acts on the center of the group. Future plans related to these equations will be given.
Acid Sulfate Aerosols and Health

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the impact of acid sulfate aerosols on health. Although relatively scant compared with those available for other common ambient pollutants, the data appear to be sufficiently coherent and biologically plausible to warrant further investigation. In particular the potential chronic effects of regular exposure to acid aerosols may have deleterious effects not only on airway responsiveness and level of pulmonary function, but also on the potential for normal growth of lungs of children. The implication of those findings, if confirmed, can be substantial. Reduced lung growth as a result of chronic exposure can contribute to acute morbidity as children with smaller lungs have smaller airways, which would be more responsive to nonspecific irritation. In addition, reduced lung function if it were to persist to adult life, is a recognized risk factor for excess morbidity and mortality. To determine the validity of such conclusions will require additional research as direct measurement of acid aerosols is a relatively new science.
Renovascular hypertension in children

Renal artery disease is a cause of severe blood pressure evaluation in as many as 10% of children with secondary hypertension. Arteriographic imaging remains the only reliable means to identify children with renal artery disease and to define the location and extent of vascular lesions. Newer imaging technology allows smaller doses of contrast medium and somewhat less radiation exposure. The success of revascularization procedures for renovascular hypertension in children has improved markedly over the past 15 years.
Food Hubs: Connecting Farms with Local and Regional Markets

Food hubs represent an emerging model of food distribution that can connect small and midsize farmers with institutions, schools, and other urban markets by creating new value chains that strengthen the local and regional food system. This study reviews the trends that contribute to the formation of regional food hubs and describes the prospects that they hold for small and midsize farmers. Our discussion is placed in the geographic context of California’s North Sacramento Valley using results from a recent survey of farms operating in the region. We conclude that food hubs create a “sweet spot” in matching supply to demand that is instrumental to building a sustainable food system and restoring opportunities for midsize farm operations.
Cardiomyocyte-Specific Ablation of Med1 Subunit of the Mediator Complex Causes Lethal Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Mice

Mediator, an evolutionarily conserved multi-protein complex consisting of about 30 subunits, is a key component of the polymerase II mediated gene transcription. Germline deletion of the Mediator subunit 1 (Med1) of the Mediator in mice results in mid-gestational embryonic lethality with developmental impairment of multiple organs including heart. Here we show that cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Med1 in mice (csMed1-/-) during late gestational and early postnatal development by intercrossing Med1fl/fl mice to α-MyHC-Cre transgenic mice results in lethality within 10 days after weaning due to dilated cardiomyopathy-related ventricular dilation and heart failure. The csMed1-/- mouse heart manifests mitochondrial damage, increased apoptosis and interstitial fibrosis. Global gene expression analysis revealed that loss of Med1 in heart down-regulates more than 200 genes including Acadm, Cacna1s, Atp2a2, Ryr2, Pde1c, Pln, PGC1α, and PGC1β that are critical for calcium signaling, cardiac muscle contraction, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor regulated energy metabolism. Many genes essential for oxidative phosphorylation and proper mitochondrial function such as genes coding for the succinate dehydrogenase subunits of the mitochondrial complex II are also down-regulated in csMed1-/- heart contributing to myocardial injury. Data also showed up-regulation of about 180 genes including Tgfb2, Ace, Atf3, Ctgf, Angpt14, Col9a2, Wisp2, Nppa, Nppb, and Actn1 that are linked to cardiac muscle contraction, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis and myocardial injury. Furthermore, we demonstrate that cardiac specific deletion of Med1 in adult mice using tamoxifen-inducible Cre approach (TmcsMed1-/-), results in rapid development of cardiomyopathy and death within 4 weeks. We found that the key findings of the csMed1-/- studies described above are highly reproducible in TmcsMed1-/- mouse heart. Collectively, these observations suggest that Med1 plays a critical role in the maintenance of heart function impacting on multiple metabolic, compensatory and reparative pathways with a likely therapeutic potential in the management of heart failure.
Cooperative control of heterogeneous multi-agent systems in a sampled-data setting

This paper deals with a cooperative control problem of networked heterogeneous input-output passivity-short (PS) multi-agent systems in a sampled-data setting. The dynamics of each system are continuous, whereas the exchange of information on a communication network is operated in a discrete-time manner. The analysis and cooperative control design are transformed into representative forms of discretized systems using a zero-order holder and an ideal sampler. Based on the concept of PS, a design of a distributed static output feedback control for achieving output consensus is proposed. Compared with the concept of passivity, it is shown that PS extends the systems under consideration to higher relative degree and/or non-minimum phase. This extension allows the design of a distributed controller by quantifying the impact of each system in networked operation. Furthermore, properties of PS are discussed both in the continuous and discrete-time domain, and conditions for preserving PS through discretization are presented.
CHAPTER 31 – Risk Assessment and Risk Management: The Regulatory Process*

This chapter describes the federal regulatory processes in the United States for risk assessment and management of pesticides. In the United States, primary authority for pesticide regulation resides with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Under FIFRA, EPA registers pesticides for use. This law also authorizes the Agency to prescribe the conditions of use of pesticide products. Under FFDCA, EPA establishes maximum allowable levels of pesticide residues in foods and animal feeds, which are enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The chapter describes some of the changes in the federal regulations on pesticides over the years since the Federal Insecticide Act of 1910, and discusses the current state of pesticide related regulations in the United States. The major changes in FIFRA caused by amendments and the passage of The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), include power of EPA to suspend a pesticide registration in an emergency situation, formation of the FIFRA Science Review Board, tolerance re-evaluation as part of re-registration, requirement for periodic registration review, additional incentives for the development and maintenance of minor use registrations, and special provisions for antimicrobial pesticides. The most significant changes in pesticide regulation resulting from the passage of FQPA impact the tolerance-setting process described in FFDCA.
International competitiveness, technology strategy and industry structure: the case of information technology

This paper examines the literature on the effects of industry structure and technology strategy on the international competitiveness of American companies in the sector of information technology. Key propositions which are prevalent in the literature are described, and several case studies of successes and failures are highlighted. The paper also discusses the paucity of empirical studies in the area of technology and corporate policy, and provides some examples from the literature and from an exploratory field investigation of information technology companies. Finally, the paper proposes some possible scenarios for the future development of the US information technology industry as it matures and solidifies its international position.
The national biomarker development alliance: An end-to-end systems approach for biomarker development for precision medicine.

e22129 Background: The development of new robust biomarkers is essential to the realization of the vision of precision medicine. At present, the high costs and failure rates in biomarker development represent a significant roadblock to medical progress. The biomarker development process itself requires re-engineering to reduce the massive inefficiencies, fragmentation, and failure rates that now characterize the system. Methods: The National Biomarker Development Alliance (NBDA) is a new nonprofit organization of academic, industry and government partners that aims to create a standards-based, end-to-end approach to the development of biomarkers of different categories within a given context of use, guided throughout the development pipeline by regulatory and clinical implementation requirements. Results: The NBDA will work with multi-sector stakeholders across the biomarker development continuum to identify where in the process standards matter, determine the status of existing standards, identify gaps, ...
Rate Theory of Ion Pairing at the Water Liquid–Vapor Interface

There is overwhelming evidence that certain ions are present near the liquid–vapor interface of aqueous salt solutions. Despite their importance in many chemical reactive phenomena, how ion–ion interactions are affected by interfaces and their influence on kinetic processes is not well understood. We carried out molecular simulations to examine the thermodynamics and kinetics of small alkali halide ions in the bulk and near the water liquid–vapor interface. We calculated dissociation rates using classical transition-state theory and corrected them with transmission coefficients determined by the reactive flux method and Grote–Hynes theory. Our results show that in addition to affecting the free energy of ions in solution, the interfacial environments significantly influence the kinetics of ion pairing. Results on the relaxation time obtained using the reactive flux method and Grote–Hynes theory present an unequivocal picture that the interface suppresses ion dissociation.
“Comparative Public Administration as Public Administration“/Comparative Public Management edited by Randall Baker

(1995). “Comparative Public Administration as Public Administration“/Comparative Public Management edited by Randall Baker. Journal of Public Administration Education: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 78-82.
Wideband, Non-Foster Impedance Matching of Electrically Small Transmitting Antennas

Electrically small antennas (ESAs) can be passively matched only over very narrow bandwidths and the resulting antennas have low gains. These are the major limiting factors for ESAs used in transmit applications, especially at high-frequency (HF) and lower Very HF frequency bands. This paper discusses the challenges of transmit ESA matching circuit design and the design process of a new non-Foster transmit matching architecture for electrically small monopole antennas that achieves wide bandwidth, high transmission efficiency (transducer power gain), and stability at the same time. The proposed circuit is composed of a current buffer (for high isolation), a transformer (for real-part matching), and a negative impedance converter (for imaginary-part matching). The measured −6 dB (−10 dB) $|S_{11}|$ fractional bandwidth of the proposed non-Foster transmitting system is 110% (39%), while the maximum bandwidth that can be achieved is 0.076% (0.047%) when matched with the conventional passive matching. The transmission efficiency of the system is improved by as much as 34.4 dB compared to the same antenna without the proposed non-Foster matching circuit, and it retains an enhanced efficiency over the entire frequency band of operation (26–89 MHz). The system remains stable within this frequency band. The measurement results of the compact and broadband transmitting antenna prototype verify the design concept.
Strain differences in expression of the murine heat shock response: implications for abnormal neural development.

Neural tube defects are common congenital anomalies affecting approximately 1–2 per 1000 liveborn infants (Nakano 1973; Richards et al. 1972). Empiric risk figures, along with numerous clinical studies, indicate that neural tube defects are of a multifactorial origin, having both a genetic and an environmental component to their development (Martin et al. 1983; Holmes et al. 1976; Campbell et al. 1986). Many environmental factors have been implicated as inducers of neural tube defects in humans, including maternal vitamin and folate deficiencies (Smithells 1982), hyperthermia (Edwards et al. 1981, 1986; Fisher and Smith 1981), valproic acid (Bjerkedal et al. 1982; Mastroiacovo et al. 1983; Lindhout and Schmidt 1986) and retinoids (Keitzmann et al. 1986). Although several genetic hypotheses have been put forth to explain the inheritance of neural defects, no single hypothesis fits all of the data currently available.
Expression, purification and crystallization of the novel Xenopus tropicalis ALDH16B1, a homologue of human ALDH16A1.

Abstract ALDH16 is a novel family of the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) superfamily with unique structural characteristics that distinguish it from the other ALDH superfamily members. In addition to structural characteristics, there is an evolutionary-related grouping within the ALDH 16 genes. The ALDH16 isozymes in frog, lower animals, and bacteria possess a critical Cys residue in their active site, which is absent from ALDH16 in mammals and fish. Genomic analysis and plasma metabolomic studies have associated ALDH16A1 with the pathogenesis of gout in humans, although its actual involvement in this disease is poorly understood. Insight into the structure of ALDH16A1 is an important step in deciphering its function in gout. Herein, we report our efforts towards the structural characterization of Xenopus tropicalis ALDH16B1 (the homolog of human ALDH16A1) that was predicted to be catalytically-active. Recombinant ALDH16B1 was expressed in Sf9 cells and purified using affinity and size exclusion chromatography. Crystallization of ALDH16B1 was achieved by vapor diffusion. A data set was collected at 2.5 A and preliminary crystallographic analysis showed that the frog ALDH16B1 crystals belong to the P 212 121 space group with unit cell parameters a = 80.48 A, b = 89.73 A, c = 190.92 A, α = β = γ = 90.00°. Structure determination is currently in progress.
Hudson River juvenile Blueback herring avoid ingesting microplastics.

Abstract Microplastics in aquatic environments, and specifically their effects on the health of organisms, are of growing concern worldwide. Of particular concern are microplastics in a similar size range to zooplankton, as they have been found in the digestive tracks of organisms, such as fish, who typically seek zooplankton as a food source. It is unclear, however, to what degree, if any, fish select for or against microplastic particles when feeding. It is also unclear whether ingestion of microplastics affects fish condition. To answer these questions, the estimated physical condition and degree of selective feeding on microplastics were determined for juvenile fish collected from the Hudson River. Considering only particles 0.335–5.0 mm, microplastics made up 12% of fish diets but 21% of particles found in the surrounding water column. Relying on Jacob's Modified Electivity (JME) to quantify selectivity in feeding, our results reveal selective feeding on zooplankton and avoidance of microplastics. There was no correlation between condition and degree of selectivity toward any particular food types, including microplastics. Future work needs to consider fish with different feeding strategies and potential bioaccumulation of microplastics in the food web. Fish selectivity of ingestion in regards to microplastics should additionally be tested on wider spatial and temporal scales.
Adrenal steroids precursor to product ratio as predictors of neonatal outcome

Our current understanding of neonatal adrenal function is incomplete. Relationship between basal cortisol levels and various neonatal outcomes are inconclusive. However, direct precursor-to-product ratio can provide useful information about the network of pathways in cortisol biosynthesis. Objective: For this reason, we conducted a prospective study to assess adrenal steroid profile at birth. We studied the levels of 7 precursors and products of adrenal steroids in the cortisol biosynthesis / degradation pathway using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry …
Ruthenium Catalyzed Tandem Pictet-Spengler Reaction

We report a pyridyl-phosphine ruthenium(II) catalyzed tandem alcohol amination/Pictet-Spengler reaction sequence to synthesize tetrahydro-β-carbolines from an alcohol and tryptamine. Our conditions use a Lewis acid cocatalyst, In(OTf)3, that is compatible with typically base catalyzed amination and an acid catalyzed Pictet-Spengler cyclization. This method proceeds well with benzylic alcohols, heterocyclic carbinols, and aliphatic alcohols. We also show how combining this reaction with a subsequent cycloamination enables a direct synthesis of tetracyclic alkaloids like harmicine.
High-performance rapid MR parameter mapping using model-based deep adversarial learning.

Abstract Purpose To develop and evaluate a deep adversarial learning-based image reconstruction approach for rapid and efficient MR parameter mapping. Methods The proposed method provides an image reconstruction framework by combining the end-to-end convolutional neural network (CNN) mapping, adversarial learning, and MR physical models. The CNN performs direct image-to-parameter mapping by transforming a series of undersampled images directly into MR parameter maps. Adversarial learning is used to improve image sharpness and enable better texture restoration during the image-to-parameter conversion. An additional pathway concerning the MR signal model is added between the estimated parameter maps and undersampled k-space data to ensure the data consistency during network training. The proposed framework was evaluated on T2 mapping of the brain and the knee at an acceleration rate R = 8 and was compared with other state-of-the-art reconstruction methods. Global and regional quantitative assessments were performed to demonstrate the reconstruction performance of the proposed method. Results The proposed adversarial learning approach achieved accurate T2 mapping up to R = 8 in brain and knee joint image datasets. Compared to conventional reconstruction approaches that exploit image sparsity and low-rankness, the proposed method yielded lower errors and higher similarity to the reference and better image sharpness in the T2 estimation. The quantitative metrics were normalized root mean square error of 3.6% for brain and 7.3% for knee, structural similarity index of 85.1% for brain and 83.2% for knee, and tenengrad measures of 9.2% for brain and 10.1% for the knee. The adversarial approach also achieved better performance for maintaining greater image texture and sharpness in comparison to the CNN approach without adversarial learning. Conclusion The proposed framework by incorporating the efficient end-to-end CNN mapping, adversarial learning, and physical model enforced data consistency is a promising approach for rapid and efficient reconstruction of quantitative MR parameters.
In-Out Intermittency with Nested Subspaces in a System of Globally Coupled, Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equations

Chaos and intermittency are studied for the system of globally coupled, complex Ginzburg–Landau equations governing the dynamics of extended, two-dimensional anisotropic systems near an oscillatory...
Does Brock’s theory of migration justice adequately account for climate refugees?

In Justice for People on the Move, Gillian Brock develops a promising, original account of migration justice. In her view, states have a robust (though conditional) right to self-determination, whi...
Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Menarche: A Prospective Study

Abstract Purpose The relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and menarche has implications for understanding social level influences on early life development and adult disease, including breast cancer, but remains ill defined. We report here results from the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program, which permitted a longitudinal study of age at menarche in relationship to childhood SES in a diverse cohort of 1,069 girls across three urban areas of the United States. Methods We assessed the association of SES index quintiles with age at pubertal onset with breast budding and subsequent tempo to the age at menarche between 2004 and 2015 using multiple-event Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results In an unadjusted model, lower SES was predictive of both earlier pubertal onset and tempo and thus earlier age at menarche in trends across quintiles. After adjusting for the potentially mediating effects of body mass index, SES trends remained significant for both outcomes. After adjusting for both body mass index and race/ethnicity, the association with SES remained substantial for pubertal onset but was much diminished and nonsignificant for tempo and thus age at menarche. Conclusions These results suggest that a lower SES environment and social adversity affect the age at menarche primarily by hastening pubertal onset rather than by shortening tempo.
Anionic gold

In recent years, research into the formation and properties of metallic anions in solution has led to interesting advances in our knowledge of alkali metal and gold anions. The latter may have possible uses in the separation of gold from base metals and in refining applications.
Histology of Vascular Malformations

Pediatric vascular malformations are a histologically and clinically heterogeneous group of clinicopathologically distinct entities of diverse, still poorly understood etiology. Accurate histopathological diagnosis is frequently required to guide effective therapy as well as meaningful research, complementing clinical and radiological evaluation. Recent advances in our understanding of underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of several categories of familial and sporadic vascular malformations support more specific classification and therefore more specifically targeted therapies. As our understanding of etiology has increased and new diagnostic tools have been developed, international multidisciplinary consensus has moved toward a new, more biologically based classification system and therapeutic approach for managing these lesions. This chapter provides a brief historical perspective and then focuses upon the current histological, immunophenotypical, and clinical features that distinguish the major types of vascular malformations, omitting discussion of malformations of the heart and major conducting vessels.
Coupled fusion simulation using the common component architecture

The physics of magnetically-confined fusion plasmas involves many different processes with multiple time and length scales that cover many orders of magnitude. As the capability of large parallel computers continues to grow, the goal of an integrated self-consistent simulation of all of the relevant physics draws closer. However, advances in computer science, physics formulations, and algorithms are also needed to achieve this goal. In this paper, we present an overview of an on-going project which is exploring these issues in the context of integrated simulation of radio frequency (RF) heating and transport physics as an initial step toward whole-device modeling. We present our experience in using the common componment architecture (CCA) as the underlying framework for the integration of the different physics modules. This work illustrates the viability of using high performance component technology in a complex simulation environment.
Charmonium production from hot hadronic matter

Abstract Charmonium production from D D annihilation in the hadron gas formed in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions is studied. With initial conditions taken from the HIJING parton model, we have estimated the number of J / ψ produced from an expanding hadron gas, using the J / ψ absorption and production cross sections obtained from either an effective Lagrangian or the quark-exchange model. We find that J / ψ production is negligible in heavy-ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) but may be important at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where more charm mesons are produced. Similar results are obtained for ψ ′ production from the hadron gas at RHIC and LHC.