cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moundsville Penitentiary - Model and Symptom of Hyperreality

The current self-portrayal of Moundsville Penitentiary (WV) makes light of the prison’s actual history and fantasizes about death and punishment. The edifice that used to house a multitude of prisoners has been transformed from active institution into historical spectacle. This essay argues that Moundsville Penitentiary is both a model and a symptom of the hyperreality referred to by Jean Baudrillard. Hyperreality is as problematic in West Virginia as it is in the global contexts discussed by Baudrillard. This essay also attends to capital punishment and the criminal body, borrowing heavily from the ideas of Michel Foucault. The horror genre of the Moundsville tour produces a new set of implications for the modern prison because the horror genre is always about destroying and mutilating the body and not about training the body into submission. The horror theme falsifies prison by taking us back to a fabrication of the 18th and 19th centuries when public execution - “death theater” - was the norm. This alteration of space and time re-corporealizes punishment (by shifting the focus from the docile body back to the maimed or disfigured body) and violates actual prison experience. When people cannot distinguish reality from fantasy, the fantastic is legitimized and presumed authoritative; and as the fantastic is legitimized, it becomes more unreasonable - and thus more dangerous.
Exercise for Frail Elders: Proven Strategies for Working with Frail Elders and Adults with Special Needs (2nd edition), by Elizabeth Best-Martini and Kim A. Jones-DiGenova

The purpose of Exercise for Frail Elders: Proven Strategies for Working with Frail Elders and Adults with Special Needs is to provide a comprehensive guide for the assessment, design, and implement...
The effect of malonyldialdehyde on erythrocyte deformability

The addition of malonyldialdehyde (5-20 micro M) to human erythrocytes results in a marked decrease in cellular deformability as measured with a counter-rotating, cone plate Rheoscope when low shear forces (2.5-25 dynes/sq cm) are applied. At high shear forces (125-500 dynes/sq cm), malonyldialdehyde at 5 micro M had no effect on deformability, although at concentrations of 10 and 20 micro M a small but statistically significant decrease was evident. These effects of this crosslinking agent are observed in the absence of alterations in cell volume and intracellular viscosity. The results obtained are in accord with the view that the polymerization of membrane constituents may contribute to the events that lead to the removal from the circulation of either aging cells or cells exposed to peroxidation-initiating agents.
S- to N-Palmitoyl Transfer During Proteomic Sample Preparation

N-palmitoylation has been reported in a number of proteins and suggested to play an important role in protein localization and functions. However, it remains unclear whether N-palmitoylation is a direct enzyme-catalyzed process, or results from intramolecular S- to N-palmitoyl transfer. Here, using the S-palmitoyl peptide standard, GCpalmLGNAK, as the model system, we observed palmitoyl migration from the cysteine residue to either the peptide N-terminus or the lysine side chain during incubation in both neutral and slightly basic buffers commonly used in proteomic sample preparation. Palmitoyl transfer can take place either intra- or inter-molecularly, with the peptide N-terminus being the preferred migration site, presumably because of its lower basicity. The extent of intramolecular palmitoyl migration was low in the system studied, as it required the formation of an entropically unfavored macrocycle intermediate. Intermolecular palmitoyl transfer, however, remained a tangible problem, and may lead to erroneous reporting of in vivo N-palmitoylation. It was found that addition of the MS-compatible detergent RapiGest could significantly inhibit intermolecular palmitoyl transfer, as well as thioester hydrolysis and DTT-induced thioester cleavage. Finally, palmitoyl transfer from the cysteine residue to the peptide N-terminus can also occur in the gas phase, during collision-induced dissociation, and result in false identification of N-palmitoylation. Therefore, one must be careful with both sample preparation and interpretation of tandem mass spectra in the study of N-palmitoylation. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
The Danger of Defending the Denny Acquittals

We are told that the defendants in the beating of Reginald Denny and seven other victims could not be convicted of serious offenses because they did not have the required intent. They were swept up in the unthinking mob psychology. Normally, a brick full-force at close range to the head of an unconscious victim, followed by a dance of glee at the splattered blood, would leave little question about the thrower's intent to kill. But when done as part of a mob, we are told, no such intention exists. Smashing with the brick also might normally show an intent to permanently disfigure, as aggravated mayhem requires, but not so for rioters. Riot used to be an offense. Now it's a defense. No other state, or country in the world, past and present, has ever recognized such a defense. The new riot defense conceives of a riot as something that takes away a person's normal mental faculties. But everything we know about rioting suggests that it doesn't take away thinking or control, just conscience.
In Situ Analysis of Small Populations of Adherent Mammalian Cells Using Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry in Transmission Geometry.

Most cultured cells used for biomedical research are cultured adherently, and the requisite detachment prior to biochemical analysis might induce chemical changes. This is especially crucial if accurate metabolic measurements are desired, given the rapid turnover of metabolites in living organisms. There are only a few methods available for the nontargeted in situ analysis of small adherent cell populations. Here we show that laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) mass spectrometry (MS) can be used to analyze adherent cells directly, while still attached to the culture surface. To reduce the size of the analyzed cell population, the spot size constraints of conventional focusing in reflection geometry (rg) LAESI had to be eliminated. By introducing transmission geometry (tg) LAESI and incorporating an objective with a high numerical aperture, spot sizes of 10–20 μm were readily achieved. As few as five adherent cells could be specifically selected for analysis in their culturing environment. The i...
Age-related variation in injury occurrence to automobile occupants: an analysis of the 1982 national accident sampling system

L'article traite des variations dues a l'âge dans l'occurrence de dommages corporels pour les passagers d'une automobile: analyse du systeme national d'echantillonnage des accidents
Connections Between Cubic Splines and Quadrature Rules

The formula for the cubic spline is integrated exactly, and this is used to derive a composite integration rule. The approach is also reversed, with the result that end conditions for the spline ar...
A Corporation's Ambiguous Environmental Virtue

Advanced Micro Devices, a multimillion-dollar corporation, generated controversy when it built its company headquarters on the Edwards Aquifer watershed in Austin, Texas, an environmentally sensiti...
The analysis among people receiving AIDS voluntary counseling and testing of Dehong prefecture in 2012

Objective To learn the human immunodeficiency virus( HIV) epidemic among people receiving voluntary counseling and testing( VCT) in Dehong prefecture,to provide scientific evidence to the intervention. Methods The information and HIV high risk factors were collected by the case survey and HIV testing. Results Among the 4096 interviewees in 2012,all of whom had HIV testing,359 were HIV positive,the positive rate was 8. 76%. Sexual transmission was the main route of the interviewees who were infected; most of them were young famers with lower education. Referral service was provided based on the willing of the interviewees. Conclusions Remarkable effect was achieved in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome identifying and controlling by the VCT in Dehong prefecture. Service quality should be improved in the future to control the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome( AIDS) epidemic.
Pemphigus, pregnancy, and plasmapheresis

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disorder that usually occurs in the fifth and sixth decades of life but may occur at younger ages and during pregnancy. Circulating intercellular antibodies directed at desmosomal proteins may cross the placenta and place children at risk for neonatal pemphigus (NP). We describe the case of a pregnant woman with PV treated successfully with a combination of systemic corticosteroids and plasmapheresis. The possibility of PV should be considered in any pregnant woman with a worsening, widespread, mucocutaneous, blistering disease. Plasmapheresis offers a useful alternative to immunosuppressive therapy in the setting of pregnancy.
Cardiology Left Main Coronary Arterial Disease

A constellation of clinical features is described which, although not pathognomonic, strongly suggests the presence of left main coronary arterial disease or severe triple-vessel disease.
Effects of acetic acid, lactic acid and trisodium phosphate on the microflora of refrigerated beef carcass surface tissue inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria innocua, and Clostridium sporogenes

The microbial profiles of inoculated beef carcass tissue (BCT) were monitored during prolonged refrigerated vacuum-packaged storage following antimicrobial treatment. An industrial spray wash cabinet was used to deliver water (W), 1.5 and 3.0% lactic (LA) or acetic (AA) acid, or 12% trisodium phosphate (TSP) washes. Fresh unaltered bovine feces spiked with antibiotic-resistant strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria innocua , and Clostridium sporogenes were used to inoculate BCT prior to all treatments. The effect of treatments on bacterial populations was tracked by monitoring levels of specific-antibiotic-resistant(marked) bacteria along with mesophilic aerobic bacteria (APC), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and pseudomonads for up to 21 days of storage at 5°C. Initial APC levels of approximately 5.6 log CFU/cm2 were reduced by 1.3to 2.0 log CFU/cm2 by LA, AA, and TSP treatments. Marked bacteria were reduced to 7 log CFU/cm2 on the untreated controls and water-washed samples. Treatments generally added a degree of safety regarding the foodborne pathogens and pathogen models used for the present study when beef tissue was stored up to 21 days and in no case did the treatments appear to offer any competitive advantage to select microorganisms on BCT.
MEASUREMENT OF HOMEOSTATIC RESPONSES TO ALTERED P 50 IN PATIENTS WITH ABNORMAL HEMOGLOBINS

An effective anti-sickling agent could decrease oxygen transport in patients, if it increased oxygen affinity to a greater degree than red cell survival. Measurements of oxygen transport in patients with other hemoglobinopathies showed that changes in cardiac output and mixed venous pO 2 were used to compensate for altered oxygen affinity. The same changes will probably be seen in treated patients with sickle cell anemia.
Hypnotic medications and suicide: risk, mechanisms, mitigation, and the FDA

Objective:Insomnia is associated with increased risk for suicide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated that warnings regarding suicide be included in the prescribing information for hypnotic medications. The authors conducted a review of the evidence for and against the claim that hypnotics increase the risk of suicide.Method:This review focused on modern, FDA-approved hypnotics, beginning with the introduction of benzodiazepines, limiting its findings to adults. PubMed and Web of Science were searched, crossing the terms “suicide” and “suicidal” with each of the modern FDA-approved hypnotics. The FDA web site was searched for postmarketing safety reviews, and the FDA was contacted with requests to provide detailed case reports for hypnotic-related suicide deaths reported through its Adverse Event Reporting System.Results:Epidemiological studies show that hypnotics are associated with an increased risk for suicide. However, none of these studies adequately controlled for depression or other...
Studies of the Excited State Dynamics of N2O2 by Dissociative Photodetachment of N2O2

The excited states of N2O2 have been characterized by studies of the dissociative photodetachment of N2O2- at 266 nm. Photoelectron−photofragment coincidence spectroscopy reveals the correlation between features observed in the photoelectron spectrum and different neutral dissociation pathways. Evidence for at least two isomers of N2O2- is presented and upper limits for their stabilities are determined. One isomer, ONNO-, is stable relative to NO + NO + e- by < 1.70 ± 0.05 eV, while the second isomer, trigonal N2O2-, is stable relative to O- + N2O by < 0.57 ± 0.05 eV. The observed dissociation channels are assigned to ONNO → NO + NO, N2O2 → O (3P) + N2O, and either O(1D) + N2O or N(4S) + NO2. No evidence for stable N2O2 was found, and the dissociation dynamics of the excited states of N2O2 are discussed.
The prognostic value of estrogen receptor immunocytochemistry (ERICA) in breast cancer does not depend on the immunostaining intensity

Estrogen receptor status (ER) is traditionally determined by the immunocytochemical assay (ERICA) utilizing a formula, the HSCORE, based on the stain intensity and the percentage of ER-positive cells (%PC). The stain intensity is difficult to control and its determination is subjective. To determine whether % PC alone can be used instead of HSCORE in determining ER status in breast cancer, frozen samples from 65 breast cancers were assayed for ER by the dextran-coated charcoal assay (DCCA), HSCORE, and %PC. %PC and HSCORE correlated well. ER status determined by any of the three methods was a significant prognostic factor. When applied to paraffin sections of a different group of 91 cancers, ER %PC and DCCA did not give significant results. We conclude that (1) % PC may be used instead of HSCORE for determining ER in tissue sections and (2) inconsistencies of the prognostic significance of ER may be due to differences in populations studied.
Provider Appearance: A Survey of Guardian and Patient Preference.

PURPOSE The purposes of this study were to: (1) assess children's preferences for their pediatric dentist's attire; (2) assess guardians' preferences for their child's pediatric dentist's attire; and (3) determine which attributes are associated with different types of attire. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using survey methodology with patients and parents who attended the pediatric dental clinic at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va., USA. METHODS A total sample of 100 guardians and 97 pediatric patients completed the computer-based questionnaire. Four subjects posed for photographs wearing various combinations of attire (professional, casual, white coat, scrubs). RESULTS Among guardians, 56 percent reported preferring a provider in scrubs, with white coat the second most preferred attire (39 percent) for their children. For pediatric patients, scrubs were still most often selected, but at a lower rate (43 percent), and the white coat remained the second most preferred (37 percent). CONCLUSIONS Children and parents have strong perceptions and preferences regarding their dentists' attire.
What Drives Variation in Plethodontid Salamander Species Richness over Space and Time

Abstract Plethodontid salamanders have become model organisms for studying many fundamental questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and behavior. Dozens of studies focused on geographic patterns of phenotypic and genetic variation have been conducted on plethodontids, such that we now have a deep understanding of how many species are in the family and where they occur. This body of work on patterns of speciation has been foundational to exploring the drivers of the major patterns of species richness in the family. Approximately 70% of the world's 696 extant species of salamanders are plethodontids. The distribution of plethodontid species diversity exhibits striking variation globally. Most plethodontids are concentrated into two hotspots of diversity, the Appalachian Highlands and the Mesoamerican Highlands. Moreover, within these montane centers of diversity more species are found in midelevation habitats than at the highest or lowest elevations. The clade has been highly successful in the New World...
A novel high-temperature carbon-based superconductor: B-doped Q-carbon

Following a brief report on high-temperature superconductivity in B-doped Q-carbon [Bhaumik et al., ACS Nano 11(6), 5351–5357 (2017)], we present detailed structure-property correlations to understand the origin of superconductivity in strongly bonded lightweight materials and methods to further enhance the superconducting transition temperature (Tc). Nanosecond melting of carbon in a super undercooled state and rapid quenching result in a strongly bonded unique phase of B-doped Q-carbon. The temperature-dependent resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate type II superconductivity in this material with a transition temperature of 36.0 ± 0.5 K and an upper critical field of 5.4 T at ∼0 K. It has also been shown that in B-doped Q-carbon, the upper critical magnetic field (Hc2(T)) follows Hc2(0) [1-(T/Tc)2.1] temperature dependence and is consistent with the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer formalism. In the present study, B-doped Q-carbon thin films are formed on sapphire substrates by emplo...
P43 Differences in ankle function in post-acl reconstruction subjects

Study Design Cross-sectional. Objectives To examine differences in ankle function between injured and uninjured limbs in individuals with a history of ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Background Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a debilitating lower extremity injury. Most individuals undergo ACLR to restore joint function. Rehabilitation protocols for post-ACLR patients are extensive and focus on restoration of knee range of motion, strength, balance and proprioception. However, these protocols often do not directly assess other regions of the lower extremity, particularly the ankle. Proper ankle function is an important factor in overall lower limb function and warrants further investigation in the post-ACLR population. Methods and Measures A total of 11 (8 females) physically active individuals (age:23.27±4.47, height:166.01±10.48 cms, weight:72.24±15.28 kgs) with a history of unilateral ACLR reported to the laboratory for one testing session. Self-reported ankle function was assessed via the Quick Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (Quick-FAAM). Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DROM) was measured by the weight bearing lunge test in centimetres (cms) and isokinetic plantarflexion and dorsiflexion strength (Nm/kg) was assessed with the isokinetic dynamometer. Median (interquartile range) were calculated for each measure and differences between the uninjured and post-ACLR limbs were examined with separate Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results There were significant differences between the uninjured limb (100.00 (0.00)) and post-ACLR (91.66 (16.67)) limb on the Quick-FAAM (p=0.037). No significant differences were observed between the uninjured limb (8.5 (2.50)) and the injured limb (7.75 (2.0)) for DROM (p=0.859) or dorsiflexion isokinetic strength for the uninjured limb (0.29 (0.11)) and post-ACLR limb (0.30 (0.06), p=0.959) or plantarflexion isokinetic strength for the uninjured limb (0.77 (0.40)) and post-ACLR limb (0.66 (0.39), p=0.859). Conclusion Post-ACLR participants self-reported decreased ankle function in the injured limb compared to the uninjured limb. No other differences in ankle function outcomes were identified. Clinicians should continue to evaluate ankle function during ACL rehabilitation and modify protocols as needed.
Conclusion and Policy Implications to “Climate Smart Agriculture: Building Resilience to Climate Change”

The efforts to adapt to climate change in developing countries are in their infancy, and hopefully CSA will be a major contributor to these efforts. But CSA itself is evolving, and there is a growing need to refine and adapt it to the changing realities. This section of the book focus on the implications of the empirical findings for devising effective strategies and policies to support resilience and the implications for agriculture and climate change policy at national, regional and international levels. This section is built upon the analysis provided in the case studies as well as short “think” pieces on specific aspects of the policy relevance issues from policy makers as well as leading experts in agricultural development and climate change. The case study provided concrete illustrations of the conceptual and theoretical framework, taking into account the high level of diversity in agro-ecological and socioeconomic situations faced by agricultural planners and policy-makers today. While the case studies demonstrate the diversity of challenges facing farmers around the world, they also indicate unifying characteristics imposed by climate change on agricultural decision making and the potential for the CSA approach to address them.
Islam, Rationality, and Self-Interest

This chapter presents an Islamic alternative to the economic rationality of Rational Choice Theory, by highlighting the role of reason and justice in the context of a metaphysical understanding of the world. In particular, this understanding is predicated on the Islamic concept of the vicegerency of man and the purpose of creation. While the modern view of economic rationality emphasizes maximization, the Islamic view is one of justice, defined as giving each person or thing its due. The Islamic notion of rationality as justice leads to crucial implications with respect to human behavior, both individually and socially. The chapter also engages in a comparative analysis between Adam Smith’s concept of the “impartial spectator” and Imam Ali’s view of the “self” as a mizan or balance.
Declaring the Value of Truth

As fake news has become a growing concern since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, attention to journalism history offers a useful means for rediscovering strategies for both fighting fake news a...
Machine Learning to Optimize Additive Manufacturing Parameters for Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Inconel 718

Approximately 3600 samples have been printed to characterize the build parameters for laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) fabrication of Inconel 718. The tested samples connect pore formation to part orientation, part location and the use of recycled powder. These data serve as the basis for development of a Random Forest Network machine learning (ML) model capable of two-way modeling of process–property and process–structure relationships. These results show how common procedural steps in the setup and execution of L-PBF effect porosity, particularly the formation of keyhole and lack of fusion (LOF) defects, and how data collection, processing, and validation can expose even subtle connections between input features and output parameters using a general ML framework.
Biology of the epidermal growth factor receptor family.

Recent research has strengthened the basis for an intimate role of HER family kinases in a variety of cancers. In addition to propagating cytoplasmic signaling initiated by HER family receptor ligands, HER family members can also propagate signals initiated by multiple other signaling pathways and may serve as central nodes in conveying extracellular signals. Attenuation of HER family signaling is a developing strategy for the management of human malignancies and is the subject of ongoing clinical trials and preclinical mechanistic investigations.
ATR repression at telomeres by POT1a and POT1b: RPA exclusion and interference by CST

Telomeres carry a constitutive 3′ overhang that can bind RPA and activate ATR signaling. POT1a, a single-stranded (ss) DNA binding protein in mouse shelterin, has been proposed to repress ATR signaling by preventing RPA binding. Repression of ATR at telomeres requires the TPP1/TIN2 mediated tethering of POT1a to the the rest of the shelterin complex situated on the ds telomeric DNA. The simplest version of the tethered exclusion model for ATR repression suggests that the only critical features of POT1a are its connection to shelterin and its binding to ss telomeric DNA binding. In agreement with the model, we show that a shelterin-tethered RPA70 mutant, lacking the ATR recruitment domain, is effective in repressing ATR signaling at telomeres. However, arguing against the simple tethered exclusion model, the nearly identical POT1b subunit of shelterin is much less proficient in ATR repression than POT1a. We now show that POT1b has the intrinsic ability to fully repress ATR but is prevented from doing so when bound to the CST/Polα/primase complex. The data establish that shelterin represses ATR with a tethered ssDNA-binding domain that excludes RPA from the overhang and suggest that ATR repression does not require the interaction of POT1 with the 3′ end or G4 DNA.
The HVJ-Liposome Molecular Delivery System for In Vivo Genetic Engineering

The author is deeply indepted to our collaborators in Osaka who initially developed the HVJ-liposome system, particularly Dr. Kaneda who has generously provided reagents, insights and advice that have made this review possible. In addition, this project could not have been accomplished without the guidance, inspiration and support of Dr. Victor Dzau. Similarly, the adaptation of the methodology for our purposes could not have been accomplished without the fellows in our laboratories cited in this review, particularly Dr. Ryuichi Morishita. Dr. Gibbons is supported by a Pew Biomedical Scholar Award, a Baxter Foundation Award, and the University of California Tobacco Surtax Research Fund.
Determining the Standard of Care in Medical Malpractice: The Physician's Perspective

We convened a focus group of thirteen physicians and seven attorneys with court experience in malpractice cases to better understand the physician's perspective on determining the standard of care. We emphasized the role of the physician expert witness and whether malpractice cases should be decided on the basis of a "reasonable" standard of care (what a reasonable physician would have done) or on the basis of a "customary" standard of care (what physicians would customarily or typically do in similar circumstances). The physicians in this focus group favored the customary standard, fearing that a reasonable standard could easily migrate toward the ideal. The Authors were troubled by the paradox implied by determining the standard of care based on custom in the absence of an adequate mechanism for assessing what is customary. However, the focus group favored the current system in which expert witnesses tend to assume that they would have done what most physicians would do.
Le Clézio’s L’inconnu Sur La Terre

In J. M. G. Le Clezio’s lyrical essay L’Inconnu sur la terre (1978) sense experience and spontaneous interaction with the material world stimulate the creative artist to discover and invent new pathways for capturing, reconstructing, a the nd portrayingbeauty and harmony of nature. Le Clezio rejects our modern dehumanizing technological society that refuses transcendence and exemplifies the desacralization of human existence, a society based on “des paroles vaines, des mensonges et des destructions.”1 In retaliation against today’s society which attempts to dominate nature, the narrator/author embarks on an exploratory journey, the creative process through which he searches for the real, vibrating with energy and life, and attempts to ascend to the infinite. In Logos and Life: Creative Experience and the Critique of Reason, Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka describes the force necessary to reach true creation: We have to embrace the totality of the given and, in the synthesis of the creative act, delve into consuming contact with life itself as to find ourselves face to face with it. The creative undertaking is ... an individual quest prompted by our yearning for the new, and guided by the transcendental illusion of an ultimate group or reality to be discovered (her emphasis).2
Limbal squamous cell carcinoma in a Rocky Mountain Horse: Case report and investigation of genetic contribution.

OBJECTIVE To document a case of limbal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a Rocky Mountain Horse stallion determined to be homozygous for the genetic risk factor (DDB2 c.1013C>T) strongly associated with the disease in Haflinger and Belgian horses, and to determine the frequency of this allele in a larger population of Rocky Mountain Horses. ANIMALS STUDIED One privately owned Rocky Mountain Horse and 84 Rocky Mountain Horses screened for allelic frequency. PROCEDURES A complete ophthalmic examination was performed on a Rocky Mountain Horse stallion for assessment of a mass affecting the right eye. A clinical diagnosis of suspected limbal SCC was made, and routine keratoconjunctivectomy and adjunctive strontium irradiation were performed. Genotyping for the DDB2 c.1013C > T (rs1139682898) risk variant was performed utilizing an allele-specific PCR assay on DNA isolated from whole blood and hair follicles. RESULTS Histopathology confirmed the limbal mass to be consistent with SCC. The horse was genotyped as homozygous for the DDB2 c.1013C >T risk variant. The frequency of the variant allele among a population of 84 Rocky Mountain Horses was found to be 0.20. CONCLUSION The Rocky Mountain Horse breed possesses the DDB2 variant allele determined to be a significant risk factor for ocular SCC in the Haflinger and Belgian breeds. Genotyping additional Rocky Mountain Horses diagnosed with ocular SCC as well as confirmed healthy controls for this variant should be undertaken to determine whether a significant association exists between ocular SCC and the variant in the Rocky Mountain Horse breed.
Solids in Ultrafast Strong Fields: Topological Attosecond Phenomena

We present our latest results for a new class of phenomena in condensed matter nanooptics when a strong optical field ∼1–3 V/A changes a solid within optical cycle. Such a pulse drives ampere-scale currents in dielectrics and adiabatically controls their properties, including optical absorption and reflection, extreme UV absorption, and generation of high harmonics in a non-perturbative manner on a 100-as temporal scale. Applied to a metal, such a pulse causes an instantaneous and, potentially, reversible change from the metallic to semimetallic properties. We will concentrate on our latest theoretical results on graphene (a semimetal) and other two-dimensional solids such as transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), which are direct-bandgap semiconductors. Such materials in the reciprocal space are characterized by such nontrivial topological properties as Berry curvature and Berry flux in the K- and K'-valleys. Graphene in a strong ultrashort pulse field exhibits unique behavior, in particular, induced chirality, related to its topological properties. The TMDCs are predicted to exhibit a significant valley polarization induced by just a single-oscillation chiral optical pulse. We also predict resonances in TMDCs that are solely due to the Berry curvature (topological resonances). The corresponding phenomena are among the fastest processes in optics unfolding on a time scale of hundreds attoseconds. They offer potential for petahertz-bandwidth signal processing, generation of high harmonics on a nanometer spatial scale, femtosecond valleytronics, etc.
Grammar-Based White-Box Testing via Automated Constraint Path Generation

Software testing is an indispensable procedure for assuring software quality and test case generation is one of the major stages of software testing odyssey. In this paper, the author presents a grammar-basedwhite-box testing which integrates some source code analysis, grammar-based test generation, and constraint solving as a whole. A preliminary implementation of grammar-based white-box testing, Java White-box Unit Tester (JWBUT), has been developed. JWBUT can generate well-distributed authentic test cases using the grammar-based white-box testing scheme, which starts from static analysis of Java source code, transforms control flow into context-free grammar (CFG), applies to grammar-based test generator to produce a set of constraint paths, and finally, generates test cases by solving the constraint paths. The author has experimented JWBUT on a set of Java methods to demonstrate the effectiveness of grammar-based white-box testing.
Environmental fate and impact assessment of thiobencarb application in California rice fields using RICEWQ

Thiobencarb is a commonly used herbicide in Northern California rice fields. Released paddy water containing thiobencarb may pose ecological risks to non-targeted organisms. In this research, the Rice Water Quality Model (RICEWQ) is equilibrium tested and then calibrated using monitoring data at field level. Then it is employed to assess the environmental fate and impacts of thiobencarb in the Colusa Basin, and the effects of different management practices on water use and thiobencarb exposures. The model predicted thiobencarb concentrations from rice fields for multiple years throughout the Basin, using input from California Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) database, and assessed both the temporal/spatial distribution of thiobencarb exposure and potential acute toxicity on non-target organisms. Our study indicated that RICEWQ can accurately reflect the initial partitioning of thiobencarb in both paddy water and soil phases and capture the dynamics of thiobencarb at field level after calibration. Mandatory water holding is critical for reducing thiobencarb exposure in released paddy water. A thirty-day holding time reduces thiobencarb concentrations by 64% relative to a 6-day holding practice. The geo-spatial pattern of exposure in the study domain indicates the differing extents of pollutant levels and their distribution over space. "Risk zones" for different species were identified based on the geospatial patterns of thiobencarb exposure and the species-specific susceptibilities of various non-target species to thiobencarb.
Transition from intravenous to oral antimicrobial therapy in patients with uncomplicated and complicated bloodstream infections.

Abstract Background The role of oral antimicrobial agents in the management of bloodstream infections (BSI) is currently evolving. Objectives This narrative review summarizes and appraises clinical studies that examined transition from intravenous to oral antimicrobials or compared effectiveness of various oral agents for definitive therapy of uncomplicated and complicated BSI in adults. Sources Relevant English-language studies from MEDLINE (since inception) and presented abstracts at international scientific meetings (since 2017). Content Emerging data suggest potential utility of oral switch strategy, particularly to oxazolidinones, as an alternative to standard intravenous therapy in low-risk patients with uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus BSI. Moreover, results of recent randomized clinical trials are promising that combination oral regimens may play a role in antimicrobial management of complicated Gram-positive BSI, including infective endocarditis, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Whereas oral fluoroquinolones have been used successfully for decades in both uncomplicated and complicated Gram-negative BSI, recent studies suggest that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and aminopenicillins represent alternative oral options in uncomplicated Enterobacteriaceae BSI. Oral azoles have been used for definitive therapy of Candida species BSI and are currently recommended by the international management guidelines. Implications Recent studies demonstrate that early transition from intravenous to oral therapy is a feasible and effective strategy in most patients with BSI due to Gram-negative bacteria, obligate anaerobic bacteria and Candida species. Oral antimicrobial combinations may be considered in select patients with complicated Gram-positive BSI after 10–14 days of intravenous therapy. Future studies will determine the role of oral agents for switch therapy in uncomplicated Gram-positive BSI.
Sulamyd® Sodium (Schering)

Sulamyd is a bacteriostatic agent effective against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms.
Pleiotropic roles of tankyrase/PARP proteins in the establishment and maintenance of human naïve pluripotency.

Tankyrase 1 (TNKS1; PARP-5a) and Tankyrase 2 (TNKS2; PARP-5b) are poly-ADP-ribosyl-polymerase (PARP)-domain-containing proteins that regulate the activities of a wide repertoire of target proteins via post-translational addition of poly-ADP-ribose polymers (PARylation). Although tankyrases were first identified as regulators of human telomere elongation, important and expansive roles of tankyrase activity have recently emerged in the development and maintenance of stem cell states. Herein, we summarize the current state of knowledge of the various tankyrase-mediated activities that may promote human naive and 'extended' pluripotency'. We review the putative role of tankyrase and PARP inhibition in trophectoderm specification, telomere elongation, DNA repair and chromosomal segregation, metabolism, and PTEN-mediated apoptosis. Importantly, tankyrases possess PARP-independent activities that include regulation of MDC1-associated DNA repair by homologous recombination (HR) and autophagy/pexophagy, which is an essential mechanism of protein synthesis in the preimplantation embryo. Additionally, tankyrases auto-regulate themselves via auto-PARylation which augments their cellular protein levels and potentiates their non-PARP tankyrase functions. We propose that these non-PARP-related activities of tankyrase proteins may further independently affect both naive and extended pluripotency via mechanisms that remain undetermined. We broadly outline a hypothetical framework for how inclusion of a tankyrase/PARP inhibitor in small molecule cocktails may stabilize and potentiate naive and extended pluripotency via pleiotropic routes and mechanisms.
Spatial control of membrane traffic in neuronal dendrites

Abstract Neuronal dendrites are highly branched and specialized compartments with distinct structures and secretory organelles (e.g., spines, Golgi outposts), and a unique cytoskeletal organization that includes microtubules of mixed polarity. Dendritic membranes are enriched with proteins, which specialize in the formation and function of the post-synaptic membrane of the neuronal synapse. How these proteins partition preferentially in dendrites, and how they traffic in a manner that is spatiotemporally accurate and regulated by synaptic activity are long-standing questions of neuronal cell biology. Recent studies have shed new insights into the spatial control of dendritic membrane traffic, revealing new classes of proteins (e.g., septins) and cytoskeleton-based mechanisms with dendrite-specific functions. Here, we review these advances by revisiting the fundamental mechanisms that control membrane traffic at the levels of protein sorting and motor-driven transport on microtubules and actin filaments. Overall, dendrites possess unique mechanisms for the spatial control of membrane traffic, which might have specialized and co-evolved with their highly arborized morphology.
Chromatin Complexes Maintain Self-Renewal of Myeloid Progenitors in AML: Opportunities for Therapeutic Intervention

Specific subgroups of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including those containing MLL rearrangements and NPM1c mutations, possess characteristic stem cell-like gene expression profiles. These expression programs are highly dependent on components of the MLL histone methyltransferase complex, including Menin and DOT1L. Understanding the chromatin-based mechanisms through which cancer cells subvert certain aspects of normal stem cell biology helped identify specific vulnerabilities and translate them into targeted therapy approaches. Exciting progress has been made in the development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting this epigenetic machinery in leukemia cells and prompted the development of clinical trials in patients with hematologic malignancies.
Experimental studies on blast mitigation capabilities of conventional dry aqueous foam

Aqueous foam provides a dispersion of the gaseous phase in the liquid phase. The commercially available aqueous foam (Denim shaving foam-original) has been investigated for its stability and capability for reducing the extreme thermal and blast effects associated with an energetic material detonation. The dry aqueous foam has evenly distributed bubbles with an average initial size of 15 µm. Different amounts of the C4 explosive were detonated while immersed in the dry aqueous foam having a density 60 kg/m3. The blast wave parameters were measured in the field for scaled distances ranging from 0.39 m/kg1/3 to 1.80 m/kg1/3 based on the cube root law. The dry aqueous foam confinement suppressed the explosion fireball radius up to 80% and quenched the afterburning reactions. An average peak pressure reduction of 70% and positive impulse reduction of ∼62% were observed for hemi-spherical confinement of the dry aqueous foam weighing 1.0 kg–2.75 kg against C4 charges of 82 g–250 g. The shock propagation is attenuated due to the high compressibility of gas bubbles. The dry aqueous foam may be used in emergency circumstances such as against energetic material detonation and lighter improvised explosive device threats to reduce the devastating blast effects. The numerical simulation results using ANSYS AUTODYN for bare charges are in fair agreement with the experimental findings.
Human Car-Following Behavior: Parametric, Machine-Learning, and Deep-Learning Perspectives

Emerging automated vehicles and mixed traffic flow have been substantially increased demand for modeling human driving behavior in both academia and industry. As a result, many car-following (CF) models have been proposed using parametric and data-driven approaches. Considering the large number of CF models, the critical question is which CF model or category of models (e.g. machine-learning) could accurately regenerate human CF behavior. This study conducts a cross-category comparison between one parametric model (intelligent driver model (IDM)), two new machine-learning CF models based on feedforward neural network (FNN) and recurrent neural network (RNN), and one novel deep-learning CF model (Deep-RNN) with long short-term memory (LSTM). The models are developed in TensorFlow and compared at local and global levels. At the local level, Deep-RNN significantly outperformed the others, followed by RNN and FNN. At the global level, IDM demonstrated the best performance, followed closely by Deep-RNN. The result illustrates there is no one-size fit model and the model should be selected given projects’ characteristics. The result suggests a hybrid approach, which integrates parametric and deep-learning models, could precisely regenerate human car-following behavior.
Visualizing Heterogeneity of Monodisperse CdSe Nanocrystals by Their Assembly into Three-Dimensional Supercrystals.

We show that the self-assembly of monodisperse CdSe nanocrystals synthesized at lower temperature (∼310 °C) into three-dimensional supercrystals results in the formation of separate regions within ...
SOX7 deficiency causes ventricular sepal defects through its effects on endocardial-to-mesenchymal transition and the expression of Wnt4 and Bmp2

SOX7 is located in a region on chromosome 8p23.1 that is recurrently deleted in individuals with septal defects. Sox7-/- embryos die of heart failure around E11.5 due to defects in vascular remodeling. These embryos have hypocellular endocardial cushions with severely reduced numbers of mesenchymal cells. We also observed a ventricular septal defect in a rare Sox7flox/-;Tie2-Cre embryo that escaped early lethality. This led us to hypothesize that SOX7 plays a critical developmental role in the endocardium of the atrioventricular (AV) canal. We subsequently used AV explant studies to show that SOX7 deficiency leads to a severe reduction in endocardial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Since SOX7 is a transcription factor, we hypothesized that it functions in the endocardium by regulating the expression of EndMT-related genes. To identify these genes in an unbiased manner, we performed RNA-seq on pooled E9.5 hearts tubes harvested from Sox7-/- embryos and their wild-type littermates. We found that Wnt4 transcript levels were severely reduced, which we confirmed by RNA in situ hybridization. Previous studies have shown that WNT4 is expressed in the endocardium and promotes EndMT by acting in a paracrine manner to increase the expression of BMP2 in the myocardium. Consistent with these findings, we found that Bmp2 transcript levels were diminished in Sox7-/- embryonic hearts. We conclude that SOX7 promotes EndMT in the developing AV canal by modulating the expression of Wnt4 and Bmp2. These data also provide additional evidence that haploinsufficiency of SOX7 contributes to the congenital heart defects seen in individuals with recurrent 8p23.1 microdeletions.
Concept analysis of longitudinal assessment for professional continued certification.

BACKGROUND This concept analysis presents a scholarly epistemological approach to defining the attributes, empirical referents, antecedents, and consequences of a knowledge maintenance approach-known as longitudinal assessment-to professional certification. AIM The analysis reports on the efforts of the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists to explore this educational method as an approach to meet requirements for continued professional certification. METHOD Using the classical approach to concept analysis, the authors explore the structure and function of longitudinal assessment and define the characteristics of the concept in a way that is meaningful to the continued certification of nursing and medical professionals. CONCLUSION This analysis establishes a link between the goal and outcome of the continued certification process, including continuing education in nursing and medical practice, and the desirable characteristics of longitudinal assessment, which include proven principles of educational psychology. Through exploring model and borderline cases, the authors seek to demonstrate that longitudinal assessment is the best approach to foster lifelong learning of continuously evolving scientific, theoretical, and clinical knowledge in support of safe care for patients.
Comparison of two methods for callus culture and plant regeneration in wheat ( Triticum aestivum )

Callus growth and development involve a complex relationship between the explants used to initiate callus, the constituents of the medium and the environmental conditions during culturing. Use of high molecular weight osmotica such as polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000) results in non-solidification of agar medium used for culturing and selection. Thus, a new filter paper bridge technique was compared with the existing agar medium for callus initiation, multiplication, and plant regeneration of wheat. The yield of both total and embryogenic callus was doubled and significantly higher number of regenerants was obtained on filter paper bridges compared to agar medium.