cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sites and Stages of Autoreactive B Cell Activation and Regulation

B cells are essential for the development and pathogenesis of both systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Autoreactive B cells are typically thought of as sources of autoantibody, but their most important pathogenetic roles may be to present autoantigens to T cells and to secrete proinflammatory cytokines. A rate-limiting step in the genesis of autoimmunity then is the activation of autoreactive B cells. Here, mechanisms are discussed that normally prevent such activation and how they break down during disease. Integrating classic work with recent insights, emphasis is placed on efforts to pinpoint the precursor cells for autoantibody-secreting cells and the unique stimuli and pathways by which they are activated.
Do dendritic amphiphiles self-assemble in water? A Fourier transform pulse-gradient spin-echo NMR study

Amphiphilic poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers were synthesized having an average of 7–46 hydrophobic chains of varying lengths (C10–C14) attached to the periphery of 64 amine groups. The synthesis was performed in three steps: (1) protection of a desired number of amines with BOC groups; (2) reaction of the remaining amine groups with long-chain acid chlorides; and (3) deprotection from the BOC groups to produce the amphiphilic dendrimers as HCl salts. The behavior of the dendrimers in aqueous media was examined by pulse-gradient spin-echo (FT-PGSE) NMR and dynamic light scattering. Self-diffusion data on dendrimers with 22 or fewer chains, along with dynamic light scattering on concentrations of ≤16 wt%, gave no indication of dendrimer–dendrimer self-assembly via hydrocarbon chains exposed on the dendrimer surface. It is concluded that dendrimers with 7–22 chains, each having 10–14 carbons, behave as unimolecular entities with chains coiled largely within the dendrimer periphery. Only when the number of chains becomes very large (ca ≥34) are chains forced externally where they can promote hydrophobically induced self-assembly. Monomeric dendrimers possessing the full range of functional polarity have great potential in enzyme modeling. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bis(Naphthalene Imide)diphenylanthrazolines: A New Class of Electron Acceptors for Efficient Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells and Applicable to Multiple Donor Polymers

Unlike universally applicable fullerene derivatives, current nonfullerene electron acceptors are rarely effective with more than one donor polymer in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. A novel class of nonfullerene electron acceptors, bis(naphthalene imide)-3,6-diphenyl-trans-anthrazolines (BNIDPAs), that is applicable and yields efficient photovoltaic devices with multiple donor polymers, including a thiazolothiazole–dithienosilole copolymer (PSEHTT) and benzodithiophene copolymers (PBDTT-FTTE and PTB7) is reported. Photovoltaic devices composed of the BNIDPA-butyloctyl (BO) acceptor with PSEHTT, PBDTT-FTTE, and PTB7, respectively, have power conversion efficiencies of 3.0%–3.1% with high open-circuit voltages of ≈1.0 V. In contrast, BHJ devices composed of BNIDPA-DT acceptor with larger 2-decyltetradecyl chains and the same donor polymers have substantially reduced bulk electron mobility and reduced photovoltaic efficiencies of 1.3%–1.7%, which highlight the critical role of the size of alkyl chains appended onto nonfullerene electron acceptors. The present results provide a rare example of nonfullerene electron acceptors that are capable of pairing with multiple donor polymers to achieve efficient BHJ solar cells.
A power re-use technique for improved efficiency of outphasing microwave power amplifiers

An improved power re-use technique is introduced for application to outphased microwave power amplifiers. The technique allows a significant portion of the wasted out-of-phase components of the signal to be returned to the power supply, resulting in substantial improvements in overall power-amplifier efficiency. A peak re-use RF-to-DC efficiency of 63% was obtained at 1.96 GHz.
Activation of Distinct cAMP-Dependent and cGMP-Dependent Pathways by Nitric Oxide in Cardiac Myocytes

Abstract—Nitric oxide (NO) donors were recently shown to produce biphasic contractile effects in cardiac tissue, with augmentation at low NO levels and depression at high NO levels. We examined the subcellular mechanisms involved in the opposing effects of NO on cardiac contraction and investigated whether NO modulates contraction exclusively via guanylyl cyclase (GC) activation or whether some contribution occurs via cGMP/PKG-independent mechanisms, in indo 1–loaded adult cardiac myocytes. Whereas a high concentration of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP, 100 μmol/L) significantly attenuated contraction amplitude by 24.4±4.5% (without changing the Ca2+ transient or total cAMP), a low concentration of SNAP (1 μmol/L) significantly increased contraction amplitude (38±10%), Ca2+ transient (26±10%), and cAMP levels (from 6.2 to 8.5 pmol/mg of protein). The negative contractile response of 100 μmol/L SNAP was completely abolished in the presence of the specific blocker of PKG KT 5823 (1 μmol/...
Chapter 5 – Protein Classification

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some important insights about proteins. It presents the distinction between simple and conjugated proteins. Simple proteins are chemically just amino acids. However, conjugated proteins have other chemical groups attached. The conjugated proteins include materials such as carbohydrates, lipids, bound metal ions, and other organic groups. Many of the early protein names were based on their solubility properties and they were classified on that basis as albumin and globulin. An albumin is readily soluble in water. If a protein is not readily soluble in water, it is a globulin. Carbohydrate-containing proteins are identified as mucoproteins or glycoproteins. Mucoproteins and glycoproteins are proteins with attached carbohydrates. A category of conjugated proteins includes lipoproteins and proteolipids. Proteolipids behave as lipids and are often soluble in organic solvents. However, lipoproteins behave as proteins. One of the properties that the lipid of a lipoprotein imparts to a protein is a lower density. It makes the protein more likely to float if the solvent densities are right. Conjugated proteins can be categorized as chromoproteins and/or metalloproteins. Metalloproteins are proteins that have a metal group attached, whereas chromoproteins are the proteins having chromophores in the visible light region, that is, they are colored.
A Focused Look at Obesity and the Preimplantation Trophoblast.

Obesity is associated with a myriad of adverse reproductive outcomes including miscarriage, fetal growth abnormalities, and preeclampsia. While the mechanisms involved are likely multifactorial, the potential impact of obesity on the preimplantation embryonic trophoblast cannot be overlooked—particularly given the role the trophoblast plays in endometrial invasion and implantation. Appropriate trophoblast function is critical in establishing a normal pregnancy. Insufficient or impaired trophoblast invasion is associated with early miscarriage, fetal growth abnormalities, and preeclampsia. Thus, any negative impact obesity may impose on the trophoblast may represent a root cause for several adverse reproductive outcomes seen more commonly among obese women. While little is known about obesity's specific impact on the human trophoblast, in vitro studies and animal models provide insight. In this article, we review what is known on this topic and provide a basis for future work, investigating therapeutic targets for improved reproductive outcomes in the setting of maternal obesity.
Dimensionality Dependence of TFET Performance Down to 0.1 V Supply Voltage

With the recent emergence of 1-D and 2-D semiconductors, this brief assesses the performance of tunnel FETs (TFETs) made in semiconductors of different dimensionalities. The major difference among them arises from the density-of-states associated with the momentum in the direction perpendicular to the tunneling path. By applying an analytic model with an exponential barrier, continuous $I_{\mathrm{ ds}}$ – $V_{\mathrm{ gs}}$ and $I_{\mathrm{ ds}}$ – $V_{\mathrm{ ds}}$ characteristics are generated for any dimensionality and heterojunction bandgap. In the limit of zero-staggered bandgap, the maximum TFET currents exhibit different dependences on gate voltage: $\propto V_{\mathrm{ gs}}^{2/3}$ for 1-D, $\propto V_{\mathrm{ gs}}$ for 2-D, and $\propto V_{\mathrm{ gs}}^{3/2}$ for 3-D, with profound implications on their delay performance versus power. In particular, for 1-D TFETs, $CV/I$ decreases with decreasing $V_{\mathrm{ dd}}$ , until reaching a minimum delay at $V_{\mathrm{ dd}} \approx 6kT/q$ , where the $kT$ width of the Fermi–Dirac distribution becomes the limiting factor.
Two cases of severe angio-oedema and rationale for their response to icatibant

First case: A 66-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with progressively worsening shortness of breath and mild swelling of her lips. Her home medications included simvastatin, lisinopril, esomeprazole, aspirin, metoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide. Soon after admission to the intensive case unit (ICU), she was given a single dose of lisinopril, which caused her lip swelling to worsen (figure 1A). She was started on methylprednisolone and diphenhydramine with no response. She was then given a dose of icatibant, a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, with complete resolution of the swelling within 24 h of administration (figure 1B). Figure 1 (A) Perioral …
The electroencephalogram in Parkinsonism.

SummaryPatients with Parkinsonism do not show slow activity in the EEG, using either sphenoidal or scalp electrodes, except that incidental to movement artifact.
Rate constants and kinetic isotope effects for methoxy radical reacting with NO2 and O2.

Relative rate studies were carried out to determine the temperature dependent rate constant ratio k1/k2a: CH3O· + O2 → HCHO + HO2· and CH3O· + NO2 (+M) → CH3ONO2 (+M) over the temperature range 250–333 K in an environmental chamber at 700 Torr using Fourier transform infrared detection. Absolute rate constants k2 were determined using laser flash photolysis/laser-induced fluorescence under the same conditions. The analogous experiments were carried out for the reactions of the perdeuterated methoxy radical (CD3O·). Absolute rate constants k2 were in excellent agreement with the recommendations of the JPL Data Evaluation panel. The combined data (i.e., k1/k2 and k2) allow the determination of k1 as 1.3–0.5+0.9 × 10–14 exp[−(663 ± 144)/T] cm3 s–1, corresponding to 1.4 × 10–15 cm3 s–1 at 298 K. The rate constant at 298 K is in excellent agreement with previous work, but the observed temperature dependence is less than was previously reported. The deuterium isotope effect, kH/kD, can be expressed in the Arrhe...
Selectivity and Selective Perception: An Investigation of Managers' Belief Structures and Information Processing

Dearborn and Simon's evidence of departmental bias in problem identification has prompted a scholarly concern about managers' information-processing capabilities. Through measures of managers' entire work histories, their belief structures, and three indexes of information processing in an ill-structured decision situation, the present research conceptually replicated and extended Dearborn and Simon's early work.’ Contrary to prevailing belief about managers' information-processing limitations, the managers in this investigation did not emerge as simple-minded information processors.
Can a team coordination game help student software project teams

Team-based student projects in beginning software engineering courses are often the first place that students have tried working on a team to develop a shared software product. For this reason, team coordination and communication skills are probably very important to their team success. We have access and experience with a research training game named TeC, developed to improve team coordination in disaster response teams, and hypothesized that it might help student software teams. We ran a course experiment where we used the training game as a treatment, and a generic board game as a control. With only 8 teams in the course available to participate, and 6 ultimately completing the experiment, statistical results are inconclusive. Nevertheless, interesting outcomes were obtained that indicate potential benefit of such a training game, and we believe this argues for more research in the area.
Ultrastructural smooth muscle ontogeny of the rat bladder

The transmission electron microscope characteristics of developing rat bladder smooth muscle are described at 14 and 18 days of gestation, birth, and adulthood. Caveolae, microfilaments, and dense bodies increase during smooth muscle development. Collagen content in the extracellular matrix also increases. These changes may reflect increased bladder emptying in the rat, and also allow for comparison of smooth muscle cells in studies of bladder wound healing and tissue substitutes.
Cryoprecipitation of fibrin-fibrinogen complexes induced by the cold-insoluble globulin of plasma.

A cold-insoluble precipitate that formed from normal plasma treated with small amounts of thrombin was comprised of three main components: cold-insoluble globulin (Clg), fibrin, and fibrinogen. Its composition appeared to be the same as that of a pathologic plasma precipitate termed “cryofibrinogen.” We examined the roles played by each of these components in generating such a precipitate. Fibrinogen from a preparation containing a high proportion of molecules with intact Aa chains (fraction 1-4) was coupled to Sepharose 4B; columns of this material were compared before and after conversion to fibrin with respect to their Clg binding capacity. Fibrinogen columns displayed significant Clg binding at 4°C but very little at 22°C; fibrin columns bound significant quantities of Clg at both temperatures. Under standardized conditions of pH (7.3 ± 0.1), ionic strength (0.2-0.25), and temperature (2°C), Clg or fibrinogen (fraction 1-2 or 1-4) alone or mixtures of Clg and fibrinogen did not form cold-insoluble precipitates. This was true as well of soluble complexes of fibrin and fibrinogen, even when saturated with fibrin, except when Clg was included in the mixture. In contrast, fibrin-fibrinogen complexes produced from molecules lacking the COOH-terminal region of the Aa chain (fraction 1-8 or 1-9) failed to precipitate in the cold in the presence of Clg, thus indicating that this region must be present for Clg-induced precipitation to occur. We conclude that each component of “cryofibrinogen” plays an important role in its formation. Fibrinogen, which is well known to form soluble complexes with fibrin, is necessary for maintaining fibrin in a soluble state prior to complexing and precipitation with Clg. There is an absolute requirement for both Clg and fibrin in this reaction, since precipitation does not take place in their absence. Considerations of the Clg:fibrin-fibrinogen ratios in precipitating mixtures suggest that Clg acts as a nucleus with multiple binding sites for participating fibrin-fibrinogen complexes.
Prediction of equilibrium distributions of isotopologues for methane, ethane and propane using density functional theory

Many previous studies have examined abundances of deuterium (D) and ^(13)C within small organic molecules. Recent advances in analytical instrumentation add the abilities to measure site-specific and multiply substituted isotopologues of natural organics. Here we perform first-principles calculations of the equilibrium distributions of ^(13)C and D in the volatile alkanes (including both single and multiple substitutions), as a guide to the interpretation of current measurements and as a basis for anticipating isotope effects that might be examined with future analytical techniques. The models we present illustrate several common themes of the isotopic structures of the small alkanes, including; temperature dependent enrichment of clumped isotope species, with amplitudes in the order D–D > ^(13)C–D > ^(13)C–^(13)C; similarity in strength of such clumped isotope effects between different molecules (e.g., ^(13)C–D clumping is ∼5‰ enriched at 300 K in methane, ethane and propane); a ∼10× contrast between the amplitudes of stronger adjacent substitution of two heavy isotopes vs. weaker non-adjacent substitution; temperature-dependent site-specific fractionation of D and ^(13)C into interior positions of molecules relative to terminal methyl groups; and a relatively simple additive effect to the overall amplitude of enrichment when clumped and site specific effects combine in the same isotopologue. We suggest that the most promising tools suggested by our results are isotopic thermometers based on site-specific distribution of deuterium, which exhibits strong (∼100‰), highly temperature dependent fractionation between methyl groups and methylene carbon positions in propane (and likely other larger n-alkanes).
Muhammad Gisu Daraz (1321–1422): Muslim piety and state authority

In 1325 Ulugh Khan was crowned Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq, ruler of a vast empire that under his reign would become India's largest until the British Raj. Two years later, in a bold move that brought about a major shift in the Delhi Sultanate's geo-political center, the new sovereign declared Daulatabad, though located some 600 miles south of Delhi, the co-capital of his sprawling domain. In 1400, in Gujarat, Gisu Daraz resolved to return to his childhood home of Daulatabad and pay respects at the tomb of his father, Saiyid Yusuf. In the northern Deccan, Sultan 'Ala al-Din Hasan Bahman Shah, soon after throwing off Tughluq authority in 1347, shifted the Bahmani capital from Daulatabad to the ancient fort-city of Gulbarga. It is against the backdrop of the complex relationship between Bahmani sultans and shaikhs, exhibiting both mutual attraction and mutual repulsion, narrative of Gisu Daraz is reviewed.
Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective: The Case of Ecuadorean Immigrants in Madrid and New York City

Building on scholarship on migration and gender in the United States, this article revisits previous findings on the intersection of gender, migration, and political engagement and extends the analysis to a city in a European context, Madrid. By comparing the political practices of first generation Ecuadorian men and women in New York City and Madrid, I demonstrate that contextual differences in these cities, such as immigration law and linguistic characteristics, produced different paths for immigrant political participation with respect to gender: a divergent one in New York City, and convergent one in Madrid.
Achieving Sustainable, Community-Based Health in Detroit Through Adaptation of the UNSDGs

Abstract Background In 2012, the Rio+20 meeting initiated the concept of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a continuation of the Millennium Development Goals. The resulting document “The Future We Want” is best conceived as a roadmap toward poverty eradication and sustainable development. Although the SDGs were developed for low- and middle-income countries, many of these same issues face low-resource cities and communities in higher-income countries. Objectives The aim of this study was to use the SDGs as a platform to develop health-related goals for the city of Detroit. Methods A 1-day workshop was convened in October 2015 including 55 representatives from government, academia, and community- and faith-based organizations. Four health-related SDGs were discussed: food security (SDG2); ensuring healthy lives at all ages (SDG3); access to potable water (SDG6); and making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable living environments (SDG11). Workshop attendees broke into 4 groups to determine how the SDG targets for these 4 goals could be adapted for Detroit. At the end of the day, each group presented its decisions to the larger group. Findings Workshop participants expressed that the SDGs empower local communities to respond to their unique health challenges and to see themselves as part of a larger more global conversation about development and sustainability. Participants suggested that inclusive and participatory means of decision making were a significant component of the SDGs and that such a process is the direction needed to make community-focused changes in Detroit. Additionally, shortly after the workshop, a roundtable of participants representing 5 community partners began to meet monthly and has become an advocacy group for public health and addressing the city-order water shutoffs in neighborhoods throughout Detroit. Conclusions For participants and organizers, the workshop reinforced the hypothesis that the SDGs are relevant to Detroit and other low-resource cities in the United States.
The primary care sports medicine fellowship: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine proposed standards of excellence

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine recognises a need to provide direction and continually enhance the quality of sports medicine fellowship training programmes. This document was developed to be an educational resource for sports medicine physicians who teach in a 1-year primary care sports medicine fellowship training programme. It is meant to provide high standards and targets for fellowship training programmes that choose to re-assess their curriculum and seek to make improvements.
An instructional and research facility for computer vision, automated engineering and robotics

ABSTRACT The advent of the current generation of high speed, lower cost digital computer systems, higher density very large scale integrated memory chips (256K and higher), and the recent development of higher resolution, full color, digital image processing and computer graphics hardware, as well as the personal computer revolution, has ushered in the new age of computer automation for numerous industrial applications, such as computer integrated manufacturing, automated inspection and testing among others. The engineering educator of today faces new challenges in keeping up with the fast paced changing technological developments that are rapidly evolving in these interdisciplinary areas. It is necessary to incorporate new curricula and develop laboratories equipped with the latest hardware and software in order to train engineering students both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This paper outlines one approach for developing an instructional and research facility for training engineers in Computer Vision, Automated Engineering and Robotics. Both the design and implementation of a state-of-the-art laboratory, as well as interdisciplinary courses incorporating these new high technology areas, are described.
Effects of exposure to alcohol‐related cues on racial discrimination

Prior research has shown that exposure to alcohol-related images exacerbates expression of implicit racial biases, and that brief exposure to alcohol-related words increases aggressive responses. However, the potential for alcohol cue exposure to elicit differential aggression against a Black (outgroup) relative to a White (ingroup) target—that is, racial discrimination—has never been investigated. Here, we found that White participants (N = 92) exposed to alcohol-related words made harsher judgments of a Black experimenter who had frustrated them than participants who were exposed to nonalcohol words. These findings suggest that exposure to alcohol cues increases discriminatory behaviors toward Blacks.
Illocution and Empathy

Slote (‘The Many Faces of Empathy’) has argued that empathy plays a crucial role in such speech acts as questions and assertions. After clarifying some of the aims and limitations of speech act theory, providing an account of empathy and its potential epistemic value, and sketching the role that some speech acts play in expressing psychological states, we consider Slote’s argument for the place of empathy in questions and assertions. We show that the most that Slote has established is that some cases of questioning and asserting depend upon on empathetic engagement between speaker and addressee. That, however, is no basis for concluding that empathy plays a crucial role in either of these illocutions.
Intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy in elderly individuals with acute ischemic stroke

ABSTRACT:Very elderly (age ≥80yo) individuals account for about one-third of all stroke admissions, but the risks and benefits of intravenous thrombolysis (IV-tPA) and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in this growing population remain unclear. Thrombolysis is generally used less often for elderly individuals in the United States than younger age groups, likely due to the potential for worse outcomes in comparison. Very elderly individuals were under-represented in early thrombolysis trials, yet contemporary reperfusion trials, as well as meta-analysis, included a greater proportion of very elderly individuals. Pooled analyses from current reperfusion trials suggest that IV-tPA and EVT are safe and effective therapies for very elderly individuals presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Future prospective studies are needed to further assess the safety and effectiveness of acute reperfusion in this growing population. In this review, we examined age-related differences in clinical outcomes for acute ischemic stroke therapies.
Lactococcus petauri sp. nov., isolated from an abscess of a sugar glider.

A strain of lactic acid bacteria, designated 159469T, isolated from a facial abscess in a sugar glider, was characterized genetically and phenotypically. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-positive, coccoid and catalase-negative. Morphological, physiological and phylogenetic data indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Lactococcus . Strain 159469T was closely related to Lactococcus garvieae ATCC 43921T, showing 95.86 and 98.08 % sequence similarity in 16S rRNA gene and rpoB gene sequences, respectively. Furthermore, a pairwise average nucleotide identity blast (ANIb) value of 93.54 % and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization value of 50.7 % were determined for the genome of strain 159469T, when compared with the genome of the type strain of Lactococcus garvieae . Based on the data presented here, the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Lactococcus , for which the name Lactococcus petauri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 159469T (=LMG 30040T=DSM 104842T).
Determination of progestogens in surface and waste water using SPE extraction and LC-APCI/APPI-HRPS.

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop a reliable analytical method for the measurement of 17 selected progestogens in waste water and surface water. Automated whole water solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for sample concentration. Liquid chromatography tandem atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/atmospheric pressure photoionization with hybrid quadrupole/orbital trap mass spectrometry operated in high resolution product scan mode (LC-APCI/APPI-HRPS) was applied for the analyses. The whole-method recoveries ranged from 60% to 140% for all analytes at two different spike levels (5 and 50 ng/L) in the studied matrices. The method is very sensitive with LOQs ranging from 0.02 to 0.87 ng/L. The developed method was used for the determination of progestogens in real samples of waste water from three waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) and in surface water from the corresponding recipients. Progesterone was detected in all samples with concentrations in the range of 0.82 to 1.1 ng/L in surface water and 0.11 to 110 ng/L in waste water samples. Three synthetic progestogens, namely, megestrol acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and dienogest, were detected most frequently in effluents; therefore, further attention should be paid to the monitoring of these compounds. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to present analysis of altrenogest, etonogestrel, dienogest, nomegestrol acetate and ulipristal acetate in waste water and surface water using a solid-phase extraction method.
Income inequality, primary care, and health indicators.

BACKGROUND: The significant association of income inequality with a variety of health indicators is receiving increasing attention. There has also been increasing evidence of a link between primary care and improved health status. We examined the joint relationship between income inequality, availability of primary care, and various health indicators to determine whether primary care has an impact on health indicators by modifying the adverse effect of income inequality. METHODS: Our ecologic study used the US states as the units of analysis. In analyzing the data, we looked at the associations among income inequality, primary care, specialty care, smoking, and health indicators, using Pearson's correlation coefficients for intercorrelations and the adjusted multiple regression procedure. To examine the effect of inequality and primary care on health outcome indicators, we conducted path analyses according to a causal model in which inequality affects health both directly and indirectly through its impact on primary care. RESULTS: Our study indicates that both primary care and income inequality exerted a strong and significant direct influence on life expectancy and total mortality (P <.01). Primary care also exerted a significant direct influence on stroke and postneonatal mortality (P <.01). Although levels of smoking are also influential, the effect of income inequality and primary care persists after controlling for smoking. Primary care serves as one pathway through which income inequality influences population-level mortality and at least some other health outcome indicators. CONCLUSIONS: It appears possible that a primary care orientation may, in part, overcome the severe adverse effects on health of income inequalities.
Toward the Application of Decadal Climate Predictions

AbstractDecadal prediction is a relatively new branch of climate science that bridges the gap between seasonal climate forecasts and multidecadal-to-century projections of climate change. This paper develops a three-step framework toward the potential application of decadal temperature predictions using the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4). In step 1, the predictions are evaluated and it is found that the temperature hindcasts show skill over some regions of the United States and Canada. In step 2, the predictions are manipulated using two methods: a deterministic-anomaly approach (like climate change projections) and a probabilistic tercile-based approach (like seasonal forecasts). In step 3, the predictions are translated by adding a delta (for the anomaly manipulation) and conducting a weighted resample (for the probabilistic manipulation), as well as using a new hybrid method. Using the 2010 initialized hindcast, the framework is demonstrated for predicting 2011–15 over two case-study...
Phase response at resonance frequency for metamaterial-insert mediums

The phase propagation across the metamaterial — insert is essential to characterize the medium as epsilon-negative (ENG), mu-negative (MNG) or double negative (DNG). In this paper, we study the phase behavior on propagating through metamaterial-insert. For ENG or MNG media, we find that the phase propagation through the metamaterial insert has zero slope at the resonant frequency and positive slope at other frequencies. In other words, the medium has a band-gap at resonance, which results in constant phase across the medium. For the DNG media, the phase propagation through metamaterial-insert has negative slope at the resonance frequency and positive slope at other frequencies. In other words, the propagation of the wave is backward at the resonance which results in negative phase slope across the medium.
Higher (Power) Education: Student Life in Evangelical Institutions

Laats explores students’ experiences and protests at evangelical colleges in the 1960s within the context of the history of neo-evangelicalism and fundamentalism, as a way to understand the campus cultures these students built. This chapter focuses on neo-evangelical student protests for revised lifestyle rules and the resulting pressure placed by the evangelical public on administrators, primarily at Gordon College near Boston and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. In the late 1960s, Gordon moved in the direction of neo-evangelical reform, while Moody remained more fundamentalist and conservative. At evangelical institutions, student protests and public commentary on them were about religion as much as they were about issues of campus life, and this chapter underscores the tight connection on these campuses between religion and student campus life.
In-utero idiopathic ductal constriction: a prenatal manifestation of Alagille and Williams syndrome arteriopathy.

Williams and Alagille syndromes are genetic disorders associated with pathologic arterial narrowing. We hypothesized that fetal idiopathic ductus arteriosus (DA) constriction may represent a prenatal manifestation of the arteriopathy associated with these syndromes. Multi-institutional case series review of the pre- and postnatal medical records, echocardiograms, and genetic test results of fetuses presenting with idiopathic DA constriction. We identified four cases of idiopathic fetal DA constriction at 21–36 weeks of gestation. All had right ventricular hypertension, dilation, hypertrophy, and dysfunction and either DA constriction or absence. All demonstrated progressive peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis after birth. Three met clinical diagnostic criteria for Alagille syndrome; two tested had confirmatory JAG1 mutations. One also developed supravalvar aortic stenosis after birth and was positive for 7q11.23 deletion (Williams syndrome). This is the first case series to suggest that idiopathic fetal DA constriction may be a prenatal manifestation of genetic arteriopathy.
A pilot study on secondhand tobacco exposure: parental knowledge about health impact and feasibility of cessation.

Introduction As the primary source of smoke exposure is in the home, the smoking behaviors of parents and other caregivers are key determinants of a child's exposure to secondhand smoke. The perioperative period offers an opportunity to discuss smoking cessation strategies. Methods This prospective study included 97 parents or caregivers of patients undergoing dental surgery. Caregivers were surveyed in the dental waiting room during the preoperative phase. The primary aim was to determine the feasibility of using the preoperative encounter to offer smoking cessation resources to parents of pediatric patients. The secondary aim was to compare willingness to receive smoking cessation resources according to the knowledge of the risks of secondhand smoking (ie, being aware of secondhand smoking and knowing that it posed a risk to their child). Results Awareness of risks due to secondhand smoking was 65% in the overall cohort and 58% among current smokers (P=0.284 vs nonsmokers). Among smokers in our study, only a small percentage (12%) were interested in smoking cessation help. Knowledge of the risks of secondhand smoke may not be sufficient for smokers to express willingness to receive help. Conclusion The outpatient clinic may be a teaching opportunity for smoking cessation for caregivers. However, we found that only a small percentage of caregivers were interested in receiving information about smoking cessation. This was despite the fact they were aware of the potential adverse effects of secondhand smoke on their children.
Aliphatic Azides as Selective Cysteine Labeling Reagents for Integral Membrane Proteins

Upon ultraviolet activation, cannabinergic aliphatic azido (N3) ligands covalently label cannabinoid receptors, prominent G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug targets. We report here the mechanism of covalent attachment to selected substrates of the high-affinity CBR inverse agonist AM1335 and its deuterated analog AM1335(d10), arylpyrazole compounds with an azide moiety at their n-pentyl side chain. To model the receptor interaction, we utilized the human cannabinoid 2 receptor (hCB2R) transmembrane helix 6 (TMH6) peptide and an N-acyl-protected cysteine (NAC). The photochemical reaction products of model substrates with AM1335 and AM1335(d10) were analyzed with tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry fragmentation and deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. The nitrene initially formed after photoreaction undergoes rearrangement to an imine which then interacts with the cysteine sulfhydryl group, resulting in ligand attachment. Our results demonstrate that covalent probes carrying aliphatic azi...
Thermal desorption and characterization of carbonaceous deposits in Mo/HZSM-5 catalyst

Abstract Mo/HZSM-5 is the most active catalyst for dehydroaromatization of methane to benzene reaction. In this process, coking is the major problem to develop technically and economically successful process, as the catalyst gets deactivated due to blocking of active sites, pores and cavities, resulting in site poisoning. Hence, detailed information on the nature of the coke, its structure and composition are important factors to understand the performance of the catalyst. In the present paper, we present characterization of carbonaceous deposits formed on the surface of Mo/HZSM-5 catalyst using multi analytical techniques such as TDS-GC–MS, TGA, CHN and TEM. Investigated the structures of soft coke species using N2, and H2 temperature programmed desorption by applying in-house designed micro reactor for coke desorption from spent catalyst, followed by detailed composition analysis by TDS-GC–MS technique. The thermal desorption GC–MS method has advantages over the existing solvent extraction methods, in terms of sensitivity, overall analysis time and sample quantity requirements for complete studies. Additionally, this setup provides flexibility to understand the regeneration mechanism of catalyst under various environment and temperature conditions. The new in-house setup has given useful insights into structures of coke components and possible regeneration protocols.
Blue-Collar Witnesses to Power: The Culture of Photographers at the Associated Press

Using 55 oral history interviews from the corporate archives, this article illuminates the group culture and identity of photographers at the Associated Press from the World War II through the Viet...
Chiral twisted van der Waals nanowires.

Van der Waals heterostructures with small misalignment between adjacent layers ('interlayer twist') are of interest because of electronic structure and correlation phenomena (such as superconductivity) that are determined by both the atomic lattice and long-range superlattice potentials arising in interlayer moire patterns1-7. Previously, such twisted heterostructures have involved a single planar interface between layers isolated by exfoliation and micromechanically stacked in the desired relative orientation1,8-12. Here we demonstrate a class of materials-van der Waals nanowires of layered crystals-in which a tunable interlayer twist evolves naturally during synthesis. In vapour-liquid-solid growth, nanowires of germanium(II) sulfide, an anisotropic layered semiconductor, crystallize with layering along the wire axis13 and have a strong propensity for forming axial screw dislocations. Nanometre-resolved electron diffraction shows that Eshelby twist, induced by a torque on the ends of a cylindrical solid due to the stress field of an axial dislocation14,15, causes a chiral structure in the van der Waals nanowires. The in-plane germanium sulfide crystal axes progressively rotate along the wire, and germanium sulfide layers in adjacent turns of the helix naturally form a moire pattern because of their interlayer twist. The axial rotation and the twist are tunable by varying the nanowire thickness. Combined electron diffraction and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy show the correlation between the interlayer twist and locally excited light emission that is due to progressive changes in the lattice orientation and in the interlayer moire registry along the nanowires. The findings demonstrate a step towards scalable fabrication of van der Waals structures with defined twist angles, in which interlayer moire patterns are realized along a helical path on a nanowire instead of a planar interface.
A morphologically cryptic salamander reveals additional hidden diversity: evidence for ancient genetic divergence in Webster’s salamander, Plethodon websteri

We investigated the genetic diversity and phylogenetic structure of Webster’s salamander (Plethodon websteri), an understudied species of conservation concern and one of the first morphologically cryptic salamander species described solely on the basis of molecular techniques. Using a combination of mitochondrial and microsatellite data, we discovered significant genetic differentiation across the known distribution (ɸST > 0.868 and FST = 0.261−0.652, p < 0.001), and identified at least two highly divergent clades. These clades, referenced herein as the Semlitsch and Type Locality clades, are of late Miocene origin (approximately 5.3 million years old) and are composed of several geographically and genetically distinct populations. Together, our observations suggest that previously unrecognized species-level diversity may exist in P. websteri, with populations potentially representing distinct but undescribed taxa. We hypothesize that divergence within P. websteri likely resulted from a culmination of radical changes in climate, hydrology, and geology over deep time. Moreover, our results add to mounting evidence suggesting that P. websteri does not belong within the P. welleri group, but instead forms its own discrete species complex separate and genetically distant from P. welleri. This study provides a starting point for future work and reiterates that relationships among, and species-level diversity within, eastern species of Plethodon require additional investigation and potential reevaluation.
Convergence of nuclear effective field theory with perturbative pions

The classic paper by Fleming, Mehen, and Stewart (FMS) [Nucl. Phys. A 677, 313 (2000)NUPABL0375-947410.1016/S0375-9474(00)00221-9] cast doubts on the convergence of spin-triplet nucleon-nucleon partial wave scattering amplitudes when following the proposal of Kaplan, Savage, and Wise to construct nuclear effective field theory (EFT) around the unitary fermion limit with perturbative pion exchange. FMS identified the subclass of iterated one-pion exchange potential graphs as the cause of this poor convergence, which they showed persisted in the chiral limit. Theoretical tools are developed here to compute these Feynman graphs analytically to high order in all angular momentum channels simultaneously, examining the amplitudes computed to seven loops in the L=J channels and three loops in the coupled L=J±1 channels. One finds that there is nothing pathological about the perturbative expansion of a 1/r3 potential in general and that the expansion converges satisfactorily in all partial waves except those with the lowest angular momentum, particularly the P03 and the coupled S13-D13 channels. The results corroborate work by Birse [J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 39, L49 (2005)JPHAC50305-447010.1088/0305-4470/39/2/L01], which suggests possible avenues to explore for improving the range of validity of the EFT expansion.
Saline Contrast Transesophageal Echocardiography in Fontan Patients: Assessment of the Presence, Type, and Size of Right to Left Shunts.

Right to left (R–L) shunts resulting in cyanosis or systemic embolization occur after the Fontan procedure. The primary modality of diagnosing these is angiography. Successful delineation of these shunts in Fontan patients using selective saline contrast transesophageal echocardiography (SCTEE) may allow for reduced radiation and contrast exposure. We hypothesized that SCTEE could accurately determine the presence, type, and semiquantitative shunt size of R–L shunts in Fontan patients. SCTEE was performed in Fontan patients undergoing angiography for clinical indications. Injections were performed in six sites: mid-Fontan, right and left pulmonary arteries, superior and inferior vena cavae, and innominate vein. R–L shunt size was subjectively graded as 0 = absent, 1 = small, and 2 = medium or large based on echo contrast density in the left atrium. SCTEE was compared to angiography. 33 patients with Fontan were studied with median age 15 years, median weight 50.1 kg, and median O2 saturation of 90% in the R–L shunt group and 95% in the no R–L shunt group. R–L shunt types included intracardiac shunts (ICS), veno-venous collaterals (VVCs), arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and their combinations. SCTEE versus angiography results were the same for the presence, type, and size of R–L shunts in 79% (26/33). SCTEE identified shunts in 88% (29/33). Angiography identified shunts in 85% (28/33). Neither method missed any medium or large R–L shunts. SCTEE and angiography had similar accuracy. SCTEE accurately detected the presence, type, and size of R–L shunts in most Fontan patients in this study. This can be used to guide targeted angiography, reducing radiation exposure and contrast load.
Greenhouse gas footprint, water-intensity, and production cost of bio-based isopentenol as a renewable transportation fuel

Although ethanol remains the dominant liquid biofuel in the global market, there is a strong interest in high-energy density and low-hygroscopicity compounds that can be incorporated into gasoline at levels beyond the current ethanol blend wall. Isopentenol (3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol) is one of these promising advanced biofuels that is also an important precursor for isoprene (the main component of natural rubber). In this study, we model the production cost, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and water footprint of biologically produced isopentenol, including the current state of the technology and the impact of potential improvements. We find that the minimum selling price of biobased isopentenol, given the current state of technology demonstrated at bench-scale, is $5.14/L-gasoline equivalent, and the GHG footprint exceeds that of gasoline. However, biobased isopentenol could reach a $0.62/L-gasoline equivalent [$2.4/gal-gasoline equivalent (gge), just 5% above the 10-year average gasoline price] in an optimized future case where yield and other process parameters are pushed to near their theoretical limits. In this future case, isopentenol could achieve a GHG reduction of 90% relative to gasoline and a carbon abatement cost of $9.3/metric ton CO2e. Reaching these goals will require dramatic improvements in isopentenol yield, near-100% recovery of ionic liquid used in pretreatment, and low-lignin and high-cellulose and-hemicellulose biomass feedstocks.
Interactions between inflammation and female sexual desire and arousal function

To describe the current state of research on interactions between inflammation and female sexual function. Inflammation may interfere with female sexual desire and arousal via direct (neural) and indirect (endocrine, vascular, social/behavioral) pathways. There are significant sex differences in the effect of inflammation on sexual function, arising from different evolutionary selection pressures on the regulation of reproduction. A variety of inflammation-related conditions are associated with the risk of female sexual dysfunction, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and chronic pain. Clinical implications include the need for routine assessment for sexual dysfunction in patients with inflammation-related conditions, the potential for anti-inflammatory diets to improve sexual desire and arousal function, and consideration of chronic inflammation as moderator of sexual effects of hormonal treatments. Although the evidence points to a role for inflammation in the development and maintenance of female sexual dysfunction, the precise nature of these associations remains unclear.