cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of an antimicrobial stewardship-led intervention for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) carries high rates of morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are well situated to promote adherence to quality performance measures in order to optimize the management of SAB and associated clinical outcomes. METHODS This uncontrolled pre-post quasi-experimental study evaluated compliance with an ASP-driven comprehensive care bundle and associated clinical outcomes for patients with SAB. The ASP provided recommendations to prescribers to promote adherence with quality performance measures, which included: initiate effective antibiotics within 24 h of Gram's stain; achieve therapeutic vancomycin trough concentration; provide β-lactam therapy if MSSA; obtain repeat blood cultures every 48 h until clearance; complete appropriate treatment duration; eliminate or debride foci of infection; and obtain an echocardiogram for complicated bacteraemia. RESULTS One hundred and seventy patients with SAB were included: 82 patients in the pre-intervention group and 88 patients in the ASP-intervention group. Overall bundle adherence to quality performance measures improved from 56.1% (46/82) in the pre-intervention group to 84.1% (74/88) in the ASP-intervention group (P < 0.001), which was associated with a reduction in 30 day readmission with SAB [9 patients (11.0%) versus 1 patient (1.1%), P = 0.008]. The 30 day mortality was numerically lower in the ASP-intervention group, but the difference was not statistically significant [16 patients (19.5%) versus 10 patients (11.4%), P = 0.2]. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of an ASP-driven comprehensive care bundle for SAB improved adherence with performance measures and was associated with a decrease in hospital readmission for SAB.
Resistance to Stories

This Article examines the sometimes-vehement resistance to legal storytelling, a resistance reflected in Daniel Farber and Suzanna Sherry’s oft-cited article, Telling Stories Out of School: An Essay on Legal Narrative. Part I suggests that, rather than focusing on who is telling stories in law, it is more important to ask why. The answer, put simply, is that stories are said to demonstrate how power can inhere invisibly in the most apparently neutral of standards. The focus on power helps explain why story-telling holds strong appeal for scholars especially interested in social change. Storytelling attempts to illustrate the inevitable partiality of all evaluative criteria, and this attempt suggests a counter-critique of Farber and Sherry’s appraisal. For the kinds of standards to which Farber and Sherry would hold storytellers — standards requiring “reason” and “analysis” — are exactly those the storytellers wish to question. Part II explores a dilemma within the storytelling movement. Many of the stories told in law recount in detail real-life experiences, experiences which the law can respect or deny. Yet storytellers often argue that there is no reality that can be uncontroversially known, i.e., that there are no “true” accounts, just many accounts. The article argues that it is this inconsistent, ambivalent attitude toward the truth-claims of stories that opens the movement up to criticism.
Autoradiographic evidence of estrogen binding sites in nuclei of diethylstilbesterol induced hamster renal carcinomas

Estrogen binding sites were demonstrated by autoradiography in one transplantable and five primary diethylstilbesterol induced renal carcinomas in three hamsters. Radiolabelling, following the in vivo injection of 3H-17 beta estradiol, was increased only over the nuclei of tumor cells; stereologic analysis revealed a 4.5- to 6.7-times higher concentration of reduced silver grains over nuclei than cytoplasm of these cells. Despite rapid tubular excretion of estradiol which peaked in less than 1 h, the normal cells did not appear to bind the ligand. This is the first published report documenting the preferential in vivo binding of estrogen to nuclei of cells in estrogen induced hamster renal carcinomas.
Arsenite and Cadmium Activate MAPK/ERK via Membrane Estrogen Receptors and G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Epidemiological evidence indicates that cadmium and arsenic exposure increase lung cancer risk. Cadmium and arsenic are environmental contaminants that act as endocrine disruptors (EDs) by activating estrogen receptors (ERs) in breast and other cancer cell lines but their activity as EDs in lung cancer is untested. Here, we examined the effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) on the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Results demonstrated that both CdCl2 and NaAsO2 stimulated cell proliferation at environmentally relevant nM concentrations in a similar manner to 17β-estradiol (E2) in H1793, H2073, and H1944 cells but not in H1792 or H1299 cells. Further studies in H1793 cells showed that 100 nM CdCl2 and NaAsO2 rapidly stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, extracellular-signal-regulated kinases) phosphorylation with a peak detected at 15 min. Inhibitor studies suggest that rapid MAPK phosphorylation by NaAsO2, CdCl2, and E2 involves ER, Src, epidermal growth factor receptor, and G-protein coupled ER (GPER) in a pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway. CdCl2 and E2 activation of MAPK may also involve ERβ. This study supports the involvement of membrane ER and GPER signaling in mediating cellular responses to environmentally relevant nM concentrations of CdCl2 and NaAsO2 in lung adenocarcinoma cells.
Dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis impairs dermal lymphatic function in mice

AIM: To investigate whether dermal lymphatic function and architecture are systemically altered in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis. METHODS: Balb/c mice were administered 4% DSS in lieu of drinking water ad libitum for 7 d and monitored to assess disease activity including body weight, diarrhea severity, and fecal bleeding. Control mice received standard drinking water with no DSS. Changes in mesenteric lymphatics were assessed following oral administration of a fluorescently-labelled fatty acid analogue, while dermal lymphatic function and architecture was longitudinally characterized using dynamic near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging following intradermal injection of indocyanine green (ICG) at the base of the tail or to the dorsal aspect of the left paw prior to, 4, and 7 d after DSS administration. We also measured dye clearance rate after injection of Alexa680-bovine serum albumin (BSA). NIRF imaging data was analyzed to reveal lymphatic contractile activity after selecting fixed regions of interest (ROIs) of the same size in fluorescent lymphatic vessels on fluorescence images. The averaged fluorescence intensity within the ROI of each fluorescence image was plotted as a function of imaging time and the lymphatic contraction frequency was computed by assessing the number of fluorescent pulses arriving at a ROI. RESULTS: Mice treated with DSS developed acute inflammation with clinical symptoms of loss of body weight, loose feces/watery diarrhea, and fecal blood, all of which were aggravated as disease progressed to 7 d. Histological examination of colons of DSS-treated mice confirmed acute inflammation, characterized by segmental to complete loss of colonic mucosa with an associated chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate that extended into the deeper layers of the wall of the colon, compared to control mice. In situ intravital imaging revealed that mice with acute colitis showed significantly fewer fluorescent mesenteric lymphatic vessels, indicating impaired uptake of a lipid tracer within mesenteric lymphatics. Our in vivo NIRF imaging data demonstrated dilated dermal lymphatic vessels, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of lymphatic vessels, and significantly reduced lymphatic contractile function in the skin of mice with DSS-induced acute colitis. Quantification of the fluorescent intensity remaining in the depot as a function of time showed that there was significantly higher Alexa680-BSA fluorescence in mice with DSS-induced acute colitis compared to pre-treatment with DSS, indicative of impaired lymphatic drainage. CONCLUSION: The lymphatics are locally and systemically altered in acute colitis, and functional NIRF imaging is useful for noninvasively monitoring systemic lymphatic changes during inflammation.
Differences in chloride gradients allow for three distinct types of synaptic modulation by endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids are important signaling molecules that depress both excitatory synapses leading to decreases in neural circuit output and inhibitory synapses leading to increases in circuit output...
‘Doing a Zion Stunt’: Lawrence in his Land(s) of Milk and Honey

Lawrence’s view of the horrific state of England and Englishness, which he connected to the devastation wreaked by the First World War, lies at the back of Rupert Birkin’s pursuit of an alternative civilization in Women in Love. Gudrun ridicules Ursula for her alliance with Birkin in seeking ‘Rupert’s Blessed Isles’, his ‘new world’ (WL 438–9). Aldous Huxley set a character modeled after Lawrence in his own Brave New World, a novel published a decade after Lawrence’s that entertains alternative notions of the future. As Peter Washington characterizes the period, the years between the two world wars ‘saw a huge increase in evangelising mass movements throughout the western hemisphere, as charismatic leaders from Hitler and Mussolini to Frank Buchanan [founder of the Oxford Group, later called Moral Rearmament] and Amy Semple MacPherson [famous Pentacostalist] drummed up support for their different roads to salvation’.1
Mass Screening of Youth Athletes for High Risk Landing Patterns using a Portable and Inexpensive Motion Sensor Device

Objectives: Biomechanical factors such as dynamic knee valgus predispose young athletes to lower extremity injury including tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Identifying these risk factors may allow for targeted injury prevention strategies. Our prior work has validated the Microsoft Kinect vs. Vicon to detect knee-ankle separation ratio (KASR) during the drop vertical jump test (DVJ). Our hypothesis is that screening with the Microsoft Kinect will be safe, efficient, and provide information to help detect injury risk in youth athletes.
Cancer Radiotherapy Planning

This chapter develops the medical informatics aspects of planning radiotherapy. It also illustrates how the foundational ideas of knowledge representation, reasoning, information access, and decision-making can be applied to facilitate the planning of more accurate and thus more effective radiation treatments. Cancer has a strong genetic basis, and this is certainly an area where the application of modern molecular genetics and epidemiology has yielded important insights. The three main modes of cancer treatment are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Radiation therapy is the most technical mode of treatment and has involved computer modeling for many decades. The first few decades of computer modeling focused on the physics of radiation absorption in human tissue relative to the geometry of radiation beams produced by then current machinery, and on the design of interactive systems that could be used for manual computer aided design. These systems are called RTP systems. The process of designing good radiation plans requires the use of an RTP system. The basic steps in radiation treatment planning are: gather clinical and physical data, decide general approach, select radiation type(s), delineate the target volume(s), configure radiation beams, and check acceptability and feasibility. Two factors make radiation therapy effective and practical. The first factor concerns the physics of radiation beams and the second factor concerns the geometric capabilities of the radiation treatment machine. Understanding these makes clear the role of computer simulation as a step in the design of radiation treatment.
Activity of lipoxygenase isoenzymes during malting and mashing

The objective of this study was to evaluate the development and stability of the lipoxygenase (LOX) isoenzymes LOX-1 and LOX-2 during malting and mashing. LOX-2 was detected only in germinating bar...
Strategy for Enzyme Therapy: Immobilization in Hypoallergenic Gel Versus Entrapment in Red Blood Cell

The polyacrylamide gel immobilization system (Hicks and Updike, 1966; Updike and Hicks, 1967) provides a chemically inert and apparently nontoxic carrier of the enzyme. Polyacrylamide has a hydrocarbon backbone with amide groups as shown in Figure 1, and therefore is devoid of what normally are considered antigenic determinants (Rabat, 1966). To prevent excessive swelling of the gel, a cross-linking agent, N,N’-methylene-bisarcylamide is introduced, as shown in Figure 1. Purified enzyme can be entrapped in the gel during photopolymerization at room temperature. The polymerization reaction is exothermic, therefore, the reaction vial is placed in an ice bath as needed to dissipate heat. The gel is then mechanically fragmented and wet-sieved to provide the right particle size.
Supported Aluminum Catalysts for Olefin Hydrogenation

Three-coordinate alkylaluminum sites were developed on a catechol-containing porous organic polymer support (CatPOP A2B1). The CatPOP-based alkylaluminum sites were characterized by solid-state attenuated total reflectance IR spectroscopy, 1H and 27Al magic-angle-spinning NMR spectroscopy, pair-distribution function X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The low-coordinate organoaluminum sites can hydrogenate and isomerize a range of mono- and disubstituted alkenes and alkynes under mild conditions (75–100 °C, 5–14 bar H2, 20 h). Results of experimental and computational mechanistic investigations suggest a heterolytic mechanism for the observed hydrogenation–isomerization activity.
A discontinuous Galerkin method with a bound preserving limiter for the advection of non-diffusive fields in solid Earth geodynamics

Abstract Mineral composition has a strong effect on the properties of rocks and is an essentially non-diffusive property in the context of large-scale mantle convection. Due to the non-diffusive nature and the origin of compositionally distinct regions in the Earth the boundaries between distinct regions can be nearly discontinuous. While there are different methods for tracking rock composition in numerical simulations of mantle convection, one must consider trade-offs between computational cost, accuracy or ease of implementation when choosing an appropriate method. Existing methods can be computationally expensive, cause over-/undershoots, smear sharp boundaries, or are not easily adapted to tracking multiple compositional fields. Here we present a Discontinuous Galerkin method with a bound preserving limiter (abbreviated as DG-BP) using a second order Runge–Kutta, strong stability-preserving time discretization method for the advection of non-diffusive fields. First, we show that the method is bound-preserving for a point-wise divergence free flow (e.g., a prescribed circular flow in a box). However, using standard adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) there is an over-shoot error (2%) because the cell average is not preserved during mesh coarsening. The effectiveness of the algorithm for convection-dominated flows is demonstrated using the falling box problem. We find that the DG-BP method maintains sharper compositional boundaries (3–5 elements) as compared to an artificial entropy-viscosity method (6–15 elements), although the over-/undershoot errors are similar. When used with AMR the DG-BP method results in fewer degrees of freedom due to smaller regions of mesh refinement in the neighborhood of the discontinuity. However, using Taylor–Hood elements and a uniform mesh there is an over-/undershoot error on the order of 0.0001%, but this error increases to 0.01–0.10% when using AMR. Therefore, for research problems in which a continuous field method is desired the DG-BP method can provide improved tracking of sharp compositional boundaries. For applications in which strict bound-preserving behavior is desired, use of an element that provides a divergence-free condition on the weak formulation (e.g., Raviart–Thomas) and an improved mesh coarsening scheme for the AMR are required.
Interactive browsing of visual content on the internet

The ability to navigate among large collections of images is essential for systems that perform visual search such as content based image indexing and retrieval. This paper describes an interactive approach, improving on the commonly used approach to human-computer interaction which allows the user to repeatedly choose images similar to the search target. We allow the user to specify complex search directions specified by relations involving the locations of several ”template images” that can be controlled by a mouse. The key idea is a novel indexing scheme, derived from the classic theory of Multi-Dimensional-Scaling (MDS). It takes into consideration the relative positioning of images in addition to their pixel values.
Human Sexuality Course Socialization: An Analysis of Changes in Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Behavior

One aspect of the “sexual revolution” has been the introduction of human sexuality courses on American college and university campuses. This study investigated the effects of a human sexuality cour...
ratematrix: An R package for studying evolutionary integration among several traits on phylogenetic trees

Summary 1.Evolutionary integration occurs when two or more phenotypes evolve in a correlated fashion. Correlated evolution among traits can happen due to genetic constraints, ontogeny, and selection and have an important impact on the trajectory of phenotypic evolution. Phylogenetic trees can be used to study such pattern on macroevolutionary time scales by estimating the strength of evolutionary covariance among traits through time and across clades. However, only few applications implement models to conduct comparative analyses of evolutionary integration. 2.We introduce a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approach to estimate the evolutionary correlation among two or more traits using the evolutionary rate matrix (R). R is a covariance matrix that represents both the rates of evolution of each trait and the structure of evolutionary correlation among traits. 3.Here we present the R package ratematrix, a resource to test hypotheses of evolutionary integration using multivariate data and phylogenetic trees. ratematrix provides a flexible framework allowing for any number of evolutionary rate matrix regimes fitted to the same phylogenetic tree and it incorporates the uncertainty associated with parameter estimates, ancestral state reconstruction and phylogenetic estimation in the analyses. 4.The ratematrix package uses a novel pruning algorithm that significantly improve computational time. We also provide specific functions that facilitate users to conduct long MCMC analysis when computational resources are limited. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The combined effects of user schemas and degree of cognitive fit on data retrieval performance

Abstract Given the massive and accelerating amount of data modern organizations are collecting, it is imperative that employees possess the skills to navigate various data structures and develop sound data manipulation and retrieval strategies. This research investigates whether and how user schemas and the degree of cognitive fit combine to affect data retrieval task performance. We measured two types of user schemas associated with debit-credit-accounting (DCA) and resource-event-agent (REA) accounting systems. All participants completed tasks that were either facilitated by DCA or REA. Degree of cognitive fit was manipulated as high (when the task was facilitated by the system) or low (when the task was not facilitated by the system). Results show that the positive association between users' schemas and data retrieval performance is enhanced when the degree of cognitive fit is high, but is attenuated when the degree of cognitive fit is low. The findings that participants with equivalent amounts of training on the accounting models had varying schema strengths for those models provide prima facie evidence that one should not assume schemas' existence based on experience. Of particular importance is the finding that cognitive fit is even more important than schemas, as this provides guidance for companies interested in facilitating data retrieval to focus their decision support efforts first on providing interfaces that match the tasks to be performed and second on training their decision makers to develop schemas consistent with the interfaces. While the combination of strong user schemas and high cognitive fit will yield the best results, if a company must choose due to limited resources, the provision of high cognitive fit with the interface-task match is more important than developing strong user schemas.
Interactive Learning: The Sounds of Bonne Chance

Our Project, Bonne Chance, meaning good luck in French, is an immersive language learning game that manifests in the form of a mobile app. The game is designed as a course-companion for French 111 and 112 beginning language courses for college students. Instead of merely computerizing old teaching practices or creating grammar practice cards, we are radically re-envisioning the design of the learning experience. This project endeavors to build an “ecology of learning that extends beyond the four walls of an institution and engages [students] in ways that are exciting, empowering and culturally relevant” (Salen et al., 201100. The Project functions under four teams: the coding team, the user experience engagement team, the music curation and production team, and the app development team. As the music team, we focus on the music and sounds of Bonne Chance. The music and sounds of Bonne Chance contribute to this ecology by curating an authentically French soundtrack of pre-composed and original music, stimulating the learning environment, creating a sense of historical accuracy, and channeling the primary purpose of the game, which is to help immerse students in the French language. By conducting research into French composers and cultural trends throughout the ages, French musical history can be characterized as a diverse and central figure in the arts of humanity. French history has shaped human history, and its music sheds light on the roots of its global influence. The game itself is currently still in a series of prototype phases as we continue to test our most viable product [MVP]. Through our game-based learning application, our audience of elementary-level French students will gain language learning skills and intercultural empathy. Working in an innovative studio environment has allowed us to grow in the domains of collaboration, project management, programming, music history, research, music composition, music arranging, and music production. ­
Dance Entry Level Teacher Assessment (DELTA): One Institution’s Perspective

The Dance Entry Level Teacher’s Assessment (DELTA) is a collaborative endeavor between the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (S...
Feedlot performance of Brahman x Angus versus Angus steers during cold weather.

Ten Angus and 10 Brahman x Angus F1 steers were used in a 184-d trial to compare feedlot performance during cold weather (-9 to 26 degrees C). Both groups of steers were exposed to the same environment for the same amount of time. All steers were fed for the same number of days regardless of frame score to avoid frame score x environment interactions. Brahman x Angus steers were 30.7 kg heavier (P less than .05) than Angus steers at the start of the trial. Differences in age (Brahman x Angus 40 d younger) for the two breed groups did not affect final live weight or carcass weight. Brahman x Angus steers consumed .2% less feed (P less than .05) as a percentage of BW than Angus steers; however, there was no difference in overall feed efficiency. Angus steers had a higher yield grade, more fat at the 12th rib (P less than .05), and graded 90% Choice; only 10% of the Brahman x Angus were graded Choice. Brahman x Angus steers were taller at the hip (P less than .05) and longer from first rib to aitch bone (P less than .05) and from thoracic vertebrae (T12/T13) to point of hock (P less than .05). Hide thickness determined at the neck, belly, and rump was found to be similar (7.7 mm) between the two groups. Sample hair weight and diameter did not differ between groups. Fiber, fat, protein, and DM digestibility coefficients were similar between groups but Brahman x Angus feces had a higher DM content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Studies of the Atom-Surface Interaction and Charge Exchange in Sputtering

We begin with a brief outline of the calculation of the ground-state properties of an atom interacting with a metal surface a fixed distance away. [1] We simplify the description of the substrate by using the jellium model to represent it: that is, the semi-infinite lattice of positive ions of the metal is smeared out into a semi-infinite homogeneous positive background. This model eliminates much of the detail of the substrate (which is now specified only by the value of its average electron density), but it is able to represent many of the properties of the metal that will interest us. [1] We use the density-functional theory of inhomogeneous electron systems [2] to analyze this model, with the commonly used local-density approximation for exchange and correlation effects. [2]
Aristotle, Equity, and Democracy

Aristotelian equity ( epieikeia ) has often been relegated to scholarly discussions of retributive justice. Recently, however, political theorists have recast equity as the virtue of a sympathetic democratic citizen. I build on this literature by offering a more precise explanation of equity’s internal structure and political significance. In particular, I reveal equity’s deliberative dimension. For Aristotle, equitable citizens, statesmen, and legislators correct or go beyond the law, as appropriate, not only when they render retrospective judgments about matters of punishment or distribution, but also when they deliberate about future-oriented questions of legislation or political action. In addition, I show, more concretely, the role of equity in democratic citizenship. Drawing upon the Aristotelian Constitution of the Athenians , I argue that the Athenian demos exemplified equity when it brought about the reconciliation and the amnesty of 403 BC . Attention to this episode clarifies the conceptual linkages between equity, deliberation, sympathy, and democracy.
A Field Study on College Marching Band Players’ Workload:

College marching band players expose to high physical and cognitive workloads; however, there is lack of understanding on this matter. The purposes of this study were to investigate the workloads a...
Non-invasive monitoring of a circadian relevant biomarker from easily accessible body fluids using hybrid aqueous–ionic buffer interfaces on flexible substrates

Frequent shift work causes disruption of the circadian rhythm and could potentially, in the long run, result in increased health risks. Current biomarkers evaluating the presence of circadian rhythm disturbance include melatonin, cortisol, and body temperature. These require 24 h or “around the clock” measurements, which is tedious. There is an immediate and unmet need to design non-invasive diagnostic sensors for rapid and continuous monitoring of biomarkers associated with circadian rhythm cycles. We have evaluated three biofluids that can enable non-invasive sampling which are sweat, urine and saliva. All the three biofluids have pH variability that typically impacts the sensor performance. In this paper, we demonstrate a hybrid flexible biosensor comprised of an aqueous and ionic interface integrated onto metallic gold microelectrodes for rapid and noninvasive monitoring of cortisol. We show that BMIM[BF4], a room temperature ionic liquid, can be used to modulate pH instability, as well as variations to the ionic content in the aqueous ionic buffers of sweat, urine, and saliva. We have demonstrated the stability of this sensor over the pH range of 4 through 8 in synthetic sweat, saliva, and urine. This detection was tested over a linear dynamic range in the physiologically relevant ranges of cortisol in these bio-fluids. Our facile approach addresses the challenges associated with the variability of body buffer chemistry and its impact on monitoring circadian rhythm.
Fusion of satellite-based imager and sounder data to construct supplementary high spatial resolution narrowband IR radiances

Polar-orbiting weather satellite platforms generally include an imager and a sounder. With a data fusion method that uses these sensors, we demonstrate the ability to construct infrared (IR) absorption narrowband radiances at imager resolution. While a sensor such as MODIS has multiple IR absorption bands, the current visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) imager has only IR window bands. We show fusion results for IR radiances at 4.52 μm (CO2), 6.72 μm (H2O), and 13.94 μm (CO2) by comparing MODIS observed and constructed radiances for these bands. Both regional and global results are analyzed, with radiance differences tending to be fairly low and unbiased. Similar bands are constructed from VIIRS and CrIS data, with regional and global results shown. With this approach, it will be possible to improve continuity in derived cloud products over the generations of polar-orbiting weather satellite sensors and continue applications that require IR absorption bands.
GOES-16 Observations of Blowing Snow in Horizontal Convective Rolls on 24 February 2019

AbstractOn 24 February 2019, strong winds behind an Arctic cold front led to widespread blowing snow across the northern Great Plains including areas in eastern North/South Dakota and western Minne...
Electro-oxidation of furfural on gold is limited by furoate self-assembly

Abstract Processing of biomass-derived compounds with electrocatalysis has shown promise to directly couple the production of valuable feedstocks with the storage of renewably produced electricity. One potential route of electrocatalytic conversion is the partial oxidation of furfural to furoic acid (FA), a precursor to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). We have utilized differential electrochemical reactor studies along with infrared spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to probe the oxidative reaction pathways of furfural on gold catalysts in acidic electrolyte. We find furfural electro-oxidation activity (~2 µA/cm2Au at 1.0 VRHE) to be an order of magnitude higher than that observed on Pt/C. 96 ± 6% Faradaic efficiency to FA is achieved at 0.8 VRHE. Product desorption is rate limiting, and spectroscopic evidence indicates that the most abundant intermediate is surface furoate. Deeper oxidation products observed with dilution of furfural suggest that self-assembly of the furoate species contributes to selectivity.
Group dynamics when battling a pandemic

Background: This special issue of Group Dynamics presents six articles that address aspects of how group dynamics and processes have been impacted by, and have the potential to impact, the SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 pandemic Method: This introduction briefly reviews and comments on each article Results: The articles highlight a number of issues and findings: the natural inclination of people to congregate in groups both exacerbate the spread of the virus and can provide solace during these times of stress;the concept of groupthink may explain the seemingly irrational rejection of public health measures among some in society;group psychotherapy is effective, but we need more research to understand how it works when delivered in an online format as necessitated by the current pandemic;an emotional management intervention might help virtual work groups to perform better;how members perceive their virtual environment could affect the quality of their groupwork;and today's virtual work environments requires group members to have a common understanding of the technologies they are using Conclusions: The current crisis has highlighted that groups to which we belong are important to our mental health and productivity The pandemic also has made clear the need for a broader scholarly and professional investment in the understanding and use of groups Such an investment would not only move the fields of group research forward, but would also inform public health policy, and ease our adjustment to and capacity to flourish in the current and future pandemics (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Highlights and Implications-*The COVID-19 health crisis has shown us how central groups are to daily living Unfortunately, there are many aspects of group functioning that we do not understand very well, but which the pandemic has shown are critical *This special issue of Group Dynamics reviews a select few of these aspects *In particular, the papers address the virtual group experience and what we know about how it compares to the in-person experience;provision of virtual group psychotherapy;how social distancing is necessary for physical health but problematic for emotional health;and how groupthink can explain some of the surprising behaviors that we have seen during the COVID-19 crisis (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
Digest: Male courting prompts female fly remating-The evolution of polyandry.

Does a male courting behavior proximately cause polyandry in a fruit fly species? Minekawa et al. (2020) found that in Drosophila prolongata, male flies vibrate their legs to overcome female remating suppression, resulting in multiple matings for females that otherwise may have remained monandrous. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Protein kinase C fusion proteins are paradoxically loss-of-function in cancer.

Within the AGC kinase superfamily, gene fusions resulting from chromosomal rearrangements have been most frequently described for protein kinase C (PKC), with gene fragments encoding either the C-terminal catalytic domain or the N-terminal regulatory moiety fused to other genes. Kinase fusions that eliminate regulatory domains are typically gain of function and often oncogenic. However, several quality control pathways prevent accumulation of aberrant PKC, suggesting that PKC fusions may paradoxically be loss of function. To explore this topic, we used biochemical, cellular, and genome editing approaches to investigate the function of fusions that retain the portion of the gene encoding either the catalytic domain or regulatory domain of PKC. Overexpression studies revealed that PKC catalytic domain fusions were constitutively active but vulnerable to degradation. Genome editing of endogenous genes to generate a cancer-associated PKC fusion resulted in cells with detectable levels of fusion transcript but no detectable protein. Hence, PKC catalytic domain fusions are paradoxically loss of function as a result of their instability, preventing appreciable accumulation of protein in cells. Overexpression of a PKC regulatory domain fusion suppressed both basal and agonist-induced endogenous PKC activity, acting in a dominant-negative manner by competing for diacylglycerol. For both catalytic and regulatory domain fusions, the PKC component of the fusion proteins mediated the effects of the full-length fusions on the parameters examined, suggesting that the partner protein is dispensable in these contexts. Taken together, our findings reveal that PKC gene fusions are distinct from oncogenic fusions and present a mechanism by which loss of PKC function occurs in cancer.
Save the Quinolones! Impact of a Non-Restrictive Fluoroquinolone Reduction Initiative on Antibiotic Use and Resistance at an Urban Teaching Hospital.

Background:Many antibiotic stewardship programs have sought to reduce fluoroquinolone use due to their association with a myriad of negative consequences. In hospital settings with fewer resources,...
Does Green Really Mean Go? Increasing the Fraction of Green Photons Promotes Growth of Tomato but Not Lettuce or Cucumber.

The photon flux in the green wavelength region is relatively enriched in shade and the photon flux in the blue region is selectively filtered. In sole source lighting environments, increasing the fraction of blue typically decreases stem elongation and leaf expansion, and smaller leaves reduce photon capture and yield. Photons in the green region reverse these blue reductions through the photoreceptor cryptochrome in Arabidopsis thaliana, but studies in other species have not consistently shown the benefits of photons in the green region on leaf expansion and growth. Spectral effects can interact with total photon flux. Here, we report the effect of the fraction of photons in the blue (10 to 30%) and green (0 to 50%) regions at photosynthetic photon flux densities of 200 and 500 µmol m−2 s−1 in lettuce, cucumber and tomato. As expected, increasing the fraction of photons in the blue region consistently decreased leaf area and dry mass. By contrast, large changes in the fraction of photons in the green region had minimal effects on leaf area and dry mass in lettuce and cucumber. Photons in the green region were more potent at a lower fraction of photons in the blue region. Photons in the green region increased stem and petiole length in cucumber and tomato, which is a classic shade avoidance response. These results suggest that high-light crop species might respond to the fraction of photons in the green region with either shade tolerance (leaf expansion) or shade avoidance (stem elongation).
Student responses to advance directives assignments in undergraduate courses in the United States: A qualitative examination of stress appraisals, coping, and outcomes.

Guided by stress and coping theory, qualitative content analysis was used to examine student written assignment responses (N = 100) about the importance of and student preparedness for completing t...
Monitoring the Microevolution of Salmonella enterica in Healthy Dairy Cattle Populations at the Individual Farm Level Using Whole-Genome Sequencing

Livestock represent a possible reservoir for facilitating the transmission of the zoonotic foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica to humans; there is also concern that strains can acquire resistance to antimicrobials in the farm environment. Here, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize Salmonella strains (n = 128) isolated from healthy dairy cattle and their associated environments on 13 New York State farms to assess the diversity and microevolution of this important pathogen at the level of the individual herd. Additionally, the accuracy and concordance of multiple in silico tools are assessed, including: (i) two in silico serotyping tools, (ii) combinations of five antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinant detection tools and one to five AMR determinant databases, and (iii) one antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) prediction tool. For the isolates sequenced here, in silico serotyping methods outperformed traditional serotyping and resolved all un-typable and/or ambiguous serotype assignments. Serotypes assigned in silico showed greater congruency with the Salmonella whole-genome phylogeny than traditional serotype assignments, and in silico methods showed high concordance (99% agreement). In silico AMR determinant detection methods additionally showed a high degree of concordance, regardless of the pipeline or database used (≥98% agreement among susceptible/resistant assignments for all pipeline/database combinations). For AMR detection methods that relied exclusively on nucleotide BLAST, accuracy could be maximized by using a range of minimum nucleotide identity and coverage thresholds, with thresholds of 75% nucleotide identity and 50-60% coverage adequate for most pipeline/database combinations. In silico characterization of the microevolution and AMR dynamics of each of six serotype groups (S. Anatum, Cerro, Kentucky, Meleagridis, Newport, Typhimurium/Typhimurium variant Copenhagen) revealed that some lineages were strongly associated with individual farms, while others were distributed across multiple farms. Numerous AMR determinant acquisition and loss events were identified, including the recent acquisition of cephalosporin resistance-conferring bla CMY- and bla CTX-M-type beta-lactamases. The results presented here provide high-resolution insight into the temporal dynamics of AMR Salmonella at the scale of the individual farm and highlight both the strengths and limitations of WGS in tracking zoonotic pathogens and their associated AMR determinants at the livestock-human interface.
Estimating Time Since Death Using Plant Roots and Stems

A number of methods have been used successfully in estimating time since death of long dead individuals, including physical decomposition of the corpse and clothing and the succession of insects. Using these sources, however, it is usually impossible to estimate accurately time since death for bodies which have been exposed more than a year. Roots and stems of perennial plants may be used as complementary sources of information. Stems and woody roots of perennial plants have annual growth rings which may be used to establish the minimum number of growing seasons since death. To be used, these plant parts must grow through the clothing, other personal effects, or bone or be affected indirectly by soil disturbance or body decomposition. Procedures for collecting, preserving, and examining these specimens and the limitations of the approach are presented.
Organizational Preferences and Their Consequences

1 What is An Organization? 2 Organizational Homogeneity 3 Organizational Hierarchy 4 Homogeneity and Hierarchy are Mutually Reinforcing 5 Performance Implications of Organizing Preferences 6 Summary
Extended Contact After Birth: Time-Controlled or Self-Regulatory?

In Reply.— Anderson may indeed be correct in arguing that the opportunity for self-regulatory extended contact positively affects the process of mother-neonate bonding. However, the only relevant study1 cited contains a methodologic flaw, which makes the results uninterpretable.2 Confounds like this cannot simply be ignored just because we like the tenor of the results. Thus the issue remains open—neither proven nor disproven. It should also be noted that the direct effects of self-regulatory extended contact, if they exist, are likely to be temporary.
Studies in the tetraarylborates : Part VII. The preparation and reagent properties of some new nitrogen heterocyclic tetraarylboraees — especially sodium tetrakis(l-imidazolyl) borate, a novel gravimetric reagent for hydrogen ion

Abstract Three new tetraarylborates containing nitrogen heterocycles have been synthesized. Sodium tetrakis(1-imidazolyl)borate and sodium tetrakis(1-benzimidazolyl)borate were prepared in very high yield by syntheses which were easy to perform in situ. Interesting analytical properties which are very different from the carbocyclic tetraarylborates were noted in both compounds. Precipitate formation oftetrakis(1-imidazolyl)borate with hydrogen and divalent cations was observed. The feasibility of determination of the hydrogen cation by tetrakis(1-imidazolyl)borate was demonstrated.
Initial Characterization of a Temperature-Sensitive Rod− Mutant of Bacillus subtilis

Abstract The general biological properties of a temperature-sensitive morphological mutant of Bacillus subtilis (168ts–200B) are described. At the restrictive temperature (45 C), cells grow as spheres which divide irregularly to form grapelike clusters. At the permissive temperature (30 C), the mutant grows as typical B. subtilis rods in short chains. A log-phase culture of rods (30 C) may be converted to spheres by transfer to 45 C. Reversion of spheres to rods occurs when the alternate temperature shift is made. Growth curves, deoxyribonucleic acid replication kinetics, and the morphology of mutant 168ts–200B are described.
An Exploration of Antecedent Characteristics for Predicting User Perseverance in Online Travel Shopping

In this study, we explore how user characteristics, such as trust, persistence and consumer perceptions of the benefits and impediments of online travel shopping, influence user likelihood to complete a specific travel shopping task. Through an uncontrolled experiment with a multi-step travel search task, we test the difference in user characteristics between those that completed and those that did not complete the task. Sixty-four percent of respondents gave up before completing the assigned travel itinerary. Through logistic regression we found that people who trust more were less likely to complete the task, while thos with a high perception of the benefits of shopping online were more likely to complete the task. User persistence was somewhat significant. User perceptions of impediments to online shopping were not found to be significant.
On the Significance of Mass Loss from Bright Red Giants

Mass loss plays a dominant role in the lives of main-sequence stars of initial mass larger than 25 Mo and in the lives of asymptotic giant branch stars which are descendants of main-sequence stars less massive than 10 Mo. Mass loss is also of decisive importance in the lives of close binary stars which interact as a consequence of Roche-lobe overflow. In many instances, mass loss leads to exposure of layers in which matter has experienced significant nuclear processing. Because of wind mass loss, asymptotic giant branch stars become white dwarfs rather than supernovae. Because of Roche-lobe overflow, most intermediate-mass stars in close binaries become white dwarfs; perhaps 10 percent of all white dwarf pairs formed in this way are close enough that gravitational wave radiation will lead to merging of the white dwarfs; 10 percent of the merging dwarfs become type I supernovae.
Accountability and Oversight of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann)

ICANN has had difficulties in gaining legitimacy. Causes include: (1) its unclear and disputed objectives and powers; (2) disputes over the identity of its beneficiaries and its nonrepresentative governance structure; and (3) its recent proposal to eliminate elected at-large directors. ICANN faces a number of problems relating to its weak accountability and oversight. These include: (1) controversies over its objectives and powers; (2) failure to classify decisions as policy or operational; (3) failure to disclose conflicts of interest; (4) lack of feedback to its constituencies; (5) conflicts among its board members and stakeholders; (6) lack of representation of individual and small business Internet users; (7) lack of a review board for its policy decisions; (8) lack of third-party enforcement mechanisms, such as accountants and lawyers; (9) the reluctance of competitors to claim ICANN's power; and (10) inadequate enforcement by government entities and international organizations. Accountability and oversight are used to attain legitimacy. Because entrusted power is discretionary in various degrees, and its results are not always easily evaluated, tests must be used to distinguish between policy and operational decisions. There are limitations on entrusted powers, such as conflicts of interest. There are three categories of mechanisms to accountability and legitimacy. The first includes methods of communications, oversight and controls, such as transparency and disclosure, self-limiting rules, and formal planning. The second category includes institutional structures and outside relationships, including hierarchical and internal control mechanisms, election mechanisms, the right to sue under the law, market enforcers, and competitors. The third category includes private and public sector organizations such as government entities and international and technical organizations.