cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of Pharmacokinetics of Chrysin and Its Conjugates in Wild-Type FVB and Bcrp1 Knockout Mice Using a Validated LC-MS/MS Method

Chrysin, a flavone found in many plants, is also available as a dietary supplement because of its reported anticancer activities. However, its bioavailability is very poor due to extensive phase II metabolism. The purpose of this study was to develop an UPLC-MS/MS method to simultaneously quantify chrysin and its phase II metabolites, and to determine its pharmacokinetics in FVB wild-type and Bcrp knockout (Bcrp1 −/−) mice. In addition, the role of BCRP in chrysin phase II disposition was further investigated in Caco-2 cells. The results showed that our sensitive and reproducible UPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of chrysin in wild-type and Bcrp1 (−/−) FVB mice after oral administration (20 mg/kg). Although there was no significant change in systemic exposure of chrysin and its metabolites, it was found that the Tmax for chrysin glucuronide was significantly shorter (p < 0.01) in Bcrp1-deficient mice. Furthermore, it was shown that inhibition of BCRP by Ko143 signific...
Study on the Effectiveness and Problems in Implementing Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Control and Prevention in Community Health Service Centers

Objective To analyze the effectiveness and problems existing in implementing acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) control and prevention in community health service centers,and to provide scientific evidence for promoting AIDS control and prevention.Methods Related information on AIDS control and prevention in community health service centers in a community in the whole year of 2013 was acquired.The effectiveness and problems existing in case management,laboratory testing and highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART) based on the current community health service system were analyzed.Results By the end of 2013,the rate of AIDS case management was from zero to100%,the rate of CD4 T detection was from 76.60%(360/470) to 88.35%(508/575),and the rate of receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy among AIDS patients was from 81.40%(175/215) to 84.41%(287/340).But in the actual work on AIDS in community health service centers,there were still some common problems needing to be solved.Conclusions The community level management mode of AIDS can promote the accuracy of AIDS patients' information,improve the rate of case management,the rate of CD4 T detection and HAART.It is suggested that the community level management mode of AIDS should be promoted in the cities where AIDS patients are concentrated.
Interpretations of Science in America

In the attempt to understand the nature of science — its aims and its methods — the dominant approach during the 1930’s and 1940’s was logical positivism, or, as it later preferred to call itself, logical empiricism. It is important to recognize that logical positivism was a movement rather than a unified doctrine, a movement within which there was much room for disagreement in matters of detail, in matters of emphasis, and in matters of principle. More and more, however, its adherents came to agree on three basic points.
The Politics of Oppression and Action

The problems of women will not become visible if they are not sustained over time on local and national agendas. But women’s issues will continue to be fragmented as individual, local, and single issues if an international human rights perspective is not added to the political agenda. Separation of local and global politics on behalf of women is possible only in a geographical sense. In large measure, the essence of the political agenda is astonishingly similar; only the details differ with the locality. Agenda setting is the means by which issues are selected and adopted for governmental consideration and solution.
Benefaction and Rewards in the Ancient Greek City: The Origins of Euergetism

This volume presents for the first time an in-depth analysis of the origins of Greek euergetism. Derived from the Greek for 'benefactor', 'euergetism' refers to the process whereby citizens and foreigners offered voluntary services and donations to the polis that were in turn recognised as benefactions in a formal act of reciprocation. Euergetism is key to our understanding of how city-states negotiated both the internal tensions between mass and elite, and their conflicts with external powers. This study adopts the standpoint of historical anthropology and seeks to identify patterns of behaviour and social practices deeply rooted in Greek society and in the long course of Greek history. It covers more than five hundred years and will appeal to ancient historians and scholars in other fields interested in gift exchange, benefactions, philanthropy, power relationships between mass and elite, and the interplay between public discourse and social praxis.
An organo-functionalized metal–oxide cluster, [VIV6O6{(OCH2CH2)2N(CH2CH2OH)}6], with Anderson-like structure

A new polyoxovanadium cluster compound, [VIV6O6{(OCH2CH2)2N(CH2CH2OH)}6]·0.5CH3CN, was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy, and TGA. The cluster is composed of a fully reduced cyclic {V6N6O18} framework, which adopts an Anderson-like structure and is comprised of a ring of six edge-sharing {VO5N} octahedra incorporating six {(OCH2CH2)2N(CH2CH2OH)} ligands. Two (OCH2CH2–) arms of each of the six triethanolamine ligands are directly incorporated into the oxometalate core and the third {–CH2CH2OH} arm remains pendant. In the condensed phase, the clusters form discrete hcp layers through inter-cluster hydrogen bonding. These layers stack through soft chemical interactions to form a 3D network structure. The neutral cluster, [VIV6O6{(OCH2CH2)2N(CH2CH2OH)}6], is the isopolyoxovanadium analogue to the cationic clusters contained in a series of heteropolyoxovanadium compounds previously introduced by our laboratory, e.g., [LiVIV6O6{(OCH2CH2)2N(CH2CH2OH)}6]+; its existence shows that a heteroatom is not required to form or stabilize the common organofunctionalized vanadium oxide framework: [VIV6O6{(OCH2CH2)2N(CH2CH2OH)}6]. To the best of our knowledge, the isopolyoxovanadium and heteropolyoxovanadium clusters represent the first reported isopoly–heteropoly analogues in the polyoxometalate field. We compare the TGA profile, FTIR and UV-vis spectra of the new compound with two of its cationic heteropoly analogues.
Factors Affecting Prey Availability and Habitat Use of Nonbreeding Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) in Coastal Louisiana

ABSTRACT Schulz, J.L. and Leberg, P.L., 2019. Factors affecting prey availability and habitat use of nonbreeding piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) in coastal Louisiana. Journal of Coastal Researc...
A Highly Sensitive Assessment Tool for the Gene Editing Efficiency of Sickle Cell Disease Hemoglobin Beta Gene

Abstract In sickle cell disease, a single point mutation in hemoglobin β gene (HBB) results in the substitution of valine for glutamic acid at position 6 of the β globin protein sequence, causing the deformation of red blood cells into a sickle (or crescent) shape. With the development of powerful gene editing tools, scientists are initiating the correction of the point mutation of HBB gene in CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Although the results are very exciting, the evaluation method of the gene editing is primitive. Currently, the modification at the mutation site is identified and quantified using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), which involves PCR amplification, restriction enzyme digestion and gel electrophoresis. The accuracy of the gene editing efficiency depends heavily on the quantification of the DNA bands in the gel images, which is inherently imprecise. We have developed a novel technique to quantify the correction efficiency of HBB gene editing using a fluorescence tagging of the edited DNA sequence. This method provides excellent sensitivity and accuracy, and saves time and labor, eliminating a process of gel electrophoresis. We demonstrate the assessment of gene editing in HBB of K562 cells, in which the wild type HBB (βA gene) is converted to mutant βs using the gene editing tools (i.e. Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs) and single-stranded oligo deoxynucleotides (ssODNs)). We present limited information here due to the sensitivity of the intellectual property, but will discuss in detail the experimental procedures and data at the American Society of Hematology meeting. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Stabilization of X–Au–X Complexes on the Au(111) Surface: A Theoretical Investigation and Comparison of X = S, Cl, CH3S, and SiH3S

Stabilities of linear X–Au–X complexes on the Au(111) surface, with different ligands X = S, Cl, CH3S, and SiH3S, are studied using density functional theory (DFT). For X = CH3S and SiH3S, AuX2 complexes are more stable compared with the configuration where X are individually chemisorbed and Au is incorporated into the bulk. AuS2 complexes, however, are less stable than chemisorbed S. The relative stability of AuCl2 complexes depends on the functionals used. Bond strengths of the X–Au–X complexes in the gas phase are calculated by using DFT and the coupled cluster method and found to be similar. This implies that the stabilities of adsorbed complexes are controlled by the bond strength of the ligand to the surface. These results explain why complexes with X = CH3S and sometimes Cl are observed on Au(111), whereas complexes with X = S are not.
Overview of Technology Development

Scientific research aimed at moving a discovery in the lab along towards being a drug or device in the clinic is not a purely in-house activity; rather, the process requires collaboration, often with colleagues working elsewhere, at universities, companies, nonprofits, and government agencies. Coordinating the interaction and setting the ground rules often requires negotiation and execution of legally binding agreements, from simple Confidential Disclosure Agreements to complex collaboration agreements. Rather than simply decry the delay or take matters into their own hands, scientists can dramatically improve the speed and quality of the outcome of these negotiations by understanding the basic principles discussed in this chapter.
Automated lexicon and feature construction using word embedding and clustering for classification of asd diagnoses using EHR

Using electronic health records of children evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorders, we are developing a decision support system for automated diagnostic criteria extraction and case classification. We manually created 92 lexicons which we tested as features for classification and compared with features created automatically using word embedding. The expert annotations used for manual lexicon creation provided seed terms that were expanded with the 15 most similar terms (Word2Vec). The resulting 2,200 terms were clustered in 92 clusters parallel to the manually created lexicons. We compared both sets of features to classify case status with a FF\BP neural network (NN) and C5.0 decision tree. For manually created lexicons, classification accuracy was 76.92% for the NN and 84.60% for C5.0. For the automatically created lexicons, accuracy was 79.78% for the NN and 86.81% for C5.0. Automated lexicon creation required a much shorter development time and brought similarly high quality outcomes.
Selectable fluence accuracy at the BASE heavy ion facility

An investigation is made of the trade-off between fluence measurement accuracy and ion changeover time. Allowing users to select fluence measurement accuracy based on the type of testing being performed and time available.
Effects of red blood cell storage in heavily transfused patients.

Purpose of review Most publications on Red Blood Cell (RBC) storage time are performed in patient groups receiving on average 1–4 RBC transfusions. Here we look at the observational results in the more heavily transfused patient populations studied, which are mostly in trauma or cardiac surgery patients. Recent findings New heavily transfused patient groups in which the possible detrimental effects of prolonged RBC storage were studied are HSCT and liver transplant patients. In these studies no associations of prolonged RBC storage with outcome were seen. Apart from these studies, new studies were also reported on ICU patients and cardiac surgery patients. These latter studies reported associations with infections, postoperative length of stay, and renal complications. In these studies similar shortcomings in study design and analysis were encountered as in earlier studies, leading to overestimation of the studied association. Some of the recent studies suggest, contrary to the most encountered opinion, that fresh RBC might be detrimental on some outcomes. Similar observations have recently been presented in other, less heavily transfused populations. Summary Clinical effects of RBC storage turn out to be determined by far more aspects than storage time alone.
Onshore and offshore wind energy potential assessment near Lake Erie shoreline: A spatial and temporal analysis

Abstract Choosing a proper location is a pivotal initial step in building a wind farm. As appropriate locations for onshore wind farms become more and more scarce, offshore wind farms have drawn significant attention. The coastal line of the Great Lakes is an area that has great wind energy potential. This research conducted detailed statistical analysis of the onshore, nearshore, and offshore wind energy potential of Lake Erie near Cleveland, Ohio. It analyzed the wind data collected in 10-min time intervals from three locations near the Lake Erie shoreline to assess wind characteristics. Statistical analyses of wind data include the Weibull shape and scale factors, turbulence intensity, and wind power density. In addition, the capacity factor and the potential energy output are estimated by using two commercial wind turbines, which are appropriate for the sites at 50 m and 80 m hub heights. The results show that offshore sites will produce at least 1.7 times more energy than the onshore and nearshore sites when using the same commercial wind turbine. Furthermore, offshore wind turbines could produce more power during peak hours in the spring and winter. This indicates that offshore wind turbines offer advantages over onshore wind turbines in Lake Erie.
Dynamic biochar effects on soil nitrous oxide emissions and underlying microbial processes during the maize growing season

Abstract Biochar application is a promising approach to decrease nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils, yet little is known about how biochar affects N2O-producing and consuming microbial processes under changing field conditions. We conducted a field study to assess if growing season patterns in soil N2O emissions were correlated with the underlying microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification. We measured soil N2O emissions, potential nitrification and denitrification rates, and the abundance of key soil nitrogen (N)-cycling functional genes in an intensive maize production field trial in Illinois, USA that included the following four treatments: Control (unamended), Biochar (100 Mg ha−1), Nitrogen (269 kg N ha−1 as Urea Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer), and Biochar + Nitrogen (100 Mg ha−1 and 269 kg N ha−1, respectively). Biochar increased potential nitrification rates when soil ammonium concentrations were high following fertilizer application, thus enhancing N2O emissions in the Biochar + Nitrogen treatment early in the season which were likely nitrification-associated. However, over the full growing season, biochar application reduced cumulative N2O emissions in Biochar + Nitrogen plots to levels similar to the unamended Control. This could be attributed to biochar suppression of potential denitrification throughout the growing season. The treatments amended with biochar avoided large pulses of N2O emissions following intense rain events in the mid-season, while also sustaining lower N2O emissions in the late-season. Our study demonstrates that biochar can have dynamic effects on soil N2O emissions and the underlying microbial processes that depend on changing edaphic conditions, such as soil inorganic nitrogen availability and moisture, over the growing season.
Thermomechanical properties of monodomain nematic main-chain liquid crystal elastomers

Two-stage thiol-acrylate Michael addition reactions have proven useful in programming main-chain liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). However, the influence of excess acrylate concentration, which is critical to monodomain programming, has not previously been examined with respect to thermomechanical properties in these two-stage LCEs. Previous studies of thiol-acrylate LCEs have focused on polydomain LCEs and/or variation of thiol crosslinking monomers or linear thiol monomers. This study guides the design of monodomain LCE actuators using the two-stage methodology by varying the concentration of mesogenic acrylate monomers from 2 mol% to 45 mol% in stoichiometric excess of thiol. The findings demonstrate a technique to tailor the isotropic transition temperature by 44 °C using identical starting monomers. In contrast to expectations, low amounts of excess acrylate showed excellent fixity (90.4 ± 2.9%), while high amounts of excess acrylate did not hinder actuation strain (87.3 ± 2.3%). Tensile stress-strain properties were influenced by excess acrylate. Linear elastic behavior was observed parallel to the director with modulus increasing from 1.4 to 6.1 MPa. The soft elastic plateau was observed perpendicular to the director with initial modulus and threshold stresses increasing from 0.6 MPa to 2.6 MPa and 14 kPa to 208 kPa, respectively. Overall, this study examines the influence of excess acrylate on mechanical properties of LCE actuators.
Colonial lessons : Africans' education in Southern Rhodesia, 1918-1940

Introduction I Struggles & Stalemates Educational controversies: African school activism, 1920-1934 Demanding schools: The Umchingwe Project, 1928-1934 II Reconstructing Authority Walking alone in front?: African teachers in rural schools Giving orders: controversies over Africans' authority in rural development programs, 1928-1934 III Cultural Innovations Tickets, concerts & school fees: money & new Christian communities, 1900-1940 Mission boys, civilized men & marriage: educated African men in the missions, 1920-1945 Conclusion
Colchicine after pulmonary vein isolation to prevent the early recurrence of atrial fibrillation: mollifying an inflammatory response?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with a high risk of stroke and an increased risk of death ([1][1]). Although an association between AF and inflammation is now well established, the cause-and-effect relationship remains incompletely understood ([2,3][2]).
Use and Enjoyment of Intangible Services: The Czech Republic's VAT Derogation

On January 1, 2009 a minor change in the Czech Republic VAT became effective. A use and enjoyment standard was added to modify the sourcing of certain service transactions. Traditional proxy-based rules, derived from Articles 43 and 56(1) of the Recast VAT Directive (RVD), are set aside by this modification when the customer receiving the services has a permanent establishment (PE) in the Czech Republic. The modification is authorized by RVD 58. This change is a limited adoption of RVD 58(b), and functions like a full force of attraction principle in direct taxation. If caught by these rules, transactions that would have been sourced outside the EU (and not subject to Czech VAT) will be sourced within the Czech Republic (and attract the Czech VAT). In most cases a reverse charge will apply. However, this modification can be a trap for the unwary. After the adoption of the Czech rules the best automated VAT compliance systems were reconfigured. Programming changes were instituted in advance to be effective on January 1, 2009. Sometime in December 2008 the system would have queried the VAT compliance staff about the presence of a PE in the Czech Republic. If that answer was affirmative, then whenever a service listed under RVD 56(1) was purchased anywhere in the company after January 1, 2009 a dialogue box would ask if this service was to be used and enjoyed in the Czech Republic. If that answer was affirmative, then the system would expect to find either Czech VAT on the seller's invoice, or it would institute a reverse charge of the Czech VAT. Without this level of automation (where every RVD 56(1) service is measured for Czech use and enjoyment) it is doubtful that correct determinations would be made in all cases. Errors would be all the more likely if the services were being purchased from a jurisdiction that imposed VAT based on where the seller is established (a jurisdiction that had for example adopted a rule like RVD 43), or where these service are taxed based on a "place of performance" standard (regardless of where the seller's place of establishment is located). Admittedly, this would yield a double-VAT result, but it may be the correct result. The double-VAT, of course, can be prevented (or planned around) but this is much easier done through automation than it is through manual processes. This paper sets out the Czech Republic rules, and contrasts them with rules that achieve a similar result under the UK VAT. In doing this the facts of the following case are considered in detail: Zurich Insurance Company v. HMRC (LON/02/1080) (June 30, 2005); reversed [2006] EWHC 593 (Ch); [2006] STC 1694 (Mar. 23, 2006); affirming the reversal [2007] EWCA Civ 218; [2007] STC 1756 (Mar. 15, 2007). The paper concludes that legislators considering the problem of sourcing rules for intangible services might be well advised to factor into their analysis how this change would impact automated VAT compliance.
Dual-reporter high-throughput screen for small-molecule in vivo inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 yields a clinical lead candidate

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) is a serine protease inhibitor (serpin) implicated in numerous pathological processes, including coronary heart disease, arterial and venous thrombosis, and chronic fibrotic diseases. These associations have made PAI-1 an attractive pharmaceutical target. However, the complexity of the serpin inhibitory mechanism, the inherent metastability of serpins, and the high-affinity association of PAI-1 with vitronectin in vivo have made it difficult to identify pharmacologically effective small-molecule inhibitors. Moreover, the majority of current small-molecule PAI-1 inhibitors are poor pharmaceutical candidates. To this end and to find leads that can be efficiently applied to in vivo settings, we developed a dual-reporter high-throughput screen (HTS) that reduced the rate of nonspecific and promiscuous hits and identified leads that inhibit human PAI-1 in the high-protein environments present in vivo. Using this system, we screened >152,000 pure compounds and 27,000 natural product extracts (NPEs), reducing the apparent hit rate by almost 10-fold compared with previous screening approaches. Furthermore, screening in a high-protein environment permitted the identification of compounds that retained activity in both ex vivo plasma and in vivo. Following lead identification, subsequent medicinal chemistry and structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies identified a lead clinical candidate, MDI-2268, having excellent pharmacokinetics, potent activity against vitronectin-bound PAI-1 in vivo, and efficacy in a murine model of venous thrombosis. This rigorous HTS approach eliminates promiscuous candidate leads, significantly accelerates the process of identifying PAI-1 inhibitors that can be rapidly deployed in vivo, and has enabled identification of a potent lead compound.
The 2 nd -Harmonic Signal in the Rb Atomic Clock for “Status-of-Health” Monitoring

In the Rb atomic frequency standard (RAFS), the 2ndharmonic signal, S2, is routinely taken as a “Status-of-Health” indicator for the atomic signal. In part, this role for S 2 derives from the Quasi-Static Approximation (QSA), where harmonic signals are taken as proportional to derivatives of the static lineshape. However, clock operating conditions violate the assumptions of the QSA, and so justification of the relationship between S 2 and $\text{dS}_{1}/\mathrm{d}\Delta\vert_{\Delta=0}$ (i.e., the correction signal's slope on resonance) is questionable. To better understand S 2 and its potential as a status-of-health indicator, we are continuing a series of experiments begun in our laboratory. Here, we discuss the role of temperature gradients on S 2 , and the extent to which temperature gradients might or might not influence S 2 's ability to monitor clock health.
Surgeon use of medical jargon with parents in the outpatient setting.

Abstract Objective: Unexplained medical terminology impedes clinician/parent communication. We describe jargon use in a pediatric surgical setting. Methods: We evaluated encounters between parents of children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB; n = 64) and otolaryngologists (n = 8). Participants completed questionnaires evaluating demographics, clinical features, and parental role in decision-making via a 4-point categorical item. Two coders reviewed consultations for occurrence of clinician and parent utterance of medical jargon. Descriptive statistics established a profile of jargon use, and logistic regression evaluated associations between communication factors with jargon use. Results: Unexplained medical jargon was common (mean total utterances per visit = 28.9,SD = 19.5,Range = 5–100), including SDB-specific jargon (M = 8.3,SD = 8.8), other medical terminology (M = 13.9,SD = 12) and contextual terms (M = 3.8,SD = 4). Parents used jargon a mean of 4.3 times (SD = 4.6). Clinicians used more jargon in consults where they perceived parents as having greater involvement in decision-making (OR = 3.4,p Conclusions: Jargon use in pediatric surgical consultations is common and could serve as a barrier to informed or shared parent decision-making. This study provides a foundation for further research into patterns of jargon use across surgical populations. Practice implications: Results will be integrated into communication training to enhance clinician communication, foster self-awareness in language use, and create strategies to evaluate parental understanding.
Large-Scale Hybrid ad hoc Network for Mobile Platforms: Challenges and Experiences

Peer-to-peer (p2p) networks and Mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) have been widely studied. However, a real-world deployment for the masses has remained elusive. Ever-increasing density of mobile devices, especially in urban areas, has given rise to new applications of p2p communication. However, the modern smartphone platforms have limited support for such communications. Further, the issues of battery life, range, and trust remain unaddressed. A key question then is, what kinds of applications can the modern mobile platforms support and what challenges remain? This paper identifies a class of applications and presents a novel center-to-peer-to-peer (c2p2p) architecture called Mesh Network Alerts (MNA) to support them. We describe our experiences in deploying MNA as a real-world system to millions of users for relaying severe weather information along with the challenges faced, and the approaches for addressing them.
Like a Scattering from a Fixed Point: Austerity Fiction and the Inequalities of Elsewhere

After the financial collapse of 2008, Ireland imposed a program of fiscal consolidation that was designed to address the debt concerns of the nation. The implementation of austerity measures became the inverse to the high-flying years of the Celtic Tiger. Mike McCormack’s Solar Bones and Mary Morrissy’s Prosperity Drive represent examples of post-austerity literature in how they engage with ideas of austerity as an inverted capitalist narrative of success. Their books examine a post-austerity Ireland where the influence of global capitalism has resulted in a disruption of local communities. Both McCormack and Morrissy critique post-austerity Ireland to show the psychological, emotional, and human cost of the nation’s transformation into a post-austerity country.
Foreword: A Brief History of Spermatology

This foreword mostly aims to introduce, from a historical stand point, how the notions of gametes emerged, and to describe the tortuous approach by the pioneer scientists who first discovered and explored the functions and structure of aquatic animal gametes and their interactions. Sperm cells most likely became of interest to scientists due to the fact that they hold the key to life and have an incredible ability to move, in spite of their small dimensions.
Inactivation of Bacteria by Peracetic Acid Combined with Ultraviolet Irradiation: Mechanism and Optimization.

Peracetic acid (PAA) is an emerging disinfectant for municipal wastewater treatment owing to good biocidal effects and limited harmful by-product formation. This study investigated the inactivation...
International Evidence on the Persistence of Economic Fluctuations

This paper presents new evidence on the persistence of fluctuations in real GNP. Two measures of persistence are estimated non-parametrically using post-war quarterly data from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom. and the United States. These estimates are compared with Monte Carlo results from various AR(2) processes. For six out of seven countries, the results indicate that a 1 percent shock to output should change the long-run univariate forecast of output by well over I percent. Low-order ARM models for output growth are also estimated, and yield similar conclusions. Finally, the persistence in relative outputs of different countries is examined.
A Midwest COVID-19 Cohort for the Evaluation of Multimorbidity and Adverse Outcomes from COVID-19.

ObjectiveTo describe the process and outcome of creating a patient cohort in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to better understand the process of and predict the outcomes of COVID...
Bioengineering of Genetically Encoded Gene Promoter Repressed by the Flavonoid Apigenin for Constructing Intracellular Sensor for Molecular Events.

In recent years, Synthetic Biology has emerged as a new discipline where functions that were traditionally performed by electronic devices are replaced by “cellular devices”; genetically encoded circuits constructed of DNA that are built from biological parts (aka bio-parts). The cellular devices can be used for sensing and responding to natural and artificial signals. However, a major challenge in the field is that the crosstalk between many cellular signaling pathways use the same signaling endogenous molecules that can result in undesired activation. To overcome this problem, we utilized a specific promoter that can activate genes with a natural, non-toxic ligand at a highly-induced transcription level with low background or undesirable off-target expression. Here we used the orphan aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor that upon activation binds to specific AHR response elements (AHRE) of the Cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1) promoter. Flavonoids have been identified as AHR ligands. Data presented here show the successful creation of a synthetic gene “off” switch that can be monitored directly using an optical reporter gene. This is the first step towards bioengineering of a synthetic, nanoscale bio-part for constructing a sensor for molecular events.
Treatment of Candidal Mastitis in Two Holstein Cows

Two Holstein show cows were presented for acute clinical mastitis in multiple quarters of five days and three weeks duration, respectively. The mastitis was classified as moderate to severe. Milk culture results revealed Candida rugosa and Candida krusei in pure culture, and California mastitis test (CMT) scores were a consistent 3 in all infected quarters. The cows were treated with intramammary miconazole (200 mg) every 12 hours for seven to eight total treatments. Milk cultures were collected and plated every 24 hours. A noticeable reduction in colony numbers during therapy was not evident. Miconazole was not an effective treatment for Candida rugosa or Candida krusei. An extensive review of the literature did not reveal any documented efficacious treatments for candida mastitis.
Planetary intelligence for sustainability in the digital age: Five priorities

The science and technology of the digital age is transforming society’s ability to monitor and understand the changing global environment. These transformations have built the foundation for the planetary intelligence needed to achieve the global sustainability goals. However, five key barriers need to be overcome.
Unidirectional Soliton-like Edge Modes in Nonlinear Floquet Topological Insulators

We present the first realization of soliton-like unidirectional edge modes on photonic Floquet topological insulators. These nonlinear modes radiate power at a finite and controllable rate because of the intrinsic gaplessness of the topological spectrum.
The Generation and Down-Regulation of the Immune Response to Progressive Tumors

Determining whether a given animal or human tumor possesses antigens capable of evoking a specific antitumor immune response is essential before a rational attempt can be made to treat the tumor by a therapeutic modality designed to augment specific antitumor immunity. The role of the experimental tumor immunologists is to obtain detailed information about the immunogenicity of animal tumors and about the antitumor immune response they evoke, with a view to supplying the clinical oncologist with knowledge about the type of immune response that needs to be boosted. Regardless of whether or not animal tumors are suitable models of the human disease, the fact is that animal and human tumors have a lot in common, including the capacity to grow progressively in their hosts. Therefore, even though an animal tumor may possess tumor-specific antigens, it is not destroyed by specific or nonspecific host defense mechanisms.
Central Pontine Myelinolysis, Alcoholic Cerebellar Degeneration, and Marchiafava–Bignami Disease

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a distinct disorder with characteristic CNS neuropathology and associated with thiamine deficiency. This is not a common disorder and is often associated with some other severe illness independent of alcoholism.
Nonlinear response of superconductors to alternating fields and currents

This report discusses the following topics on superconductivity: nonlinearities in hard superconductors such as surface impedance of a type II superconductimg half space and harmonic generation and intermodulation due to alternating transport currents; and nonlinearities in superconducting weak links such as harmonic generation by a long Josephson Junction in a superconducting slab.
Secondary structure analysis of adenovirus tripartite leader.

Abstract RNA secondary structure analysis was performed to understand the translation function of the adenovirus tripartite leader, a 200-nucleotide 5' noncoding region found on all late viral mRNAs. The tripartite leader facilitates the translation of viral mRNAs at late but not early times after infection and eliminates the normal requirement for the eukaryotic initiation factor 4F or cap binding protein complex. Secondary structures were determined by probing 5' or 3' end-labeled tripartite leader RNAs under nondenaturing conditions with various single strand-specific nucleases, and the information was used to generate a potential model structure. The resulting structure is attractive since it may explain the unusual translation behavior conferred by the tripartite leader. We demonstrate that the first leader segment is predominantly single-stranded, a property consistent with the ability to enhance translation and provide independence from cap binding protein complex. In contrast, the remaining two leader segments form a moderately stable base-paired structure, except for a large hairpin loop. To confirm these findings, the secondary structure of the tripartite leader was also probed when it was attached to a large segment of a messenger RNA and was found to be very similar to that of the individual leader RNA. These findings suggest several possible mechanisms to account for the translation activity of the tripartite leader.
Comparative Performance of the RapID Yeast Plus System and the API 20C AUX Clinical Yeast System

The performance of the RapID Yeast Plus System (Innovative Diagnostic Systems, Norcross, Ga.), a 4-h micropanel using single-substrate enzymatic test reactions, was compared with that of the API 20C AUX Clinical Yeast System (bioMerieux Vitek, Hazelwood, Mo.), a 48- to 72-h carbohydrate assimilation panel. Two hundred twenty-five yeasts, yeast-like fungi, and algae, comprising 28 species and including 30 isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, an important pathogen not tested in appreciable numbers in other comparisons, were tested by both methods. On initial testing, 196 (87.1%) and 215 (95.6%) isolates were correctly identified by the RapID and API systems, respectively. Upon repeat testing, the number of correctly identified isolates increased to 220 (97.8%) for the RapID system and 223 (99.1%) for the API system. Reducing the turbidity of the test inoculum to that of a no. 3 McFarland turbidity standard, which is below that recommended by the manufacturer, resulted in the correct identification of most of the isolates initially misidentified by the RapID system, including 10 of 30 C. neoformans isolates. Concordance between the RapID and API results after repeat testing was 97.3%.
Habit Persistence and Durability in Aggregate Consumption: Empirical Tests

Habit persistence in consumption preferences and durability of consumption goods are two hypotheses which imply time-nonseparability in the derived utility for consumption expenditures. We study a simple model with both effects, in which lagged consumption expenditures enter the Euler equation. Habit persistence implies that the coefficients on the lagged expenditures are negative, while durability implies positive coefficients. If both effects are present, then estimating the sign of the coefficients addresses the question as to which of the two effects is dominant. Earlier empirical work on monthly data supported the durability of consumption expenditures. We estimate and test the Euler equation using monthly, quarterly and annual data and find evidence that habit persistence dominates the effect of durability.
Corporate Governance Law: Firm Heterogeneity and the Market for Corporate Domicile

This paper uses a discrete choice framework to analyze state design and firm choice of the implications of incorporation: corporate governance laws, corporate taxes and court features. Firms --- differentiated by ownership, management, industry concentration, financial profile and unobservable dimensions --- freely choose their preferred state of incorporation or reincorporation for each financial year. The revealed preference embedded in these many observable choices allows for the identification and quantification of the differential corporate governance preferences within and across firms. For example, we find that on average, firms like antitakeover statutes, but, consistent with an agency story, firms with an institutional shareholder block and venture capital backed firms dislike them. On average, firms dislike mandatory governance statutes restricting managerial power and facilitating the representation of minority shareholders; however, firms in concentrated industries are much less influenced by these laws. Additionally, all firms dislike well functioning courts, consistent with a litigation deterrence motive. We also find that firms are very responsive to incorporation and franchise taxes, which allows us to quantify their preferences for law and court features. Counterfactual policies aimed at creating uniform federal law and restricting firm choice are simulated using the firm specific preferences recovered from our model.
Folic acid metabolism in pregnancy

Abstract There is increasing evidence that folic acid deficiency in pregnancy is more common than previously recognized and that this condition is associated with certain complications of pregnancy, both maternal and fetal. We have evaluated folate deficiency in pregnancy complications, normal pregnancies, and nonpregnant controls, employing the following procedures: (1) blood and marrow morphology, (2) urinary FIGLU excretion after histidine loading, and (3) fasting serum and whole blood L. casei folic acid activity. Results to date indicate that (1) significant folic acid deficiency may be present without overt megaloblastic anemia, (2) the incidence of deficiency in our population group is 22 per cent, (3) the incidence increases at or near term, and (4) the incidence is markedly increased in pregnancy complications, particularly toxemia. The possible maternal and infant hazards of abnormal folic acid metabolism are summarized, and the therapeutic implications presented.
Effects of storage and wound healing on corneal biomechanics

Material testing techniques were used to characterize the mechanical properties of corneal tissue and to observe the effects of corneal storage and growth factors on these properties. Uniaxial stress-relaxation tests were performed on fresh and stored rabbit corneas. Fresh corneas recovered an average of 37.7% of first-pull stress while those stored in MK solution recovered an average of 76%. Stress-relaxation time constants were also found to be significantly different. Uniaxial tensile tests of fresh monkey corneas were performed to evaluate wound strengths of penetrating incisions treated with platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). Treated wounds demonstrated a greater failure strength than untreated wounds, indicating that corneal healing is enhanced in the presence of PDGF. Mechanical testing of corneal tissue is thus shown to be a useful technique for investigating changes in corneal structure. >
Obstetric Fistula in 2015 and Beyond

Fistula effort was confined to a very few geographic areas, each of which were completely dominated by the spirit and energy of the founder of a fistula center. The list of leading surgeons contains names familiar to fewer and fewer active fistula care providers: Drs. Ann Ward, John Lawson, and Una Lister in Nigeria were all in the late prime of their lives; in the north of Nigeria, a leprosy surgeon was just getting started in fistula repair at a new center near Katsina: the founder being Dr. Kees Waaldiijk. In eastern Africa, Dr. Abbo Hassan Abbo was dominant in Sudan, the Hamlins in Ethiopia, and an odd band of travelling surgeons, including the late Dr. John Kelly, Dr. Brian Hancock, and Dr. Tom Raassen, were establishing themselves across the region. Also quite active, but completely unheralded were a cadre of non-Western surgeons just beginning long careers in fistula repair: Drs. Mulu Muleta and Ambaye w/ Michael in Ethiopia, Dr. Kalilou Ouattara in Mali, Dr. Serigne Gueye in Senegal, Dr. Khisa Wakasiaka in Kenya, Dr. Ojengbede Akanbi in Ibadan, Nigeria, and Dr. Jonathan Karshima in Jos. Meanwhile, Dr. Kundu Yangzom was quietly establishing a tradition of quality fistula care in Nepal.
Fact and Fiction in the Icelandic Sagas

After a survey of the types of historical evidence that can be used for comparison with Icelandic sagas, current scholarly approaches to these sagas as historical sources are presented and critiqued. Pitfalls in using this material are pointed out, and some new research is discussed.
Women, Genealogy, and Composite Monarchy in Michael Drayton's Poly‐Olbion

AbstractThis essay explores the remarkable proliferation of female generative figures in Michael Drayton's Poly‐Olbion (1613). Rivers, bays, lakes, isles, forests, and shires in this long chorographical poem are gendered female and descend in complicated genealogical trees from important maternal guardians. The maps which precede each Song of the poem supply evidence of the predominance of female figures and of their dual roles as topographical deities and, in many cases, as local rulers in Drayton's version of Britain's origins. The maps combine to form a powerful representation of charismatic influence, demonstrating the importance of female figures in the governing structures of the poem. These governing structures are usefully seen, in J. H. Elliott's terms, as “composite monarchies” in which the “horizontal” is opposed to the “vertical articulation” of authoritarian rule. (R.F.)
Architecture driven layout synthesis techniques for CA-type FPGAs

Predominantly local connections in new cellular architecture FPGAs present a challenge to CAD tool developers. In this paper we discuss new methodologies for low-level synthesis of digital circuits, to cellular architecture (CA) Field Programmable Gate-Arrays (FPGA). The design representation on logic level of abstraction is created or restructured in such a way that it resembles the architecture of FPGA as close as possible. The resulting structure is therefore easy to map, and a number of logic cells used for routing L minimized. Layout synthesis methods using different design representations are discussed and compared.
Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation

The atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) process for the enrichment of uranium is evaluated. (AIP)
PROPERTIES OF SOME NORTH DAKOTA BENTONITES1

Seven samples of North Dakota bentonites were studied. In general, properties of the raw, fired, and acid-treated samples are compared with those of bentonites rrported from other districts. The deposits are described briefly.
Tuning the Properties at Heterobimetallic Core: Mixed-Ligand Bismuth−Rhodium Paddlewheel Carboxylates

Mixed-ligand heterometallic compounds [BiRh(O2CCF3)4-x(O2CR)x] (R = But, x = 2 (cis); R = Me, Bui, x = 1) have been obtained by gas-phase reactions of bismuth(II) trifluoroacetate with the corresponding rhodium(II) carboxylate. This synthetic approach was found to be very effective for tuning the properties and introduction of chiral ligands at a heterobimetallic core.
Electronic and geometric structure of Si(111)-(7×7) and Si(001) surfaces

Abstract The atomic origins of the intrinsic surface states of the Si(111)-(7 × 7) and Si(001) surfaces have been identified using the recently developed method of current imaging tunneling spectroscopy (CITS). On Si(111)-(7 × 7) three filled and two empty surface states are found and directly identified with atomic features of the dimer-adatom-stacking fault model. On Si(001) one filled and one empty state are observed and identified with atomic features of a dimer model. The STM images of Si(001) are shown to be dominated by the surface electronic structure rather than geometric structure.