cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract PR16: A druggable transcriptional vulnerability in NRF2-dependent lung cancer

The b-ZIP transcription factor NRF2 is a master regulator of the cellular antioxidant response and frequently activated in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers (NSCLCs). While direct pharmacological inhibition of NRF2 has proven challenging, its aberrant activation rewires metabolic and signaling networks in cancer cells that may create special vulnerabilities for therapeutic intervention. Here, we use chemical proteomics to map ligandable proteins in NRF2-activated NSCLC cells, leading to the discovery of metabolic and transcriptional pathways that are strictly regulated by NRF2. Principal among these was the orphan nuclear receptor NR0B1, which we show nucleates a multimeric protein complex required for the transcriptional output and anchorage-independent growth of NRF2-driven cancers. We further identify small-molecules that target a conserved cysteine within NR0B19s protein interaction domain and show that these chemical probes disrupt NR0B1 complexes and NRF2-dependent cancer cell growth. Our findings thus designate NR0B1 as a druggable, transcriptional co-dependency target for NRF2-activated lung cancers. Citation Format: Liron Bar-Peled, Esther Kemper, Benjamin Cravatt. A druggable transcriptional vulnerability in NRF2-dependent lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Opportunities and Challenges of Exploiting Synthetic Lethality in Cancer; Jan 4-7, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2017;16(10 Suppl):Abstract nr PR16.
Incorporating biological prior knowledge for Bayesian learning via maximal knowledge-driven information priors

Phenotypic classification is problematic because small samples are ubiquitous; and, for these, use of prior knowledge is critical. If knowledge concerning the feature-label distribution – for instance, genetic pathways – is available, then it can be used in learning. Optimal Bayesian classification provides optimal classification under model uncertainty. It differs from classical Bayesian methods in which a classification model is assumed and prior distributions are placed on model parameters. With optimal Bayesian classification, uncertainty is treated directly on the feature-label distribution, which assures full utilization of prior knowledge and is guaranteed to outperform classical methods. The salient problem confronting optimal Bayesian classification is prior construction. In this paper, we propose a new prior construction methodology based on a general framework of constraints in the form of conditional probability statements. We call this prior the maximal knowledge-driven information prior (MKDIP). The new constraint framework is more flexible than our previous methods as it naturally handles the potential inconsistency in archived regulatory relationships and conditioning can be augmented by other knowledge, such as population statistics. We also extend the application of prior construction to a multinomial mixture model when labels are unknown, which often occurs in practice. The performance of the proposed methods is examined on two important pathway families, the mammalian cell-cycle and a set of p53-related pathways, and also on a publicly available gene expression dataset of non-small cell lung cancer when combined with the existing prior knowledge on relevant signaling pathways. The new proposed general prior construction framework extends the prior construction methodology to a more flexible framework that results in better inference when proper prior knowledge exists. Moreover, the extension of optimal Bayesian classification to multinomial mixtures where data sets are both small and unlabeled, enables superior classifier design using small, unstructured data sets. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach using pathway information and available knowledge of gene regulating functions; however, the underlying theory can be applied to a wide variety of knowledge types, and other applications when there are small samples.
The Image as Reaction. Nuclear Painting and Architecture, Italy 1951-1958

The last act of World War II took place in the Summer of 1945 with the explosions of the atomic bomb. Despite the fact that these events took place far from the “old continent” some European artists were deeply affected by the power of the atomic instrument and they meditated on a possible future dominated by a nuclear manipulation capable of redefining “the representation of man and his space”. The goal of this paper is two-fold: firstly to analyze some specific aspects of artists who belonged to the “Movimento Arte Nucleare” and their affiliation with architectural practices, together with their 'dialogue' with the “International Movement for an Imaginist Bauhaus”; and secondly, to introduce the figure of the Nuclear Architect, Enzo Venturelli, in order to describe an original panorama based on the alliances and contaminations between diverse disciplines associated by the sensitive attention paid to the planning of the future and the rejection of Rationalist Architecture.
Sea State Bias of ICESat in the Subarctic Seas

The fine spatial resolution of laser altimeters makes them potentially valuable to oceanography studying features at mesoscale, close to land, and in the marginal ice zone. To fulfill this promise, we must understand laser sea state bias (SSB). SSB occurs in the measurement of sea surface height in the presence of waves when the altimeter observations are preferentially influenced by particular parts (e.g., wave troughs) of the wave-covered surface. Radar altimeters have received considerable attention relating radar SSB to wave properties and wind speed. Comparatively, little attention has been devoted to the SSB of laser altimeters, and the studies of laser SSB which have been done have led to indeterminate or ambiguous results even as to sign. Here, we find that to make changes in satellite dynamic ocean topography (DOT) from the Ice, Clouds, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) period, 2004–2009, to the CryoSat-2 period, 2011–2015, consistent with hydrography plus ocean bottom pressure in the subarctic Greenland and Norwegian seas, we need to correct the ICESat DOT for SSB. On average, ICESat SSB is −18% of significant wave height in excess of 1.7 m.
A general framework for stability, receptivity, and optimal control

A general mathematical framework is presented that applies to stability, receptivity, and control issues. It is based on the iterative solution of state and adjoint equations until convergence to a maximum/minimum of an appropriately chosen cost functional is reached. This technique is capable of treating linear and nonlinear disturbance growth as well as non-uniform or unsteady base flows.
Ontology, Epistemology, Teleology: Triangulating Geographic Information Science

For the past several years ontology has enjoyed a robust regard within the geographic information science community. Ontology is however only one apex of a triangle of knowledge that also involves epistemology and the (long discredited) notion of teleology. Without epistemology we lack a systematic understanding of the nature of the correspondence between ontologies and the general or specific domain of inquiry each of them represents. Without teleology we miss the crucial distinction – essential especially in ontologies of change – between the outcomes of causal processes on the one hand, and the results of purposeful action by sentient actors or machines on the other. This paper argues that connecting current conceptions of ontology with these two other, complementary perspectives would allow new kinds of scientific questions to be addressed as well as to expand the scope of ontology itself in geographic information science. I briefly outline an ontological framework that builds on the epistemological notion of information and is guided by the teleological notion of purpose, and based on this sketch I suggest a possible way of completing the golden Greek triangle of geographic information science.
Advances in materials and mechanics

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the research opportunities and challenges in mechanics and materials, including nanomechanics, microscopy, radiation scattering, and other nanoscale metrologies, as well as improved engineering, and design of materials in the exciting information age. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has supported basic research in engineering and the sciences in the United States over the previous years. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, is a nonregulatory federal agency within the US Commerce Department's Technology Administration. NIST's is aimed at developing and promoting measurements, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. The Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering, or CHRNS, is a national user facility that is jointly funded by NSF and the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The CHRNS develops and operates state-of-the-art neutron scattering instrumentation with broad applications in materials research for use by the general scientific community. The chapter concludes with the discussion of the initiative Engineering Sciences for Modeling and Simulation-Based Lifecycle Engineering that is a three-year collaborative research program by NSF and the Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) focusing on advancing the fundamental knowledge needed to support advanced computer simulations. This collaborative initiative capitalizes on the missions of both organizations. NSF is aimed at advancing the fundamental science and engineering base of the US.
Almost Periodic Solutions to Difference Equations

The theory of Massera and Schaeffer relating the existence of unique almost periodic solutions of an inhomogeneous linear equation to an exponential dichotomy for the homogeneous equation was completely extended to discretizations by a strongly stable difference scheme. In addition it is shown that the almost periodic sequence solution will converge to the differential equation solution. The preceding theory was applied to a class of exponentially stable partial differential equations to which one can apply the Hille-Yoshida theorem. It is possible to prove the existence of unique almost periodic solutions of the inhomogeneous equation (which can be approximated by almost periodic sequences) which are the solutions to appropriate discretizations. Two methods of discretizations are discussed: the strongly stable scheme and the Lax-Wendroff scheme.
Insights into Modeling Small-Strain Site Response Derived from Downhole Array Data

AbstractThe small-strain damping ratio (Dmin) is a key parameter in site response models and using values from laboratory tests tends to overpredict the site response because laboratory tests canno...
Prioritization of Variants for Investigation of Genotype-Directed Nutrition in Human Superpopulations

Dietary guidelines recommended by key health agencies are generally designed for a global population. However, ethnicity affects human disease and environment-gene interactions, including nutrient intake. Historically, isolated human populations with different genetic backgrounds have adapted to distinct environments with varying food sources. Ethnicity is relevant to the interaction of food intake with genes and disease susceptibility; yet major health agencies generally do not recommend food and nutrients codified by population genotypes and their frequencies. In this paper, we have consolidated published nutrigenetic variants and examine their frequencies in human superpopulations to prioritize these variants for future investigation of population-specific genotype-directed nutrition. The nutrients consumed by individuals interact with their genome and may alter disease risk. Herein, we searched the literature, designed a data model, and manually curated hundreds of papers. The resulting database houses 101 variants that reached significance (p < 0.05), from 35 population studies. Nutrigenetic variants associated with modified nutrient intake have the potential to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and several other diseases. Since many nutrigenetic studies have identified a major variant in some populations, we suggest that superpopulation-specific genotype-directed nutrition modifications be prioritized for future study and evaluation. Genotype-directed nutrition approaches to dietary modification have the potential to reduce disease risk in select human populations.
Suppressing immunotherapy by organ-specific tumor microenvironments: what is in the brain?

Recent breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy have led to curative efficacy and significantly prolonged survival in a subset of patients of multiple cancer types; and immunotherapy has become the newest pillar of cancer treatment in addition to surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and precision targeted therapies. In the metastatic disease setting, responses to immunotherapy are heterogeneous depending on the metastatic organ sites. The tissue-specific immuno-biology in the tumor microenvironments (TMEs) contributes to the differential therapeutic responses. Herein, we review the impact of tissue-specific tumor microenvironment on the efficacy of immunotherapy, with a focus on historically under-represented central nervous system (CNS) metastasis, which was excluded from most clinical trials. Retrospective examination of patient specimens and prospective clinical studies with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) have established that brain can harbor an “active” immune microenvironment for effective immunotherapy. Regulation by the innate immune microglial cells and remodeling of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) may contribute to immunotherapeutic responses mediated by T lymphocytes. How to convert an “inactive” (cold) brain microenvironment into an “active” (hot) brain TME should be the focus of future efforts. Thus, procurement and complete examination of clinical specimens from brain metastases as well as development of appropriate preclinical brain metastasis models susceptible to external manipulation of the TME are critical steps towards that goal. A deeper understanding of the immuno-biology in distinct organ microenvironments will help to expand the benefits of immunotherapy to more needed patients.
Effective methods to reduce grade variability in iron ore mine operations

This paper explores possible strategies to meet iron ore customer requirements (reduce variability and keep Fe% and contaminants such as Al2O3% and P% within the acceptable tolerance) by optimizing the mine plan and scheduling strategy in the rehandling process. The paper aims to obtain more homogenous iron ore grade by redesigning current rehandling strategy and creating selective Run of Mine (ROM) with defined Fe grade and contaminants tolerances in the supply chain process. A new Linear Programming Model was developed and sample data from an Iron Ore operation in Western Australia was used to conduct this analysis. The outcomes indicate that it is possible to achieve better grade results for Fe% and Al2O3% keeping required tonnage targets. Furthermore, the results reflect Low-Grade materials could play a more important role in the weekly schedule and that grade contents could balance alterations of High-Grade products. Although there are extra costs due to rehandling activities, these costs could be offset by selling more consistent products. It is an invitation to mining companies to change current strategy and focus more on the downstream and customer requirements in terms of quality product instead of just quantity.
White electrophosphorescence from semiconducting polymer blends

White emission from polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) is demonstrated by spin-casting polymer blends from solution containing poly(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2.7-diyl) (PFO) and tris (2,5-bis-2'-(9',9'-dihexylfluorene) pyridine) iridium (III), Ir(HFP) 3 . The white electrophosphorescence PLEDs exhibit luminance of 1.2 x 10 4 cd/m 2 at 17 volts and luminous efficiency of 4.3 cd/A at current density of 5.2 mA/cm 2 . Because a single semiconducting polymer, PFO, was used as the common host for red, green and blue emission, the color coordinates, the color temperatures and the color rendering indices of the white emission are insensitive to the brightness, applied voltage and applied current density.
Is affirmative action interfering with the Chinese dream in America? Exploring WeChat users’ views on affirmative action in US. college admissions

As a fast-growing population in US. society, Asian Americans, particularly Chinese Americans, have started to engage more actively and amplify their presence in the recent legal challenges to affir...
Approaches for handling sloping fluid-solid interfaces with the parabolic equation method

Several methods for handling sloping fluid-solid interfaces with the elastic parabolic equation are tested. A single-scattering approach that is modified for the fluid-solid case is accurate for some problems but breaks down when the contrast across the interface is sufficiently large and when there is a Scholte wave. An approximate condition for conserving energy breaks down when a Scholte wave propagates along a sloping interface but otherwise performs well for a large class of problems involving gradual slopes, a wide range of sediment parameters, and ice cover. An approach based on treating part of the fluid layer as a solid with low shear speed handles Scholte waves and a wide range of sediment parameters accurately, but this approach needs further development. The variable rotated parabolic equation is not effective for problems involving frequent or continuous changes in slope, but it provides a high level of accuracy for most of the test cases, which have regions of constant slope. Approaches based on a coordinate mapping and on using a film of solid material with low shear speed on the rises of the stair steps that approximate a sloping interface are also tested and found to produce accurate results for some cases.
Environmental solution-state NMR spectroscopy: Recent advances, potential, and impacts

Abstract Solution-state NMR spectroscopy used to characterize soil organic matter, dissolved organic matter, and organic aerosols has been rapidly developed over the last decade. NMR analysis is a nondestructive, robust, and reproducible method that provides qualitative and quantitative information on all chemical species in the sample through the detection of different types of proton, carbon, phosphorous, nitrogen, and oxygen nuclei. The fundamental principles and the breadth of one- and multidimensional NMR methods are described here. In addition, the molecular and functional characterization of organic matter in various environmental matrices ranging from low-molecular-weight chemical species to macromolecules is presented here. Analysis of the variability of NMR profiles by multivariate statistical analysis including principal components analysis and partial least squares/discriminant analysis allows for the identification of processes controlling the environmental fate of organic species. Benefitting from improvements in NMR technology, solution-state NMR analysis may be a powerful tool in understanding the processes and impacts of organic mixtures in environmental media.
Recent advances in single-atom catalysts and single-atom alloys: opportunities for exploring the uncharted phase space in-between

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have gained significant world-wide attention for exhibiting distinct reactivity and selectivity for important reactions, while utilizing precious metals at the ultimate limit of efficiency. SACs involving reducible oxide supports are good catalysts for oxidation reactions, and metal-acid site pairs enable C C bond formation, but SACs can deactivate by sintering under reducing conditions. On the other hand, single-atom alloys (SAAs) are robust towards sintering and exhibit exceptional catalytic performance for a wide range of reactions under reducing conditions but can deactivate under oxidizing environments. Therefore, there is tremendous opportunity to explore and exploit catalytic reactivity between the SAC and SAA extremes. This paper focuses on recent advances in both fields and highlights prospects for future research.
The effect of STARS for students with high incidence disabilities: a randomized pilot study

There is a need for more research on selective or Tier 2 interventions to support students with challenging classroom behaviors. Existing Tier 2 interventions lack effective mechanisms such as auto...
The perception of crisis, the existence of crisis: navigating the social construction of crisis

Crisis remains a pervasive phenomenon for organizations of all kinds. The ubiquitous and casual invocation of crisis cuts across organizational sectors and bodies of literature; and the popularity ...
A Social-Ecological Perspective of Spiritual Resilience and Suicidality among African-American Men

Despite their minoritized status research has shown that suicide among African-American men has steadily increased. Research has also discussed generalized protective factors that have been found to mitigate suicide risk. What lacks is a more culturally nuanced definition of spiritual resilience which has been found to protect against suicide for African-American men. Using Socio-Ecological Resiliency Theory (S-ERT), The Theory of Intersectionality (TOI), and Critical Race Theory (CRT) as our theoretical lens, this article draws on the lived experiences of social workers working with suicidal African-American men. It examines the social ecologies of African-American men and seeks to understand how these experiences can help to mitigate suicide risk. Implications are provided for social work research, policy and education programs to ensure that practitioners are well versed in working with this population.
Evaluating Non-operative Robotic Skills in Colorectal Surgical Training.

Abstract Background Robotic-assisted surgery has become a common platform for performing colorectal procedures. Educators must determine how best to teach and train residents to use the technology safely. There is a paucity of literature on how non-operative skills are being taught and integrated into colorectal training. Herein we describe the implementation and assessment of a pilot simulation-based Robotic Colorectal Surgery Non-Technical Skills curriculum. Materials and methods Since 2017 six colon and rectal surgery residents participated in two scenarios: pelvic bleeding and CO2 embolism. The scenarios were administered in a simulated operating room twice during the academic year (fall and spring), and audio-video recorded. In addition to self-assessment, videos were evaluated by faculty utilizing the validated Interpersonal and Cognitive Assessment for Robotic Surgery system. To understand the role of scenario difficulty with respect to perceived cognitive workload and performance residents completed a NASA-Task Load Index assessment form. Results Between the fall and spring sessions residents significantly improved in intraoperative leadership skills for both the CO2 embolism and bleeding scenarios, and decision-making and situational awareness for the embolism case. Assessment between resident (self) and expert (faculty) did not correlate (P Conclusions We were able to successfully develop and implement a pilot Robotic Colorectal Surgery Non-Technical Skills curriculum in a risk-free simulated environment. Non-technical skill curriculums should be considered for both training and assessment in robotic surgery.
Assessment of Stakeholder Engagement in a Down Syndrome Research Study

There is growing recognition of the importance of engaging patients early in the design of research studies. For studies involving patients with intellectual and cognitive disabilities, researchers may consider engaging with family caregivers, health professionals, community advocates, and/or subject matter experts to provide a more multifaceted, surrogate perspective. Evaluating the engagement of these stakeholder groups in research is nascent, and tools are limited. Research studies involving these individuals provide the opportunity to test new methods of measurement of stakeholder engagement in research. We conducted a 3-year research study implementing and evaluating Down Syndrome Clinic to You, an online platform for caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome who do not have access to Down syndrome specialists. We established 3 key stakeholder groups - family caregivers, primary care physicians, and medical/scientific experts in the field - who were involved from grant-writing through preparation of the final report. To assess stakeholder engagement, we utilized the Patient Engagement in Research Scale, a validated instrument originally developed to evaluate patient engagement in arthritis research. Overall, results were suggestive of strong engagement levels by the key stakeholder groups. This study contributes to the limited available literature evaluating measures of stakeholder engagement in research.
Bioethanol fermentation of clarified sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) syrups sealed and stored under vegetable oil

Abstract Sweet sorghum represents a readily available renewable carbohydrate feedstock for biofuel production. Generally, the sweet sorghum growing season and window for processing is short and it is often desirable to store a sugar-rich material for future processing. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of storing three different sweet sorghum sugar syrups under a layer of soybean oil; then we investigated subsequent yeast bioethanol fermentation. A layer of oil on the surface of the syrup reduced sugar loss in 30 and 40°Bx syrups, but the loss was still 21–36 %. Storage of 50°Bx syrup resulted in an 11–18 % loss of sugars with or without a surface layer of oil. Elevated levels of lactic and acetic acids, caused by bacterial contamination, almost completely inhibited yeast fermentation; however, when ethanol-producing microorganisms were part of the contamination, stored syrups produced a bioethanol at a yield of 83–91 %, compared to theoretical.
Updates in Hemodynamic Monitoring: A Review for Pharmacists:

Vital signs are regularly monitored in hospitalized patients. In the intensive care unit (ICU), traditional non-invasive blood pressure monitoring and telemetry may not provide enough information to determine the etiology of hemodynamic instability or guide intervention. Arterial catheters remain the gold-standard for continuous blood pressure monitoring and are commonly used in ICU patients. Pulmonary artery catheters and central venous catheters are beneficial in select patient populations and provide more advanced and specific information about a patient's hemodynamics. However, neither are benign and can increase risk of complications such as infection, arrhythmias, pneumothorax and vascular or valvular damage. In the past 10 years, the development of reliable non-invasive (NICOM), or minimally-invasive (MICOM), cardiac output monitoring devices has accelerated. The MICOM devices require an arterial catheter to obtain hemodynamic values, whereas NICOM devices do not require any arterial or venous access. These devices have emerged to be particularly useful in evaluating and managing patients with suspected mixed shock. As these devices become more prevalent, it is imperative that clinical pharmacists become familiar with interpreting this data as it may have a substantial impact on medication selection and optimization. This review will discuss the basics of NICOM and MICOM devices, limitations with these methods of monitoring, and clinical application for pharmacists.
Simultaneous LC-MS/MS screening for multiple phenethylamine-type conventional drugs and new psychoactive substances in urine

Abstract New psychoactive substances are being launched in the drug market at a rapidly growing pace. More than 950 new psychoactive substances have been reported to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The development of new psychoactive substance abuse has drawn risks on public health and safety. Phenethylamines, along with other stimulants, accounted for the majority of the new psychoactive substances being reported in the past decade. This study presents a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous screening of 74 conventional and artificial phenethylamines in urine samples. The chromatographic analysis was performed by a direct dilute-and-shoot procedure using a Phenomenex Kinetex® Phenyl-Hexyl column (10 cm × 2.1 mm i.d., 1.7 µm) and two mobile phases (A: 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution with 5 mM ammonium acetate, B: 0.1% formic acid methanolic solution). The mass fragments were collected under the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The linearity range located in 1.0–50.0 ng/mL for quantitative analysis. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantification for 74 phenethylamines were 0.5 ng/mL and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. The method was validated and further applied to analyze authentic urine samples. Twenty samples were tested positive of seven phenethylamines from 67 samples, whereas the contents detected were 9.8 ng/mL to 147.1 μg/mL with dilution factors of 40 to 20,000 folds.
Opioid-related hospitalizations and intravenous drug users: Sociodemographic, spatial, and comorbid associations among hospital inpatients and community-based harm reduction organization participants

Objective: To provide an updated analysis of opioid-related injuries in Nevada and provide a first-time analysis of the intravenous drug user (IDU) population within Clark County. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Center for Health Information Analysis (CHIA) database and IDU data from Trac-B Exchange (Trac-B). Participants: Patients hospitalized for opioid-related causes (n = 9,064) and participants from Trac-B. Main outcome measure(s): Variables assessed included age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Zip codes were retrieved to find differences in geographical usage patterns of hospital or sterile injection equipment (SEP) sites. Contingency tables were utilized to determine the frequency of comorbidities. Additionally, GIS was used to investigate potential spatial patterns of interest. Results: Totally 5,268 out of the 9,064 opioid-related cases reported in Nevada were Clark County residents. The highest frequency for comorbidities associated with opioid-related hospitalizations (ORHs) included: infections, chronic bodily pain, and malnutrition. There was a higher proportion of 18-35-year-olds who used SEPs as compared to hospitals and a higher proportion of individuals aged 36 years or older who used hospitals as compared to using SEPs. Of the nearly 100 zip codes in Clark County, six showed a disproportionally high frequency of ORHs, and three comprised the majority of injection drug use. Conclusions: There is an opioid epidemic in Nevada that has contributed to addiction, heroin usage, injection drug use, and transmission of bloodborne diseases. Understanding the ORHs and intravenous drug use trends can help guide the development of program interventions.
Risk sharing on Twitter: Social amplification and attenuation of risk in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Social media trust and sharing behaviors have considerable implications on how risk is being amplified or attenuated at early stages of pandemic outbreaks and may undermine subsequent risk communication efforts. A survey conducted in February 2020 in the United States examined factors affecting information sharing behaviors and social amplification or attenuation of risk on Twitter among U.S. citizens at the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Building on the social amplification of risk framework (SARF), the study suggests the importance of factors such as online discussion, information seeking behaviors, blame and anger, trust in various types of Twitter accounts and misinformation concerns in influencing the spread of risk information during the incipient stages of a crisis when the publics rely primarily on social media for information. An attenuation of risk was found among the US public, as indicated by the overall low sharing behaviors. Findings also imply that (dis)trust and misinformation concerns on social media sources, and inconsistencies in early risk messaging may have contributed to the attenuation of risk and low risk knowledge among the US publics at the early stage of the outbreak, further problematizing subsequent risk communication efforts.
Projecting the impact of socioeconomic and policy factors on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in U.S. forestry and agriculture

Projecting the Impact of Socioeconomic and Policy Factors on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Carbon Sequestration in U.S. Forestry and Agriculture
Legal Certainty: A European Alternative to American Legal Indeterminacy?

Americans are resigned to a high level of legal indeterminacy. This Article shows that Europeans do not accept legal indeterminacy and instead have made legal certainty a general principle of their law. This Article uses the example of the German legal system to show how German legal methods strive to realize this general European principle. It suggests that these methods are opportunities for Americans to develop their own system to reduce legal indeterminacy and to increase legal certainty.
Relevance theory: pragmatics and cognition

Relevance Theory is a cognitively oriented theory of pragmatics, i.e., a theory of language use. It builds on the seminal work of H.P. Grice(1) to develop a pragmatic theory which is at once philosophically sensitive and empirically plausible (in both psychological and evolutionary terms). This entry reviews the central commitments and chief contributions of Relevance Theory, including its Gricean commitment to the centrality of intention-reading and inference in communication; the cognitively grounded notion of relevance which provides the mechanism for explaining pragmatic interpretation as an intention-driven, inferential process; and several key applications of the theory (lexical pragmatics, metaphor and irony, procedural meaning). Relevance Theory is an important contribution to our understanding of the pragmatics of communication.
Five Approaches to Legal Reasoning in the Classroom: Contrasting Perspectives on O'Brien v. Cunard S.S. Co.

This paper is a brief Introduction to five articles dealing with the role a teacher's ideology might properly play in guiding his or her teaching by having the writers - each an afficionado of a particular "school" of academic thought (critical legal theory, law and economics, feminism, critical race theory, and a kind of traditional theoretical agnosticism) discuss how his or her perspective on law would color teaching a case appearing in many casebooks on Torts, O'Brien v. Cunard S.S. Co., 28 N.E. 266 (Mass. 1891), reprinted at 57 Mo. L. Rev. 347 (1992). The article briefly "states" the case in O'Brien and then introduces the other writers, whose papers ensue in the same volume.
Differential Modulation by Exogenous Carbon Monoxide of TNF-α Stimulated Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Rat Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an enzyme that is highly inducible by various cellular stressors, especially oxidant injury. Our laboratory and others have demonstrated that induction of HO-1 exerts an antiinflammatory effect both in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that carbon monoxide (CO), a major catalytic byproduct of heme catalysis by HO-1, may mediate this antiinflammatory effect by modulating signal transduction pathways, in particular the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. Confluent primary cultures of rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAEC) were treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; 50 ng/ml), and whole-cell extracts were assayed for phosphorylated ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 MAP kinases. These three major MAP kinase pathways were activated by TNF-α in a time-dependent manner. RPAEC treated with TNF-α in the presence of a low concentration of CO (1%) exhibited marked attenuation of the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 MAP kinase when compared with cells treated with TNF-α alone. A s...
Perturbation theory of effective Hamiltonians

The paper deals with the non-degenerate perturbation theory in the Brillouin--Wigner and the Rayleigh--Schroedinger methods. In accordance with the Kato--Bloch formalism of degenerate theory both methods are used in many-body problems of nuclear physics. (DE)
Beta-layering of solid deuterium-tritium in a spherical polycarbonate shell

We have examined two of the variables that affect the beta-layering process in which nonuniform layers of solid deuterium-tritium (DT) are driven toward uniformity by beta-decay induced sublimation...
Cramer-Rao bounds for estimating range, velocity, and direction with a sensor array

We derive Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) expressions for the range (time delay), velocity (Doppler shift), and direction of a point target using an active radar or sonar array. The CRB expressions are derived for an arbitrary signal waveform and a noise model that allows both spatial and temporal correlation. We discuss the relationship between the CRB and ambiguity function for this model. Then, we simplify the CRB for the cases of temporally or spatially uncorrelated noise. We compute the CRB for a 3-dimensional array with isotropic sensors in spatially uncorrelated noise and show that it is a function of the array geometry only through the "moments of inertia" of the array. The volume of the confidence region for the target's location is proposed as a measure of accuracy. For this measure, we show that the highest (and lowest) target location accuracy is achieved if the target lies along one of the principal axes of inertia of the array.
The Timescale of Runaway Stochastic Coagulation

Abstract We study the stochastic coagulation equation using simplified models and efficient Monte Carlo simulations. It is known that (i) runaway growth occurs if the two-body coalescence kernel rises faster than linearly in the mass of the heavier particle; and (ii) for such kernels, runaway is instantaneous in the limit that the number of particles tends to infinity at fixed collision time per particle. Superlinear kernels arise in astrophysical systems where gravitational focusing is important, such as the coalescence of planetesimals to form planets or of stars to form supermassive black holes. We find that the time for all particles to coalesce into a single body decreases as a power of the logarithm of the initial number of particles. Astrophysical implications are briefly discussed.
Contrast Enhanced MRI in the Diagnosis of HCC

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 6th most common cancer worldwide. Imaging plays a critical role in HCC screening and diagnosis. Initial screening of patients at risk for HCC is performed with ultrasound. Confirmation of HCC can then be obtained by Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), due to the relatively high specificity of both techniques. This article will focus on reviewing MRI techniques for imaging HCC, felt by many to be the exam of choice for HCC diagnosis. MRI relies heavily upon the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents and while primarily extracellular gadolinium-based contrast agents are used, there is an emerging role of hepatobiliary contrast agents in HCC imaging. The use of other non-contrast enhanced MRI techniques for assessing HCC will also be discussed and these MRI strategies will be reviewed in the context of the pathophysiology of HCC to help understand the MR imaging appearance of HCC.
Power conversion and control using a current sensing power MOSFET

Current-sensing power MOSFETs (SENSEFETs) provide signals proportional to the device current which can be used for overcurrent protection and current feedback. The authors describe an experimental DC-to-DC converter using a SENSEFET switch. The method of processing the sense signal and designing the current feedback is explained. The characteristics of the current sense signal are studied for a converter supplying both an R-L load and a motor load. The current-sensing power MOSFET is suitable for such applications as current regulated power converters and motor drives. >
Differential effects of 24-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol on β-amyloid precursor protein levels and processing in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Activation of the liver × receptors (LXRs) by exogenous ligands stimulates the degradation of β-amyloid 1–42 (Aβ42), a peptide that plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The oxidized cholesterol products (oxysterols), 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC) and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC), are endogenous activators of LXRs. However, the mechanisms by which these oxysterols may modulate Aβ42 levels are not well known. We determined the effect of 24-OHC and/or 27-OHC on Aβ generation in SH-SY5Y cells. We found that while 27-OHC increases levels of Aβ42, 24-OHC did not affect levels of this peptide. Increased Aβ42 levels with 27-OHC are associated with increased levels of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) as well as β-secretase (BACE1), the enzyme that cleaves APP to yield Aβ. Unchanged Aβ42 levels with 24-OHC are associated with increased levels of sAPPα, suggesting that 24-OHC favors the processing of APP to the non-amyloidogenic pathway. Interestingly, 24-OHC, but not 27-OHC, increases levels of the ATP-binding cassette transporters, ABCA1 and ABCG1, which regulate cholesterol transport within and between cells. These results suggest that cholesterol metabolites are linked to Aβ42 production. 24-OHC may favor the non-amyloidogenic pathway and 27-OHC may enhance production of Aβ42 by upregulating APP and BACE1. Regulation of 24-OHC: 27-OHC ratio could be an important strategy in controlling Aβ42 levels in AD.
Gamma-tocotrienol induces apoptosis and autophagy in prostate cancer cells by increasing intracellular dihydrosphingosine and dihydroceramide

Although cell-based studies have shown that γ-tocotrienol (γTE) exhibits stronger anticancer activities than other forms of vitamin E including γ-tocopherol (γT), the molecular bases underlying γTE-exerted effects remains to be elucidated. Here we showed that γTE treatment promoted apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy in human prostate PC-3 and LNCaP cancer cells. In search of potential mechanisms of γTE-provoked effects, we found that γTE treatment led to marked increase of intracellular dihydroceramide and dihydrosphingosine, the sphingolipid intermediates in de novo sphingolipid synthesis pathway but had no effects on ceramide or sphingosine. The elevation of these sphingolipids by γTE preceded or coincided with biochemical and morphological signs of cell death and was much more pronounced than that induced by γT, which accompanied with much higher cellular uptake of γTE than γT. The importance of sphingolipid accumulation in γTE-caused fatality was underscored by the observation that dihydrosphingosine and dihydroceramide potently reduced the viability of both prostate cell lines and LNCaP cells, respectively. In addition, myriosin, a specific inhibitor of de novo sphingolipid synthesis, counteracted γTE-induced cell death. In agreement with these cell-based studies, γTE inhibited LNCaP xenograft growth by 53% (p < 0.05), compared to 33% (p = 0.07) by γT, in nude mice. These findings provide a molecular basis of γTE-stimulated cancer cell death and support the notion that elevation of intracellular dihydroceramide and dihydrosphingosine is likely a novel anticancer mechanism.
L′ = CO vs Cl- transposition: Remarkable consequences for the product of (L′)-Ru(L)2-(H) and vinyl ether

The products of reaction of H2CCH(OR) with RuH(Cl)L2 (L = PiPr3) and RuH(CO)L2+ (L = PtBu2Me) are RuH(Cl)(C(OR)Me)L2 and Ru(CO)(CH2CH2OR)L2+, respectively. Spectroscopic data and X-ray analysis (R ...
Update on cobol standards

Abstract In May cobol was 25 years old. A new cobol standard is expected soon, but its development has been controversial. The article describes how the standard is developed, what are the main features of the new standard, why it has been controversial, and what may be expected in the future.
Control chart for monitoring occupational asthma.

Abstract Introduction Work-related asthma has become the most prevalent occupational respiratory disease in the developed world. Occupational asthma is thought to affect 5%–10% of people worldwide. The first step in the diagnosis of occupational asthma is to establish work-relatedness. Although considerable research has been conducted in the area of occupational asthma, no simple, effective, and statistically sound method has been developed that can be used as an initial step to effectively identify the workers at risk for occupational asthma. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether Shewhart control chart method can be used as an effective method to detect occupational asthma. Method Forty-five workers who completed the study and provided usable peak expiratory flow (a lung function marker) recordings while at work and away from work were included in this study. Control charts were developed using Shewhart's Method. The lower control limit of at work control chart (LCL W ) was compared to each subject's Personal Best (PB) value. Results Reviewing the results of this comparison showed LCL W Conclusions Our results were as good as, and in some cases better than, published clinical guidelines. Impact on Industry Our research showed that the control chart method is an effective, simple, and inexpensive tool for early intervention in workers suspected for occupational asthma.
Cytochemistry of male reproductive tract in scurvy and inanition.

SummaryHistochemical studies were conducted on effects of avitaminosis C on the reproductive tract of the male guinea pig, and an attempt was made to differentiate these changes from those which result from inanition in the presence of an adequate dietary intake of ascorbic acid. Results indicate that scurvy may cause an inability to utilize other essential dietary substances resulting in more severe cachexia than that noted in inanition controls. These studies suggest that changes in the cytochemistry of the Golgi apparatus are involved in spermatogenic arrest. Furthermore, as noted in this investigation, the relation of scurvy and/or inanition to reproductive physiology is indicated by altered carbohydrate metabolism in testes and seminal vesicles. These changes were more marked in scorbutic animals than in inanition controls.
Feeding time synchronizes primate circadian rhythms.

Abstract Circadian rhythms of squirrel monkeys maintained in constant light and temperature can be entrained by 24 hr cycles of food availability with eating for 3 hr and fasting for 21 hr (EF 3:21). Rhythms of drinking, body temperature and urinary potassium and water excretion exhibited periods which matched the 24 hr period of the EF 3:21 cycle. These results suggest that temporal patterns of food intake are capable of synchronizing the circadian timekeeping system which underlies the observed rhythms.