cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing bis-Fe(IV) MauG: experimental evidence for the long-range charge-resonance model.

The biosynthesis of tryptophan tryptophylquinone, a protein-derived cofactor, involves a long-range reaction mediated by a bis-Fe IV intermediate of a diheme enzyme, MauG. Recently, a unique charge-resonance (CR) phenom- enon was discovered in this intermediate, and a biological, long-distance CR model was proposed. This model suggests that the chemical nature of the bis-Fe IV species is not as simple as it appears; rather, it is composed of a collection of resonance structures in a dynamic equilibrium. Here, we experimentally evaluated the proposed CR model by introducing small molecules to, and measuring the temperature dependence of, bis-Fe IV MauG. Spectroscopic evidence was presented to demonstrate that the selected compounds increase the decay rate of the bis-Fe IV species by disrupting the equilibrium of the resonance structures that constitutes the proposed CR model. The results support this new CR model and bring a fresh concept to the classical CR theory. Since its first documentation by Brocklehurst and Badgers in 1968, (1) charge-resonance (CR) phenomena have been actively researched by organic chemists. (2) In a typical CR event, one-electron oxidation of an aromatic compound generates a cation radical which spontaneously associates with its neutral parent molecule or another molecule of the cation radical to form noncovalent "sandwich-like" dimeric complexes. The former scenario stabilizes an odd number of spin/charge in a mixed-valence species, (P)2C + , and is classified as type I CR; the latter one stabilizes an even number of spin/ charge in a dication diradical, (PC + )2, and is classified as type II CR. (3) Notably, unique electronic absorption bands in the near-infrared (NIR) region arise from resonance stabili- zation of spin/charge in the CR complexes and are thereby termed as CR bands (see Figure S1 for an MO diagram). (4-7)
Successful discrimination of protein interactions.

We present results from the predic- tion of protein complexes associated with the first Critical Assessment of PRediction of Interactions (CAPRI) experiment. Our algorithm, SmoothDock, comprises four steps: (1) we perform rigid body docking using the program DOT, keeping the top 20,000 structures as ranked by surface complementa- rity; (2) we rerank these structures according to a free energy estimate that includes both desolvation and electrostatics and retain the top 2000 com- plexes; (3) we cluster the filtered complexes using a pairwise root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) crite- rion; (4) the 25 largest clusters are subject to a smooth docking discrimination algorithm where van der Waals forces are taken into account. We predicted targets 1, 6, and 7 with RMSDs of 9.5, 2.4, and 2.6 A, respectively. More importantly, from the perspective of biological applications, our approach consistently ranked the correct model first (i.e., with highest confidence). For target 5 we identified the binding region but not the correct orientation. Although we were able to find reasonable clusters for all targets, low-affinity complexes (Kd < nM) were harder to discriminate. For four of seven targets, the top models predicted by our automated procedure were among the best communitywide predictions. Proteins 2003;52:92-97.
Piriformis Muscle Syndrome: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Objective: To evaluate the role of modified H reflexes in confirming a diagnosis of piriformis muscle syndrome.Methods: Six consecutive patients who met stringent inclusion criteria establishing the presence of this disorder underwent electrodiagnostic testing including the completion of modified H reflexes as described by Fishman.Results: A positive predictive value of 33% was obtained.Conclusions: This study does not support the role of electrodiagnostic testing with modified H reflexes in the evaluation of a patient with possible piriformis muscle syndrome. An algorithmic approach for the diagnosis of piriformis syndrome which incorporates examination findings, injection techniques, and visual anatomic studies, is offered.
Distribution of Putative Virulence Genes in Streptococcus mutans Strains Does Not Correlate with Caries Experience

Streptococcus mutans, a member of the human oral flora, is a widely recognized etiological agent of dental caries. The cariogenic potential of S. mutans is related to its ability to metabolize a wide variety of sugars, form a robust biofilm, produce copious amounts of lactic acid, and thrive in the acid environment that it generates. The remarkable genetic variability present within the species is reflected at the phenotypic level, notably in the differences in the cariogenic potential between strains. However, the genetic basis of these differences is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we surveyed by PCR and DNA hybridization the distribution of putative virulence genes, genomic islands, and insertion sequences across a collection of 33 strains isolated from either children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) or those who were caries free (CF). We found this genetically diverse group of isolates to be remarkably homogeneous with regard to the distribution of the putative virulence genes and genetic elements analyzed. Our findings point to the role of other factors in the pathogenesis of S-ECC, such as uncharacterized virulence genes, differences in gene expression and/or enzymatic activity, cooperation between S. mutans strains or with other members of the oral biota, and host factors.
Forecast Verification of the Polar Ice Prediction System (PIPS) Sea Ice Concentration Fields

Abstract The National Ice Center relies upon a coupled ice–ocean model called the Polar Ice Prediction System (PIPS) to provide guidance for its 24–120-h sea ice forecasts. Here forecast skill assessments of the sea ice concentration (C) fields from PIPS for the period 1 May 2000–31 May 2002 are presented. Methods of measuring the sea ice forecast skill are adapted from the meteorological literature and applied to locations where the forecast or analysis sea ice fields changed by at least ±5%. The forecast skill referenced to climatology was high (>0.85, relative to a maximum score of 1.0) for all months examined. This is because interannual variability in the climatology, which is used as a reference field, is much greater than the day-to-day variability in the forecast field. The PIPS forecasts were also evaluated against persistence and combined climatological–persistence forecasts. Compared to persistence, the 24-h forecast was found to be skillful (>0.2) for all months studied except during the freez...
Heat and Mass Transfer Model for Cooling Tower and LiBr Regenerator in Turbine Inlet Chilling System

A gas turbine normally suffers significant penalties in power output and heat rate during hot days. Turbine inlet chilling is an effective approach to reduce these penalties. Reducing the inlet air temperature increases the density of turbine inlet air and as a result, more air mass flow enters the compressor, resulting in more power produced. Cooling towers and liquid desiccant (Lithium Bromide, LiBr) regenerators are important components in a turbine inlet chilling system. Understanding of their heat and mass transfer performance, particularly the performance of LiBr regenerators, is of importance for system design and integration. 1-dimensional finite difference heat and mass transfer models were developed in this study to simulate the cooling capability of cooling towers and the efficiency of water removal of LiBr regenerators. The models were used to perform sensitivity analysis on the performance of the regenerator to understand the effects of major parameters such as Lewis factor (Lef), the ratio of the air to solution mass flow and the temperature of the LiBr solution at the inlet. The simulation results show that the performance is insensitive to Le. Reducing the ratio of the air to solution mass flow or increasing the temperature of the solution at the inlet increases the thermal efficiency of the regenerator.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Explicit vs. applied theory of mind competence: A comparison of typically developing males, males with ASD, and males with ADHD

Abstract Using laboratory-type Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks (our measure of ‘explicit’ ToM competence) and a more ecologically-valid measure of ToM (our measure of ‘applied’ ToM competence), we found that for composite scores, typically developing (TD) males performed near ceiling levels on both indices and age-matched males with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) performed near floor levels on both indices. The scores for age-matched males with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed a different pattern such that the ADHD group had high scores on the explicit measure and low scores on the applied measure. Subscale scores (early, basic, advanced ToM) for the two indices also revealed that (1) despite variable complexity, explicit ToM almost always distinguished the ASD group from the other two groups but never distinguished the ADHD and TD groups and (2) level of complexity was critical for distinguishing groups with regard to applied ToM. We suggest that although children with ADHD can calculate the content of traditional laboratory ToM tasks, this explicit ToM competence fails to be applied and expressed in real world demonstrations of ToM (especially when advanced ToM skills are assessed). By contrast, the ToM difficulties of children with ASD seem to be attributable to a deeper metarepresentational deficit. Our results have implications for practice and extend current models of social cognition in developmental disabilities by isolating variable aspects of competence that predict specific and testable models for future research.
Mixed valence Mn,La,Sr-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles coated with silica nanoparticles for use in an electrochemical immunosensor for IgG

We describe the preparation and properties of mixed valence manganite nanoparticles (NPs) of the type La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 for use in electrochemical immunoassays. The NPs were synthesized using the reverse micelle method and their surface was then functionalized with silica nanoparticles. The resulting NPs (La0.67Sr0.33MnO3@SiO2) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and physical property measurements. Their typical diameter is ~200 nm, and the magnetic saturation occurs at 75 emu⋅g‾1, and both coercive force and hysteresis loop remain at almost zero. The silica NPs immobilized on the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 NPs have a diameter of ~20 nm. The La0.67Sr0.33MnO3@SiO2 NPs were used to develop an electrochemical immunoassay for human IgG. Antibody (anti-human IgG) was immobilized on the silica NPs on the magnetic core, and this process was monitored by cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry. The formation of the immunocomplex (Ab/Ag) on the surface of the electrode was monitored using hexacyanoferrate redox system as the redox marker. The assay has a linear working range up to an IgG concentration of 5 ng⋅mL‾1, and the detection limit is 0.6 ng⋅mL‾1.
Membrane Potential and Behavior Proposal of a Model System

Behavior has become one of the major interests of biology today. As it relates to the mechanisms of the human brain, behavior has been considered the ultimate challenge of man’s intellect. The search for the mechanisms of behavior has in the past been focused on the vertebrate nervous system. As the result of the degree of understanding that has been achieved through the study of invertebrate organisms, there is a renewed interest in simple nervous systems as the starting point of such a search. We are truly still at the beginning. We have not achieved an understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of behavior for any animal.
Theoretical and Experimental Performance of a High Frequency Micropump

This paper details theoretical analyses and experimental characterization of high-frequency multi-stage micro pumps. The MEMS-fabricated micro pumps have been developed for use in a highly-integrated chemical monitoring system under development at the University of Michigan’s Wireless Integrated Micro-Systems center. Tests are reported on a 20x meso-scale 2-stage pump developed to validate the theoretical analyses. Detailed comparisons of the pump performance and unsteady pressure traces show that the theoretical analyses capture the main features of the flow in the pump. A MEMS-fabricated device has been developed and tested. The use of theoretical analyses for the design of the pump is described. This device produces A maximum flow of 1.1 ccm and a maximum pressure of 879 Pa.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The Effects of Overlying Layers On The Ftir Spectra of Thin Thermal Oxides On Silicon

The most intense feature in the infrared spectrum of SiO 2 is the “ νas band” near 1070 cm-1. Assigned to the asymmetric stretching mode, this peak exhibits a shoulder on the high frequency side of the band. In this study, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry is used to examine the effects of overlying, unpatterned layers of undoped polysilicon (poly) and of tungsten silicide (WSi) upon 0.08 μm of themal oxide grown on silicon. For the poly studies, the oxide is grown on both sides of double-side-polished wafers. 0.11 μm of poly is then deposited on each side of half of the set; 0.25 μm, on the remainder. For the WSi studies, 0.21 μm of undoped poly is deposited onto oxide grown on single-side-polished, low-oxygen wafers. WSi is then deposited on one side. For the poly set, the peak position (PP) of the “νas band” shifts from 1074 to 1071 to 1066 cm-1 when comparing the uncoated oxide, 0.11 μm poly/oxide, and 0.21 μm poly/oxide samples, respectively. As a result of the observed shifts, the high frequency shoulder becomes resolved as a broad, weak band centered near 1168 cm-1. Thus, the “νas band” appears to be a doublet, consisting of a weak high-frequency component that is insensitive to, and an intense low-frequency component that is sensitive to. overlying films. For the WSi set, the PP of the “νas band” shifts from 1068 to 1076 to 1083 cm-1 for the poly/oxide, WSi/poly/oxide, and annealed-WSi/poly/oxide samples, respectively. Possible causes for the doublet character of the “νas band” and mechanisms for the film-film interactions, such as hydrostatic pressure, are discussed.
Felony Collateral Sanctions Effects on Recidivism: A Literature Review:

Despite recent advances in prisoner reentry and felony collateral consequences literature, the literature on collateral sanctions—intended legal consequences of criminal conviction—remains underdev...
Design and development of database for micro-analysis case and patterns of rare-earth cobalt permanent magnets

In the long-term development and micro-analysis of rare earth-cobalt permanent magnets, a large number of analysis cases and typical patterns have been accumulated. For resolving the problems of storage and rational application of these data, a database for the micro-analysis case and patterns of rare-earth cobalt permanent magnets was developed based on Access as the basic database, C# as the development language, and typical cases were added in this database after being classified from material, production process, quality, failure, analytic technique and other aspects. The completion and use of the database achieves convenient, fast data access and update, which is helpful to quickly resolve the related issues in the subsequent process, and improve work efficiency.
Epithelial Cell Invasion by Group B Streptococci Is Important to Virulence

Group B streptococci (GBS) remain the leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the United States and Western Europe. These bacteria can invade epithelial cells in vitro2 and in vivo1. We sought to determine the role of cellular invasion in the pathogenesis of GBS infection.
Kidney Disease in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Kidney damage is a common complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); its severity may range from a transient and reversible rise in creatinine to a complete loss of kidney function with need for hemodialytic support. Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis in critically ill HSCT is associated with a greater than 80 % mortality. Additionally, AKI of any degree of severity confers risk for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even in the absence of AKI in the immediate post-HSCT period, patients with HSCT are at high risk for CKD over the long term, and this complication is associated with decreased life expectancy.
Sabotaging the Process of Romanianization

According to Romanianization’s social architects, the distribution of property and jobs to its envisioned beneficiaries — such as ethnic Romanian refugees, veterans, bourgeoisie, and skilled workers — should follow an open and rigorous selection. In practice, however, many of these beneficiaries failed to meet expectations.
Disability Studies and Higher Education

Beginning with the Union of Physically Impaired Against Segregation, foundational documents were produced which stated for larger social consumption the concerns as voiced by people with disabilities. As those with disabilities fought to speak on their own behalf, their concerns were naturally brought into classrooms where they were teaching and also raised by allies in teaching contexts. Professionalization of the field included development of groups such as the Society for Disability Studies, conferences, and a journal.
Is the Risk of Autism in Younger Siblings of Affected Children Moderated by Sex, Race/Ethnicity, or Gestational Age?

ABSTRACT:Objective:To evaluate the recurrence risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in younger siblings of affected children and determine how it is modified by race/ethnicity and sex.Method:Medical records of children born in a large health maintenance organization (Kaiser Permanent Southern Cali
Evaluation of a Physical Activity Regulation for Child Care in Massachusetts.

Abstract Objectives: A number of states have enacted regulations to increase physical activity in children attending child care, but most were not evaluated. In 2010, Massachusetts (MA) enacted a new regulation requiring 60 minutes of light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity (LMVPA) for children in child care; we conducted a prospective evaluation. We hypothesized that MA centers would comply with the regulation at follow-up, resulting in increases in children's LMVPA. Methods: We evaluated compliance with the regulation in MA using Rhode Island (RI) as the comparison. We measured physical activity in a longitudinal sample of 20 centers and cross-sectional samples of 180 children per state three times before and three times after the regulation took effect. We assessed physical activity using the Observation System for Recording Activity in Preschoolers. We conducted difference-in-differences tests to evaluate changes in LMVPA in MA compared with RI from baseline to follow-up. Results: Children wer...
The Zonal Method

The zonal method for the determination of radiative heat transfer rates within an absorbing, emitting, and isotropically scattering medium is an extension of the net radiation method developed in Chapter 5 for surface exchange (i.e., for enclosures without a participating medium). In this method the enclosure is subdivided into a finite number of isothermal volume and surface area zones. An energy balance is then performed for the radiative exchange between any two zones, employing precalculated “exchange areas.” This process leads to a set of simultaneous equations for the unknown temperatures or heat fluxes. The method was first developed by Hottel and Cohen [1] for an absorbing, emitting, nonscattering gray gas with constant absorption coefficient. Hottel and Sarofim [2] extended it to deal with nonconstant and nongray absorption coefficients as well as with isotropically scattering media. The discussion by Hottel and Sarofim [2] is extensive but is limited to three-dimensional problems (i.e., only volume zones finite in all three dimensions are discussed). The method was extended by Walther and coworkers [3] to allow for linear variation of emissive power through a one-dimensional slab zone and by Einstein to deal with two-dimensional zones in Cartesian [4] and cylindrical [5] coordinate systems. A slight variation of the method has been given by Larsen and How- ell [6], who expressed the energy balances in terms of “exchange factors,” which are physically measurable quantities. Such measurements were carried out by Liu and Howell [7]. Another derivative model is the REM 2 method by Maruyama [8–10]. Yuen and Takara [11] (and Ma [12] for a one-dimensional slab) have shown that the zonal method can be applied to anisotropically scattering media, but only at a great increase in required computer time.
Exit, cohesion, and consensus: social psychological moderators of consensus among adolescent peer groups.

Virtually all social diffusion work relies on a common formal basis, which predicts that consensus will develop among a connected population as the result of diffusion. In spite of the popularity o...
Animistic pragmatism and native ways of knowing: adaptive strategies for responding to environmental change and overcoming the struggle for food in the Arctic

Future-regarding norms appear to be an essential ingredient in motivating adaptive management strategies in the wake of climate change. These norms have always played a part in the ‘ecosophy’ or ecological-philosophy of Alaska Native Peoples in the Arctic, such as the Inupiat of Seward Peninsula. This kind of animistic pragmatism reflects ‘distributed cognition,’ a special source of practical wisdom that spans over thousands of years and which has been instrumental in the Inupiat’s struggle to survive and thrive in harsh and evolving environments. Native elders have been the embodiment of transgenerational distributed cognition — collective memory, norms, information, knowledge, technical skills, and experimental adaptive strategies. They are human ‘supercomputers,’ historical epistemologists and moral philosophers of a sort, who use narrative, a form of moral testimony to help their communities face challenges and seize opportunities in the wake of an ever-changing landscape. Here, I will tease out the nature of this ‘ecosophy’ in terms of pragmatism and then show why this form of pragmatism is necessary for problematizing multi-scalar, intergenerational, uncertain and complex environmental challenges like climate change. The ‘ecosophy’ of the Inupiat of Seward Peninsula, offers examples of ‘focal practices’ which are essential for environmental education. These focal practices instill key virtues, namely, humility, gratitude, self-reliance, attentiveness, responsibility, and responsiveness that are necessary for subsistence living. Through ancient narratives, community dwellers are encouraged to aspire to be good persons and to fulfill their roles as community members. These roles often revolve around the procurement of food in a sustainable way and with due reverence to the agencies of the animals harvested. This variant of pragmatism can provide insights into how the metaphysics of dichotomies may be dismantled in order to promote future regarding norms that are mindful of more eco-centric interactions with nature. Alaska Native ecosophy as animistic pragmatism can challenge the dominant reductive streak in contemporary environmental and food ethics.
Association of Fluid Administration With Morbidity in Cytoreductive Surgery With Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Importance Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal cancers can be associated with significant complications. Randomized trials have demonstrated increased morbidity with liberal fluid regimens in abdominal surgery. Objective To investigate the association of intraoperative fluid administration and morbidity in patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective analysis of information from a prospectively collected institutional database was conducted at a National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer center. A total of 133 patients from April 15, 2009, to June 23, 2016, with primary or secondary peritoneal cancers were included. Exposures Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Main Outcomes and Measures Morbidity associated with intraoperative fluid management calculated by the comprehensive complication index, which uses a formula combining all perioperative complications and their severities into a continuous variable from 0 to 100 in each patient. Results Of the 133 patients identified, 38% and 37% had diagnoses of metastatic appendiceal and colorectal cancers, respectively. Mean age was 54 (interquartile range [IQR], 47-64) years, and mean peritoneal cancer index was 13 (IQR, 7-18). Mitomycin and platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents were used in 96 (72.2%) and 37 (27.8%) of the patients, respectively. Mean intraoperative fluid (IOF) rate was 15.7 (IQR, 11.3-18.7) mL/kg/h. Mean comprehensive complication index (CCI) was 26.0 (IQR, 8.7-36.2). On multivariate analysis, age (coefficient, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.01-0.64; P = .04), IOF rate (coefficient, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.19-1.75; P = .02), and estimated blood loss (coefficient, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01-0.03; P = .002) were independent predictors of increased CCI. In particular, patients who received greater than the mean IOF rate experienced a 43% increase in the CCI compared with patients who received less than the mean IOF rate (31.5 vs 22.0; P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance Intraoperative fluid administration is associated with a significant increase in perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC. Fluid administration protocols that include standardized restrictive fluid rates can potentially help to mitigate morbidity in patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC.
The Local and the Transnational in Badami's The Hero's Walk

(2005). The Local and the Transnational in Badami's The Hero's Walk. South Asian Review: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 276-287.
The Art and Science of Examining a Child

• The pediatric exam is not as methodical and sequenced as the adult exam. Rather, it is carefully aimed at the most important findings and it is opportunistic.
Acoustic Detection of Black Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larval Infestations in Nursery Containers

Abstract Acoustic detection systems have been developed to locate and target hidden infestations of root weevil larvae in container-grown nursery crops. Tests were conducted in laboratory and field...
Assessment of hydromorphone and dexmedetomidine for emesis induction in cats

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of hydromorphone and dexmedetomidine at inducing emesis in cats. DESIGN: Prospective, blinded, randomized crossover study. SETTING: Veterinary university teaching hospital. ANIMALS: 12 healthy purpose‐bred cats. INTERVENTIONS: Cats were randomly assigned to receive hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or dexmedetomidine (7 μg/kg, IM). Following administration, the incidences of emesis, number of emetic events, signs of nausea (hypersalivation, lip licking), temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and sedation score were recorded for 6 hours. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Emesis was successful in 9 of 12 (75%) cats when treated with hydromorphone and in 7 of 12 (58%) cats when treated with dexmedetomidine (P = 0.67). Dexmedetomidine was more likely to cause sedation than hydromorphone (P < 0.001). Heart rate in cats was significantly decreased at 1 and 2 hours post‐hydromorphone (P = 0.003, 0.014, respectively) and at 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 hours post‐dexmedetomidine (P = 0.001, 0.003, 0.038, 0.013, 0.001, respectively). Cats were more likely to develop an increase in body temperature with hydromorphone administration although this was not clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study indicate that hydromorphone is an effective alternative to dexmedetomidine for the induction of emesis in cats. Hydromorphone appears to cause less sedation and less decrease in heart rate. Further investigation into the most adequate dose of hydromorphone for optimizing emesis is warranted.
An effective data processing workflow for broadband single-sensor single-source land seismic data

Abstract Examples of raw and processed broadband single-sensor single-source land seismic data acquired in the Middle East region have been found to be significantly noisy, and very low-frequency s...
Classification of Lamb Wave Tomographic Rays in Pipes to Distinguish Through Holes from Gouges

Guided ultrasonic waves are often used in structural health monitoring because the dispersive modal behavior results in differing arrival time shifts for modes traveling through flaws. One implementation of Lamb waves for structural health monitoring is helical ultrasound tomography (HUT) in which an array of transducers scan over the perimeter of the sample resulting in a reconstructed image that accurately depicts the presence of flaws in plates and plate-like objects like pipes. However, these images cannot predict the type or severity of the flaw, which are needed in order to schedule maintenance for the structure. We describe the incorporation of pattern classification techniques to Lamb wave tomographic reconstructions of pipes in order to predict flaw type. The features used were extracted using image recognition techniques on dynamic wavelet fingerprint (DWFP) transforms of the unfiltered ray paths. Features were selected at the anticipated mode arrival times for tomographic reconstructions of a pipe with two different flaw types. The application of support vector machines (SVM) in a multiclass one-versus-one method resulted in a direct comparison of predicted and known flaw types.
Coulomb-nuclear interference effects in proton-proton scattering: A simple new eikonal approach

We present a simple new approach to the treatment of Coulomb-nuclear interference and form-factor effects in high-energy proton-proton scattering in the context of an eikonal model for the spin-averaged scattering amplitude. We show that the corrections to the nuclear and Coulomb amplitudes do not depend sensitively on the details of the eikonal amplitude and can be taken as universal, and present parametrizations for the necessary corrections. We also present a simple model for the nuclear scattering amplitude useful for data analysis at small momentum transfer which builds in the proper nuclear phase and the diffraction zeros in the real and imaginary parts of the amplitude.
JAMA Network Open and COVID-19.

In this Viewpoint, JAMA Network Open editors review the journal's more important articles advancing scientific understanding of COVID-19 in the first 6 months o
A Simultaneous EEG-fMRI Study of Thalamic Load-Dependent Working Memory Delay Period Activity

Abstract Working memory (WM) is an essential component of executive functions which depend on maintaining task-related information online for brief periods in both the presence and absence of interfering stimuli. Active maintenance occurs during the WM delay period, the time between stimulus encoding and subsequent retrieval. Previous studies have extensively documented prefrontal (PFC) and posterior parietal (PPC) cortex activity during the WM delay period, but the role of subcortical structures including the thalamus remains to be fully elucidated, especially in humans. Using simultaneous EEG-fMRI, we investigated the role of the thalamus during the WM delay period following low and high memory load encoding. During the delay, participants passively viewed scrambled images containing similar color and spatial frequency to serve as a perceptual baseline. Using individual fMRI-weighted source analyses centered around delay period onset, the effects of increased and decreased memory load on maintenance were observed bilaterally in thalamus with higher source activity evoked during low compared to high load maintenance. The main finding that thalamic activation was attenuated during high compared to low load maintenance suggesting a sensory filtering role for thalamus during consolidation of stimuli in WM where the highest evoked activity occurs when fewer stimuli need to be maintained in the presence of interfering perceptual stimuli during the delay. The results support the idea that the thalamus plays a role in short-term memory maintenance by regulating processing of interfering stimuli.
HEADS-UP: Understanding and Problem-Solving: Seeking Hands-Down Solutions to Major Inequities in Stroke.

There are substantial and longstanding inequities in stroke incidence, prevalence, care, and outcomes. The Health Equity and Actionable Disparities in Stroke: Understanding and Problem-Solving (HEA...
Introduction: Concrete Monuments and Beautiful Science

This special issue presents new essays and interviews on some of the legacies of global post-war concrete aesthetics, focusing on Brazil and passing through Germany and the United Kingdom.
The Landscape of RNA-Protein Interactions in Plants: Approaches and Current Status.

RNAs transmit information from DNA to encode proteins that perform all cellular processes and regulate gene expression in multiple ways. From the time of synthesis to degradation, RNA molecules are associated with proteins called RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). The RBPs play diverse roles in many aspects of gene expression including pre-mRNA processing and post-transcriptional and translational regulation. In the last decade, the application of modern techniques to identify RNA–protein interactions with individual proteins, RNAs, and the whole transcriptome has led to the discovery of a hidden landscape of these interactions in plants. Global approaches such as RNA interactome capture (RIC) to identify proteins that bind protein-coding transcripts have led to the identification of close to 2000 putative RBPs in plants. Interestingly, many of these were found to be metabolic enzymes with no known canonical RNA-binding domains. Here, we review the methods used to analyze RNA–protein interactions in plants thus far and highlight the understanding of plant RNA–protein interactions these techniques have provided us. We also review some recent protein-centric, RNA-centric, and global approaches developed with non-plant systems and discuss their potential application to plants. We also provide an overview of results from classical studies of RNA–protein interaction in plants and discuss the significance of the increasingly evident ubiquity of RNA–protein interactions for the study of gene regulation and RNA biology in plants.
Modeling the differences in the time-series profiles of new COVID-19 daily confirmed cases in 3,108 contiguous U.S. counties: A retrospective analysis.

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. has exhibited a distinct multiwave pattern beginning in March 2020. Paradoxically, most counties do not exhibit this same multiwave pattern. We aim to answer three research questions: (1) How many distinct clusters of counties exhibit similar COVID-19 patterns in the time-series of daily confirmed cases? (2) What is the geographic distribution of the counties within each cluster? and (3) Are county-level demographic, socioeconomic and political variables associated with the COVID-19 case patterns? Materials and methods We analyzed data from counties in the U.S. from March 1, 2020 to January 2, 2021. Time series clustering identified clusters in the daily confirmed cases of COVID-19. An explanatory model was used to identify demographic, socioeconomic and political variables associated with the outbreak patterns. Results Three patterns were identified from the cluster solution including counties in which cases are still increasing, those that peaked in the late fall, and those with low case counts to date. Several county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and political variables showed significant associations with the identified clusters. Discussion The pattern of the outbreak is related both to the geographic location within the U.S. and several variables including population density and government response. Conclusion The reported pattern of cases in the U.S. is observed through aggregation of the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases, suggesting that local trends may be more informative. The pattern of the outbreak varies by county, and is associated with important demographic, socioeconomic, political and geographic factors.
A multicity analysis of daytime Surface Urban Heat Islands in India and the US.

Abstract Daytime surface UHI (SUHI) and the factors influencing it across highly populated cities in India and the United States (US) were evaluated. Urban-rural mean land surface temperature (LST) differences (ΔTS) were calculated and correlated with vegetation and built-up surface densities, quantified using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Index Based Built-Up Index (IBI) respectively. The results from the US show a conventional SUHI phenomenon, and LST decrease with increasing vegetation and decreasing built-up surfaces. However, in India, despite existing urban densities, urban areas are cooler than the rural surroundings. The average LST was higher and NDVI was lower compared to the US, and NDVI and LST correlations were weak. Furthermore, in India, the average IBI values calculated for built-up areas, cropland, and other sparse vegetation land covers were approximately equal. The prevalence of non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) and barren soil in India is impacting spectral indices and the correlations. Differences in ΔTS and spectral indices trends between India and US highlight the shortcomings of the indices used in appropriately identifying Indian LULC types and establish the need for localized SUHI research methods that can specifically analyze the impact of urbanization on SUHI in India.
Optimizing fluorescent protein trios for 3-Way FRET imaging of protein interactions in living cells.

Powerful new methods have extended FRET microscopy to the imaging of three or more interacting proteins inside living cells. Here, we compared widely available fluorescent proteins to find the best trio for 3-Way FRET imaging. We focused on readily available cyan, yellow, and red proteins that have high quantum yields, large extinction coefficients and good photostability, which defined these candidate proteins: CyPet/mTFP1/mTurqoise2, mCitrine/YPet, and TagRFP/TagRFPt/mRuby2/mCherry. By taking advantage of the high structural similarity across the fluorescent proteins, we generated structurally similar, but photophysically distinct donor/acceptor and triple fluorophore fusion proteins and measured their FRET efficiencies inside living cells. Surprisingly, their published photophysical parameters and calculated Forster distances did not predict the best combinations of FPs. Using cycloheximide to inhibit protein synthesis, we found that the different FP maturation rates had a strong effect on the FRET efficiency. This effect was pronounced when comparing rapidly maturing yellow and slowly maturing red FPs. We found that red FPs with inferior photophysics gave superior FRET efficiencies because of faster maturation rates. Based on combined metrics for the FRET efficiency, fluorophore photophysics and fluorophore maturation we determined that Turqoise2, YPet and Cherry were the best available FPs for live cell 3-Way FRET measurements.
Utilization and Costs of Postoperative Physical Therapy After Rotator Cuff Repair: A Comparison of Privately Insured and Medicare Patients.

Purpose To evaluate the utilization and charges related to physical therapy (PT) after rotator cuff repair in privately insured and Medicare patients and between arthroscopic and open/mini-open repair techniques. Methods The PearlDiver insurance database was queried for patients receiving postoperative PT using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Data were available from 2007 to 2011 for United Healthcare and from 2005 to 2011 for Medicare patients. Patients undergoing arthroscopic (CPT 29827) or open/mini-open approaches (CPT 23410, 23412, 23420) were identified in both populations. Utilization was determined by both the percentage of patients with at least one postoperative PT-related code and the average number of encounters per patient. Per-patient average charge was determined by dividing total charges within the billing period by the patient total. Results A total of 365,891 patients undergoing rotator cuff repair were identified. There was an increase in the number of arthroscopic repairs (+29.1%, P = .027, United Healthcare; +78.9%, P P = .038, United Healthcare; −18.2%, P Conclusions Utilization of PT after rotator cuff repair is substantially higher in privately insured than in Medicare patients. Utilization rates appear to be comparable between surgical approaches. Per-patient costs were comparable irrespective of surgical approach and insurance modality. Level of Evidence Level IV, economic.
Do Arbitrageurs Really Avoid High Idiosyncratic Risk Stocks

It is widely believed that stocks with high idiosyncratic risk exhibit stronger anomalies because arbitrageurs avoid holding these stocks due to diversification concerns, allowing deviations of prices from fundamental values. In this paper we test this proposition using hedge fund holding data. Controlling for stock size, we find that hedge funds allocate on average more capital towards holding high idiosyncratic stocks than they do towards low idiosyncratic risk stocks. Contrary to the prediction that diversification concerns prevent arbitrageurs from holding high idiosyncratic risk stocks, we find that the effect is stronger for small hedge funds and for less diversified hedge funds, and does not vary with hedge fund leverage. We also find that hedge fund trades in high idiosyncratic risk stocks earn significantly higher abnormal returns than trades in low idiosyncratic risk stocks. We propose that these results can be reconciled by high idiosyncratic risk being a proxy for information noise about the fundamental value. Consistent with this idea, we find that hedge funds require stronger mispricing signals from highly idiosyncratic stocks before trading.
Role for DNA homology in site-specific recombination. The isolation and characterization of a site affinity mutant of coliphage λ

Site-affinity (or saf ) mutations change the specificity of prophage insertion. We have isolated a saf mutation of the bacteriophage λ attachment site by inserting the phage chromosome into and then excisiing it from a secondary host attachment site. This causes reciprocal exchange of two seven base-pair segments (the overlap regions) that lie within the cores of the two sites. Since the two overlap regions differ from each other in nucleotide sequence, the recombinant sites are mutants. We have determined the effect of overlap region homology on recombination. We found that homology promotes integrative and excisive recombination. This suggests that the two overlap regions interact directly during recombination. The pattern of segregation of the saf mutation during site-specific recombination shows that it lies to the right of the point of genetic exchange about 95% of the time. This is a surprising result because λ integrative recombination normally occurs by two staggered, reciprocal single-strand exchanges, one at each edge of the overlap region (Mizuuchi et al. , 1981). Since saf lies within the overlap region, we might have expected that the point of genetic exchange would occur to the left of saf as often as to the right. We offer two models to account for this. (1) The mutation alters the location of one of the single-strand exchange points. (2) Efficient and strand-specific processing of mismatched base-pairs changes the expected segregation pattern.
Transplacental cocaine exposure. 3: Mechanisms underlying altered brain development

In a mouse model of transplacental cocaine exposure we have demonstrated alterations in brain structure and function of offspring including disturbances of brain growth, disruption of neocortical cytoarchitecture, and transient as well as persistent behavioral deficits. One mechanism by which cocaine may alter fetal brain development is through cocaine-induced alpha-adrenergic-mediated (uterine) arterial vasoconstriction. In this study pregnant Swiss Webster (SW) mice were injected with cocaine HCl (20 or 40 mg/kg, SC) without any changes evident in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) measurements. These physiology results suggest that in our mouse model, cocaine's transplacental effects on the fetus are not due to cocaine-induced maternal vasoconstriction, nor concomitant hypoperfusion of the fetus. In a separate series of experiments, pregnant SW dams were administered cocaine HCl at 40 mg/kg/day (COC 40), 20 mg/kg/day (COC 20), or 10 mg/kg/day (COC 10) [SC, divided in two daily doses, from embryonic day (E) 8 to E17 inclusive]. Additional groups of cocaine-treated dams were administered phentolamine (5 mg/kg, SC), a short-acting alpha-adrenergic antagonist, 15 min prior to each cocaine dose (Phent COC 40, Phent COC 20, Phent COC 10). Animals born to Phent COC 40 dams demonstrated transient postnatal brain growth retardation and behavioral deficits in first-order conditioning of P9 mice comparable to mice born to COC 40 dams, which received the same regimen of cocaine injections without phentolamine pretreatment. Like COC 40 offspring, Phent COC 40 offspring also demonstrated a persistent deficit in the blocking paradigm. The behavioral and growth findings confirm and extend the physiology data, and imply that in our rodent model, alpha-adrenergic mechanisms (including maternal vasoconstriction) are unlikely to mediate these toxic effects of transplacental cocaine exposure on developing brain.
Political Prospects for a Nuclear‐Weapons‐Free Zone in Northeast Asia

A Northeast Asian nuclear-weapons-free zone (NWFZ) or a Japan–South Korea NWFZ could help entice the DPRK to carry out its commitment in the September 2005 Six-Party Joint Statement to “abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs”. There are two possible scenarios for the nuclear future of North Korea, and in turn, the security of South Korea and Northeast Asia: containment, in which North Korea remains nuclear-armed with a growing stockpile of nuclear weapons and gradually improving delivery capabilities; and gradual rapprochement with the USA, South Korea, and Japan. In either of these cases a Northeast Asian NWFZ or a Japan–South Korea NWFZ would improve prospects for regional stability and a denuclearized Korean peninsula and could make a significant impact in light of North Korea's nuclear arming and other recent changes in the security environment in the region. An NWFZ has implications for the future role of nuclear weapons in the regional balance of power.
CD66b Regulates Adhesion and Activation of Human Eosinophils

Eosinophils and their products are likely important in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases, such as bronchial asthma, and in host immunity to parasitic organisms. However, the mechanisms for proinflammatory mediator release by eosinophils are poorly understood. CD66b (CEACAM8, CGM6, NCA-95) is a single chain, GPI-anchored, highly glycosylated protein belonging to the carcinoembryonic Ag supergene family. CD66b is an activation marker for human granulocytes; however, its biological functions are largely unknown in eosinophils. We found that CD66b is highly expressed on the surface of human peripheral blood eosinophils isolated from healthy individuals. Engagement of CD66b, but not CD66a, by mAb or a natural ligand, galectin-3, activated a Src kinase family molecule, hemopoietic cell kinase (Hck), and induced cellular adhesion, superoxide production, and degranulation of eosinophils. CD66b molecules were localized in lipid rafts, and disruption of lipid rafts or removal of the GPI anchor inhibited the adhesion and activation of eosinophils. Importantly, CD66b was constitutively and physically associated with a β 2 integrin, CD11b, and cross-linking of CD66b induced a striking clustering of CD11b molecules. Thus, CD66b molecules are involved in regulating adhesion and activation of eosinophils, possibly through their localization in lipid rafts and interaction with other cell surface molecules, such as CD11b. Binding of exogenous or endogenous carbohydrate ligands(s) to CD66b may be important in the release of proinflammatory mediators by human eosinophils.