cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electric Field Breakdown in Single Molecule Junctions

Here we study the stability and rupture of molecular junctions under high voltage bias at the single molecule/single bond level using the scanning tunneling microscope-based break-junction technique. We synthesize carbon-, silicon-, and germanium-based molecular wires terminated by aurophilic linker groups and study how the molecular backbone and linker group affect the probability of voltage-induced junction rupture. First, we find that junctions formed with covalent S-Au bonds are robust under high voltage and their rupture does not demonstrate bias dependence within our bias range. In contrast, junctions formed through donor-acceptor bonds rupture more frequently, and their rupture probability demonstrates a strong bias dependence. Moreover, we find that the junction rupture probability increases significantly above ∼1 V in junctions formed from methylthiol-terminated disilanes and digermanes, indicating a voltage-induced rupture of individual Si-Si and Ge-Ge bonds. Finally, we compare the rupture probabilities of the thiol-terminated silane derivatives containing Si-Si, Si-C, and Si-O bonds and find that Si-C backbones have higher probabilities of sustaining the highest voltage. These results establish a new method for studying electric field breakdown phenomena at the single molecule level.
A Summary of the Research on"Conducting Maths Teaching through Problem Solving"——Some Answered and Unanswered Problems

Since the beginning of the 80's of the twentieth century,"problem solving"has become the crux of maths curriculum and classroom teaching.But previous researches concentrated much more on the process of maths problems' solving and its influential factors rather than on problem solving as a kind of teaching model.As a new teaching model,"conducting maths teaching through problem solving"has been approved and verified by many a researcher.It is necessary to straighten out what has been researched so as to promote more related researches and teaching activities.
Catalytic RNA: Structure and Mechanism

The Hopkins Lecturer is given the charge of explaining how advances in other fields of science have had an impact on his or her own field of biochemistry. A moment’s thought revealed that it was not at all difficult to think of examples where other scientific fields have provided necessary groundwork for the study of RNA catalysis or RNA biochemistry in general. Rather, it was difficult to choose among all the possibilities. I have chosen to provide some examples of how the fields of enzymology, synthetic chemistry and even protein crystallography have paved the way for our own research. Of course, there is interchange in both directions, and the Hopkins Lecturer is also charged with explaining how advances in his or her own field have had an impact on biochemistry as a whole. In the case of RNA catalysis, we see spinoffs for research into the origin of life, for the understanding of cellular processes including protein synthesis and mRNA splicing and potentially in the field of medicine.
Comparative studies on plasma and tissue sorbitol, glutamic, lactic and hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase and transaminase activities in the dog.

SUMMARY Plasma and tissue activities in dogs were determined for the following enzymes: sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), glutamic dehydrogenase (GD), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), α-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase (α-HBD), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT). After the oral administration of CCl4, the activities of all these enzymes in the plasma were elevated significantly. The measurement of plasma GPT, or SD activity, is recommended in the diagnosis of canine hepatic necrosis because of their tissue specificity, ease of measurement and the marked elevations which accompany liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride. The clearance of these 6 activities from the plasma was estimated after injection of dog liver homogeuate. GPT, LDH, and α-HBD were cleared from the plasma more rapidly than were the other three activities.
Characteristics of Exchange-Traded Funds: Weighting Myths and Realities

Mutual funds still dominate the index-fund industry, but exchange-traded products have been catching up to them very quickly. With more than 1,600 products and over $2 trillion in net assets under management, they are now considered by investors as a practical alternative to mutual funds. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are the two most common varieties of exchange-traded products. This book’s emphasis is on the former.
The Logic of Social Movement Outcomes

Behind some of the most momentous changes in American politics and history lie the struggles of ordinary people. The actions of farmers and workers spurred the expansion of national economic regulation to protect against the predations of big business. The political mobilization of seniors during the Great Depression fostered the development of the welfare state. Civil rights activists won landmark legislation to ban racial employment discrimination and integrate American society. Feminist agitation achieved a host of legislative victories to challenge gender inequalities; and environmental activists brought greater oversight to bear on industries throughout the private sector. Few doubt that social movements matter; indeed, it is difficult to contemplate either the pattern of national political and economic development or changes to inegalitarian social practices without them. This investigation thus begins with a simple question: How were these victories achieved or, more precisely, why do social movement targets give in to demands? Although considerable research has been dedicated to the explanation of movement emergence and development, only more recently has attention been devoted to movement outcomes. Such studies highlight movement characteristics, including differences between violent and nonviolent tactics, while others concentrate on external circumstances and support from third parties. Yet this research has often produced contradictory or inconclusive findings. To resolve these puzzles, I suggest that it is useful to start with the most elementary propositions about movement outcomes and then, piece by piece, assemble a general theoretical explanation.
The Microbiology of the Upper Air. II.

The collection of micro-organisms from the air at various altitudes has interested observers for a considerable time. Pasteur, one of the first workers in this field, made investigations by climbing the Alps to obtain his samples. More recently the airplane has made it possible for others to make studies on the micro-organisms found in the upper air which occur in various regions. Stakman, Henry, Curran, and Christopher found numerous spores in airplane flights in Texas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wyoming.1 Mischustin reported results obtained over the Moscow experimental flying field.2 Craigie and Popp have used airplanes in collecting rust spores from the upper air in Canada.3 Brown made collections of living micro-organisms in the air of the arid section in southwestern United States.4 Meier, Stevenson and Charles have identified fungus spores collected on flights over eastern United States in 1932.5 The establishment in 1931 of a daily airplane flight service by the Division of Meteorology of the Department of Aeronautical Engi neering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggested an opportunity to study the microbiology of the upper strata in the vicinity of Boston. The first flight on which studies of a biological nature were undertaken was on February 23, 1932. Through the courtesy and cooperation of the staff of the Division of Meteorology it has been possible to collect a considerable number of biological samples which were immediately taken to the laboratories of the Department of Biology and Public Health for biological examination.
Getting the message across: evaluating think tank influence in Congress

Skirting the lines between academic, promotional and advocacy organizations, think tanks spend an inordinate amount of time and money attempting to influence policy debates, all the while being legally barred from lobbying. Think tanks, unlike interest groups, do not bring with them electoral constituencies to advocate on behalf of, so the ways in which they persuade legislators to adopt their opinions cannot simply be electoral in nature. Using a dataset of think tank citations from congressional floor speeches and committee testimony records, I compare the influence of think tanks based on a new measure of their ideologies and, in doing so, show that think tanks engage in strategic ideological positioning to maximize their influence. An additional hypothesis examined is the relationship between think tank members’ previous work experiences in government with the organizations’ overall prominence. By treating think tanks as strategic actors in legislative politics, I show that think tanks’ ideological positioning affects directly how members of Congress engage with them, both by citing them in floor speeches and in calling them to testify, with more extreme think tanks being cited more frequently in floor speeches and more moderate think tanks called more often to testify.
Are Cytokines in Human Milk

Breastfeeding is known to protect the recipient infant against common infectious diseases of the alimentary tracts and respiratory systems. The mechanisms of this protection have been attributed mainly to a system of direct-acting antimicrobial agents that appear to have evolved to act at mucosal surfaces1, and which do not provoke inflammation2. Recent evidence suggests that the protection afforded by breastfeeding may also involve agents that stimulate the maturation of the immune system of the recipient. The evidence is as follows.
Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution

When the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, there was an assumption that controlling concentrations of serious wide-spread outdoor air pollutants such as the criteria pollutants and the hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) would protect the public from adverse effects of air pollution. Another early assumption was that blue collar workers were the exposed occupational population and that white collar workers were not subjected to harmful air pollutants on the job. However, sometime in the 1980s it became apparent that much of the exposure to the public from air pollutants occurred in the home and to workers from environments in office buildings. Workplaces with traditional air pollution exposures such as steel mills, saw mills, refineries and chemical plants had been targeted for regulation by the Occupational Health and Safely Act (OSHA) in the early 1970s. Indoor office buildings had not been included under OHSA and private homes contained totally unregulated atmospheres. In the late 1970s in conjunction with various problems with imported oil from OPEC countries, the US instigated recommendations for energy conservation which included constructing “tight” buildings. Buildings were built without operable windows and air exchange rates were reduced to save energy. Soon scientists and the public were hearing about the “sick building syndrome”. Of course it was not the building but rather the human occupants who were “sick”. All across the US clusters of office workers complained of a list of diverse and often subjective symptoms such as those listed in Table 15–1.
BAY 12-8039, a novel fluoroquinolone: Activity against important respiratory tract pathogens

Abstract BAY 12-8039 or moxifloxacin is a new 8-methoxyquinolone with documented, improved activity against Gram-positive cocci and anaerobic bacteria. This study tested 1250 commonly isolated respiratory tract pathogens (251 Moraxella catarrhalis, 499 Haemophilus influenzae, 500 Streptococcus pneumoniae ) from 1996–1997 clinical infections at more than 30 medical centers. Among the M. catarrhalis strains (81% β-lactamase–positive) the BAY 12-8039 MIC 90 was 0.06 μg/mL, a potency equal to ofloxacin but less than all other tested fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, clinafloxacin, levofloxacin, sparfloxacin, trovafloxacin). The H. influenzae strains were generally less susceptible to BAY 12-8039 (MIC 90 , 0.03 μg/mL) than the tested fluoroquinolones, and the other comparison compounds were less active overall. All S. pneumoniae strains were susceptible to BAY 12-8039 at ≤0.25 μg/mL (MIC 90 , 0.06–0.12 μg/mL), a value equal-potent to trovafloxacin. This new fluoroquinolone, BAY 12-8039, appears promising for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections caused by common bacterial species.
Network-Based Techniques in EEG Data Analysis and Epileptic Brain Modeling

We discuss a novel approach of modeling the behavior of the epileptic human brain, which utilizes network-based techniques in combination with statistical preprocessing of the electroencephalographic (EEG) data obtained from the electrodes located in different parts of the brain. In the constructed graphs, the vertices represent the “functional units” of the brain, where electrodes are located. Studying dynamical changes of the properties of these graphs provides valuable information about the patterns characterizing the behavior of the brain prior to, during, and after an epileptic seizure.
Abstract 1974: Inhibition of the P-glycoprotein with a novel agent in overexpressing P-glycoprotein chemotherapy resistant colorectal cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) plays a key role in chemotherapy failure and poor patient outcome. One of the ways multidrug resistance occurs is through the efflux of chemotherapeutic agents using the P-glycoprotein transporter protein on the surface of the tumor cell. There are several medications that work through P-glycoprotein (Pgp), which can either induce or inhibit the activity of the transporter. The purpose of this study was to evaluate known P-glycoprotein inhibitors and their effects on chemotherapy resistance in Caco2 cells, a colorectal cancer cell line. The experiments consisted of feeding the colorectal cancer cells with commonly known drugs that are Pgp substrates such as vinblastine for 4-8 months to establish an overexpressing Pgp transporter. An untreated negative control was used to show that Pgp was not overly expressed. Once the treated cells were overexpressing Pgp, the cells were seeded into a 96 well plate with a matrix of increasing chemotherapy and bergamottin, a known P-glycoprotein inhibitor. A cell proliferation assay was performed according to manufacturer protocol, with a Presto-Blue Cell Proliferation Assay kit to assess the effects of the chemotherapy agent, vinblastine and the bergamottin. Absorbance was recorded at 595 nanometers. This assay was tested on several multidrug resistant colorectal cell with different substrates and normal P-glycoprotein expressing cancer cells. The overexpressing Pgp cell lines required higher doses of vinblastine to exhibit cell death compared to the negative cells. The positive cells treated with bergamottin only showed change in cell death with increasing bergamottin concentration. From these results, it was determined that the use of the novel P-glycoprotein inhibitor was able to reverse the chemotherapy induced multidrug resistance in the cells with high Pgp expression. Patients whose tumor cells develop MDR have a poor prognosis compared to patients whose cells are responsive to chemotherapy. Because the chemotherapy agents are ineffective in killing the all of the tumor cells including cells which have become metastatic, the overall survival rate for patients with MDR-positive tumors is markedly decreased. Identify these patients as potential candidates for the Pgp inhibitor could significant increase their chances of survival with this aggressive form of cancer. Citation Format: Christopher L. Farrell, Rebecca Mahan, Catherine Blauvelt, Taylor Kaye Servais, Jessica Lane. Inhibition of the P-glycoprotein with a novel agent in overexpressing P-glycoprotein chemotherapy resistant colorectal cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1974.
REHABILITATION FOLLOWING ISOLATED POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION: A LITERATURE REVIEW OF PUBLISHED PROTOCOLS.

Background Surgical outcomes following isolated posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR) have been noted to be less satisfactory than the anterior cruciate ligament. Limited understanding of optimal rehabilitation has been implicated as a contributing factor. Hypothesis/purpose The purpose of this review was to gather the literature related to isolated PCLR rehabilitation, extract and summarize current rehabilitation guidelines, identify timeframes and functional measurements associated with common rehabilitation topics and provide recommendations for future research. Study design Literature review. Methods A literature review was performed for scientific publications that include a detailed rehabilitation program following isolated PCLR, published between January 2005 and March 2018. Data related to weight-bearing, knee range of motion (ROM), brace usage, specific exercise recommendations and suggestions for return to running and sport activities were extracted and categorized. Results A total of 44 articles met inclusion criteria. Post-operative weight-bearing was discussed in 35 articles with recommendations ranging from no restriction to 12 weeks of limitations. Forty-two articles recommended the use of immediate post-operative bracing, the majority of which positioned the knee in full extension, with duration of use ranging from one to 12 weeks post-operatively. Although 30 articles offered detailed descriptions of ROM activity, there was significant variability in timing of initiation, angular excursion and progression of range of motion. Suggested timeframes for returning to sports activity ranged from four to 12 months, with only four articles providing specific objective strength or functional performance criteria necessary for progression. Conclusions There is substantial variation in nearly all aspects of published descriptors of rehabilitation following isolated PCLR. Most protocols are based upon biomechanical principles and clinical expertise, relying solely on timeframe from surgery to support rehabilitation decision making. Evidence to compare patient outcomes with specific loading, ROM progression and exercise strategies is currently lacking. Only a small number of protocols incorporate the use of specific objective performance goals to facilitate return to sport decision making.
Seasonal Presence of Salmonella spp., Salmonella Typhimurium and Its Monophasic Variant Serotype I 4,[5],12:i:-, in Selected United States Swine Feed Mills

This study evaluated the seasonal prevalence and distribution of Salmonella spp., Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST) and its monophasic variant 4,[5],12:i:- (STM), in selected swine feed mills across the United States. Eleven facilities were selected for this study and 12 sites were sampled within each mill during fall 2016, early spring 2017, and summer 2017. Samples were evaluated following the USDA-FSIS guidelines for Salmonella isolation and culture positive samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A multiplex real-time PCR was used to differentiate ST and STM from other serotypes. Associations between season, mill, and sample site with Salmonella presence were investigated using generalized linear mixed models. Both season (p < 0.007) and mill (p < 0.005) were significantly associated with Salmonella spp. presence. Fall months were associated with a higher Salmonella prevalence (13.2%) compared with early spring and summer. A total of five isolates, among the 383 samples were serotyped as ST and STM. These two serotypes showed a similar seasonal presence throughout the study, being found during fall and summer seasons. These findings demonstrated the seasonal presence of Salmonella spp. in feed mills and the role of these environments as potential pathogen entry route into the human food chain.
Clean Cities 2011 Annual Metrics Report

This report details the petroleum savings and vehicle emissions reductions achieved by the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program in 2011. The report also details other performance metrics, including the number of stakeholders in Clean Cities coalitions, outreach activities by coalitions and national laboratories, and alternative fuel vehicles deployed.
Factors associated with recurrence and death in patients with aggressive hobnail morphology papillary thyroid carcinoma.

e17590Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with hobnail morphology (HM) is an aggressive variant associated with poorer outcomes compared to classical PTC, with a little over 100 cases rep...
Phase II Evaluation of Aggressive Dose De-Escalation for Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSEThe purpose of this study was to determine if dose de-escalation from 60 to 66 Gy to 30 to 36 Gy of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for selected patients with human papillomavirus–associated orop...
Kalman-like Self-Tuned Sensitivity in Biophysical Sensing.

Summary Living organisms need to be sensitive to a changing environment while also ignoring uninformative environmental fluctuations. Here, we argue that living cells can navigate these conflicting demands by dynamically tuning their environmental sensitivity. We analyze the circadian clock in Synechococcus elongatus, showing that clock-metabolism coupling can detect mismatch between clock predictions and the day-night light cycle, temporarily raise the clock’s sensitivity to light changes, and thus re-entraining faster. We find analogous behavior in recent experiments on switching between slow and fast osmotic-stress-response pathways in yeast. In both cases, cells can raise their sensitivity to new external information in epochs of frequent challenging stress, much like a Kalman filter with adaptive gain in signal processing. Our work suggests a new class of experiments that probe the history dependence of environmental sensitivity in biophysical sensing mechanisms.
DeepFit: deep learning based fitness center equipment use modeling and prediction

In today's busy modern life, modeling and accurately predicting fitness center equipment usage and availability is essential for improving human fitness and well-being as it provides people the flexibility to plan their schedule and exercise at their convenience. In addition to its crucial role in ensuring a healthy and sustainable future, adopting a data-driven approach for modeling and predicting fitness center equipment usage is necessary for planning the optimal square footage for developing a fitness center, and determining the kinds of equipment to purchase and install. In this paper, we develop DeepFit, a deep learning based system that predicts future fitness center equipment usage based on historical data. To this end, we design a Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) based sequence-to-sequence model that captures the dependencies in the data. The sequence-to-sequence model comprises of an encoder and a decoder, each of which separately is a deep Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). The basic cell structure in the RNN architecture is an LSTM cell. We evaluate DeepFit on equipment usage data collected from a university campus fitness center over a period of 1.5 years and demonstrate that it is able to accurately predict future fitness center equipment usage. We show that DeepFit outperforms the linear regression and ARIMA baselines in terms of Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) providing 17% performance improvement on average. We then present a discussion on hyper-parameter tuning and selection in our model. Finally, we investigate the benefits of augmenting the deep learning model in DeepFit with features such as whether the school is in session and month of the year and observe that the enhanced DeepFit system obtains performance improvements of 35% and 32% over linear regression and ARIMA, respectively. Our experiments show that the trained DeepFit model requires limited computational resources at test time, thus making it an attractive system for practical deployment.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients younger than 65 years, minimum 5-year follow-up.

Background Indications for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) are expanding, and more young patients are undergoing RTSA. Younger patients are expected to place increased functional demands on their shoulder, which may affect implant performance and longevity. Reports on longer-term outcomes in young patients remain limited. This study evaluates the minimum 5-year functional outcomes of RTSA in patients younger than 65 years. Methods A retrospective review was performed using a multinational prospective shoulder arthroplasty database of a single implant system, Exactech Equinoxe (Gainesville, FL, USA). All RTSAs performed between 2007 and 2014 in patients younger than 65 years with minimum 5-year follow-up were included. Shoulder function was assessed preoperatively and at last follow-up via range-of-motion measurements and multiple patient-reported outcome measures. Results Fifty-two shoulders were evaluated at an average follow-up of 6.3 years. Abduction, forward flexion, internal rotation, and Simple Shoulder Test, Constant, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, University of California–Los Angeles, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and visual analog scale scores all showed statistically significant improvements greater than the minimum clinically important difference at the time of last follow-up. Three patients (5.8%) required revision surgery after a mean of 7.5 years and 1 more suffered an acromial stress fracture, bringing the total complication rate to 7.7%. Five patients (9.6%) demonstrated scapular notching, one of whom required revision arthroplasty. Conclusion RTSA provides clinically significant improvement in nearly all functional measures at a mean follow-up of 6.3 years in patients younger than 65 years. The implants appear to have good midterm survivorship; only 5.8% of patients required revision.
The right mindset: stress mindset moderates the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms

Background and Objectives: Having a stress-is-enhancing mindset – the extent to which one believes the effects of stress are enhancing rather than debilitating – is associated with greater health a...
Complex Genetic Disorders: Evaluating When Genetic Research Findings Are Applicable for Genetic Counseling Practice

Traditional genetic counseling processes and principles will be extended to a new realm—complex disorders. Although it may seem like a daunting task, understanding the methodologies used to study complex genetic disorders will enable genetic counselors to critically analyze research studies involving complex disorders. In this article, we explain newly evolving methodologies for genetic research, including case-control studies and transmission disequilibrium testing (TDT). Additionally, a framework is provided for evaluating original research findings and replication studies.
Hematochezia and Melena

Rectal bleeding is an alarming symptom; it is definitely abnormal, and although the most common causes are benign, there is always the possibility of a more severe illness. Investigation of rectal bleeding has several aims: (1) to exclude a neoplasm, (2) to find the cause of the bleeding and (3) to stop the bleeding by the least invasive means possible. Patients are triaged on the basis of risk factors and are offered different approaches to the problem according to the results of the triage. Hematochezia means passage of blood in the stools. Chronic rectal bleeding can manifest as melena, hematochezia, as well as those situations where blood is passed separately from stool, such as in the case of purely anorectal causes of bleeding. In this chapter, we have provided algorithms, figures, tables and illustrations to guide the clinician in the evaluation and treatment of this complex problem.
Hippocampal and Prefrontal Cortical Brain Tissue Levels of Irisin and GDF15 Receptor Subunits in Children

Cold-stress hormones (CSHs) stimulate thermogenesis and have direct neuroprotective effects on the brain. The obligatory receptor components of two new CSHs (irisin and growth differentiation factor-15 [GDF15]) were recently discovered. Irisin binds integrin-αV/β5 heterodimers while GDF-15 binds to the orphan receptor glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor α-like (GFRAL). In addition, integrin-αV/β5 was just identified as the key receptor mediating Zika virus infection in the CNS. We measured integrin-αV, integrin-β5, and GFRAL protein levels across 78 high-quality human male/female brain tissues in infants, toddlers, preschoolers, adolescent, and adults—providing the most robust analysis to date on their levels in the human cortex and hippocampus. We report that integrin-αV was detected at all ages in the prefrontal cortex with levels greatest in adults. Integrin-αV was also detected in the hippocampus in all age groups. In contrast, integrin-β5 was detected in cortex and hippocampus largely restricted to infants. Co-expression of integrin-αV/β5 in the human infant hippocampus and cortex suggests the possibility that irisin has a more robust effect on the developing vs. the adult brain and may have implications for Zika virus infection in infants and young children.
Effects of spaceflight on cancellous and cortical bone in proximal femur in growing rats.

Abstract Mechanical loading of the skeleton during normal weight bearing plays an important role in bone accrual and turnover balance. We recently evaluated bone microarchitecture in the femoral head in 5.6-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats subjected to a 4-day spaceflight aboard STS-41. Compared to weight bearing ground controls, cancellous bone volume fraction was dramatically lower in animals subjected to microgravity. The effects of spaceflight on the rat skeleton are potentially influenced by factors such as age, duration of flight, strain and sex. To test the generalizability of our initial observation, we evaluated archived proximal femora from two additional spaceflight missions: a 10-day mission (STS-57) with 7.5-week-old male Fisher 344 rats, and a 14-day mission (STS-62) with 12-week-old ovariectomized (ovx) female Fisher 344 rats. Cancellous microarchitecture and cortical thickness were assessed using x-ray microtomography/microcomputed tomography. In male rats, cancellous bone volume fraction (bone volume/tissue volume) was lower in flight animals compared to flight controls, but differences were not significant compared to baseline. In ovx female rats, cancellous bone volume fraction was lower in flight animals compared to flight controls and baseline, indicating net bone loss. Cortical thickness did not differ among groups in either experiment. In summary, findings from three separate studies support the conclusion that spaceflight results in cancellous osteopenia in femoral head of growing rats.
Pure Crystalline Covalent Organic Framework Aerogels

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline organic materials of interest for a wide range of applications due to their porosity, tunable architecture, and precise chemistry. However, COFs are typically produced in powder form and are difficult to process. Herein, we report a simple and versatile approach to fabricate macroscopic, crystalline COF gels and foams. Our method involved the use of dimethyl sulfoxide as a solvent and acetic acid as a catalyst to first produce a COF gel. The COF gel was then washed, dried, and reactivated to produce a macroscopic, crystalline, porous COF foam. We demonstrated this synthesis for six different imine COFs and found that the crystallinities and porosities of the COF foams matched those of COF powders. Electron microscopy revealed a robust hierarchical pore structure, and we showed that the COF foams can be used as absorbents in oil-water separations, for the removal of organic and inorganic micropollutants, and for the capture and retention of iodine. This study provides a versatile and simple approach for the fabrication of COF foams and will provide novel routes for incorporating COFs in applications that require macroscopic, porous materials.
Mwingilianomatini katika Tamthilia ya Utangamano Wetu Ushindi Wetu (2017) ya Anitha E. Mgimba

Mwingilianomatini ni mbinu, stadi ama taaluma na mwongozo wa uchunguzi wa matini kisayansi, hususani kazi za kisanaa na zisizo za kisanaa ili kubaini kuwepo kwa athari ya uchopekaji ama usemezano; yaani kufanana kifani, kimaudhui na kimbinu kati ya matini moja na nyingine. Ufanano huo huweza kuwa wa moja kwa moja au kuwapo kwa ukaribiano. Mwingiliano huo hutambulika pia kama mwangwi. Inaaminika kwamba, mwingilianomatini ni miongoni mwa mbinu kongwe za kiutunzi, ilhali kiuhakiki inaonekana bado ngeni, haijashughulikiwa sana katika uga wa fasihi na sanaa ya Kiswahili. Kwa mantiki hiyo, makala haya yatasaidia kuongeza maandiko ya Kiswahili yaliyoshughulikia eneo la uhakiki kupitia nadharia ya mwingilianomatini ili kubaini mwingilianomatini uliopo katika matini, kwa mfano tamthilia ya Utangamano Wetu Ushindi Wetu. Matokeo ya uchambuzi yamebaini kuwapo kwa mwingilianomatini mwingi unaofungamana na historia ya makuzi na malezi ya mwandishi kidini (kiroho), kimwili (kiutamaduni na kimaadili), kijamii na kitaaluma – kwa namna moja ama nyingine. Sehemu ya matokeo hayo ndiyo inayobeba makala haya. Hivyo basi, makala yanawasilisha mwingilianomatini kati ya tamthilia teule ya Utangamano Wetu Ushindi Wetu na maandiko kutoka vitabu vitakatifu, majazi katika uteuzi na uumbaji wa wahusika, mwangwi wa kifalsafa, anwani za sura au ploti, na mithiolojia ya kiishara.
Alcohol and other substance use by faculty, staff, and students in a university community during two hurricanes: Lessons for preventing risky misuse

Communities commonly warn against heavy alcohol and other substance use during natural disasters like hurricanes, because such use may produce risk for individuals and communities, with studies showing deleterious effects persisting months or even years. Examining patterns and emotional correlates of use in the immediate presence of hurricanes may identify useful risk prevention targets. We assessed self-reported substance use and emotions in a university community (faculty, staff, and students) having the unlucky fate of experiencing hurricanes in early September 2 years in a row. Participants (403 in 2018, 76.0% female; M age 28.82; SD = 12.36 and 292 in 2019, 72.6% female; M age 30.63; SD = 13.96) reported typical weekly substance use and emotions and then the same data during each hurricane day. Results showed elevated use of alcohol, caffeine and tobacco before and during each hurricane, but a rapid drop-off of alcohol and caffeine (but not tobacco) use immediately after-although anxiety remained high. Findings are interpreted using both tension-reduction and stress-coping models and suggestions are made for future risk mitigation.
Characterization and Associations of Haplotypes Containing PLAG1 in Cattle

Genomic regions tend to be inherited in blocks known as haplotypes. The general region spanning PLAG1 shows association with various traits in beef cattle. There are few haplotypes spanning PLAG1, and these are common across breeds but do not capture the true effect. Higher density 770K genotyping demonstrates greater diversity of haplotypes in this region. The tag SNP in Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle segregates in Hereford cattle who show no effect in this region. Collectively, these results show the 50K SNP chip has inadequate coverage in this region of the genome.
Collodion baby, sign of Tay syndrome.

Contemporary pre- and neonatal care has prolonged the survival of newborns with severe genodermatoses, including the harlequin and collodion baby phenotypes.1 This has provided an excellent opportunity for longitudinal observations that have illustrated the nonspecificity of these clinical concepts and the limited number of ways integumentum commune has in responding to varied noxae. In addition, such observations reflect the long-term dynamics of skin changes. The dynamics could lead to a string of sometimes even contradictory morphologic diagnoses. I describe a collodion baby by phenotype, a girl who in time had several different diagnoses.2 Eventually, an 8-year period of reevaluations with several cutaneous biopsies and hair analysis resulted in a diagnosis considered accurate and etiologically sound.
Evaluation of the updated confocal laser endomicroscopy criteria for Barrett's esophagus among gastrointestinal pathologists.

Summary Previously developed novel probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) criteria have been found to have high accuracy and substantial interobserver agreement (IOA) for diagnosing dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus (BE) when used by endoscopists. These updated criteria are: (i) epithelial surface: saw toothed, (ii) cells: enlarged, (iii) cells: pleomorphic, (iv) glands: not equidistant, (v) glands: unequal in size and shape, and (vi) goblet cells: not easily identified. The accuracy and IOA among pathologists in the diagnosis of dysplasia using the novel pCLE criteria is not known. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the accuracy, overall IOA and learning curve among three gastrointestinal (GI) pathologists in diagnosing dysplasia in BE using the updated pCLE criteria. The secondary aim was to compare the accuracy and IOA between GI pathologists and gastroenterology endoscopists. Ninety pCLE videos and respective histology were retrieved from a previously conducted multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial evaluating the utility of pCLE in BE patients. Videos were obtained from 101 BE patients previously enrolled for surveillance or endoscopic treatment of high-grade dysplasia or early esophageal adenocarcinoma. Three GI pathologists reviewed 90 pCLE video clips for dysplasia versus no dysplasia, confidence in their diagnosis, and image quality. The overall accuracy for the diagnosis of dysplasia (low-grade dysplasia/high-grade dysplasia/esophageal adenocarcinoma) was 77.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72.4–82.3). The accuracy was higher when pathologists had ‘high confidence’ in their assessment of the videos (93.8% vs. 69.3%, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in accuracy between the first set of 30 and second set of 60 videos (84% vs. 74%, P = 0.065). IOA among GI pathologists was substantial, k = 0.65 (95% CI: 0.53–0.73). The sensitivity for detecting dysplasia was 85% (95% CI: 78.1–90.7) and the specificity was 70% (95% CI: 61.91–77.92). These results were comparable with the evaluation of the same set of videos by endoscopists. GI pathologists have high accuracy and substantial IOA for diagnosing BE dysplasia with pCLE. Pathologists appear to have similar accuracy and IOA as endoscopists. These results provide further support of endoscopists accurately interpreting the in vivo optical histology provided by pCLE.
Role of Curing Agents in the Preservation of Shelf-stable Canned Meat Products

Experiments were conducted to gain a better understanding of the mechanism by which sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, and sodium nitrite supplement the action of heat in preserving canned cured meat products. Heated spores of putrefactive anaerobe 3679h were less tolerant of all three curing agents in the outgrowth medium than were unheated spores. When the curing agents were added to the heating menstruum, but not to the outgrowth medium, sodium chloride and sodium nitrate tended to protect the spores against heat injury, but sodium nitrite did not. When the spores were both heated and cultured in the presence of the curing agents: (i) nitrate and salt increased the apparent heat resistance at low concentrations (0.5 to 1%) but decreased it at concentrations of 2 to 4%; (ii) nitrite was markedly inhibitory, especially at pH 6.0. At the normal pH of canned luncheon meats (approximately 6.0), nitrite appears to be the chief preservative agent against spoilage by putrefactive anaerobes.
Increased Susceptibility of Mice Lacking T-bet to Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Correlates with Increased IL-10 and Decreased IFN-γ Production

A sustained CD4 + Th1-dominated type 1 immune response is required to successfully control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Considerable work has demonstrated that the transcription factor, T-bet, is required for IFN-γ expression and fundamental to the generation of type 1 immunity in multiple cell types. Mice lacking T-bet are susceptible to virulent M. tuberculosis infection. Susceptibility of T-bet-deficient mice is associated with increased systemic bacterial burden, diminished IFN-γ production, and the striking accumulation of eosinophilic macrophages and multinucleated giant cells in the lung. Interestingly, T-bet −/− mice did not develop a fully polarized Th2 response toward M. tuberculosis , but exhibited selective elevation of IL-10 production. These results indicate that T-bet plays a central role in controlling M. tuberculosis disease progression, in part through the regulation of both IFN-γ and IL-10.
Neutral protease release from human leukocytes regulated by neurohormones and cyclic nucleotides.

LYSOSOMAL enzymes, important mediators of cartilage destruction1–4, can be released from leukocytes during phagocytosis of particulate material5–8. Enzyme release is inhibited by cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and prostaglandin E1, which raises cyclic AMP levels in certain tissues9. Catecholamines also raise tissue levels of cyclic AMP, but an effect on phagocytic enzyme release by catecholamines has not been reported.
On the advantages of crossed mandibles: an experimental approach

The importance of the crossed mandibles to crossbills for foraging on conifer cones was studied by removing most of the crossed portion of the mandibles of two Red Crossbills L. curvirostra. The foraging rate of these two bill-altered crossbills on the cones of three species of conifers was compared to their rates prior to bill alteration and to two controls. The mandible crossing proved essential for extracting seeds from closed cones. However, as cones open the bill crossing becomes less critical. The mandible crossing appears to be one of several adaptations of crossbills that have extended the period during which conifer seeds can be exploited effectively.
Replicative Stress and the FHIT Gene: Roles in Tumor Suppression, Genome Stability and Prevention of Carcinogenesis

The fragile FHIT gene, encompassing the chromosomal fragile site FRA3B, is an early target of DNA damage in precancerous cells. While vulnerable to DNA damage itself, FHIT protein expression is essential to protect from DNA damage-induced cancer initiation and progression by modulating genome stability, oxidative stress and levels of accumulating DNA damage. Thus, FHIT, whose expression is lost or reduced in many human cancers, is a tumor suppressor and genome caretaker whose loss initiates genome instability in preneoplastic lesions. Ongoing studies are seeking more detailed understanding of the role of FHIT in the cellular response to oxidative damage. This review discusses the relationship between FHIT, reactive oxygen species production, and DNA damage in the context of cancer initiation and progression.
The Law of Pornography: John Rechy and Samuel Steward

In “The Law of Pornography: John Rechy and Samuel Steward” I compare the works of two late twentieth-century writers to show how they turned to genre to understand sexuality's relation to the law in other than purely repressive terms. I suggest that they complicate Michel Foucault's contemporaneous critique of the law in The History of Sexuality, volume 1, while indicating the law's continued relevance for attempts to theorize sexuality and power in terms of a productive relation. Each writer's experience in the sexual underground provided him with an awareness of the historical antagonism between the law and urban queer subcultures. Each writer also saw this antagonism as linked to the cop's privileged place in the conventionalized representations of gay pornography. Rechy maintained that men's cop fetish revealed the ways the law set punishment as the enabling condition for enactments of homosexual desire. In partial agreement with Rechy, Steward nevertheless insisted on differentiating between real-world police and the cops of fantasy. Through his pornography, Steward suggests that in the context of fantasy the figure of the cop enforces not juridical law but genre, which prevents desire's arrest and ensures a proliferation of bodily pleasures.
Counting Contingency Tables via Multistage Markov Chain Monte Carlo

This article describes a multistage Markov chain Monte Carlo (MSMCMC) procedure for estimating the count, , where denotes the set of all a × b contingency tables with specified row and column sums and m total entries. On each stage s = 1, …, r, Hastings–Metropolis (HM) sampling generates states with equilibrium distribution , with inverse-temperature schedule β1 = 0 < β2 < ⋅⋅⋅ < β r < β r + 1 = ∞; nonnegative penalty function H, with global minima H(x) = 0 only for ; and superset , which facilitates sampling by relaxing column sums while maintaining row sums. Two kernels are employed for nominating states. For small β s , one admits moderate-to-large penalty changes. For large β s , the other allows only small changes. Neither kernel admits local minima, thus avoiding an impediment to convergence. Preliminary sampling determines when to switch from one kernel to the other to minimize relative error. Cycling through stages in the order r to 1, rather than 1 to r, speeds convergence for large β s . A compar...
Chemical constituents of fugitive dust.

Wind erosion selectively winnows the fine, most chemically concentrated portions of surface soils and results in the inter-regional transport of fugitive dust containing plant nutrients, trace elements and other soil-borne contaminants. We sampled and analyzed surface soils, sediments in transport over eroding fields, and attic dust from a small area of the Southern High Plains of Texas to characterize the physical nature and chemical constituents of these materials and to investigate techniques that would allow relatively rapid, low cost techniques for estimating the chemical constituents of fugitive dust from an eroding field. From chemical analyses of actively eroding sediments, it would appear that Ca is the only chemical species that is enriched more than others during the process of fugitive dust production. We found surface soil sieved to produce a sub-sample with particle diameters in the range of 53–74 μm to be a reasonably good surrogate for fugitive dust very near the source field, that sieved sub-samples with particle diameters <10 μm have a crustal enrichment factor of approximately 6, and that this factor, multiplied by the chemical contents of source soils, may be a reasonable estimator of fugitive PM10 chemistry from the soils of interest. We also found that dust from tractor air cleaners provided a good surrogate for dust entrained by tillage and harvesting operations if the chemical species resulting from engine wear and exhaust were removed from the data set or scaled back to the average of enrichment factors noted for chemical species with no known anthropogenic sources. Chemical analyses of dust samples collected from attics approximately 4 km from the nearest source fields indicated that anthropogenic sources of several environmentally important nutrient and trace element species are much larger contributors, by up to nearly two orders of magnitude, to atmospheric loading and subsequent deposition than fugitive dust from eroding soils.