cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Science and Policy Analysis in the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

This article focuses on one expression of the relationship between science and policy analysis: the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget. It ha...
Greater Abundance of Betula nana and Early Onset of the Growing Season Increase Ecosystem CO2 Uptake in West Greenland

Expansion of deciduous shrubs is a common observation throughout the Arctic, with implications for carbon (C) cycling. Shrubs may increase net ecosystem C uptake through greater leaf area and gross ecosystem photosynthesis (GEP), and/or through cooler summer soils and reduced ecosystem respiration (ER). We used a space-for-time substitution combined with experimental warming at a Low Arctic site in West Greenland to examine the biophysical effects of increased temperature and Betula nana abundance on ecosystem CO2 exchange. Communities dominated by Betula were much stronger C sinks than graminoid communities due to greater GEP and lower ER. The warming treatment had little effect on GEP, ER, or net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE). The start of the growing season has been advancing at our study site, as indicated by long-term observations of plant phenology. In a retrospective analysis, we estimate that earlier onset of the growing season has increased the strength of the ecosystem C sink at rates of 1.3 and 2.1 g C m−2 y−1 in Betula and graminoid tundra, respectively, since 2002. However, earlier, and presumably longer, growing seasons may be associated with greater potential for drought stress. Our data suggest that mid-summer drought-induced GEP declines may partially offset C gains associated with an earlier start to the growing season. Our results suggest greater deciduous shrub abundance and longer growing seasons will likely lead to greater net C uptake in our study area, while highlighting important complexities associated with drought and plant community composition.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Natural gas, usually consisting primarily of methane, that has been processed into liquid form. It …
A Modeling Study of the Impacts of Mississippi River Diversion and Sea-Level Rise on Water Quality of a Deltaic Estuary

Freshwater and sediment management in estuaries affects water quality, particularly in deltaic estuaries. Furthermore, climate change-induced sea-level rise (SLR) and land subsidence also affect estuarine water quality by changing salinity, circulation, stratification, sedimentation, erosion, residence time, and other physical and ecological processes. However, little is known about how the magnitudes and spatial and temporal patterns in estuarine water quality variables will change in response to freshwater and sediment management in the context of future SLR. In this study, we applied the Delft3D model that couples hydrodynamics and water quality processes to examine the spatial and temporal variations of salinity, total suspended solids, and chlorophyll-α concentration in response to small (142 m3 s−1) and large (7080 m3 s−1) Mississippi River (MR) diversions under low (0.38 m) and high (1.44 m) relative SLR (RSLR = eustatic SLR + subsidence) scenarios in the Breton Sound Estuary, Louisiana, USA. The hydrodynamics and water quality model were calibrated and validated via field observations at multiple stations across the estuary. Model results indicate that the large MR diversion would significantly affect the magnitude and spatial and temporal patterns of the studied water quality variables across the entire estuary, whereas the small diversion tends to influence water quality only in small areas near the diversion. RSLR would also play a significant role on the spatial heterogeneity in estuary water quality by acting as an opposite force to river diversions; however, RSLR plays a greater role than the small-scale diversion on the magnitude and spatial pattern of the water quality parameters in this deltaic estuary.
Advances in Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Technologies

Abstract Advances in molecular biology are enabling rapid and efficient analyses for effective intervention in domains such as biology research, infectious disease management, food safety, and biodefense. The emergence of microfluidics and nanotechnologies has enabled both new capabilities and instrument sizes practical for point-of-care. It has also introduced new functionality, enhanced sensitivity, and reduced the time and cost involved in conventional molecular diagnostic techniques. This chapter reviews the application of microfluidics for molecular diagnostics methods such as nucleic acid amplification, next-generation sequencing, high-resolution melting analysis, cytogenetics, protein detection and analysis, and cell sorting. We also review microfluidic sample preparation platforms applied to molecular diagnostics and targeted to sample-in, answer-out capabilities.
“Sticky Platelet Syndrome”: In Vitro Response to Small Dose Aspirin Is Reflected in Clinical Benefit.

Introduction: “Sticky Platelet Syndrome” (SPS), a consistently demonstrable platelet aggregability to subthreshold concentrations of epinephrine and/or adenosine dinucleotide phosphate (ADP), is an autosomal dominant condition with thrombotic consequences (Mammen, 1984). Because published studies regarding SPS are few and platelet function testing unusual in thrombophilia evaluation, SPS may be an under-recognized contributor to arterial and venous thrombosis. The precise pathogenesis of SPS is undefined, but prior observations have suggested that small-dose aspirin may be useful in modulating increased aggregability and preventing recurrent thrombosis. Methods: Laboratory and clinical response to aspirin in patients with SPS was determined by retrospective review of a large university thrombophilia clinic database in which platelet function was a routine component of extensive thrombophilia testing. As previously reported, SPS was diagnosed by demonstration of aggregation amplitude of 50% or more with epinephrine and/or ADP concentrations 20-fold lower than routine activation thresholds on two separate occasions at least 2 weeks apart. Records of individuals exhibiting SPS prescribed antiplatelet therapy for whom follow-up laboratory and clinical data were available were analyzed for modulation of aggregation abnormality and clinical outcome. Laboratory response to anti-platelet therapy was defined as return of function to laboratory “normal” or “decreased” function on testing >2 weeks following initiation of therapy. Platelet function and clinical outcomes were followed for 6 months to 13 years. Results: Of 149 patients with treated SPS, 97 (65%) had one or more thrombotic events prior to presentation 42/149 (28%) despite warfarin or low molecular weight heparin therapy. Of 149, 53% had venous, 35% arterial, 5% both arterial and venous events; 7% had recurrent fetal loss. 52/149 (35%) were individuals evaluated for primary family relationship to an SPS patient. 25 (16.7%) patients had SPS as a solitary risk factor. 147/149 patients (98.6%) demonstrated reversal of hyperfunction, 108/147 (73%) with aspirin (81mg/day); all responders normalized with Conclusions: Aspirin, in minimal, inexpensive, well-tolerated doses, “normalized” in vitro platelet function in SPS patients and prevented thrombosis recurrence in most, many of whom had experienced rethrombosis on anticoagulants alone. Because undiagnosed platelet hyperfunction (identified in 1/3 of patients evaluated at a large urban university center: Faraz et al., 2007) may predispose to rethrombosis and classical anticoagulants alone do not abrogate thrombogenic potential in pateints with SPS, platelet function testing deserves a place in thrombophilia evaluation - and may be of greater utility than the currently performed “thrombophilia panels.”
Economics of Engineers and Doctors

The salaries of engineers are compared with the salaries of medical doctors. The difference between the salaries of these two professional groups is explained in terms of supply and demand. Numbers of enrolled freshman and graduates of medical school and engineers are given. The engineering schools have no control over production of graduates. On the other hand, the American Medical Association controls the supply of medical doctors. The present societies, although doing excellent work in technical areas, have done little towards improving the economic conditions of engineers. College administrators should form an organization to work for the economic welfare of engineers.
Modeling of gas diffusion layers with curved fibers using a genetic algorithm

Abstract This paper presents a methodology for modeling microstructures of fibrous porous media with curved fibers. The developed methodology utilizes implicit periodic surface model coupled with the genetic algorithm (GA) optimization to construct the porous microstructures. The fibers profile is represented by the periodic implicit surfaces and their orientation and curvature are determined by GA optimization. To reconstruct the microstructures with higher resemblance to the actual porous media GA is utilized to minimize the fibers stored strain energy and their intersection volumes. Coupling the image processing techniques to the geometry construction procedure the morphological and transport properties of the constructed microstructures are also determined. To verify the feasibility and the accuracy of the proposed methodology the microstructure of Freudenberg H2315 GDL is constructed and characterized. The presented methodology enables a parametric design approach. Thus, the effects of the microstructure's properties e.g., fibers diameter, fibers orientation and porosity of the porous structure on the transport properties of the fibrous media are investigated.
Optimal linear-quadratic-integral controller design for doubly-fed induction generator

This paper presents an optimal linear quadratic integral control scheme for doubly fed induction generator. It is based on linear quadratic regulator approach augmented by adding integral action to track the steady state reference. A multiple input multiple output state space model is developed for current control of rotor side converter and grid side converter using stator flux orientation and grid voltage orientation respectively. The proposed method is also used to develop a speed control of the rotor by controlling the stator active power. The advantages of the proposed control over existing control architecture have been shown in transient as well as steady state condition.
Bond dissociation energies in glycine, alanine, and dipeptide deprotonated anions for use in analyzing collision-induced dissociation processes

Abstract Enthalpies of product formation for both direct peptide backbone bond dissociation and fragment rearrangement pathways have been predicted at the composite correlated molecule orbital theory G3(MP2) level for the dissociation of the [M−H]− precursor anions of glycine, alanine, the dipeptides, and the amide forms of these species. The lowest energy isomers for bond cleavage and rearrangement pathways were determined by extensive sampling of the available structures for each fragment using density functional theory. The G3(MP2) results are compared to the experimental low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) negative ion mode mass spectra. The y1− anion, NH2CHRCO2− was the most intense product ion in the CID spectra for the dipeptide species and their amides. Among amide species, N C O− was universally observed and the enthalpies for generation of this anion are less than ±5 kcal/mol. Amino acids and their amides consistently lost neutral HN CH-R (R H or CH3). Loss of the C-terminal carbon as CO2 was only observed for diglycine and dialanine but loss of CO2 or HN C O were not observed for the amino acids or any of the amide structures. The hydrogen at the C-terminus of the amino acid and dipeptide amide molecules facilitated the observable loss of H2O in the experimental spectra. Loss of H2O was not observed for non-amide species. Several energetically favorable fragmentation pathways were not detected in the low-energy CID mass spectra for these deprotonated anions. Selected transition states were calculated, and show that a number of the observed or low-energy pathways involve multistep mechanisms.
Rebranding Islam: Piety, Prosperity, and a Self-help Guru

In Rebranding Islam, Hoesterey gives a vivid and a multifaceted account of Abdullah Gymnastiar, affectionately known as Aa Gym (‘elder brother Gym’), a Muslim televangelist in Indonesia in the post...
Studies on Lymphocytes. I. Lymphopenia Produced by Prolonged Extracorporeal Irradiation of Circulating Blood

A method for extracorporeal irradiation of the circulating blood is described. Extracorporeal irradiation of the blood will produce a lymphopenia promptly which persists for weeks. Heparin in high doses in the calf produces a lymphocytosis and neutrophilic leukocytosis. (auth) Red cell sensitization by either agglutinating or incomplete antibodies was detected with an I/sup 131/ labeled rabbit antihuman globulin serum (RAG). Non-specific absorption of RAG by red cells was reduced to a minimum by the addition of 6% bovine albumin. The reactions between RAG and the sensitized erythrocytes were typical of antigen- antibody reactions and the sensitivity of the test was found to be greater than the standard Coombs test. Quantitative studies of the degree of erythrocyte sensitization by isoimmune or autoimmune antibodies were possible with this technic. (auth)
Growth and Dispersion in the New World

How many immigrants arrived from Siberia and adjacent areas will never be known. By the time that the Europeans appeared at the end of the fifteenth century, there were well over 1 million north of the Rio Grande and perhaps between 10 and 100 million throughout the Western Hemisphere (see Chapter 7). The great majority were American Indians. The number of Inuits (Eskimos) and Aleuts probably amounted to no more than 100,000.
Abstract 1888: The FAD-directed LSD1 specific inhibitor, INCB059872, is a promising epigenetic agent for AML therapy by inducing differentiation of leukemic stem/progenitor cells

Numerous studies have elucidated that the most pivotal functions of lysine specific demethylase-1 (LSD1) are associated with regulating normal or malignant hematopoiesis by maintaining stem cell self-renewal and regulating myeloid differentiation. In preclinical models, studies with either pharmacological inhibition or genetic knockdown of LSD1 demonstrated that LSD1 is essential for differentiation of progenitor cells during normal hematopoiesis. In the clinic, AML manifests itself via clonal expansion of abnormal differentiation and proliferation of myeloid cells and, therefore, the inhibition of LSD1 activity with small molecule inhibitors could be a promising therapeutic approach for AML. Previously, we reported upon the identification of a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) directed LSD1 specific inhibitor, INCB059872, which is efficacious in preclinical mouse models utilizing human AML cell lines and primary AML cells by inducing cell differentiation as indicated by the induction of CD11b and CD86 markers. Using a larger panel of myeloid and HSC flow cytometry markers, our currents efforts expanded upon these observations to ascertain whether INCB059872 enhanced lineage commitment at hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and/ or promoted monocytic/granulocytic differentiation of human primary AML cells ex vivo and in human systemic AML PDX models. In both human AML PDX models and human primary AML samples, INCB059872 increased myeloid differentiation with increasing populations of monocytes (CD14+) and granulocytes (CD15+). Furthermore, INCB059872 induced the differentiation of early hematopoietic progenitors, CD34+/CD38- to more committed CD34+/CD38+ multipotent/oligopotent progenitors, which in turn gave rise to lineage specific progenitors in the human AML PDX models. These studies support further exploration of INCB059872 as a promising novel epigenetic agent for AML therapy whose mechanism of action lies in part through the induction of differentiation of leukemic stem/progenitor cells to more committed hematopoietic lineages. Citation Format: Antony Chadderton, Min Ye, Melody Diamond, Valerie Roman, Michael Weber, Chunhong He, Liangxing Wu, Swamy Yeleswaram, Alan Roberts, Wenqing Yao, Gregory Hollis, Reid Huber, Peggy Scherle, Bruce Ruggeri, Sang Hyun Lee. The FAD-directed LSD1 specific inhibitor, INCB059872, is a promising epigenetic agent for AML therapy by inducing differentiation of leukemic stem/progenitor cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1888.
Transitioning the Treatment Paradigm: How Early Palliative Care Service Involvement Affects the End-of-Life Course for Critically Ill Patients in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit

Abstract Background: Involvement of the palliative care service has potential for patient and family benefit in critically ill patients, regardless of etiology. Anecdotally, there is a lack of invo...
Towards automated validation of charted soundings: Existing tests and limitations

The nautical chart is one of the fundamental tools in navigation used by mariners to plan and safely execute voyages. Its compilation follows strict cartographic constraints with the most prominent...
Horvitz-Thompson estimator and generalized πPS designs

Abstract Generalized πPS designs were defined by T.J. Rao (1972). Working with a general super-population model θ( g ), the strategy consisting of GπPS design together with the associated Horvitz-Thompson estimator of the population total was shown to be better than two other well known strategies in T.J. Rao (1971,1972). In this note we prove the θ( g )-optimality of the strategy consisting of GπPS design together with the associated Horvitz-Thompson estimator in the entire class of p -unbiased strategies of the population total with expected sample size fixed. In view of our theorem the results of T.J. Rao follow as special cases.
Methane functionalization by an Ir(III) catalyst supported on a metal–organic framework: an alternative explanation of steric confinement effects

A highly selective Ir catalyst supported on the metal–organic framework (MOF) UiO-67 for the catalytic borylation of methane has recently been synthesized. The high chemoselectivity of the catalyst toward monoborylated methane (CH3Bpin, Bpin = pinacolborane) instead of diborylated methane (CH2Bpin2) was speculated to be caused by the steric confinement of MOF UiO-67. In this study, we applied quantum mechanical methods to determine: (1) the steric effect of the UiO-67 framework in promoting the chemoselectivity of the Ir catalyst toward CH3Bpin and (2) the borylation mechanisms over the Ir catalyst supported on UiO-67. Our results show that UiO-67 framework sterically obstructs the diffusion of the larger CH2Bpin2 molecule within the MOF while allowing the smaller CH3Bpin molecule to pass through with little energy penalty. The diffusion of CH2Bpin2 from the tetrahedral pore to the tetragonal pyramidal pore within modified UiO-67 with coordinated Ir(Bpin)3 complex has an estimated barrier of 24.7 kcal/mol and is 14.2 kcal/mol higher than the diffusion of CH3Bpin. The electronic and steric effects of the support at the Ir catalytic center are much smaller than this confinement effect on diffusion, and the catalytic center behaves similarly to the homogeneous Ir catalyst. We determined an overall free energy of activation of 34.6 kcal/mol for the CH4 borylation reaction using the Ir(III) catalyst. We also determined that the turnover-determining step for the catalytic methane borylation is the isomerization of seven-coordinated Ir(V) complex instead of the commonly assumed C–H bond activation by oxidative addition.
An Expanded Platform for Young Scientists.

Earlier this year, mSphere began publishing commentaries from young microbiologists in which we asked them to talk about a manuscript or two that strongly influenced the way that they think about their science. These commentaries, which we call mSphere of Influence (mSI), have been thoughtful and
Preferences for the research use of electronic health records among young adults with fragile X syndrome or autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Background Health researchers are increasingly using electronic health records (EHRs) to study the health care needs of people with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). However, little is known about the preferences of people with NDDs for sharing EHRs for research. Objective To explore preferences for sharing EHRs for research among young adults ages 18–40 who make their own legal decisions and who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fragile X syndrome (FXS), or no NDDs. Methods We conducted a qualitative study with seven focus groups: 2 ASD groups, 3 FXS groups, and 2 no-NDD groups. We asked participants about factors that could affect their willingness to share their EHRs for research: type of organization, type of information, study purpose, duration, contact frequency, return of results, benefits, and risks. We analyzed the qualitative data using directed content analysis. Results Participants with NDDs valued personally relevant and directly beneficial EHR research. Participants with NDDs expressed willingness to share sensitive data if the study was personally relevant. Most participants wanted to receive results, but only participants with FXS indicated it would affect their willingness to participate. Participants were concerned about privacy risks, discrimination, researcher misconduct, and financial conflicts of interest. Conclusion This study provides initial evidence suggesting that young adults with NDDs prefer EHR research that is personally relevant, benefits themselves and their communities, and is conducted in the context of trusting, reciprocal participant-researcher relationships. The findings point to the need for researchers to improve the informed consent process and to better engage individuals with NDDs in research.
Institutional delay in wound coverage increases postoperative complications in patients with traumatic open fractures

Background: Open fractures often require additional procedures for timely definitive soft-tissue coverage. Delayed coverage is associated with poor outcomes. Thus, we sought to (1) define the incidence and severity of open fractures presenting to our institution, (2) identify soft-tissue coverage methods, and (3) determine the incidence of postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: Patients were identified in our institutional registry through the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes specific for open long-bone and extremity fractures. Descriptive statistics were performed on demographics, injury mechanism, and fracture type (Gustilo–Anderson classification). Fractures requiring coverage (Type IIIB/C), surgical methods, and duration until coverage (mean days ± standard deviation) were recorded. Postoperative complications were also identified. Results: From 2012 to 2017, 243 patients were treated for open long-bone fractures. Blunt trauma accounted for 76.9% (n = 187) of the injuries. Grade III tibia fractures represented the highest incidence (n = 74, 30.4%). Of the IIIB/C injuries, the most common coverage methods were split-thickness skin grafting (n = 24, 32.4%) occurring 16.2 ± 11.5 (range: 3–40) days following injury and rotational flap coverage (n = 22, 29.7%). IIIB/C injuries were complicated by nonunion (n = 11, 14.9%), infection (n = 12, 16.2%), amputation (n = 21, 28.4%), and wound breakdown (n = 7, 9.5%). Conclusions: High-grade open fractures treated without timely definitive coverage can result in complications. Multiple specialties may be required to manage these patients, and it may be beneficial for orthopedic surgeons to obtain skills in skin grafting and rotational muscle flap coverage to decrease time to definitive wound closure.
Junctural Alignment in Kyoto Japanese Compound Nouns

Descriptively, in Tokyo Japanese compound words whose second member measures up to four moras in length, compound accent is placed on the syllable immediately preceding or following the boundary, or "juncture," between compound members. The length of the second member of the compound determines which of the two possible syllables is accented. Kubozono (1995) proposes an analysis with a constraint which requires that compound accent be aligned with the juncture. However, Ito and Mester (2018) account for compound accent location without reference to the juncture. Kyoto Japanese compound accent placement is similar to that of Tokyo Japanese (Nakai 2002) with a crucial difference: compound accent is placed on the mora, not the syllable, immediately preceding or following the juncture. This results in a discrepancy in which compound accent is placed on the first mora of a heavy syllable in some cases and on the second mora of a heavy syllable in other cases. I demonstrate that this discrepancy makes alignment to the juncture indispensable for Kyoto Japanese and that general left and right alignment constraints relativized to three levels of recursive word (maximal, minimal, any) cannot by themselves place compound accent in the correct location in all cases.
Two-electron-active tetracyanoethylene for nonaqueous redox flow batteries

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are regarded as one of the most promising energy storage devices for the efficient utilization of intermittent renewable energy, such as solar and wind energies, yet the development of RFBs has been hindered by the narrow electrochemical window of aqueous electrolytes. Developing nonaqueous RFBs using organic electrolytes is an attractive way to address the abovementioned issue. Here, we report a cyanocarbon-based, two-electron-active anolyte compound, tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), with high solubility (2.0 M in acetonitrile), remarkable electrochemical stability and redox reversibility, and fast electrokinetics. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations for different oxidation states of TCNE were performed to evaluate molecular orbitals during redox processes. Inexpensive and environmentally friendly sodium perchlorate is used as the supporting electrolyte as a replacement for the more commonly used and expensive tetraalkylammonium salts. When paired with a phenazine derivative (PEG1-PTZ) catholyte, the all-organic nonaqueous RFB exhibits a cell voltage of 1.45 V, a capacity retention of 73.3% over 200 cycles (99.9% per cycle), and a maximum power density of 72.5 mW cm−2. This study introduces a new type of redox-active organic compound with multi-electron activity, high electrochemical reversibility, and desirable electrokinetics, enriching the family of organic compounds for nonaqueous RFBs.
College students’ sleep difficulty during COVID-19 and correlated stressors: A large-scale cross-sessional survey study

Abstract Objective Sleep difficulty is one of the main concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined factors related to vaccination and physical and psychological health conditions, and sleep difficulty in college students in China. Methods An online, cross-sectional, anonymous survey was used to investigate college students’ perceived sleep difficulty and relevant components (i.e., physical health condition, psychological distress, knowledge of vaccine, and autonomy of vaccine uptake). Hierarchical ordinal logistic regression was conducted to examine the proposed model with the control of participants’ demographics (i.e., gender and age). Results Valid data of 3,145 students from 43 universities in mainland China was collected in January 2021. The average age of participants was 20.8 years old (S. D. = 2.09). The majority were single (97.4%), and about half were male (49.8%). Results showed that participants had less psychological distress when they had more knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine and more autonomy to decide whether to receive it. In addition, participants with better physical health experienced less sleep difficulty. In contrast, those with more psychological distress experienced more sleep difficulty. Conclusions These findings can inform healthcare providers about the relationship between different factors and difficulty sleeping and aid them in developing interventions addressing sleep difficulties associated with the global pandemic. Health authorities also can improve vaccine uptake and reduce hesitancies in future vaccination campaigns based on the study results showing that greater vaccine knowledge and autonomy reduced psychological distress.
Development of a reliable Dosha self-assessment questionnaire.

Abstract Introduction The Ayurvedic theory of Tri-Dosha offers a unique framework for understanding human differences in health and disease. The Doshas could be readily applied in clinical studies to control for such differences the same way sex, age, height and weight are routinely used except that clinical evaluation is required and methods vary. No open-source questionnaire has been shown to be reliable for self-assessment. Therefore, we undertook this study to develop a reliable Dosha self-assessment questionnaire with characteristics suitable for use in clinical research. Methods A review of published questionnaires and translations of classic Ayurvedic texts along with an analysis of item-total correlations and ANOVAs by Dosha for 735 responses to a 37-item ipsative questionnaire from an Ayurveda products company served as the basis for generating 108 Dosha-specific test items featuring a 7-point Likert scale. We used item-total and inter-item correlations from a convenience sample of 176 individuals to identify the best performing items. We then solicited repeat responses to the resultant 39-item questionnaire (13 for each Dosha) from these and other website visitors and calculated test-retest reliability as the intraclass correlation coefficient for absolute agreement (ICC 2,1) for each Dosha. Results The final questionnaire gives normally distributed results. Among 76 self-selected adults, the test-retest reliabilities for Vata, Pitta and Kapha Dosha scores are all above 0.8. Conclusions This study demonstrates that it is possible to quantify the three Doshas with adequate reliability for most clinical studies.
Impact of Enteral Albuterol on Bradycardic Events After Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND Acute cervical spinal cord injury (ACSCI) is commonly complicated by spinal shock, resulting in hemodynamic instability characterized by bradycardia and hypotension that can have fatal consequences. Current guidelines recommend the use of intravenous beta and dopamine agonists, such as norepinephrine and dopamine, respectively. We sought to determine whether enteral albuterol would be a safe and feasible treatment for bradycardia without an increase in the occurrence of known side effects of albuterol in patients with ACSCI. METHODS A retrospective review of patients with ACSCI admitted to an intensive care unit at a level I trauma center and treated with enteral albuterol was conducted. Patients were excluded for the following reasons: pure beta blocker use prior to injury, concurrent use of pacemaker, age of less than 18 years, or age more than 75 years. As part of the standard of care, all patients underwent mean arterial pressure (MAP) augmentation to reach a goal of greater than 85 mm Hg during the first 7 days post injury. All eligible patient charts were reviewed for demographic characteristics, daily minimum and maximum heart rate and MAP, and concomitant vasoactive medication use. Bradycardia and tachycardia were defined as heart rate less than 60 beats per minute (bpm) and greater than 100 bpm, respectively. Factors found to be associated with bradycardia on univariate analysis were entered into a multivariable generalized estimating equation analysis to determine factors independently associated with bradycardia during the study period. RESULTS There were 58 patients with cervical ASCI (age 45 ± 18 years, 76% men) admitted between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017, that met the study criteria. The mean time to initiation of albuterol was 1.5 ± 1.7 days post injury, with a duration of 9.3 ± 4.5 days and a mean daily dosage of 7.8 ± 4.5 mg. Bradycardia was observed in 136 of 766 patient days (17%). There were a few episodes of hyperglycemia (1%) and tachycardia (3%), but no episodes of hypokalemia. In a multivariable analysis, female sex (P = 0.006) and American Spinal Cord Injury Association grade A, B, or C (P < 0.001) were associated with a higher risk of developing bradycardia, whereas dosage of albuterol (P = 0.009) and norepinephrine use (P = 0.008) were associated with a lower risk of developing bradycardia. CONCLUSIONS Albuterol administration in ASCI is a safe and feasible treatment for bradycardia, given that no significant side effects, such as hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, or tachycardia, were observed. The administration of enteral albuterol was well tolerated and, in a dose-dependent manner, associated with a lower occurrence of bradycardia. Further prospective trials for the use of enteral albuterol after SCI are warranted.
Human monoclonal Fab fragments from a combinatorial library prepared from an individual with a low serum titer to a virus

An IgG1k lambda Fab library was generated on the surface of phage beginning with bone marrow RNA from a healthy 22-year-old human donor. The donor had been immunized to measles in his early childhood but had only a low serum titer to a measles antigen preparation. The resulting library of approximately 10(7) clones was panned against the measles antigen preparation and three positive Fab-producing clones identified by ELISA. One of the Fabs was found to be specific to measles and to bind with high apparent affinity (10(8) M-1). The other two bind with lower affinity and show marked cross-reactivity with a number of other antigens. They possess heavy chains derived, with extensive somatic modification, from the single member gene family VH6. The study indicates that both high-affinity specific antibodies and lower affinity polyreactive antibodies can be derived from the library approach under appropriate conditions.
Complexes of 1,8-naphthyridines—VIII.: Complexes of 2,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridine with rare earth nitrates

Abstract Rare earth nitrate complexes of the type M (2,7-dmnapy) 2 (NO 3 ) 3 where M = Y, LaYb 3nd 2,7-dmnapy is 2,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridine have been synthesized. The compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductances, magnetic moments, and i.r. (4000-200 cm − spectra. The molar conductance and i.r. spectral data show that all nitrate groups are coordinated to the metals. From this and crystallographic data of an analogous compound, the complexes appear to be ten-coordinate.
Frequency modulated 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations reflect a positive emotional state in the rat: neural substrates and therapeutic implications

Abstract The evidence that frequency modulated (FM) 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) reflect a positive emotional state in rats is reviewed. Positive emotional states in humans are measured by facial/vocal displays (e.g., Duchenne smiling and laughter), approach behavior and subjective self-reporting of feeling states. In laboratory animals, only facial-vocal displays, along with approach behavior, can be measured. FM 50 kHz USVs are uniquely elevated by hedonic stimuli and suppressed by aversive stimuli. Rates of FM 50 kHz USVs are positively correlated to the rewarding value of the eliciting stimulus. Playbacks of these vocalizations are also rewarding. The neural and pharmacological substrates of 50 kHz USVs are consistent with those of human positive affective states. By experimentally eliciting FM 50 kHz USVs, the novel molecular underpinning of positive affect can be elucidated and may be similar to those in humans. In humans, positive emotional states confer resilience to depression and anxiety, as well as promote overall health. Therefore, novel antidepressants that promote positive affect-induced resilience to depression may emerge from this research.
A Deterministic Algorithm for Approximating the Mixed Discriminant and Mixed Volume, and a Combinatorial Corollary

We present a deterministic polynomial-time algorithm that computes the mixed discriminant of an n -tuple of positive semidefinite matrices to within an exponential multiplicative factor. To this end we extend the notion of doubly stochastic matrix scaling to a larger class of n -tuples of positive semidefinite matrices, and provide a polynomial-time algorithm for this scaling. As a corollary, we obtain a deterministic polynomial algorithm that computes the mixed volume of n convex bodies in R n to within an error which depends only on the dimension. This answers a question of Dyer, Gritzmann and Hufnagel. A ``side benefit'' is a generalization of Rado's theorem on the existence of a linearly independent transversal.
Glycoproteins as Substrates for Production of Hydrogen and Methane by Colonic Bacterial Flora

Hydrogen and methane in human breath derive entirely from bacterial fermentation in the intestinal lumen. The sources of substrates utilized for these reactions have not been completely determined. Basal excretion of both gases occurs in the fasted state, while malabsorbed carbohydrate commonly results in increased hydrogen but not methane production. Using an in vitro fecal incubation system, we have studied hydrogen and methane production from glycoproteins of endogenous as well as dietary origin. All glycoproteins tested yielded hydrogen when incubated with fecal homogenates. Mean hydrogen production from substrates containing
Wetlands: Biodegradation of Organic Pollutants

Wetland Biogeochemistry Organic Pollutant Fate in Wetlands Microbiological Transformation Reactions Keywords: biodegradation; biodegradation in wetlands; wetlands
Nanomolar potency and metabolically stable inhibitors of kidney urea transporter UT-B.

Urea transporters, which include UT-B in kidney microvessels, are potential targets for development of drugs with a novel diuretic (‘urearetic’) mechanism. We recently identified, by high-throughput screening, a triazolothienopyrimidine UT-B inhibitor, 1, that selectively and reversibly inhibited urea transport with IC50 = 25.1 nM and reduced urinary concentration in mice (Yao et al.J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., in press). Here, we analyzed 273 commercially available analogues of 1 to establish a structure–activity series and synthesized a targeted library of 11 analogues to identify potent, metabolically stable UT-B inhibitors. The best compound, {3-[4-(1,1-difluoroethyl)benzenesulfonyl]thieno[2,3-e][1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-5-yl}thiophen-2-ylmethylamine, 3k, had IC50 of 23 and 15 nM for inhibition of urea transport by mouse and human UT-B, respectively, and ∼40-fold improved in vitro metabolic stability compared to 1. In mice, 3k accumulated in kidney and urine and reduced maximum urinary concentration. T...
10Be distribution in soils from Merced River terraces, California

Abstract The distribution and residence time of cosmogenic 10 Be in clay-rich soil horizons is fundamental to understanding and modelling the migration of 10 Be on terrestrial sediments and in groundwater solutions. We have analyzed seven profiles of clay-rich soils developed from terrace sediments of the Merced River, California. The terraces and soils of increasing age are used to compare the 10 Be inventory with a simple model of accumulation, decay and erosion. The data show that the distribution of 10 Be varies with soil horizon clay content, that the residence time of 10 Be in these horizons exceeds 10 5 years, and that to a rough approximation the inventory of 10 Be in a thoroughly sampled soil profile fits the equation: N = ( q − Em )(1 − e − λι )/ λ where q is delivery rate, E is erosion rate, m is the concentration of 10 Be in the eroding surface layer, λ is the decay constant, and t is the age of the depositional unit from which the soil has developed. The general applicability of this model is uncertain and warrants further testing in well-calibrated terrace sequences.
A Century of Circulation: The Return of the Smithsonian Institution's Duplicate Anthropological Specimens

For nearly a century, the Smithsonian Institution permanently distributed “duplicate specimens” from its museum collections to public educational institutions. In 1903 and 1905, shipments of anthropological material were sent to the Jackson Free Library in Jackson, Tennessee, to be used as educational tools. Using a biographical methodology, I trace the movement of objects from the Smithsonian Institution to this small library, their uses in Jackson, and their eventual return to the National Museum of Natural History in 2007. Through this case study, I argue that, while preservation is a key function of the museum, the determination of which objects museums keep is contingent on the discursive formations and value systems of museums, anthropologists, and curators. [deaccessioning, Smithsonian Institution, collections management, history of anthropology]
Ties that bind? The rise and decline of ethno-regional partisanship in Malawi, 1994–2009

In the first three elections following Malawi's return to democracy in 1993, voting patterns displayed a clear ethno-regional pattern. Then in 2009 the regional pattern broke down in dramatic fashion, with the incumbent President, Bingu wa Mutharika, attracting majority support across all three regions. This article first examines whether ethnic identities were at the root of Malawi's ethno-regional electoral pattern. Our tests show that while ethnic identities were associated with partisan attachments in some areas, regional patterns were more consistently related to other factors, particularly views of the government's performance and the inclusiveness of the ruling party. We then examine the breakdown of the regional pattern, drawing on trend analysis of public opinion data from 1999 to 2008. We show that by 2009 the majority of Malawians in all three regions had come to hold positive views of Mutharika's performance and had come to see his government as inclusive. We conclude, therefore, that shifts i...
An esthetic glass-ceramic for use in composite restoration inserts.

Abstract The objective of the preliminary work reported here was to prepare an improved formulation of intrinsically colored microcrystalline glass-ceramic. Applications could include “megafillers” for direct composite restorations, precision castings, and CAD-CAM prostheses. The experimental glass-ceramic reported here contained SiO 2 56.9, Al 2 O 3 19, LiO 2 7, ZnO 6, MgO 5, TiO 2 2, ZrO 2 2, P 2 O 5 2, and CeO 2 0.1 mole %. The batch materials were melted and stirred at 1,610°C for 2 h, quenched in water and also formed into a block of a clear, slightly yellow glass. To identify the crystalline phases that developed during transformation of the glass to the ceramic, x-ray diffraction was used on ten aliquots taken during 15 h of stepwise heating from 750 to 1050°C. With heating, the yellow color deepened to a very translucent “dark yellow” dental shade, then lightened with gradually increasing opacity during formation of secondary crystalline phases. X-ray opacity was approximately equivalent to that of dental enamel. The refractive index of the glass, n D 25 1.554, increased during nucleation and growth of the crystalline phases to a maximum of 1.586. Intrinsic coloration of these glass-ceramic materials can be controlled by varying the heat treatment and/or composition to match typical dental shades.
Hybrid approach combining contextual and statistical information for identifying MEDLINE citation terms

There is a strong demand for developing automated tools for extracting pertinent information from the biomedical literature that is a rich, complex, and dramatically growing resource, and is increasingly accessed via the web. This paper presents a hybrid method based on contextual and statistical information to automatically identify two MEDLINE citation terms: NIH grant numbers and databank accession numbers from HTML-formatted online biomedical documents. Their detection is challenging due to many variations and inconsistencies in their format (although recommended formats exist), and also because of their similarity to other technical or biological terms. Our proposed method first extracts potential candidates for these terms using a rule-based method. These are scored and the final candidates are submitted to a human operator for verification. The confidence score for each term is calculated using statistical information, and morphological and contextual information. Experiments conducted on more than ten thousand HTML-formatted online biomedical documents show that most NIH grant numbers and databank accession numbers can be successfully identified by the proposed method, with recall rates of 99.8% and 99.6%, respectively. However, owing to the high false alarm rate, the proposed method yields F-measure rates of 86.6% and 87.9% for NIH grants and databanks, respectively.
New Insights in the Treatment by Levofloxacin

Levofloxacin is widely regarded as one of the most important fluoroquinolones available today. It possesses excellent activity against a wide range of important pathogens, including those resistant to many other antimicrobials. While rates of resistance to other previously useful antimicrobial classes has grown, levofloxacin has maintained its efficacy, with generally very low rates of resistance around the world. It is indicated for a wide range of infections including community-acquired respiratory infections in adults, particularly community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB), and acute sinusitis. In addition, it is recommended for infections of skin and soft tissue, and the urinary tract. With postmarketing surveillance data available for the last decade, levofloxacin possesses an unparalleled database to demonstrate its clinical efficacy and safety. Remarkably, levofloxacin continues to expand its list of indications. The development of a new high-dose 750-mg schedule has the potential to decrease the duration of treatment as well as reduce the emergence of resistance.
A General Framework for the Analysis of Animal Resource Selection from Telemetry Data

We propose a general framework for the analysis of animal telemetry data through the use of weighted distributions. It is shown that several interpretations of resource selection functions arise when constructed from the ratio of a use and availability distribution. Through the proposed general framework, several popular resource selection models are shown to be special cases of the general model by making assumptions about animal movement and behavior. The weighted distribution framework is shown to be easily extended to readily account for telemetry data that are highly autocorrelated; as is typical with use of new technology such as global positioning systems animal relocations. An analysis of simulated data using several models constructed within the proposed framework is also presented to illustrate the possible gains from the flexible modeling framework. The proposed model is applied to a brown bear data set from southeast Alaska.
Sense-Making in Suicide Survivorship: A Qualitative Study of the Effect of Grief Support Group Participation

The death of a family member or close friend to suicide is a devastating life event. While research has suggested that suicide survivors may benefit from participation in support groups, little has been done to identify those elements of the experience of suicide survivorship that are impacted by grief support groups. This phenomenological inquiry of suicide survivors' experience explored the impact of group participation on changes in self-reported grief distress and the participants' process of finding meaning in the loss. Four themes were elucidated: attribution of suicide causation, personal impact and response, wanting to die/wanting to live, and ways of coping. These themes were examined in the context of group support, interaction with others, personal/spiritual awareness, and meaning-making.