cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radio Observations of γ-Ray Burst Afterglows

Since 1997 the afterglow of γ-ray bursting sources (GRBs) has occasionally been detected in the radio, as well in other wavelengths bands. In particular, the interesting and unusual γ-ray burst GRB980425, thought to be related to the radio supernova SN1998bw, is a possible link between the two classes of objects. Analyzing the extensive radio emission data available for SN1998bw, one can describe its time evolution within the well established framework available for the analysis of radio emission from supernovae. This then allows relatively detailed description of a number of physical properties of the object. The radio emission can best be explained as the interaction of a mildly relativistic (Γ ∼ 1.6) shock with a dense pre-explosion stellar wind-established circumstellar medium that is highly structured both azimuthally, in clumps or filaments, and radially, with observed density enhancements. Because of its unusual characteristics for a type Ib/c supernova, the relation of SN1998bw to GRB980425 is strengthened and suggests that at least some classes of GRBs originate in supernova massive star explosions. Thus, employing the formalism for describing the radio emission from supernovae and following the link through SN1998bw/GRB980425, it is possible to model the gross properties of the radio and optical/IR emission from the half-dozen GRBs with extensive radio observations. From this we conclude that at least some members of the slow-soft class of GRBs can be attributed to the explosion of a massive star in a dense, highly structured CSM that was presumably established by the pre-explosion stellar system.
Polarographic determination of oxazepam

Abstract Oxazepam was extracted from dosage form and polarographed in a methanol-methylene chloride solvent system.Well defined cathodic waves were obtained at the dropping mercury electrode and the diffusion current was shown to be proportional to the concentration.The method is rapid and reasonably specific.Recoveries ranged from 97.0-104.0% with an average of 99.9%.
Transient Response of Strongly Correlated materials to Large Electric Fields: Utilizing the Large Memory Capacity of ARSC's Midnight Machine in a Capability Applications Project

Strongly correlated materials can be tuned to pass through a metal-insulator transition as a function of doping, pressure, or temperature. This high tunability makes them strong candidates for use in so-called "smart materials" that exhibit tunability of their properties. In this capabilities application project (CAP) phase ii project we used the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center (ARSC) Opteron computer (Midnight) to exactly solve for the nonlinear response of these materials to a strong electric field. Our computational algorithm breaks into two portions, one serial and one parallel; the serial part does not scale while the parallel part scales perfectly with the number of compute nodes. The code is transportable having been run on a wide variety of machines with high efficiency and requiring only FORTRAN, LAPACK and BLAS. The main bottlenecks that determine how large a system can be simulated stem from the memory per node on the machine, and the total computational time available. We found that the performance on Midnight was excellent for large jobs (where the executable size was larger than 4 GB) due to the fact that the job could be run with shared memory on one board and fewer processors. Doing so required simply using the proper calling protocol within message passing interface (MPI) to exclusively share memory within the same motherboard. Midnight also showed improved performance over other machines in the 2 GB-4 GB range for the executable because each processor can use up to 4 Gb memory without any sharing, and many other machines require sharing of memory when larger than 2 GB.
Endogenous heme oxygenase prevents impairment of cerebral vascular functions caused by seizures

In newborn pigs, the mechanism of seizure-induced cerebral hyperemia involves carbon monoxide (CO), the vasodilator product of heme catabolism by heme oxygenase (HO). We hypothesized that seizures cause cerebral vascular dysfunction when HO activity is inhibited. With the use of cranial window techniques, we examined cerebral vascular responses to endothelium-dependent (hypercapnia and bradykinin) and endothelium-independent (isoproterenol and sodium nitroprusside) dilators during the recovery from bicuculline-induced seizures in saline controls and in animals pretreated with a HO inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin (SnPP). SnPP (3 mg/kg iv) blocked dilation to heme and reduced the CO level in cortical periarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid, indicating HO inhibition in the cerebral microcirculation. In saline control piglets, seizures increased the CO level, which correlated with the time-dependent cerebral vasodilation; during the recovery (2 h after seizure induction), responses to all vasodilators were preserved. In SnPP-treated animals, cerebral vasodilation and the CO responses to seizures were greatly reduced, and cerebral vascular reactivity was severely impaired during the recovery. These findings suggest that HO in the cerebral microcirculation is rapidly activated during seizures and provides endogenous protection against seizure-induced vascular injury.
A comparative study on sensitivities of Boolean networks

Sensitivity analysis is a critical yet challenging problem for understanding complex systems. In genomic signal processing, it has been recognized that many biological systems are asymptotically stable. The sensitivity regarding the structural and dynamical uncertainty of network models may provide a deep understanding of the robustness, adaptability, and controllability of biological processes. We focus on the Boolean network model, as it has been shown to be able to capture the switching behavior of many biological processes by appropriate modeling of multivariate nonlinear relationships among genes. We study two different sensitivity measures for the Boolean network model, one directly related to individual predictor Boolean functions and the other to long-term network dynamics. Although there is some correlation between the measures, our study shows that these different sensitivities characterize different aspects of network behavior, so that their application depends on how they relate to specific translational goals.
Immunohistochemistry of Hypothalamic GNRH Following Manipulation of Sex Steroid Levels: Evidence that Androgens have Divergent Effects on GNRH Stores and Serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone Levels

Immunohistochensical visualizations of GNRH in the median eminence were correlated with measurements of circulating gonadotropin levels in rats. In one experiment. 4 days of treatment with Silastic capsules of So-dihydrotestosterone (DHT:8 or 48 mm! 100 g 8W) or testosterone (T:48 mm! 100 g BW) were initiated 34 days after gonadectomies on Days 2.23 or 45 of life. The visually determined intensity of GNRH staining was diminished in gonadectomized rats when compared with that observed in age matched intacts or steroid-treated rats. T always suppressed the elevated serum levels of both FSH and LH. DHT suppressed serum gonadotropins in all orchidectomized rats, serum LH in all ovariectomized rats, serum FS H in rats ovariectomized on Day 2. but not in rats ovariectomized on Days 23 or 45. In another study. using rats ovariectomized as adults. DHT or estradiol benzoate (EB) treatment partially restored the GNRH staining. While EB suppressed bosh FSH and LH. DHT suppressed serum LH and elevated serum FSH. These discrepancies in the simultaneous effects of DHT on GNRH staining and serum FSH levels suggest that FSH secretion maybe regulated, in part, by a FS H-regulating neurohormone or that DHT may act at the pituitary to increase serum FSH in ovariectomized rats.
Protocol for Nuclear Transfer in Zebrafish

THE ZEBRAFISH, Danio rerio, has become an important vertebrate model system for extensive studies in various fields of biology. To date, zebrafish has been widely used in studies of genetics, developmental biology, behavior, and human diseases (Dooley and Zon, 2000; Zon, 1999). Zebrafish embryos develop in vitro and remain transparent during early embryogenesis; an adult female lays hundreds of eggs per mating in weekly intervals; the generation time is as short as 2–3 months. The embryos also develop rapidly, most of its tissues and organ primordial form at 24 h after fertilization. The ability to perform in vitro fertilization and raise very large number of adults due to their small body size further enhance its position as a genetic system for vertebrate animals. These advantages greatly benefit large-scale genetic screenings, identification of specific mutant phenotypes, and other biological studies (Driever et al., 1996; Hafter et al., 1996; Mullins et al., 1994). Despite these favorable characteristics, the zebrafish model lacks a practical method to disrupt a specific gene in order to study its in vivo gene function, such as the knockout approach routinely applied to mouse through homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Though tremendous efforts have been made (Ma et al., 2001), so far no ES cells equivalent to that of mouse are available in zebrafish. As the scheduled genome project is to be completed soon, readily available genome sequences and gene structures call for a targeted genetic manipulation in zebrafish to understand gene functions. In mammals lacking ES cells, targeted gene disruption in fibroblast cells coupled with animal cloning by nuclear transfer has been successfully demonstrated (McCreath et al., 2000; Lai et al., 2002). In order to test the feasibility of a similar approach in zebrafish, we developed the nuclear transfer technology in zebrafish using long term cultured embryonic fibroblast cells (Lee et al., 2002). Nuclear transfer in zebrafish is a complex procedure, involving cell culture, egg selection, and micromanipulation of the eggs and cells; each step affects the overall efficiency of obtaining cloned fish. Here, we provide a step-by-step description of the zebrafish nuclear transfer technique developed in our laboratory.
Media and Technology Use Among Hispanics/Latinos in New York: Implications for Health Communication Programs.

There is limited information about media and technology use, as well as health information-seeking patterns, specifically for Hispanics/Latinos at the state level. An understanding of access, usage patterns, and preferences for receiving health information is critical for state-level organizations to effectively reach and serve this growing population. A telephone survey was developed to assess media and technology access, use patterns, health-seeking information patterns, and preferences for receiving health information. The survey was conducted in New York state from August 8 to November 4, 2013, using random digit dialing. The overall sample of 1350 included 412 Hispanic/Latino adults who are the focus of this study. Most Hispanic/Latino respondents reported having at least one working computer at home (78 %) and using the Internet (84 %); almost all who had a computer reported having high-speed Internet service (90 %). Cell phone ownership was common (88 %), and many had a smartphone (71 %). Activities most likely to occur several times per day were sending text messages (61 %), using phone apps (49 %), using a search engine (40 %), using email (34 %), and using social networking sites (32 %). The most preferred channels of receiving health information were websites, mail, and television. Older respondents were significantly less likely to have the technologies, engage in technology activities, and prefer newer forms of information dissemination (i.e., text messages). Education and income were important predictors in some cases. While most Hispanics/Latinos have access to various technologies, the reason for using those technologies and preferences for receiving health information most often varies by age and, sometimes, by education and income. Older adults tend to seek health information from traditional sources such as television and brochures, while younger adults favored newer technologies. Knowing preferences of the population can help ensure proper media channels are selected for dissemination of health information to Hispanic/Latino communities.
Distribution of Length of Ancestral Chromosomal Segments in Admixed Genomes

The ancestral chromosomal segments in admixed genome are of significant importance for both population history inference and admixture mapping because they essentially provide the basic information for tracking population genetic events. We introduced a theoretical framework on the distributions of the length of ancestral chromosomal segments (LACS) in hybrid isolation (HI) model and gradual admixture (GA) model. Although the distribution of LACS in GA model differs from that in HI model, we demonstrated that the mean LACS in HI model is approximately half of that in GA model if both admixture proportion and admixture time in the two models are identical. In addition, we found the peak of association signatures in HI model was much narrower and sharper than that in GA model, indicating that the identification of putative causal allele in HI model is more efficient than that in GA model.
Enshrinement and Persistency of Japanese Religion

When Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Pow ers in 1945, State Shinto lost its official protection, and a new Japanese Constitution soon upheld the principle of church-state separation.1 Yet today, more than forty years later, Shinto re tains a very special, and politically sensitive, place in Japanese life. Indeed, Shinto as a "societal church" seems to be remarka bly resilient. This assumption was reinforced on 1 June 1988 when the Japanese Supreme Court ruled in a religious freedom case that a veterans' group, acting with government support, had the right to enshrine the soul of a dead soldier of the Self Defense Force (SDF, the Japanese military) as a Shinto god de spite the strong objections of his wife, a Christian, and of various Christian denominations.
Timing and amplitude jitter due to intra-channel dispersion-managed pulse interactions

Analytical expressions to estimate timing and amplitude jitter due to intra-channel pulse interactions in dispersion-managed systems are provided. Results are compared to direct numerical simulation. Distributed amplification reduces timing and amplitude jitter with fixed path-average power.
Sperm Whales Stranded on the Beaches of the Gulf of California

Reports of one or even two whales stranded on the beach are not unusual but the stranding of a number of whales at one time is unusual. Two cases of multiple strandings of sperm whales in the Gulf of California, Mexico, have come to my attention in recent years. Mr. Glenton …
VLA-4 blockade by natalizumab inhibits sickle reticulocyte and leucocyte adhesion during simulated blood flow.

Summary Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4, α4β1-integrin, ITGA4) orchestrates cell-cell and cell-endothelium adhesion. Given the proposed role of VLA-4 in sickle cell disease (SCD) pathophysiology, we evaluated the ability of the VLA-4 blocking antibody natalizumab to inhibit SCD blood cell adhesion. Natalizumab recognized surface VLA-4 on leucocytes and reticulocytes in whole blood from SCD subjects. SCD reticulocytes were positive for VLA-4, while VLA-4 staining of non-SCD reticulocytes was undetectable. Titrations with natalizumab revealed the presence of saturable levels of VLA-4 on both SCD reticulocytes and leucocytes similar to healthy subject leucocytes. Under physiological flow conditions, the adhesion of SCD whole blood cells and isolated SCD leucocytes to immobilized vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) was blocked by natalizumab in a dose-dependent manner, which correlated with cell surface receptor binding. Natalizumab also inhibited >50% of whole blood cell binding to TNF-α activated human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers under physiological flow at clinically relevant concentrations (10 to 100 μg/ml). This indicates that VLA-4 is the dominant receptor that drives SCD reticulocyte and mononuclear cell adhesion to VCAM-1 and that the VLA-4 adhesion to VCAM-1 is a significant contributor to SCD blood cell adhesion to endothelium. Thus, VLA-4 blockade may be beneficial in sickle cell disease.
Evidence moderately supports effectiveness of interventions targeting mealtime difficulties in older adults with dementia

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Liu, W., Cheon, J., & Thomas, S. A. (2014). Interventions on mealtime difficulties in older adults with dementia: A systemaic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 51, 14–27.Source of funding and declaration of interest: Declared no funding and no conflicts of interest.
Elide me bare

In this paper, I argue that the traditional analysis of null arguments—subjects and objects—in American Sign Language needs to be re-evaluated. It is typically assumed that in the absence of agreement, the null argument is either a topic-bound variable or a silent pronoun (pro). I introduce novel data that pose a problem for both of these views. As the null argument is subjected to a variety of diagnostics, I demonstrate that it is best analyzed as a case of ellipsis of a non-branching argument of the verb—a bare NP.
Update on lipid species and paediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Purpose of review To describe the recent advances in our understanding of fatty acids and lipids in paediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and their future implications. Recent findings Data have been accumulated to suggest that ceramides are the main drivers of hepatic insulin resistance in NAFLD, and inhibition of ceramide synthesis improves histology in mice.Saturated fatty acids formed by de novo lipogenesis generate increased lipotoxicity compared with dietary-derived saturated fatty acids.Hepatic lipogenesis and associated insulin resistance have been found to be influenced by several novel proteins, including E2F1, cyclic AMP response element binding protein transcriptional coactivator 2, Raptor, and eukaryotic initiation factor 6. There are encouraging data from animal models that modulation of these could be therapeutic targets.Human and animal metabolomics and lipidomics data have been used to generate a lipid signature for NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Serum lipidomics appears to correlate with hepatic lipidomics.Therapeutic trials of polyunsaturated fatty acids in children have had mixed results, with some reductions in noninvasive biomarkers. Summary Multiple new pathways for drug targets have been identified, and use of lipidomics is likely to become a noninvasive method for assessing disease. However, much of the data for paediatric NAFLD are extrapolated from adult or animal studies.
An adaptive actuator failure compensation scheme for a parallel manipulator with parameter uncertainties

This paper develops an adaptive actuator failure compensation control scheme for a parallel manipulator robotic system. The adaptive control design uses an integration of multiple failure compensator controllers designed for each actuator failure pattern. Such a design effectively utilizes the actuation redundancy in the unique structure of parallel manipulator systems to compensate for possible actuator failures with no knowledge of actuator failure pattern, failure time instant and failure values. With complete parameterization of system and actuator failure uncertainties and direct adaptation of controller parameters, the adaptive control scheme guarantees desired closed-loop stability and asymptotic output tracking, despite certain actuator failures. Simulation results verify the desired control system performance for a 2-DOF redundantly actuated parallel manipulator.
Protein S-Acylation in Pulmonary Disease

Obesity is a major risk factor for asthma. Obese asthmatics exhibit poor symptom control, frequent exacerbation, and increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The consumption of a western diet, high in fat and carbohydrates, can both induce obesity and increase ROS. Oxidation of critical cysteine resides, due to high ROS, may hinder post-translational modifications required for proper protein function. Previous studies reported that increased cysteine oxidation, due to consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD), coincided with decreased protein S-acylation. Protein S-acylation is regulated by acyltransferases (zDHHCs) and thioesterases (PPT/APTs). To date, there have been no reports of the S-acylated protein profile in the lung and how it may be modified by comorbid disease. We hypothesize that identifying the pulmonary ‘palmitoylome’ will provide critical information and insight into pathogenesis of lung disease, including the pathophysiology of asthma. The lung ‘palmitoylome’ was profiled by LC-MS analysis of S-acylated proteins isolated from murine whole lung tissue. Additionally, to measure alterations of pulmonary S-acylation in obesity and asthma, we used whole lung tissue of lean and obese, or house dust mite (HDM) allergic, C57BL/6 mice. To assess whether gene expression of zDHHC or PPT/APT enzymes was altered in obesity or asthma, RT-PCR was performed from lung tissue cDNA from the aforementioned mice. Furthermore, a microarray was conducted from human nasal epithelial cells isolated from obese asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients. We identified several S-acylated proteins in murine lung tissue. Differences in protein S-acylation as a result of feeding a HFD, as well as HDM-induced asthma, were observed. Although, gene expression of zDHHC enzymes was not altered in lung tissue, PPT/APT genes were significantly altered in lean vs. obese and healthy vs. allergic lung tissue. PPT and zDHHC gene expression was differentially expressed in the nasal epithelial cells from obese control vs. obese asthmatic patients. In conclusion, both obesity and asthma exhibit an altered protein S-acylation profile in murine lung tissue and in primary nasal epithelial cells from human subjects, which may contribute to pulmonary pathophysiology.
Biogenesis, assembly and trafficking of acetylcholinesterase.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is expressed as several homomeric and heterooligomeric forms in a wide variety of tissues such as neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems and their targets including skeletal muscle, endocrine and exocrine glands. In addition, glycolipid-anchored forms are expressed in erythropoietic and lymphopoietic cells. While transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation is important for determining which AChE oligomeric forms are expressed in a given tissue, translational and post-translational regulatory mechanisms at the level of protein folding, assembly and sorting play equally important roles in assuring that the AChE molecules reach their intended sites on the cell surface in the appropriate numbers. This brief review will focus on the latter events in the cell with the goal of providing novel therapeutic interventional strategies for the treatment of organophosphate and carbamate pesticide and nerve agent exposure. This is an article for the special issue XVth International Symposium on Cholinergic Mechanisms.
Engineered Bone Tissue with Naturally-Derived Small Molecules

Natural products remain the best resources of drugs and drug leads. Recently, there is growing recognition that identifying new small molecules to promote bone regeneration is a laudable translational goal. In fact, new approaches for bone repair and regeneration that involve inexpensive naturally-derived compounds would have an important impact on the treatment of bone disorders and injuries. Over the past several decades, a number of naturally-derived small molecules with the potential of regenerating bone tissue (i.e. osteoinductive) have been reported in the literature. Here, we review the current literature, paying attention to the prospects for natural small molecule-based bone regenerative engineering. We also review various delivery strategies of the selected naturally- derived small molecules for bone regenerative engineering applications.
International Law Relating to Islands

This monograph considers the application of general rules of international law to islands, as well as special rules focused on islands, notably Article 121 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Such rules have been applied in several landmark cases in recent years, including the International Court of Justice's judgments in Territorial and Maritime Dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia), and arbitral awards in the Chagos Marine Protected Area Arbitration (Mauritius v. United Kingdom) and the South China Sea Arbitration (Philippines v. China). Among other things, this monograph explores: the legal concepts of "islands", "rocks" and "low-tide elevations"; methods of securing sovereignty over and the maritime zones generated by islands; islands and historic titles, bays and rights; problems of delimitation in the presence of islands; legal issues arising from changes in islands over time (notably from climate change); and contemporary techniques for resolving disputes over islands.
Pathogenesis of the Plaque Vulnerability in Diabetes Mellitus

Atherosclerosis leads to narrowing of vessels and acute coronary syndrome resulting in ischemic events due to either vasospasm or decreased blood flow. Atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome are more common in diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia in diabetes predispose the arteries to plaque development. Smoking, hypertension, male sex, and family history or genetic susceptibility are other predisposing factors for plaque development. Depending on the size, morphology, and symptoms of the patients, plaques can be classified as stable and unstable plaques. Unstable plaques are characterized by the presence of thin fibrous cap, necrotic core, and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, angiogenesis and calcification. Plaque formation initiates with fatty streak and progresses through atheroma, atheromatous plaque to fibroatheromatous plaque. Fibroatheromatous plaques with thick fibrous cap are stable plaques. Thinning of the fibrous cap makes a plaque unstable, prone to rupture and thrombus formation. Mechanisms such as increased inflammation, foam cell deposition, impaired repair mechanism, endothelial cell dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, angiogenesis, intra-plaque hemorrhage, and calcification which facilitate the plaque rupture are increased in diabetes mellitus. Thus, diabetes mellitus increases the prevalence of plaque formation and rupture. Diabetes mellitus affects various cellular and molecular effectors involved in plaque development and rupture. Understanding these cellular and molecular effectors and involved mechanisms in association with diabetes mellitus is essential for the development of potential therapeutic strategies. This review is a critical overview on the effect of hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus on the pathogenesis of plaque formation and rupture.
The Ocean Carbon States Database: a proof-of-concept application of cluster analysis in the ocean carbon cycle

Abstract. In this paper, we present a database of the basic regimes of the carbon cycle in the ocean, the “ocean carbon states”, as obtained using a data mining/pattern recognition technique in observation-based as well as model data. The goal of this study is to establish a new data analysis methodology, test it and assess its utility in providing more insights into the regional and temporal variability of the marine carbon cycle. This is important as advanced data mining techniques are becoming widely used in climate and Earth sciences and in particular in studies of the global carbon cycle, where the interaction of physical and biogeochemical drivers confounds our ability to accurately describe, understand, and predict CO 2 concentrations and their changes in the major planetary carbon reservoirs. In this proof-of-concept study, we focus on using well-understood data that are based on observations, as well as model results from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) climate model. Our analysis shows that ocean carbon states are associated with the subtropical–subpolar gyre during the colder months of the year and the tropics during the warmer season in the North Atlantic basin. Conversely, in the Southern Ocean, the ocean carbon states can be associated with the subtropical and Antarctic convergence zones in the warmer season and the coastal Antarctic divergence zone in the colder season. With respect to model evaluation, we find that the GISS model reproduces the cold and warm season regimes more skillfully in the North Atlantic than in the Southern Ocean and matches the observed seasonality better than the spatial distribution of the regimes. Finally, the ocean carbon states provide useful information in the model error attribution. Model air–sea CO 2 flux biases in the North Atlantic stem from wind speed and salinity biases in the subpolar region and nutrient and wind speed biases in the subtropics and tropics. Nutrient biases are shown to be most important in the Southern Ocean flux bias. All data and analysis scripts are available at https://data.giss.nasa.gov/oceans/carbonstates/ (DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.996891 ).
Role of the Pif1-PCNA Complex in Pol δ-Dependent Strand Displacement DNA Synthesis and Break-Induced Replication

The S. cerevisiae Pif1 helicase functions with DNA polymerase (Pol) δ in DNA synthesis during break-induced replication (BIR), a conserved pathway responsible for replication fork repair and telomere recombination. Pif1 interacts with the DNA polymerase processivity clamp PCNA, but the functional significance of the Pif1-PCNA complex remains to be elucidated. Here, we solve the crystal structure of PCNA in complex with a non-canonical PCNA-interacting motif in Pif1. The structure guides the construction of a Pif1 mutant that is deficient in PCNA interaction. This mutation impairs the ability of Pif1 to enhance DNA strand displacement synthesis by Pol δ in vitro and also the efficiency of BIR in cells. These results provide insights into the role of the Pif1-PCNA-Pol δ ensemble during DNA break repair by homologous recombination.
Palmitic Acid Induces Müller Cell Inflammation that is Potentiated by Co-treatment with Glucose.

Chronic hyperglycemia is thought to be the major stimulator of retinal dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Thus, many diabetes-related systemic factors have been overlooked as inducers of DR pathology. Cell culture models of retinal cell types are frequently used to mechanistically study DR, but appropriate stimulators of DR-like factors are difficult to identify. Furthermore, elevated glucose, a gold standard for cell culture treatments, yields little to no response from many primary human retinal cells. Thus, the goal of this project was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the free fatty acid, palmitic acid and compare its use alone and in combination with elevated glucose as a stimulus for human Muller cells, a retinal glial cell type that is activated early in DR pathogenesis and uniquely responsive to fatty acids. Using RNA sequencing, we identified a variety of DR-relevant pathways, including NFκB signaling and inflammation, intracellular lipid signaling, angiogenesis, and MAPK signaling, that were stimulated by palmitic acid, while elevated glucose alone did not significantly alter any diabetes-relevant pathways. Co-treatment of high glucose with palmitic acid potentiated the expression of several DR-relevant angiogenic and inflammatory targets, including PTGS2 (COX-2) and CXCL8 (IL-8).
Quantitative Assessment of Changes in Urban Runoff

The detection and quantitative assessment of the magnitude of man-induced changes in flood regimes in part of the Texas Gulf Coast are made using the method of trend surface analysis of distribution of storm runoff. The procedure incorporates the elements of frequency analysis and two- and three-dimensional synographic computer mapping. The natural geographic tendency in runoff distribution typical for the study area is compared with the runoff pattern induced by urbanization. The range of differences between urban and nonurban runoff found in this study is proposed as a guide for development planning in the coastal territories that are now primarily rural.
Sampling Bias and Other Methodological Threats to the Validity of Health Survey Research

Data from a longitudinal occupational health survey of professional fire fighters were used to explore the potential impact of two types of methodological bias: sample selection and reactivity. No significant differences on demographic variables were observed between the group who first responded after a within-study change in survey administration format (Delayed) and respondents who had completed surveys since the study's inception (Initial). However, statistically significant differences in the study's 26 outcome measures provided some evidence that between-group differences did exist and that an “administration format” type of response bias was also potentially present. The effect sizes associated with the 37 observed significant differences ranged from small to medium. These results provide a context for a reexamination of standard techniques for the identification and interpretation of survey research biases. Methods are suggested to strengthen tests for selection bias and to minimize the impact of response biases.
Serpin–Enzyme Receptors: LDL Receptor-Related Protein 1

Early studies suggested the existence of an hepatic receptor that is involved in the clearance of serpin:enzyme complexes. Subsequent work has identified this receptor as the LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1). LRP1 is a multifunctional receptor that serves to transport numerous molecules into the cell via endocytosis and also serves as a signaling receptor. LRP1 plays diverse roles in biology, including roles in lipoprotein metabolism, regulation of protease activity, activation of lysosomal enzymes, and cellular entry of bacterial toxins and viruses. Deletion of the Lrp1 gene leads to lethality in mice, revealing a critical, but as of yet undefined, role in development. Its identification as a receptor for serpin:enzyme complexes confirms a major role for LRP1 in regulating protease activity.
Analysis of technical process and application of process models in tannery department of the leather industry

The primary objective of this project is to explain the general technical process carried out in tannery department of leather industries with a detailed analysis of the requirements of the process. The paper also explains the different manufacturing steps in leather production in an industry. To make the system more effective, a few improvisations on the leather manufacturing processes that can be implemented are discussed. It also aims to define and explain the agile methodology, waterfall model and extracting characteristics from both the models to suit the system. The paper describes the generalized overview of standard processes carried out through leather industries and some of the processes may differ with respect to a few aspects of each organization.
High Selectivity Towards Formate Production by Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide at Copper–Bismuth Dendrites

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 provides an alternative carbon-neutral path for renewable synthesis of fuels and value-added chemicals. This work demonstrates that dendritic, bimetallic Cu-Bi electrocatalysts with nanometer-sized grains are capable of formate generation with a high selectivity. Optimizing composition of electrocatalyst could achieve a faradic efficiency of 90 % at -0.8 to -0.9 VRHE , and a partial current of more than 2 mA cm-2 . The combination of Cu with Bi enables modulation of the adsorption strength of intermediates. This leads to an increased selectivity and suppressed formation of spurious species, especially hydrogen and CO. Comparison of product distribution for Cu-In versus Cu-Bi indicated that Bi is essential to induce a favorable adsorption configuration of the intermediate species and to promote formate production.
IMPACT ON CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES AMONG E-CIGARETTE USERS: A REVIEW FROM NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEYS

Since the introduction of E-Cigarettes(E-cigs) in 2007, their sales have almost increased by 14 - fold in the last decade. In the US, the E-Cig users increased to 3.8% of the adult population of which 16% are current smokers and 22% are former smokers. E-cigs have been advertised as a safer
Urban Vegetable Garden Soils and Lay Public Education on Soil Heavy Metal Exposure Mitigation

Twenty-two urban community vegetable gardens in New York State were selected to find out the relative accuracy of the application of a lay-person protocol in estimating soil properties useful towards demarcating potential heavy metal contamination hot spots. Results suggest that non-expert field pH tests and colour identification is sufficiently accurate relative to lab-based analyses. Colour determination aligned significantly with soil organic matter estimates based on known correlations, although the field procedure may necessitate more initial training and supervision of lay persons. The lay-person protocol formulated for this study could be useful in enabling urban gardeners to identify and avoid garden areas with higher potentials for heaviest metal phytoavailability and contamination risk.
Altered DNA ligase activity in human disease

The joining of interruptions in the phosphodiester backbone of DNA is critical to maintain genome stability. These breaks, which are generated as part of normal DNA transactions, such as DNA replication, V(D)J recombination and meiotic recombination as well as directly by DNA damage or due to DNA damage removal, are ultimately sealed by one of three human DNA ligases. DNA ligases I, III and IV each function in the nucleus whereas DNA ligase III is the sole enzyme in mitochondria. While the identification of specific protein partners and the phenotypes caused either by genetic or chemical inactivation have provided insights into the cellular functions of the DNA ligases and evidence for significant functional overlap in nuclear DNA replication and repair, different results have been obtained with mouse and human cells, indicating species-specific differences in the relative contributions of the DNA ligases. Inherited mutations in the human LIG1 and LIG4 genes that result in the generation of polypeptides with partial activity have been identified as the causative factors in rare DNA ligase deficiency syndromes that share a common clinical symptom, immunodeficiency. In the case of DNA ligase IV, the immunodeficiency is due to a defect in V(D)J recombination whereas the cause of the immunodeficiency due to DNA ligase I deficiency is not known. Overexpression of each of the DNA ligases has been observed in cancers. For DNA ligase I, this reflects increased proliferation. Elevated levels of DNA ligase III indicate an increased dependence on an alternative non-homologous end-joining pathway for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks whereas elevated level of DNA ligase IV confer radioresistance due to increased repair of DNA double-strand breaks by the major non-homologous end-joining pathway. Efforts to determine the potential of DNA ligase inhibitors as cancer therapeutics are on-going in preclinical cancer models.
The Sheet of Giants: Unusual Properties of the Milky Way's Immediate Neighbourhood

We quantify the shape and overdensity of the galaxy distribution in the `Local Sheet' within a sphere of $R=8$ Mpc, and compare these properties with the expectations of the $\Lambda$CDM model. We measure ellipsoidal axis ratios of $c/a\approx0.16$ and $b/a\approx0.79$, indicating that the distribution of galaxies in the Local Volume can be approximated by a flattened oblate ellipsoid, consistent with the `sheet'-like configuration noted in previous studies. In contrast with previous estimates that the Local Sheet has a density close to average, we find that the number density of faint and bright galaxies in the Local Volume is $\approx1.7$ and $\approx5.2$ times denser, respectively, than the mean number density of galaxies of the same luminosity. Comparison with simulations shows that the number density contrasts of bright and faint galaxies within $8$ Mpc alone make the Local Volume a $\approx 2.5\sigma$ outlier in the $\Lambda$CDM cosmology. Our results indicate that the cosmic neighbourhood of the Milky Way may be unusual for galaxies of similar luminosity. The impact of the peculiar properties of our neighbourhood on the properties of the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies is not yet understood and warrants further study.
Economic freedom and materialism: an empirical analysis

While economists have found a positive relationship between norms like generalized trust and economic growth, several scholars outside of economics have argued that there is a tradeoff between economic growth and morality. In particular, they argue that as markets develop, market values, e.g. a focus on money and material possessions, also increase. In this article we empirically test this claim using data from the Economic Freedom of the World project, the World Bank, and the World Values Surveys. Our findings suggest that countries with more economic freedom, i.e. those countries that embrace markets to a greater extent, are less materialistic. We also find that countries with a higher GDP per capita are correlated with less materialism.
Decay of U X 1 , U X 2 , and UZ

The decay of ${\mathrm{Th}}^{234}$(U${\mathrm{X}}_{1}$) and ${\mathrm{Pa}}^{234}$(U${\mathrm{X}}_{2}$ and UZ) has been investigated by means of a coincidence scintillation spectrometer. Three gamma rays at 29, 63, and 92 kev were found in U${\mathrm{X}}_{1}$. Four gamma rays at 250, 750, 1000, and 1810 kev were found in U${\mathrm{X}}_{2}$, and four gamma rays at 250, 760, 910, and 1680 kev were observed in UZ. The coincidence relations between the gamma rays, and also between the gamma rays and the beta radiation, have been investigated. A decay scheme is proposed and spin and parity assignments have been made for some of the levels of ${\mathrm{Pa}}^{234}$ and ${\mathrm{U}}^{234}$.
Indocyanine green does not decrease the need for bail-out operation in an acute care surgery population.

Abstract Background The use of indocyanine green during laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been postulated to help to define anatomy. Studies have not specifically evaluated patients with acute cholecystitis. We sought to assess whether use of indocyanine green can decrease the rate of bail-out operation (subtotal cholecystectomy or conversion to an open operation) in an acute care surgery population where acute cholecystitis is more frequent. Methods Using a retrospective cohort design, we examined all inpatient cholecystectomies performed by the acute care surgery service under urgent or semiurgent (biliary colic as the presentation in the emergency room) conditions at a single institution from 7/1/18 to 6/30/19 during which indocyanine green was available for use at the surgeon’s discretion. Results A total of 198 patients were included in the analysis. Demographic variables were similar in groups receiving indocyanine green versus not. Pathology confirmed acute cholecystitis was present in 96 of 198 (48.5%) patients; of those, 55 (57.2%) received indocyanine green. Indocyanine green did not change the rate of bail-out operation between patients who received indocyanine green and those who did not (6.7% vs 4.3%, P = .468). No significant differences in complications were observed. Bail-out operation was more likely in cases of acute cholecystitis (9.4%) versus nonacute cholecystitis (2.0%) (odds ratio = 5.172, P = .039). In patients with acute cholecystitis, indocyanine green did not change the rate of bail-out operation (indocyanine green: 12.7% vs no indocyanine green: 4.9%, P = .293). Conclusion This is the first series looking at the use of indocyanine green specifically in an acute care surgery population. Indocyanine green did not decrease operative time or need for a bail-out operation in acute cholecystitis. Further study is needed to determine whether indocyanine green use is justified in this population.
A Liquid-to-Solid Phase Transition Enhances the Catalytic Activity of SARM1

Sterile alpha and toll/interleukin receptor (TIR) motif-containing protein 1 (SARM1) is a neuronally expressed NAD+ glycohydrolase whose activity is increased in response to various stressors. The consequent depletion of NAD+ triggers axonal degeneration (i.e., Wallerian degeneration), which is a characteristic feature of neurological diseases, including peripheral neuropathies and traumatic brain injury. Notably, SARM1 knockout mice show minimal degeneration in models of peripheral neuropathy and traumatic brain injury, making SARM1 a promising therapeutic target. However, the development of SARM1 inhibitors has been challenging as the purified enzyme is largely inactive. Herein, we report that SARM1 activity is increased 2000-fold by a liquid-to-solid phase transition. These findings provide critical insights into SARM1 biochemistry with important implications for the situation in vivo. Moreover, they will facilitate the discovery of novel SARM1-targeted therapeutics.