cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Competitive Competence of Enterprises Based on Scale by Using Spider Graph

The scale which is scientific and reasonable ensures that profit is improved,cost of exchange is reduced and enterprise competitive competence is increased,economy of scale is come true as well.Based on scale of production,capital,market and benefit,the Competitive Competence of Enterprises is analyzed,and an index system about competitive strength is put forward,then an appraisable model based on scale is set up applying spider graph,finally competitive competence whether strong or not is made out by using data.For it is not only operable,but it is also visual and quantitative comparing with other methods.
Loss of cyp1a1 messenger rna expression due to nonsense-mediated decay.

Clones of the mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa1c1c7 (Hepa-1) with lesions in the Cyp1a1 gene were isolated previously. A subset of these clones fails to express CYP1A1 mRNA even when treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, which induces this mRNA in wild-type Hepa-1 cells. The current investigation sought an explanation for this phenotype in one of these clones, c33. Loss of mRNA expression in c33 was shown to be caused by mutational changes in the Cyp1a1 gene rather than by its epigenetic silencing. No mutations were identified in the 5′ flanking region of the Cyp1a1 gene, containing the promoter and dioxin-responsive enhancer sequences. A single nucleotide insertion occurred at nucleotide 418 in the coding region of oneCyp1a1 allele, and a single nucleotide insertion occurred at nucleotide 465 in the other allele in c33. These sequence alterations were confirmed in the genomic DNA of the clone. Both insertions generate a premature termination codon at codon 172. This termination codon occurs in a position within the intron/exon structure of the Cyp1a1 gene such that the encoded mRNA should be subject to “nonsense-mediated decay” (NMD). Inhibition of protein synthesis is known to reverse NMD. The protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide and puromycin fully restored CYP1A1 mRNA expression to c33 cells, supporting the notion that NMD degrades CYP1A1 mRNA in this strain. The mutations identified in the coding region of c33 provide an explanation, therefore, for its loss of both CYP1A1 enzymatic activity and inducible CYP1A1 mRNA expression.
Role of Medical Prevention

AbstractDespite dramatic advances in stone removal brought by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, there is a continuing need for medical diagnosis and prevention. Justifications for the medical approach include prevention of recurrence (medical treatment could prevent further stone formation, unlike a surgical approach), efficacy of prophylactic program (recurrent stone formation may be inhibited in most patients using a variety of treatment programs), inhibition of spontaneous passage (by medical treatment, although not amenable to surgical treatment), potential avoidance of renal colic (occurring before stone removal avoided by preventing recurrence), reduced need for stone removal (achieved by successful medical treatment), correction of extrarenal manifestations (deleterious extrarenal manifestations of a stone-forming condition, such as bone disease in distal renal tubular acidosis, may be corrected by appropriate medical treatment) and cost-effectiveness. The cost of medical care is estimated to ...
Considerations in the Practical Application of the Multisensor Conductivity Probe for Two-Phase Flow

This study investigates two issues in the practical application of the local conductivity probe for two-phase flow measurements. First, the effects of signal “ghosting,” an electrical interference ...
Light Propagation in Tissue

From the point of view of biomedical applications, the propagation of light in biological tissues is a combination of good news and bad news. The good news is that tissue is highly translucent, allowing light to penetrate far inside. This property has been experienced by anyone who has covered a flashlight with their hand at night and seen it glow red. The bad news is that it is heterogeneous, distorting wave fronts and scattering light in many directions. This is experienced when trying to see a splinter that is lodged just below the surface of the skin where it shows up as a dim blur. This good news/bad news is at the core of a clear split in optical behavior in tissue. Image-bearing light, also called ballistic or coherent light, is attenuated rapidly as light propagates in tissue. Yet scattered photons continue to scatter and transport across large distances. The image-bearing light can be accessed in imaging applications by using a coherence detector (interferometry or holography) to see with micron-scale resolution up to a millimeter inside tissue. On the other hand, diffusing light can be utilized by solving the diffusion equation and reconstructing objects many centimeters inside. Between these two methods, there is a trade-off between depth of penetration and spatial resolution. Coherent light can provide cellular resolution, but only near the surface. Diffusing light provides only coarse imaging, but penetrates deep inside tissue.
Clinicopathologic Features of Fatal Non-Anaplastic Follicular Cell-Derived Thyroid Carcinomas.

Background: The vast majority of thyroid cancers, in particular the non-anaplastic follicular cell–derived thyroid carcinomas (non-ANA FCDC), are considered indolent tumors with very low mortality. Hence, it is crucial to analyze the subgroup of these patients who die of disease (DOD) in order to identify clinicopathologic features predictive of disease-specific mortality. Methods: All non-ANA FCDC operated at a tertiary cancer center between 1985 and 2010 who were DOD were identified and submitted to a meticulous clinicopathologic analysis. Results: Out of 3750 non-ANA FCDC, 58 (1.5%) DOD cases were identified. The DOD group was composed of 33 (57%) poorly differentiated carcinomas (PDTC), 14 (24%) tall-cell variant papillary thyroid carcinomas (TCVPTC), four (7%) Hurthle cell carcinomas, three (5%) papillary microcarcinomas, two (3%) classical variant PTC, and two (3%) follicular variant PTC. Twenty-seven (47%) patients presented with distant metastases (DM), 28 (48%) developed DM during follow-up, whil...
Associations with resident physicians' early adoption of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.

Background Use of the electronic cigarette for nicotine delivery has increased dramatically in recent years. Information continues to emerge on its role as a smoking cessation aid, but little is known about resident physician use of the device in clinical practice. Methods In 2015, an electronic survey was administered to resident physicians in one healthcare system in Columbus, Ohio. The survey included questions about personal smoking exposure, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes about electronic cigarettes and early adoption of electronic cigarettes with patients. Data were dichotomised based on a ‘stages of change’ model that assessed resident physician adoption of electronic cigarettes for therapeutic use. Data were analysed through χ 2 tests and logistic regression using ORs and 95% CIs. Results Of 338 residents, 142 (42%) responded. Of all residents, 25 (17.7%) reported that they have been recommending electronic cigarettes to their patients for the past 6 months or longer. In the multivariate model, residents ≥postgraduate year (PGY)-3 (OR=3.68, 95% CI 1.20 to 11.29), peer-reviewed article exposure (OR=6.65, 95% CI 1.56 to 28.38) and the view that addictive potential is definitely or somewhat less than traditional cigarettes (OR=5.05, 95% CI 1.48 to 17.24) were associated with recommendation of electronic cigarettes. Conclusions Few residents report recommending electronic cigarettes to patients who smoke. These residents consider the electronic cigarette less addicting than traditional cigarettes, supporting harm reduction strategies over strict abstinence. Most residents require further evidence-based education on efficacy and long-term safety of electronic cigarettes before recommending to their patients.
Simple telecentric submillimeter lens with near-diffraction-limited performance across an 80 degree field of view

A simple and compact telecentric lens based on two hemispheric optical elements arranged in a formation resembling an “hourglass” is proposed and evaluated. Our modeling and experimental results show the ability of this lens in achieving high resolution over a large field of view. A prototype with 500 μm total thickness is built using silicon micromachining methods for a center wavelength of 1500 nm. Experimental measurement shows near-diffraction-limited performance and good telecentricity over an 80° field of view at a numerical aperture of 0.2. All elements of the hourglass lens are in direct contact, and hence the alignment is extremely simple. We believe the proposed lens is a good candidate for compact and low-cost multi-aperture imagers.
Above or Below the Line

(1987). Above or Below the Line? International Journal of Advertising: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 17-27.
Developmental time course and effects of immunostressors that alter hormone-responsive behavior on microglia in the peripubertal and adult female mouse brain.

In female mice, the experience of being shipped from the breeder facility or a single injection of the bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), during pubertal development alters the behavioral response to estradiol in adulthood as demonstrated by perturbations of estradiol’s effects on sexual behavior, cognitive function, as well as its anxiolytic and anti-depressive properties. Microglia, the primary type of immunocompetent cell within the brain, contribute to brain development and respond to stressors with marked and long-lasting morphological and functional changes. Here, we describe the morphology of microglia and their response to shipping and LPS in peripubertal and adult female mice. Peripubertal mice have more microglia with long, thick processes in the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus as compared with adult mice in the absence of an immune challenge. An immune challenge also increases immunoreactivity (IR) of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), which is constitutively expressed in microglia. In the hippocampus, the age of animal was without effect on the increase in Iba1- IR following shipping from the breeder facility or LPS exposure. In the amygdala, we observed more Iba1-IR following shipping or LPS treatment in peripubertal mice, compared to adult mice. In the hypothalamus, there was a disassociation of the effects of shipping and LPS treatment as LPS treatment, but not shipping, induced an increase in Iba1-IR. Taken together these data indicate that microglial morphologies differ between pubertal and adult mice; moreover, the microglial response to complex stressors is greater in pubertal mice as compared to adult mice.
Clinical factors affecting HE4 and CA125 in women at high risk of developing ovarian cancer.

1569 Background: CA125 is often used to screen high-risk patients (pts) for ovarian cancer (OC), but levels are affected by many factors, especially in premenopausal pts. In prior studies of low-risk pts, HE4 is more stable than CA125. The objective of this study was to determine how clinical variables affect CA125 and HE4 in pts at high risk for ovarian cancer. Methods: Serum from 373 pts at high risk of OC was collected every 3-12 mo from 2006-2012, for a total of 1081 samples. Serum CA125 and HE4 were measured in duplicate utilizing a commercially available multiplexed sandwich immunoassay (MagPlex). Multilevel regression models were used to examine the associations of clinical factors with CA125 and HE4, while considering the inter-correlated nature of outcomes measured periodically from the same subject. Results: The mean age was 44.6 years, 51.2% were premenopausal, 72.7% were white, 9.1% were Ashkenazi Jewish, 65.2% had a history of breast cancer, and 81.5% had a BRCA mutation. Log transformed CA12...
In transition: self-expression in recent African LGBTIQ narratives

There is a long tradition of multiple sexualities in Africa, but it is a tradition that has been violently interrupted by Western colonialism. Neocolonial extension of these prohibitions shapes the...
Working with ladies that UX: building academic/industry partnerships for user research projects

This paper outlines methods, implications, and challenges from a 2-year research project coordinated between a university research center and a practitioner community. Using a "recursive participatory mentoring model," (Sullivan et al., 2015, p. 7) our team worked with Ladies that UX (LTUX), an international organization focused on mentoring women in the software industry. We conducted an analysis of individual branches of LTUX and collected and analyzed survey and interview data with practitioners in various cities across 7 countries, all of which led directly to positive changes in the leadership and communication strategies for Ladies that UX. Through this project, Ladies that UX used university-conducted research to develop and institute new methods of communication, online learning programs, regions co-locating member meet-ups, and other positive changes. In this report, we suggest that UX research and application should be developed from "collaborative, iterative, and intense" (Ratcliffe and McNeill, 2012, p.10) dialogue among researchers and practitioners.
The relational ontology of resistance: Hybridity, ventriloquism, and materiality in the production of bike commuting as resistance:

Many studies of organizational resistance have focused on a knowing agent who intends to challenge power. In contrast, we suggest that resistance is the product of many agents of varying ontologica...
Gender and Behavior in Subjects with Genetic Defects in Male Sexual Differentiation

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews male sexual differentiation in humans and enzyme defects in testosterone (T) biosynthesis, and action resulting in disorders of male sexual differentiation is also discussed. The syndrome of complete androgen insensitivity due to defects in the androgen receptor is addressed. The influence of sex steroids extends beyond their roles in sexual differentiation and development. In many animal species, hormones have been shown to be essential for sexual differentiation of the brain during development and for maintaining sexually dimorphic behavior throughout life. The principals of sex determination, genetic and hormonal, in humans have proven to be similar to other mammals. However, the hormonal influence on sexual dimorphic differences in the nervous system in humans and sex differences in behavior, and its correlation with those of other mammals is still an emerging field.
Different facets of security in the cloud

Cloud computing is a long fantasized visualization of computing as a utility, where data owners can remotely store and access their data in the cloud anytime and from anywhere. Using a shared pool of configurable resources, users can be relieved from the burden of local data storage and upkeep. The security of cloud computing has always been an important aspect of quality of service from cloud service providers. However, cloud computing poses many new security challenges which have not been well investigated. This paper provides an analysis of cloud computing, cloud data storage security, the security risks that involve using the cloud, security policies, physical security, and software security pertaining to the cloud. Our research work indicates that cloud computing combined with a trusted computing platform can provide some important security services, including authentication, confidentiality, and integrity.
Evaluating Cyclic Fatigue of Sealants During Outdoor Testing

A computer-controlled test apparatus (CCTA) and other instrumentation for subjecting sealant specimens to cyclic fatigue during outdoor exposure was developed. The CCTA enables us to use weather-induced conditions to cyclic fatigue specimens and to conduct controlled tests in-situ during the outdoor exposure. Thermally induced dimensional changes of an aluminum bar were fed to a computer that enhanced the movement, set limits on the movement, and supplied movement information to the test apparatus. As specimens moved, load/deformation and weather conditions (temperature, relative humidity, UV radiation, precipitation, and wind velocity) were measured every few minutes to give an extensive database containing these variables. In addition, controlled tests were done every four hours during the exposure. At these four hour intervals, the computer was programmed to interrupt weather-induced cyclic fatigue and conduct a standard-strain test. The data enabled us to calculate the elastic modulus of each specimen at any time during the exposure and to construct a model that fit the observed temperature and relative humidity effects on modulus.
HIGH TEMPERATURE THERMODYNAMICS OF THE SOLID SOLUTIONS OF HYDROGEN AND DEUTERIUM IN PALLADIUM AND IN THE Pd0.9Ag0.1 ALLOY

The thermodynamic properties of dilute solutions of hydrogen and deuterium in palladium and in the Pd 0.9 Ag 0.1 alloy have been studied by a combined calorimetric-equilibrium method at 500-700 K. A description of the experimental method and a discussion of the significance of the results are presented. A special advantage of the method is that it provides precise and reliable values of Δ H ¯ H and Δ S ¯ H , which allows a discussion of the dependence of these quantities on temperature. This in turn provides an experimental basis for a discussion of the validity of the harmonic oscillator model for the interstitial hydrogen atoms. It is shown that precise high temperature measurements also may have implications with respect to the interpretation of properties at low temperatures.
Not just falling off a horse: Conversion and insight in pedagogy and classroom practice:

This paper seeks to make use of the theological concept of conversion as a means of understanding and explicating the process of insight and understanding as it is experienced by students, and, in ...
Severe cholestatic jaundice associated with Graves' disease

We describe a rare case of Graves' disease presenting with atrial fibrillation and severe cholestasis. An extensive evaluation for hepatobiliary causes of cholestasis, including hepatic biopsy, was entirely negative. He was successfully treated with methimazole and eventual thyroidectomy. With caution, thionamides can be utilized successfully for such patients.
Can Tax Incentives Create a Local Film Industry? Evidence from Louisiana and New Mexico.

State film incentives (SFIs) are a recent and popular economic development incentive. I study these through case studies of two prominent SFIs—those in Louisiana and New Mexico—using the synthetic ...
Satellite mapping of tillage practices in the North Central US region from 2005 to 2016

Abstract Low-intensity tillage has become more popular among farmers in the United States and many other regions. However, accurate data on when and where low-intensity tillage methods are being used remain scarce, and this scarcity impedes understanding of the factors affecting the adoption and the agronomic or environmental impacts of these practices. In this study, we used composites of satellite imagery from Landsat 5, 7, and 8, and Sentinel-1 in combination with producer data from about 5900 georeferenced fields to train a random forest classifier and generate annual large-scale maps of tillage intensity from 2005 to 2016. We tested different combinations of hyper-parameters using cross-validation, splitting the training and testing data alternatively by field, year, and state to assess the influence of clustering on validation results and evaluate the generalizability of the classification model. We found that the best model was able to map tillage practices across the entire North Central US region at 30 m-resolution with accuracies spanning between 75% and 79%, depending on the validation approach. We also found that although Sentinel-1 provides an independent measure that should be sensitive to surface moisture and roughness, it currently adds relatively little to classification performance beyond what is possible with Landsat. When aggregated to the state level, the satellite estimates of percentage low- and high-intensity tillage agreed well with a USDA survey on tillage practices in 2006 (R2 = 0.55). The satellite data also revealed clear increases in low-intensity tillage area for most counties in the past decade. Overall, the ability to accurately map spatial and temporal patterns in tillage should facilitate further study of this important practice in the United States, as well as other regions with fewer survey-based estimates.
Novel genetic associations with interferon in systemic lupus erythematosus identified by replication and fine-mapping of trait-stratified genome-wide screen.

Abstract Background/Purpose High serum interferon alpha (IFN-α) is an important heritable phenotype in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which is involved in primary disease pathogenesis. High vs. low levels of IFN-α are associated with disease severity and account for some of the biological heterogeneity between SLE patients. The aim of the study was to replicate and fine-map previously detected genetic associations with serum IFN-α in SLE. Methods We previously undertook a case-case genome-wide association study of SLE patients stratified by ancestry and extremes of phenotype in serum IFN-α. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven loci identified in this screen were selected for follow up in a large independent cohort of 1370 SLE patients (703 European-ancestry, 432 African ancestry, and 235 Amerindian ancestry). Each ancestral background was analyzed separately, and ancestry-informative markers were used to control for ancestry and admixture. Results We find a rare haplotype spanning the promoter region of EFNA5 that is strongly associated with serum IFN-α in both African-American and European-American SLE patients (OR = 3.0, p = 3.7 × 10−6). We also find SNPs in the PPM1H, PTPRM, and NRGN regions associated with IFN-α levels in European-American, Amerindian, and African-American SLE patients respectively. Many of these associations are within regulatory regions of the gene, suggesting an impact on transcription. Conclusion This study demonstrates the power of molecular sub-phenotypes to reveal genetic factors involved in complex autoimmune disease. The distinct associations observed in different ancestral backgrounds emphasize the heterogeneity of molecular pathogenesis in SLE.
Iterative Sampled Methods for Massive and Separable Nonlinear Inverse Problems

In this paper, we consider iterative methods based on sampling for computing solutions to separable nonlinear inverse problems where the entire dataset cannot be accessed or is not available all-at-once. In such scenarios (e.g., when massive amounts of data exceed memory capabilities or when data is being streamed), solving inverse problems, especially nonlinear ones, can be very challenging. We focus on separable nonlinear problems, where the objective function is nonlinear in one (typically small) set of parameters and linear in another (larger) set of parameters. For the linear problem, we describe a limited-memory sampled Tikhonov method, and for the nonlinear problem, we describe an approach to integrate the limited-memory sampled Tikhonov method within a nonlinear optimization framework. The proposed method is computationally efficient in that it only uses available data at any iteration to update both sets of parameters. Numerical experiments applied to massive super-resolution image reconstruction problems show the power of these methods.
Seeing through the Fence Rows: Early Intervention, Children and Families in Rural Places.

Child growth and development happens within the social, cultural, political, environmental and economic contexts of a particular “place.” This broad context is often unacknowledged by researchers and policy makers who describe best practice in the field as if “one size fits all.” In this article, the practice of an early interventionist in a rural community is described as embedded in family and community in order to consider the impact of “ruralness” on practice. Collaboration with family and child service professionals and others who work to improve the economic health of rural communities is considered important.
Nucleoside-Nucleotide Analog Combination Therapy Is Effective in Preventing Recurrent Hepatitis B After Liver Transplantation.

Hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) in combination with a nucleos(t)ide analog is the mainstay of prophylactic regimen to prevent recurrence of hepatitis B following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). HBIg therapy is costly and inconvenient for the patients. There is a growing experience converting HBIg/nucleos(t)ide to combination nucleotide/nucleoside analogs from. Twenty-six patients that underwent OLT between March 2001 and July 2011 who had received at least 12 months of HBIg and single nucleos(t)ide were enrolled. HBsAg and HBV DNA were undetectable, and anti-HBs were detectable at the time of switch. HBV DNA and HBsAg were measured every 3 months following discontinuation of HBIg and addition of nucleos(t)ide. Patients included 23 Asians/3 Caucasian, 21 males/5 females. Mean time of conversion from HBIg/nucleos(t)ide to nucleoside/nucleotide combination was 77.5 (range 11–132) months after OLT. Mean duration of follow-up after conversion was 31.9 (range 14–70) months. All patients had undetectable HBV DNA, and 24 patients remained HBsAg negative during follow-up. Two patients recurred 7 and 9 months later, respectively, with detectable HBsAg. Both patients continued to have undetectable HBV DNA and normal ALT. HBsAg was neutralized by reinfusion of HBIg. Nucleoside/nucleotide combination is an effective alternative to HBIg/nucleos(t)ide to prevent recurrence of hepatitis B after OLT.
A 1-V 8.1- $\mu$ W PPG-Recording Front-End With > 92-dB DR Using Light-to-Digital Conversion With Signal-Aware DC Subtraction and Ambient Light Removal

This letter reports on a photoplethysmogram (PPG) readout IC (ROIC), comprising an ultralow-power recording front-end and a 2-channel light-emitting diode (LED) driver. The front-end uniquely employs a continuous-time, first-order, incremental delta–sigma modulator (I– $\Delta \Sigma \text{M}$ ) for direct light-to-digital conversion in a single stage with duty-cycled operation for power savings. Moreover, the I– $\Delta \Sigma \text{M}$ enables reconfigurable operation in intermittent conversion phases that allows the direct measurement of dc and ambient light-induced components of the photodiode current for signal-aware on-the-fly cancellation to recover the small ac PPG signal. Fabricated in 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ 1P/6M CMOS, the PPG ROIC features a high dynamic range of 92.7 dB, dissipates 8.1 $\mu \text{W}$ and 1.95 mW in the recording front-end and the LED (with its driver), respectively, with ~10% duty cycling, and is validated by high-fidelity PPG recording from a human subject fingertip using an infrared LED.
On the Evidence of Thermodynamic Self-Organization during Fatigue: A Review

In this review paper, the evidence and application of thermodynamic self-organization are reviewed for metals typically with single crystals subjected to cyclic loading. The theory of self-organization in thermodynamic processes far from equilibrium is a cutting-edge theme for the development of a new generation of materials. It could be interpreted as the formation of globally coherent patterns, configurations and orderliness through local interactivities by "cascade evolution of dissipative structures". Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, entropy, and dissipative structures connected to self-organization phenomenon (patterning, orderliness) are briefly discussed. Some example evidences are reviewed in detail to show how thermodynamics self-organization can emerge from a non-equilibrium process; fatigue. Evidences including dislocation density evolution, stored energy, temperature, and acoustic signals can be considered as the signature of self-organization. Most of the attention is given to relate an analogy between persistent slip bands (PSBs) and self-organization in metals with single crystals. Some aspects of the stability of dislocations during fatigue of single crystals are discussed using the formulation of excess entropy generation.
Principal coordinates and principal velocity gradient tensor decomposition

Helmholtz velocity decomposition and Cauchy-Stokes tensor decomposition have been widely accepted as the foundation of fluid kinematics for a long time. However, there are some problems with these decompositions which cannot be ignored. Firstly, Cauchy-Stokes decomposition itself is not Galilean invariant which means under different coordinates, the stretching (compression) and deformation are quite different. Another problem is that the anti-symmetric part of the velocity gradient tensor is not the proper quantity to represent fluid rotation. To show these two drawbacks, two counterexamples are given in this paper. Then “principal coordinate” and “principal decomposition” are introduced to solve the problems of Helmholtz decomposition. An easy way is given to find the Principal decomposition which has the property of Galilean invariance.
A TAL effector-like protein of an endofungal bacterium increases the stress tolerance and alters the transcriptome of the host

Symbioses of bacteria with fungi have only recently been described and are poorly understood. In the symbiosis of Mycetohabitans (formerly Burkholderia) rhizoxinica with the fungus Rhizopus microsporus, bacterial type III (T3) secretion is known to be essential. Proteins resembling T3-secreted transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors of plant pathogenic bacteria are encoded in the three sequenced Mycetohabitans spp. genomes. TAL effectors nuclear-localize in plants, where they bind and activate genes important in disease. The Burkholderia TAL-like (Btl) proteins bind DNA but lack the N- and C-terminal regions, in which TAL effectors harbor their T3 and nuclear localization signals, and activation domain. We characterized a Btl protein, Btl19-13, and found that, despite the structural differences, it can be T3-secreted and can nuclear-localize. A btl19 -13 gene knockout did not prevent the bacterium from infecting the fungus, but the fungus became less tolerant to cell membrane stress. Btl19-13 did not alter transcription in a plant-based reporter assay, but 15 R. microsporus genes were differentially expressed in comparisons both of the fungus infected with the wild-type bacterium vs. the mutant and with the mutant vs. a complemented strain. Southern blotting revealed btl genes in 14 diverse Mycetohabitans isolates. However, banding patterns and available sequences suggest variation, and the btl19-13 phenotype could not be rescued by a btl gene from a different strain. Our findings support the conclusion that Btl proteins are effectors that act on host DNA and play important but varied or possibly host genotype-specific roles in the M. rhizoxinica-R. microsporus symbiosis.
The Phenomenon of Moving to Online/Distance Delivery as a Result of COVID-19: Exploring Initial Perceptions of Higher Education Faculty at a Rural Midwestern University

The purpose of this study was to explore the initial perceptions and experiences of faculty whose classes were moved to an online/distance delivery as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic Using mixed methods online survey methodology, the researchers sought to describe faculty perceptions relative to their response to moving all university courses online within the timeframe allotted by university leadership Building upon this groups’ previous research, which focused on the relationships among care and rigor in the online teaching/learning environment, the researchers designed survey questions to further explore these concepts during a time of chaos The survey addressed faculty perceptions and lived experiences related to supporting this transition, previous experiences with online teaching, the role of rigor and care in course design and implementation, and opportunities for demonstrating care toward colleagues Information gleaned from the study will help to inform university leadership, instructional design support personnel, and faculty As the long-term economic, social, and academic effects are realized across the world, the researchers anticipate significant changes in higher education © Copyright © 2020 Cameron-Standerford, Menard, Edge, Bergh, Shayter, Smith and VandenAvond
Association of COVID-19 Misinformation with Face Mask Wearing and Social Distancing in a Nationally Representative US Sample.

Wide-spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges for communicating public health recommendations. Should campaigns to promote protective behaviors focus on debunking ...
The Use of β-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists in Psychiatry: A Review.

Background β-Blockers (BBs) are a widely used class of medications with a number of medical indications. Their ability to suppress the adrenergic response has made them a target of investigation for treating a variety of psychiatric symptoms. Objective The aim of this review is to identify evidence regarding the use of BBs for various psychiatric disorders including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychosis, and posttraumatic stress disorder. We also review the evidence for use for aggression and agitation and for extrapyramidal side effects of psychiatric medications. Methods A search of PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted with search terms relevant to the use of BBs for psychiatric conditions. Studies were selected based on relevance to the review objective, focusing on systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Case reports were included and are clearly identified when referenced in this review. Results A total of 44 publications were included that examined the use of BBs as treatment for the following psychiatric symptoms and conditions: anxiety disorders, depression and mood disorders, acute stress disorder and postraumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorders and extrapyramidal symptoms, as well as aggression and agitation. Additionally, adverse effects and drug-drug interactions were reviewed. Conclusion Well-characterized psychiatric uses of BBs include treating symptoms of performance anxiety and akathisia. Some positive evidence exists for BB therapy in other disorders such as specific phobia, panic disorder, and for aggression in patients with psychosis, acquired brain injury, or intellectual disability. Most of the evidence on the role of BBs in psychiatry is as adjunctive treatment for management of somatic symptoms rather than as monotherapy. Outside of performance anxiety and akathisia, the role of BBs in psychiatry has not been subjected to careful study, and further investigative trials are needed.
And Now for Some Good News: Trends in Student Retention at Community Colleges, 2004–2017

Community colleges have been under pressure for years to improve retention rates. Considering well-publicized reductions in state funding during and after the Great Recession, progress in this area is unexpected. And yet this is precisely what we find. Using the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), we find an average increase in retention of nearly 5 percentage points, or 9 percent, across the sector from 2004 to 2017. Over 70% of institutions posted retention gains, and average improvement occurred yearly over the period excepting a reversal at the height of the Great Recession. Gains were smaller on average at schools with higher tuition and that serve more disadvantaged populations, and larger at institutions with lower student-faculty ratios and higher per-student instructional spending. Fixed-effects regression and Oaxaca decomposition analyses demonstrate that these gains were not caused by observable changes in student body composition or in institutional characteristics such as increased per-student instructional spending.
Disulfide reduction in rat liver. I. Evidence for the presence of nonspecific nucleotide-dependent disulfide reductase and GSH-disulfide transhydrogenase activities in the high-speed supernatant fraction.

Abstract Dialyzed preparations of the 100,000g supernatant fraction of rat liver were found to promote the reduction of the disulfide bonds of protein and nonprotein substrates when supplemented with NADPH but not with NADH. Extracts of the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions were inactive in this regard when supplemented with either nucleotide. Results of simultaneous spectrophotometric measurements of NADPH utilization and sulfhydryl formation were consistent with the appearance of two sulfhydryl groups per NADPH oxidized. The d - and l -forms of cystine were reduced by the supernatant enzyme system at equal rates. The nucleotide-dependent disulfide-reducing activity of the supernatant fraction was abolished by exposure to 10−4, m arsenite or by heating at 70 ° for 30 min, treatments which were without effect on the NADPH-specific glutathione reductase activity of these same preparations. Similarities of this disulfide-reducing enzyme activity to the thioredoxin system have been noted. In addition to the foregoing nucleotide-dependent disulfide-reducing system, the supernatant fraction also exhibits an arsenite-insensitive GSH-disulfide transhydrogenase (oxidoreductase) activity capable of catalyzing the reduction of both protein and nonprotein disulfide substrates by GSH when coupled with NADPH and an endogenous or exogenous source of glutathione reductase.
Comparison of Unsteady and Quasi-Unsteady Flow Models in Simulating Sediment Transport in an Ephemeral Arizona Stream1

Hummel, Ryan, Jennifer G. Duan, and Shiyan Zhang, 2012. Comparison of Unsteady and Quasi-Unsteady Flow Models in Simulating Sediment Transport in an Ephemeral Arizona Stream. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(5): 987-998. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2012.00663.x Abstract: Hydrodynamic and sediment transport models are useful engineering tools for predicting unsteady flood flow and sediment transport. Many models such as HEC-RAS, HEC-6, and IALLUVIAL apply quasi-unsteady flow model, whereas others apply the unsteady flow model. It remains unknown if a quasi-unsteady flow model is sufficiently accurate for simulating sediment transport in rapidly varied unsteady flood events, especially in ephemeral rivers in arid and semiarid regions. This study compared the quasi-unsteady HEC-RAS 4.1 model with one-dimensional (1D) Finite Volume Method (FVM) based model in simulating flood flow and sediment transport in the Pantano Wash, a dryland river in the state of Arizona. The objective is to determine which sediment transport method is appropriate in predicting bed elevation changes in an ephemeral stream, Pantano Wash, and if an unsteady model is more accurate than a quasi-unsteady flow model in predicting sediment transport. Results showed that the quasi-unsteady HEC-RAS model and the 1D FVM yielded similar results of bed degradation and aggradation for this dryland stream, although the FVM model predicted better flood hydrographs. Among the seven sediment transport formulas embedded in HEC-RAS, Yang’s and Engelund-Hansen’s equations gave the best matches with the field measurements for this particular case study.
Chromosomal protein HMG-14. Identification, characterization, and chromosome localization of a functional gene from the large human multigene family.

Abstract The human HMG-14 multigene family is one of the largest retropseudogene families known. To identify and isolate a functional human HMG-14 gene, genomic clones, selected with the cDNA, were screened with a set of 6 oligonucleotides. A single genomic clone was isolated suggesting that the human genome contains few, and perhaps only one, functional genes. An 8882-base pair (bp) genomic clone containing the complete, 6804-bp-long human gene together with 850 bp 5' to the start of transcription and 1228 bp 3' to the end of transcription was sequenced. The gene is comprised of 6 exons ranging in size from 30 to 839 bp, two of which code for the entire DNA binding site of the protein, and has several features typical of "housekeeping" genes. Using human-rodent somatic cell hybrids, the HMG-14 gene was localized to human chromosome 21. A restriction fragment length polymorphism, useful for further analysis and mapping, has been detected. The present article, which describes the first isolation and characterization of a gene coding for chromosomal protein HMG-14, indicates that genes coding for HMG-14 and HMG-17 may share several distinctive characteristics. Comparison with the human and chicken HMG-17 genes reveals that all contain 6 exons, that all have exons of similar size, that all have 5' regions highly enriched in GC residues and that all have features typical of housekeeping genes.
Vertebral Osteomyelitis in Children: Report of Four Cases

Four children had vertebral osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus. Abdominal signs and fever were frequent clinical manifestations. Back pain was an uncommon symptom except as a late manifestation in one patient. The portal of entry of the organism generally was not apparent. Location of infection was in the lower thoracic and lumbar spine. Diagnosis was based on roentgenographic changes, radionuclide imaging, and bacteriologic corroboration. We conclude that symptoms and signs of vertebral osteomyelitis in children can be atypical and that a diligent attempt to rapidly diagnose and promptly treat this condition will prevent orthopedic and neurologic sequelae.
Modifiable influences on female HPV vaccine uptake at the clinic encounter level: A literature review

AbstractPurpose:A review of the literature to identify modifiable influences on female human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake relevant to clinical practice in order to support nurse practitioners (NPs) in the prevention of cervical cancer.Data sources:PubMed, CINAHL, reference lists of publicatio
Quantum dynamics of the Cl+H2 reaction at ultracold temperatures#

Quantum calculations are reported for the reaction between vibrationally excited H2 molecules and Cl atoms at energies ranging from the ultracold to thermal regimes. It is found that chemical reaction leading to vibrationally excited HCl molecules dominates over non-reactive vibrational quenching. The product HCl molecule is found to be formed predominantly in the v = 1 vibrational level with appreciable rotational excitation. A spin-orbit uncorrected value of 1.86 × 10 − 12 cm3 molecule − 1 s − 1 is predicted for the rate coefficient in the zero-temperature limit, which is about two orders of magnitude larger than the thermal rate coefficient of the Cl+H2 reaction at 300 K.
Electrical Conduction and Reliability in Dual-Layered Graphene Heterostructure Interconnects

Dual-layer graphene (DLG) interconnects with hexagonal boron nitride ( h -BN) as intercalated insulating layer have been demonstrated. The DLG employs graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition process with h -BN serving as a barrier preventing interlayer scattering, which degrades carrier transport in multilayer graphene. The conductive behavior in dual-layer structures is compared with monolayer graphene and randomly stacked bilayer graphene. Reduced resistance is observed in DLG, which exhibits higher current-carrying capacity and maximum power density. In addition, DLG wire is shown to be robust under constant voltage stressing (10 V) at an elevated temperature (150 °C) with the mean time to failure $\sim 75$ times higher than that of stacked bilayer graphene wires.
Optimal input cost sharing for tenants: Implications for negotiating efficiency

Abstract We demonstrate the influence of optimal input cost sharing on the riskneutral tenant's input choice and income. We determine the share arrangements that generate an efficient outcome compared with the owner-operator's input choices. In an illustration with a corn-peanut rotation in Alabama, we use parametric programming to determine the tenant's optimal input cost share for corn fertilizer, a key input, while varying the output shares and cost shares of other inputs. The tenant's income above variable costs is highest when the cost share permits the level of fertilizer to reach the efficient level, at which the optimal fertilizer cost share is higher than both the output share and the cost share for other inputs. Owners and tenants may benefit from negotiating shares rather than applying simple rules setting all input cost and output shares equal.
Rate and power allocation in fading multiple access channels

We consider the problem of rate and power allocation in a fading multiple-access channel. Our objective is to obtain rate and power allocation policies that maximize a utility function defined over average transmission rates. In contrast with the literature, which focuses on the linear case, we present results for general concave utility functions. We consider two cases. In the first case, we assume that power control is possible and channel statistics are known. In this case, we show that the optimal policies can be obtained greedily by maximizing a linear utility function at each channel state. In the second case, we assume that power control is not possible and channel statistics are not available. In this case, we define a greedy rate allocation policy and provide upper bounds on the performance difference between the optimal and the greedy policy. Our bounds highlight the dependence of the performance difference on the channel variations and the structure of the utility function.
Efficiency measurements of deuterated liquid scintillators using d(d,n)3He coincidence events

Abstract Deuterated liquid scintillators are promising from the perspective of n / γ separation and neutron energy measurement without time-of-flight. In order to turn these into precision instruments for nuclear physics, however, the absolute efficiency must be known. The efficiency is typically a function of energy and is strongly dependent on the electronics thresholds used with the photomultiplier detectors. This study involves the extraction of this efficiency using the d(d,n)3He reaction (Ed=16.0 MeV) and n-3He coincidence events. The detection and identification of the ions are very efficient and allows one to project pure monoenergetic neutron spectra all the way down to the electronics threshold. Timing information was also recorded in these measurements to provide further constraints and a consistency check.
Defective Cell Cycle Checkpoint Functions in Melanoma Are Associated with Altered Patterns of Gene Expression

Defects in DNA damage responses may underlie genetic instability and malignant progression in melanoma. Cultures of normal human melanocytes (NHMs) and melanoma lines were analyzed to determine whether global patterns of gene expression could predict the efficacy of DNA damage cell cycle checkpoints that arrest growth and suppress genetic instability. NHMs displayed effective G1 and G2 checkpoint responses to ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage. A majority of melanoma cell lines (11/16) displayed significant quantitative defects in one or both checkpoints. Melanomas with B-RAF mutations as a class displayed a significant defect in DNA damage G2 checkpoint function. In contrast the epithelial-like subtype of melanomas with wild-type N-RAS and B-RAF alleles displayed an effective G2 checkpoint but a significant defect in G1 checkpoint function. RNA expression profiling revealed that melanoma lines with defects in the DNA damage G1 checkpoint displayed reduced expression of p53 transcriptional targets, such as CDKN1A and DDB2, and enhanced expression of proliferation-associated genes, such as CDC7 and GEMININ. A Bayesian analysis tool was more accurate than significance analysis of microarrays for predicting checkpoint function using a leave-one-out method. The results suggest that defects in DNA damage checkpoints may be recognized in melanomas through analysis of gene expression.