cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship of the Value of Outcome Comparisons to the Number of Patients Per Provider

Purpose: Monte Carlo methods were used to assess bow the value of outcome comparisons depends on the number of patients per provider. Method* We simulated two patient data sets that have been used for well-known studies of outcome comparisons: mortality rates for coronary artery bypass surgeons from New York and Pennsylvania, and 30-day hospital mortality rates of Medicare patients from a national data set In the simulated data sets, each surgeon or hospital provider was assigned a true or underlying probability of mortality. Readtr. For the simulated CABG surgery data set, the underlying probability of mortality explained 30% of the variation in the observed mortality rate when there were 100 patients per physician, and 63% when there were 400 patients. The positive predictive value of using an observed mortality rate m the bottom 10% to identify a surgeon whose underlying probability of mortality was in the bottom 10% was 31% for 100 patients and 59% for 400 patients. The relationship between underlying and observed rates was weaker in the simulated Medicare data set with the same number of patients per provider. For a given data set, the amount of random variation in the observed rates of adverse outcomes among providers can be estimated with a simple equation. Conclusionr. The results show that the assessment of provider outcomes may be greatly affected by random variation. An indication of the amount of random variation in a given data set can be obtained from the examples in this study and an equation for estimating random variation. © 1997 Ebevier Sdence Ltd.
Structural analysis of palladium-decorated gold nanoparticles as colloidal bimetallic catalysts

Abstract Bimetallic palladium-decorated gold nanoparticle (Pd/Au NP) catalysts are significantly more active than palladium-only catalysts, but the mechanism for enhancement is not completely clear for most reactions, like the aqueous-phase hydrodechlorination of trichloroethene. In this study, we conducted X-ray absorption spectroscopy on carbon-supported Pd/Au NPs to obtain information about the local atomic environment (i.e., oxidation states, coordination numbers, and bond distances) of the two metals under different treatment conditions. The as-synthesized NPs were confirmed to have a Pd-shell/Au-core nanostructure, in which the Pd was found as surface ensembles. Upon exposure to room temperature in air, a portion of the Pd, but not the Au, was oxidized. In comparison, nearly the entire surface of monometallic Pd NPs was oxidized, suggesting that Au in Pd/Au NPs imparts oxidation resistance to Pd atoms. The surface Pd was found randomly distributed, presumably as a PdAu surface alloy, after reduction at 300 °C. X-ray absorption spectroscopy provides direct evidence for the Pd-shell/Au-core structure of Pd/Au NPs, and suggests that metallic Pd in the Pd/Au NPs is a source for higher catalytic activity for aqueous-phase trichloroethene hydrodechlorination.
The Kernel distribution estimator of functions of random variables

Let be identically and independently distributed (i.i.d.) observations on a random variable X with unknown distribution function F and density f. The kernel density estimate of the function was proposed by [Frees, E., 1994, Estimating densities of functions of observations. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 89, 517–525]. In this paper, we propose a kernel method to estimate the distribution function of the function and we derive the asymptotic mean-square error for the estimator. In addition, we propose two data-based methods to obtain the bandwidth.
Abstract 1571: The tumor suppressor Liver Kinase B1 inhibits triple-negative breast cancer cell metastasis via regulation of AP-1 signaling

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA The basal sub-type, which shares features with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is among the most lethal breast cancer subtype, characterized by a highly aggressive and metastatic phenotype. Although pathways that may represent targets for novel therapeutic intervention for basal like breast cancer (BLBC) have begun to be elucidated, the ability to define and selectively target the invasive and metastatic phenotype of basal-type/TNBC remains a major challenge facing the breast cancer field. Liver kinase B1 (LKB1), also known as serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11), is a known tumor suppressor in many cancers including breast. Low LKB1expression has been observed in breast cancer patients and we report a significant association between loss of LKB1 expression and poor prognosis specifically in the basal sub-type of breast cancer. Induction of LKB1 expression in BLBC cell lines inhibited invasiveness in vitro as well as lung and brain metastatic burden in an orthotopic xenograft tumor model. Further analysis of BLBC cell lines overexpressing LKB1 by next generation sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed striking regulation of metastasis-associated pathways, including cell adhesion, extra cellular matrix remodeling, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We further demonstrated marked inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) expression and activity via regulation AP-1 family member cJun. Additionally, LKB1 overexpression inhibited EMT-associated genes (CDH2, Vimentin, Twist) and induced the epithelial cell marker CDH1, indicating a reversal of the EMT phenotype in a triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. We have demonstrated a role for LKB1 expression in the regulation of cell invasion and metastasis in addition to tumorigenesis. Taken together these data support future development of therapeutic agents to induce the LKB1 signaling pathway in BLCB/triple-negative breast cancer. Citation Format: Lyndsay V. Rhodes, Chandra R. Tate, Hope E. Burks, Van T. Hoang, Diari Gilliam, Elizabeth C. Martin, Steven Elliott, David FB Miller, Aaron Buechlein, Douglas Rusch, Haixu Tang, Kenneth P. Nephew, Matthew E. Burow, Bridgette M. Collins-Burow. The tumor suppressor Liver Kinase B1 inhibits triple-negative breast cancer cell metastasis via regulation of AP-1 signaling. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1571. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1571
Human Lactate Dehydrogenase A (LDHA) Rescues Mouse Ldhc-Null Sperm Function

By targeted disruption of the lactate dehydrogenase c (Ldhc) gene, we demonstrated that spermatozoa require Ldhc for capacitation, motility, and fertilizing capacity. Ldhc expression is restricted to the developing germ cells that, however, are apparently not compromised by the lack of the LDHC isozyme. Because LDHC is abundant in spermatozoa that utilize aerobic glycolysis for energy requirements, its main function was presumed to be the interconversion of pyruvate to lactate with the concomitant oxidation/reduction of NADH to NAD+. We found that sperm without LDHC were still able to convert lactate to pyruvate as mediated by LDHA that is tightly bound to the fibrous sheath. It was assumed that the level of glycolysis was insufficient to power motility and the subsequent fertilizing capacity of the mutated sperm. To investigate whether LDHC possesses certain unique characteristics essential for fertility, human LDHA was introduced as a transgene to Ldhc-null mice. We report here that the exogenous LDHA rescued the phenotype of the Ldhc-null males. Sperm from the LDHA transgenic males with the Ldhc deletion (LDHA+/Ldhc−/−) are motile, capable of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and able to fertilize, thus restoring these properties to LDHC-null sperm. However, the lactate and ATP levels in the rescued sperm did not differ significantly from sperm lacking LDHC. We suggest that it is the localization of the transgene to the sperm cytosol that is mainly responsible for restoration of sperm function and fertility.
How Do Career Strategies, Gender, and Work Environment Affect Faculty Productivity Levels in University‐Based Science Centers?1

Recent studies have shown that in many science and engineering fields, almost 40% of faculty are affiliated with university-based research centers (Corley & Gaughan, 2005). As major science funding organizations continue to increase annual levels of funding for interdisciplinary science centers, it is likely that this number will increase significantly over the next decade. Moreover, some scholars have argued that the rise of university-based science centers has already led to the development of a new institutional form for the execution of university-based research (Bozeman & Boardman, 2004). Yet, interestingly few researchers have studied the impacts of this new institutional form on the productivity of individual researchers. The purpose of this article is to begin to address how individual career strategies and perceptions of scientific work environments within university-based science centers relate to the productivity of academic scientists who participate in these centers. In particular, this article investigates the relationships between productivity, individual career strategies, and perceptions of scientific work environment across gender. The results of the study demonstrate that university-based science centers might serve as an equalizing mechanism for male and female productivity levels. Yet, women scientists affiliated with these centers are significantly more likely to feel discriminated against—and they are less likely to embrace the most promising career strategy for the current structure of these centers.
Clinical applications of aldosterone in vivo secretion rate.

Several investigators have described procedures for the indirect measurement of the aldosterone secretion rate in man [1–5]. The general method is dependent on intravenous administration of a dose of radioactive aldosterone, the resultant in vivo dilution of the tracer by endogenous steroid, and measurement of this dilution by isolation of a specific metabolite fraction from the urine excreted during a measured time interval. The process of dilution is influenced by the presence of a body pool of steroid at the beginning and end of the study. The apparent secretion rate is therefore more representative of the amount of steroid removed rather than that secreted during the chosen time period. Despite these and other factors, the method has become useful as an approximation of secretion rate. The methods in current use differ mainly in the metabolite fraction chosen, the purification method, and the means of measurement of total steroid in the isolated sample. This discussion will be based on the method of Peterson [2]
A COMPLETE CROCODILOID EGG FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS (ALBIAN) GLEN ROSE FORMATION, CENTRAL TEXAS

(2001). A complete crocodiloid egg from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Glen Rose Formation, Central Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 780-783.
Statistical PMD Specification - Evolution, Utilization and Control

Polarization mode dispersion is a primary consideration in today’s telecommunications networks as it can be an important limiter of high data rate and long reach systems. The effective polarization mode dispersion attributed to cabled optical fiber in such systems is dependent not solely upon the maximum individual PMD value, but instead upon the link PMD which is dictated by the PMD distribution of all cabled fibers comprising the link. Taking advantage of the statistical specification of polarization mode dispersion allows one to maximize system efficiency and eliminate unnecessary conservatism. Presented are methods utilized to specify and control PMD which can have a beneficial effect on the cabling process as well as on system design and performance.
Abstract 12: S-Nitrosylation Invokes Functional Recovery from Experimental Stroke through the Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 alpha/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway

Background: In stroke patients, the stimulation of neurorepair mechanisms is necessary to reduce morbidity and disability. Our studies on brain and spinal cord trauma show that an exogenous treatment with the S-nitrosylating agent S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) stimulates neurorepair and aids functional recovery. Using a rat model of cerebral ischemia reperfusion (IR), we tested the hypothesis that GSNO invokes the neurorepair process and improves neurobehavioral functions through the angiogenic HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. Methods: Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 60 min followed by reperfusion in adult male rats. The injured animals were treated with vehicle (IR group, n=7), GSNO (0.25 mg/kg, GSNO group, n=7), and GSNO plus the HIF-1α inhibitor 2-mthoxyestradiol (0.25 mg/kg GSNO+5.0 mg/kg ME, GSNO+ME group, n=7). The groups were studied for 14 days to determine neurorepair mechanisms and functional recovery. Brain capillary endothelial cells were used to show that GSNO promotes angiogenes...
Increasing Safety of a Robotic System for Inner Ear Surgery Using Probabilistic Error Modeling Near Vital Anatomy

Safe and effective planning for robotic surgery that involves cutting or ablation of tissue must consider all potential sources of error when determining how close the tool may come to vital anatomy. A pre-operative plan that does not adequately consider potential deviations from ideal system behavior may lead to patient injury. Conversely, a plan that is overly conservative may result in ineffective or incomplete performance of the task. Thus, enforcing simple, uniform-thickness safety margins around vital anatomy is insufficient in the presence of spatially varying, anisotropic error. Prior work has used registration error to determine a variable-thickness safety margin around vital structures that must be approached during mastoidectomy but ultimately preserved. In this paper, these methods are extended to incorporate image distortion and physical robot errors, including kinematic errors and deflections of the robot. These additional sources of error are discussed and stochastic models for a bone-attached robot for otologic surgery are developed. An algorithm for generating appropriate safety margins based on a desired probability of preserving the underlying anatomical structure is presented. Simulations are performed on a CT scan of a cadaver head and safety margins are calculated around several critical structures for planning of a robotic mastoidectomy.
B4-3: Is There Evidence of Non-response Bias for Survey-based Estimates of Urinary Incontinence?

Background/Aims Non-response is an important potential source of bias in survey research. It is usually difficult to obtain meaningful information on non-respondents to adequately assess bias on estimates of population statistics, especially when the survey involves sensitive or intrusive questions. We combined Electronic Health Record (EHR) and survey data to assess the impact of non-response on estimates of urinary incontinence (UI) prevalence. We used data from the baseline survey of the General Longitudinal Overactive Bladder Evaluation – Urinary Incontinence (GLOBE-UI), a population-based study of the natural history of UI in women = 40 years of age. We conducted the survey on a random sample of 7,125 Geisinger Clinic Primary Care patients. The response to the baseline survey was 57%. We also used electronic health records (EHR) data to obtain demographic, care utilization, health behavior, social history, and clinical information on all eligible respondents of the GLOBE-UI survey.
Economic Botany ofSphenostylis (Leguminosae)

Sphenostylis, a genus of seven species in tropical and southern Africa, includes three taxa that are used by humans. Flowers and seeds of S. schweinfurthii Harms are occasionally eaten in West Africa, and this species has potential value as a forage crop. Flowers and seeds of Sphenostylis erecta (E. G. Baker) E. G. Baker subsp. erecta are eaten in parts of Central Africa, while the roots are used medicinally and as a source of dye and fish poison. The edible tubers of S. stenocarpa (Hochst, ex A. Rich.) Harms, the African yam bean, are collected from the wild in Central and East Africa. This species is cultivated for its edible seeds in west tropical Africa and for its edible tubers in Zaire. Cultivated races of S. stenocarpa may be considered domesticated forms, since they differ from wild plants of the species in a number of morphological characteristics that are evidently the result of human selection. A list of common names for the three taxa, from throughout their ranges, is presented.
Inverse DEA with frontier changes for new product target setting

Abstract Inverse data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a reversed optimization problem that can serve as a useful planning tool for managerial decisions by providing information such as how much resources (or outcomes) should be invested (or produced) to achieve a desired level of competitiveness whereas the conventional DEA focuses mainly on a post-hoc assessment of the organizational performance. Inverse DEA studies however are based on an assumption that the efficiency level of observed decision making units (DMUs) will not change within the period of interest, which in fact confines the use of inverse DEA to a sensitivity analysis by simply addressing what alternative levels of input and/or output would have been possible to result in the same efficiency score obtained. In this paper, we discuss an inverse DEA problem considering expected changes of the production frontier in the future by integrating the inverse optimization problem with a time series application of DEA so that it can be an ex-ante decision support tool for the new product target setting practices. We use an example of the vehicle engine development case to demonstrate the proposed method.
Abstract P3-03-03: A tri-modality imaging assessment algorithm to evaluate neoadjuvant therapy response in patients with operable breast cancer

Background: To determine the negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of a pre-surgical tri-modality imaging assessment algorithm to determine complete pathologic response (pCR) post neoadjuvant therapy in patients with operable breast cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on data collected from patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy and pre-surgical breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US) and mammography between 2004 and 2010 at our institution. Tri-modality imaging was reviewed by a single blinded breast radiologist and evaluated for predetermined modality specific parameters as defined in Table 1. The NPV, PPV, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated on the basis of the final surgical pathology report with a complete pathologic response in the breast defined as no residual invasive disease or in situ disease. Results. Eighty-three tumors in 83 patients with a mean age of 50 (range 27–70) were evaluated. Twenty-three patients had a pCR. The NPV, PPV, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of tri-modality imaging algorithm for pCR were 0.87, 0.95, 0.95, 0.87 and 0.93 utilizing a cut-point of ≤ 5 for complete response by imaging. The mean score for patients with pCR was 4.61 (range 3–10) with 3 patients scoring above 5. The mean score for patients with residual disease was 7.73 (range 5–11). Conclusions: A tri-modality imaging scoring algorithm is predictive of complete pathologic response. This algorithm will be tested in a developing prospective trial that will also assess the additive value of tumor bed biopsy in patients who achieve a score of 5 or less. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-03.
Establishment and application of Real-Time PCR with probe in detection of salmonella in food poisoning

Objective:To establish a real-time PCR method for direct amplification of the invA gene of Salmonella in food poisoning.Methods:A representative primer and probe were designed based on invA gene of Salmonella spp..Reaction condition was optimized constantly to test sensitivity and specificity for establishment of Real-Time PCR method.Results: With this PCR method,the sensitivity of salmonella detection in DNA and lysate were 56 fg/PCR system and 9 CFU/ml respectively,the specificity was 100%.15 strains of salmonella were found in the detection of four food poisoning cases,2000 swab anal and 80 food samples.Conclusion: This method had high sensitivity and specificity,which can be used for rapid detection of food poisoning caused by salmonella.
ID: 122: THE LINK BETWEEN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA AND LUNG CANCER: A RETROSPECTIVE CASE CONTROL STUDY

Introduction Lung cancer accounts for 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States each year. Chronic inflammation has been linked to various steps involved in tumorigenesis. Several pro-inflammatory gene products have been identified that mediate a critical role in suppression of apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Among these gene products are Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), Interleukin (IL)-1a, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18. The expression of all these genes is mainly regulated by the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), which is constitutively active in most tumors. Apnea-induced hypoxia and reoxygenation generates reactive oxygen species, which activate NF-kB and increase the systemic inflammation. Significant higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, as well as a decrease in anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 has been found in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Previous studies showed that overnight oxygen desaturation seen in patients with OSA is associated with increased cancer incidence and cancer related mortality; The purpose of this study was to determine if OSA is an independent risk for the development and dissemination of malignancy, including lung cancer. Methods This is a retrospective case control chart review study conducted at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). All adult patients who had a sleep study done between January 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2007 were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups, based on whether they have OSA or not. The primary outcome was the rate of lung cancer occurring between 1998 and 2012. The secondary outcome was the rate of all cancers occurring during the same period. Fisher exact test was used to compare these rates. Results Nine hundred two patients with a sleep study done between 2000 and 2007 were reviewed. Fifty seven patients were excluded since complete sleep study data were not available. Seven hundred and seventy five patients had sleep apnea (91.7%). Lung cancer occurred in 26/775 (3.4%) patients with OSA, vs. 3/70 (4.3%) patients without OSA (p=0.7). The rate of all malignancies was 19% (148/775) in patients with OSA compared to 15.7% (11/70) in patients without OSA (p=0.6). Conclusion Sleep apnea does not appear to increase the risk of malignancy in general, and that of lung cancer in particular. Further studies to account for confounding risk factors are needed to definitively answer this question.
Static Scoping and Name Resolution for Mobile Processes with Polymorphic Interfaces

In this paper we consider a refinement of the concept of mobile processes in a process oriented language. More specifically, we investigate the possibility of allowing resumption of suspended mobile processes with different interfaces. This is a refinement of the approach taken currently in languages like occam- . The goal of this research is to implement varying resumption interfaces in ProcessJ, a process oriented language being developed at UNLV.
Optimization of Multi-branch Truss-Z based on evolution strategy

New bio-inspired nomenclature for multi-branched Truss-Z (MTZ) network is introduced.Encoding, cost function & genetic operations for MTZs are introduced and illustrated.Experiments show that the introduced operators allow to create any desirable MTZ.Realistic application: "Multi-branch bridge" linking 6 terminals is presented.The illustrative network links pedestrian and cycling communication paths. This paper concerns multi-branch Truss-Z networks (MTZ). A possible scenario for creating a "multi-branch bridge" linking 6 terminals of pedestrian and cycling communication is presented. This process is formulated as a constrained minimization problem. New, biology-inspired nomenclature for MTZ and encoding for MTZ are introduced. Several operations for MTZs are introduced and illustrated. The functionality of these operations is illustrated with transformation from a random MTZ to a "proper" 6-branch MTZ network. A population-based heuristic experiment is presented to demonstrate that the introduced operators allow us to create any desirable MTZ. A cost function for the considered scenario is introduced. The genetic operations are interpreted and visualized. A number of feasible MTZ layouts produced by an evolution strategy-based algorithm are presented. One of these layouts is used for creation of the spatial 6-terminal MTZ, which is also visualized.
Mural Proclaims a Caring Community's Cohesion.

ABSTRACTIntergenerational community members engage in making a mural to create a visual identity and document a legacy of care and hope.
Culture Clash or Transformation? Some Thoughts Concerning the Onslaught of Market Economy on the Internet and its Retaliation

In the 1980’s, the liberal/neoliberal market economy seized the global sphere and with the end of socialism/communism seems to have won its place as the only viable concept of economy. In the 1990’s and 2000’s, market economy took on the internet and in doing so, once again seems to have gained the upper hand, especially as regarding social networking, one of the main characteristics of the current web, which seems to fall prey to economic strategies. The below paper scrutinizes the problematic relation between the net and market economy on a deeper level and gives some prospects towards understanding how net-culture effects market economy itself. To that end the paper commences with a review of Rafael Capurro’s theory of messages. It then explores and queries the overall structure and dominant ends and means of the internet as envisaged by early internet theorists and empirical studies of internet usage. Visions and forms of usage are being constructed and reconstructed and it is shown that these forms of usage and their visions still dominate the net. Looking at Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith, the structure of liberal market economy is exemplified. Loosely tying in with Jurgen Habermas’ theory of rationalities and Capurro’s message-theory, the rationalities, cultures and messages of dominant forms of usage of net and of market economy are reconstructed. The claim is then posited that market economy functions in accordance with strategic rationality, thereby creating a culture of competition defined by the message of the competitive strive towards monopoly. In contrast, the net embodies communicative, aesthetic-expressive and cooperative rationalities and creates cultures of cooperation and individualization with messages of respect and care, revealing itself as creating beauty and incentive towards cooperation. These latter rationalities, cultures and messages greatly differ from the rationality, culture and message of classical market economy. In conclusion, the below paper demonstrates that strategic rationality is incompatible with communicative, expressive and cooperative rationality, as are cultures and messages, rationalities that are endangered through the subjugation of strategic rationality, revealing their recursive effects on market economy itself. New forms of productivity emerge on the net and in the digital world. Thus the culture clash between market economy and the net may be the beginning of a transformation of market economy itself.
The AKP, sectarianism, and the Alevis’ struggle for equal rights in Turkey

The Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has been ruling Turkey since 2002, was founded by a splinter group from within the Islamist Virtue Party (FP). The most obvious difference between the...
Medicaid physician fees and access to care among children with special health care needs

The objective of this study is to use data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) to test whether Medicaid physician fees are correlated with access to health services and adequacy of insurance coverage among CSHCN. We start with a difference-in-differences method, comparing the effects of Medicaid physician fees on outcomes of publicly-insured children in states that raised fees vs. in states that did not. As our preferred specification, we then estimate a triple difference model using privately-insured children as the comparison group. Our findings indicate that raising the Medicaid primary care fee level close to at least 90 percent of the Medicare level reduces the likelihood that publicly-insured CSHCN lack a usual source of care in a doctor’s office by about 15 percent. Fee increases are associated with improved access to specialty doctor care and large improvements in caregivers’ satisfaction with the adequacy of health insurance coverage among publicly-insured CSHCN. Results for some other access measures, such as global measures of having difficulties and delays accessing services, were mixed.
Quantitation of glutathione S-transferases in rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots exposed to cadmium by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using isotope-labeled wing peptides as an internal standard.

Plant glutathione S-transferases (GSTs, EC 2.5.1.18) are multifunctional enzymes involved in heavy metal cellular detoxification by conjugating the tripeptide (g-Glu-Cys-Gly) glutathione to heavy metals. Previous studies demonstrated that individual rice GSTs were differentially induced by heavy metal exposure at the mRNA transcript level. However, little information is available concerning changes in protein concentration of rice GSTs under heavy metal stress. Because the correlation between changes in protein concentration and gene expression under abiotic stress is poor, direct determination of rice GSTs protein concentrations during cadmium (Cd) exposure is a more effective and reliable approach to explore possible mechanisms of rice Cd translocation and accumulation. This study established an optimized and advanced liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)-based targeted proteomics assay for quantification of OsGSTF14 and OsGSTU6 proteins in Cd-stressed rice roots. The tryptic signature peptides were chosen as surrogate analytes and winged peptides containing the isotope-labeled signature peptides were used as the internal standards. The signature peptides exhibited good linearity in the range of 0.6–60 and 0.3–30 nM, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 4.5 and 14.5 µg/g for OsGSTF14, respectively, and 2.1 and 7.0 µg/g for OsGSTU6. The spiking recoveries rates at low, medium and high levels were in the range of 72.5–93.4%, with intra- and inter-day precisions of 5.5–9.1 and 4.2–10.2%, respectively. The assay successfully quantified the temporal and dose responses of OsGSTF14 and OsGSTU6 proteins in Cd-stressed rice roots, with good accuracy, precision and high-throughput. This assay will have significant application in developing quantification methods of other proteins in Cd-stressed rice, which may provide more insight into the mechanisms of Cd translocation and accumulation in rice.
Organizational Psychological Capital During Earnings Conference Calls: Mitigating Shareholders’ Sell-Off in the Face of Earnings Surprises?:

Publicly traded firms release their earnings figures quarterly, and subsequently hold earnings conference calls where top managers can comment on firm strategy. Markets are particularly sensitive t...
Trump and The Federalist on National Greatness in a Commercial Republic

Donald Trump’s central campaign slogan—“Make America Great Again”—asks us to reflect on the meaning of national greatness. To revive and refine our understanding of national greatness in the American context, we turn to its clearest articulation, found in The Federalist. Its authors understood themselves to be founding a great nation, whose greatness would depend especially on commercial power as the means to establishing and preserving national sovereignty and self-rule. Striving for national greatness, however, is less a choice than a necessity, given the consequences of national weakness and disunity. Many of Trump’s campaign promises track closely with the logic of and reasons for attaining national greatness as laid out in The Federalist. This chapter seeks to elaborate Trump’s slogan in light The Federalist’s reflections.
Seismic Collapse Response of Steel Moment Frames with Deep Columns

AbstractThe seismic collapse behavior of 4-story and 8-story steel special moment frames (SMFs) with deep columns is investigated using computational simulation. The models used are capable of mode...
Reimagining Transitional Justice for an Enduring Peace: Accounting for Natural Resources in Conflict

The field of transitional justice is being reshaped. Intended to bring not only accountability and truth after a war, it is now called upon to help articulate the profound societal changes needed for a more peaceful future. If anchored to some critical topics, transitional justice can be deployed to reach beyond individual criminal acts to address the underlying causes of conflict. Natural resources are one such critical area of focus. While rarely the single, driving cause of conflict, linkages between conflict and natural resources are present in every conflict. The chains of causation between natural resources, rights, and conflict can be very hard to identify among the swirl of governance, economic, social, and cultural factors that play into—and change throughout—a conflict. But the frequency of the association of resources with conflict suggests that understanding the dynamics underlying the association is essential for promoting peace. Peacebuilding and transitional justice share the goal of preventing further conflict—but more than merely the absence of conflict, with proper scope and design, they can help to restore relationships and create social systems that serve the needs of the whole population—bringing a “positive peace.” Examining the role of natural resources in conflict through a justice lens can help to build the support necessary for making the long-term structural changes needed to bring about positive peace.
Removable Sets and Analytic Capacity

For now and forevermore, let K be a compact subset of the complex plane ℂ.This will be restated for emphasis many times in what follows but just as often will be tacitly assumed and not mentioned.
Spatial Distribution of Inorganic Nitrogen in Pastures as Affected by Management, Landscape, and Cattle Locus

Uneven spatial distribution of soil N in conventionally managed pastures is a function of various biotic and abiotic factors and results in poor land use efficiency. In this study, we measured soil inorganic N (at depths of 0-5, 5-10, and 10-20 cm) in a 50-m grid and specific areas of interest from eight conventionally managed beef pastures (∼17 ha each), four near Eatonton and four near Watkinsville in the southern Piedmont of Georgia, USA, to assess the effects of management, landscape, and cattle locus in spatial distribution of soil inorganic N. Significant spatial autocorrelation was observed in the soil inorganic N indicating that the regions of high inorganic N deposition were near (within 91 m of) one or more pasture equipage (hay, shade, and water). In the Watkinsville pastures, inorganic N was 65% higher within 5 m of shade than the rest of the pastures, down to a 10-cm soil depth. In the Eatonton pastures, inorganic N (0-5 cm) was 22% higher within 30 m of a hay-feeding areas than the rest of the pasture. Cattle locus calculated as cattle density (cow ha yr) was a function of pasture equipage and had a significant positive relationship with soil inorganic N. Landscape parameters (slope and elevation) significantly affected inorganic N distribution; however, the effect was small and was masked by management factors. Our results suggest that strategic placement of pasture equipage (hay, shade, and water) can effectively distribute N where needed in beef pastures, thereby increasing land use efficiency.
Evaluation of radioimmunoassay and in vitro colony assay techniques for determination of colony-stimulating factor and inhibitory activity in murine serum and tissue

These studies have evaluated a newly developed radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) in murine serum and other biologic fluids. The routine in vitro agar gel bioassay for CSF is influenced by high molecular weight serum lipoproteins and low molecular weight tissue-derived materials that are inhibitory to colony formation. Studies with normal serum revealed that in all cases, the levels of CSF detected by the RIA were equal to or greater than levels measured by the bioassay. Dose curves with varying quantities of serum had linear responses in the RIA but not the colony assay. Using Sephadex G-150 chromatography, the murine serum was separated into CSF active and CSF inhibitory peaks as determined by bioassay. Evaluation of these fractions by RIA indicated that the assay was unaffected by the serum inhibitors. Likewise, experiments with tissue lysates indicated that the RIA was not influenced by the low molecular weight tissue inhibitors. Instead, the radioimmunoassay revealed low levels of CSF that were not detectable by bioassay. These observations indicate that the RIA is superior to the bioassay for the estimation of CSF in murine serum and other biologic materials.
Explaining Internalized Oppression Using the Film, Claudine

This is a teaching note. Therefore, I did not include an abstract. However, if there were one, it would be this:Lester and Tina Pine’s 1974 film, Claudine, is a fictitious story depicting the dating life of Claudine, a 36-year old African American mother of six who had been married twice (and “almost twice”). This film can be used to explain internalized oppression and how it might manifest itself differently even in individuals from the same families
Using commercial mortgage loans to assess risk and return in the lodging sector

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk and return features of the lodging sector using a large sample of 16,898 commercial mortgage loans securitized into commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) in the U.S. between 2010 and 2018. The results of the analysis show significantly lower loan-to-value (LTV), higher debt service coverage ratios (DSCR), and higher credit spreads in the lodging sector than all other commercial property sectors. Additional findings document significantly higher lodging sector capitalization rates and equity dividend rates. Taken together, the results of the study provide strong empirical support for the positive relationship between risk and return in the lodging sector. Therefore, investors will require higher returns to compensation them for the additional risk of investing in the lodging sector. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are also discussed.
Adjudication: International Arbitral Tribunals and Courts

This essay, a chapter in a U.S. Institute of Peace sponsored study of various methods and techniques for seeking to manage or resolve international disputes and conflicts, focuses on the role of international adjudication as a method of international dispute settlement. The chapter discusses inter alia: (1) some broad caveats regarding the usefulness of international adjudication, as compared with other the techniques of international dispute settlement, the somewhat different role of adjudication in national legal orders, the preference for non-adversarial methods in some – particularly non-western - societies, and the historic ambivalence of the U.S. government towards international adjudication; (2) the nature of international adjudication, including a description of how international arbitration and international judicial settlement typically operate and the factors that may influence states in choosing between them; (3) a detailed description of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), its jurisdiction, its work, and U.S. attitudes towards the Court; (4) the question whether there are now too many international tribunals; (5) the advantages and disadvantages of adjudication as a dispute management technique; (6) the reasons why the author believes international adjudication deserves the international community’s encouragement and support, and (7) a list of measures that might be taken to facilitate and encourage the use of international adjudication.
A Network Graph Technique for the Design of Electric Aircraft Power Systems

Today the electrification of flight is more popular than ever, creating a wide array of concept aircraft and associated power system topologies. In order to gain insights into benefits of these varying architectures, this paper introduces the development of a framework for electric aircraft power system (EAPS) optimization. The proposed framework accepts inputs from a designer in the form of component parameters and desired flight mission characteristics. A collective graph representing many architectures is formed, from which, subgraphs or power system topologies meeting the flight requirements are extracted and analyzed. An optimum topology meeting the flight requirements with minimum mass, maximum efficiency and reliability can be subsequently selected from these subgraphs. The presented results include the comparative analysis of different EAPS types with respect to the competing performance metrics of mass and efficiency.
Terminus 1900: The Métro and the Universal Expositions in Fin-de-siècle Paris

In 1900, two spectacles of technological progress, artistic invention, and political ambition were unveiled in Paris: The universal exposition and Line 1 of the Paris Metro. This essay considers sc...
Use of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to define immunological properties of nucleic acid nanoparticles.

This protocol assesses proinflammatory properties of nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) using a validated preclinical model, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), that is highly predictive of cytokine responses. The experimental procedure details the preparation of pyrogen-free NANPs, isolation of PBMCs from freshly collected human blood, and analysis of characteristic biomarkers (type I and III interferons) produced by PBMCs transfected with NANPs. Although representative NANPs with high and low immunostimulatory potential are used as standards throughout the procedure, this protocol can be adapted to any NANPs or therapeutic nucleic acids, irrespective of whether they are carrier based or carrier free; additional cytokine biomarkers can also be included. We test several commercial platforms and controls broadly accessible to the research community to quantify all biomarkers in either single- or multiplex format. The continuous execution of this protocol takes <48 h; when immediate analysis is not feasible, single-use aliquots of the supernatants can be frozen and stored (−20 °C; 12 months). This protocol assesses proinflammatory properties of nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) in PBMCs, which are highly predictive of cytokine responses. The authors detail how to prepare NANPs and analyze characteristic biomarkers produced by PBMCs transfected with NANPs.
Delirium Among Hospitalized Older Adults With Acute Heart Failure Exacerbation.

Abstract Background Delirium among older adults hospitalized with acute heart failure is associated with increased mortality. However, studies concomitantly assessing the association of delirium with both clinical and economic outcomes in this population, such as mortality, hospital cost, or length of stay, are lacking. Methods and Results We conducted a retrospective observational study using National Inpatient Sample data from 2011 to 2014. Using multivariable logistic regression, we assessed the association of delirium with in-hospital mortality, then estimated the incremental hospital cost and excessive length of stay adjusting for demographic and clinical factors using multivariable generalized linear regression. The association of other medical complications on clinical and economic outcomes was also assessed. A total of 568,565 (weighted N = 2,826,131) hospitalizations of patients 65 years or older with acute heart failure from 2011 to 2014 were included in the final analysis. The reported prevalence of delirium was 4.53%. After multivariable adjustment, delirium was associated with a 2.35-fold increase in the odds of in-hospital mortality (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.23–2.47), which was lower than the odds ratio for sepsis/septicemia (5.36; 95% CI, 5.02–5.72) or respiratory failure (4.53; 95% CI, 4.38–4.69), but similar to that for acute kidney injury (2.39; 95% CI, 2.31–2.48) and higher than for non-ST elevation myocardial infarct (1.57; 95% CI, 1.46–1.68). Delirium increased the total hospital cost by $4,262 (95% CI, $4,002–4,521) and the length of stay by 1.73 days (95% CI, 1.68–1.78), which was slightly lower than, but similar to, acute kidney injury ($4,771; 95% CI, $4,644–4,897) and 1.82 days (95% CI, 1.79–1.84), and higher than non-ST elevation myocardial infarct ($1,907; 95% CI, $1,629–2,185) and 0.31 days (95% CI, 0.25–0.37). Conclusions Delirium was associated with increased in-hospital mortality, total hospital cost, and length of stay, and the magnitude of the effect was similar to that for acute kidney injury. Enhanced efforts to prevent delirium are needed to decrease its adverse impact on clinical and economic outcomes for hospitalized older adults with acute heart failure.
Quasi-Fiscal Policies of Independent Central Banks and In‡ation

Recently, central banks expanded their balance sheets by unconventional actions, including credit easing operations. Although such quasi-…scal operations are signi…cant in size and assumed to be crucial for the economy's recovery, little theory is available to explain the possible macroeconomic consequences of these operations. The main contribution of this paper is to show that quasi-…scal shocks may aect in‡ation in plausible cases by utilizing a simple DSGE model that embraces the budgetary inde- pendence of the central banks. In the active quasi-…scal policy regime, the shocks in the central bank's earnings alter the private agent's portfolio between consumption and the nominal money balance, thus aecting in‡ation. Conventional macroeconomic models have implicitly assumed policy regimes in which the aforementioned mechanism does not restrict equilibria; however, this paper shows that such assumptions generally are not guaranteed to hold. The extensions of the basic model show that quasi-…scal shocks may produce undesirable eects, such as in‡ation following de‡ationary mone- tary policy during the implementation of exit strategy.