cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heterozygosity analysis of Tk Gene in Mouse Lymphoma Cells

[Objective]To study the heterozygosity of Tk site on L 5178/Tk+/-3.7.2 C mouse lymphoma cells,investigate the genetic stability of Tk +/-gene,and provide a feasible experimental evidence and guideline.[Methods]Amplified products in Tk site of L 5178/Tk+/-3.7.2 C mouse lymphoma cells were analyzed by PCR.[Results]The amplified products were single band,and loss of Heterozygosity on Tk was not found.[Conclusion]The events such as intragenic and intergenic mutation,deletion,rearrangement and translocation do not occurred in the strain;it is suggested that the cells remained genetic stability.
Digital Library Evaluation Criteria: What do Users Want?

Criteria for evaluating digital libraries have been suggested in prior studies, but limited research has been done to understand users’ perceptions of evaluation criteria. This study investigates users’ opinions of the importance of digital library evaluation criteria. Thirty user participants, including 10 faculty members and 20 students, were recruited from five universities across the United States. They were asked to rate the importance of evaluation criteria in eight dimensions (e.g. collections, information organization, context, etc.). The results demonstrate that users care about evaluation criteria related to the use and quality of collection and services rather than the operation of digital libraries. The findings of this study are relevant to the development of user-centered digital libraries and associated evaluation frameworks through the incorporation of unique users’ needs and preferences.
Discrete Waves and Phototransduction in Voltage-damped Ventral Photoreceptors

Discrete waves in the voltage-clamped photoreceptor of Limulus are remarkably similar in all essential properties to those found in an unclamped cell. The latency distribution of discrete waves is not affected by considerable changes in the holding potential in a voltage-clamped cell. Both large and small waves occur in voltage-clamped and unclamped cells and in approximately the same proportion. Large and small waves also share the same latency distributions and spectral sensitivity. We suggest that small waves may result from the activation of damaged membrane areas. Large waves have an average amplitude of approximately 5 nA in voltage-clamped photoreceptors. It probably requires several square microns of cell membrane to support this much photo-current. Thus the amplification inherent in the discrete wave process may involve spatial spread of activation from unimolecular dimensions to several square microns of cell membrane surface. Neither local current flow, nor pre-packaging of any transmitter substance appears to be involved in the amplification process. The possible mechanisms of the amplification are evaluated with relationship to the properties of discrete waves.
The Relation between Two Heisenberg Limited Interferometers: The Photonic de Broglie Wave Interferometer and the Dual Fock State Interferometer

Recently it has been shown that it is possible to construct an interferometer which measures the de Broglie wavelength of a state of photons as a whole1. Figure la shows an example of the output of this interferometer for the case of an incident coherent state |α| Since the output has oscillations proportional to the average number of photons |α|2 it is equivalent to a normal interferometer measuring a single photon with very short (λ/|α|2) wavelength. Furthermore since for a single photon the standard quantum limit governing the minimum detectable phase shift δomin ∝ 1/|α| is equal to the fundamental or Heisenberg limit, δomin ∝ 1/|α|2, it may readily be understood that the de Broglie wave interferometer is Heisenberg limited.
Asymptotic Expansions and Modular Forms

The title of Chapter 15 does not entirely reflect its contents, because this chapter contains several diverse topics. Of the 21 chapters in the second notebook, Chapter 15 contains more disparate topics than the remaining chapters. Ramanujan appears to have collected here several “odds and ends.” While much of the materials is fascinating, a few part have little substance.
Determining Nitric Oxide-induced Conformational Changes in Soluble Guanylate Cyclase using Lanthanide-based Resonance Energy Transfer

Nitric Oxide (NO) is a crucial signaling molecule involved in vasodilation and regulation of blood pressure. A key target for NO signaling is soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), a heterodimeric protei...
Duality of energy absorption and inertial effects: Optimized structural design for blast loading:

This article provides insights into the dynamic response and protection capacity of sacrificial structures mounted on a structural member and subjected to close standoff blast loading. The three ma...
Networks of Influence

Every day we see the effect of small groups influencing the direction taken by larger groups, whether that direction is in physical space, political orientation, or dietary habits. The collective behavior of decentralized, self-organized networks is often referred to as swarm intelligence and is used in research on artificial intelligence. The approach is to consider multiple agents interacting locally with one another and with their environment. The different kinds of model interactions draw their inspiration from nature through the behaviors of different natural groupings such as a bevy (of quail), a covey (of partridges), a clowder (of cats), a flock (of birds of all kinds), a gaggle (of geese on water), a gang (of elk), a pride (of lions), a skein (of geese flying), swarms (of fireflies and insects of all kinds), and dozens more. West [53] observed that experts apparently want to capture the uniqueness of group structure within a species by giving it a special name. This allows them to make slight adjustments in their theories and models of the Natural History of the world. But more importantly these constructs enable scientists to nuance the collective behavior observed in the social structure created by each species from the school of fish to the murmuration of swallows.
The 11 B ( p → , γ ) 12 C reaction below 100 keV

The ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p},\ensuremath{\gamma}{)}^{12}\mathrm{C}$ reaction was studied by measuring the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays that were produced when 80--100-keV polarized protons were stopped in a thick ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ target. Cross sections and vector analyzing powers at $90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ were determined as a function of energy for capture to the ground and first excited states of ${}^{12}\mathrm{C}.$ These analyzing powers are particularly sensitive to the interference between s- and p-wave contributions, and to the relative phase between direct and resonance amplitudes. The results were used to produce a reliable extrapolation of the astrophysical S factor at 0 keV by means of a direct-capture-plus-resonances model calculation. The value of $S(0)$ that was obtained for ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}(p,{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{0}),$ $1.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4 \mathrm{keV}\mathrm{}\mathrm{b},$ is in agreement with previously determined values, but for ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}(p,{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1})$ the value of $S(0)$ is $3.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6 \mathrm{keV}\mathrm{}\mathrm{b}$ and is more than twice as large as previously determined values.
Ethical Considerations for Organ Transplantation

The breadth of transplant surgery, including the need to balance the needs of multiple patients, and the frequent confrontation with issues regarding death expose members of the transplant team to a variety of ethical concerns. Yet, despite extensive training, many transplant team members, including surgeons, still feel ill-prepared to deal with these issues. This chapter provides a framework for understanding and addressing the ethical questions that arise daily among patients and families and includes some familiar as well as newer perspectives on medical decision making. As transplant team members consider the ethical issues in organ donation, it may help to see organ donation as a voluntary act with the potential to morally elevate humankind, rather than viewing the human body as a repository of parts.
Black Phosphorus p- and n-MOSFETs With Electrostatically Doped Contacts

This letter presents a novel device, which is used to realize black phosphorus (BP) p-MOSFETs and nMOSFETs in a single structure by means of electrostatically doped source and drain regions. The devices achieve I ON /I OFF of greater than 10 4 at V DS = 1.0 V with only a 14% increase in subthreshold slope from VDS = 0.1 to 1.0 V. These results represent a substantial improvement in OFF-state characteristics over conventional Schottky-contacted BP MOSFETs at high VDS and also pave the way for the realization of novel devices, such as tunneling field-effect transistors.
Hot Carrier-Based Near-Field Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversion.

Near-field thermophotovoltaics (NFTPV) is a promising approach for direct conversion of heat to electrical power. This technology relies on the drastic enhancement of radiative heat transfer (compared to conventional blackbody radiation) that occurs when objects at different temperatures are brought to deep subwavelength distances (typically <100 nm) from each other. Achieving such radiative heat transfer between a hot object and a photovoltaic (PV) cell could allow direct conversion of heat to electricity with a greater efficiency than using current solid-state technologies (e.g., thermoelectric generators). One of the main challenges in the development of this technology, however, is its incompatibility with conventional silicon PV cells. Thermal radiation is weak at frequencies larger than the ∼1.1 eV bandgap of silicon, such that PV cells with lower excitation energies (typically 0.4–0.6 eV) are required for NFTPV. Using low bandgap III–V semiconductors to circumvent this limitation, as proposed in mo...
Animal models: importance in research on hemorrhage and thrombosis.

Despite some sentiments against animal research, animal models continue to be important in studying hemorrhage and thrombosis. Examples of genetic models are dogs and pigs with von Willebrand’s disease. The homozygous von Willebrand pig appears to be resistant to arteriosclerosis, presumably due to impairment of the platelet aggregating function. Among acquired models, pigs are gaining in favor, perhaps because their clotting and platelet characteristics resemble those in humans. Species vary markedly in their normal plasma levels of platelet aggregating factor/von Willebrand factor (PAF/vWF). One promising approach to the study of thrombosis is using platelet anti-aggregating drugs to inhibit PAF/vWF dependent platelet thrombus formation; a drug-induced von Willebrand state seems feasible.
Transcriptome analysis of pale-green leaf rice reveals photosynthetic regulatory pathways

Chlorophyll metabolic pathways and chloroplast development have been studied systematically by both biochemical and genetic approaches. However, the effect of them on photosynthesis has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. To gain expression profiles of genes involved in crucial pathways and regulators of photosynthetic metabolism in rice seedling, biochemical characteristics and transcriptome of two rice genotypes were compared. Zhefu802 and Chl-8 are the recurrent parent (dark-green leaf) and its near-isogenic lines (pale-green leaf), respectively. The net photosynthetic rate, F v/F m and ΦPSII of Chl-8 were markedly higher than those of Zhefu802, although the chlorophyll content of Chl-8 was approximately one-third of Zhefu802. In this research, photosynthesis is controlled by delicate but complex genetic networks. In addition to DEGs directly involved in photosynthesis, DEGs involved in response to oxidative stress, energy metabolism and nitrate metabolism co-regulated photosynthetic efficiency in rice. DEGs categorized to signal transduction supported the regulation. Chloroplasts possessing an abundant thylakoid membrane system were not favored to photosynthesis. Five DEGs assigned to chloroplast category (GO:0009507) was genetic basis of difference on thylakoid membrane. Meanwhile, suitable chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a:b and ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoid, which caused by leaf and chloroplast structure, also promoted high photosynthesis. In summary, high photosynthetic efficiency involves coordinated regulation of the synthesis of multiple pigments, chloroplast development, response to oxidative stress, energy metabolism and nitrate metabolism.
Cu(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of β,γ-Unsaturated Amides

Readily available propargyl alcohols were found to be useful substrates for the copper(I)-catalyzed synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated amides. Nucleophilic attack by the alcohol on the in situ generated keten­imine followed by base-catalyzed elimination and subsequent ring opening yields the desired products under mild conditions.
Hemochorial placentation: development, function, and adaptations.

Placentation is a reproductive adaptation that permits fetal growth and development within the protected confines of the female reproductive tract. Through this important role, the placenta also determines postnatal health and susceptibility to disease. The hemochorial placenta is a prominent feature in primate and rodent development. This manuscript provides an overview of the basics of hemochorial placental development and function, provides perspectives on major discoveries that have shaped placental research, and thoughts on strategies for future investigation.Summary SentenceThe review presents basic concepts of hemochorial placentation, discusses significant contributions to the field, and highlights experimental approaches for future investigation.
Noncanonical Matrix Metalloprotease 1-Protease-Activated Receptor 1 Signaling Drives Progression of Atherosclerosis

Objective—Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) is classically activated by thrombin and is critical in controlling the balance of hemostasis and thrombosis. More recently, it has been shown that no...
Selection of stable reference genes for RT-qPCR in Rhodococcus opacus PD630

Rhodococcus opacus PD630 is a gram-positive bacterium with promising attributes for the conversion of lignin into valuable fuels and chemicals. To develop an organism as a cellular factory, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of its metabolism and any heterologous pathways being expressed. For the purpose of quantifying gene transcription, reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is the gold standard due to its sensitivity and reproducibility. However, RT-qPCR requires the use of reference genes whose expression is stable across distinct growth or treatment conditions to normalize the results. Unfortunately, no in-depth analysis of stable reference genes has been conducted in Rhodococcus, inhibiting the utilization of RT-qPCR in R. opacus. In this work, ten candidate reference genes, chosen based on previously collected RNA sequencing data or literature, were examined under four distinct growth conditions using three mathematical programs (BestKeeper, Normfinder, and geNorm). Based on this analysis, the minimum number of reference genes required was found to be two, and two separate pairs of references genes were identified as optimal normalization factors for when ribosomal RNA is either present or depleted. This work represents the first validation of reference genes for Rhodococcus, providing a valuable starting point for future research.
Glucocorticoid Signaling in Health and Disease

Abstract Glucocorticoids are among the most widely prescribed drugs for chronic inflammatory and immune diseases. They act by binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that, upon activation, translocates to the nucleus and either stimulates or inhibits gene expression. GR inhibition of many proinflammatory response genes occurs through the induction of anti-inflammatory genes via direct DNA binding and/or through the repression of proinflammatory transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) or activator protein-1 (AP-1). In this chapter, we discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in GR inhibition of inflammatory responses as well as the adverse side effects of long-term glucocorticoid administration in humans.
Benefit of chemotherapy (CT) in patients (pts) with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) with distant metastases (mets) and visceral organ involvement.

e21000Background: MCC is a rare skin cancer with a propensity for distant mets, yet the ability of palliative CT to impact survival is unknown. Methods: Pts with MCC were identified from an institu...
Organism and Environment: Inheritance and Subjectivity in the Life Sciences by Russell Winslow

Review of Organism and Environment: Inheritance and Subjectivity in the Life Sciences by Russell Winslow
Mineral colloids mediate organic carbon accumulation in a temperate forest Spodosol: depth-wise changes in pore water chemistry

Mobile submicron mineral phases within soil pore waters are presumed to play a major role in the transport and availability of organic carbon (OC) in subsurface horizons. This work reports on the composition of the 95% of the total Fe and Al in SF-S are complexed with OC in all Spodosol horizons. In contrast with the SF-S, the SF-L had much greater OC concentrations and even lower M/C (< 0.01), except in the Bh horizon (M/C = 0.05). In Bh, major accumulation of organic matter occurred above the lesser-accumulating Bhs, the latter having higher pH, but much lower OC in all forms (soil, colloidal). Infrared spectroscopy indicates the SF-L fraction of soil pore waters contains both organic and inorganic constituents, including amorphous silica, the second-most abundant component after OC. Mineral-organic associations such as mineral crystallites embedded in OC are observed in the SF-L fraction by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Transmission electron microscopy also reveal carbon-rich amorphous structures containing traces of Fe, Al and Si, and small (~ 100 nm) spherical amorphous SiO2 particles. These observations provide support for the main mechanism of OC accumulation in Spodosols being the downward movement of colloids (organic, OC-sorbed mineral and organo-mineral), followed by colloid immobilization due to a combination of increases in pH and M/C ratio. The occurrence of these three types of colloidal structures in pore waters seems to depend on the pH and the relative supply of OC and Fe + Al to pore waters. Similar colloidal structures might also contribute to the transport and availability of OC in subsurface horizons of soils that range in the accumulation of organic and organo-metallic compounds, that is, in the expression of spodic properties.
3D Convolutional Neural Network Segmentation of White Matter Tract Masks from MR Diffusion Anisotropy Maps

This paper presents an application of 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) techniques to compute the white matter region spanned by a fiber tract (the tract mask) from whole-brain MRI diffusion anisotropy maps. The DeepMedic CNN platform was used, allowing for training directly on 3D volumes. The dataset consisted of 240 subjects, controls and traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, scanned with a high angular direction and high b-value multi-shell diffusion protocol. Twelve tract masks per subject were learned. Median Dice scores of 0.72 were achieved over the 720 test masks in comparing learned tract masks to manually created masks. This work demonstrates ability to learn complex spatial regions in control and patient populations and contributes a new application of CNNs as a fast pre-selection tool in automated white matter tract segmentation methods.
A longitudinal investigation of protective factors for bereaved maltreated youth.

Abstract Background Maltreated youth are at an elevated risk for the development of problem behaviors. Coping with the death of a family member or close friend during adolescence, referred to as bereavement, is a stressful event that could potentiate risk linked to maltreatment. However, developmental research suggests that youth adjustment is a product of multiple risk and protective factors. Although maltreated youth who experience loss may be particularly vulnerable to behavior problems, personal and contextual factors may attenuate or exacerbate youths’ risk for internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Objective The overarching goal of this study is to examine individual, family, and community-level protective factors for maltreated youth who experience bereavement. Specifically, we aim to examine the effect of age 12 bereavement on age 16 internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, and to investigate the moderating role of multi-level protective factors at ages 14 and 16. Methods The study consisted of a sample of 800 youth (52.4% female, 45.1% African-American) drawn from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), collected from 1998 to 2011. Results Maltreated youth who experienced significant loss were at increased risk for externalizing symptoms, compared to non-bereaved maltreated youth (β = 0.085, p Conclusions These results have implications for future interventions aimed towards reducing problem behaviors in adolescents with a history of child maltreatment and who experience bereavement.
Combining Select Blood-Based Biomarkers with Neuropsychological Assessment to Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment among Mexican Americans

Background Recent work has supported use of blood-based biomarkers in detection of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Inclusion of neuropsychological measures has shown promise in enhancing utility of biomarkers to detect disease. Objective The present study sought to develop cognitive-biomarker profiles for detection of MCI. Methods Data were analyzed on 463 participants (normal control n = 378; MCI n = 85) from HABLE. Random forest analyses determined proteomic profile of MCI. Separate linear regression analyses determined variance accounted for by select biomarkers per neuropsychological measure. When neuropsychological measure with the least shared variance was identified, it was then combined with select biomarkers to create a biomarker-cognitive profile. Results The biomarker-cognitive profile was 90% accurate in detecting MCI. Among amnestic MCI cases, the detection accuracy of the biomarker-cognitive profile was 92% and increased to 94% with demographic variables. Conclusion The biomarker-cognitive profile for MCI was highly accurate in its detection with use of only five biomarkers.
Paper-based fluorogenic RNA aptamer sensors for label-free detection of small molecules

Sensors based on fluorogenic RNA aptamers have emerged in recent years. These sensors have been used for in vitro and intracellular detection of a broad range of biological and medical targets. However, the potential application of fluorogenic RNA-based sensors for point-of-care testing is still little studied. Here, we report a paper substrate-based portable fluorogenic RNA sensor system. Target detection can be simply performed by rehydration of RNA sensor-embedded filter papers. This affordable sensor system can be used for the selective, sensitive, and rapid detection of different target analytes, such as antibiotics and cellular signaling molecules. We believe that these paper-based fluorogenic RNA sensors show great potential for point-of-care testing of a wide range of targets from small molecules, nucleic acids, proteins, to various pathogens.
Absolute lymphocyte count is a prognostic marker in Covid-19: A retrospective cohort review.

INTRODUCTION: Prognostic factors are needed to aid clinicians in managing Covid-19, a respiratory illness. Lymphocytopenia has emerged as a simply obtained laboratory value that may correlate with prognosis. METHODS: In this article, we perform a retrospective cohort review study on patients admitted to one academic hospital for Covid-19 illness. We analyzed basic demographic, clinical, and laboratory data to understand the relationship between lymphocytopenia at the time of hospital admission and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: We discovered that lymphocyte count is lower (P = .01) and lymphocytopenia more frequent by an odds ratio of 3.40 (95% CI: 1.06-10.96; P = .04) in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a marker of disease severity, relative to those who were not. We additionally find that patients with lymphocytopenia were more likely to develop an acute kidney injury (AKI), a marker of organ failure, during admission by an odds ratio of 4.29 (95% CI: 1.35-13.57; P = .01). CONCLUSION: This evidence supports the hypothesis that lymphocytopenia can be an early, useful, and easily obtained, prognostic factor in determining the clinical course and disease severity of a patient admitted to the hospital for Covid-19.
High Mitotic Rate Predicts Sentinel Lymph Node Involvement in Thin Melanomas.

Abstract Background Indications for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in the population with thin melanoma have frequently changed over time. The objective of our study was to evaluate T1 melanoma pathologic features predictive of SLN positivity with a primary focus on identifying a specific mitotic value that is most predictive of lymph node disease. Further detailed predictive features would help physicians select patients with thin melanoma for SLN biopsy. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for all patients diagnosed with trunk or extremity cutaneous melanoma with ≤1 mm depth who underwent SLN biopsy between the years of 2010 and 2013. Patient demographics and tumor characteristics including depth, mitotic rate (MR), ulceration, and tumor location were evaluated. MR was dichotomized at multiple cut points to identify the ideal number of mitosis for MR as a predictor of SLN status. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors affecting nodal positivity and the impact of MR threshold. Kaplan-Meir curves were used for overall survival (OS) analysis. Results Factors significantly associated with SLN positivity in the entire cohort included MR (P Conclusions MR ≥ 4 was significant and associated with SLN positivity in thin melanomas and asulceration. Thus, MR ≥ 4 should be considered as an indication for SLN biopsy in thin melanoma.
Management of vasopressor induced ischemia

Abstract Purpose We evaluated a cohort of patients who developed vasopressor-induced limb ischemia and the management options to prevent progression or minimize morbidity of digital necrosis. Methods We reviewed all current literature on pressor-induced limb ischemia and report options for the management of patients requiring vasopressors who developed limb ischemia. We then retrospectively reviewed presentation, treatment, and short-term outcomes for patients at our tertiary referral academic medical center that developed this complication. Finally, we recommend guidelines for the tiered management of these complex patients. Results Thirty-six patients were included. Twenty-six patients (72%) required resuscitation with more than one vasopressor. Vasopressors were initiated for septic-shock (52.7%), cardiogenic-shock (16.7%), hypovolemic-shock (13.9%), acute transplant rejection (13.9%), and neurogenic-shock (2.8%). According to the tiered management recommendations, patients were managed with phase 1 care (19%), phase 2 care (8.3%), phase 3 care (50%) or phase 4 care (5.6%). The patient expired in the acute setting in 13.9% of cases. Conclusion Life-saving vasopressors risk digital ischemia and necrosis. Early recognition, reporting, and treatment of this complication are important in minimizing morbidity. Using a tiered approach helps organize the healthcare team's management of this iatrogenic complication while respecting the treatment paradigm of “life over limb,” and may be safely performed with acceptable outcomes.
American Studies and Digital Archives. A Forum on Collaborative Knowledge Preservation, Accessibility, and Pedagogy

italianoQuesto forum contiene interviste con studiosi e creatori di archivi digitali nell’ambito degli studi americani, concentrandosi su questioni all’intersezione tra teoria e pratica. Mettendo una moltitudine di progetti in conversazione tra loro, il forum ne esplora e confronta le capacita pedagogiche, le relazioni tra contenuto e infrastrutture informatiche e l'abilita degli archivi digitali di scrivere, o riscrivere, la storia “dal basso”. EnglishThis forum features interviews with scholars and creators of digital archives in the field of American Studies and investigates questions at the intersections of theory and practice. By creating a dialogue among diverse projects, we seek to explore and compare their pedagogical affordances, the relationship between content and informational architecture, and the ability for digital archives to write, or re-write, history “from below.”
A High-Frequency Solution for Scattering by a Multilayer Anisotropic Slab

The previously developed heuristic uniform theory of diffraction corner and wedge diffraction coefficients for a thin lossless anisotropic slab are generalized and applied for predicting electromagnetic scattering by a lossy/lossless multilayer anisotropic slab. The effective reflection and transmission coefficients of a multilayer slab are used in the heuristic formulation to determine the scattered fields. The heuristic coefficients derived for a thin slab are applied to a multilayer slab with a finite thickness. Numerical results are provided for various scattering problems that demonstrate the validity of the heuristic formulations for a multilayer structure.
Elevated glycohemoglobin is linked to critical illness in CoVID-19: a retrospective analysis

Background:Several studies have explored hospitalization risk factors with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Our goal was to identify clinical characteristics outside of labo...
Potential of breadfruit cultivation to contribute to climate-resilient low latitude food systems

The number of people in food crisis around the world is increasing, exacerbated by the challenges of COVID-19 and a rapidly changing climate. Major crop yields are projected to decrease in low-latitude regions due to anthropogenic climate change, making tropical and sub-tropical food systems particularly vulnerable to climate shocks. Increased cultivation of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), often categorized as a neglected and underutilized species (NUS), has been suggested as an agricultural adaptation pathway for food insecure tropical and subtropical regions, due to its potential to enhance climate resilience and overall sustainability of low-latitude agricultural systems. To better understand breadfruit9s cultivation suitability and geographic range in current and future climates, we employ a diverse set of observations and models to delineate the current climatically viable breadfruit range, and assess the climatically viable breadfruit range in the future (2061-2080) under stabilization and high emission scenarios. We find that the area of suitable breadfruit range within the tropics and subtropics is projected to decrease approximately 4.4% in the stabilization scenario and approximately 4.5% in the high emission scenario. In Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, yield quality and consistency show minimal decreases under the high emission scenario, with increases in total suitable area under both scenarios. In contrast, in Latin America and the Caribbean, the current range of breadfruit suitability is projected to contract approximately 10.1-11.5% (stabilization-high emission). Present and future model suitability outputs suggest that opportunities to successfully expand breadfruit cultivation over the next several decades exist in sub-Saharan Africa, where food insecurity is coincidentally high. However, in all regions, high emission scenario conditions reduce the overall consistency and quality of breadfruit yields compared to the stabilization scenario. Our results have the potential to inform global food security adaptation planning and highlight breadfruit as an ideal NUS to incorporate in food security adaptation strategies in a changing climate.
Perception, Knowledge and Belief: Selected Essays

This collection of essays by eminent philosopher Fred Dretske brings together work on the theory of knowledge and philosophy of mind spanning thirty years. The two areas combine to lay the groundwork for a naturalistic philosophy of mind. The fifteen essays focus on perception, knowledge, and consciousness. Together, they show the interconnectedness of Dretske's work in epistemology and his more contemporary ideas on philosophy of mind, shedding light on the links which can be made between the two. The first section of the book argues the point that knowledge consists of beliefs with the right objective connection to facts; two essays discuss this conception of knowledge's implications for naturalism. The next section articulates a view of perception, attempting to distinguish conceptual states from phenomenal states. A naturalized philosophy of mind, and thus a naturalized epistemology, is articulated in the third section. This collection will be a valuable resource for a wide range of philosophers and their students, and will also be of interest to cognitive scientists, psychologists, and philosophers of biology.
The DYT1 gene on 9q34 is responsible for most cases of early limb-onset idiopathic torsion dystonia in non-Jews.

Idiopathic torsion dystonia (ITD) is characterized by involuntary twisting movements and postures. A gene for this disorder, DYT1, was mapped to chromosome 9q34 in 12 Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) families and one large non-Jewish kindred. In the AJ population, strong linkage disequilibrium exists between DYT1 and adjacent markers within a 2-cM region. The associated haplotype occurs in >90% of early limb-onset AJ cases. The authors examined seven non-Jewish ITD families of northern European and French Canadian descent to determine the extent to which early-onset ITD in non-Jews maps to DYT1. Results are consistent with linkage to the DYT1 region. Affected individuals in these families are clinically similar to the AJ cases, i.e., the site of onset is predominantly in the limbs and at least one individual in each pedigree had onset before age 12 years. None carries the AJ haplotype; therefore, they probably represent different mutations in the DYT1 gene. The two French Canadian families, however, display the same haplotype. Estimates of penetrance in non-Jewish families range from .40 to .75. They identified disease gene carriers and, with adjustments for age at onset, obtained a direct estimate of penetrance of .46. This is consistent with estimates of 30%-40% in the AJmore » population. Two other non-Jewish families with atypical ITD (later onset and/or cranial or cervical involvement) are not linked to DYT1, which indicates involvement of other genes in dystonia. 26 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.« less
Robust Controller Tuning

Process controllers are to be designed and implemented in an environment of uncertainty in which the model/plant mismatch plays a detrimental role. In this paper, a tuning procedure is presented to account for this mismatch. The new techniques make use of the concept of singular value sensitivities, providing the designer with useful guidelines and tuning directions along which both stability and performance robustness can be effectively improved. The overall procedure is also formulated within an interactive optimization framework. An example illustrates the highlights of the method.
Elevated Temperature Crack Growth in Sic Whisker-Reinforced Alumina

Interrupted creep crack growth tests in argon gas atmosphere were conducted at 1100 C, 1200 C, and 1300 C with SiC whisker-reinforced alumina specimens. Crack nucleation and growth was followed as a function of creep strain. It was found that the crack nucleation and growth characteristics of this composite fell in between that of a fine grain high purity monolithic alumina and a relatively large grain vitreous-bonded alumina. Crack coalescence which left behind unbroken bridges were the dominant mechanism of crack growth. No evidence was found for high temperature whisker pullout. 9 references.
Molecular Biology, Single Cell Analysis and Quantitative Genetics: New Evolutionary Genetic Approaches in Phytoplankton Ecology

It is widely recognized that phytoplankton in the marine environment experience variation in a range of environmental variables over many temporal and spatial scales (Harris, 1980, 1986; Lewis and Platt, 1982; Ducklow, 1984). Adaptation, has, therefore received considerable attention as a research topic during the last several decades. The conceptual basis for much of this work has emphasized a nongenetic approach to the adaptive process; most examinations of the tolerance of individual phytoplankton species to environmental variation follow the approaches pioneered by Barker (1935), Braarud (1951), and Provasoli and Pintner (1953), in which the response of single clonal representatives of a species to changes in the experimental variable(s) of interest are studied under controlled conditions. From these studies, optimum conditions for growth are inferred and used to interpret patterns of distribution and abundance observed in nature (e.g., Braarud, 1961; Guillard, 1968; Eppley et al., 1969; Titman, 1976; Tilman, 1977; Kilham et al., 1977; Brand and Guillard, 1981; Brand et al., 1983, 1986).
Prediction of Morbidity in Hemophilus influenzae Meningitis

A dramatic decrease in mortality from Hesnophilus influenzae meningitis has occurred in recent years. Morbidity and long-term sequellae remain significant problems. A follow-up investigation of 73 cases of H. influenzae meningitis seen over a three-year period revealed: 2 deaths, 6 children with major sequellae (retardation, spastic quadriplegia, blindness, persistent seizure disorder), 10 with minor residua, and 55 with no detectable disability. Statistical analysis of clinical parameters demonstrated a significant risk of death or major morbidity in those patients who, at the time of admission, had seizures, coma, hypothermia, shock, age less than 12 months, hemoglobin less than 11 gm/100 ml, pretreatment symptoms for longer than three days, a spinal fluid white blood cell count less than 1,000/cu mm, or a spinal fluid glucose value less than 20 mg/100 ml. Using these parameters, those patients at highest risk of having lasting major morbidity with H. influenzae meningitis can be predicted, allowing more vigorous intensive care which may reduce the mortality and morbidity further.
Electrophoretic properties of dopamine -hydroxylase in several tissues from three species.

Dopamine β-hydroxylase (EC [1.14.2.1][1]) from tissue homogenates of three species was subjected to electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel and starch blocks. In both systems dopamine β-hydroxylase in crude homogenates of solid tissues exhibited two electrophoretically distinguishable peaks of activity. The smaller, more slowly migrating peak was eliminated by high-speed centrifugation prior to electrophoresis, suggesting that this peak represented a form of the enzyme bound to the membrane or to a subcellular constituent. This interpretation is supported by partial conversion of dopamine β-hydroxylase activity from the slowly moving peak to the fast-migrating peak by Triton treatment. Also in harmony with this view are the observations that a nonparticulate tissue such as serum contained only the faster-migrating peak and that prior treatment with reserpine produced elevations of both peaks in solid tissues. The main peak of dopamine β-hydroxylase activity from human, cow, and rat adrenals differed in electrophoretic mobility, but within each species the major peak of activity from all tissues, including serum, had the same mobility. Human serum dopamine β-hydroxylase activity migrated with the mobility of a β-globulin. The major peak of enzyme activity from each species was broad and asymmetrical, and possibly included several distinct molecular forms of the enzyme. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank Dr. F. K. Millar, Laboratory of Physiology, National Cancer Institute, for her assistance in the computer analysis of the kinetic data, and Mrs. Dorothy Rutherford and Mrs. Helen Hunt, for their excellent technical assistance. [1]: pending:yes
Does a Business Curriculum Develop or Filter Critical Thinking

We investigate whether a business curriculum develops critical thinking ability or at least serves as a filter for critical thinking (i.e., students who cannot think critically tend not to progress toward graduation). We measure critical thinking by performance on the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Short Form which was administered to a sample of 600 students enrolled in a junior-level operations management course. We find that students who have completed more credit hours score significantly higher than those with fewer hours completed. This advantage appears specifically evident in the areas of interpreting information and evaluating arguments.
Written language maturity and formal reasoning in male and female adolescents.

The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that a significant relationship exists between the development of formal reasoning and written language maturity as measured by length of minimal terminable units or T-units. Fifty subjects (25 males, mean-age 14.67 years and 25 females, mean-age 14.50 years) enrolled in high school freshman English classes were administered a series of 15 reasoning tasks requiring various aspects of formal reasoning for solution plus a test of field dependence-independence. Subjects were also given an in-class assignment to write an essay of 500 words about an important object in their lives.Various aspects of formal reasoning were found to correlate significantly with mean T-unit length for the males (r = 0.28 N.S. to 0.58 p < 0.001). The cumulative reasoning score correlated at 0.59 p < 0.001 with mean T-unit length. These coefficients were not substantially altered when field dependence-independence was partialled out.Surprisingly, for the females, formal rea...
A longitudinal study of red cell enzymes in infants of low birth weight.

A longitudinal study of red cell enzyme activity in newborn infants of low birth weight has been conducted over the first 2 months of life. The enzymes investigated are acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.3.7), an integral part of the red cell membrane and subnormal in AB0 hemolytic disease of the newborn; and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49), an intracellularly-located, sex-linked enzyme, implicated in neonatal jaundice and of significance in drug-induced hemolytic anemias. Acetylcholinesterase activity, which is lower in normal full-term newborn infants and in low birth weight infants than in adults, was further diminisched during the initial weeks of life of the infants of low birth weight and the higher levels of activity, characteristic of adult red cells, had not appeared by 2 months of age. By contrast, red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, which is higher in full-term newborn infants and in infants of low birth weight than in adults, did not diminish as a function of age and the lower adult levels were not discernible by 2 months of life.
Stochastic link and group detection

Link detection and analysis has long been important in the social sciences and in the government intelligence community. A significant effort is focused on the structural and functional analysis of "known" networks. Similarly, the detection of individual links is important but is usually done with techniques that result in "known" links. More recently the internet and other sources have led to a flood of circumstantial data that provide probabilistic evidence of links. Co-occurrence in news articles and simultaneous travel to the same location are two examples.We propose a probabilistic model of link generation based on membership in groups. The model considers both observed link evidence and demographic information about the entities. The parameters of the model are learned via a maximum likelihood search. In this paper we describe the model and then show several heuristics that make the search tractable. We test our model and optimization methods on synthetic data sets with a known ground truth and a database of news articles.
Cellular localization and distribution of the cloned mu and kappa opioid receptors in rat gastrointestinal tract

Several pharmacological and electrophysiological studies have shown that the opioid receptors are widely distributed in the gastrointestinal tract. Despite such consensus, there are conflicting findings regarding their effects in intestinal function, and their precise site of action remained unclear. The aim of the present study was therefore to delineate the cellular localization of mu and kappa opioid receptors in rat gastrointestinal tract using polyclonal antibodies generated to C-terminal end of the cloned mu (63 amino acids) and kappa (41 amino acids) receptors. The distribution of mu differs from that of kappa receptors within the gastrointestinal wall, with a greater abundance of mu receptor-like immunoreactive fibres in all intestinal layers. Numerous neurons expressing mu receptor-like proteins were found in the submucosal plexus with comparatively few in the myenteric plexus. In contrast, a higher number of neurons expressing kappa receptor-like immunoreactivity were visualized in the myenteric plexus with a small number in the submucosal plexus. A high number of immunopositive neurons were found in the myenteric plexus of the stomach and the proximal colon with both antibodies. In the submucosal and mucosal layers. mu receptor-immunoreactive fibres were more abundant and distributed around the crypts, blood vessels and lymphatic nodes. Interestingly, numerous mu and fewer kappa receptor-immunoreactive interstitial cells are localized in the region of myenteric plexus and at the internal border of the circular muscle. Finally, smooth muscle cells did not demonstrate any mu- nor kappa-receptor immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that in the rat gastrointestinal tract, mu and kappa opioid receptors may directly influence neuronal and interstitial cell activity. This appears not to be the case for the smooth muscle cells. In the muscular layers, the anatomical data point to mu receptor actions being mediated by nerve terminals, whereas kappa receptor effects may be mediated by both nerve terminals and somatodendritic synaptic mechanisms. In contrast, in the submucosal and mucosal layers, mu receptors predominate and are localized on both nerve terminals and somatodendritic synaptic elements.