cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tunable localized surface plasmon resonances in tungsten oxide nanocrystals.

Transition-metal oxide nanocrystals are interesting candidates for localized surface plasmon resonance hosts because they exhibit fascinating properties arising from the unique character of their outer-d valence electrons. WO3−δ nanoparticles are known to have intense visible and near-IR absorption, but the origin of the optical absorption has remained unclear. Here we demonstrate that metallic phases of WO3−δ nanoparticles exhibit a strong and tunable localized surface plasmon resonance, which opens up the possibility of rationally designing plasmonic tungsten oxide nanoparticles for light harvesting, bioimaging, and sensing.
Parent o-Phenylene Oligomers: Synthesis, Conformational Behavior, and Characterization

The o-phenylenes are an unusual class of conjugated polymer, defined largely by substantial steric twisting along their backbones. Consequently, they exhibit limited conjugation but also interesting conformational behavior: they have been shown to adopt well-defined helical secondary structures, both in the solid state and in solution. While several examples of functionalized o-phenylene oligomers have been reported, most of the basic properties of the parent compounds are unknown. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of the series of unsubstituted o-phenylene oligomers up to the octamer. Through a combination of NMR spectroscopy, including dynamic NMR (EXSY), and computational chemistry, we have found that these compounds adopt compact helical conformations in solution with three repeat units per turn. Although formally conjugated, the oligomers have a very short effective conjugation length of necl ≈ 4 (based on UV–vis spectra), significantly shorter than most other conjugated systems. Also...
RESERVOIR QUALITY EVALUATION BY FUZZY CLUSTERING ANALYSIS METHOD

Based on result of the fine reservoir description and reserve calculation in H reservoir, with the application of fussy clustering analysis method, the quality of H reservoir is systematically evaluated according to single well, layers and sedimentary facies through the parameters such as reserve in per unit, porosity, permeability, average porous radius, variation coefficient and mutation coefficient. The results show that H reservoir can be classified into four types and most layers belong to typeⅡand Ⅲ which the quality of reservoir is good.
Retention of Ultrasound Skills and Training in "Point-of-Care" Cardiac Ultrasound.

Background Although the growth of point-of-care ultrasound has resulted in a proliferation of teaching programs, few data exist on the maintenance of proficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the retention of cardiac ultrasound skills and training in physicians up to 7 years after a formal focused curriculum in residency. Methods Thirty internal medicine physicians, deemed proficient at graduation and having passed a practical examination that confirms imaging skills and knowledge base when a score of ≥80% correct is attained, were retested. Twenty graduates (the NOPREP group) did not study any relevant material, and 10 graduates (the PREP group) were encouraged to study online videos. Scores were categorized by length of time (1-7 years) from graduates' last performance of ultrasound. Results The mean original test score of the physicians was 90 ± 6%. With retesting NOPREP ( n = 20), seven physicians were within 1 year of their last use, and five (71%) repassed the examination, scoring 80 ± 15%. Among the remaining 13 NOPREP physicians who had >1 year of nonuse, none repassed, scoring 58 ± 17%. In retesting PREP ( n = 10), one physician was within 1 year of last use and repassed, scoring 95%. Among the remaining nine PREP physicians with >1 year since last use, three (33%) repassed ( P = .05), scoring 72 ± 21%. Diagnostic knowledge was significantly higher when good-quality images were obtained. Conclusions Learned skills in cardiac ultrasound diminish notably within 2 years of nonuse.
Examination of Global Methylation and Targeted Imprinted Genes in Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Context: Methylation changes observed in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) may impact global methylation as well as regional methylation status of imprinted genes on chromosome 15 (in cis) or other imprinted obesity-related genes on other chromosomes (in trans) leading to differential effects on gene expression impacting obesity phenotype unique to PWS. Objective: Characterize the global methylation profiles and methylation status for select imprinted genes associated with obesity phenotype in a well-characterized imprinted, obesity-related syndrome PWS relative to a cohort of obese and non-obese individuals. Design: Global methylation was assayed using two methodologies: 1) enriched LINE-1 repeat sequences by Epigen Dx and 2) ELISA-based immunoassay method sensitive to genomic 5-methylcytosine by Epigentek. Target gene methylation patterns at selected candidate obesity gene loci were determined using methylation-specific PCR. Setting: Study participants were recruited as part of an ongoing research program on obesity-related genomics and Prader-Willi syndrome. Participants: Individuals with non-syndromic obesity (N=26), leanness (N=26) and PWS (N=39). Results: A detailed characterization of the imprinting status of select target genes within the critical PWS 15q11-q13 genomic region showed enhanced cis but not trans methylation of imprinted genes. No significant differences in global methylation were found between non-syndromic obese, PWS or non-obese controls. Intervention: None. Main outcome measures: Percentage methylation and the methylation index. Conclusion: The methylation abnormality in PWS due to errors of genomic imprinting effects both upstream and downstream effectors in the 15q11-q13 region showing enhanced cis but not Trans methylation of imprinted genes. Obesity in our subject cohorts did not appear to impact global methylation levels using the described methodology.
Deletion of Rictor in catecholaminergic neurons alters locomotor activity and ingestive behavior

While the etiology of depression is not fully understood, increasing evidence from animal models suggests a role for the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in pathogenesis. In this paper, we investigate the potential role of VTA mechanistic target of rapamycin 2 (TORC2) signaling in mediating susceptibility to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), a well-established mouse model of depression. Utilizing genetic and viral knockout of Rictor (rapamycin-insensitive companion of target of rapamycin), a requisite component of TORC2, we demonstrate that decreasing Rictor-dependent TORC2 signaling in catecholaminergic neurons, or within the VTA specifically, does not alter susceptibility to CSDS. Opiate abuse and mood disorders are often comorbid, and previous data demonstrate a role for VTA TORC2 in mediating opiate reward. Thus, we also investigated its potential role in mediating changes in opiate reward following CSDS. Catecholaminergic deletion of Rictor increases water, sucrose, and morphine intake but not preference in a two-bottle choice assay in stress-naive mice, and these effects are maintained after stress. VTA-specific knockout of Rictor increases water and sucrose intake after physical CSDS, but does not alter consummatory behavior in the absence of stress. These findings suggest a novel role for TORC2 in mediating stress-induced changes in consummatory behaviors that may contribute to some aspects of mood disorders.
Interpreting Fixed-Location Observations of Turbulence Advected by Waves: Insights from Spectral Models

AbstractAssigning a physical interpretation to turbulent fluctuations beneath waves is complex because eddies are advected by unsteady wave orbital motion. Here, the kinematic effects of wave orbital motion on turbulent fluctuations at a fixed location were investigated using model turbulence spatial spectra (κ spectra) together with a general form of the frozen turbulence approximation. Model autospectra and cospectra included an inertial subrange, a rolloff at energy-containing scales (L = 2π/κ0), and a dissipation range. Turbulence was advected by a background flow composed of waves (rms orbital velocity σw, peak frequency ωw, and spectral width Δωw) propagating parallel to a current uc. Expressions were derived for turbulence frequency spectra (ω spectra), and parameters were varied across ranges typical in the coastal ocean. Except close to the wave band, the ω-spectrum shape collapses with two dimensionless parameters, a velocity ratio σw/uc, and a time-scale ratio ucκ0/ωw, which can be used to diag...
Dynamic agency with persistent observable shocks

Abstract This paper studies a continuous-time hidden-action model with persistent observable shocks. In this model, I develop a method to characterize the optimal contract with history-dependent effort exertion and shirking decisions. Temporal shirking is always optimal after some histories as long as a positive persistent shock is expected. As a result, my model gives rise to a mechanism through which the moral hazard problem amplifies macroeconomic fluctuations. I also show the pattern of the agent’s utility adjustments with respect to persistent shocks and its implications for compensation design.
Imigrace a nový náboženský pluralismus. Srovnání situace v EU a USA

Clanek se zaměřuje na nove ne-evropske imigranty v USA a zemich EU a zvlastě na naboženstvi (primarně islam), ktera si s sebou do nových destinaci přinaseji. Text srovnava situaci v USA se situaci v zemich EU, stejně jako odlisne tradice vyrovnavani se s problemem role naboženstvi ve veřejnem životě a přizpůsobovani se naboženským "jiným" v zapadni Evropě a v USA. Zatimco v zapadni Evropě můžeme být svědky rostoucich obtiži ve vztazich mezi islamem a převažujicim evropským sekularnim diskurzem, je situace v USA mnohem lepsi. Tento fakt lze vysvětlit stukturou americkeho denominacionalismu, který je lepe připravený na zacleněni nových naboženstvi do americkeho obcanskeho naboženstvi, přestože ani zde neni daný proces jednoduchý.
Student Interpretations of Written Comments on Graded Proofs

Instructors often write feedback on students’ proofs even if there is no expectation for the students to revise and resubmit the work. It is not known, however, what students do with that feedback or if they understand the professor’s intentions. To this end, we asked eight advanced mathematics undergraduates to respond to professor comments on four written proofs by interpreting and implementing the comments. We analyzed the student’s responses using the categories of corrective feedback for language acquisition, viewing the language of mathematical proof as a register of academic English.
Choosing the Velvet Glove: Women Voters, Ambivalent Sexism, and Vote Choice in 2016

This paper examines the extent to which ambivalent sexism toward women influenced vote choice among American women during the 2016 Presidential election. I examine how this varied between white women and women of color. The 2016 American National Election Study (ANES) features several measures from the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI)—a scale developed by Glick and Fiske (1996) to assess sexist attitudes toward women. An index of these measures is used to examine the extent to which ambivalent sexist attitudes influenced women's vote choice for Donald Trump, controlling for racial resentment, partisanship, attitudes toward immigrants, economic anxiety, and socio-demographics. On the one hand, my findings indicate that ambivalent sexism was a powerful influence on women's Presidential vote choice in 2016, controlling for other factors. However, this finding, based on a model of all women voters is misleading, once an intersectional approach is undertaken. Once the data are disaggregated by gender and race, white women's political behavior proves very different than women of color. Among white women, ambivalent sexist views positively and significantly predicts vote choice for Trump, controlling for all other factors. However, for women of color, this relationship was negative and posed no statistical significant relationship to voting for Trump. Scholarship in gender and politics that does not account for group differences in race/ethnicity may present misleading results, which are either underestimated or overestimated.
The Thermophilic Blue-green Algae

I have discussed in Chapter 3 in a general way the thermophilic blue-green algae. Here I propose to discuss the biology and ecology of those blue-green algae that live around the upper temperature limits. An excellent review on the whole group of thermophilic blue-green algae has been provided by Castenholz (1969a), but a few key concepts have arisen from work done since his review was published. As seen in Table 3.3, when discussing the thermal limit species, only two blue-green algae need be considered, the unicellular Synechococcus, a member of the Chroococ-cales, and the filamentous, heterocystous Mastigocladus (Figure 8.1), a member of the Nostocales. Although the genus Synechococcus covers a variety of unicellular forms, the thermal limit species is S. lividus, an elongate rod, rather narrow in diameter (Figure 8.2). Synechococcus is present at higher temperatures than Mastigocladus (70–72°C as opposed to 60–64°C), and is the thermal limit species in Western United States and Japan (Molisch, 1926), but seems to be absent from New Zealand (Brock and Brock, 1971) and Iceland (Castenholz, 1969b), where the thermal limit species is Mastigocladus. Mastigocladus is the most cosmopolitan thermophilic blue-green alga, being found in thermal areas in every continent and in both hemispheres (Castenholz, 1969a).
Pressure Studies of Large-Scale Protein Motions

Protein motions are studied using the binding of carbon monoxide (CO) to myoglobin (Mb) as probe. A number of experimental tools have been used to study this simple protein reaction (1,2), but the most detailed information has come from flash photolysis experiments over wide ranges in time, temperature, viscosity, and pressure (3,4).
Dietary Fiber and Cancer

Some interest has been directed toward the physiological significance of dietary fiber, which generally includes indigestible carbohydrates and carbohydrate and carbohydrate-like components of food, such as cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, pentosans, gums, and pectins. The major characteristic of these indigestible substances is that they provide bulk in the diet. The major types of foods that provide dietary fiber are vegetables, fruits, and whole grain cereals.
Nietzsche contra contra: Difference and opposition

Nietzsche sees base morality and traditional philosophy as reactive, essentially predicated on negation and opposition. But is it possible to reject negation? To oppose oppositionality? This issue has been addressed by a variety of 20th century thinkers who think that the paradox is insurmountable. I use the thought of Deleuze to propose a way Nietzsche can respond to the accusation of paradox. Specifically, I believe Nietzsche proposes a set of philosophical terms that allow him to refer the question of opposition to a critical analysis of types of wills. Nietzsche attempts to show us a will that does not negate and oppose, but is rather affirmative. Its affirmation will be creative, rather than recognizing and reacting to an antecedent state of affairs or set of values. The purpose of this paper is to argue for the coherence and novelty of this conception of affirmative, noble will.
O12.6 Fracture and Deformation of Thermal Oxide Films on Si (100) Using a Femtosecond Pulsed Laser

Femtosecond pulsed laser damage of Silicon (100) with thermal oxide thin films was studied in order to further understand the optical and electrical properties of thin films and to evaluate their influence on the damage of the substrate. The damage threshold as a function of film thickness (2 – 1200 nm) was measured. The damage morphology produced by single laser pulses was also investigated. Two primary morphologies were observed, one in which the oxide film is completely removed, and the other in which the film is delaminated and expanded above the surface producing a bubble feature.
Influence of the Caldwell report, and other computer generated interpretive reports, in child custody evaluations: A brief report

AbstractThis brief report reviews the use of MMPI-2 computer-generated interpretive reports in child custody evaluations. Particular attention was aimed at the Caldwell Report’s MMPI-2 Custody Report. Considering the recent temporary closure of the Caldwell Report, this article will discuss what scoring and report options remain currently for interpretive custody reports. A perspective is shared that a dependence on computer-generated interpretive reports is detrimental to the science and practice of custody evaluation work. Finally, the author calls for future and revised computer-generated interpretive reports to include more information regarding a link to conclusions, gender bias, and peer reviewed research.
An emerging form of public engagement with science: Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions on Reddit r/science.

Originally, online public engagement with science tended to be one directional—from experts to the general population via news media. Such an arrangement allowed for little to no direct interaction between the public and scientists. However, the emergence of social media has opened the door to meaningful engagement between scientists and the general public. The current study examines scientists’ perspectives on the interactions between laypeople and scientists by asking questions and sharing information on social media platforms, specifically, through Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions on Reddit’s “Science” subreddit (r/science). By analyzing the content of six different r/science AMAs and surveying scientists who participated as r/science AMA hosts, our research attempts to gain a richer understanding of direct communication between scientists and lay audiences online. We had three main questions: (1) who are the participant scientists hosting r/science AMAs, (2) what are their experiences like as hosts, and (3) what type of discussions do they have on this platform? Survey results suggested that these scientists recognize the promising interactive nature of Reddit and are interested in continuing to use this platform as a tool for public engagement. Survey respondents generally had positive experiences as AMA hosts, but further research is needed to examine negative experiences. Overall, this study has significant implications for how scientists can engage public audiences online and more effectively communicate scientific findings to the general populace.
Chapter II - Trace Elements: Metabolism and Metabolic Function

Publisher Summary Essential trace metals function as a component of, or in association with, an organic molecule, most commonly with an enzyme. This chapter describes the elements that might best be described as enzyme cofactors. There is a wide range of stability of the complexes formed between metals and proteins. The trace elements, which are essential components of enzyme systems, are localized in one area of the periodic chart. They are concentrated in the first series of transition elements. Molybdenum is found in the second series. The intestinal absorption of iron has been measured by a variety of techniques including balance experiments, measurement of serum iron following oral dosage, analysis of radioiron incorporation into hemoglobin, and determination of the radioactive iron content of the entire body. Absorption of food iron is influenced by a number of variables, including the nutritive state of the subject, the form of iron in the diet, and the nature of other diet constituents. Iron is absorbed directly into the intestinal mucosal cell and there is essentially no excretion into the intestinal lumen.
Proteomic Analysis of the Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Liver Identifies Proteins from Evolutionarily Close and ‐Distant Fish Relatives

Lake trout are used as bioindicators for toxics exposure in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Here the first lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) liver proteomics study is performed and searched against specific databases: (NCBI and UniProtKB) Salvelinus, Salmonidae, Actinopterygii, and Oncorhynchus mykiss, and the more distant relative, Danio rerio. In the biological replicate 1 (BR1), technical replicate 1 (TR1), (BR1TR1), a large number of lake trout liver proteins are not in the Salvelinus protein database, suggesting that lake trout liver proteins have homology to some proteins from the Salmonidae family and Actinopterygii class, and to Oncorhynchus mykiss and Danio rerio, two more highly studied fish. In the NCBI search, 4194 proteins are identified: 3069 proteins in Actinopterygii, 1617 in Salmonidae, 68 in Salvelinus, 568 in Oncorhynchus mykiss, and 946 in Danio rerio protein databases. Similar results are observed in the UniProtKB searches of BR1RT1, as well as in a technical replicate (BR1TR2), and then in a second biological replicate experiment, with two technical replicates (BR2TR1 and BR2TR2). This study opens the possibility of identifying evolutionary relationships (i.e., adaptive mutations) between various groups (i.e., zebrafish, rainbow trout, Salmonidae, Salvelinus and lake trout) through evolutionary proteomics. Data are available via the PRIDE Q2 (PXD011924).
Clinical Research NoteRefractive error changes in mixed astigmatism

The purpose of this note is to examine refractive error changes in children who change from mixed astigmatism to myopic astigmatism. Data were collected for 16 children who changed from mixed astigmatism to simple myopic or compound myopic astigmatism. Children with mixed astigmatism showed minimal refractive changes until they converted to myopic astigmatism, at which time refractive changes increased.
Recent findings in the pharmacology of inhaled nicotine: Preclinical and clinical in vivo studies.

Introduction The rise of vaping in adolescents, the recent entrance of new inhaled nicotine products such as iQOS on the market and e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury cases has created concern for the use of inhaled non-combustible nicotine products. This narrative review discusses recent experimental in vivo studies that utilize human, rat and mouse models to understand the pharmacological impact of nicotine from non-combustible products. Methods The search engine PubMed was utilized with the following search terms: inhaled nicotine, nicotine e-cigarette, heated tobacco products, iQOS, electronic cigarette, nicotine inhaler, nicotine vaping. This review highlights recent primary in vivo studies of inhaled nicotine administration experimental paradigms that occurred in laboratory settings using human and rodent (rats and mice) models that have been published from January 2017–December 2019. Results The pharmacokinetics of nicotine via e-cigarettes is influenced by the PG/VG and flavor constituents in e-liquids, the presence of nicotine salts in e-liquids, puff topography of nicotine and tobacco product users and the power of the e-cigarette device. The pharmacodynamic impact of inhaled nicotine has cardiovascular, pulmonary and central nervous system implications. Conclusion The articles reviewed here highlight the importance of both animal and human models to fully understand the impact of inhaled nicotine pharmacology There is a need for more rodent pharmacokinetic inhaled nicotine studies to understand the influences of factors such as flavor and nicotine salts. Additionally, consensus on nicotine measurement in both human and rodent studies is greatly needed.
A Study of Grade Equivalency between Proctored and Unproctored Exams in Distance Education

The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the grade distributions of proctored and unproctored exams in an online learning environment. The authors statistically compared exam scores and...
Study of the effective thickness of the water-intrudable hydrophilic layer in dual-layer hydrophilic-hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes for direct contact membrane distillation

Abstract Dual-layer hydrophilic-hydrophobic hollow fiber membrane is a promising membrane that simultaneously shows enhanced vapor transfer coefficient and inhibited conductive heat loss in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). The presence of an effective water-intrudable hydrophilic layer enables to reduce the vapor transportation distance and improve the water flux in DCMD. The aim of this study is to estimate the water-intrudable hydrophilic layer thickness in a dual-layer hydrophilic-hydrophobic hollow fiber membrane comprising a PVDF/PEG inner layer and a PVDF outer layer. The water-intrudable hydrophilic layer thickness was precisely measured by a dye solution permeation method under simulated DCMD conditions. The results showed that the water-intrudable hydrophilic layer thickness was highly determined by the pore size and effective porosity of the PVDF/PEG inner layer. The applied hydraulic pressure contributed significantly to the difference in the thickness of the water-intrudable hydrophilic layer. The membranes with higher thickness percentages of the water-intrudable hydrophilic layer exhibited simultaneously enhanced permeate water flux and energy efficiency in DCMD. This study offered a simple and reliable approach for the estimation of the effective thickness of the water-intrudable hydrophilic layer for the dual-layer hydrophilic-hydrophobic hollow fiber membrane that contributes substantially to the desalination performance enhancement in DCMD.
All the President's Papers

In a pair of cases during the 2019-20 Term, Trump v. Vance and Trump v. Mazars, the Supreme Court revisited questions of presidential immunity and the scope of legislative oversight that infrequently come before the Court. In two opinions by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court rejected broad claims of presidential immunity while recognizing the real separation of powers concerns raised by any investigation of the President. In these two decisions, the Court reaffirmed two fundamental constitutional values: 1) No person is above the law; 2) The powers of Congress are limited. In the process, the Court also demonstrated an ability to resolve important constitutional questions without descending into the political polarization that engulfs the body politic in 2020.
Art of Prevention: The importance of tackling the nail biting habit.

Onychophagia, commonly referred to as nailbiting is a chronic condition that is repetitive and compulsive in nature, and generally seen in both children and young adults. Multiple factors play a role in the development of nailbiting, ranging from genetic components, to underlying psychiatric conditions. Complications of chronic, compulsive nail-biting range from obvious distortion of the nail bed unit, to ungual and oral infection. Dental hygiene is, typically, less well-maintained in patients with nail-biting disorders: teeth may become chipped or notched, and gums many become inflamed. Treatment of nailbiting involves a multidisciplinary team that provides social, psychiatric, dermatologic, and dental care. Treatment ranges from psychotherapy modalities, to medication trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and N-acetylcysteine. Proper nail hygiene remains a mainstay in the prevention of the complications of chronic nail-biting. Additional supportive measures include the support of self-motivational novels and television episodes that help children learn coping mechanisms.
Enhanced Recovery Protocol after Fronto-orbital Advancement Reduces Transfusions, Narcotic Usage, and Length of Stay.

Background Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols utilize multi-modal approaches to decrease morbidity, narcotic usage, and length of stay. In 2013, we made several changes to our perioperative approach to children undergoing complex craniofacial procedures. The goal of this study was to analyze our protocol for children undergoing fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) for craniosynostosis. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed after IRB approval, for children who underwent fronto-orbital advancement for craniosynostosis from 2010 to 2018. The ERAS protocol, initiated in December 2013, involves hemoglobin optimization, cell-saver technology, tranexamic acid, specific postoperative fluid titration, and a transfusion algorithm. The analgesic regimen focuses on narcotic reduction through the utilization of scheduled acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or ketorolac, and a dexmedetomidine infusion with opioids only for breakthrough pain. Results Fifty-five ERAS protocol children and 23 control children were analyzed. ERAS children had a decreased rate (13/53 versus 23/23, P < 0.0001) and volume of intraoperative transfusion (183.4 mL versus 339.8 mL, P = 0.05). Fewer ERAS children required morphine/dilaudid (12/55 versus 22/23 P < 0.0001) and for children who required morphine, fewer doses were required (2.8 versus 11, P = 0.02). For ERAS protocol children who required PO narcotics, fewer doses were required (3.2 versus 5.3, P = 0.02). ERAS children had a decreased length of stay (2.3 versus 3.6 nights, P < 0.0001). No patients were re-admitted due to poor oral intake, pain, hemodynamic, or pulmonary concerns. Conclusions Our ERAS protocol demonstrated a reduction in the overall and intraoperative allogenic blood transfusion rate, narcotic use, and hospital length of stay. This is a safe and effective multimodal approach to managing complex craniofacial surgical recovery.
Food Addiction and Psychosocial Adversity: Biological Embedding, Contextual Factors, and Public Health Implications

The role of stress, trauma, and adversity particularly early in life has been identified as a contributing factor in both drug and food addictions. While links between traumatic stress and substance use disorders are well documented, the pathways to food addiction and obesity are less established. This review focuses on psychosocial and neurobiological factors that may increase risk for addiction-like behaviors and ultimately increase BMI over the lifespan. Early childhood and adolescent adversity can induce long-lasting alterations in the glucocorticoid and dopamine systems that lead to increased addiction vulnerability later in life. Allostatic load, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and emerging data on epigenetics in the context of biological embedding are highlighted. A conceptual model for food addiction is proposed, which integrates data on the biological embedding of adversity as well as upstream psychological, social, and environmental factors. Dietary restraint as a feature of disordered eating is discussed as an important contextual factor related to food addiction. Discussion of various public health and policy considerations are based on the concept that improved knowledge of biopsychosocial mechanisms contributing to food addiction may decrease stigma associated with obesity and disordered eating behavior.
Does Private Country-by-Country Reporting Improve the Tax Information Environment for Capital Market Participants?

To combat tax avoidance, 58 countries have fully mandated multinational enterprises to disclose their income and economic activities to tax authorities on a country-by-country reporting (CbCR) basis from 2016 onwards. We examine whether this policy shock results in more informative tax expenses for capital market participants. Drawing on analyst tax forecasting, we develop a novel approach to capture the extent of misalignment perceived by capital markets and find that this misalignment declines after CbCR adoptions. Further, we demonstrate that CbCR improves tax information quality by increasing the value-relevance of tax surprise for investors and the accuracy of analysts’ effective tax rate forecasts. To better inform investors of firms’ tax positions, financial regulators are considering proposals requiring firms to publicly disclose country-level tax information. Contributing to the policy discussion, we suggest that the private CbCR disclosure already has materialized some of the information benefits for investors sought by these regulators.
Mining Concepts for a COVID Interface Terminology for Annotation of EHRs

The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed the healthcare services of many countries with increased number of patients and also with a deluge of medical data. Furthermore, the emergence and global spread of new infectious diseases are highly likely to continue in the future. Incomplete data about presentations, signs, and symptoms of COVID-19 has had adverse effects on healthcare delivery. The EHRs of US hospitals have ingested huge volumes of relevant, up-to-date data about patients, but the lack of a proper system to annotate this data has greatly reduced its usefulness. We propose to design a COVID interface terminology for the annotation of EHR notes of COVID-19 patients. The initial version of this interface terminology was created by integrating COVID concepts from existing ontologies. Further enrichment of the interface terminology is performed by mining high granularity concepts from EHRs, because such concepts are usually not present in the existing reference terminologies. We use the techniques of concatenation and anchoring iteratively to extract high granularity phrases from the clinical text. In addition to increasing the conceptual base of the COVID interface terminology, this will also help in generating training data for large scale concept mining using machine learning techniques. Having the annotated clinical notes of COVID-19 patients available will help in speeding up research in this field.
Generation of an iPSC cell line (USFi003-A) from a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy carrying a heterozygous mutation in LMNA (p.R541C).

Abstract Mutations in the gene that encodes the nuclear envelope proteins lamin A/C (LMNA) are considered to be a prominent cause of Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a leading cause of heart failure and a prevalent indication for heart transplant. Here we described the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a 53-year-old female with DCM plus progressive conduction disease who carry a heterozygous mutation in LMNA (c.1621C > T, p.R541C). PBMCs isolated from the patient were reprogrammed with Yamanaka factors KOS, KLF4, and c-MYC by the non-integrating sendai virus vector system. The obtained iPSC lines demonstrated normal karyotype and pluripotent identity.
Use of Bowman's membrane electrocautery in blind eyes with painful bullous keratopathy not amenable to corneal transplantation: a retrospective case series.

PURPOSE This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of Bowman's membrane electrocautery in blind painful eyes with bullous keratopathy not amenable to corneal transplantation. METHODS Eleven eyes of 11 subjects with painful bullous keratopathy and poor visual potential who underwent electrocautery of Bowman's membrane at a tertiary referral ophthalmology clinic were reviewed retrospectively. Subject demographics and preoperative and postoperative data were collected, including description of pain, slit lamp biomicroscopy, best corrected visual acuity, topical medication use, and complications. Efficacy of the procedure on pain reduction, bullae resolution, and topical medication use were assessed at post-operative visits. Safety was also evaluated based on any complications. RESULTS Bowman's membrane electrocautery effectively resolved bullae in all eyes examined up to 6 months postoperatively; however, 2 eyes had recurrence by 1 year. Mean age at the time of surgery was 69.8 years and mean duration of follow-up was 15.4 months. Pain reduction was achieved in all eyes at 1 month, but 1 subject had pain recurrence by 6 months and another by 1 year. The median number of drops per day decreased from 6 preoperatively to 1.7 at 6 months. Two subjects who had underlying advanced ophthalmic disease had a mild reduction in vision. CONCLUSION Bowman's membrane electrocautery is a safe and minimally invasive procedure for the management of painful bullous keratopathy in eyes with low vision potential and not amenable to corneal transplantation. Duration of effect appears to last at least 6 months and up to 3 years post-procedure.
Lipid sorting and trafficking in cells

Abstract Recent advances in the field of lipid sorting include the report of a cell-free system that exhibits ATP-dependent transport of phosphatidylserine to mitochondria. Other investigations describe co-transport of glycosphinogo-lipids with proteins, intra-Golgi movement of gangliosides and mobilization of cholesterol from lysosomes. In addition, the role of transfer proteins in intracellular lipid movement has again been challenged.
Secure Human Identification Protocols

One interesting and important challenge for the cryptologic community is that of providing secure authentication and identification for unassisted humans. There are a range of protocols for secure identification which require various forms of trusted hardware or software, aimed at protecting privacy and financial assets. But how do we verify our identity, securely, when we don't have or don't trust our smart card, palmtop, or laptop? In this paper, we provide definitions of what we believe to be reasonable goals for secure human identification. We demonstrate that existing solutions do not meet these reasonable definitions. Finally, we provide solutions which demonstrate the feasibility of the security conditions attached to our definitions, but which are impractical for use by humans.
A geography of ecosystem vulnerability

Land-cover change and the subsequent potential loss of natural resources due to conversion to anthropogenic use is regarded as one of the more pervasive environmental threats. Population and road data were used to generate interpolated surfaces of land demand across a large region, the mid-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. The land demand surfaces were evaluated against land-cover change, as estimated using temporal decline in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). In general, the interpolated surfaces exhibited a plateau along the eastern seaboard that sank to a valley in the center of the study area, and then rose again to a plateau in the west that was of overall lower height than the plateau on the eastern seaboard. The spatial pattern of land-cover change showed the same general pattern as the interpolated surfaces of land demand. Correlations were significant regardless of variations used to generate the interpolated surfaces. The results suggest that human activity is the principal agent of land-cover change at regional scales in this region, and that natural resources that change as land cover changes (e.g., water, habitat) are exposed to a gradient of vulnerability that increases from west to east.
Spectrum of higher derivative 6 D chiral supergravity on Minkowski × S 2

Gauged off-shell Maxwell-Einstein supergravity in six dimensions with N = (1, 0) supersymmetry has a higher derivative extension afforded by a supersymmetrized Riemann squared term. This theory admits a supersymmetric Minkowski ×S 2 compactification with a U(1) monopole of unit charge on S 2. We determine the full spectrum of the theory on this background. We also determine the spectrum on a non-supersymmetric version of this compactification in which the monopole charge is different from unity, and we find the peculiar feature that there are massless gravitini in a representation of the S 2 isometry group determined by the monopole charge.
CCD uvbyHβ Photometry in Clusters. I. The Open Cluster Standard, IC 4651

CCD photometry of the intermediate-age open cluster IC 4651 on the uvbyHβ system is presented and analyzed. By using a combination of the information from the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) and the color-color diagrams, a sample of 98 highly probable main-sequence cluster members with high photometric accuracy is isolated. From this sample, adopting the intrinsic color relation of Olsen, E(b-y) = 0.062 ± 0.003 and [Fe/H] = +0.077 ± 0.012, where the errors quoted are the standard errors of the mean and refer to the internal errors alone. Use of the Nissen intrinsic color relation produces E(b-y) = 0.071 and [Fe/H] = +0.115. Adopting the lower reddening, a direct main-sequence fit to the Hyades with (m - M) = 3.33 leads to (m - M) = 10.15, while isochrones with convective overshoot and zeroed to the Hyades produce an age of 1.7 ± 0.1 Gyr, with an excellent match to the morphology of the turnoff. The higher reddening produces (m - M) = 10.3 and an age lower by 0.1 Gyr. Comparison with the CMD of NGC 3680 shows that the two clusters have virtually identical morphology, which in combination with their similar compositions produces identical ages. Coincidentally, the shifts in the CMD necessary to superpose the two clusters require that the apparent moduli of IC 4651 and NGC 3680 be the same, while E(b-y)4651 = E(b-y)3680 + 0.04.
Mutant of Azotobacter vinelandii That Hyperproduces Nitrogenase Component II

A mutant strain of Azotobacter vinelandii that is unable to fix N2 produces high levels of nitrogenase component II. Activities of revertants from this mutant strain indicate that a single genetic lesion is responsible for both hyperproduction of component II and the inability to produce component I.
How to keep that innovative spirit alive: An examination of evolving innovative hot spots

Abstract The classic American innovative hot spots are Route 128 in Massachusetts and Silicon Valley in California. Both had their starts in the mid-1950s and are now well into maturation as they approach 40 years of age. However, both are now showing signs of decline as structural disincentives inhibit entrepreneurs and make new ventures difficult. Within the United States, there are many new innovative hot spots in the formation stage. Two of the most likely up-and-comers, now in their early 20s, are Silicon Gulch in Austin, Texas, and the Research Triangle in North Carolina. In this paper we examine the factors behind the rise and decline of the classic innovation hot spots, examine the new “maturing” hot spots, where they are and how they are prospering, and provide recommendations on what regions of the country must do in order to have a prospering hot spot or to maintain one once it is developed.
Multigrid solution of the Euler equations with local preconditioning.

Evidence is given that local preconditioning of Euler and Navier-Stokes schemes enhances both single and multigrid performance.
Multilevel interconnect planarization by voltage and laser programmable links using ion implantation

A technique is described whereby implantation of silicon through a mask into the intermetal insulator modifies the insulation. After deposition and definition of the upper metal, the implanted regions between metal levels act as voltage programmable links. Application of a voltage between upper and lower metal electrodes causes the implanted insulation to become conductive, producing a low-resistance, planar, vertical connection. Alternatively, these implanted areas can be rendered conducting by exposure to a focused laser beam. >
Virilization in pregnancy associated with an ovarian cystadenoma.

Abstract A teen-age patient, who became virilized in the course of pregnancy is described. The virilizing syndrome was due to a serous cystadenoma of the ovary. A marked difference in plasma testosterone concentration between specimens obtained preoperatively and postoperatively was demonstrated, indicating testosterone secretion by the neoplasm. Virilization regressed completely by the sixth postoperative month. The patient became pregnant one year after tumor resection and delivered a normal male infant. This report represents the first serous cystadenoma associated with virilization in pregnancy. The literature on the subject is reviewed.
Knowledge Aquisition and Data Storage in Mobile GeoSensor Networks

In this paper we address the issue of mobility in geosensor networks, inspired by the computational challenges imposed by modern surveillance applications. More specifically we consider networks of optical sensors (video and still cameras), and present a spatiotemporal framework for the management of information captured in them. In this context, mobility is addressed at two levels, considering mobile objects in the area monitored by a network, and mobile sensors observing such objects. Our interest lies on the data acquisition and storage problems that arise in this setting. We identify certain key issues behind the development of a general framework for knowledge acquisition and data storage in geosensor networks, namely: spatiotemporal object modeling; similarity metrics to compare spatiotemporal objects; storing and indexing spatiotemporal objects in a geosensor network; and network management using spatiotemporal techniques. We present some emerging approaches that address these key issues and thus outline a general framework for information and sensor management in mobile sensor networks.
Resistance to neurotoxicity in cortical cultures from neuronal nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice

In addition to its functions as a neuronal messenger molecule, nitric oxide (NO) has also been implicated in playing a major role in ischemic damage and glutamate neurotoxicity. Using primary cortical cultures from transgenic neuronal NO synthase (NOS) null (nNOS-) mice, we definitively establish NO as a mediator of NMDA and hypoxic neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicity elicited by NMDA is markedly attenuated in nNOS- cortical cultures compared with wild-type cultures. The NOS inhibitor nitro-L-arginine is neuroprotective in wild-type but not nNOS- cultures, confirming the role of nNOS-derived NO in glutamate neurotoxicity. Confirming that the nNOS- cultures lack NMDA-stimulated nNOS activity, NMDA did not stimulate the formation of cGMP in nNOS- cultures, but markedly elevates cGMP in wild-type cultures. Both wild- type and nNOS- cultures are sensitive to toxicity induced by NO donors, indicating that pathways stimulated by NO that result in neuronal cell death are still intact in the transgenic mice. Superoxide dismutase is neuroprotective against NMDA and NO neurotoxicity in both wild-type and nNOS- cultures, highlighting the importance of superoxide anion in subsequent neuronal damage. The unknown cellular factors that endow differential resistance to NMDA neurotoxicity and differential susceptibility to quisqualate neurotoxicity remain intact in the nNOS- cultures, because the response of somatostatin-immunopositive neurons in nNOS- cultures to high-dose NMDA and low-dose quisqualate is identical to the response of NOS-immunopositive neurons in the wild- type cultures. There is no difference in susceptibility to kainate neurotoxicity between nNOS- and wild-type cultures and only a modest resistance to quisqualate neurotoxicity, confirming observations that NO-mediated neurotoxicity is associated primarily with activation of the NMDA receptor. The nNOS- cultures are markedly protected from 60 min of combined oxygen-glucose deprivation neurotoxicity compared with wild-type cultures. Wild-type cultures are protected from neuronal cell death by the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 and the NOS inhibitor L- nitroarginine methyl ester, but not its inactive stereoisomer D- nitroarginine methyl ester. nNOS- cultures were not additionally protected. These data confirm that activation of NMDA receptors and production of NO are primary mediators of neuronal damage after ischemic insult.
Chemical Basis of the Carbamidodiacetyl Micromethod for Estimation of Urea, Citrulline, and Carbamyl Derivatives

The chemical pathway of the carbamidodiacetyl colorimetric assay was investigated. The experimental variables that were studied include reaction temperature, heating time, and the ratio of the mineral acid mixture to the reactants. Evidence is presented establishing the involvement of either 7- or 8-methyl, or 7,8-dimethyltetrahydroimidazo(4,5-d)imidazole-2,5-diones as chromogens, all three being equally acceptable.