cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inconspicuous echolocation in hoary bats ( Lasiurus cinereus ).

Echolocation allows bats to occupy diverse nocturnal niches. Bats almost always use echolocation, even when other sensory stimuli are available to guide navigation. Here, using arrays of calibrated...
Measuring Climate Adaptation: Methods and Evidence

AbstractThis article examines methods for measuring climate adaptation and discusses the empirical evidence. The primary methods for measuring climate adaptation are cross-sectional analysis, simul...
Structures, mechanism, regulation and evolution of class III nucleotidyl cyclases

Cyclic 3',5'-guanylyl and adenylyl nucleotides function as second messengers in eukaryotic signal transduction pathways and as sensory transducers in prokaryotes. The nucleotidyl cyclases (NCs) that catalyze the synthesis of these molecules comprise several evolutionarily distinct groups, of which class III is the largest. The domain structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic class III NCs are diverse, including a variety of regulatory and transmembrane modules. Yet all members of this family contain one or two catalytic domains, characterized by an evolutionarily ancient topological motif (betaalphaalphabetabetaalphabeta) that is preserved in several other enzymes that catalyze the nucleophilic attack of a 3'-hydroxyl upon a 5' nucleotide phosphate. Two dyad-related catalytic domains compose one catalytic unit, with the catalytic sites formed at the domain interface. The catalytic domains of mononucleotidyl cyclases (MNCs) and diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) are called cyclase homology domains (CHDs) and GGDEF domains, respectively. Prokaryotic NCs usually contain only one catalytic domain and are catalytically active as intermolecular homodimers. The different modes of dimerization in class III NCs probably evolved concurrently with their mode of binding substrate. The catalytic mechanism of GGDEF domain homodimers is not completely understood, but they are expected to have a single active site with each subunit contributing equivalent determinants to bind one GTP molecule or half a c-diGMP molecule. CHD dimers have two potential dyad-related active sites, with both CHDs contributing determinants to each site. Homodimeric class III MNCs have two equivalent catalytic sites, although such enzymes may show half-of-sites reactivity. Eukaryotic class III MNCs often contain two divergent CHDs, with only one catalytically competent site. All CHDs appear to use a common catalytic mechanism, which requires the participation of two magnesium or manganese ions for binding polyphosphate groups and nucleophile activation. In contrast, mechanisms for purine recognition and specificity are more diverse. Class III NCs are subject to regulation by small molecule effectors, endogenous domains, or exogenous protein partners. Many of these regulators act by altering the interface of the catalytic domains and therefore the integrity of the catalytic site(s). This review focuses on both conserved and divergent mechanisms of class III NC function and regulation.
Does the Taxing Clause Give Congress Unlimited Power

The idea has gained currency that the Taxing Clause in the Constitution gives Congress the power to do anything, or almost anything, that would be funded by taxation. Most recently, that argument has been advanced in connection with the litigation about the individual mandate in the Obamacare legislation — by, among others, legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin. If the penalty for failure to acquire suitable insurance will be a tax, then, it is argued, the requirement to acquire insurance, the mandate, will itself be a valid exercise of the taxing power. If that’s right, it certainly isn’t obviously so. Since almost everything the national government does is funded through taxation, that understanding would lead to a conception of congressional power that is effectively unlimited, and the Taxing Clause would trump almost all other grants of congressional power in Article I, section 8.
Rules of the rooftop: Platform design and price reductions in an online solar photovoltaic marketplace in the United States

Abstract Residential solar photovoltaic (PV) customers typically obtain price quotes directly from installers, a process with high consumer search costs that enable price dispersion and can discourage adoption. Recently, however, customers are increasingly shopping for PV using third-party online platforms that make it easier to obtain and compare quotes from multiple installers. While early evidence indicates that these platforms make the PV market more transparent and lower prices, the literature suggests that market outcomes are critically linked to detailed aspects of platform design. In this study, we econometrically analyze a unique dataset of quotes offered in the online PV marketplace EnergySage to investigate how four changes to the platform design have influenced quote prices and transaction prices. We find that the largest reductions in quote prices ($0.11/ W) and transaction prices ($0.15/W) were associated with the introduction of a price guidance information feature for installers. While educating and informing customers has repeatedly emerged as a policy priority for bolstering PV markets, these results suggest that the same should be true on the supply side. We also find that customers are willing to pay higher transaction prices for systems with higher-quality panels, dispelling concerns that online PV marketplaces lead to a “race to the bottom” phenomenon by emphasizing price at the expense of quality.
The Changing World Religion Map: Sacred Places, Identities, Practices and Politics

Stanley D. Brunn, ed. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer, 2015. Vols. I–V. xiv and 3,926 pp., maps, photos, diagrams, illustrations, notes, bibliography, index. $1,200.00 cloth (ISBN 978-94-017-9...
Encroachment, Adverse Possession, and Labor Theory

John Locke's theory of property is assumed to refer to one of two alternatives — a labor-desert theory and a libertarian alternative. Locke's theory of property is also assumed to be rigid and extreme because it requires that property rights be protected no matter what the social consequences. Virtually all property scholars disregard a far suppler and more practical understanding of Lockean labor theory, consistent with medieval and early Enlightenment natural law reasoning, called here "productive labor theory." This Article restates the case for productive labor theory, distinguishes it from its libertarian and labor-desert alternatives, and shows how it integrates consequentialist practical reasoning into the effort to secure natural property rights. The Article illustrates using the prima facie case for trespass to land, the defense for adverse possession, and the principles that specify whether continuing encroachments are rectified by permanent damages or injunctive relief.
Real-Time Prediction for IC Aging Based on Machine Learning

Estimating the aging-related degradation and failure of nanoscale integrated circuits (ICs), before they actually occur, is crucial for developing aging prevention/mitigation actions and in turn avoiding unexpected in-field circuit failures. Real-time monitoring of IC operating conditions can be efficiently used for predicting aging degradation and in turn timing failures caused by device aging. The existing approaches only take some specific operating conditions (e.g., workload or temperature) into account. In this paper, we propose a novel method for real-time IC aging prediction by extending the prediction schemes to a comprehensive model which takes into account any time-variant dynamic operating conditions relevant to aging prediction. Using a machine learning prediction model and the notion of equivalent aging time, we show that our approach outperforms the existing methods in terms of aging-prediction accuracy under different scenarios of time-variant operating conditions.
A process-based model of pre-eruption seismicity patterns and its use for eruption forecasting at dormant stratovolcanoes

Abstract Using long-term data sets, the eruptive size, timing and style can typically be successfully forecast for dormant volcanoes using current monitoring data and knowledge of precursory eruptive patterns. The USAID-USGS Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) utilizes seismic data over multiple eruption cycles and across volcano types to successfully forecast eruption size, style and onset times, as well as changes within ongoing eruptions. From millions of seismic event observations, we show that seismic data, a proxy for rate-dependent strain changes in the magmatic system, combined with a process-based conceptual geologic model enables eruption forecasting, especially for stratovolcanoes dormant >20 years. We show that this model often works for some open systems, ones that sufficiently reseal to plug the conduit, and also where a deep intrusion occurs after phreatic or phreatomagmatic explosions have begun. This model is divided into four seismicity and geologic stages. We describe each of the four stages of seismicity in detail and how they relate to the ongoing geologic process of that stage: Stage 1. Deep intrusion and seismicity occurring at 10 to 40 + km depth below the volcanic edifice; Stage 2. Distal VT seismicity induced at distances from 2 to >30 km laterally from the summit by magma intruding into and inflating the upper-crustal magma storage region; Stage 3. Vent-clearing seismicity associated with the initial vent creation and clearing phase of eruptive activity. Stage 4. Repetitive event seismicity associated with the final ascent of magma from 2 km to the surface. We present 36 examples of this seismic progression from 26 volcanoes. We believe that this progression generally correlates with the magma flux and the eventual explosivity and is invaluable for forecasting eruptions.
Effect of Geranylgeraniol and Green Tea Polyphenols on High-fat-diet-induced Bone Deterioration in Male B6 Mice (P06-025-19)

To investigate the combined effects of geranylgeraniol (GG, a 20-carbon isoprenoid found in fruits, vegetables, and grains) and green tea polyphenols (GTP, extracted from green tea) on high-fat-diet (HFD) induced bone deterioration in obese male mice. Our previous studies demonstrated that GG or GTP, when supplemented separately, was beneficial to the bone health of obese animals. Therefore, we hypothesized that GG combined with GTP would improve bone structure of obese mice fed a HFD. Forty-eight male C57BL/6 J mice were assigned to 4 groups (n = 12/group) in a 2 (no GG vs. GG) × 2 (no GTP vs. GTP) factorial design: HFD, HFD + GG (400 mg GG/kg diet), HFD + GTP [0.5% (w/v) in drinking water], and HFD + GG + GTP. Animals were fed the respective diet ad libitum for 14 weeks. GTP supplementation, not GG, resulted in lower final body weight and greater fasting serum insulin concentrations. Supplementation of GG or GTP (separate, but not together) lowered blood glucose concentrations at 120 min. A decreased area under the curve of glucose tolerance tests and insulin tolerance test in the HFD + GG + GTP group was observed suggesting improved glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity, but no interaction was found between GG and GTP. Neither GG nor GTP affected serum concentrations of insulin or procollagen type I intact N-terminal (a bone formation marker). There was an interaction effect for serum concentrations of collagen type 1 cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX, a bone resorption marker), resulting in HFD + GG + GTP being the lowest. Neither GG nor GTP supplementation affected the total area, bone area, and cortical thickness at the femur midshaft or the bone volume/total volume at the lumbar vertebrae. GG supplementation increased trabecular number and decreased trabecular separation at the lumbar vertebrae. GTP supplementation increased trabecular thickness at lumbar vertebrae. HFD + GG produced the greatest connectivity density and the lowest structure model index. This study suggests a beneficial role of supplementing GG with GTP in bone health of obese animals. The study was supported by American River Nutrition to CLS and USDA ARS Project no. 3062-51,000-053-00D.
Marine Sterols. XI. Polyhydroxysterols of the Soft Coral Sarcophyton glaucum : Isolation and Synthesis of 5α-Cholestane-1β, 3β, 5, 6β-tetrol

(24S)-24-Methylcholest-5-ene-3β, 25-diol (ergost-5-ene-3β, 25-diol, 3), (24S)-24-methyl-5α-cholestane-1β, 3β, 5, 6β-tetrol (5α-ergostane-1β, 3β, 5, 6β-tetrol, 2a), and a new sterol, 5α-cholestane-1β, 3β, 5, 6β-tetrol (1), were isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton gluacum. The structure of 1 was confirmed by the spectroscopic data and by synthesis starting from ruscogenin. The configurations at C-24 of the known C28-polyhydroxysterols (2-5) were shown to be (S) by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) analysis or by correlation to 22, 23-dihydrobrassicasterol (16a).
A novel patient-derived orthotopic xenograft model of esophageal adenocarcinoma provides a platform for translational discoveries

Mouse models of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer strive to recapitulate the intratumoral heterogeneity and cellular crosstalk within patient tumors to improve clinical translation. GEJ cancers remain a therapeutic challenge due to the lack of a reliable mouse model for preclinical drug testing. In this study, a novel patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) was established from GEJ cancer via transabdominal surgical implantation. Patient tumor was compared to subcutaneously implanted patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) and PDOX by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining, immunohistochemistry and next-generation sequencing. Treatment efficacy studies of radiotherapy were performed. We observed that mechanical abrasion of mouse GEJ prior to surgical implantation of a patient-derived tumor in situ promotes tumor engraftment (100%, n=6). Complete PDOX engraftment was observed with rapid intra- and extraluminal tumor growth, as evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging. PDOXs contain fibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages, immune and inflammatory cells, vascular and lymphatic vessels. Stromal hallmarks of aggressive GEJ cancers are recapitulated in a GEJ PDOX mouse model. PDOXs demonstrate tumor invasion into vasculature and perineural space. Next-generation sequencing revealed loss of heterozygosity with very high allelic frequency in NOTCH3, TGFB1, EZH2 and KMT2C in the patient tumor, the subcutaneous PDX and the PDOX. Immunohistochemical analysis of Her2/neu (also known as ERBB2), p53 (also known as TP53) and p16 (also known as CDKN2A) in PDX and PDOX revealed maintenance of expression of proteins found in patient tumors, but membranous EGFR overexpression in patient tumor cells was absent in both xenografts. Targeted radiotherapy in this model suggested a decrease in size by 61% according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), indicating a partial response to radiation therapy. Our GEJ PDOX model exhibits remarkable fidelity to human disease and captures the precise tissue microenvironment present within the local GEJ architecture, providing a novel tool for translating findings from studies on human GEJ cancer. This model can be applied to study metastatic progression and to develop novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of GEJ cancer.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Ethical and legal considerations of artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making in personalized pricing

The extent to which pricing executives consider consumer perceptions of deception, fairness, and social justice is positioned within an emerging area of research that triangulates the dynamic between legal constraints, ethical considerations, and algorithmic models to make pricing decisions. This paper builds a conceptual model from an analysis of literature describing how companies couple organizational and technology factors into the price-setting process. The legal frameworks of antitrust, data privacy, and antidiscrimination are tethered to the ethical frameworks of deception, fairness, and social justice to form a foundation of relevant organizational factors. A qualitative study is proposed to test the validity of the conceptual model. The primary contribution of this paper is to catalyze practitioner discussion and spur empirical research into the implications of personalized pricing using algorithmic models.
Logical Partial Functions and Extensions of Equational Logic

Abstract Equational logic for total functions is extended to allow treatment of partial functions and some encoding of sentential connectives. The extension is equational. It uses Kleene equality, a binary total projection function, and two restrictions of it to complementary domains. We prove completeness, bring out an implicit equational definability of logical functions of a certain kind, and discuss, but do not characterize, model theoretic strength.
Adolescent development and growing divides in the digital age .

Adolescents are constantly connected to their devices, and concerns have been raised that this connectivity is damaging their development more generally, and their mental health in particular. Recent narrative reviews and meta-analyses do not support a strong linkage between the quantity of adolescents' digital technology engagement and mental health problems. Instead, it appears that offline vulnerabilities tend to mirror and shape online risks in ways that may further amplify mental health inequalities among youth. New approaches for supporting youth mental health, especially for vulnerable youth and those typically excluded from traditional services, are now both possible and required. .
Stochastic monotonicity of a distribution family associated with matrix projections and its application

This article defines a distribution family based on the distribution of a random variable associated with the projections of a normally distributed random matrix with unknown mean onto a linear spa...
Comparison of CFD-DEM and TFM approaches for the simulation of the small scale challenge problem 1

Abstract The open source code MFIX is used to perform CFD-DEM and TFM simulations based on the small scale challenge problem 1 fluidized bed set up. The basic flow features such as the core-annulus structure and slugging dynamics are well predicted by both modeling approaches. Similarly the first four statistical moments of the particle velocity distributions from HsPIV measurements are equally reproduced qualitatively by the models. The predicted mean pressure drop is independent of the drag correlation used in both modeling frameworks but the CFD-DEM model gives predictions closer to the experimental values. Predicted fluctuating quantities such as rms and granular temperature show sensitivity to the drag model used. The TFM demonstrates greater accuracy over the CFD-DEM in prediction of the particle granular temperature while the opposite is true for the bubble granular temperature. CFD-DEM simulations on average take twice the time required to perform a TFM simulation.
Transverse and Longitudinal Spin-Torque Ferromagnetic Resonance for Improved Measurement of Spin-Orbit Torque

Spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance (ST-FMR) is a common method used to measure spin-orbit torque (SOT) in heavy-metal/ferromagnet bilayer structures. In the course of a measurement, other resonant processes such as spin pumping (SP) and heating can cause spin-current or heat flows between the layers, inducing additional resonant voltage signals via the inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE) and Nernst effects. In the standard ST-FMR geometry, these extra artifacts exhibit a dependence on the angle of an in-plane magnetic field that is identical to the rectification signal from the SOT. We show experimentally that the rectification and artifact voltages can be quantified separately by measuring the ST-FMR signal transverse to the applied current (i.e., in a Hall geometry) in addition to the usual longitudinal geometry. We find that in $\mathrm{Pt}$(6 nm)/${\mathrm{Co}}_{40}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{40}{\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ samples the contribution from the artifacts is small compared with the SOT rectification signal for ${\mathrm{Co}}_{40}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{40}{\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ layers thinner than 6 nm, but can be significant for thicker magnetic layers. We observe a sign change in the artifact voltage as a function of the ${\mathrm{Co}}_{40}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{40}{\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ thickness that we suggest may be due to competition between a resonant heating effect and the SP-ISHE contribution.
Measurements of dynamic surface changes by digital holography for in situ plasma erosion applications.

There are currently few viable diagnostic techniques for in situ measurement of plasma facing component erosion. Digital holography is intended to fill this gap. Progress on the development of single and dual CO2 laser digital holography diagnostics for in situ plasma facing component erosion is discussed. The dual laser mode’s synthetic wavelength allows the measurable range to be expanded by a factor of ∼400 compared to single laser digital holography. This allows the diagnostic to measure surface height changes of up to 4.5 μm in single laser mode and up to 2 mm in dual laser mode. Results include ex situ measurements of plasma eroded targets and also dynamic measurements of nm and μm scale motion of a target mounted on a precision translation stage. Dynamic measurements have successfully been made with the system operating in both single and dual laser modes, from ∼50 nm to ∼4 μm in single laser mode and up to ∼400 μm in dual laser mode (limited only by the stage speed and camera acquisition duration). These results demonstrate the feasibility of using digital holography to characterize plasma facing component erosion dynamically, i.e., during plasma exposure. Results of proof-of-principle in situ digital holographic measurements of targets exposed to an electrothermal arc plasma source are presented.
Surveillance Only for High-risk FIGO Stage IA/IB Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors: Results From a National Cancer Database.

OBJECTIVES Investigate the use and outcomes of a surveillance only strategy for patients with high-risk stage I malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. METHODS Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA/IB grade 2 or 3 immature teratoma, yolk sac, or mixed germ cell tumor diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 who had at least 1 month of follow-up were drawn from the National Cancer Database. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated for each histologic subtype using Kaplan-Meier curves, and compared with the log-rank test. RESULTS A total of 497 patients were identified; 115 (23.1%) with grade 2 immature teratoma, 157 (31.6%) with grade 3 immature teratoma, 101 (20.3%) with yolk sac tumor, 124 (25%) with mixed germ cell tumor. Rate of adjuvant chemotherapy was 68.2% (655 patients), while rate of lymph node biopsy/dissection was 55.2%. A total of 19 (3.8%) deaths were observed at a median of 29.8 months. There was no difference in OS between patients who did and did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy with grade 2 (P=0.35) and grade 3 immature teratoma (P=0.47) or mixed germ cell tumors (P=0.55). Patients with yolk sac tumors those who received chemotherapy had better OS compared with those who did not, P=0.019; 5-year OS rates were 92.7% and 79.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS A surveillance only strategy for patients with stage I malignant ovarian germ cell tumors is associated with excellent survival outcomes for patients with grade 2 or 3 immature teratoma or mixed germ cell tumors.
When Is an Investment Loss Deductible? Adkins v. United States Provides Taxpayer-Friendly Guidance

In May 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided an important case, Adkins v. United States, dealing with the timing of a deduction for investment losses (in this case attributable to a pump-and-dump scheme, and it did so in a taxpayer-friendly way. In general, a taxpayer may not deduct a loss if a “reasonable prospect of recovery” exists. The Federal Circuit rejected conclusions of the Court of Federal Claims that a loss is not currently deductible if it is “unknowable” whether such a reasonable prospect exists and that, to be eligible for a deduction, a taxpayer must first pursue all possible means of recovery, regardless of the costs involved in doing so and regardless of the likelihood of success. A prospect of recovery isn’t necessarily a reasonable prospect of recovery.
NEK5 activity regulates the mesenchymal and migratory phenotype in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer remains a prominent global disease affecting women worldwide despite the emergence of novel therapeutic regimens. Metastasis is responsible for most cancer-related deaths, and acquisition of a mesenchymal and migratory cancer cell phenotypes contributes to this devastating disease. The utilization of kinase targets in drug discovery have revolutionized the field of cancer research but despite impressive advancements in kinase-targeting drugs, a large portion of the human kinome remains understudied in cancer. NEK5, a member of the Never-in-mitosis kinase family, is an example of such an understudied kinase. Here, we characterized the function of NEK5 in breast cancer. Stably overexpressing NEK5 cell lines (MCF7) and shRNA knockdown cell lines (MDA-MB-231, TU-BcX-4IC) were utilized. Cell morphology changes were evaluated using immunofluorescence and quantification of cytoskeletal components. Cell proliferation was assessed by Ki-67 staining and transwell migration assays tested cell migration capabilities. In vivo experiments with murine models were necessary to demonstrate NEK5 function in breast cancer tumor growth and metastasis. NEK5 activation altered breast cancer cell morphology and promoted cell migration independent of effects on cell proliferation. NEK5 overexpression or knockdown does not alter tumor growth kinetics but promotes or suppresses metastatic potential in a cell type-specific manner, respectively. While NEK5 activity modulated cytoskeletal changes and cell motility, NEK5 activity affected cell seeding capabilities but not metastatic colonization or proliferation in vivo. Here we characterized NEK5 function in breast cancer systems and we implicate NEK5 in regulating specific steps of metastatic progression.
Abstract 1418: Proanthocyanidins enhance chemotherapy-induced esophageal adenocarcinoma cell death

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a devastating cancer characterized by rising incidence and poor prognosis. The five-year survival rate is 20% due to late stage diagnosis and ineffective treatment. It is estimated that only 15% of EAC patients have a complete histopathological response to standard chemotherapy. Thus, new strategies are urgently needed to improve therapeutic efficacy and patient survival. Our recent analysis of prechemotherapy endoscopic biopsies of EAC patients revealed differential response to neoadjuvant therapy. Differential response was reflected by two-year mortality of 9.1% in therapy responsive patients (Complete responders, no residual tumor), 22.2% in strong responders (improved TNM), 25.0% in intermediate responders (stable TNM), 42.9% in poor responders (worse TNM) and 77.8% in non-responders (worse TNM and metastasis). Transcriptomic analysis revealed differential response to therapy is linked to immune defense, inflammation (IL-4, IFNs), cell adhesion, signal transduction and angiogenesis regulation. Similar pathways were mitigated by cranberry proanthocyanidins (C-PAC) in a rat surgical model for EAC. Herein, we investigated C-PAC pretreatment alone or in combination with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin (chemo drug) on EAC cell viability (Calcein-AM), gene expression (RNA-seq) and select protein levels (Western blot). C-PAC pre-treatment and co-treatment enhance chemotherapy-induced EAC cell death, with the greatest synergistic effects in chemo-resistant OE33 cells. C-PAC pretreatment followed by chemo drugs decreased cell viability by an additional 50% and 17% compared to chemo drugs alone in OE33 cells and OE19 cells, respectively. Greater reductions were noted with pretreatment of C-PAC, followed by co-treatment with chemo drugs (64.9% in OE33 and 49.4% in OE19 cells). C-PAC enhanced chemo drug-induced EAC cell death via increased DNA damage, apoptosis and ECM degradation as evidenced by induction of phosphorylated H2AX and cleaved caspase-3, as well as inhibition of BCLXL and MMP9. C-PAC also mitigated elevated levels of P53, a gene with a well-documented role in EAC progression and therapeutic resistance. Transcriptome analysis of cells treated with C-PAC and chemo drugs is underway and will be compared to signaling networks differentially expressed in patients stratified by treatment responsiveness. Results suggest that C-PAC pretreatment may offer a non-toxic intervention strategy for enhancing chemotherapeutic efficacy. Citation Format: Yun Zhang, Katherine Weh, Connor Howard, Kiran Lagisetty, Dyke McEwen, Jules Lin, Rishindra M. Reddy, Andrew Chang, David G. Beer, Amy Howell, Laura A. Kresty. Proanthocyanidins enhance chemotherapy-induced esophageal adenocarcinoma cell death [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1418.
Economics in Real Time: A Theoretical Reconstruction

By incorporating real time into the analysis of sales and purchases, the phenomena of product innovation, advertising and distribution, the provision of consumer credit, and, ultimately, the production of a changing workforce all become intrinsic to microeconomic analysis.In mainstream economics the series of purchases, say, of a personal computer, then of software upgrades, peripherals, on-line services, and so on are analyzed as discrete transactions. McDermott instead links such purchases withing a "sale/purchase state" occupying the period beginning with the initial purchase of the PC and ending only when all of the PC's services have been exchanged to the buyer. In transforming the analysis of contemporary sales and purchases, Economics in Real Time draws a radically diferent picture of the terrain of a modern economy.John McDermott is Professor Emeritus of Labor Studies at the State University of New York, Old Westbury.
Abstract 4335: A p53/HIF-1alpha-mediated metabolic response to stress

p53 is a key player in the cellular stress response. Apart from its canonical role in cell checkpoint functions, p53 also regulates cellular metabolism by blocking glycolysis and promoting oxidative phosphorylation. The hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1), on the other hand, is a master transcription factor promoting glycolysis. We describe a previously unrecognized metabolic response to low levels of stress, including low doses of ionizing radiation or arsenic. By using an integrated approach, we demonstrate that low-level stress induces a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis leading to increased stress tolerance in both cell and animal models. Low-level stress-induced metabolic changes are mediated by a functional cooperation between p53 and HIF-1α. Our work provides a novel metabolic mechanism of the stress response. Citation Format: Suthakar Ganapathy, Zhi-Min Yuan. A p53/HIF-1alpha-mediated metabolic response to stress. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4335. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4335
Characterization of an Adrenal Activator for Cholesterol Side Chain Cleavage

Abstract The enzyme system which converts cholesterol to pregnenolone by side chain cleavage is present in a soluble buffer extract of an acetone powder of adrenal mitochondria. An activation factor remains in the soluble buffer extract after heating at 100° for 2 min, whereas the known components of the P-450 enzyme system are inactivated. The addition of this soluble, heat-stable factor with the active enzyme will enhance pregnenolone formation 5- to 10-fold. The activator is precipitable with acetone, and saturated (NH4)2SO4, is not dialyzable, and is inactivated partially with trypsin. The factor is present in 105,000 x g supernatant but not the microsome fraction. Bovine serum albumin or rat serum does not stimulate. A heat-stable soluble liver cholesterol carrier protein (liver-SCP) has been shown to stimulate cholesterol side chain cleavage using the adrenal mitochondrial enzyme system. The binding properties of the activator with cholesterol on Sephadex G-25 are consistent with its behavior as a carrier protein for cholesterol. Pregnenolone and other adrenal steroids bind less than 1%. Evidence is presented for a cholesterol protein complex which may serve to transport cholesterol within the cell and to participate at the active site for the enzymatic cleavage of the cholesterol side chain.
Topologies and technologies for optically interconnected multicomputers using inverted graphs

To successfully exploit the benefits of optical technology in a tightly-coupled multicomputer, the architectural design must reflect both the advantages of optics and the limitations of optics. The authors describe a class of such architectures, based upon inverted graph topologies. Two instances of this class (an inverted hypercube and an inverted mesh) are further explored to illustrate their properties. They then consider the physical construction of these systems, demonstrating the relevant technological components necessary to manufacture a working system. >
Non-Linear Time-Transient Rotor Dynamic Analyses of Geared Systems

The ability to accurately predict the response of rotating machinery to external forces and to assess system-level stability for different modes is crucial from a reliability and preventive maintenance perspective. Geared systems, in particular, contain many complexities, which may lead to instability and even chaotic vibration behavior. No methods for determining the effects of the dynamic meshing forces on the vibrations of complete shaft/bearing systems have been proposed in the literature. Several time-transient and steady-state models for analyzing gear forces and deflections have been proposed, but they focus primarily on the dynamics of the gearbox itself and neglect vibration transmission through the remainder of the drive-train. Models that do incorporate other components of the drive-train propose simplified lumped-parameter models for the shafts and bearings. Recent models have used the finite element method to couple the lateral, torsional, and axial degrees-of-freedom of geared shaft systems to the forces and moments exchanged between the gears via stiffness matrices. Other models in literature capture the backlash non-linearity and the state-varying mesh stiffness and observe the time-transient response of the gearbox and simplified shaft/bearing structure. A finite element formulation of complete geared systems, which couples the axial, lateral, and torsional degrees-of-freedom, is developed in which the shaft is modeled with Timoshenko beam elements and captures the forces and moments due to gyroscopic effects, and rotational accelerations due to start-up. It includes the capability of modeling non-linear contact loss due to backlash clearance and parametric excitations resulting from the state-varying mesh stiffness and solves the time-transient state equations for the displacements and velocities of the shafts using the direct Runge-Kutta method.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Practice Parameters for Transfusion Medicine

© In the United States, more than 23 million blood components are transfused annually. Health care resources, including those for transfusion, are increasingly constrained. The availability of voluntarily donated blood used for component preparation is becoming more limited.1 In addition, increasingly restrictive donor qualification criteria, multiple layers of required disease testing, novel postdonation component modifications, and the characteristic perishability of blood continue to add to the cost and value of blood services. Moreover, the complex process of blood transfusion, from the vein of the donor to the vein of the recipient, is problem-prone. Therefore, in addition to the inherent risks associated with a biologic resource, the use of blood is an activity of high volume, increasingly greater cost, and limited availability. Because of these issues, appropriate and prudent use of blood requires some constraints on the way blood is transfused. Reflecting a trend over the last 2 decades in all areas of medicine, scores of transfusion medicine practice parameters have been in developed in an attempt to fill this need [T1].
Selective release ofN-acetylaspartylglutamate from rat optic nerve terminals in vivo

Abstract Glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) are considered to be the neurotransmitters of the optic pathway in submammalian species, but their roles in mammals is uncertain. Recently, N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) has been proposed as a neurotransmitter in mammalian optic pathway; however, the release of endogenous NAAG on stimulation of the optic pathway has not been demonstrated. Using an in vivo microdialysis technique, we now report that electrical stimulation of rat optic nerve markedly increased the extracellular concentration of NAAG but not Glu/Asp in superficial superior colliculus where retinal afferents terminate, whereas non-specific stimulation of neurotransmitter release by high potassium or veratridine increased both extracellular Glu/Asp and NAAG concentration in the perfusate. The release of NAAG was dependent on Ca 2+ and the presence of optic terminals. We conclude that NAAG is a better candidate as a neurotransmitter of rat optic nerve terminals than Glu/Asp.
Debt Maturity, Credit Risk, and Information Asymmetry: The Case of Municipal Bonds

Using a system of equations approach, this paper empirically tests the impact of credit quality, asset maturity, and other issuer and issue characteristics on the maturity of municipal bonds. We find that under conditions of lower information asymmetry that prevails in the municipal sector, higher-rated bonds have longer maturities than low-rated bonds. This result differs from that observed in the corporate sector. Overall, our results support the asset maturity hypothesis. In addition, our analysis finds that fundamentals matter. Issue features that provide additional protection or convenience to the investor tend to increase debt maturity.
Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure in C57BL mice on locomotor activity and passive avoidance behavior

The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term behavioral effects of prenatal ethanol exposure in C57BL mice. Pregnant mice received free access to a liquid diet containing 25% ethanol-derived calories (EDC) from gestation days 6 to 18. Control animals were pair-fed an isocaloric 0% EDC diet during the same period of time. An additional control group was included that was maintained on standard lab chow and water throughout pregnancy. At 30 days of age, female offspring were tested for spontaneous locomotor activity in an open field under two lighting conditions (dim or bright illumination). Male off-spring were tested in a passive avoidance task at 25 days of age. The activity results demonstrated that the 25% EDC female progeny were more active than controls. This hyperactivity was observed under both lighting conditions, despite the fact that all groups evidenced suppressed activity when tested under bright lights. With regard to passive avoidance behavior, male EtOH-exposed offspring required a greater number of trials to reach criterion than controls. Additionally, they exhibited shorter latencies to enter the shock-associated chamber after receiving a single shock. Taken together, these results confirm our previous findings and demonstrate that C57BL mice are sensitive to both the deleterious behavioral and morphological consequences of prenatal ethanol exposure.
Elevated circulating fetal nucleated red blood cells and placental pathology in term infants who develop cerebral palsy.

Summary An elevated circulating fetal nucleated red blood cell count has long been recognized as an indicator of significant intrauterine stress. However, the nature of the causative events and their timing remain controversial. In this study, subacute and chronic placental lesions known to be associated with neurodisability were used as surrogates for antenatal stress. Mother-infant pairs with complete blood counts within 2 hours of delivery (n = 81) were drawn from a larger database of 152 term infants with cerebral palsy. An elevated nucleated red blood cell count (2.5 × 10 3 /mm 3 ) in these infants was associated with a significantly increased prevalence of subacute or chronic placental lesions, whereas clinical findings did not significantly differ. The number of nucleated red blood cells per 10 high-power fields of villous parenchyma was directly correlated with the nucleated red blood cell count, and a threshold of 10 or more nucleated red blood cells predicted a nucleated red blood cell count greater than 2.5 × 10 3 /mm 3 . Among individual placental lesions, multiple foci of avascular villi and chronic villitis were significantly associated with an elevated nucleated red blood cell count, whereas meconium-associated vascular necrosis showed a borderline association. Acute chorioamnionitis was the only placental lesion more common in the group without elevated nucleated red blood cell count. The presence of significant placental lesions was associated with an elevated nucleated red blood cell count in infants with or without either acidosis (cord pH
The automatic access of emotion: Emotional Stroop effects in Spanish–English bilingual speakers

The emotional Stroop task provides an experimental measure of selective attention to emotional information. In the current study, the emotional Stroop effect was examined in a Spanish–English bilingual speaking population. The results revealed that the emotional Stroop effect is a robust phenomenon and replicable within a bilingual population. Furthermore, highly proficient bilinguals demonstrated equal interference effects in both their first language and their second language. The current study provides evidence of the automatic activation of emotional components in words appearing in more than one language. These results are discussed with reference to previous findings in the literature on bilingual emotion word representation.
On the Possibility of Real‐Time Monitoring of Glucose in Cell Culture by Microdialysis Using a Fluorescent Glucose Binding Protein Sensor

Although glucose sensors with millimolar sensitivity are still the norm, there is now a developing interest in glucose sensors with micromolar sensitivity for applications in minimally invasive sampling techniques such as fast microdialysis and extraction of interstitial fluid by iontophoresis and laser poration. In this regard, the glucose binding protein (GBP) with a binding constant for glucose in the micromolar range is of particular relevance. GBP is one of the soluble binding proteins found in the periplasmic space of Gram-negative bacteria. Because of its hinge-like tertiary structure, glucose binding induces a large conformational change, which can be used for glucose sensing by attaching a polarity sensitive fluorescent probe to a site on the protein that is allosterically responsive to glucose binding. Correspondingly, the resulting optical biosensor has micromolar sensitivity to glucose. Because binding is reversible, the biosensor is reusable and can be stored at 4 °C for 6 months without losing its sensitivity. In this paper, we show the feasibility of using the GBP biosensor to monitor glucose in microdialysis. The effect of perfusion rate, bulk glucose concentration and temperature on microdialysis efficiency was determined. Additionally, the glucose concentrations in mammalian cell culture were monitored to demonstrate the applicability of this sensor in complex and dynamic processes over a period of time. As the sensor is sensitive to micromolar glucose, high dialysis efficiency is not required when the bulk glucose concentration is within the millimolar physiological range. Thus, a perfusion rate of 10 μL/min or faster can be used, resulting in delay times of 1 min or less.
Nonverbal communication expectancies about teachers and enrollment behavior in distance learning

This study explored a possible relationship between students’ expectations for teacher nonverbal immediacy and their enrollment in a distance learning course. Before classes began, questionnaires were completed by community college students (N= 182) enrolled in a telecourse or classroom course, indicating expectancies for teacher nonverbal immediacy during the upcoming semester. Distant students expected less nonverbal immediacy from telecourse teachers than on‐site students expected of their teachers. Students with previous distance learning experience had slightly higher expectancies than those with no experience.
Glycerol inhibits water permeation through Plasmodium Falciparum aquaglyceroporin

Abstract Plasmodium falciparum aquaglyceroporin (PfAQP) is a multifunctional membrane protein in the plasma membrane of P. falciparum , the parasite that causes the most severe form of malaria. The current literature has established the science of PfAQP’s structure, functions, and hydrogen-bonding interactions but left unanswered the following fundamental question: does glycerol modulate water permeation through aquaglyceroporin that conducts both glycerol and water? This paper provides an affirmative answer to this question of essential importance to the protein’s functions. On the basis of the chemical-potential profile of glycerol from the extracellular bulk region, throughout PfAQP’s conducting channel, to the cytoplasmic bulk region, this study shows the existence of a bound state of glycerol inside aquaglyceroporin’s permeation pore, from which the dissociation constant is approximately 14 μM. A glycerol molecule occupying the bound state occludes the conducting pore through which permeating molecules line up in single file by hydrogen-bonding with one another and with the luminal residues of aquaglyceroporin. In this way, glycerol inhibits permeation of water and other permeants through aquaglyceroporin. The biological implications of this theory are discussed and shown to agree with the existent in vitro data. It turns out that the structure of aquaglyceroporin is perfect for the van der Waals interactions between the protein and glycerol to cause the existence of the bound state deep inside the conducting pore and, thus to play an unexpected but significant role in aquaglyceroporin’s functions.
Keynes y el Katechon

Reflection on “the contemporary crisis” must take into account that, beyond financial problems in global capitalist administration, the crisis works over a fall of the human in relation to which every postulation of an affirmative biopolitics seems insufficient. The biopolitical condition responds to a process of nomic self-consecration of technical structures that dramatically increase the capacity to oppress without doing much for the capacity to tolerate it. This essay engages with Heidegger, Keynes, Weber and Schmitt, as thinkers of the “crisis,” in order to understand their apotropaic modulations in the face of the biopolitical fall that they had themselves detected, and for which today we find ourselves without the conceptual apparatus we need to confront it.
The Past & Future of American Civil Rights

Although American society will not become race-blind anytime soon, the meaning of race is changing, and processes of racial formation now are quite different than those prevailing just two generations ago. Massey puts the present moment in historical perspective by reviewing progress toward racial equality through successive historical epochs, from the colonial era to the age of Obama. He ends by exploring the contours of racial formation in the United States today, outlining a program for a new civil rights movement in the twenty-first century.