cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitation of Cocaine in Human Hair: The Effect of Centrifugation of Hair Digests

Hair pigmentation is a critical factor in the interpretation of the concentration of certain compounds and their metabolites incorporated into hair. Melanin is responsible for the pigmentation. The color and the melanin content of human hair samples differs over a wide range. Once deposited into hair, drug may remain detectable for a period of months to years. However, if drug disposition into hair is influenced by those properties attributed to hair color, then certain persons may test positive more frequently than other persons. Removal of the melanin from hair digests prior to drug analysis may reduce the effect of melanin on the total drug concentration by excluding the drug bound to the pigment. In this study, the effect of melanin removal by centrifugation of hair digests on cocaine concentrations was investigated. Two sets of hair samples from five cocaine users were analyzed for cocaine and metabolites. A solution consisting of 10 mL of 0.5M Tris buffer (pH 6.4) to which is added 60 mg D,L-dithiothreitol, 200 mg SDS, and 200 U Proteinase K, was used to digest the hair. Two milliliters of this solution was added to 20 mg of hair and incubated at 37 degrees in a shaking water bath (90 oscillations/min) overnight. The samples were removed from the water bath and mixed. One set was centrifuged at 2000 rpm and divided into supernatant and melanin pellet. The other set was not centrifuged. Internal standards were added to all tubes. The samples were further extracted, derivatized, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A mean of 8.8% (standard deviation [SD] 7.0%) of the total cocaine concentration (supernatant and pellet) was left behind in the pellet. The same experiment was repeated except that the melanin pellet was redigested with 0.1 N HCl. After redigestion of the melanin pellet, the mean cocaine concentration in the pellet was 3.8% +/- 4.0% (mean +/- SD) of the total cocaine concentration in hair. These data demonstrate that removal of melanin from hair digests by centrifugation does not eliminate hair color bias when interpreting cocaine concentrations.
Effectiveness of Fluid Restriction, Mannitol and Frusemide in Reducing ICP

Fluid restriction, and mannitol with and without concurrent frusemide (Lasix) are being used to decrease intracranial pressure (ICP) and to reduce cerebral edema (Levin et al. 1979, Philip 1979). The relative effects on ICP of both underhydration and mannitol and frusemide administered intravenously were evaluated in comatose patients (Glasgow coma scale less than 8) monitored in an intensive care unit.
Tobacco Use Among Arab Immigrants Living in Colorado: Prevalence and Cultural Predictors.

Purpose: The authors determined the prevalence of smoking among Arab immigrants living in Colorado. The authors also evaluated the relationship between acculturation and tobacco use, including both...
Vfr Directly Activates exsA Transcription To Regulate Expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type III Secretion System

ABSTRACT The Pseudomonas aeruginosa cyclic AMP (cAMP)-Vfr system (CVS) is a global regulator of virulence gene expression. Regulatory targets include type IV pili, secreted proteases, and the type III secretion system (T3SS). The mechanism by which CVS regulates T3SS gene expression remains undefined. Single-cell expression studies previously found that only a portion of the cells within a population express the T3SS under inducing conditions, a property known as bistability. We now report that bistability is altered in a vfr mutant, wherein a substantially smaller fraction of the cells express the T3SS relative to the parental strain. Since bistability usually involves positive-feedback loops, we tested the hypothesis that virulence factor regulator (Vfr) regulates the expression of exsA. ExsA is the central regulator of T3SS gene expression and autoregulates its own expression. Although exsA is the last gene of the exsCEBA polycistronic mRNA, we demonstrate that Vfr directly activates exsA transcription from a second promoter (PexsA) located immediately upstream of exsA. PexsA promoter activity is entirely Vfr dependent. Direct binding of Vfr to a PexsA promoter probe was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and DNase I footprinting revealed an area of protection that coincides with a putative Vfr consensus-binding site. Mutagenesis of that site disrupted Vfr binding and PexsA promoter activity. We conclude that Vfr contributes to T3SS gene expression through activation of the PexsA promoter, which is internal to the previously characterized exsCEBA operon. IMPORTANCE Vfr is a cAMP-dependent DNA-binding protein that functions as a global regulator of virulence gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Regulation by Vfr allows for the coordinate production of related virulence functions, such as type IV pili and type III secretion, required for adherence to and intoxication of host cells, respectively. Although the molecular mechanism of Vfr regulation has been defined for many target genes, a direct link between Vfr and T3SS gene expression had not been established. In the present study, we report that Vfr directly controls exsA transcription, the master regulator of T3SS gene expression, from a newly identified promoter located immediately upstream of exsA.
Sarbanes Oxley Act Of 2002: Is It Worth The Price?

Sarbanes – Oxley Act (SOX) was hastily passed in July, 2002. The Act requires public companies to establish internal control systems sound enough to prevent fraud. Senior officers have to sign-off on the financial statements. Section 404, dealing with internal controls, resulted in misery to US business firms. Auditor fees have doubled. Some small-cap companies and foreign corporations are delisting from US stock exchanges. The provisions of the Act, its impact on US firms, and some of the complaints against the Act are presented in this paper.
A CASE OF ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME IN A 62 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH A LOW PRETEST PROBABILITY OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Patients with low pretest probability for coronary artery disease (CAD) can have various etiologies causing acute coronary syndromes (ACS). A 62 year old female with no cardiovascular risk factors presented with epigastric pain. Her physical exam was nonrevealing. ECG showed inferior ST depressions
The binuclear family

A new family form,the binuclear family, is emerging with the rise in divorce rates. To aid in its institutionalization and in lifting from it the stigma of social deviance, some new terminology was coined and a study of the dynamics of continuing postdivorce parenting relationships conducted. Reported here are findings on the reorganization of familial homes with court-awarded joint custody. It was found that most of the former spouses in the sample continued to relate after divorce, forming two separate households joined together by a coparental bond.
Resilience in Couples: A View of the Landscape

This chapter examines couple resilience from a relational, integrative and process perspective. Relational resilience is conceptualized as a dynamic process qualitatively different than the sum of individual partner resilience. It is hypothesized to reflect the “we-ness” of a couple: the ongoing interplay between self, other, and relationship awareness. Key components are suggested to be (1) self/other and relationship awareness and the development of empathy and respect; (2) mutual vulnerability; (3) the joint creation of meaning, (4) skill sets to support relational positivity, and (5) the reintegration of relational wisdom gleaned from dealing with relational challenges. Implications for future research, relationship enhancement and therapeutic work with couples are suggested.
Molecular biology of the nerve growth cone: a perspective.

As so vividly described by Cajal, the nerve growth cone is the amoeboid, leading edge of the growing neurite. It occurs only during a narrow segment of the neuron’s life, during the time between terminal mitosis and synaptogenesis and, possibly in somewhat different form, during regeneration. As the growing, advancing tip, the nerve growth cone plays a crucial role in nervous system development. It is critical for the establishment of the neuron’s unusual geometry and high degree of polarity because it appears to be the main site of insertion of new plasmalemma1 components for surface expansion (Pfenninger and Maylie-Pfenninger, 1981b; Pfenninger and Johnson, 1983). Furthermore, the growth cone is the structure responsible for vectorial growth into the appropriate target area because it is capable of locomotion, pathfinding and Chemotaxis (see below). Last but not least, it is the structure which recognizes the target cell and triggers synaptogenesis.
Biophysics and physiology of cardiac calcium channels

Two types of calcium channels are present in heart cells; the two types, L and T, can be clearly distinguished on the basis of their biophysical and pharmacological properties. The physiological role of L-type Ca 2+ channels is clear and includes mediation of processes that are vital to the function of normal cardiac cells, such as electrical conduction and excitation-contraction coupling. The physiological role of T-channels is not known, although potential involvement in pacemaker activity can he hypothesized on the basis of their biophysical properties. The testing of these predictions is the subject of intense research interest at present
Mechanics and friction at the nanometer scale

In this overview, we will give an introduction to experiments in which manipulation is used a means of uncovering the intrinsic response and dynamical behavior of small objects. Experiments done on individual particles reveal new and rich behaviors that are inaccessible to averaging methods. Experiments exploring the stiffness and toughness of carbon nanotubes will be presented showing that nanometer scale engineered materials can far outperform current engineering materials. Through AFM manipulation, imaging and force measurements, the stiffness of this material was found to equal or exceed diamond. Their toughness is also extraordinary. Due to their near crystalline perfection, carbon nanotubes are able to undergo strains exceeding 15% during bending without damage. Through AFM manipulation experiments, these large deformations have been shown to be highly reversible. Experiments in which the lateral force of manipulation of small objects across surfaces is measured show that friction at the nanometer scale occurs without wear processes and is an intrinsic property of the particular interface. Results are also presented showing anisotropic behavior in friction and movement due to commensurate lattice effects. At the nanometer scale, the contacting surfaces can be nearly perfect so that commensurate effects are not partially averaged out by many differently oriented domains. It has been shown that friction can very over an order of magnitude depending on the relative orientation of the contacting surfaces. The relative orientation of object and substrate lattices also can determine the modes of motion. In some cases the particle is confined to move in one direction. In other cases the relative orientation determines whether the particle rolls, rotates in-plane or slides. These effects may have implications on the fundamental mechanisms of friction. They provide a laboratory for testing different geometrical configurations of atoms sliding on atoms. The results may also have implications in the design of nanometer scale electromechanical mechanisms.
Urbane-ing the City: Examining and Refining the Assumptions Behind Urban Informatics

This chapter critically examines the notion of “the city” within urban informatics. Arguing that there is an overarching tendency to construe the city as an economically and spatially distinct social form, we review a series of system designs manifesting this assumption. Systematically characterizing the city as a dense ecology of impersonal social interactions occurring within recognizably public places, this construction can be traced to turn-of-thecentury scholarship about the metropolis. The idealized dweller of these spaces, the flâneur, functions as the prototypical user for urban computing technologies. This assumption constrains the domain of application for emergent technologies by narrowing our conception of the urban experience. Drawing on contemporary urban scholarship, we advocate an alternative perspective which foregrounds the experience rather than the form of the metropolis. Users become actors embedded in global networks of mobile people, goods, and information, positioned in a fundamentally heterogeneous and splintered milieu. Grounding this approach in a preliminary study of mobility practices in Bangkok, Thailand, we illustrate how urban informatics might refine its subject, accounting for local particularities between cities as well as the broader global networks of connection between these sites.
Stimulation of Lateral Branching of Red Firespike Using Dikegulac Sodium, Benzyladenine, and Pinching

Red firespike (Odontonema strictum) is an ornamental shrub with potential for use as a flowering potted plant due to its dark green foliage and attractive red flower spikes. To stimulate branching and improve quality of red firespike, foliar spray applications of dikegulac sodium (DS) and benzyladenine (BA) and hand pinching were evaluated across two seasons (Spring and Summer 2014). There were three pinching treatments: one, two, or three pinches. Plant growth regulators (PGRs)were applied at 400, 800, 1600, or 2400 ppmDSor 600, 1000, 1250, or 1750 ppm BA. Both studies included an untreated control. Red firespike treated with all concentrations of BA and 1600 and 2400 ppm DS had increased branching compared with the control, except 1000 ppm BA in Expt. 1. Pinching did not affect the number of branches. Dikegulac sodium at 1600 and 2400 ppm and all concentrations of BA resulted in shorter plants than the control. Phytotoxicity was observed in plants treated with 1600 or 2400 ppm DS. In both experiments, DS at 1600 and 2400 ppm had the least plant dry weight compared with the control. Treatment with BA at 1750 ppm resulted in greatest leaf area compared with control. Dikegulac sodium at 800 ppm increased the number of flowers compared with control. Pinching and BA did not affect number of inflorescences. All concentrations of BA and DS delayed flowering, except 1000 ppm BA. Plants treated with 800, 1600, and 2400 ppm DS had shorter inflorescences compared with control plants. Benzyladenine decreased the length of the inflorescence at high concentrations, 1250 and 1750 ppm. Pinching treatments did not affect inflorescence length.
Data Conversion with ProteoWizard msConvert

Recent advances in proteome informatics have led to an explosion in tools to analyze mass spectrometry data. These tools operate across the analysis pipeline doing everything from assessing quality control to matching peptides to spectra to quantification. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these tools are not able to operate directly on the proprietary formats generated by the diverse mass spectrometers. Consequently, the first step in many protocols is the conversion of data from vendor-specific binary files to open-format files. This protocol details the use of ProteoWizard's msConvert and msConvertGUI software for this conversion, taking format features, coding options, and vendor particularities into account. We specifically describe the various options available when doing conversions and the implications of each option.
Optimization of stochastic EUV resist models parameters to mitigate line edge roughness

The optimization problem of reducing EUV line edge roughness (LER) of a given feature, subject to the tolerance constraints on a CD of this feature at nominal EUV process conditions and several off-nominal conditions, is formulated. A stochastic rigorous Monte-Carlo EUV resist model is employed to solve this stochastic optimization problem. Several options for optimization algorithms, suitable for the solution of the formulated EUV LER optimization problem, are presented and discussed, along with the results of their tests.
Chemotherapy-Related Lung Injury

As advances are made in the treatment of lung cancer with new chemotherapeutic regimens and agents, heightened awareness must be paid to the potential for drug-related lung injury. However, making the diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced lung injury is challenging, as it is nearly always a diagnosis of exclusion. Early detection of drug-related injury is critical as in many cases complete recovery will occur with removal of the offending agent. The combination of a high level of clinical suspicion, radiographic findings, and pathologic abnormalities all play a role in establishing a diagnosis of chemotherapy-related lung injury.
Abstract 23: Visceral Adiposity is Associated with Persistently High and Less Variable Blood Pressure: Results From the Dallas Heart Study

Introduction: Hypertension is strongly linked to obesity. Blood pressure variability (BPV), a novel BP phenotype with potential clinical significance, may also be associated with increased adiposit...
An in situ ESR study of Pd/H-ZSM-5 interaction with different adsorbents

In situ ESR at 120–473 K permits to monitor formation of transient paramagnetic ions/complexes (isolated Pd+ sites; Pd+/H2O; Pd+/C6H6) upon interaction of isolated Pd2+ cations stabilized by the H-ZSM-5 matrix with different organic compounds and gas mixtures (NO, O2, H2O, H2, propene, benzene). The in situ study provides insight into the elementary steps of redox processes on isolated Pd species in H-ZSM-5 zeolite under realistic conditions. Adsorbed water stabilizes the transient paramagnetic complex and decreases the rate of Pd2+ to Pd0 reduction by H2. Strong bonding of NO x ligands to Pd2+ species suppresses the reduction of Pd(II) ions. Sorption of benzene on preoxidized Pd2+/HZSM-5 is accompanied by an easy formation of organic cation-radicals and of a Pd+/benzene complex, the paramagnetic Pd+/benzene structure indicating a surprisingly high resistance to further reduction to Pd0. Illumination of the Pd/HZSM-5 by UV-visible light causes no measurable change in the redox properties of the catalyst.
Chapter 24 – Neural Modeling of Learning in Verbal Response-Selection Tasks

ABSTRACT We present a dynamic neuronal model of the diverse brain areas involved in learning verbal response selection that replicates observed human cognitive behavior. This model is based on recent positron emission tomography (PET), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and event-related potential (ERP) data as well as the neuroanatomy and physiology of the brain areas involved. The model also captures the postulated dynamics of cortico-thalamo-basal ganglionic loops in the prefrontal cortex.
To Create a Robotic Humanoid Hand Imitating the Real Time Motions of a Human User's Hand

In this paper, a 3D printed robotic humanoid hand is created to mimic a human user's hand motions in a real time manner. First, the motions of the human hand are captured by a LEAP motion sensor and are extracted using image processing. Then the gesture of the user hand is passed to an Arduino microcontroller through a Python-based serial communication interface. Finally, the microcontroller sends the control commands to the servomotors of the robotic hand to implement the required gesture. The testing results show that the robotic hand meets the design requirements.
The Effect of Judge Selection on Standard Setting Using the Mastery Angoff Method during Development of a Ventricular Assist Device Self-Care Curriculum

Abstract Background Patients and caregivers need to perform ventricular assist device (VAD) self-care safely to help prevent complications (e.g., infection). We developed a VAD self-care simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) curriculum. We determined optimal minimum passing scores (MPSs) and evaluated effects of judge selection. Methods A multidisciplinary team created a VAD self-care SBML curriculum including simulated skills and knowledge examinations. Patients, caregivers, VAD coordinators, and physicians were expert judges who determined MPSs using the Mastery Angoff method. Results MPSs for the skills and knowledge examinations were high (range = 94%-99% and 97% correct, respectively). Judges closely agreed on MPSs. Conclusions Stakeholders set stringent MPSs for high-stakes VAD self-care.
Acoustic holograms in contactless ultrasonic power transfer systems: Modeling and experiment

Contactless ultrasonic acoustic energy transfer (UAET) is a new technology that eliminates risks or impracticalities associated with wired electrical connections or batteries that need to be replaced on a regular basis. This technology, which is based on the reception of acoustic waves at ultrasonic frequencies by piezoelectric receivers, can be used to wirelessly charge low-power electronics. The execution and efficiency of this technology can be significantly enhanced through patterning and focusing of the transmitted acoustic energy in space to simultaneously power distributed sensors or devices. This work investigates the use of an acoustic hologram to create a multifocal pressure pattern in a plane where target receivers are located at specific focal points or regions. First, a phase-shifting hologram is designed using an iterative angular spectrum approach. Then, a multi-physics acoustic-electro-elastic model is presented for an axially vibrating cylindrical transmitter used to power multiple piezoelectric receivers, in conjunction with the hologram. Experiments are also performed to show the capability of an acoustic hologram to selectively power an array of the receivers. Both analytical and experimental results show a dramatic enhancement of power transfer to receivers exposed to a multi-focal pressure pattern created by the hologram. As a case study, a bi-focal receiver setup is investigated where one receiver is targeted. The UAET simulation predicts a doubling of the power transfer to the targeted receiver, which is verified by the proof-of-concept experiment. The effects of system parameters such as input frequency and hologram aperture size are also reported.
Metallic nanoparticles for catalysis applications

Abstract Noble metals alloyed with certain transition metals in the form of a nanoalloy exhibit enhanced catalytic or electrocatalytic activities for a number of oxidation reactions. This chapter discusses some important insights into how the interatomic distances and structures of the nanoalloy catalysts operate synergistically in activating oxygen and maneuvering surface oxygenated species by highlighting examples of nanoalloy catalysts in which Pt or Pd is alloyed with a second and/or third transition metal (M/M′ = Co, V, Ni, Cu) for catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide in gas phase and electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols in an electrolyte. One important emphasis is placed on understanding atomic-scale chemical/structural ordering and coordination in correlation with the catalytic or electrocatalytic properties based on findings from ex situ and in situ synchrotron X-ray techniques such as high energy X-ray diffraction coupled to atomic pair distribution function and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopic analysis. The understanding of the detailed active sites of the nanoalloys has significant implications for the design of low-cost, active, and durable catalysts for sustainable energy production and conversion reactions.
High Throughput Screening of 3D Printable Resins: Adjusting the Surface and Catalytic Properties of Multifunctional Architectures

Identification of 3D printable materials is crucial to expand the breadth of physical and chemical properties attainable by additive manufacturing. Stereolithography (SLA), a widespread 3D printing...
Does High-Intensity Endurance Training Increase the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation? A Longitudinal Study of Left Atrial Structure and Function.

Background:Exercise mitigates many cardiovascular risk factors associated with atrial fibrillation. Endurance training has been associated with atrial structural changes which can increase the risk...
O-036 Aspiration tubing diameter is associated with consistency of intraluminal aspiration pressure for mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: an experimental study

Introduction/Purpose For patients with acute ischemic stroke due to a large vessel occlusion, aspiration-retrieval methods are increasingly becoming standard-of-care. Several parameters of the standard thrombectomy set-up influence procedure success. We studied, in a controlled experimental setting, the effect of various aspiration tubing on consistency of intraluminal pressure between static and dynamic phases of aspiration, static being aspiration with no flow into the distal access catheter and dynamic being aspiration with active catheter flow. Materials and methods Standard set-up for all trials included a single distal access catheter (ID=0.60 in) immersed in a canister of water connected by a three-way valve to aspiration tubing with an inline digital manometer at the junction (figure 1). A single vacuum pump was used in all trials. Four types of aspiration tubing, differentiated based on diameter, were studied. Two trials were conducted for each type of aspiration tubing in which the pressure (inHg) was measured in static and dynamic phases. The mean pressure over the two trials was computed for each phase. Percent change was computed between the static and dynamic phases. Data was summarized with descriptive statistics. Student’s t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc analyses were used to compare pressures between the various tubing. Results The mean percent change between the static and dynamic phases for the four types of aspiration tubing were: Type 1 58.3% (22.1 inHg vs. 9.2 inHg), Type 2 18.5% (20.3 vs. 16.5), Type 3 31.6% (25.3 vs 17.3), and Type 4 2.7% (25.3 vs. 24.6) (table 1). Change in pressure between static and dynamic phases was significantly different for tubing Types 1–3 (p Conclusion Intraluminal pressure for the aspiration tubing with the largest diameter (Type 4) was constant over static and dynamic aspiration. We suggest that larger diameter aspiration tubing provides less resistance to flow and therefore may permit more reliable distal catheter - thrombus face engagement, which may translate into improved reperfusion outcomes. Future studies will evaluate the relationship between aspiration tubing type and thrombectomy outcome. Disclosures L. Verhey: None. O. Rivera: None. L. Lyons: None. P. Mazaris: None. M. Khan: None. J. Singer: 2; C; Stryker, Medtronic.
The Biodemography of Subsistence Farming: Population, Food and Family

Viewing the subsistence farm as primarily a 'demographic enterprise' to create and support a family, this book offers an integrated view of the demography and ecology of preindustrial farming. Taking an interdisciplinary perspective, it examines how traditional farming practices interact with demographic processes such as childbearing, death, and family formation. It includes topics such as household nutrition, physiological work capacity, health and resistance to infectious diseases, as well as reproductive performance and mortality. The book argues that the farming household is the most informative scale at which to study the biodemography and physiological ecology of preindustrial, non-commercial agriculture. It offers a balanced appraisal of the farming system, considering its strengths and limitations, as well as the implications of viewing it as a 'demographic enterprise' rather than an economic one. A valuable resource for graduate students and researchers in biological and physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, natural resource management, agriculture and ecology.
Density wave mediated Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions

Anomalous transport measurements have recently been observed through a wide doping range in the cuprates. Motivated by this, we investigate the effects of a state that shares many features consistent with those of the pseudogap, the mixed triplet-singlet $d$-density wave state, and examine whether its presence could help explain these observations. For a sufficiently doped system Li and Lee (arXiv:1905.04248.) showed that that these density wave states produce a nonzero thermal Hall effect. Through the effect that density waves have on the localized spins of a square lattice in a magnetically ordered phase, we find that the mixed triplet-singlet $d$-density wave state induces stable Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interactions among the localized spins in the presence of an external magnetic field. As similar antisymmetric exchange couplings have yielded nonzero thermal Hall contributions, we examine this induced DM interaction by applying Holstein-Primakoff (HP) transformations to study the resulting magnon excitations of the spin models for both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic backgrounds, relevant to the near-half-filling and heavily overdoped regimes, respectively. Furthermore, because the triplet-singlet $d$-density wave is experimentally challenging to detect directly, we discuss the magnetic signatures that this state can possibly induce away from the pseudogap regime. We calculate the magnon dispersion for ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{x}\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ and find that the density wave induces a weak ${d}_{{x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}}$ anisotropy; upon calculating the non-Abelian Berry curvature for this magnon branch, we show explicitly that the magnon contribution to ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{xy}$ is zero. Finally, we calculate corrections to the magnetic ground state energy, spin canting angles, and the spin-wave dispersion due to the topological density wave for ferromagnetic backgrounds. We find that terms linear in the HP bosons can affect the critical behavior, a point previously overlooked in the literature.
Comparative phytochemical analysis of the fruits of four Florida-grown finger lime (Citrus australasica) selections

Abstract Finger lime (Citrus australasica F. Muell.), a citrus species native to Australia, is a distinct finger-shaped fruit with unique caviar-like pulp and skin color variations. In addition to visual and sensory characteristics, finger lime has recently gained attention from the American citrus industry due to its tolerance to a devastating citrus disease, Huanglongbing (HLB). Here, we characterized the phytochemical profiles (including acid and sugar) of four Florida-grown finger lime selections: two with red pulp, one with pale pink pulp, and one with white pulp. Two-three-fold higher levels of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were observed in the peel compared to the pulp in the four selections. Selections with red pulp had more antioxidant capacity and higher phenolic compound content in both types of tissues than in the selections with white pulp. Citric acid was found abundant in all four selections making the selections a major source of organic acid. The overall results suggested that finger limes are rich in health-benefiting and flavor contributing compounds; more specifically, Florida-grown red selections of finger lime are richest in phytochemicals, vitamin c, citric acid, and sugars among evaluated genotypes, therefore, making them strong alternative for production in Florida and consumption.
Timing of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block and Postoperative Pain Management

Background Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks using liposomal bupivacaine can reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption after surgery. The impact of timing of administration of such blocks has not been determined. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study of all adult patients that underwent colorectal procedures between January 2013 and October 2015 and received TAP blocks with liposomal bupivacaine at our institution was conducted. The primary outcomes were postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes included postoperative use of non-opioid analgesics as well as total hospital cost of admission and postoperative hospital length of stay. Results A total of 287 patients were identified and included in the analysis. A total of 71 patients received blocks prior to induction of general anesthesia (pre-ind), 85 patients received blocks after induction of general anesthesia but prior to surgical incision (post-ind) and 131 patients received blocks after completion of surgery (post-op). No significant differences were observed in the postoperative pain scores (either in the first 4 hours or for the entire duration of hospital stay) or opioid consumption between the pre-ind and the post-ind groups. More ketorolac was used in the post-op group compared to the pre-ind group (or= 3.36, 95% CI (1.08, 10.43); p=0.03). Conclusion Our findings suggest that there seems to be no difference if tap blocks with liposomal bupivacaine are performed before or after induction of anesthesia. Patient preference as well as operating room efficiency should be considered when deciding on the timing of these blocks.
Thinking Through Monuments: Levantine Monuments as Technologies of Community-Scale Motivated Social Cognition

This study proposes that monuments are technologies through which communities think. I draw on conceptual blending theory as articulated by Mark Turner and Gilles Fauconnier to argue that monuments are material anchors for conceptual integration networks. The network model highlights that monuments are embedded in specific spatial and socio-historical contexts while also emphasizing that they function relationally by engaging the imaginations of communities. An enactivist understanding of these networks helps to explain the generative power of monuments as well as how they can become dynamic and polysemic. By proposing a cognitive scientific model for such relational qualities, this approach also has the advantage of making them more easily quantifiable. I present a test case of monumental installations from the Iron Age Levant (the ceremonial plaza of Karkamis) to develop this approach and demonstrate its explanatory power. I contend that the theory and methods introduced here can make future accounts of monuments more precise while also opening up new avenues of research into monuments as a technology of motivated social cognition that is enacted on a community-scale.
Productivity Analysis Of Filling Machine With The Objective Matrix (OMAX) Method

A Factory is a manufacturing industry that produces tea drinks in cups. A Factory is also inseparable from problems related to machine/equipment productivity. Based on the results of observations made at A Factory part of the production line that there is often a sudden stop of the production process. The discontinuation will affect the quality of the product expected and the production targets to be achieved. The problem was discussed in this research is how much the productivity level of the filling production department is, how much the production effectiveness, effective working hours, the number of defective products, and machine downtime criteria. The productivity measurement method used is the Objective Matrix (OMAX) method, so the steps of this study refer to OMAX steps, which is the criteria determination/productivity ratio of the production line, the calculation of the productivity ratio value, the calculation of the initial standard score (score 3), The determination of the goal (score 10) and the lowest score (score 0), the determination of weight, the calculation of value/criteria value, the determination of productivity value for each period, determination of index percentage. With the OMAX method, it can be seen that in period 11 (compared to period 10) there was an increase in productivity, this can be seen because the IP value (Index of Performance) which is positive (+) is 27.79 and there is an increase in the value of the calculation at the time of measurement (current) from 383.36 to 300. This increase was due to an increase in the value of all criteria.
A micro-organosphere potency assay for adoptive T-cell therapy.

e15027Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Metastatic lung cancer patients often relapse or grow refractory to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and checkpoint inhibitors. Ado...
A technique for characterising feature size and quality of manifolds

Effective dimension reduction is a key factor in facilitating large-scale simulation of high-dimensional dynamical systems. The behaviour of low-dimensional surrogate models often relies on accurat...
Challenges and opportunities in biomass ash management and its utilization in novel applications

Abstract To reduce greenhouse emissions, the utilization of biomass is a proficient path for producing power and its impact on accumulative carbon footprint. Generation of power using biomass produces residue majorly in the form of ash. However, as electrical demand rises, the utilization of biomass as feedstock surges, resultantly the quantity of ash from power plants increases. Production of the ash in biomass-fired power plants arise multiple problems exclusively handling of ash and its utilization. The continuous rise in ash quantity will challenge ash-storing facilities while increasing management, transferring and disposal cost. Direct disposal to the land sites may also effects the soil nutrient and its structure. This review investigated the basic challenges in biomass ash production, environmental concerns and handling issues. Furthermore, the study explores the various opportunities in biomass ash utilization in conventional applications such as agriculture, construction, and cement industry. Moreover, the status and prospects of ash utilization in novel application such as nanotechnology in industrial catalysis and environmental applications have been well elucidated. Finally, the recommendations were also derived to pave the path for efficient utilization of biomass ash to improve the overall economy of the biomass operated power plants and sustainable development.
Operating characteristics are needed to properly evaluate the scientific validity of phase I protocols.

Abstract Purpose Operating characteristics for proposed clinical trial designs provide insight into performance regarding safety and accuracy, allowing the study team and review entities to determine the design's suitability to achieve the study's proposed objectives. Advances in cancer therapeutics have augmented the needs of early phase clinical trial design. Additionally, advances in research on early-phase trial design have led to the availability of a wide range of methods that show vast improvement over outdated approaches. Methods Three trials utilizing variations of the 3 + 3 decision rule are discussed. The protocols lacked detail, including operating characteristics and guidance for decision-making that deviated from the 3 + 3 decision rule and MTD determination. We provide a discussion of the statistical issues associated with each design and operating characteristics for the proposed design compared to alternatives better suited to achieve the aims of each trial. Results Our results illustrate how operating characteristics inform a design's safety and accuracy. Operating characteristics can unmask poor behavior, such as a high percentage of particiapnts exposed to overly toxic doses, a low probability of correctly identifying the MTD, and inappropriate early study termination. Conclusion Selection of early-phase trial design has significant implications on a trial's ability to meet its objectives. Operating characteristics are a necessary component in the design and review of a protocol, determining if the study's objectives can be achieved and documenting the study's scientific validity. Continued use of outdated approaches due to historical acceptance hinders scientific rigor and the effort to move effective agents through the drug development process.
Abstract MP33: Heterozygous Knockout Of Nfatc1 In Mice Is Protective Against Salt-sensitive Hypertension

Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells 1 (NFATC1) plays a role in the immune response and has been shown to be required for cardiac development. A recent trans-ethnic meta-analysis of genome-wide asso...
Upper extremity fractures due to intimate partner violence versus accidental causes.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV)-related upper extremity fractures (UEF) in women presenting to US emergency departments (ED) and compare their anatomic location to those due to accidental falls or strikes. An Institutional Review Board exempt, retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System’s All Injury Program data from 2005 through 2015 for all UEF sustained in women 15 to 54 years old. Injuries based on reported IPV versus accidental falls or strikes were analyzed accounting for the weighted, stratified nature of the data. IPV-related UEF represented 1.7% of all UEF and 27.2% of all IPV fractures. The finger was the most common fracture site in IPV (34.3%) and accidental striking (53.3%) but accounted for only 10% of fall-related UEF. There was a higher proportion of shoulder fractures in IPV (9.2%) compared to accidental falls (7.4%) or strikes (2.9%). The odds of a finger fracture were 4.32 times greater in IPV than falling and of a shoulder fracture were 3.65 greater in IPV than accidental striking (p < 0.0001). While the finger is the most common site for IPV UEF, it is also the most common location for accidental striking. A lower proportion of finger fractures in fall and of shoulder/forearm fractures in accidental striking should prompt the radiologist to discuss the possibility of IPV with the ED physician in any woman presenting with a finger fracture due to fall and a shoulder/forearm fracture with a vague history of accidental striking.
Renal protein absorption into sub-cellular particles: I. Studies with intact kidneys and fractionated homogenates☆

Abstract 1. 1. Intravenously injected bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A labeled with iodine 125 was rapidly cleared from the blood into the kidneys. Liver and gut absorbed little, and spleen and lung, none. 2. 2. Most of the radioactivity in kidney homogenates sedimented upon centrifugation, showing it to be associated with particles. The labeled particles were partially resolved by centrifugation at high speed in a density gradient into two overlapping bands: fractions I and II. 3. 3. Particles of fraction II were also isolated by centrifugation in 41.5% sucrose solution. In confirmation, the resuspended precipitate rebanded at a density near that characteristic of fraction II upon density gradient centrifugation. 4. 4. The labeled particles were identified as pinocytic vesicles (fraction I) and lysosomes (fraction II) respectively by the following criteria: 4.1. (a) Analyses performed at varying intervals after intravenous injection of ribonuclease showed that fraction I rapidly became labeled as the kidneys took up the ribonuclease; label in this fraction then diminished while fraction II continued to increase in radioactivity. Later, fraction II also lost activity, accounting for the concomitant decrease in kidney labeling. Taken together with the rapid removal of label from the blood, these facts indicate that fraction II acquired exogenous protein from fraction I, just as lysosomes have been observed to take up material from pinocytic vacuoles. 4.2. (b) Suspensions predominantly of fraction II released phosphotungstic acid-soluble label into the supernatant, upon incubation at 37 °C and pH 5.5, indicating degradation of the exogenous ribonuclease by these particles. Such activity is characteristic of lysosomes. When fraction I predominated, no degradation occurred upon incubation. 5. 5. Damaged particles were distinguished from intact ones by their release of protein bound radioactivity upon centrifugation in 0.9% saline-0.25 M sucrose. Centrifugation in isotonic sucrose alone did not necessarily lead to release of label. Intact particles were unaffected by centrifugation in saline sucrose. The method was used to detect osmotic damage caused by incubation in hypotonic medium, and damage from centrifugation and resuspension. 6. 6. Labeled particles of either type were most stable at slightly acid pH.
Thermal denaturation methods in the study of protein folding.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the folding/unfolding equilibrium of monomeric protein systems under equilibrium conditions; however, the equations and the general treatment are applicable to other macromolecular systems or can be extended in a straightforward fashion to other systems. The absolute heat capacities can be used to obtain structure-related information and the degree of hydration or degree of solvent exposure of the polypeptide chain to the solvent. This information is extremely important and can be used to assess the degree of unfolding achieved by thermal denaturation. It has been shown that the absolute heat capacity of different protein conformations can be accurately predicted from high-resolution structural parameters. Differential scanning calorimetry measures the heat capacity of a solution directly; however, only recently have instruments with the required sensitivity and precision for absolute measurements of the heat capacity of proteins in dilute solution is developed. The heat capacity itself contains a wealth of information and can be related directly to structural parameters. The chapter discusses analysis of the heat capacity of proteins in different conformational states and its relation to structural parameters.
Histone acetyltransferase in chromatin: Extraction of transferase activity from chromatin☆

Abstract Previous work has attempted to localize nuclear histone acetyltransferase activity in the cromatin. Evidence was presented indicating that the transfer of 14 C-acetate from 14 C-acetyl CoA to histones in chromatin was an enzymatic process. We now report on the extraction of part of the histone acetyltransferase activity from rat liver chromatin, employing a procedure originally described for extraction of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The K m of the extracted transferase activity for the substrate acetyl CoA was 5 × 10 −7 , the Q 10 : 1.8 and the optimal pH: 7.1. Serum albumine, protamine and polylysine were poor substrates as compared to histones. Activity of extracted or heated chromatin was not restored upon incubation in the presence of extract. Also the selectivity exhibited by the transferase activity in unextracted chromatin towards arginine-rich histones, was much less pronounced in the extracts prepared from it. It is possible that the influence of steric factors contributing to this specificity in native chromatin is lost upon isolation of the enzyme from it. Alternatively, a less specific isoenzyme may have been extracted.
Social Development Trends in Europe, 1970–1994: Development Prospects for the New Europe

The European region is undergoing dramatic social change. Among other regional and international forces, these changes are rooted in: the collapse of the former Soviet Union; the sudden appearance of a large number of “new” – mostly poor and politically unstable – European nations; and, the emergence of economic trading blocs in North America and Asia. At the same time, the majority of “established” European nations are experiencing sluggish rates of economic growth, moderate to high levels of inflation, high unemployment, escalating demands on public social services, and low fertility in combination with high rates of population aging and immigration from developing countries. Despite the seriousness of the dilemmas confronting the region, European development accomplishments of the past 25 years suggest that the region's leaders already possesses the resources required to solve its complex, social, political, and economic challenges.