cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Native to Amyloid in the Test Tube and in Cells: A Journey of Misbehaving Antibodies

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is an incurable disease characterized by the misfolding, aggregation, and systemic deposition of amyloid composed of immunoglobulin light chains. We have conducted thermodynamic and fibril formation studies of both variable domain and full length immunoglobulin proteins involved in AL amyloidosis. We have found that there is thermodynamic range -under physiological conditions- in which these proteins populate partially folded states that favor amyloid formation.We have studied the internalization of these same AL proteins in soluble form and as amyloid fibrils into human cardiomyocytes. Our results show how external amyloid aggregates rapidly surround the cells and act as a recruitment point for soluble protein, triggering amyloid fibril elongation. A fraction of aggregates surrounding the cardiomyocytes is internalized via micropinocytosis (same mechanism followed by soluble proteins). AL amyloid fibrils are shown to cause cell growth arrest at low concentration. Soluble proteins induce apoptosis, demonstrating different cytotoxic mechanisms between soluble protein and amyloid aggregates.In vitro amyloid formation experiments show that heterologous recruitment of light chains is kinetically determined by the conformation of the amyloidogenic conformational precursor and modulated by the differential ability of each protein to either nucleate or elongate fibrils.Studies on the early events of fibril formation followed by dynamic light scattering, chromatography and electron microscopy have shown differences in the species formed by amyloidogenic proteins (stable small oligomers) compared to control proteins (large oligomers observed).Overall, our studies emphasize the complex interactions between light chain and cells that result in fibril internalization, protein recruitment, and cytotoxicity that may occur in AL amyloidosis.
Circulating Platelet-Monocyte Aggregates Predict Venous Thromboembolism in Older Adults Undergoing Major Orthopedic Surgery

Background: Improvements in the early identification of older patients with a high post-operative VTE risk would potentially translate into more effective VTE prevention and management strategies. Objectives: We sought to establish whether measuring early indices of in vivo platelet activation following orthopedic surgery predicted VTE in older patients. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study in 32 patients undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty who received warfarin thromboprophylaxis post-operatively. Patients were assessed for deep vein thrombosis post-operatively by compression ultrasonography (CUS) and followed for 30 days for clinical thrombotic events. Circulating levels of platelet-monocyte aggregates (PMAs), platelet surface p-selectin expression, and integrin αIIbβ3 activation were assessed immediately pre-operatively and on post-operative day 1 by flow cytometry. The procoagulant markers d-dimer and fibrinogen were measured in parallel. Results: The average age was 65.6±7.1 years and 43.8% were male (Table 1). VTE occurred in 40.6% (n=13/32) of patients a median of 3 days (IQR 2-3) after surgery. The majority of thrombotic events were deep vein thromboses that altered clinical management. Baseline clinical characteristics, age, weight, and laboratory values did not differ between patients who developed VTE post-operatively and those that did not. Post-operatively, circulating levels of PMAs were significantly increased in patients with VTE but essentially unchanged in patients without VTE (post-operative fold-change 2.02±0.36 vs. 0.75±0.14, p Conclusions: Increased circulating PMAs measured on post-operative day 1 are an early marker predicting VTE following orthopedic surgery in older adults. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Are rare variants really independent

Recent advances in genotyping with high-density markers allow researchers access to genomic variants including rare ones. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) is widely used to provide insight into evolutionary history. It is also the basis for association mapping in humans and other species. Better understanding of the genomic LD structure may lead to better-informed statistical tests that can improve the power of association studies. Although rare variant associations with common diseases (RVCD) have been extensively studied recently, there is very limited understanding, and even controversial view of LD structures among rare variants and between rare and common variants. In fact, many popular RVCD tests make the assumptions that rare variants are independent. In this report, we show that two commonly used LD measures are not capable of detecting LD when rare variants are involved. We present this argument from two perspectives, both the LD measures themselves and the computational issues associated with them. To address these issues, we propose an alternative LD measure, the polychoric correlation, that was originally designed for detecting associations among categorical variables. Using simulated as well as the 1000 Genomes data, we explore the performances of LD measures in detail and discuss their implications in association studies.
Cyclic Switching and Supervisory Control

Abstract Recently a newly introduced concept called “cyclic switching” was was shown provide a viable solution to the long standing certainty equivalence stabilizability problem which arises in the design of estimator-based parameter adaptive controls because of the existence of points in parameter space where the estimated model upon which certainty equivalence control is based, looses stabilizability (Pait and Morse, 1994). Still more recently a simple, ‘high-level’ controller called a ‘supervisor’ was proposed for the purpose of coordinating the switching into feedback with a siso process, of a sequence of linear positioning or set-point controllers from a family of candidate controllers, so as to cause the output of the process to approach and track a constant reference input (Morse, n.d.). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that cyclic switching and supervisory control are compatible concepts.
Comparison of Measures of E-cigarette Advertising Exposure and Receptivity.

Objectives We tested how various measures of e-cigarette advertising exposure and receptivity are related to each other and compare to each other in their associations with e-cigarette use susceptibility and behavior. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected from young adult college students (N = 470; Mage = 20.9, SD = 2.1; 65% women). Measures of e-cigarette advertising exposure/receptivity compared included a cued recall measure, measures of marketing receptivity, perceived ad exposure, liking of e-cigarette ads, and frequency of convenience store visit, which is considered a measure of point-of-sale ad exposure. Results The cued-recall measure was associated with e-cigarette use experimentation but not current e-cigarette use. Marketing receptivity was associated with current e-cigarette use but not e-cigarette use experimentation. Liking of e-cigarette ads was the only measure associated with e-cigarette use susceptibility. Frequency of convenience store visit was associated with current e-cigarette use but not e-cigarette use experimentation or susceptibility. Conclusion Inclusion of multiple measures of marketing exposure and receptivity is recommended for regulatory research concerning e-cigarette marketing. Marketing receptivity and cued recall measures are strong correlates of current and ever e-cigarette use, respectively.
Disasters and the Promise of Disaster Vulnerability Theory

In this chapter we introduce disasters and disaster vulnerability theory. The characteristics, distribution, and effects from disasters are discussed to establish a context and to justify our focus on community disaster vulnerability. Key concepts of vulnerability theory are defined, core assumptions are stated and briefly discussed, and boundaries are drawn. The utility of this theory to human service professionals, emergency managers, and social work education, and research is considered. Subsequent chapters break out facets of the theory to elaborate its structure, provide details, and report relevant research findings.
The functional subunit of a dimeric transcription activator protein depends on promoter architecture

In Class I CAP-dependent promoters, the DNA site for CAP is located upstream of the DNA site for RNA polymerase. In Class II CAP-dependent promoters, the DNA site for CAP overlaps the DNA site for RNA polymerase, replacing the -35 site. We have used an 'oriented heterodimers' approach to identify the functional subunit of CAP at two Class I promoters having different distances between the DNA sites for CAP and RNA polymerase [CC(-61.5) and CC(-72.5)] and at one Class II promoter [CC(-41.5)]. Our results indicate that transcription activation at Class I promoters, irrespective of the distance between the DNA sites for CAP and RNA polymerase, requires the activating region of the promoter-proximal subunit of CAP. In striking contrast, our results indicate that transcription activation at Class II promoters requires the activating region of the promoter-distal subunit of CAP.
Effecting a University’s Mission: The Praxis of Charism

Religious communities engaged in educational ministry have been challenged by the Second Vatican Council both to reappropriate the initial charism of their founders and to review their ministry in the schools staffed by their communities. Compounding this challenge has been the shift in the number of members of the founding congregations in their faculties. This article reframes the discussion in terms of an issue of committed culture. After presenting a theological foundation and sociohistorical critique of charism, a praxis model for mission effectiveness as it is applied to student orientation within a Catholic university setting will be introduced.
Gas-liquid chromatographic and gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of fenvalerate and permethrin residues in grasshoppers and duck tissue samples

A procedure is described for determining fenvalerate and permethrin residues in grasshoppers and duck tissues. Samples are Soxhlet-extracted with hexane and cleaned up by gel permeation chromatography with an in-line alumina column. Samples are analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detection, and confirmed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The average recovery from fortified tissues was 97%.
Information Theory Applied to Decision Making Structures

Decision making structures, such as control boards, process information on many topics as they select options for the system and project. The decisions are based on the information known to the board members and presenters (subject matter experts) and shared at the board during discussion. This information flow through this process can be modelled using information theory. Information theory provides a mathematical basis to understand the flow of information through the decision making process and the information needed for a particular decision. Information theory also provides the mathematical relationships on which to base the optimal decision making structure for a specific system development and organizational structure. Since decision making bodies provide control for the system or project, control theory can be used to construct a decision making model. This provides a starting point for adding cognitive science models. Information processing by each individual board participant can be represented through cognitive processes which are integrated across the board participants through information theory relationship. The set theory view of information theory provides a structure in which to look at the relationships between the participants in a decision making structure.
Love or Comprehension? Exploring Strategies for Children’s Prosocial Media Effects:

Given children’s difficulty comprehending prosocial narratives, we examined strategies to bypass comprehension (affiliative priming) and reduce cognitive burden (simplified lessons, adult scaffoldi...
Design Challenges for Human Rights Cities

Given the scope of their responsibilities, city leaders have tremendous opportunities to advance human rights. Among other things, cities must deliver water, sewage treatment, trash removal, road maintenance, public transportation, public safety, and education to their residents. For good or ill, whether or not they explicitly acknowledge it, cities and city leaders are addressing a wide range of human rights in their day-to-day operations, generally with minimal federal oversight and decreasing levels of direct financial support. Some U.S. cities have gone further to make their human rights commitments explicit, joining a host of international cities and regions in declaring themselves to be human rights cities that will take human rights norms into account in setting city policy. However vigorously and overtly city leaders take on the task of realizing their constituents’ human rights, there are structural challenges baked into the governance structure of the United States that may impede cities’ capacities to act. State pre-emption is one threat to city laws and policies in many substantive areas. City policies may face an additional threat from the courts. If courts deem the federal government to occupy a field in which a city is also developing policies, the prospect of federal pre-emption raises a separate set of challenges beyond state pre-emption. Because the federal government exercises authority over the nation’s foreign affairs, federal challenges may be particularly acute for cities that have formally incorporated international human rights norms into their local laws and policies. This Article does not suggest a new doctrinal theory for addressing this governance dilemma. Instead, in this Article, I work through the thought experiment of looking at cities’ structural governance relationships and the impacts of those arrangements through the lens of law and design. I posit that the project of tailoring city, state, and federal relationships to maximize human wellbeing can fruitfully be framed as a “design challenge.” Just as cities today view issues of transportation, water delivery, and recreation access as issues to be addressed through design processes, so might cities approach their structural human rights challenges as systems that can be re-designed or designed-around in order to support the human rights advancement of city residents and visitors. Further, to the extent that the design lens can bring a broader range of interested groups to the table -- notably the business interests that have often opposed local innovations, and perhaps state actors seeking to be national thought leaders -- it may help to break down the current clash of policy approaches.
Investigating the Impact of Suboptimal Hashing Functions

For the purpose of volumetric data, hashing acts to map multi-dimensional space into the one-dimensional space. Hashing is a popular method to store sparse data for the purporses of both gaming and computer graphics. Traditional methods used to hash 3D volumetric data utilise large prime numbers in an attempt to achieve well-distributed hash addresses to minimise addressing collisions. These methods generate hashing addressing through randomisation. However, it has been shown that when considering dynamic data, a low addressing collision rate cannot be guaranteed through this randomising technique. In this paper, a spatial hashing implementation is investigated, and whether varying performance parameters can be improved upon through the use of DECO Hashing. DECO leverages the inherent structure present in 3D data, which exists in the sense that each coordinate in 3D space is already unique. An open source version of Chisel is investigated - Open Chisel - and it is determined whether the algorithm can be improved upon through replacing the existing hashing function with DECO Hashing.
Karaoke: distributed private messaging immune to passive traffic analysis

Karaoke is a system for low-latency metadata-private communication. Karaoke provides differential privacy guarantees, and scales better with the number of users than prior such systems (Vuvuzela and Stadium). Karaoke achieves high performance by addressing two challenges faced by prior systems. The first is that differential privacy requires continuously adding noise messages, which leads to high overheads. Karaoke avoids this using optimistic indistinguishability: in the common case, Karaoke reveals no information to the adversary, and Karaoke clients can detect precisely when information may be revealed (thus requiring less noise). The second challenge lies in generating sufficient noise in a distributed system where some nodes may be malicious. Prior work either required each server to generate enough noise on its own, or used expensive verifiable shuffles to prevent any message loss. Karaoke achieves high performance using efficient noise verification, generating noise across many servers and using Bloom filters to efficiently check if any noise messages have been discarded. These techniques allow our prototype of Karaoke to achieve a latency of 6.8 seconds for 2M users. Overall, Karaoke's latency is 5× to 10× better than Vuvuzela and Stadium.
Triple products and cohomological invariants for closed three-manifolds

Motivated by conjectures in Heegaard Floer homology, we introduce an invariant HC(Y) of the cohomology ring of a closed 3-manifold Y whose behavior mimics that of the Heegaard Floer homology HF^\infty(Y,s) for s a torsion spin-c structure. We derive from this a numerical invariant h(Y), and obtain upper and lower bounds on h(Y). We describe the behavior of h(Y) under connected sum, and deduce some topological consequences. Examples show that the structure of HC(Y) can be surprisingly complicated, even for 3-manifolds with comparatively simple cohomology rings.
Glycogen Storage Diseases

Abstract Glycogen packs about 55,000 glucosyl units in a spherical and highly branched molecule, the structure of which is based on the delicate balance between the activities of two synthetic enzymes, glycogen synthetase (GS) and the glycogen branching enzyme (GBE). Any alteration of this balance to the advantage of GS activity results in a poorly soluble polysaccharide with longer peripheral chains and fewer branching points (polyglucosan). Genetic defects of glycogen metabolism in muscle give rise to two major syndromes: 1) exercise intolerance, cramps, and myoglobinuria; or 2) fixed weakness. We review clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, muscle pathology and biochemistry, molecular genetic changes, animal models, and therapeutic approaches for both types of glycogenoses. We call attention to newly described or recognized polyglucosan storage diseases (Lafora disease; APBD; RBCK1 deficiency) and to defects of glycogen synthesis, characterized by lack rather than excessive storage of glycogen (glycogenoses type 0).
A Biopsychosocial Overview of the Opioid Crisis: Considering Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Health

The opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions in the United States with rising overdose death rates. Identifying the underlying factors that contribute to addiction vulnerability may lead to more effective prevention strategies. Supply side environmental factors are a major contributing component. Psychosocial factors such as stress, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences have been linked to emotional pain leading to self-medication. Genetic and epigenetic factors associated with brain reward pathways and impulsivity are known predictors of addiction vulnerability. This review attempts to present a biopsychosocial approach that connects various social and biological theories related to the addiction crisis. The emerging role of nutrition therapy with an emphasis on gastrointestinal health in the treatment of opioid use disorder is presented. The biopsychosocial model integrates concepts from several disciplines, emphasizing multicausality rather than a reductionist approach. Potential solutions at multiple levels are presented, considering individual as well as population health. This single cohesive framework is based on the interdependency of the entire system, identifying risk and protective factors that may influence substance-seeking behavior. Nutrition should be included as one facet of a multidisciplinary approach toward improved recovery outcomes. Cross-disciplinary collaborative efforts, new ideas, and fiscal resources will be critical to address the epidemic.
Profiles in Tech Entrepreneurship: Dr. Yael Schwartz

Our series of profiles about entrepreneurs in IEEE Engineering Management Review features movers and shakers in the technology industries. Entrepreneurship requires leaders who are innovative, proactive, and risk-takers – people who embrace the technology as well as the business of start-ups. In these articles, we provide a look at the innovative thought processes and practices of these entrepreneurs – what got them where they are today. We also share lessons learned as the entrepreneurs created and grew their ventures. Many of these entrepreneurs will be attending Technology and Engineering Management Society events over the next couple years. Take the opportunity to meet them as you can, especially if you are thinking about launching your own new venture. Our featured entrepreneur for this article is Yael Schwartz.
Glucocorticoids and carbohydrate metabolism in hypothermic and hibernating hamsters.

In hibernating hamsters carbohydrate reserves are regulated and are in dynamic equilibrium. During “deep” hypothermia (Tb 7–8°C) hamsters undergo a progressive hypoglycemia, depletion of liver glycogen, and death within 24 hours. Glucocorticoid treatment results in enhanced blood and liver carbohydrates, prolonged survival at Tb 7–8°C, and enhanced thermogenic capacity leading to arousal.
ΕΦΗΡΜΟΣΜΕΝΑ ΜΑΘΗΜΑΤΙΚΑ. — The stability of a class of helicoid precessions in the sense of Liapunov and Poinearé

In a previous paper, Ref. 1, we discussed the stability of a helicoid precession in case of constant torque, whereby, by employing different stability concepts, we found for this precession different stability situations. The concept of this helicoid precession was successfully applied in problems of current interest in Astrodynamics, treated in papers Ref. 2, 3.
Discard, Emotions, and Empathy on the Margins of the Waste Stream

The objects we choose to throw away, and how we discard those objects, can reveal much about materiality and the material basis of capitalism in the twenty-first century. This chapter explores how analyses of the assemblages and locations of recent illegal dumping events illuminate tensions between structural forces, the ways we relate to our possessions, and the motivations prompting the severance of those relationships. Using data gathered during a faculty-student research project addressing contemporary surface assemblages, we also examine the emotive capacities of illegally discarded belongings. With an analytic emphasis on intact assemblages, we argue that acknowledging the emotional contours of unsanctioned discard not only complements methodologically rigorous, data-driven archaeologies of the contemporary but also provides a forum for grappling with fieldworkers’ affective responses to handling culturally familiar objects. Such responses, in turn, can help to cultivate deeper-seated empathy and respect for non-Western connections to objects, space, and place in other archaeological research contexts.
Can Forward Commodity Markets Improve Spot Market Performance? Evidence from Wholesale Electricity

Forward commodity markets allow more efficient risk-sharing and information aggregation, but there is little evidence that this reduces the cost of producing the commodity. We develop a measure of the extent to which forward and spot prices agree in commodity markets with transaction costs and use it to show that day-ahead prices better reflect real-time prices at all locations in California's wholesale electricity market after the introduction of financial trading on February 1st 2011. This results in a 2.7% reduction in market-wide production costs per megawatt-hour of electricity output in high demand days relative to low demand days after 2/1/2011.
Child Protection Team Consultation for Injuries Potentially Due to Child Abuse in Community Emergency Departments

OBJECTIVES Emergency care for children is provided predominantly in community emergency departments (CEDs), where abusive injuries frequently go unrecognized. Increasing access to regional child abuse experts may improve detection of abuse in CEDs. In three CEDs, we intervened to increase involvement of a regional hospital child protection team (CPT) for injuries associated with abuse in children < 12 months old. We aimed to increase CPT consultations about these infants from the 3% baseline to an average of 50% over 12 months. METHODS We interviewed CED providers to identify barriers and facilitators to recognizing and reporting abuse. Providers described difficulties differentiating abusive from nonabusive injuries and felt that a second opinion would help. Using a plan-do-study-act approach, beginning in April 2018, we tested, refined, and implemented interventions to increase the frequency of CPT consultation, including leadership and champion engagement, provider training, clinical pathway implementation, and an audit and feedback process. Data were collected for 15 months before and 17 months after initiation of interventions. We used a statistical process control chart to track CPT consultations about children < 1 year old with high-risk injuries, use of skeletal surveys (SSs), and reports to child protective services (CPS). RESULTS Evidence of special cause was identified beginning in June 2018, with a shift of 8 points to one side of the center line. For the subsequent 8-month period, the CPT was consulted for a mean of 47.5% of children with high-risk injuries; this was sustained for an additional 7 months. The average percentage of infants with high-risk injuries who received a SS increased from 6.7% to 18.9% and who were reported to CPS increased from 10.7% to 32.6%. CONCLUSION Targeted interventions in CEDs increased the frequency of CPT consultation, SS use, and reports to CPS for infants with high-risk injuries. Such interventions may improve recognition of physical abuse.
Looking for a better future: modeling migrant mobility

Massive migrations have become increasingly prevalent over the last decades. A recent example is the Venezuelan migration crisis across South America, which particularly affects neighboring countries like Colombia. Creating an effective response to the crisis is a challenge for governments and international agencies, given the lack of information about migrants’ location, flows and behaviors within and across host countries. For this purpose it is crucial to map and understand geographic patterns of migration, including spatial mobility and dynamics over time. The aim of this paper is to uncover mobility and economic patterns of migrants that left Venezuela and migrated into Colombia due to the effects of the ongoing social, political and economic crisis. We analyze and compare the behavior of two types of migrants: Venezuelan refugees and Colombian nationals who used to live in Venezuela and return to their home country. We adapt the gravity model for human mobility in order to explain migrants’ dispersion across Colombia, and analyze patterns of economic integration. This study is a first attempt at analyzing and comparing two kinds of migrant populations in one destination country, providing unique insight into the processes of mobility and integration after migration.
Neoadjuvant therapy versus surgery first for ampullary carcinoma: A propensity score‐matched analysis of the NCDB

Background The role of neoadjuvant therapy (NT) for ampullary carcinoma (AC) has not been clearly established. Methods Patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for AC between 2004 and 2016 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Overall survival (OS) was compared between those who received NT before resection and those who underwent surgery first (SF). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed using age, pathologic T and N stage, and tumor differentiation. Results Among 8688 patients with AC, 175 (2.0%) received NT before surgery. While patients who received NT were younger (p = .022) and more likely to have nodal metastasis (43.3% vs. 35.1%, p Conclusion NT followed by surgery was not associated with improved survival outcomes compared with SF among patients with localized AC. While NT is an acceptable alternative for patients with advanced disease, SF should remain the standard of care.
Risk and Protective Factors of Youth Prescription Drug Misuse: Variations Across Racial/Ethnic Groups

Determining the risk and protective factors of youth prescription drug misuse across racial/ethnic groups is still an important area of inquiry, as most studies have only been conducted with White, African American, and Latinx adolescents. General strain theory, social control theory, and social learning theory guided the selection of the risk and protective factors examined in this study. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk and protective factors associated with general strain theory, social control theory, and social learning theory that are predictive of White, African American, Latinx, Native American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and multiracial adolescents’ past 30-day and lifetime prescription drug misuse. Using data from the Arizona Youth Survey (N = 34,899; aged 12–19 years), a series of multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the risk and protective factors predictive of 30-day and lifetime prescription drug misuse for the whole sample and the six racial/ethnic groups. The results indicated that the risk and protective factors varied across racial/ethnic groups, with White and Latinx adolescents having the most risk factors associated with general strain theory for both 30-day and lifetime prescription drug misuse. Social control theory and social learning theory were helpful in identifying protective factors across the racial/ethnic groups. Implications of these theories for prevention efforts are discussed. Future research should examine how all the components of social control theory and nonsocial reinforcement, a component of social learning theory, are related to prescription drug misuse across all racial/ethnic groups included in this study.
Origin-independent Analysis Links SARS-CoV-2 Local Genomes with COVID-19 Severity

There is an urgent public health need to better understand SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, particularly how sequences of the viruses could lead to diverse severity of COVID-19 in different countries. However, because of its unknown ancestors and hosts, elucidating the genetic variations of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been difficult. Without needing to know ancestors, we identified an uneven distribution of local genome similarities among the viruses categorized by geographic regions, and it was strongly correlated with infection severity. To ensure unbiased and origin-independent analyses, we used a pairwise comparison of local genome sequences of virus genomes by BLAST. We found a strong statistical correlation between dominance of the SARS-CoV-2 in distributions of uneven similarities and the severity of illness in terms of infection cases and deaths. Genomic annotation of the BLAST hits also showed that viruses from geographic regions with severe infections tended to have more dynamic genomic regions in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) and receptor binding motif (RBM) of the spike protein (S protein). Dynamic domains in the S protein were also confirmed by a canyon region of mismatches coincident with RBM and RBD, without hits of alignments of 100% matching. Thus, our origin-independent analysis suggests that the dynamic and unstable SARS-CoV-2-RBD could be the main reason for diverse severity of COVID-19 infection.
The Causes of Turnover among Social Workers

There is general agreement that social worker turnover is not desirable. Yet social work administrators who want to institute changes which might reduce the rate of turnover have little accurate information about the causes of worker mobility -and without such information, any change activity must be based on a trial-and-error approach. In this study general propositions and hypotheses about social work turnover have been deduced from what is known about worker mobility generally and have been assessed in the light of the available literature on social worker mobility. The effectiveness of social work services depends in no small measure on the quality and quantity of social workers available to man these services. And both quality and quantity are affected negatively by staff turnover, that is, by employed social workers leaving their job for another job, within or outside of social work. Social work administrators and manpower experts agree that high turnover rates are undesirable. But there is little concensus on the causes of turnover. The literature on turnover, especially among blue-collar and clerical employees, is extensive, but little attention has been paid to turnover among social workers. Price (38), in the most recent book on turnover, lists over 400 items in his bibliography; of these only four have reference to social workers. This study set out to explore what is known about the causes of social work turnover. We attempted to cover the total research literature, but for technical reasons concentrated on studies from the United States, United Kingdom and Israel. *
Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factor-I and Their Interactions with Brain Circuits Involved in Cognitive Function

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the potential mechanisms by which upregulation of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis improves learning and memory in aged rodents and humans. These hormones promote long bone and tissue growth, cardiovascular maturation and function, and work with other hormonal systems to regulate blood glucose levels and reproduction. IGF-I crosses the blood-brain barrier and promotes neurogenesis and synaptogenesis throughout development and during adulthood. The hormone also protects neurons from chemical toxicity and cell death resulting from hypoxic-ischemic injury and reduces cell loss when administered post-insult. IGF-I is essential for normal dendritic development, and several groups have reported that IGF-I regulates excitatory synaptic transmission in a regionally specific manner. This hormone also acts synergistically with estrogen to mediate trophic and neuroprotective effects in brain tissue. Several groups have reported positive correlations between serum IGF-I level and cognitive abilities in older humans, but interventional studies are needed to establish a more definite link between these hormones and function of the aging brain.
Wage inequality, tasks and occupations

This paper assesses the relationship between occupation attributes and changes in wage inequality finding partial support for the computerization hypothesis. While wages associated with non-routine cognitive tasks have risen; current versions of the hypothesis cannot explain the pattern of within occupation wage changes, the differential impact of various types of non-routine cognitive tasks and the declining return to tasks that complement machines. Despite significant employment shifts, occupational composition alone matters little for changes in wage inequality. Changes in wage dispersion within occupations are quantitatively just as important as wage changes between occupations for explaining wage inequality between 1980 and 2000.
Medium Energy Ion Scattering for Near Surface Structure and Depth Profiling

Medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) is a fairly new and still not very common variant of Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). The technique is used to give quantitative information about sample composition and surface structure on the nanoscale.
Cystatin C colocalizes with amyloid-beta and coimmunoprecipitates with amyloid-beta precursor protein in sporadic inclusion-body myositis muscles.

Cystatin C (CC), an endogenous cysteine protease inhibitor, is accumulated within amyloid-β (Aβ) amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain and was proposed to play a role in the AD pathogenesis. Because the chemo-morphologic muscle phenotype of sporadic inclusion-body myositis (s-IBM) has several similarities with the phenotype of AD brain, including abnormal accumulation of Aβ deposits, we studied expression and localization of CC in muscle biopsies of 10 s-IBM, and 16 disease- and five normal-control muscle biopsies. Physical interaction of CC with amyloid-β precursor protein (AβPP) was studied by a combined immunoprecipitation/immunoblotting technique in the s-IBM muscle biopsies and in AβPP-overexpressing cultured human muscle fibers. In all s-IBM muscle biopsies, CC-immunoreactivity either colocalized with, or was adjacent to, the Aβ-immunoreactive inclusions in 80–90% of the vacuolated muscle fibers, mostly in non-vacuolated regions of their cytoplasm. Ultrastructurally, CC immunoreactivity-colocalized with Aβ on 6–10 nm amyloid-like fibrils and floccular material. By immunoblotting, CC expression was strongly increased in IBM muscle as compared to the controls. By immunoprecipitation/immunoblotting experiments, CC coimmunoprecipitated with AβPP, both in s-IBM muscle and in AβPP-overexpressing cultured normal human muscle fibers. Our studies (i) demonstrate for the first time that CC physically associates with AβPP, and (ii) suggest that CC may play a novel role in the s-IBM pathogenesis, possibly by influencing AβPP processing and Aβ deposition.
Development of a Numerical Simulator for Analyzing the Geomechanical Performance of Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

In this paper, we describe the development and application of a numerical simulator that analyzes the geomechanical performance of hydrate-bearing sediments, which may become an important future energy supply. The simulator is developed by coupling a robust numerical simulator of coupled fluid flow, hydrate thermodynamics, and phase behavior in geologic media (TOUGH+HYDRATE) with an established geomechanical code (FLAC3D). We demonstrate the current simulator capabilities and applicability for two examples of geomechanical responses of hydrate bearing sediments during production-induced hydrate dissociation. In these applications, the coupled geomechanical behavior within hydrate-bearing seducements are considered through a Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model, corrected for changes in pore-filling hydrate and ice content, based on laboratory data. The results demonstrate how depressurization-based gas production from oceanic hydrate deposits may lead to severe geomechanical problems unless care is taken in designing the production scheme. We conclude that the coupled simulator can be used to design production strategies for optimizing production, while avoiding damaging geomechanical problems.
Protein Expression, Soluble

Introduction Altering Growth Conditions to Increase Soluble Protein Expression Lowering Growth Temperature Medium Composition Induction Conditions Altering the Host Strain and Vector to Direct Soluble Expression Choice of Host Strain Altering the Vector Altering the Protein for Solubility Why Do IBs Form? Mutation to Increase Solubility Controlling Other Variables That Affect Solubility Inoculum Preparation and Storage Trouble-Shooting Protein-Producing Recombinant Bacteria Maintaining Solubility during Harvesting and Cell Lysis Conclusions Bibliography Keywords: Bacillus subtilis; Escherichia coli; high-density cultivation; proteolysis; secretion; temperature effect
Winter, plague and pestilence

"From winter, plague and pestilence, good Lord, deliver us." Sixteenth century prayer, attributed to Thomas Nashe
Searching for Social Justice

ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of the life, research, writings, and contributions of Nicole Hahn Rafter. Rafter is widely regarded as one of America's foremost criminal justice historians, and she has also made important contributions to feminist issues and women's studies. Nicole Hahn Rafter's research and efforts to further social justice have established her as one of the nation's most important criminologists.
Effects of cetylpyridinium chloride, acidified sodium chlorite, and potassium sorbate on populations of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus on fresh beef.

The effects of selected food-grade antimicrobial agents at decreasing the number of pathogenic bacteria on fresh beef were determined. Beef cubes inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, or Staphylococcus aureus were sprayed with 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), 0.12% acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), 0.1% potassium sorbate (PS), or an equal mix of any two solutions. The beef samples were placed on absorbent tray pads sprayed with each single or mixed solution, wrapped with polyvinyl chloride film, heat sealed, and stored at 4°C for 2 weeks. Surface sanitization using CPC, ASC, or an equal mix of these two agents effectively reduced microbial numbers on the beef during storage. At day 0, ASC and the CPC-ASC mix reduced the number of E. coli O157:H7 by 2.50 and 1.58 log CFU/cm2, respectively. CPC demonstrated a 3.25-log reduction of L. monocytogenes and a 4.70-log reduction of S. aureus at 14 days. The CPC-PS mix reduced E. coli O157:H7 numbers by 1.46, L. monocytogenes by 2.95,...
A reduced estimate of the number of kilometre-sized near-Earth asteroids

Near-Earth asteroids are small (diameters 1 km has been estimated to be in the range 1,000-2,000, which translates to an approximately 1% chance of a catastrophic collision with the Earth in the next millennium. These numbers are, however, poorly constrained because of the limitations of previous searches using photographic plates. (One kilometre is below the size of a body whose impact on the Earth would produce global effects.) Here we report an analysis of our survey for near-Earth asteroids that uses improved detection technologies. We find that the total number of asteroids with diameters > 1 km is about half the earlier estimates. At the current rate of discovery of near-Earth asteroids, 90% will probably have been detected within the next 20 years.
Semileptonic Decays of Pseudoscalar Mesons in the Light-Front Quark Model

We investigate the form factors and decay rates for the semileptonic decays of pseudoscalar mesons using the light-front quark model. The zero-mode problems in calculating the form factor f-(q 2) at q + = 0 frame are circumvented by using the transverse component of the weak current. Our numerical results are in a good agreement with the available experimental data.
Farmers, bandits and soldiers: a generic system for addressing peace agendas

We propose a generic model that explains why political systems tend toward certain outcomes. The model identifies possible economic and psychological paths toward change in a metaphorical political economy consisting of farmers, bandits and soldiers. In addition to economic factors, we also consider how two psychological factors, broadly categorized as group identity and exposure to violence, affect the behavior of metaphorical agents. We find that though outcomes tend to be similar with and without the psychological influences, the psychological influences accelerate the adjustment process and create additional policy space for interventions. A methodological contribution of the paper also is the use of summary performance measures represented as phase plots that have the potential to be used with advantage in system dynamics analyses. Copyright © 2014 System Dynamics Society
Carbohydrate restriction regulates the adaptive response to fasting

The importance of either carbohydrate or energy restriction in initiating the metabolic response to fasting was studied in five normal volunteers. The subjects participated in two study protocols in a randomized crossover fashion. In one study the subjects fasted for 84 h (control study), and in the other a lipid emulsion was infused daily to meet resting energy requirements during the 84-h oral fast (lipid study). Glycerol and palmitic acid rates of appearance in plasma were determined by infusing [2H5]glycerol and [1-13C]palmitic acid, respectively, after 12 and 84 h of oral fasting. Changes in plasma glucose, free fatty acids, ketone bodies, insulin, and epinephrine concentrations during fasting were the same in both the control and lipid studies. Glycerol and palmitic acid rates of appearance increased by 1.63 +/- 0.42 and 1.41 +/- 0.46 mumol.kg-1.min-1, respectively, during fasting in the control study and by 1.35 +/- 0.41 and 1.43 +/- 0.44 mumol.kg-1.min-1, respectively, in the lipid study. These results demonstrate that restriction of dietary carbohydrate, not the general absence of energy intake itself, is responsible for initiating the metabolic response to short-term fasting.
A Composition Environment for MPI Programs

While MPI is the most common mechanism for expressing parallelism, MPI programs are not composable by using current MPI process managers or parallel shells. We introduce MPISH2, an MPI process manager analogous to serial Unix shells. It allows the composition of MPI and serial Unix utilities with one another to perform scalable tasks across large numbers of Unix clients. This paper discusses in detail issues of process management and parallel tool composition.
Is there an exceptional group in your future? E7 and the travails of the symmetry breaking

We present the group theoretical analysis of a likely symmetry breaking for the vector-like unified theory based on E7. The (proton stabilizing) breaking is effected by means of a set of Higgs fields transforming according to the 912, leaving an effective SU3 × SU3c theory. We note that a nilpotent breaking for the quark mass matrix yields the SU3 limit, as well as a determination of the relative left to right angle in the weak current demanded by the GIM mechanism. No evident correlation between quark and lepton masses emerges. The lepton current contains both doublets and triplets of SU2wk. While the quark neutral current is necessarily parity violating, the electron part of the lepton neutral current may be chosen to be purely vectorial. Appropriate phenomenological conclusions are drawn.
A FISHERY-OIL SPILL INTERACTION MODEL

ABSTRACT An oil spill behavior and fates model (see paper by P. C. Cornillon et al. elsewhere in this volume) has been coupled to a fisheries model54 to produce dynamic simulations of the interactive effects between an oil spill and the cod fishery on Georges Bank, with impacts being projected into the commercial catch. Four trial cases are documented: spills occurring in December and April, with and without chemical treatment. Several systems problems are discussed, along with present and anticipated efforts to bring the set of models from its current preliminary state to one in which useful inferences may be drawn.