cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mutants of the Drosophila ncd microtubule motor protein cause centrosomal and spindle pole defects in mitosis

Nonclaret disjunctional (ncd) is a kinesin-related microtubule motor protein required for meiotic and early mitotic chromosome distribution in Drosophila. ncd translocates on microtubules with the opposite polarity to kinesin, toward microtubule minus ends, and is associated with spindles in chromosome/spindle preparations. Here we report a new mutant of ncd caused by partial deletion of the predicted coiled-coil central stalk. The mutant protein exhibits a velocity of translocation and ability to generate torque in motility assays comparable to near full-length ncd, but only partially rescues a null mutant for chromosome mis-segregation. Antibody staining experiments show that the partial loss-of-function and null mutants cause centrosomal and spindle pole defects, including centrosome splitting and loss of centrosomes from spindle poles, and localize ncd to centrosomes as well as spindles of wild-type embryos. Association of ncd with spindles and centrosomes is microtubule- and cell cycle-dependent: inhibition of microtubule assembly with colchicine abolishes ncd staining and centrosomal staining is observed in prometaphase, metaphase and anaphase, but diminishes in late anaphase/telophase. The cell cycle dependence of centrosomal staining and the defects of mutants provide clear evidence for activity of the ncd motor protein near or at the spindle poles in mitosis. The ncd motor may interact with centrosomal microtubules and spindle fibers to attach centrosomes to spindle poles, and mediate poleward translocation (flux) of kinetochore fibers, a process that may underlie poleward movement of chromosomes in mitosis. Together with previous work, our findings indicate that ncd is important in maintaining spindle poles in mitosis as well as in meiosis.
Local mesh operators: extrusions revisited

In this paper, we present a set of generalized "local" mesh operators. Local operators are those that operate on a single face without affecting the rest of the mesh. Boundary edges of the chosen face also stay the same. We have identified two types of local operators: (1) Extrusions that create generalized pipes in which bottom and top polygons have the same number of sides, and (2) Stellations that create generalized pyramids, where there is a top vertex instead of top polygon. Our operators can create extrusions that are regular polyhedra including dodecahedron, icosa-hedron, octahedron and tetrahedron. The tetrahedron is created using the stellation operator, which is also useful to create generalized versions of Kepler and Poinsot solids.
RNA molecules with conserved catalytic cores but variable peripheries fold along unique energetically optimized pathways

Functional and kinetic constraints must be efficiently balanced during the folding process of all biopolymers. To understand how homologous RNA molecules with different global architectures fold into a common core structure we determined, under identical conditions, the folding mechanisms of three phylogenetically divergent group I intron ribozymes. These ribozymes share a conserved functional core defined by topologically equivalent tertiary motifs but differ in their primary sequence, size, and structural complexity. Time-resolved hydroxyl radical probing of the backbone solvent accessible surface and catalytic activity measurements integrated with structural-kinetic modeling reveal that each ribozyme adopts a unique strategy to attain the conserved functional fold. The folding rates are not dictated by the size or the overall structural complexity, but rather by the strength of the constituent tertiary motifs which, in turn, govern the structure, stability, and lifetime of the folding intermediates. A fundamental general principle of RNA folding emerges from this study: The dominant folding flux always proceeds through an optimally structured kinetic intermediate that has sufficient stability to act as a nucleating scaffold while retaining enough conformational freedom to avoid kinetic trapping. Our results also suggest a potential role of naturally selected peripheral A-minor interactions in balancing RNA structural stability with folding efficiency.
Relational support from friends and wives' family relationships: The role of husbands' interference

Informed by Marks's three corners model, this study explored the moderating role of husbands' relational interference in the link between relational support from close friends and wives' marital and family relationship quality. Using data from 52 wives rearing school-aged children, results from a hierarchical regression analysis suggested that husbands' interference moderates the association between support from close friends and both wives' marital satisfaction and mother—child relationship quality. At low levels of interference from husbands, support from close friends is positively associated with wives' reports of marital satisfaction, and at high levels of spousal interference, support from close friends is positively associated with mother—child relationship quality. Theoretical implications for studying these processes as they co-occur across multiple close relationships are discussed.
The Topoisomerase I Inhibitor DX-8951f Is Active in a Severe Combined Immunodeficient Mouse Model of Human Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

The severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model of human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a unique system for preclinical in vivo evaluation of the activity and toxicity of new agents. The topoisomerase I (topo I) inhibitor topotecan is active in patients with AML and myelodysplastic syndromes. DX-8951f is a novel topo I inhibitor with more potent antitumor effects than topotecan or CPT-11 in vitro . To study the in vivo activity of DX-8951f, 6-week-old female SCID mice received injections into the tail vein with 2 × 10 7 exponentially growing KBM-3 cells. In each experiment, three to five sets of five mice were treated with DX-8951f doses ranging from 7.5 to 80 mg/kg and at schedules of 1, 3, and 5 days; a control set of five mice was treated with the drug vehicle alone. One group received DX-8951f on day 7 of the inoculation with KBM-3 (early-treatment group). To study the activity of DX-8951f in advanced disease, a second group was treated 1 month after the inoculation, when the animals were developing symptoms (late-treatment group). The study end point was the duration of survival until death from leukemia, which was assessed clinically and by the presence of the human DQα gene in tissue samples by PCR. Six experiments were conducted with 170 animals. Survival was higher in both the early- and late-treatment groups than in untreated controls, and the treated groups had significantly less central nervous system disease. Significantly improved survival was observed in animals treated early with 60 and 80 mg/kg as a single injection, with 15 and 20 mg/kg over 3 days, and with 7.5 and 10 mg/kg over 5 days. In the late-disease model (treatment starting on days 28–35), improved survival was observed with a single dose of 80 or 20 mg/kg over 5 days. Dose escalation was limited by dilution problems at the 1-day schedule and by toxicity (mainly gastrointestinal) of the prolonged schedules. Both efficacy and toxicity were dose schedule dependent, increasing with higher doses and prolonged exposure. By establishing the antileukemic activity of DX-8951f against human AML transplanted into SCID mice at doses below the LD 10 , our data provide a rationale for clinical evaluation of the drug in patients with AML and favor the use of prolonged administration.
Beyond Black Lives Matter

Few activists who march behind the banner of Black Lives Matter conceive of their struggle as an appeal to white people for recognition, but until recently the movement’s objective echoed this implicit line of reasoning: if the dominant class, and/or the state, could just recognize that our lives matter, we would be treated differently. Such assumptions can easily lead us down a slippery slope of reducing five centuries of racism, slavery, and colonialism to a fixed ideology of anti-Blackness intrinsic to the European mind, or worse, mistaking a dynamic racial regime for negligence, ignorance, or “blindness” to our humanity, a humanity that requires a visible struggle to be seen. They can lead, that is to say, to a politics in which recognition takes precedence over revolution and reconstruction.
Effect of Urinary Macromolecules on l-Cystine Crystal Growth and Crystal Surface Adhesion

l-Cystine is the primary crystalline component of l-cystine kidney stones, which are a consequence of cystinuria, a genetic disorder that results from mutation in the SLC3A1 or the SLC7A9 gene. Urinary macromolecules present in the cellular matrix are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of kidney stones affecting crystal nucleation, growth, crystal–crystal aggregation, and adhesion to epithelial cells. The effect of six prevalent urinary constituents—osteopontin, Tamm–Horsfall protein, albumin, apotransferrin, chondroitin sulfate, and lysozyme—on crystallization kinetics and adhesion events on the l-cystine (0001) surface was investigated with real-time in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). These additives did not significantly change crystal morphology and crystallization yield, although slight reductions in step velocities were observed at nanogram per milliliter and microgram per milliliter concentrations. Chemical force microscopy performed with AFM tips decorated with terminal carboxylate, am...
Taxpayers as a Disciplinary Mechanism in Governmental Budgeting: The Case of Balloting in School District Budgets

This study examines the influence of taxpayer balloting on budget levels and its relationship with standardized test results in New Jersey school districts. The relation between efficiency, effectiveness, and budget voting outcomes is analyzed over a ten-year sample period. Cost and production functions are jointly estimated, where the two endogenous variables are comparative cost per pupil and weighted test scores. From these regressions, efficiency and effectiveness scores are derived for each school district. Granger causality tests with controls for other factors are then used to determine the presumed direction of causality between efficiency, effectiveness, and voting outcomes.We find a negative relation between the one-year lag of efficiency scores and the current year's effectiveness scores, and vice-versa. This negative feedback loop suggests that cutting costs in one year may have an adverse effect on test scores in the following year, and that higher test scores are followed by more spending in the subsequent year. However, overall, we find that more cost-efficient school districts also tend to be more test outcome-effective. As for voting outcomes, we find that a defeated budget (i.e., "no vote") is negatively related to efficiency, but positively related to effectiveness for the coming school year to which that budget relates. The negative relation suggests that the proposed budget observed by taxpayer's signals inefficiencies that are not cured by remedial actions taken in response to the negative vote, and that the negative vote is instead used as an incentive to improve performance (in lieu of making substantial reductions in the budget).
The soil water characteristic as new class of closed-form parametric expressions for the flow duration curve

Summary The flow duration curve is a signature catchment characteristic that depicts graphically the relationship between the exceedance probability of streamflow and its magnitude. This curve is relatively easy to create and interpret, and is used widely for hydrologic analysis, water quality management, and the design of hydroelectric power plants (among others). Several mathematical expressions have been proposed to mimic the FDC. Yet, these efforts have not been particularly successful, in large part because available functions are not flexible enough to portray accurately the functional shape of the FDC for a large range of catchments and contrasting hydrologic behaviors. Here, we extend the work of Vrugt and Sadegh (2013) and introduce several commonly used models of the soil water characteristic as new class of closed-form parametric expressions for the flow duration curve. These soil water retention functions are relatively simple to use, contain between two to three parameters, and mimic closely the empirical FDCs of 430 catchments of the MOPEX data set. We then relate the calibrated parameter values of these models to physical and climatological characteristics of the watershed using multivariate linear regression analysis, and evaluate the regionalization potential of our proposed models against those of the literature. If quality of fit is of main importance then the 3-parameter van Genuchten model is preferred, whereas the 2-parameter lognormal, 3-parameter GEV and generalized Pareto models show greater promise for regionalization.
Differences in host innate responses among Coccidioides isolates in a murine model of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis

Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii are soil-dwelling fungi and the causative agents of coccidioidomycosis, a mycosis endemic to certain semiarid regions in the Americas. The most common route of infection is by inhalation of airborne Coccidioides arthroconidia. Once a susceptible host inhales the conidia, a transition to mature endosporulated spherules can occur within the first 5 days of infection. For this study, we examined the host response in a murine model of coccidioidomycosis during a time period of infection that has not been well characterized. We collected lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from BALB/c mice that were infected with a C. immitis pure strain, a C. immitis hybrid strain, or a C. posadasii strain as well as uninfected mice. We compared the host responses to the Coccidioides strains used in this study by assessing the level of transcription of selected cytokine genes in lung tissues and characterized host and fungal proteins present in BALF. Host response varied depending on the Coccidioides strain that was used and did not appear to be overly robust. This study provides a foundation to begin to dissect the host immune response early in infection, to detect abundant Coccidioides proteins, and to develop diagnostics that target these early time points of infection.
Truncated mu opioid GPCR variant involvement in opioid-dependent and opioid-independent pain modulatory systems within the CNS.

The clinical management of severe pain depends heavily on opioids acting through mu opioid receptors encoded by the Oprm1 gene, which undergoes extensive alternative splicing. In addition to generating a series of prototypic seven transmembrane domain (7TM) G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), Oprm1 also produces a set of truncated splice variants containing only six transmembrane domains (6TM) through which selected opioids such as IBNtxA (3′-iodobenzoyl-6β-naltrexamide) mediate a potent analgesia without many undesirable effects. Although morphine analgesia is independent of these 6TM mu receptor isoforms, we now show that the selective loss of the 6TM variants in a knockout model eliminates the analgesic actions of delta and kappa opioids and of α2-adrenergic compounds, but not cannabinoid, neurotensin, or muscarinic drugs. These observations were confirmed by using antisense paradigms. Despite their role in analgesia, loss of the 6TM variants were not involved with delta opioid-induced seizure activity, aversion to the kappa drug U50,488H, or α2-mediated hypolocomotion. These observations support the existence of parallel opioid and nonopioid pain modulatory systems and highlight the ability to dissociate unwanted delta, kappa1, and α2 actions from analgesia.
Adsorption of Acetic Acid on Rutile TiO2(110) vs (011)-2 × 1 Surfaces

Acetic acid adsorption on the rutile TiO2(110) and (011)-2 × 1 surfaces is compared by temperature-programmed desorption, ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy. In contrast to the well-established bidentate adsorption of carboxylic acids on the (110) surface, we find a monodentate adsorption on the (011)-2 × 1 surface as the most likely adsorption geometry. The adsorption dynamics is also very different for the two surfaces. While acetic acid adsorbs homogeneously on the (110) surface, acetic acid adsorbs as quasi-one-dimensional clusters on the (011)-2 × 1 surface. Initially, acetate adsorbs only at surface defects, but subsequent acetic acid can adsorb along these nucleated acetate clusters and spread to the defect-free terraces. Therefore, the preadsorbed acetic acid facilitates further acetic acid adsorption in a self-catalyzed adsorption mechanism. The acetic acid clusters preferentially grow along the [011] crystallographic surface direction forming up to tens of...
A Comparison of Critical Structure Dose and Toxicity Risks in Patients with Low Grade Gliomas Treated with IMRT versus Proton Radiation Therapy

Proton therapy offers dosimetric advantage of decreased dose to non-target tissues. This study explored the potential benefits of proton radiation therapy versus photon based intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for patients with low grade gliomas (LGG) through dosimetric comparison and biological modeling of potential radiation-induced toxicities. Eleven patients were treated with fractionated proton radiation therapy on a prospective protocol assessing for feasibility and treatment toxicity of proton radiation therapy in patients with LGG. IMRT treatment plans were created for each patient using the same CT planning data set and defined structures. The prescription dose to the clinical target volume (CTV) was 54 Gy(RBE). The toxicity risk of IMRT and protons was estimated based upon equivalent uniform dose (EUD) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) modeling. The risk of secondary tumors for each modality was estimated. Proton EUD for most immediate normal tissue structures was betwe...
Case 2: Recurrent Anemia in a 10-year-old Girl.

1. Uzma Rani, MBBS* 2. Aamer Imdad, MBBS* 3. Mirza Beg, MD* 1. *SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. A 10-year-old premenarchal girl presents to the emergency department with an episode of syncope. She has been feeling progressively more tired for the last week, and her mother noticed that she was pale. The girl has had intermittent headaches but no complaints of palpitations, weight loss, abdominal pain, or rectal bleeding. Her diet consists of vegetables and meat. She is taking oral iron supplements because she presented with similar symptoms 4 months ago and was found to have severe anemia (hemoglobin of 4.9 g/dL [49.0 g/L]). The cause of the anemia at that time was determined to be iron deficiency, based on peripheral blood smear, iron studies, and bone marrow examination. A stool guaiac test was negative and hemoglobin electrophoresis yielded normal results. After packed red blood cell transfusion, she was started on ferrous sulfate supplements. Her anemia responded to iron supplements; her hemoglobin 3 months later measured 11 g/dL (110 g/L). Her maternal uncle has aplastic anemia. Physical examination findings today include: heart rate of 116 beats/min, respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min, blood pressure of 102/52 mm Hg, oxygen saturation of 100%, and body mass index of 15.3. The only finding of note on physical examination is conjunctival pallor. …
The necessary voyage: Voice and authorial presence in The Nigger of the ‘Narcissus’

In the past three decades the influence of the New Criticism and Wayne Booth’s seminal The Rhetoric of Fiction (1961) has made those fiction critics who rely on formalist methods reluctant and even embarrassed to speak of authorial presence within a text. But it is often necessary to understand the relationship between the artist and his creation if we are to understand the text. The author’s personal circumstances may not only inform a text, but often become embodied within its plot, language, characterisation, and form. The intensity and importance of that presence vary from writer to writer and from work to work. Like Sons and Lovers and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, The Nigger of the ‘Narcissus’ (1897) must be understood in terms of its creator’s efforts to develop an authentic voice. In all three relatively early works, the author freed himself from past constraints and created a personal and artistic self which made future work possible. As a crucial passage in A Personal Record indicates, Conrad knew that an author’s presence became embodied in the finished work of art.
Engineering Escherichia coli for Canthaxanthin and Astaxanthin Biosynthesis

Escherichia coli is a non-carotenogenic bacterium that could synthesize farnesyl pyrophosphate precursor through the isoprenoid pathway. Carotenoid production in E. coli requires heterologous expression of carotenoid synthesis genes. The carotenoid synthesis operons are assembled from genes isolated from carotenogenic bacterial sources. Expression of the different operons yields different carotenoid titers. The operons containing the idi gene give more than fivefold higher carotenoid titers than the operons lacking the idi gene. The carotenoid modification genes encoding ketolases and hydroxylases are incorporated into the operons for canthaxanthin and astaxanthin production. The ketolases and hydroxylases from different bacterial sources produce astaxanthin of different purity relative to the total carotenoids. Expression of the ketolases and hydroxylases closer to the promoter appears to give higher astaxanthin purity than expression farther from the promoter at the end of the operons. Balanced expression of ketolases and hydroxylases is critical to achieve high astaxanthin purity. Here, we describe methods to assemble carotenoid biosynthesis operons from carotenogenic gene clusters isolated from different bacterial sources and evaluate canthaxanthin or astaxanthin production in E. coli.
Vaginitis: Beyond the Basics

Vaginal complaints are one of the most common reasons women seek the advice of a health care provider. Uncomplicated infections such as vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, or trichomoniasis are easy to diagnose and treat. However, about 8% of patients will have a more complicated course with failure to respond to treatment or rapid recurrence of symptoms. Understanding the need for a methodical, diagnostic approach to help these women with recurrent or refractory cases of vaginal symptoms will aid the clinician achieve successful patient outcomes.
X-rays from Green Pea analogues

X-ray observations of two metal-deficient luminous compact galaxies (LCG) (SHOC~486 and SDSS J084220.94+115000.2) with properties similar to the so-called Green Pea galaxies were obtained using the {\emph{Chandra X-ray Observatory}}. Green Pea galaxies are relatively small, compact (a few kpc across) galaxies that get their green color from strong [OIII]$\lambda$5007\AA\ emission, an indicator of intense, recent star formation. These two galaxies were predicted to have the highest observed count rates, using the X-ray luminosity -- star formation rate ($L_X$--SFR) relation for X-ray binaries, from a statistically complete sample drawn from optical criteria. We determine the X-ray luminosity relative to star-formation rate and metallicity for these two galaxies. Neither exhibit any evidence of active galactic nuclei and we suspect the X-ray emission originates from unresolved populations of high mass X-ray binaries. We discuss the $L_X$--SFR--metallicity plane for star-forming galaxies and show that the two LCGs are consistent with the prediction of this relation. This is the first detection of Green Pea analogs in X-rays.
A low noise, inductor-less, integer-N RF synthesizer using phase-locked loop with reference injection (PLL-RI)

In this paper, a Reference Injected Phase-Locked Loop (PLL-RI) with delay-line ring-type oscillator is employed to implement a low-noise, fast locking integer-N frequency synthesizer. This inductor-less PLL-RI is fabricated in a 1.2V, 130nm RF CMOS process with a 0.5–1.7GHz tracking range in a 0.02 mm2 core area. Simulation and measurement results show phase noise reduction and improved settling behavior of a PLL-RI synthesizer compared to a conventional synthesizer. Integrated RMS phase jitter from 10KHz to 30MHz is 0.84ps with a power consumption of 2.6mW at a 1GHz frequency.
Weather variation and climate change impacts on power system

Erratic weather patterns are the vital challenge to the existing power system infrastructure. It is critical to understand how to mitigate the weather impacts on mid- and long-term planning efforts. Yet, it is not typical for utility industry to incorporate weather data to perform the analytics and correlation to determine the impact of weather variation and climate change. In this paper, we analyze maximum temperature as an example to demonstrate the weather variation and climate change impact on the summer peak load in Harris County, Texas, USA.
Monazite U–Th–Pb geochronology of the Central Metasedimentary Belt Boundary Zone (CMBbz), Grenville Province, Ontario Canada

The Central Metasedimentary Belt boundary zone (CMBbz) is a crustal-scale shear zone that juxtaposes the Central Gneiss Belt and the Central Metasedimentary Belt of the Grenville Province. Geochron...
The remarkable plethora of infestation-responsive Q-type C2H2 transcription factors in potato

Q-type C2H2 transcription factors (TF) play crucial roles in the plant response to stress, often leading to regulation of downstream genes required for tolerance to these challenges. An infestation-responsive Q-type C2H2 TF (StZFP2) is induced by wounding and infestation in potato. While mining the Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja genome for additional members of this family of proteins, five StZFP2-like genes were found on a portion of chromosome 11. The objective of this work was to differentiate these genes in tissue specificity and expression upon infestation. Examination of different tissues showed that young roots had the highest amounts of transcripts for five of the genes. Expression of their transcripts upon excision or infestation by Manduca sexta, showed that all six genes were induced. Overall, each gene showed variations in its response to infestation and specificity for tissue expression. The six genes encode very similar proteins but most likely play unique roles in the plant response to infestation. In contrast, only two homologs have been identified in Arabidopsis and tomato. Overexpression of similar genes has led to enhanced tolerance to, for example, salinity, drought and pathogen stress. Discovery of these new StZFP2 homologs could provide additional resources for potato breeders.
Stability of Supported Pincer Complex-Based Catalysts in Heck Catalysis

Several studies question the stability of palladated pincer complexes under Heck catalysis conditions. Through a series of poisoning tests, kinetic and spectroscopic studies, and computational experiments, these studies prove that any supported as well as small molecule Pd-pincer complexes decompose during the Heck catalysis. Furthermore, no experimental proof could be obtained with regard to the proposed Pd(II)/Pd(IV) catalytic cycle, which is a requirement for the Heck promoted by stable Pd(II) pincer complexes. The decomposition results may be applicable to other Pd-coupling chemistry because they follow similar catalytic cycles. Despite the detailed kinetic and poisoning studies, recent literature still show a plethora of articles that use palladated pincer complexes as catalysts for coupling chemistry where no studies to investigate the stability of the Pd pincer complexes are carried out.
The Reaction of Polyvinylamine with p-Nitrophenyl Acetate

We have heard Professor Overberger describe the factors which account for the enhanced reactivity of polymers. For instance, the imidazole catalyzed hydrolysis of esters is more efficient for the imidazole group of poly (4(5)-vinylimidazole) than imidzole itself when, in the case of the polymer, favorable electrostatic, hydrophobic or catalytic factors are operative.
Monte Carlo and Analytic Methods in the Transport of Electrons, Neutrons, and Alpha Particles

In this paper we discuss Monte Carlo calculational methods and analytic methods, and methods combining features of both, developed over the past decades at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. These include the Monte Carlo program ETRAN for electrons and photons developed by Berger and Seltzer; the neutron analytic method developed by Caswell and Coyne, and the incorporation into that program of the synthesis of Monte Carlo results for proton tracks of Wilson and Paretzke; and the modification of the analytic method for neutrons to the case of radon progeny alpha particles by Caswell and Coyne. Some comparisons with experimental results and with other calculations are given. Some applications of the calculational results to the prediction of biological effects using biophysical models are given.
Identification of Mutated Cancer Driver Genes in Unpaired RNA-Seq Samples

The identification of cancer driver genes through the analysis of mutations detected with high-throughput sequencing is a useful tool and a key challenge in cancer genomics. The workflow presented here relies on unpaired RNA-seq tumoral samples, thus leveraging already available RNA-seq data and providing the intrinsical benefits of directly targeting the transcriptome. Based on well-established methods for variant detection, this workflow also involves thorough data cleaning and extensive annotation, which enable the selection for somatic mutations with functional impact and the prioritization of genes relevant to the carcinogenic processes in the input samples.
Effect of age and diet composition on cholesterol metabolism in plasma leucocytes and lipoproteins in men

28 INTRODUCTION 29 MATERIALS AND METHODS 30 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 32 PAPER II. CHOLANOIC ACIDS AND CHOLESTEROL 7a-HYDR0XYLASE ACTIVITY IN RAT EXTRAHEPATIC HSSUES AND HUMAN LEUCOCYTES 38 ABSTRACT 40 INTRODUCTION 4i MATERIALS AND METHODS 42 Extraction Method I 42 Extraction Method II 43
Variational multiscale closures for finite element discretizations using the Mori–Zwanzig approach

Abstract The simulation of multiscale problems remains a challenge in many problems due to the complex interaction between the resolved and unresolved scales. This work develops a coarse-grained modeling approach for Galerkin discretizations by combining the Variational Multiscale decomposition and the Mori–Zwanzig (M–Z) formalism. An appeal of the M–Z formalism is that – akin to Green’s functions for linear problems – the impact of unresolved dynamics on resolved scales can be formally represented as a convolution (or memory) integral in a non-linear setting. To ensure tractable and efficient models, Markovian closures are developed for the M–Z memory integral. The resulting sub-scale model has some similarities to adjoint stabilization and orthogonal sub-scale models. The model is made parameter-free by adaptively determining the memory length during the simulation. To illustrate the generalizability of this model, the performance is assessed in detail in coarse-grained simulations of a range of problems from the one-dimensional Burgers equation and to incompressible turbulence.
Measurement Matrix Design for Compressed Detection With Secrecy Guarantees

We consider the problem of designing the measurement matrix for high dimensional signal detection based on compressed measurements while ensuring physical layer secrecy. We assume that the network operates in the presence of an eavesdropper who intends to discover the state of the nature being monitored. To keep the data secret from the eavesdropper, we propose to use cooperating trustworthy nodes that assist the fusion center by injecting artificial noise to deceive the eavesdropper. We design measurement matrices to obtain compressed data at distributed nodes so that the detection performance of the network is maximized while guaranteeing a certain level of secrecy. The design of optimal measurement matrices depends on the signal being detected, and we provide solution considering three different scenarios: 1) the signal is known; 2) the signal lies in a low dimensional subspace; and 3) the signal is sparse. We show that the detection performance of the system can be improved while guaranteeing a certain level of secrecy by using optimized measurements along with noise injection based techniques.
Sputtering Growth of Low-Damping Yttrium-Iron-Garnet Thin Films

This letter reports the development of low-damping yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) thin films via sputtering. The films were deposited by sputtering at room temperature first and were then annealed in O2 at high temperature. It is found that the annealing temperature critically affects the structural properties of the YIG films and thereby dictates the static and dynamic properties of the films. A 75 nm thick YIG film annealed at 900 °C shows an rms surface roughness of 0.08 nm, a coercivity of only 14 A/m (or 0.18 Oe), a saturation induction of 0.1778 T (or 1778 G), which is very close to the bulk value, a gyromagnetic ratio of 2.82 × 104 MHz/T (or 2.82 MHz/Oe), which almost matches the standard value, and a Gilbert damping constant of α a 5.2 × 10–5, which is the lowest among the values reported so far for magnetic films in the nanometer thickness range. Frequency-dependent ferromagnetic resonance measurements with different field orientations confirmed that two-magnon scattering, if present, is very weak, and the measured damping value represents the actual damping of the YIG film.
Utilizing Twice Daily Huddles Improves Respiratory Care Department Response Time and Satisfaction

Background: Lean Six Sigma processes are gaining ground in health systems worldwide. The concepts of huddles have been used to increase patient safety and facilitate efficiency in problem-solving. Daily huddles can help promote optimal patient outcomes and reduce poor communication between leaders and staff.1 Our Respiratory Care Department (RCD) implemented twice-daily shift huddle in 2015 and became proficient in the process in 2018. This study evaluated the number of issues that our huddle process resolved annually and its impact on employee engagement. Methods: This study was performed at a 200-bed pediatric hospital (Level 1 Trauma Center, Level 4 NICU). The RCD leadership team and staff were trained in the utilization of a lean huddle process to resolve issues and identify process improvement opportunities. Huddles were performed at the beginning of each shift before the RTs were dispatched to their assigned clinical areas. Issues were raised by the RCD bedside staff and leadership using the following categories: Safety and Service, Methods, Equipment, Supplies, and Associates. Opportunities were placed within three categories; quick hits (1-3 day resolution), complex problems (3-7 day resolution), and projects (> 7-day resolution). All opportunities included a problem statement, immediate countermeasure, problem leader, and due date on a dry erase board for transparency. Items requiring interdisciplinary support were escalated to the organizational patient care services huddle. Once the opportunities were resolved, they were placed in an excel spreadsheet that was emailed to all RCD employees. Feedback about the process was obtained via the Press Ganey Employee Engagement Survey performed in October 2018. The number of opportunities resolved was tracked from January 1st through December 31st, 2018. Results: The RT department has 112 employees, including management and support associates. Average daily census 143. A total of 366 opportunities for improvement were identified and resolved. Average of 30.5 (± 7.68) issues were resolved monthly. All feedback from the engagement survey was positive. Conclusions: By utilizing huddles, RCDs can handle both quick and complex problems in a more timely fashion. This process allows for direct and timely communication to staff and transparency that can aid in increasing employee satisfaction. Reference: Di Vincenzo P. Team huddles: a winning strategy for safety. Nursing 2019;47(7):59-60.
LRRK2 Kinase Activity Does Not Alter Cell-Autonomous Tau Pathology Development in Primary Neurons.

Background Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common cause of familial Parkinson's disease (PD) and are also associated with genetic risk in idiopathic PD. Mutations in LRRK2, including the most common p.G2019S lead to elevated kinase activity, making LRRK2 kinase inhibitors prime targets for therapeutic development. However, the role of LRRK2 kinase activity in PD pathogenesis has remained unclear. While essentially all LRRK2-PD patients exhibit dopaminergic neuron loss, many of these patients to not have α-synuclein Lewy bodies in their brains. So, what is the neuropathological substrate of LRRK2-PD? Tau has emerged as a possible candidate due to the presence of tau pathology in the majority of LRRK2 mutation carriers and reports of hyperphosphorylated tau in LRRK2 animal models. Objective In the current study, we aim to address whether a mutation in LRRK2 changes the cell-autonomous seeding of tau pathology in primary neurons. We also aim to assess whether LRRK2 kinase inhibitors are able to modulate tau pathology. Methods/results Treatment of primary neurons with LRRK2 kinase inhibitors leads to prolonged kinase inhibition but does not alter tau pathology induction. The lack of an effect of LRRK2 kinase activity was further confirmed in primary neurons expressing LRRK2G2019S and with two different forms of pathogenic tau. In no case was there more than a minor change in tau pathology induction. Conclusion Together, our results indicate that LRRK2 kinase activity is not playing a major role in the induction of tau pathology in individual neurons. Understanding the impact of LRRK2 kinase inhibitors on pathology generation is important as kinase inhibitors move forward in clinical trials.
Interval estimation, point estimation, and null hypothesis significance testing calibrated by an estimated posterior probability of the null hypothesis

Much of the blame for failed attempts to replicate reports of scientific findings has been placed on ubiquitous and persistent misinterpretations of the p value. An increasingly popular solution is...
The Ingenuity Helicopter on the Perseverance Rover

The Ingenuity Helicopter will be deployed from the Perseverance Rover for a 30-sol experimental campaign shortly after the rover lands and is commissioned. We describe the helicopter and the associated Technology Demonstration experiment it will conduct, as well as its role in informing future helicopter missions to Mars. This helicopter will demonstrate, for the first time, autonomous controlled flight of an aircraft in the Mars environment, thus opening up an aerial dimension to Mars exploration. The $1.8~\text{kg}$ , $1.2~\text{m}$ diameter helicopter, with twin rotors in a counter-rotating co-axial configuration, will help validate aerodynamics, control, navigation and operations concepts for flight in the thin Martian atmosphere. The rover supports a radio link between the helicopter and mission operators on Earth, and information returned from a planned set of five flights, each lasting up to 90 seconds, will inform the development of new Mars helicopter designs for future missions. Such designs in the $4~\text{kg}\text{--}30~\text{kg}$ range would have the capability to fly many kilometers daily and carry science payloads of $1~\text{kg}\text{--}5~\text{kg}$ . Small helicopters can be deployed as scouts for future rovers helping to select interesting science targets, determine optimal rover driving routes, and providing contextual high-vantage imagery. Larger craft can be operated in standalone fashion with a tailored complement of science instruments with direct-to-orbiter communication enabling wide-area operations. Other roles including working cooperatively with a central lander to provide area-wide sampling and science investigations. For future human exploration at Mars, helicopter can be employed to provide reconnaissance.
Beyond epidermal growth factor receptor: MET amplification as a general resistance driver to targeted therapy in oncogene-driven non-small-cell lung cancer.

The rapidly changing treatment paradigm for patients with metastatic oncogene-driven lung cancer continues to evolve, and consequently our understanding of the landscape of resistance must also advance. MET amplification is an established and frequent driver of resistance in EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, the combination of MET proto-oncogene (MET) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has shown promise in overcoming this molecularly defined resistance in clinical trials, and this combination strategy is being pursued in ongoing trials. Emerging data also demonstrate MET amplification as a resistance driver to TKI-treated ALK-, RET-, and ROS-1-fusion NSCLC, consistently at the range of 15%, while the resistance profiling data are maturing for other molecular targets. In this review, we discuss MET amplification as a driver of acquired resistance in well-defined molecular subsets of NSCLC, explore the biology behind this mechanism of resistance, and summarize the recently published clinical data, including the proposed combination strategies in the clinic achieving success in overcoming acquired MET amplification-dependent resistance.
Religion and art behavior--a theory and an example: the biblical prophets as postcolonial street theater

Enough has been written on the cognitive and evolutionary bases of both art and religion to permit a theoretical understanding of these closely related behaviors. My argument is that religion and art are descendants of a common ancestral behavior that cannot be identified as either one or the other but has identifying features of both. It is my contention that such an understanding facilitates an improved comprehension of the history of religion as well as a coherent theoretical explanation of religious pluralism. As an example of the application and implication of this theory I will undertake a brief analysis of Biblical Prophecy as a complex of art forms bearing significant similarities to contemporary postcolonial literature and street theater. Both complexes communicate individual emotional responses to the environment in such that they are transmitted and retained in the local culture and contributeory to assured and persistent behavior.
Protecting the Purity of Inland Waters

The Massachusetts Act to Protect the Purity of Inland Waters of 1886 established engineers as well as chemists and biologists as American health authorities. An experiment station at Lawrence, Mass., and a division of engineering in Boston were established to meet research and administrative responsibilities. Water-borne diseases were placed under control. Urbanization and industrialization, as now, lay at the base of water pollution. Today (1964), however, chemical rather than biological pollutions remain unchecked in an era of renewed urban and industrial growth, intensified agriculture, and resource development. Infectious-disease problems were solved by the U. S. Public Health Service at the interstate and national level. There, too, mounting environmental hazards are more especially chemical in kind because of the expansion of chemical industries and wider use of chemicals in agriculture. Chemicals not necessarily toxic are also involved. Phosphorous, for example, is a key element in the eutrophication of lakes.
Rang und Aufgaben der Umwelttechnik in der Automobilindustrie

Der Schutz der Umwelt durch die Weiterentwicklung von Produktions- und Produkttechnologien sowie von Managementsystemen mus gerade fur einen Automobilhersteller als eine besondere Herausforderung angesehen werden. Dabei kommt den Zulieferern, die als Teil der Automobilindustrie uber ein Drittel der Wertschopfung erbringen, naturgemas ein hoher Beteiligungsgrad und damit auch Mitverantwortung fur die Umweltauswirkungen der Produkte und Produktionsprozesse bei den Herstellern zu.
Modeling resonance effects in the radiated emissions from a nonlinear system

Resonances in the spectrum of radiated emissions from an electronic device are generally caused by the broadband excitation of underdamped transmission systems; hence, the shape of the spectrum varies with the load and source impedances of the circuits. Such resonances are straightforward to model in a linear system, but the source and load devices in a digital system are highly nonlinear in order to provide rapid and unambiguous switching. The work described in this paper adapts a harmonic balance algorithm for application to the indefinite admittance matrix produced by a partial-element equivalent circuit (PEEC) formulation. The resulting simulation program incorporates a nodal suppression technique to increase efficiency and is used to demonstrate the power dependent shift in the Q of the resonance of a transmission line terminated with a nonlinear load and its effect on the spectrum of the radiated emissions.
Effect of Temperature of Incubation on Performance of Media in the Detection of Enteric Pathogens

The effect of incubation temperatures on the efficacies of both plating media and transport or enrichment broths was determined by the analysis of 391 diarrheal stools for salmonellae and shigellae. Each analysis resulted in 90 observations. Stool specimens were homogenized in saline and used to inoculate eosin methylene blue (EMB), Salmonella-Shigella (SS), and xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD) agar plates, Amies and Cary-Blair (CB) transport media, and gram-negative (GN) enrichment broth. All media were incubated at 25, 30, and 35 C for 24 and 48 h. In order of efficacy, GN and saline were significantly better than Amies and CB, which were still better than direct streaking for both salmonellae and shigellae. Forty-eight hours was a significant improvement over 24 h only at 25 C on direct streaking for both pathogens. Salmonella detection was also improved at 30 over 25 C on direct streaking. In direct plating, XLD was better than both SS and EMB for both pathogens. After broths, for salmonellae, XLD > SS > EMB, and for shigellae, XLD > EMB > SS, with all differences significant. SS agar was significantly improved for detection of shigellae with 48-h broth inocula versus 24-h broth inocula. The differences thus observed at the various temperatures tested proved to be less important than the media used. The efficient media, GN broth, saline-stool, and XLD were shown to be affected very little by either temperature or time variance of the magnitude tested.