cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Small Molecule, Non-Peptide p75NTR Ligands Inhibit Aβ-Induced Neurodegeneration and Synaptic Impairment

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is expressed by neurons particularly vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We tested the hypothesis that non-peptide, small molecule p75NTR ligands found to promote survival signaling might prevent Aβ-induced degeneration and synaptic dysfunction. These ligands inhibited Aβ-induced neuritic dystrophy, death of cultured neurons and Aβ-induced death of pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slice cultures. Moreover, ligands inhibited Aβ-induced activation of molecules involved in AD pathology including calpain/cdk5, GSK3β and c-Jun, and tau phosphorylation, and prevented Aβ-induced inactivation of AKT and CREB. Finally, a p75NTR ligand blocked Aβ-induced hippocampal LTP impairment. These studies support an extensive intersection between p75NTR signaling and Aβ pathogenic mechanisms, and introduce a class of specific small molecule ligands with the unique ability to block multiple fundamental AD-related signaling pathways, reverse synaptic impairment and inhibit Aβ-induced neuronal dystrophy and death.
What’s Your Major? College Majors as Markers of Creativity

The present research explored the value of students’ college majors as indicators of creativity, particularly creative traits, accomplishments, and interests. Two samples of undergraduate students indicated all of their majors, minors, and degree concentrations; each person was then simply classified as having a major in the arts or a conventional major. Consistent with past work on individual differences in creativity, students with arts majors scored significantly higher in openness to experience, knowledge about the fine arts, creative accomplishments, everyday creative actions, and creative self-concepts; they also described their major as affording more opportunities to develop and express their creativity. Taken together, the findings suggest that students’ majors offer interesting information about individual differences related to creativity.
A systematic review of locking plate fixation of proximal humerus fractures

Purpose: Technique for the fixation of two, three, and four part proximal humerus fractures has rapidly shifted towards the use of specially contoured proximal humerus locking plates. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short to medium term functional results and common complications associated with the fixation of proximal humerus fractures with locking plates. Methods: The PubMed and EMBASE databases were used to perform a systematic review of the English literature to assess the functional results and complications associated with proximal humerus locking plates. Our inclusion criteria were proximal humerus fracture due to trauma (excluding pathologic fractures), patients greater than 18 years of age, more than 15 patients in the study or subgroup of interest, at least 18 months follow-up, at least one relevant functional outcome score, and quality outcome score of at least 5/10. Studies that did not meet these criteria were excluded. All institutional, author, and journal information was concealed to minimize reviewer bias. Results: Twelve studies including 514 patients met the inclusion criteria. At most recent follow-up patients achieved a mean Constant score of 74 and a mean DASH score of 27. The overall rate of complications was 49% including varus malunion, 33% excluding varus malunion, and reoperation rate was 14%. The most common complications included varus malunion 16%, AVN 10%, screw perforation of the humeral head into the joint 8%, subacromial impingement 6%, and infection 4%. Discussion: Fixation of proximal humerus fractures with proximal humerus locking plates is associated with a high rate of complications and reoperation. Further study is needed to determine what technical errors and patient characteristics are risk factors for failure of this now common fixation technique.
Coagulation of lyophobic colloids by metal chelates. I

Abstract The coagulation and reversal of charge of a silver bromide sol in statu nascendi by chelates has been studied as a function of pH. Ethylenediamine, propane-1,3-diamine, 2-picolylamine, 2,2′-dipyridyl, and 1,10-phenanthroline complexes of Ni(II) and Co(III) and ethylenediamine chromium (III) complex ions have been used in this work. The chelation of metal ions causes significant enhancement in their coagulation and reversal of charge abilities. These effects have been discussed in terms of the stability, size, and hydration of the chelate counterions.
Ramsey resonance in high field; a novel method for the measurement of hyperfine Zeeman frequencies of muonium

A novel method for measuring hyperfine Zeeman transitions in muonium,i.e. « Ramsey resonance » in high field, is described both theoretically and practically. Various potential sources of systematic errors are exhaustively discussed. Data taken at 30 atm krypton buffer gas pressure are presented. They agree with the most accurate previous high-field results, and provide evidence for the so-calledg j shift in muonium.
Marine Bivalvia (Mollusca) of Guam

The marine bivalves of Guam are documented from new collections and 339 species recorded. Nevertheless Guam's fauna remains imperfectly known and is estimated to be considerably more diverse. Such high diversity on a local scale in the west-central Pacific suggests that bivalve diversity in the Indo-west Pacific is much higher than previously recorded. Pteriomorphs and heterodonts dominate Guam's fauna, while protobranchs and anomalodesmatans comprise only four species. Galeommatids represent the most species rich family, even though they are uncommon in samples.
Identifying markers for pancreatic cancer by gene expression analysis

To begin to identify new tumor markers, we recently performed a systematic study of gene expression in cancers of the colon and pancreas. Of the 45,000 genes identified, 183 were found to be expressed at significantly elevated levels in pancreatic cancer. One of the genes was tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase type I (TIMP-1), which encodes a secreted protein. Analysis of TIMP-1 serum levels revealed significant increases in pancreatic cancer patients, but TIMP-1 by itself was inadequate as a serum marker for cancer. However, a combination of individually suboptimal markers (TIMP-1, CA19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen) detected 60% of 85 patients with pancreatic cancers in a highly specific manner. These results suggest that a systematic analysis of gene expression can reveal novel serum markers and that individually suboptimal markers can be combined to yield higher sensitivity and specificity.
Interpretation and Relevance of Advanced Technique Results

Advanced techniques in the field of diagnostic microbiology have made amazing progress over the past two decades due largely to a technological revolution in the molecular aspects of microbiology [1, 2]. In particular, rapid molecular methods for nucleic acid amplification and characterization combined with automation and user-friendly software have significantly broadened the diagnostic capabilities of modern clinical microbiology laboratories. Molecular methods such as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) rapidly are being developed and introduced in the clinical laboratory setting. Indeed, every section of the clinical microbiology laboratory, including bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, and virology, have benefited from these advanced techniques. Because of the rapid development and adaptation of these molecular techniques, the interpretation and relevance of the results produced by such molecular methods has lagged somewhat behind. The purpose of this chapter is to review and discuss the interpretation and relevance of results produced by these advanced molecular techniques. Moreover, this chapter will address the “myths” of NAATs, as these myths can markedly influence the interpretation and relevance of these results.
Relationship between Targeting Efficacy of Liposomes and the Dosage of Targeting Antibody Using Surface Plasmon Resonance

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used in this research to investigate the targeting efficacy (i.e., the binding affinity) of antibody-modified liposomes. The results indicated that liposomes modified by targeting antibodies exhibited an increase in apparent binding affinity, a result attributed to the avidity effect. More specifically, the targeting effect improved as the surface density of the targeting antibody increased, an increase primarily attributed to the decrease of the dissociation rate. However, this trend stopped when the surface density reached a threshold of approximately 1.5 × 108 antibody/mm2. This surface density was found to be quite consistent regardless of the liposome size and the type of targeting antibody. In addition, a traditional cell binding experiment was conducted to confirm the saturation point obtained from SPR.
Communicating the Rhythm

To the Editor: Accurate hand-off communication among health care providers has been a focus of quality improvement and hospital accreditation.1 Although much emphasis has been placed on in-hospital transfers of care, there is a growing focus on communication between emergency medical services and emergency department physicians.2,3 In Pennsylvania, state law mandates that required information collected in the field be filed as a patient care report that is incorporated into the chart,4 but rhythm strips from the field are neither mandated nor routinely included, since older models of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) do not save or print out data. When . . .
Subsidence of Peat in California and Florida

Subsidence of reclaimed peaty sediments in warm climate is mostly caused by biochemical oxidation and is relatively little known to engineering geologists. Two examples of such subsidence located in areas with major peat deposits, one in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California and the second one in Florida9s Everglades, described in the paper are good illustrations of the potentially enormous economic impacts of such subsidence. In the 2,835 km 2 Delta, subsidence of original freshwater tidal marsh peat locally exceeded 10–15 m. Initially flat Delta islands became saucer like depressions with surface submerged below the sea level and protected from flooding by some 1,125 km of man-made levees. Levee breaks and inundations of islands already caused multimillion dollar damages and costly repairs and costly pumplift dewatering of flooded islands. With progressing subsidence unavoidable future collapses of levees built frequently with poor materials and on poor foundations in a highly seismic area will cause irreversible flooding of the Delta. Both “soaking” of salt water from the San Francisco Bay and increased evaporation from flooded islands will increase water salinity in the Delta and jeopardize existing giant water conveyance from the Delta to the southern portion of the state. This will endanger the major agroindustry in the arid San Joaquin Valley which depends on importation of surface irrigation water. The annual crop value of the valley is about 7.5 billion dollars. In the Bell Glade area well studied subsidence caused by agricultural drainage of peat locally exceeds 3 m. Subsidence destroys highly valuable agricultural land and damages buildings, roads, and utilities. Data collected in Bell Glade indicates that such subsidence can be minimized by restriction of drainage, i.e., by properly designed agricultural technique. Engineering geologists should be aware of possibility of biochemical subsidence in organic soil and suggest 1) its proper monitoring using compaction recorders and common bench marks, and 2) its control and/or arresting by proper design of drainage or restriction of oxidation by blanketing of organic material.
Applying evolutionary psychology to human consumption.

Gad Saad is an evolutionary behavioral scientist, professor of marketing at Concordia University, and a popular blogger for Psychology Today. For much of the past 15 years, Saad's research has focused on the applicability of evolutionary psychology to consumer behavior. He has previously authored The Evolutionary Bases of Consumption (2007). As such, Saad is frequently teaching and writing on the application of evolutionary theory to topics and to audiences not traditionally receptive to this theoretical model‟s integration with their own. This process has great potential and several concurrent pitfalls. Saad is writing this current book, The Consuming Instinct, for multiple audiences. First, Saad is writing to consumers, as he claims that knowing the evolved foundations of our consumption patterns will be “liberating and empowering” (p. 33). Next, this book is designed to be a practical guide to marketers for using basic findings of evolutionary psychology (e.g. waist-to-hip ratio, a propensity to enjoy high-fat foods, the appeal of “dangerous” sports cars to risk-taking men) to sell products. It can be argued that whether or not marketers know why certain techniques work to sell products, they have long ago figured out quite accurately how to sell them. The last audience Saad is writing for, interestingly, is policy makers. He argues that consideration of evolutionary fundamentals of human psychology are oft-ignored by efforts to ban violent video games, censor offensive lyrics, and promote “healthy” body images. “Any framework that does not recognize the biological roots of maladaptive consumption will yield suboptimal intervention strategies” (p. 36). As the majority of readers are assumed to be inexpert in the evolutionary psychology model, Saad begins with the very basics (e.g., proximate vs. ultimate causation, domain specific mental algorithms, why sex feels good) and then provides rebuttals against nine anti-evolution claims (e.g., evolutionary theory conjures up “just so stories,” evolutionary theory promotes Social Darwinism) using the accepted logic of most contemporary evolutionists. Saad provides many examples throughout the book that act as a sort of primer on evolutionary psychology‟s findings of the past fifteen years or so. On “Darwinian gastronomy” Saad reviews the arguments regarding morning sickness as a defense
27‐4: Distinguished Student Paper: Integrated Sensing Platform Based on Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes

Integrated sensing platform based on quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs) is proposed. The use of QLEDs as excitation source can improve the power efficiency by 57% and above. The narrow emission band of QLED eliminates the excitation and emission overlap therefore increase the validity and accuracy of sensing. High brightness of QLED lowers down the operation voltage. Ease and flexibility of fabrication make it convenient for integration and miniaturization.
That other liquor called port

In a codicil to his will, written in 1776, the Scottish philosopher and historian David Hume added the following bequest:
Biased Objectivity: An Experiment on Information Preferences of Journalists and Citizens

The present study aims to reconcile conflicting evidence from previous research on the role of objectivity in journalists’ and citizens’ information behaviors. Drawing on news quality frameworks and confirmation bias research, the article proposes a model of “biased objectivity” that was tested by a quasi-experiment with 430 journalists and 432 citizens in Germany. Results show that both perceived objectivity value (news quality perspective) and attitude consistency of a message (confirmation bias perspective) enhanced the informational value of a message, with objectivity value mediating the effect of attitude consistency on informational value perceptions (“biased objectivity” perspective). Journalistic professionalism did not moderate this relationship.
A Logic for Organizing Information

First Order Logic is identified as being a valuable theoretical background to the organization of information. Various arguments are offered to that conclusion. The idea of abstraction or intensional abstraction is introduced as a means of formalizing concepts or types. The differences between classifying things and classifying information (or information objects) are explored. Suggestions are made on a logic for classification, in particular for the role of first order and second order properties. A logic for classification is developed and various examples and illustrations are provided. Features of common conditions for classification are discussed including: necessary and sufficient conditions, essential properties and natural kinds, determinate and indeterminate properties, violating taxonomic constraints, and jointly exclusive and pairwise disjoint (JEPD) properties. An account is given of the use of structured types for topics—this is related to earlier ideas of Shiyali Ranganathan. There is discussion of how links between topics might be established. Such links establish directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) or topics.
Plant–animal communication: past, present and future

Communication between plants and their animal partners underlies some of the planet’s most ecologically and economically important mutualisms. Study of communication in this context offers many opportunities to address fundamental questions about the costs and benefits of signal production, signal honesty, and receiver cognition. In this special issue, contributors highlight several key areas of current research, including how multiple receivers affect floral signaling, and how signaling may be related across different phases of reproduction. Visual signals are a particular emphasis, including how learning can mediate pollinator preferences, and the evolution of conspicuousness. In light of these focal areas, we summarize current trends towards the study of greater complexity both in terms of floral phenotypes and signaling/interaction networks.
Capillary Zone Electrophoresis for the Analysis of Peptides: Fostering Students’ Problem-Solving and Discovery Learning in an Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment

Capillary electrophoresis is an important analytical separation method used to study a wide variety of samples, including those of biological origin. Capillary electrophoresis may be covered in the classroom, especially in advanced analytical courses, and while many students are exposed to gel electrophoresis in biology or biochemistry laboratories, capillary electrophoresis is not as commonly found in undergraduate lab curricula. Published lab experiments that incorporate capillary electrophoresis include the analysis of caffeine in beverages and cations in water samples but not of more biological samples such as a peptide mixture. This paper introduces a peptide separation based on capillary zone electrophoresis that is both qualitative and quantitative. It describes the separation of four small peptides where two of the analytes have similar migration times, forcing students to think about how they can best identify which peak corresponds to which analyte, while exposing them to a bioanalytical applica...
Soil color sensor data collection using a GPS-enabled smartphone application

Abstract Application of accurate and low-cost sensor technology to collect soil color data provides an opportunity to increase the density, quality and quantity of soil data to monitor our changing soil resources. The objective of this study was to develop a mobile application that would enable users to create their own soils database consisting of GPS location and soil color data gathered using the application and a mobile sensor. A mobile application was created utilizing the Nix™ Pro color sensor that produces multiple color results, including Munsell color notation. The application also allows users to toggle between “in-field” sampling as well as dry or moist soil samples. Users can choose to record GPS location and a photo of the soil sample to upload into an online database for storage. The application was tested for functionality in the field and for its ability to match Munsell notation values determined using a Munsell Soil Color Chart (MSCC). Field data were synchronized to a cloud database and subsequently retrieved and used to produce a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) layout showing sample point locations and soil color attributes. The Soil Scanner application allows for rapid analysis and collection of soils data that can be stored for further study and reference using various color systems and location data.
Property Settlements as the Cornerstone of Financial Arrangements at Divorce

The financial arrangements provided by the ALI's Principles of the Law of Family Dissolution (Principles) are fundamentally flawed because they attempt to equitably deal with failed marriages rather to encourage potentially successful marriages. The legal arrangements at divorce - both the grounds and the financial settlement - have a far more important effect on the quality of marriages than is commonly recognized. In addition to love and physical attraction, marriages benefit from spouses making decisions based on their family's best interests rather than a narrow concern for their own self interest. Still, economics provides strong evidence that individuals' own self interest has a central role in their decisions. A key, therefore, to a successful marriage is an incentive structure that encourages spouses to recognize that their self interest is best served by addressing the concerns of other family members, especially their spouse. Extending their concern in this way can result in costs to them that will only be rationally incurred if there are corresponding benefits from the other family members. These costs can be emotional as well as financial.
Genome-Wide Association Analyses Reveal Snp-By-Consumption Interaction Effects On ALT And AST Levels In Alcohol Dependent Patients

Background Heavy alcohol use is causally associated with liver dysfunction. Prior genome wide association studies (GWAS) identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with liver cirrhosis or elevation of liver enzymes (including aspartate aminotransferase or AST and alanine aminotransferase or ALT) in alcohol dependent subjects. Yet, it is possible that effects of SNPs on liver function may depend on the extent of recent alcohol exposure, which was not investigated in these studies. To address this gap in our knowledge, we investigated SNP-by-consumption interaction effects on the levels of three liver enzymes (AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyl transferase or GGT) commonly used in clinical practice to assess liver function in alcohol dependent subjects Methods Self-reported alcohol consumption during previous 30 days (measured by Timeline Follow back), DNA and plasma samples for measurement of AST, ALT and GGT levels were collected from 480 alcohol dependent subjects treated in community-based treatment programs. Genotyping was conducted using Illumina HumanCore array. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the effects of SNP-by-consumption interaction on ALT, AST and GGT levels. Results Genome-wide significant evidence of consumption-interaction effects on AST (p Discussion Genomic location of our top association findings indicates their potential involvement in the essential cellular function, which may also be relevant for alcohol-related liver damage. Specifically, EXOSC10 gene is a putative catalytic component of the RNA exosome complex involved in proper maturation of stable RNA species such as rRNA, snRNA and snoRNA as well as elimination of RNA processing by-products. Moreover, the top SNP in ALT analysis (EXOSC10 rs2258621) might be a blood eQTL for MTOR, which is a serine/threonine protein kinase, belonging to a family of kinases mediating cellular responses to stresses such as DNA damage and nutrient deprivation. Similarly, GALNT2 encodes protein involved in metabolism and O-linked glycosylation pathways, while PDE9A encodes protein involved in signal transduction by regulating the intracellular concentration of cAMP and cGMP. Replication in the independent sample as well as investigation of the functional mechanisms behind these associations needs to follow.
Conclusion: A Feminist Theory of Corruption

The final chapter summarizes the book’s argument about twenty-first-century bait-and-switch male dominance. This includes why and how this new form of male dominance came about and the effect that it has on women (and other feminists) in politics, feminist mobilization, and gender equality policymaking. Johnson draws out the implications for political science, showing how taking informal politics seriously extends the study of feminist political economy, women’s representation, feminist and women’s movements, and policymaking. The final section considers some practical suggestions for promoting equality.
Individual genes underlying quantitative traits: Molecular and analytical methods

Because of innovations in quantitative and molecular genetics, it is becoming possible to study the individual loci affecting quantitative traits, quantitative trait loci (QTL). We review a number of recently developed molecular and analytical techniques that allow the identification and localization of QTL and the quantification of their effects, and present an example. We suggest that this area of investigation, already in widespread use in the agricultural and medical sciences, will become increasingly important in evolutionary biology as techniques continue to improve.
Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy in Shock-associated Cardiac Arrest.

Rationale: Many in-hospital cardiac arrests are precipitated by hypotension, often associated with systemic inflammation. These patients are less likely to be successfully resuscitated, and novel a...
Serum C-reactive Protein and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio After Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy in Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Background/aim The predictive value of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients receiving neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) has not been analyzed. Patients and methods From 2007 to 2015, we identified 98 STS patients from a prospective database. Using multivariate analysis, we analyzed CRP and N/L ratios as predictors of overall survival (OS). Results Mean age of patients was 59 years, 46% were female, and 55% of tumors were located at the extremity. A total of 15 histologies were represented. Fifty percent received preoperative RT. Except for extremity location, characteristics were similar between the preoperative RT and upfront surgery cohorts, including baseline CRP levels and N/L ratios. Multivariate analysis of upfront surgery revealed histological grade, tumor size, and baseline N/L ratio to be predictors of OS, while for preoperative RT, baseline CRP and N/L ratio were not predictive. Conclusion Baseline CRP and N/L ratio did not predict poor clinical outcome in STS patients receiving neoadjuvant RT.
The deliberative relevance of refraining from deciding: A response to McKenna and Pereboom

Readers familiar with Harry Frankfurt’s argument that we do not need leeway-liberty (or the power to bring about alternative possible actions or intentions) to be morally responsible will probably also know that the most famous and popular response on behalf of leeway-libertarianism remains a dilemma posed in similar forms by David Widerker, Robert Kane, and Carl Ginet: either the agent retains significant residual leeway in Frankfurt-style cases, or these cases beg the question by presupposing causal determinism. In the last few years, there have been several different attempts to defend Frankfurtian critiques of PAP in response this dilemma. In a novel approach, Derk Pereboom and Michael McKenna present cases in which all deliberatively relevant or “robust” alternatives are blocked, but the agent’s act or decision is not determined. Pereboom and McKenna argue that any plausible leeway-condition on responsibility must characterize the required alternatives as robust in two ways: being voluntary performances and having a practical relevance accessible to the agent’s mind.
Remarks on the Power of Non-Parametric Tests of Consumer-Theory Hypotheses

This paper addresses two aspects of the power of non-parametric tests of consumer-theory hypotheses. The first part discusses the tests of revealed-preference hypotheses using aggregate data, and in the process resurrects an apparently overlooked paper written by H. S. Houthakker in 1962. The second part shows that non-parametric tests for separability have no power to distinguish between strict separability and (non-strict) separability.
Phonon density of states of superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 and the nonsuperconducting analog YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6

Neutron scattering has been used to study the vibrational density of states and the atomic structure of the high-temperature superconductor Y${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$, and the analogous nonsuperconducting compound Y${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{6}$. The density of states of the superconductor shows a strong double peak at about 20 meV and a second major maximum near 70 meV with additional less-intense features present at intermediate energies. The Y${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ material shows a similar energy spectrum above 45 meV; however, below this energy there are significant differences associated with the O vacancies in the linear $b$-axis chain site.
The Effect of Geographic Proximity to Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Public Support for Hydraulic Fracturing

With the rapid growth of unconventional oil and natural gas development transforming the U.S. economic and physical landscape, social scientists have increasingly explored the spatial dynamics of public support for this issue-that is, whether people closer to unconventional oil and gas development are more supportive or more opposed. While theoretical frameworks like construal-level theory and the "Not in My Backyard" (or NIMBY) moniker provide insight into these spatial dynamics, case studies in specific locations experiencing energy development reveal substantial variation in community responses. Larger-scale studies exploring the link between proximity and support have been hampered by data quality and availability. We draw on a unique data set that includes geo-coded data from national surveys (nine waves; n = 19,098) and high-resolution well location data to explore the relationship between proximity and both familiarity with and support for hydraulic fracturing. We use two different measures of proximity-respondent distance to the nearest well and the density of wells within a certain radius of the respondent's location. We find that both types of proximity to new development are linked to more familiarity with hydraulic fracturing, even after controlling for various individual and contextual factors, but only distance-based proximity is linked to more support for the practice. When significant, these relationships are similar to or exceed the effects of race, income, gender, and age. We discuss the implications of these findings for effective risk communication as well as the importance of incorporating spatial analysis into public opinion research on perceptions of energy development.
African-American Adolescents' Weight Loss Skills Utilization: Effects on Weight Change in a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial.

Abstract Objective Successful weight loss interventions for African-Americans adolescents are lacking. Cognitive-behavioral interventions seek to develop weight loss skills (e.g., counting calories, goal setting, managing one's environment). Little is known about how well adolescents implement such skills in their daily lives. Study aims were to (1) examine weight loss skills utilization at midpoint and end of a 6-month cognitive-behavioral/motivational interviewing weight loss sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART), and (2) determine if greater skill utilization predicted weight loss at treatment end and 3 months post-treatment. Method One hundred and eighty six African-Americans adolescents with obesity and their caregiver were first randomly assigned to complete 3 months of cognitive-behavioral and motivational interviewing family-based weight loss treatment in their home or in the research office (Phase 1). Nonresponders (i.e., those who lost Results Higher treatment attendance was associated with better skill utilization. Higher skill utilization was associated with more weight loss at treatment end, whereas higher baseline confidence was associated with more weight loss at follow-up. Conclusions This study indicates the importance of attending weight loss intervention sessions to develop and strengthen weight loss skills in African-American adolescents with obesity, and strengthening confidence to use such skills for continued weight loss.
Dipolar filtered 1H-13C heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy for resonance assignment of proteins.

Resonance assignment is necessary for the comprehensive structure determination of insoluble proteins by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. While various 2D and 3D correlation techniques involving 13C and 15N spins have been developed for this purpose, 1H chemical shift has not been exploited sufficiently. We demonstrate the combination of the regular 1H-13C heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) experiment and a dipolar filtered HETCOR technique to obtain better resolved 1H chemical shift spectra. The dipolar filtered experiment, MELODI-HETCOR, simplifies the 1H spectra by suppressing the directly bonded C-H correlation peaks and retaining only the medium- and long-range cross peaks. We apply this MELODI-HETCOR technique to several amino acids and proteins with various isotopic labeling patterns. The enhanced 1H chemical shift resolution allows the assignment of overlapping Hα and Hβ resonances in Ser, identifies the 1H chemical shift differences between neutral and cationic imidazole rings of His, and permits the assignment of residues with side chain nitrogen atoms in ubiquitin. The potential utility of this dipolar filtered HETCOR technique to resonance assignment of extensively labeled proteins is discussed.
Fiscal Stewardship, Choice, and Control: The Context of Self-Directed Services for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in the United States

Self-directed home and community based services (HCBS) waiver services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have become a viable and widely used method of service provision in the United States. Grounded in theories of self-determination, previous literature on self-direction has suggested high satisfaction and positive outcomes for people who use self-directed programs as well as cost savings for state IDD service systems. This study explored the ways in which state IDD service administrators think about how self-direction may be used as a method of achieving cost savings while providing opportunities for people with IDD and their families to exercise choice and control. Informed by 54 high-level IDD service administrators in 34 states, and guided by a thematic analysis approach to data interpretation, the study found evidence that administrators typically see strong potential for self-direction to have cost-savings benefits, while also fostering choice. In the current political climate, the need for cautious fiscal stewardship may become a stronger driving force behind self-direction for people with IDD in the United States.
Age, Sex, Race, Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation: Intersectionality of Marginalized-Group Identities and Enacted HIV-Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV in Florida

HIV-related stigma is associated with many negative health outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV). The theory of intersectionality suggests that the interactions of social identities affect PLHIV’s experiences of stigma. This study aims to identify individual and interactive marginalized-group identities correlated with enacted HIV-related stigma among PLHIV in Florida. The sample (n = 932) was majority male (66.6%), Black (58.5%), and non-Latino (80.2%) with 53% reporting experiences of HIV-related stigma. In multinomial regression models, the interaction between race and ethnicity was significant where non-White Latinos had higher odds of experiencing high levels of enacted stigma [AOR (CI) 7.71 (2.41, 24.73), p < 0.001] compared to white non-Latinos. Additionally, racial minorities were less likely to have experienced moderate or high levels of enacted stigma [AOR (CI) 0.47 (0.31, 0.72), p < 0.001; AOR (CI) 0.39 (0.22, 0.70), p = 0.002, respectively]. Moreover, women had higher odds of experiencing high levels of enacted stigma [AOR (CI) 2.04 (1.13, 3.67), p = 0.018]. The results suggest that intersectionality is important to consider in HIV-related stigma research and future interventions.
Partial metal ion saturation of C2 domains primes Syt1-membrane interactions

Abstract Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) is an integral membrane protein that acts as a Ca2+ sensor of neurotransmitter release. How the Ca2+-sensing function of Syt1 is coupled to its interactions with anionic membranes and synaptic fusion machinery is not well understood. Here, we investigated the dynamics and membrane-binding properties of Syt1 under conditions where its highest affinity Ca2+ sites, which are thought to drive the initial membrane recruitment, are selectively populated by divalent metal ions. To create such protein states for the Ca2+-sensing C2 domains of Syt1, we exploited the unique chemistry of Pb2+, a xenobiotic metal ion that is isostructural and isofunctional to Ca2+. NMR experiments revealed that binding of a single metal ion results in the loss of conformational plasticity of the C2 domain loop regions that are involved in both coordinating metal ions and membrane interactions. In the C2A domain, a single metal ion is sufficient to drive its weak association with PtdSer-containing membranes; in C2B, it enhances the interactions with the signaling lipid PtdIns(4,5)P2. In full-length Syt1, both C2 domains associate with PtdSer-containing membranes, with the depth of insertion modulated by the occupancy of the metal ion sites. Our data suggest that Syt1 adopts a shallow membrane-bound state upon initial recruitment of its C2 domains to the membranes. The properties of this state, such as conformationally restricted loop regions and positioning of C2 domains in close proximity to anionic lipid headgroups, “prime” Syt1 for binding a full complement of metal ions required for activation of protein function.
Collision Detection with Monocular Vision for Assisting in Mobility of Visually Impaired People

This paper proposes a method for detecting possible collisions using a monocular camera. Robust collision detection from a monocular video stream is a challenging problem with applications ranging from robotics, human navigation and automation. Our target application is an assistive system for aiding visually impaired people to avoid collision to obstacles while walking. The proposed method is based on a new algorithm to estimate the time to collision (TTC) (from an obstacle to the camera plane) using: i) optical flow to estimate motion, ii) the pinhole camera model to get a TTC analytical equation for each pixel and iii) image processing techniques to reduce possible errors. We evaluate the method in three different experiments reflecting different scenarios, allowing a analysis of its performance.
In search of Atheism: Benjamin and Nietzsche on secularity and occult theologies

In this article, I argue that atheism is different from secularism. Secularism is based on a faux elimination of theology which effectively preserves that theology in the guise of overcoming it. To achieve atheism (a term that I draw from the work of Maria Aristodemou), I argue that one needs to directly confront the theological element in order to come to terms with it. In this essay I look at how two political theological thinkers, Nietzsche and Benjamin, accomplish this. Nie-tzsche accomplishes atheism via his thesis of the “death of God,” a death that is not always literal but which creates a space for human life that is not determined by theological terms. Benjamin does the same thing with his idea that God vacates divine powers of judgment and determination in order to allow an atheistic space where human beings can engage in their own self-determination (even as the notion of God remains to challenge any would be human spokespersons for that role). I ultimately argue that atheism and anarchism are related concepts based not just on a rejection of certain forms of theology and all forms of archism, but also in terms of the way they allow a posi-tive and undetermined human response.
Interactions between worker ants may influence the growth of ant cemeteries

When an ant dies within a nest, a worker ant carries its corpse away from the nest and drops it onto a pile known as an ant cemetery. These ant cemeteries form cluster patterns, and the dynamics of the corpse piles have been studied experimentally. The aim of the present study was to investigate how sensitivity to the presence of nest-mates would influence the corpse-carrying behaviour of ants, and how this would impact the dynamics of corpse pile clustering. This was achieved by developing an agent-based computational model in which simulated ‘ants’ (the agents) carry and drop ‘corpses’, resulting in the growth of the corpse pile. In the model, the probability of an ant dropping a corpse was tuned according to the presence or absence of nest-mates. The pile dynamics of the resulting model showed a partial match with the time series evolution of corpse piles observed with real ants in previous experimental studies. Although the switch of probabilities is a thought experiment, our results suggest that the corpse-carrying behaviour of worker ants might be influenced by interactions with their nest-mates because there is evidence that ant behaviour can be influenced by encounter rates.
Home Oxygen Evaluation by Respiratory Therapists in Patients Hospitalized for COPD Exacerbations: The RIsOTTO Study.

BACKGROUND: The majority of prescriptions for supplemental oxygen are written when patients are discharged to home from the hospital and the evaluation of these patients is inconsistent. Respiratory Therapists receive training in the evaluation and management of patients needing oxygen. The primary goal of the study was to estimate the frequency with which respiratory therapists (RTs) evaluate the need for home oxygen in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations before discharge. METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed to RTs in the United States by the American Association for Respiratory Care. RTs were asked to indicate how frequently they evaluate the need for home oxygen on an ordinal scale: Never, Rarely/occasionally, Sometimes, Most of the time, Almost every time, or Every time. Consistent evaluation for home oxygen was defined as performing an evaluation for home oxygen therapy Almost every time or Every time (ie, > 75% of the time). Bivariate and multivariable analyses were assessed using the Fisher exact test and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of 611 respondents, 490 were eligible for analysis. Fifty-eight percent of RTs reported consistently evaluating patients for home oxygen at rest, whereas 43% reported doing so during activity and 14% during sleep. Consistent evaluation for home oxygen requirements at rest was significantly associated with more years of practice (P = .03; highest among RTs with ≥ 30 y of practice at 40%), region of practice (P = .001; highest in the Midwest at 44%), and greater familiarity with criteria for home oxygen (P CONCLUSIONS: RTs do not consistently evaluate patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations for home oxygen prior to discharge, and only a minority of RTs are involved in selecting home oxygen equipment.
Presidential Crimes Matter

The resignations of United States Attorneys Geoffrey Berman and Jessie Liu from their respective positions in the Southern District of New York and the District of Columbia, and Attorney General William Barr’s and President Donald Trump’s persistent undermining of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russian interference and obstruction of justice investigations and prosecutions are clarion calls to reform the process by which the executive branch criminally investigates itself. They vividly exemplify the inherent real and perceptive conflicts that attend to executive branch investigations of alleged wrongdoing within its ranks. But there is another critical circumstance—the Special Counsel regulations—that has been largely overlooked and has been grossly underappreciated in the public discussion about undue executive branch influence. These regulations are foundational, their impact is deeply consequential, and absent meaningful reform there is little to prevent a repeat of such executive branch interventions now and in administrations to come. Presidential crimes matter, as do other executive branch crimes, and a fair and impartial structure must be implemented to effectively respond to the challenge of addressing such alleged wrongdoing. This essay will discuss these regulations and illuminate how they compromise not only the integrity of investigations of executive branch wrongdoing but also the public trust. In so doing, this essay will review a high-profile occurrence during the Mueller investigation and explain how the regulations arguably hamstrung Muller during this process. It will also propose a two-pronged legislative remedy that calls for a return to the former Independent Counsel Statute (“ICS”), with a significant modification. And, finally, it will explain why this approach is consistent with Morrison v. Olson, the Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of the former ICS.
Function-Approximation Classification

All the classification rules seen so far were plug-in rules, that is, they could be viewed as distribution estimation using training data. We consider now a different idea: iteratively adjusting a discriminant (decision boundary) to the training data by optimizing an error criterion. This is reminiscent in some ways to the process of human learning. Not surprisingly, this is the basic idea behind many popular classification rules: support vector machines, neural networks, decision trees, and rankbased classifiers. We examine each of these classification rules in this chapter.
An-type surface singularity and nondisplaceable Lagrangian tori

We prove the existence of a one-parameter family of nondisplaceable Lagrangian tori near a linear chain of Lagrangian 2-spheres in a symplectic 4-manifold. When the symplectic structure is rational...
Kidney Imaging and Biopsy in Pregnancy

Physiologic glomerular, tubular, and structural changes related to pregnancy may complicate the detection of underlying kidney disease in pregnant patients. Imaging studies may provide important clinical information to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease during pregnancy. Furthermore, in select patients who develop new or worsening kidney disease in pregnancy, kidney biopsy may be essential to ensure the accuracy of diagnosis and guide treatment choices. This review article will discuss the risks and benefits of various modalities used to image the kidneys and urinary tract during pregnancy to aid in the judicious selection of appropriate imaging studies that are likely to maximize clinical benefit while minimizing fetal risk. It will also highlight the potential benefits and harms associated with antepartum kidney biopsy and will offer strategies for identifying patients who are most likely to benefit from kidney biopsy during pregnancy.