cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rev-erbs: Integrating Metabolism Around the Clock

Mammalian circadian and metabolic physiologies are intertwined, and the nuclear Rev-erbα is a key transcriptional link between them. Rev-erbα, and the highly related Rev-erbβ, are potent transcriptional repressors that are required for the function of the core mammalian molecular clock. The Rev-erbs are also critical regulators of clock output in metabolic cells and tissues. This chapter focuses on the physiological functions of Rev-erbα and β in regulating circadian rhythms and metabolism in mammalian tissues.
Quality of Life in Long-term Survivors of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Purpose Health-related quality of life (QOL) has not been well-studied in survivors of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The present study compared long-term QOL in MIBC patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC) versus bladder-sparing trimodality therapy (TMT). Methods and Materials This cross-sectional bi-institutional study identified 226 patients with nonmetastatic cT2-cT4 MIBC, diagnosed in 1990 to 2011, who were eligible for RC and were disease free for ≥2 years. Six validated QOL instruments were administered: EuroQOL EQ-5D, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Core Questionnaire and EORTC MIBC module, Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite bowel scale, Cancer Treatment and Perception Scale, and Impact of Cancer, version 2. Multivariable analyses of the mean QOL scores were conducted using propensity score matching. Results The response rate was 77% (n=173). The median follow-up period was 5.6 years. Of the 173 patients, 64 received TMT and 109, RC. The median interval from diagnosis to questionnaire completion was 9 years after TMT and 7 years after RC ( P =.009). No significant differences were found in age, gender, comorbidities, tobacco history, performance status, or tumor stage. On multivariable analysis, patients who received TMT had better general QOL by 9.7 points of 100 compared with those who had received RC ( P =.001) and higher physical, role, social, emotional, and cognitive functioning by 6.6 to 9.9 points ( P ≤.04). TMT was associated with better bowel function by 4.5 points ( P =.02) and fewer bowel symptoms by 2.7 to 7.1 points ( P ≤.05). The urinary symptom scores were similar. TMT was associated with better sexual function by 8.7 to 32.1 points ( P ≤.02) and body image by 14.8 points ( P P =.01) and less concern about the negative effect of cancer by 6.8 points ( P =.006). The study limitations included missing baseline QOL data and different follow-up times. Conclusions Both TMT and RC result in good long-term QOL outcomes in MIBC survivors, supporting TMT as a good alternative to RC for selected patients. Whether TMT leads to superior QOL requires prospective validation.
Performance of the Air Transportation System for the Atlanta - Chicago - O'Hare Route

The goal of the air transportation system is to provide reliable, affordable, rapid transportation of people and goods. This service is achieved by the interaction between autonomous, distributed agents (e.g. airports, air traffic control and airlines) that operate under a high degree of uncertainty (e.g. weather, economy). As a consequence, the overall speed of and reliability of this mode of transportation is determined by the collective interaction between these agents and the impact of uncertainty in the system. This paper describes a methodology and the results of an analysis of the degree of uncertainty in trip time reliability on a single congested-hub to congested-hub route (Atlanta - Chicago O'Hare). The analysis identified that the actual gate-to-gate trip time varies by up to 30% of the average trip time. The analysis also identified systemic schedule padding of 16 minutes on this route, and statistically significant differences between the trip time in the summer, winter and fall/spring, between time-of-day, and between narrow-body and regional jets. The implications of these results on airlines strategies and passenger experience are discussed.
Discriminating Residue Substitutions in a Single Protein Molecule Using a Sub-nanopore

It is now possible to create, in a thin inorganic membrane, a single, sub-nanometer-diameter pore (i.e., a sub-nanopore) about the size of an amino acid residue. To explore the prospects for sequencing protein with it, measurements of the force and current were performed as two denatured histones, which differed by four amino acid residue substitutions, were impelled systematically through the sub-nanopore one at a time using an atomic force microscope. The force measurements revealed that once the denatured protein, stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), translocated through the sub-nanopore, a disproportionately large force was required to pull it back. This was interpreted to mean that the SDS was cleaved from the protein during the translocation. The force measurements also exposed a dichotomy in the translocation kinetics: either the molecule slid nearly frictionlessly through the pore or it slipped-and-stuck. When it slid frictionlessly, regardless of whether the molecule was pulled N-terminus ...
Establishment of quality assurance procedures for aquatic toxicity testing with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

In this study initial data were generated to develop laboratory control charts for aquatic toxicity testing using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Tests were performed using two reference toxicants: CdCl{sub 2} and CuCl{sub 2}. All tests were performed for 24 h without a food source and of 48 h with a food source in a commonly used nematode aquatic medium. Each test was replicated 6 times with each replicate having 6 wells per concentration with 10 {+-} 1 worms per well. Probit analysis was used to estimate LC{sub 50} values for each test. The data were used to construct a mean ({bar x}) laboratory control chart for each reference toxicant. The coefficient of variation (CV) for three of the four reference toxicant tests was less than 20%, which demonstrates an excellent degree of reproducibility. These CV values are well within suggested standards for determination of organism sensitivity and overall test system credibility. A standardized procedure for performing 24 h and 48 h aquatic toxicity studies with C. elegans is proposed.
Influence of redox potential on phosphate-uptake by sediments in two sub-tropical eutrophic lakes

Biogeochemical reactions in shallow eutrophic lakes areaffected bythe changes in redox potential (Eh) as bottom sedimentsundergotemporal resuspension and settling. The stability of varioussediment P fractions and kinetics of P-uptake were evaluatedfortwo sub-tropical lakes (Lake Apopka and Lake Okeechobee,Florida)using sediment suspensions in closed systems maintained atvariousEh levels ranging from −235 to 555 mV. Redox potential hadminimal effect on the stability of NaOH-P (Fe-/Al-bound P plusmoderately resistant organic P) and HCl-P (Ca-/Mg-P) fractionsinLake Apopka sediments. Increases in ortho-P and NH4Cl-P(loosely-bound P plus labile organic P) concentrations wereobserved in highly reduced (Eh = −225 mV) Apopkasediments.Phosphate solubility diagrams and mineral equilibriacalculationssuggest that P-uptake by Apopka bottom sediments at elevated Pconcentrations (ortho-P ≤ 110 μM) was due toformationof Ca-P compounds and/or co-precipitation of P withCaCO3. Incontrast, the ortho-P concentrations for Lake Okeechobeebottomsediments increased exponentially with decreasing Eh. Thequantityof NaOH-P fractions for these sediments decreased withdecreasingEh, suggesting the release of Fe- and Mn-bound P intosolution.Phosphate-uptake by Okeechobee bottom sediments (pH 7.5,ambient)followed first order kinetics, yielding a rate constant (k)of 0.51 ± 0.05 h-1. Unlike that of Apopka, the mudsediments in Lake Okeechobee have strong affinity for P ineitheraerobic or anaerobic conditions. Results suggest that even incalcareous systems, Fe and Al, when present in highconcentrations(as in the case of Lake Okeechobee), are actively involved inregulating P-uptake and geochemistry.
Hispanic Immigration to the USA

This chapter presents some of the exceptional characteristics of recent Hispanic immigration to the USA. In 2005, there were nearly 40 million Hispanic immigrants and descendants of Hispanic immigrants living in the USA. The assimilation experience of this large cultural group does not seem to be following the exact same path that other immigrants to the USA followed. Most third-generation Hispanics in the USA still find themselves with income and education levels below the US averages. Forecasts predict that about 60 million Hispanics and Hispanic-Americans will be living in the USA by 2030.
Management of Massive Hemoptysis

Massive hemoptysis is a serious and potentially fatal complication of a variety of medical conditions. Respiratory distress, hypoxemic respiratory failure, and asphyxiation can ensue if hemoptysis volume exceeds the capacity of the patient to clear their central conducting airways. Initial management should be to secure adequate oxygenation and to identify the hemoptysis source. While systemic medical conditions can cause massive hemoptysis, more commonly local pulmonary structural problems underlie the hemoptysis etiology. Rapid intervention including securing an airway with rigid and/or flexible bronchoscopy to identify laterality of bleeding, positioning the patient with bleeding lung down, and initiating temporizing measures such as balloon tamponade, single lung intubation, and/or other maneuvers to control bleeding can stabilize a patient. Following stabilization, definitive intervention with arterial embolization should be pursued to control the bleeding source. If embolization is unsuccessful or not immediately available, surgical intervention can be undertaken to identify and control bleeding; however, in this urgent setting, the surgical morbidity and mortality is substantial. A multidisciplinary approach for massive hemoptysis management incorporating pulmonary/critical care, interventional radiology, and cardiothoracic surgery expertise can ensure optimal management and patient outcomes.
Proton Pump Inhibitors: Risks and Rewards and Emerging Consequences to the Gut Microbiome

In recent years, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been criticized for their various adverse interactions and side effects, creating a dilemma among practitioners regarding their use. Our goal is to review the proper use and possible side effects that might be caused by or associated with PPI use. Conclusions were drawn based on the evidence supporting or refuting short-term and long-term adverse events associated with PPI use. We also looked for the evidence regarding effects of PPIs on gut microbiota and their overall safety profile. Although there are significant discrepancies in the current literature regarding various adverse effects associated with PPI use, current data suggest that PPI use is not associated with an increased risk of bone fractures, community-acquired pneumonia, cardiovascular events, hypocalcemia, and gastric malignancies. A mild increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency and chronic kidney disease, and a moderate increase in the risk of rebound hypersecretion, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and enteric infections, including Clostridium difficile, has been noted with PPI therapy. PPI's link with dementia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is not clear and requires further investigation. When used appropriately, PPIs are safe medications and are associated with minimal side effects. A clear indication and potential short-term and long-term side effects should be considered before starting PPI therapy.
Deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) for MRI-based 3D mapping of metabolism in vivo

Currently, the only widely available metabolic imaging technique in the clinic is positron emission tomography (PET) detection of the radioactive glucose analog 2-18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18FDG). However, 18FDG-PET does not inform on metabolism downstream of glucose uptake and often provides ambiguous results in organs with intrinsic high glucose uptake, such as the brain. Deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) is a novel, noninvasive approach that combines deuterium magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging with oral intake or intravenous infusion of nonradioactive 2H-labeled substrates to generate three-dimensional metabolic maps. DMI can reveal glucose metabolism beyond mere uptake and can be used with other 2H-labeled substrates as well. We demonstrate DMI by mapping metabolism in the brain and liver of animal models and human subjects using [6,6′-2H2]glucose or [2H3]acetate. In a rat glioma model, DMI revealed pronounced metabolic differences between normal brain and tumor tissue, with high-contrast metabolic maps depicting the Warburg effect. We observed similar metabolic patterns and image contrast in two patients with a high-grade brain tumor after oral intake of 2H-labeled glucose. Further, DMI used in rat and human livers showed [6,6′-2H2]glucose stored as labeled glycogen. DMI is a versatile, robust, and easy-to-implement technique that requires minimal modifications to existing clinical magnetic resonance imaging scanners. DMI has great potential to become a widespread method for metabolic imaging in both (pre)clinical research and the clinic.
“Las normas son para romperlas”: Emilia Pardo Bazán, Carmen de Burgos, and the Unruly Women of Seis Hermanas

Willem examines how the 2015–2017 Spanish television series, Seis hermanas, set in Madrid from 1913 through 1916, draws on the lives and writings of two of the era’s strongest proponents of women’s rights, Emilia Pardo Bazan and Carmen de Burgos, to explore the social and legal situation of women in Restoration society, and to raise such issues as gender and class barriers, spousal abuse, infidelity, divorce, and lesbianism. The writings of Pardo Bazan and Burgos justify the transgressive actions of the sisters as they defy social and legal norms in pursuit of personal freedom and self-actualization. Furthermore, these women writers serve as a bridge to today’s television viewer whose twenty-first-century perspective validates their ideas that were once considered radical but are now accepted.
Perioperative radiotherapy in patients with synovial sarcoma: An NCDB analysis.

e23529Background: Previous studies have demonstrated an association of perioperative radiotherapy (RT) with improved oncologic outcome among synovial sarcoma patients undergoing surgery. However, t...
Exploring the Alcohol Stability of Bis(phosphine) Cobalt Dialkyl Precatalysts in Asymmetric Alkene Hydrogenation

Cobalt complexes bearing enantiopure, bidentate bis(phosphine) ligands exhibit extraordinary activity and stereoselectivity for the hydrogenation of enamides. Optimal performance was observed in polar protic solvents such as methanol, an industrially preferred green solvent but a medium that is often a poison for reduced Earth abundant metals. The interaction of the low-spin cobalt(II) dialkyl complex, (R,R)-(iPr-DuPhos)Co(CH2SiMe3)2, with alcohols including 4-methoxyphenol, pinacol, and CH3OH was studied. With the alcohols lacking β-hydrogens, cobalt bis(alkoxide) complexes were isolated and structurally characterized. With methanol, protonolysis of the alkyl ligands was again observed followed by dehydrogenation of the alcohol and [(R,R)-(iPr-DuPhos)Co]2(μ-CO)2 was isolated. Both solid-state and solution EXAFS studies were conducted to establish the spectroscopic signatures of bis(phosphine) cobalt(II) and cobalt(0) complexes relevant to catalytic hydrogenation and also to probe the role of phosphine di...
Epigenetically modified cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells limit myocardial fibrosis and promote functional recovery in a model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy

Preclinical investigations support the concept that donor cells more oriented towards a cardiovascular phenotype favor repair. In light of this philosophy, we previously identified HDAC1 as a mediator of cardiac mesenchymal cell (CMC) cardiomyogenic lineage commitment and paracrine signaling potency in vitro—suggesting HDAC1 as a potential therapeutically exploitable target to enhance CMC cardiac reparative capacity. In the current study, we examined the effects of pharmacologic HDAC1 inhibition, using the benzamide class 1 isoform-selective HDAC inhibitor entinostat (MS-275), on CMC cardiomyogenic lineage commitment and CMC-mediated myocardial repair in vivo. Human CMCs pre-treated with entinostat or DMSO diluent control were delivered intramyocardially in an athymic nude rat model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy 30 days after a reperfused myocardial infarction. Indices of cardiac function were assessed by echocardiography and left ventricular (LV) Millar conductance catheterization 35 days after treatment. Compared with naive CMCs, entinostat-treated CMCs exhibited heightened capacity for myocyte-like differentiation in vitro and superior ability to attenuate LV remodeling and systolic dysfunction in vivo. The improvement in CMC therapeutic efficacy observed with entinostat pre-treatment was not associated with enhanced donor cell engraftment, cardiomyogenesis, or vasculogenesis, but instead with more efficient inhibition of myocardial fibrosis and greater increase in myocyte size. These results suggest that HDAC inhibition enhances the reparative capacity of CMCs, likely via a paracrine mechanism that improves ventricular compliance and contraction and augments myocyte growth and function.
Long-Term Management of Vascular Access Ports in Nonhuman Primates Used in Preclinical Efficacy and Tolerability Studies.

Vascular access ports (VAPs) are an essential tool for long-term vascular access in preclinical studies and disease modeling in non-human primates (NHPs). We retrospectively reviewed central (infer...
Stratigraphic and sedimentologic framework for tephras in the Wilson Creek Formation, Mono Basin, California, USA

Abstract Numerous tephra layers occur within the late Pleistocene Wilson Creek Formation, where they are interbedded with lacustrine deposits of Lake Russell, the ancestor of present-day Mono Lake. Most of the tephra layers are rhyolitic in composition, and were produced from the Mono Craters. We present detailed stratigraphy and sedimentology of the tephra layers, sampled at twelve outcrops near the shoreline of Mono Lake and the Mono Craters, and implement grain size, componentry, and surface morphology analysis to characterize their physical properties. Sub-unit correlation is proposed for certain tephra units. Noticeable features of the tephras, such as the occurrence of low-density rounded or highly vesicular pumice within certain sub-units, are highlighted. The abundant obsidian, lithics, and ostracods within many sub-units suggest that the associated eruption pulses involved water-magma interaction. Eruptions from the Mono Craters during the late Pleistocene were consistent neither in frequency nor volume. The Mono Craters were most active during the eruption of tephras in Sequences C (∼42.5–39.4 ka) and A (∼14.1–12.9 ka), and Pleistocene volcanic activity reached its peak during the eruption of tephra layer C11. Detailed interpretation of tephra layer B7 and tephras in Sequence A is given, which includes the number of eruption pulses, vent location, dispersal direction, occurrence of pyroclastic flow and surge, and other features and processes. Tephras in Sequence B (∼26.2–23.1 ka) may have had their vents located in the southern half of the Mono Craters, or are smaller in volume (except for B7), compared to the other tephras in the Wilson Creek Formation. Vents for tephra layers A4, A3, and A1 are located near the northern end of the Mono Craters. The stratigraphy of tephra layers B7 and A1 suggests an unstable depositional environment, which can be used to help constrain the water-level history of Lake Russell during the late Pleistocene.
An Intriguing Case of Unresolved Post-Operative Pneumocephalus (P5.141)

Objective: MRSA is common after a neurosurgical procedure, although infective vasculitis and stroke are uncommon complications. Background: Post-operative dural leakage after trans-sphenoidal surgery is a known risk factor for meningitis, the incidence of this serious complication varies from 0.5–9%. Meningitis is not typically associated with vasculitis and stroke, but outcomes are poor when these occurs. Design/Methods: A 36-year-old female previously healthy, underwent trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy for an incidentally detected suspected pituitary macroadenoma. Immediate post-operative CT showed pneumocephalus which is expected of a neurosurgical procedure. Two-weeks post-operatively, she presented with a three-day history of severe positional headache and CSF rinorhea. CT was notable for extensive progressive pneumocephalus indicating persistent dural leak. She underwent dural repair and lumbar drain placement. But, her headache worsened, she dveloped high-grade fevers and altered sensorium. Results: CSF analysis showed WBC 22,290 (PMN 76%), Glucose 24, Protein 130.7. CSF Culture positive for MRSA. Standard treatment for meningitis was initiated. Cultures remained positive on Vancomycin, Rifampin was added as an adjuvant. She now developed bilateral upper-motor-neuron-signs. MRI/MRA revealed acute regions of ischemia, multifocal narrowing within bilateral anterior-cerebral-artery/right middle-cerebral-artery territories. Intra-arterial nicardipine infusion was added to steroids and antibiotics. Conclusions: The mortality associated with MRSA meningitis is 30% and worsens with intracranial vascular complications. The pathogenesis includes localized cerebral vasculitis, vasospasm, and intra-arterial thrombosis. MRSA meningo-vasculitis with cerebral infarcts has been described once in the presence of empyema, but not post operatively. Our patient developed MRSA meningitis/intracranial vasculitis and infarcts without extra/intra-axial collections. We believe our patient’s MRSA migrated from her nostril through the dural rent resulting in her presentation. However, there is one important potentially associated risk factor. The pituitary biopsy showed lymphocytic hypophysitis, which is a rare entity; incidence is 1 in 9 million. Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a granulomatous disease with potential immunological dysregulation and vulnerability for severe infections and associated CNS vasculitis. Study Supported by: NA Disclosure: Dr. Cardenas Castillo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Leishangthem has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zafar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yaddanapudi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Prabhu has nothing to disclose.
Tunneling nanotubes: A bridge for heterogeneity in glioblastoma and a new therapeutic target?

Background The concept of tumour heterogeneity is not novel but is fast becoming a paradigm by which to explain part of the highly recalcitrant nature of aggressive malignant tumours. Glioblastoma is a prime example of such difficult-to-treat, invasive, and incurable malignancies. With the advent of the post-genomic age and increased access to next-generation sequencing technologies, numerous publications have described the presence and extent of intratumoural and intertumoural heterogeneity present in glioblastoma. Moreover, there have been numerous reports more directly correlating the heterogeneity of glioblastoma to its refractory, reoccurring, and inevitably terminal nature. It is therefore prudent to consider the different forms of heterogeneity seen in glioblastoma and how to harness this understanding to better strategize novel therapeutic approaches. One of the most central questions of tumour heterogeneity is how these numerous different cell types (both tumour and non-tumour) in the tumour mass communicate. Recent findings This chapter provides a brief review on the variable heterogeneity of glioblastoma, with a focus on cellular heterogeneity and on modalities of communication that can induce further molecular diversity within the complex and ever-evolving tumour microenvironment. We provide particular emphasis on the emerging role of actin-based cellular conduits called tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs) and tumour microtubes (TMs) and outline the perceived current problems in the field that need to be resolved before pharmacological targeting of TNTs can become a reality. Conclusions We conclude that TNTs and TMs provide a new and exciting avenue for the therapeutic targeting of glioblastoma and that numerous inroads have already made into TNT and TM biology. However, to target TMs and TNTs, several advances must be made before this aim can become a reality.
Autoantibodies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease which has engaged the clinical and research efforts of many groups of investigators, including rheumatologists, nephrologists, dermatologists, and hematologists. In addition, many immunologists interested in mechanisms underlying autoimmunity have studied patients with SLE and models of this disease in experimental animals. There is abundant evidence showing that immune complexes are involved in the generalized vasculitis and more specifically in the nephritis seen in patients with SLE. The immune complex disease is known to be related to circulating autoantibodies, and in this chapter we shall discuss the current information available concerning autoantibodies to intracellular antigens in SLE.
Tentative Stages of Progression for an Address at Geneva (Unpublished Manuscript)

Climate change, the obesity epidemic, plastic pollution, the opioid crisis—for the last several decades, there has been a growing awareness of the chal­lenges posed by what are sometimes called “wicked problems” (Rittel & Webber, 1973). These problems—marked by complex intersecting socioeconomic and/or biogeophysical causes—constitute real and immediate threats to humans, nonhumans, societies, and ecologies. What’s more—given their scale and multicausal nature, so-called wicked problems resist most of the options available in our standard repertoires of tech fixes and social programs. The very nature of wicked problems requires the develop­ment of mitigation strategies that integrate human and nonhuman agen­cies. Identifying effective strategies is, of course, no easy task. As a bare minimum first step, doing so requires bringing together the kinds of experts, policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens who are well-suited to address the particulars of the wicked problem at hand.
Improving measurement of binary covariates in claims data: A simulation study

PURPOSE When investigators have two claims-based definitions for a binary confounder, it is unclear whether to prefer the more sensitive or more specific definition. Our objective was to compare adjusting for the sensitive or specific definition alone vs two novel approaches combining both definitions: a "two-algorithm indicator" and a "two-algorithm restriction" approach. METHODS Each simulated patient had a binary exposure, outcome, and confounder. We created two nested, misclassified versions of the confounder using validated heart failure definitions. The sensitive definition had a sensitivity/specificity of 0.98/0.83, while the specific definition had a sensitivity/specificity of 0.77/0.99. Patients were classified into 3 groups: group 0 did not meet either definition, group 1 met the sensitive but not specific definition, and group 2 met both. The two-algorithm indicator approach adjusted using indicators for groups 1 and 2, while the two-algorithm restriction approach excluded patients in group 1 and adjusted using an indicator for group 2. Adjusted exposure odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for each approach using logistic regression. RESULTS The crude OR was 1.33 (95% CI, 1.07-1.63). Adjusting for the specific or sensitive definitions resulted in ORs of 1.09 (95% CI, 0.87-1.35) and 1.14 (95% CI, 0.91-1.40). The two-algorithm indicator method returned an OR of 1.07 (95% CI, 0.86-1.33). The two-algorithm restriction approach returned an OR of 1.02 (95% CI, 0.79-1.29) but excluded 20% of the cohort. CONCLUSIONS The two-algorithm indicator approach may improve adjustment for claims-based confounders by returning a point estimate at least as unbiased as the better of the two component definitions.
An Alternative to Red Power: Political Alliance as Tribal Activism in Virginia

The Red Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s was not universally endorsed and accepted by all Native communities, particularly in areas where other forms of indigenous accommodation and resistance...
Probing the Mechanisms Through Which Social Media Erodes Political Knowledge: The Role of the News-Finds-Me Perception

This study examines the causal effects of social media use on political knowledge as well as the underlying mechanisms through which such an effect occurs. The findings suggest that social media us...
The emotive politics of digital mood tracking

Through a values in design (VID) analysis, this article assesses two mood-tracking apps (Moodscope and MoodPanda) to argue the particular interface design choices of these applications serve to inf...
Load Analysis and Energy Management for Residential System Using Smart Meter

In this paper, the design of load analysis and residential energy management system using a smart meter is is discussed. The AC and DC voltage and current sensors, light and heat sensors, room occupancy counter design is discussed. The sensors are connected to Arduino Mega board. A 3.2-inch TFT display is integrated with Arduino board to display the results. The Arduino Mega board is programmed to save and display the voltage, current, power factor and energy measurement for each load, automatically control the room light based on number of occupants, automatically or manually turn off the high energy consuming loads during peak power demand time, display the sensor information and energy saving tips for saving energy. The novelty of this design is its user friendly display controls with submenu options to set the maximum usage levels, review the previous usage levels and access to energy saving tips. To test the design, two DC and two AC loads were used. The measured load voltages and current are displayed and discussed. The further development of this design can be done by adding low cost energy saving IoT and communication device to monitor, turn on and turn off the loads remotely.
Urgent Care Centers Deter Some Emergency Department Visits But, On Net, Increase Spending

There is substantial interest in using urgent care centers to decrease lower-acuity emergency department (ED) visits. Using 2008-19 insurance claims and enrollment data from a national managed care plan, we examined the association within ZIP codes between changes in rates of urgent care center visits and rates of lower-acuity ED visits. We found that although the entry of urgent care deterred lower-acuity ED visits, the impact was small. We estimate that thirty-seven additional urgent care center visits were associated with a reduction of a single lower-acuity ED visit. In addition, each $1,646 lower-acuity ED visit prevented was offset by a $6,327 increase in urgent care center costs. Therefore, despite a tenfold higher price per visit for EDs compared with urgent care centers, use of the centers increased net overall spending on lower-acuity care at EDs and urgent care centers.
Predictive model for microclimatic temperature and its use in mosquito population modeling.

Mosquitoes transmit several infectious diseases that pose significant threat to human health. Temperature along with other environmental factors at breeding and resting locations play a role in the organismal development and abundance of mosquitoes. Accurate analysis of mosquito population dynamics requires information on microclimatic conditions at breeding and resting locations. In this study, we develop a regression model to characterize microclimatic temperature based on ambient environmental conditions. Data were collected by placing sensor loggers at resting and breeding locations such as storm drains across Houston, TX. Corresponding weather data was obtained from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website. Features extracted from these data sources along with contextual information on location were used to develop a Generalized Linear Model for predicting microclimate temperatures. We also analyzed mosquito population dynamics for Aedes albopictus under ambient and microclimatic conditions using system dynamic (SD) modelling to demonstrate the need for accurate microclimatic temperatures in population models. The microclimate prediction model had an R2 value of ~ 95% and average prediction error of ~ 1.5 °C indicating that microclimate temperatures can be reliably estimated from the ambient environmental conditions. SD model analysis indicates that some microclimates in Texas could result in larger populations of juvenile and adult Aedes albopictus mosquitoes surviving the winter without requiring dormancy.
Evasion of Host Immune Responses by Tumours and Viruses

Viruses and tumours use various mechanisms to avoid immune surveillance. Oncogenic viruses have achieved a balance with the immune system through evolutionary time to ensure long-term persistence. Mutations that promote escape mechanisms favouring tumour growth to the detriment of host survival through reproductive age offer no selective advantage and will not generally be maintained in the viral genome that persists in nature. Conventional (non-oncogenic) and tumour viruses interact with various immune mediators and T cells in different ways. Oncogenic viruses cannot operate solely in the context of a lytic cycle, though this may be characteristic of the initial phase of infection that is limited by the acute immune response. Some oncogenic viruses interact with normal cellular growth control and signalling mechanisms. Synthesis of key viral proteins may be tightly controlled in replicating cells that are subject to T cell surveillance, such as basal epithelia, while productive infection occurs in non-proliferating progeny that are lost under normal physiological conditions, such as desquamating epithelia. Tumorigenesis may be an aberrant consequence of the molecular mechanisms needed to maintain this pattern of viral growth regulation in the context of the cell cycle. Vaccines designed to limit the acute phase of infection with cell-free oncogenic viruses should be as effective as those for conventional viruses.
Artistic Multiprojection Rendering

In composing hand-drawn images of 3D scenes, artists often alter the projection for each object in the scene independently, thereby generating multiprojection images. We present a tool for creating such multiprojection images and animations, consisting of two parts: a multiprojection rendering algorithm and an interactive interface for attaching local cameras to the scene geometry. We describe a new set of techniques for resolving visibility between geometry rendered with different local cameras. We also develop several camera constraints that are useful when initially setting local camera parameters and when animating the scene. We demonstrate applications of our methods for generating a variety of artistic effects in still images and in animations.
Bacteriological Survey of Frozen Meat and Gravy Produced at Establishments Under Federal Inspection

During visits to 34 federally inspected establishments producing frozen meat and gravy, 541 production line samples and 535 finished product units were collected for bacteriological analyses. It was found that more than 70% of the sets of finished product (10 units/set) produced under good manufacturing practices had: (i) four or fewer coliform-positive units, (ii) two or fewer Escherichia coli-positive units, (iii) three or fewer Staphylococcus aureus-positive units, and (iv) an aerobic plate count of fewer than 50,000/g (geometric mean of 10 units). All finished product units were negative for salmonellae.
The Place of Families: Fostering Capacity, Equality, and Responsibility

Acknowledgments Introduction I. Fostering Capacity 1. The Place of Families and Government in a Formative Project 2. Families as "Seedbeds of Civic Virtue"? 3. Care, Families, and Self-Government II. Fostering Equality 4. Marriage Promotion, Marriage (E)quality, and Welfare Reform 5. Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage 6. Beyond Marriage? III. Fostering Responsibility 7. Rights, (Ir)responsibility, and Reproduction 8. Teaching Sexual and Reproductive Responsibility Epilogue Notes Index
Abstract 20500: Trx1 Promotes Trans-Nitrosylation of Cellular Proteins to Stimulate Autophagy and Cell Survival

Thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) is cardioprotective during oxidative stress, mainly through its antioxidant activity. Trx1 is also S-nitrosylated and, in turn, trans-nitrosylates other proteins. However, the role of Trx1-dependent S-nitrosylation in cardiomyocytes (CMs) is unknown. Here, we investigated the role of Trx1-mediated protein S-nitrosylation in the regulation of CM survival during stress in vitro. Using biotin-switch assays, we found that wild-type Trx1 (Trx1WT) is S-nitrosylated at baseline, but the extent of S-nitrosylation was attenuated in Trx1C73S, suggesting that Trx1 is S-nitrosylated at Cys73. Trx1WT and Trx1C73S do not differ in their redox activity, as determined by Amplex Red assays. Cellular protein S-nitrosylation levels were increased after 4 hours of glucose deprivation (GD), an energy stress condition (1.64±0.27 fold, p<0.05), as determined by biotin switch assays. Overexpression of Trx1WT increased (3.94-fold), whereas knockdown of Trx1 (0.66±0.01 fold, p<0.01) or overexpression of Trx1C7...
The generalization of Latin hypercube sampling

Abstract Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) is generalized in terms of a spectrum of stratified sampling (SS) designs referred to as partially stratified sample (PSS) designs. True SS and LHS are shown to represent the extremes of the PSS spectrum. The variance of PSS estimates is derived along with some asymptotic properties. PSS designs are shown to reduce variance associated with variable interactions, whereas LHS reduces variance associated with main effects. Challenges associated with the use of PSS designs and their limitations are discussed. To overcome these challenges, the PSS method is coupled with a new method called Latinized stratified sampling (LSS) that produces sample sets that are simultaneously SS and LHS. The LSS method is equivalent to an Orthogonal Array based LHS under certain conditions but is easier to obtain. Utilizing an LSS on the subspaces of a PSS provides a sampling strategy that reduces variance associated with both main effects and variable interactions and can be designed specially to minimize variance for a given problem. Several high-dimensional numerical examples highlight the strengths and limitations of the method. The Latinized partially stratified sampling method is then applied to identify the best sample strategy for uncertainty quantification on a plate buckling problem.
Family Structure and Children's Needs: The Test Case of Moral Development

Abstract Family researchers disagree on the family characteristics essential for meeting children's developmental needs. Some argue that a particular family structure, two biological parents, is crucial. Others maintain that specific parenting behaviors and access to resources are more important than a particular structure for meeting children's needs. We examine this issue in the instance of children's moral development for which two distinct literatures, those on gender-related conception of morality and communitarian social theory, suggest the importance of two biological parents for meeting children's needs. These literatures place moral development in the position of a test case for the importance of family structure. If it is not essential in this instance, is it likely to be crucial with respect to other development needs? While the evidence is incomplete and mixed, our review of family studies research on children's moral development reveals no clear-cut case for a particular family structure. We ...
Chromatographic separations of enantiomers and underivatized oligosaccharides

My graduate research has focused on separation science and bioanalytical analysis, which emphasized in method development. It includes three major areas: enantiomeric separations using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Super/subcritical fluid chromatography (SFC), and capillary electrophoresis (CE); drug-protein binding behavior studies using CE; and carbohydrate analysis using liquid chromatograph-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). Enantiomeric separations continue to be extremely important in the pharmaceutical industry. An in-depth evaluation of the enantiomeric separation capabilities of macrocyclic glycopeptides CSPs with SFC mobile phases was investigated using a set of over 100 chiral compounds. It was found that the macrocyclic based CSPs were able to separate enantiomers of various compounds with different polarities and functionalities. Seventy percent of all separations were achieved in less than 4 min due to the high flow rate (4.0 ml/min) that can be used in SFC. Drug-protein binding is an important process in determining the activity and fate of a drug once it enters the body. Two drug/protein systems have been studied using frontal analysis CE method. More sensitive fluorescence detection was introduced in this assay, which overcame the problem of low sensitivity that is common when using UV detection for drug-protein studies. In addition, the first usage of an argon ion laser with 257 nm beam coupled with CCD camera as a frontal analysis detection method enabled the simultaneous observation of drug fluorescence as well as the protein fluorescence. LC-ESI-MS was used for the separation and characterization of underivatized oligosaccharide mixtures. With the limits of detection as low as 50 picograms, all individual components of oligosaccharide mixtures (up to 11 glucose-units long) were baseline resolved on a Cyclobond I 2000 column and detected using ESI-MS. This system is characterized by high chromatographic resolution, high column stability, and high sensitivity. In addition, this method showed potential usefulness for the sensitive and quick analysis of hydrolysis products of polysaccharides, and for trace level analysis of individual oligosaccharides or oligosaccharide isomers from biological systems.
Inhibition of chemoattractant N-formyl peptide receptor trafficking by active arrestins.

Recent studies have highlighted the emergence of a class of G protein-coupled receptors that are internalized in an arrestin-independent manner. In addition to demonstrating that the N-formyl peptide receptor belongs in this family, we have recently shown that recycling of the receptor requires the presence of arrestins. To further elucidate mechanisms of arrestin-dependent regulation of G protein-coupled receptor processing, we examined the effects of altering the receptor–arrestin complex on ternary complex formation and cellular trafficking of the N-formyl peptide receptor by studying two active arrestin-2 mutants (truncated arrestin-2 [1–382], and arrestin-2 I386A, V387A, F388A). Complexes between the N-formyl peptide receptor and active arrestins exhibited higher affinity in vitro than the complex between the N-formyl peptide receptor and wild-type arrestin and furthermore were observed in vivo by colocalization studies using confocal microscopy. To assess the effects of these altered interactions on receptor trafficking, we demonstrated that active, but not wild-type, arrestin expression retards N-formyl peptide receptor internalization. Furthermore, expression of arrestin-2 I386A/V387A/F388A but not arrestin-2 [1–382] inhibited recycling of the N-formyl peptide receptor, reflecting an expanded role for arrestins in G protein-coupled receptor processing and trafficking. Whereas the extent of N-formyl peptide receptor phosphorylation had no effect on the inhibition of internalization, N-formyl peptide receptor recycling was restored when the receptor was only partially phosphorylated. These results indicate not only that a functional interaction between receptor and arrestin is required for recycling of certain G protein-coupled receptors, such as the N-formyl peptide receptor, but that the pattern of receptor phosphorylation further regulates this process.
Jury Decision Making and the Effect of Victim Impact Statements in the Penalty Phase

Research supports the finding that jurors' decisions are affected by many variables other than the evidence presented during trial. Most of this research has focused on jury decision making during the guilt determining phase of the trial, while very little study has been devoted to the sentencing phase. As victims of crime have demanded more attention in the criminal justice system over the past decade, more cases and research have focused on the “rights” of victims and how they may have an impact on the outcome of a criminal trial. This article examines the research regarding the variables which affect jury decision making during the guilt and penalty phases of a criminal case while emphasizing the need for further research in the area of how victim impact evidence affects the jury's decision.
Emotional traits predict individual differences in amphetamine-induced positive mood in healthy volunteers

Background Previous research on emotional correlates of individual differences in subjective responses to d-amphetamine has focused on relatively broad personality traits. Yet, emotional functioning is best characterized by several narrow subcomponents, each of which may contribute uniquely to amphetamine response. Here, we examine several specific subdomains of emotional functioning in relation to acute amphetamine response.
New Directions for Experimental Work in International Relations

This paper provides an overview of some previous important experimental work in international relations. New substantive domains and methodological innovations for approaching innovative experimental work in international relations will each be discussed in turn. These areas of exploration include research into cross-cultural manifestations of basic psychological processes, investigations into the underlying dynamics of identity construction, transformation and rejection, and experimental explorations into such topics as regime type, coalitions and alliances, status competition, time horizons, and emotion.
Shifting the Perspective of the Research Librarian: A CoResearch Paradigm

This article proposes the coresearch engagement model (CoRE), which addresses how the academic research librarian can become a coresearch partner with any patron. The CoRE model is an interpersonal process and is founded upon the concepts of mutual respect, collaboration, reciprocity, and empowerment. Grounded in Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory, Malcolm Knowles’ andragogical model, and guidelines from the Reference and User Services Association, CoRE has the potential to result in engagement for the librarian and patron. The CoRE model can be utilized in many ways including self-awareness and development for those who need and want to expand their abilities as a research librarian. It provides a theoretical framework and a knowledge base, in addition to giving a context for further development by expanding, comparing the related theories for further research, and implementing various applications suggested by this article.