cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective methylation of phosphonic acids related to chemical warfare agents mediated by trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate for their qualitative detection and identification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Abstract The effective methylation of phosphonic acids related to chemical warfare agents (CWAs) employing trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate (TMO·BF 4 ) for their qualitative detection and identification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is presented. The methylation occurs in rapid fashion (1 h) and can be conveniently carried out at ambient temperature, thus providing a safer alternative to the universally employed diazomethane-based methylation protocols. Optimization of the methylation parameters led us to conclude that methylene chloride was the ideal solvent to carry out the derivatization, and that even though methylated products can be observed surfacing after only 1 h, additional time was not found to be detrimental but beneficial to the process particularly when dealing with analytes at low concentrations (∼10 μg mL −1 ). Due to its insolubility in methylene chloride, TMO·BF 4 conveniently settles to the bottom during the reaction and does not produce additional interfering by-products that may further complicate the GC-MS analysis. The method was demonstrated to successfully methylate a variety of Schedule 2 phosphonic acids, including their half esters, resulting in derivatives that were readily detected and identified using the instrument's spectral library. Most importantly, the method was shown to simultaneously methylate a mixture of the organophosphorus-based nerve agent hydrolysis products: pinacolyl methylphosphonate (PMPA), cyclohexyl methylphosphonate (CyMPA) and ethyl methylphosphonate (EMPA) (at a 10 μg mL −1 concentration each) in a fatty acid ester-rich organic matrix (OPCW-PT-O3) featured in the 38th Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Proficiency Test. In addition, the protocol was found to effectively methylate N,N -diethylamino ethanesulfonic acid and N,N -diisopropylamino ethanesulfonic acid that are products arising from the oxidative degradation of the V-series agents VR and VX respectively. The work described herein represents the first report on the use of TMO·BF 4 as a viable, stable and safe agent for the methylation of phosphonic acids and their half esters and within the context of an OPCW Proficiency Test sample analysis.
Critiques of Violence

This article surveys a variety of critiques of violence. These include: religious critiques (including Ancient Greek religion, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism); philosophical critiques (including Socrates, social contract theorists, and Kant); and political critiques (including modern peace movements; workers movements; civil disobedience; critiques of technology and modern culture; feminism, environmentalism and animal rights, and indigenous peoples’ movements). Topics addressed include: the nature and scope of violence; notions of just war; the extent and the limits of the various critiques; how violence affects both the individual and society; modes of action used to reduce violence, such as religious practices, civil disobedience, and political nonviolence.
Metastasis as a Determinant of Risk in Breast Cancer

One of the most important prognostic indicators for breast cancer is the presence of neoplastic cells in the axillary lymph nodes [57]. Thus, once a positive diagnosis of breast cancer has been made, it is vitally important to establish whether or not the disease is confined to the breast or has already spread to regional lymph nodes and to the common sites of breast cancer metastases, i.e., lungs, liver, bone, and brain [51]. Metastasis, the dissemination of cells from a primary neoplasm leading to progressive growth of cancerous lesions in distant organs, is the commonest cause of death for breast cancer patients [26]. Many years of experimental and clinical research have led to an increased general understanding of the pathogenesis of metastasis, but comparable improvements in the treatments for metastatic disease, and especially metastatic breast carcinoma, have not taken place [15, 77].
Abstract 2557: Germline mutations in renal cancer predisposing genes: Analysis of the Geisinger MyCode population

Renal cell cancer (RCC) is not a single disease but is made up of a number of cancers, each with a unique histology, biology, clinical course and response to therapy. Alterations in at least 16 hereditary genes have been attributed to the risk of developing RCC. In this study, we describe the prevalence and spectrum of germline variants among these genes and highlight correlations between germline genotype with tumor phenotype. Using the Geisinger MyCode cohort, we sequenced the whole exomes of 42,933 subjects. Subjects were divided into those with a renal cancer diagnosis, other cancer diagnosis and no cancer diagnosis. We analyzed the DNA sequences of 16 hereditary renal cancer genes from each of these groups. The damaging mutations was determined by following ACMG guidelines. Among the 42,933 subjects in the Geisinger MyCode cohort, 168 were diagnosed with RCC. None of these subjects had a family history of RCC. Clear cell RCC (ccRCC) was the most predominant histology (77%), followed by Type 1 papillary RCC (7%), chromophobe RCC (6%), and Type 2 papillary RCC (5%). Mutations in all the predisposing genes were identified in all the renal cancer subtypes but only a subset were deemed damaging. The top 2 ccRCC predisposing genes with damaging or likely damaging mutations were TSC2 (8%) and SDHD (4%). While TSC2 damaging variants were also found in the other histologies, novel TSC2 variants were differentially associated with high grade and metastatic disease in ccRCC as compared to those with low grade or non-metastatic disease. The genes harboring damaging or likely damaging variants in Type 1 and Type 2 papillary RCC were MET and FH respectively. Predisposing RCC germline mutations were found in a significant number of subjects with sporadic RCC. Family history was unhelpful in predicting the affected subjects. Knowledge of these mutations would be beneficial in counseling patients and their families as well as improving our understanding of the disease to direct patient care. Citation Format: Heinric Williams, Raghu Metpally, Mahmoud Mohamed, Sarath Krishnamurthy, Sertac Kip, David J. Carey, Aris Baras, John Overton. Germline mutations in renal cancer predisposing genes: Analysis of the Geisinger MyCode population. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2557.
Epidemiologic trends in loperamide abuse and misuse

Study objective Loperamide abuse has been increasing in the United States as a potential alternative to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms or to achieve euphoric effects of opioid use. In June 2016, the Food and Drug Administration warned health care providers and the general public about potential serious adverse outcomes, including cardiac dysrhythmias and death. The purpose of this study is to determine recent trends in intentional loperamide abuse and misuse, reported clinical effects and management, and medical outcomes as reported to poison centers across the United States. Methods Loperamide exposures reported to the National Poison Data System indicating intentional misuse, abuse, and suspected suicide between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015, were assessed. Demographic and temporal trends, as well as reported clinical effects, medical management, and health outcomes, were analyzed. Results There was a 91% increase in reported exposures from 2010 to 2015, of which half were single-agent loperamide use only. Loperamide exposures reported to the National Poison Data System increased at approximately 38 cases per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 32.5 to 42.9; P Conclusion Loperamide abuse and misuse are projected to increase in the absence of any methods to reduce exposure or curb abuse. Health care providers should consider the potential for loperamide toxicity when managing patients with opioidlike toxicity.
Utilization Management in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

The literature on utilization management in microbiology is relatively limited, in comparison to published studies related to testing performed in the core laboratory (chemistry and hematology). Most previously published studies have targeted reductions in routine cultures, which are labor intensive and therefore costly. In recent years, the menu of available tests in microbiology has significantly increased, especially with regard to molecular diagnostic assays for infectious organisms. Clinicians often have a poor understanding of the performance characteristics of these tests and their clinical indications. The expansion in the test menu, combined with a growing physician “knowledge gap,” has created a number of new opportunities for utilization management in microbiology. This chapter will review the literature and describe various published and unpublished utilization management initiatives from our institution.
The Fall of the Soviet Union and the Legacies of Energy Dependencies in Eastern Europe

Against the background of energy (inter-)dependencies created during the Soviet period between the energy-rich and energy-poor Soviet republics, as well during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and individual European CMEA states, this chapter focuses on the post-Soviet impact of these legacies on each of these two groups of states. In doing so, it focuses not only on the way they affected relations between individual states, but also on their impact on these states’ political and economic development after the dissolution of the Communist “bloc” and the breakup of the Soviet Union. These legacies, this chapter argues, go well beyond energy dependency: they affected not only these states’ range of energy options, but also Russia’s ability to use energy as a foreign policy tool. Most importantly—as shown through the case studies of Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states—the energy legacies of the Soviet era synergized with other characteristics of the transition period and of the external environment at the time of the Soviet/CMEA dissolution to significantly constrain the conditions for political and economic development of these newly-independent states after 1991.
Krüppel-like factors in endothelial cell biology.

Purpose of reviewKruppel-like factors (KLFs) are a family of transcription factors that regulate integral functions of endothelial cells including inflammation, proliferation, growth, apoptosis, cell differentiation and plasticity, and migration. This review will focus on the role of KLFs in physiol
Single-impulse Panoramic Photoacoustic Computed Tomography of Small-animal Whole-body Dynamics at High Spatiotemporal Resolution.

Imaging of small animals has played an indispensable role in preclinical research by providing high-dimensional physiological, pathological and phenotypic insights with clinical relevance. Yet, pure optical imaging suffers from either shallow penetration (up to ~1–2 mm) or a poor depth-to-resolution ratio (~3), and non-optical techniques for whole-body imaging of small animals lack either spatiotemporal resolution or functional contrast. Here, we demonstrate that stand-alone single-impulse panoramic photoacoustic computed tomography (SIP-PACT) mitigates these limitations by combining high spatiotemporal resolution (125 μm in-plane resolution, 50 μs per frame data acquisition and 50 Hz frame rate), deep penetration (48 mm cross-sectional width in vivo), anatomical, dynamical and functional contrasts, and full-view fidelity. Using SIP-PACT, we imaged in vivo whole-body dynamics of small animals in real time and obtained clear sub-organ anatomical and functional details. We tracked unlabelled circulating melanoma cells and imaged the vasculature and functional connectivity of whole rat brains. SIP-PACT holds great potential for both preclinical imaging and clinical translation.
Market Regulation and Macroeconomics Problems

At least since the 1930s, some economists have argued that imperfections of competition caused economic instability from unemployment and inflation. A few added that policies to reduce these imperfections were the most satisfactory cure. The first part of the argument became widely accepted, but the policy conclusions have commanded little acceptance among specialists in economic instability.
A web-based resource for promoting equity in midwifery education and training: Towards meaningful diversity and inclusion

Increasing the midwifery workforce requires that aspiring midwives complete education and training, but structural racism and microaggressions impact the lives of underrepresented midwifery students and apprentices, adding stressors and disparities to the usual demanding educational challenges. In order to be resilient, students rely on preceptors, faculty, administrators and institutions to promote equity. Equity-focused learning environments improve student experiences and success rates, and better prepare all students to provide culturally humble and sensitive care to diverse childbearing persons and other essential competencies outlined by the International Confederation of Midwives. The comprehensive web-based resource, www.equitymidwifery.org, is designed to support midwifery educators in promoting equity and social justice in midwifery education and training. The website highlights examples and provides tools including original webinar content and encourages visitors to attend virtual strategy and collaboration calls. It offers a model of continuous professional development that is easily accessible.
The Role of Perceived Justice, Political Ideology, and Individual or Collective Framing in Support for Environmental Policies

Effectively addressing environmental challenges such as climate change will require adopting policy measures that have some impact on collective human behavior. The present research examined attitudes toward different environmental policies, specifically focusing on the role of perceived justice. Justice was measured in two ways: as an assessment of the fairness of a particular policy and as a general tendency to endorse statements related to environmental justice. Because justice judgments can be context specific, policies were presented in four conditions, in a 2 × 2 design manipulating the type of impact described, ecological or societal, and the level of focus, individual or collective. The roles of political ideology and environmentalism were also investigated. Results from an online sample of 162 US residents showed that non-coercive policies, overall, were rated as more acceptable. Environmental justice statements were strongly endorsed, and justice in both its specific and general forms was a determinant of policy acceptance. In particular, ratings of the fairness of specific policies were a stronger determinant of acceptability than perceived effectiveness of the policy. Type of impact had little effect, but policies tended to be rated as more acceptable when they were framed in terms of the collective rather than the individual. Although a liberal ideology was associated with acceptance of environmental policies in general and with endorsement of environmental justice, controlling for endorsement of environmental justice eliminated the effect of political ideology in most, but not all, cases. Implications for policy support are discussed.
Heterogeneity of memory B cells

Potential solid organ transplant recipients broadly sensitized to HLA have long wait times, low transplant rates and poor outcomes. The new kidney allocation system has improved access to the most highly sensitized recipients; however, their long-term outcomes are unknown. Emerging data suggest that memory B cell repertoire is broader than the plasma cell repertoire, therefore, despite refinements in anti-HLA antibody detection technology, donor-specific HLA- specific memory B cells may in fact be present in some, if not most, highly sensitized recipients with no detectable donor-specific antibodies. In addition, new findings have underscored the heterogeneity in memory B cell generation, and in the signals that determine memory versus plasma cell fate during primary antigen encounter, as well as memory B cell differentiation upon antigen reencounter into plasma cells or reentry into germinal centers to subsequently emerge as higher affinity and class-switched plasma cells. Thus, heterogeneity memory B cells generation may affect the efficacy of specific immunomodulation during the recall response. We propose that the ability to quantify donor-specific B cell in transplant recipients is urgently required to provide insights into the mechanisms of sensitization and recall, and for the early detection of acute and chronic AMR.
Autologous Breast Reconstruction

The progress in the last 25 years, utilizing the patient’s own tissue for reconstruction, has been amazing. Starting with the landmark procedure of the transverse rectus abdominis flap by Carl Hartrampf, autologous reconstruction has become much more reliable. The aesthetic outcomes have improved as well. This chapter discusses the various types of flaps which are currently employed and their advantages and disadvantages.
Effects of time of weaning, supplement, and sire breed of calf during the fall grazing period on cow and calf performance.

A 4-yr experiment was conducted to determine effects of protein supplementation, age at weaning, and calf sire breed on cow and calf perfor- mance during fall grazing. Each year 48 pregnant, crossbred cows nursing steer calves ( x calving date = April 8 ) were assigned to a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment replicated in three native range pastures. Treatment factors were: 1 ) no supplement (NS) or an individually fed supplement (S, 3 kg of a 34% protein supplement fed to cows every 3rd d); 2 ) calves weaned at the beginning (W, mid to late September) or at the end (NW, mid to late December) of the trial each year; or 3 ) calves sired by Hereford or Charolais bulls. Data were adjusted for cow size (initial hip height and initial and final weights and condition scores) by analyses of covariance using principal component coefficients as covariates. Change in cow weight and condition score were increased by S and W ( P < .01), but these responses interacted and were not the same each year (yr × S, year × W, and year × S × W, P < .01). Forage intake was decreased ( P < .1) by S and W. Total intake (forage + supplement) was not affected by S but was decreased by W ( P < .1). Digestibility of OM was decreased by S ( P < .01). Some carryover effects of treatments were observed the next spring in cow weight, condition score, and birth weight (NW decreased birth weight by 2 kg, P < .01), but there were no effects by the next fall on weaning weights or pregnancy rates. Milk yield decreased during the experimental period, and S maintained higher milk production in late lactation ( P < .01). Calf ADG was increased by S and Charolais sires ( P < .01). Efficiency (grams of output/ megacalorie of input) was not affected by sire breed but was enhanced by S ( P < .01). Our conclusions are that 1 ) effects of feeding a 34% protein supplement to cows were to increase calf gains and improve per- sistency of lactation and efficiency; 2 ) delaying weaning decreased cow weight and condition score; 3 ) effects of weaning age and protein supplementation were highly dependent on forage and environmental conditions in any given year; and 4 ) whatever effects existed in a given year did not carry over to effects on next year's production as measured by pregnancy rates and weaning weights.
A review of transfer theory and characterization of measured performance for differential mobility analyzers

AbstractParticle transfer theory for steady-state differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) with and without diffusion is reviewed in detail with a particular focus on the assumptions and approximatio...
Fatigue, creep, and impact resistance of aramid fiber reinforced composites

Kevlar® 49 a high-strength, high-modulus, low-density organic fiber has gained significant acceptance as a weight-reducing replacement for E-glass in aircraft applications and for S-glass in filament-wound missile components. New end-use applications require a better understanding of the static and dynamic fatigue and impact resistance of these composites. The tension-tension fatigue life of both unidirectional fiber and fabric-reinforced laminates was greater than that of comparable glass-reinforced composites. The creep rate under continuous tensile stress was comparable to that of glass composites. The ball-drop impact resistance of Kevlar 49 fabric laminate-faced sandwich panels was dependent on 'fabric weave construction and number of face sheet plies. This relationship was significantly different for sandwich beams having glass-reinforced facings.
Flight System Sensor Failure

Modern airliners from all OEMs rely on a variety of sensors to accurately measure aircraft speed, angle of attack, and whether ice is building up on important surfaces. This chapter details the events that occurred on Air France flight 447 flying between Rio de Janeiro and Paris. The aircraft entered an area of significant meteorological disturbance near the equator which produced icing conditions over several instruments (including the pitot probe measuring airspeed). The resulting ice buildup on the speed sensor produced a problem for the flight control computer which was exacerbated by copilot input. The resulting loss of control meant the entire aircraft, passengers, and crew were lost.
Crystallization Temperature-Dependent Crystal Orientations within Nanoscale Confined Lamellae of a Self-Assembled Crystalline−Amorphous Diblock Copolymer

For a lamella-forming poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polystyrene (PEO-b-PS) diblock copolymer (MnPEO = 8.7K and MnPS = 9.2K), the glass transition temperature of the PS blocks is 62 °C, and the melting temperature of the PEO crystals is around 51 °C when the sample is crystallized below 40 °C. The PEO blocks thus crystallize in a one-dimensionally confined lamellar space of 8.8 nm, as studied recently by one-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy. In this report, the crystal orientation (the c-axis of the PEO crystals) within nanoscale confined lamellae has been investigated using combined two-dimensional SAXS and wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments. The c-axis orientation in the PEO crystals is observed for the first time to change from random to perpendicular, then to inclined, and finally to parallel to the lamellar surface normal, depending only on the crystallization temperature (Tc). Detailed crystallographic analyses indicate that the c-axis orientati...
Reflections on infusing evidenced-based inclusion practices in early childhood community college programs through a collaborative professional development model

ABSTRACTInclusion means that students with disabilities have access to high-quality and effective instruction, as well as specialized services as needed, within least restrictive environments. We b...
Effects of intron conversion in the human CYP11B2 gene on its transcription and blood pressure regulation in transgenic mice.

The human cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily B member 2 (hCYP11B2) gene encodes aldosterone synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of aldosterone. In some humans, hCYP11B2 undergoes a unique intron conversion whose function is largely unclear. The intron conversion is formed by a replacement of the segment of DNA within intron 2 of hCYP11B2 with the corresponding region of the hCYP11B1 gene. We show here that the intron conversion is located in an open chromatin form and binds more strongly to the transcriptional regulators histone acetyltransferase P300 (p300), NFκB, and CCAAT enhancer–binding protein α (CEBPα). Reporter constructs containing the intron conversion had increased promoter activity on transient transfection in H295R cells compared with WT intron 2. We generated humanized transgenic (TG) mice containing all the introns, exons, and 5′- and 3′-flanking regions of the hCYP11B2 gene containing either the intron conversion or WT intron 2. We found that TG mice containing the intron conversion have (a) increased plasma aldosterone levels, (b) increased hCYP11B2 mRNA and protein levels, and (c) increased blood pressure compared with TG mice containing WT intron 2. Results of a ChIP assay showed that chromatin obtained from the adrenals of TG mice containing the intron conversion binds more strongly to p300, NFκB, and CEBPα than to WT intron 2. These results uncover a functional role of intron conversion in hCYP11B2 and suggest a new paradigm in blood pressure regulation.
Repurposing the open access malaria box reveals compounds with activity against Tritrichomonas foetus trophozoites

Abstract The protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus causes early embryonic death in cattle which results in severe economic loss. In the United States, there are no drugs are approved for treatment of this pathogen. In this study, we evaluated in vitro anti-protozoal effects of compounds from an open access chemical library against T. foetus trophozoites. An initial high-throughput screen identified 16 compounds of interest. Further investigation revealed 12 compounds that inhibited parasite growth and 4 compounds with lethal effects. For lethal compounds, dose-response curves were constructed and the LD50 was calculated for laboratory and field strains of T. foetus. Our experiments revealed chemical scaffolds that were parasiticidal in the micromolar range, and these scaffolds provide a starting point for drug discovery efforts. Further investigation is still needed to investigate suitability of these scaffolds and related compounds in food animals. Importantly, open access chemical libraries can be useful for identifying compounds with activity against protozoan pathogens of veterinary importance.
Norming retrieval processes

Abstract There is a long tradition of norming words and other materials for various descriptive properties (e.g., concreteness, emotional valence, imagery, meaningfulness), which allows those properties to be manipulated in memory experiments. We introduce a new approach to norming, in which measurement models are used to norm the underlying retrieval processes that memory items trigger. We report two worked examples of this approach, for the most commonly administered items in false memory experiments: DRM lists. In one project, 36 lists that had been previously normed for their levels of true and false memory were normed for their levels of 3 retrieval processes that control false memory (recollection rejection, phantom recollection, and semantic familiarity) and 3 parallel processes that control true memory (true recollection, erroneous recollection rejection, and semantic familiarity). In the other project, 72 new DRM lists, whose associative and semantic strengths had been systematically varied, were normed for the same retrieval processes. Together, these norms provide maximum likelihood estimates of all 6 retrieval processes for all 108 lists. Analyses of those estimates revealed that list differences in the three false memory processes are mutually dissociated, as are list differences in the three true memory processes. Thus, investigators can vary each retrieval process, without confounding it with other processes, by merely selecting appropriate groups of lists. That allows simple List × Treatment designs to be used to pinpoint the retrieval processes that are responsible for the effects of important memory manipulations (e.g., delay, divided attention, encoding instructions, repetition).
The transcription factor Shox2 shapes thalamocortical neuron firing and synaptic properties

ABSTRACT Thalamocortical neurons (TCNs) transmit information about sensory stimuli from the thalamus to the cortex. In response to different physiological states and demands TCNs can fire in tonic and/or phasic burst modes. These firing properties of TCNs are supported by precisely timed inhibitory synaptic inputs from the thalamic reticular nucleus and intrinsic currents, including T-type Ca2+ and HCN currents. These intrinsic currents are mediated by Cav3.1 and HCN channel subunits, and alterations in expression or modulation of these channels can have dramatic implications on thalamus function. The factors that regulate these currents controlling the firing patterns important for integration of the sensory stimuli and the consequences resulting from the disruption of these firing patterns are not well understood. Shox2 is a transcription factor known to be important for pacemaker activity in the heart. We show here that Shox2 is also expressed in adult mouse thalamus. We hypothesized that genes regulated by Shox2’s transcriptional activity may be important for physiological properties of TCNs. In this study, we used RNA sequencing on control and Shox2 knockout mice to determine Shox2-affected genes and revealed a network of ion channel genes important for neuronal firing properties. Quantitative PCR confirmed that expression of Hcn2, 4 and Cav3.1 genes were affected by Shox2 KO. Western blotting showed expression of the proteins for these channels was decreased in the thalamus, and electrophysiological recordings showed that Shox2 KO impacted the firing and synaptic properties of TCNs. Finally, behavioral studies revealed that Shox2 expression in TCNs play a role in somatosensory function and object recognition memory. Overall, these results reveal Shox2 as a transcription factor important for TCN firing properties and thalamic function.
A simple, SIR-like but individual-based epidemic model: Application in comparison of COVID-19 in New York City and Wuhan

Abstract In this study, an individual-based epidemic model, considering latent-infectious-recovery periods, is presented. The analytic solution of the model in the form of recursive formulae with a time-dependent transmission coefficient is derived and implanted in Excel. The simulated epidemic curves from the model fit very well with the daily reported cases of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China and New York City (NYC), USA. These simulations show that the transmission rate of NYC’s COVID-19 is nearly 30% greater than the transmission rate of Wuhan’s COVID-19, and that the actual number of cumulative infected people in NYC is around 9 times the reported number of cumulative COVID-19 cases in NYC. Results from this study also provide important information about latent period, infectious period and lockdown efficiency.
From Smart Homes to Smart Laboratories: Connected Instruments for Materials Science

The current focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning in the scientific community has the potential to greatly speed up discovery. In this article, we explore what a “smart facility” would mean for materials science. We propose to capture meta-data at every step of an experiment, including materials synthesis, sample production and characterization, simulation, and the analysis software used to extract information. Although most of this information is captured in various institutional systems and staff logbooks, more insight could be obtained by connecting this information through a system that allows automation. AI-enabled processes built on such a system would have the potential of making experiment planning easier and minimize the time between experiment and publication.
Auditor Size and Internal Control Reporting Differences in Nonprofit Healthcare Organizations

We investigate whether auditor size is associated with the disclosure of internal control exceptions among Circular A-133 audits of nonprofit healthcare organizations. Our focus on auditor report outcomes within the nonprofit healthcare sector is timely and relevant, given the sector’s growth and escalating concern for accountability and transparency. Using a sample of 1,180 Circular A-133 audit reports from 2004 to 2008, we find evidence that audits performed by Big 4 firms are less likely to disclose reportable conditions and material weaknesses than those performed by smaller CPA firms. Additional analyses indicate this relation only remains statistically significant for a subsample of small nonprofit healthcare organizations, possibly due to greater selectivity or lower efforts by the Big 4 auditors. Our descriptive statistics also suggest that the market share of the Big 4 firms for Circular A-133 audits decreased during the sample period. We discuss the potential implications of these findings from an audit quality, market dominance, and client size perspective. The results are relevant to hospital financial managers wanting to obtain higher quality audits at a lower cost.
Writing out Black history in Washington, D.C.: how historical narratives support a performance of progressiveness in gentrifying urban spaces

In Washington, D.C., an increasingly affluent and White population is drawn to spaces that advertise diversity and multiculturalism, despite ongoing Black cultural and physical displacement. Icall ...
Truth and Falsity in Communication: Assertion, Denial, and Interpretation

Our linguistic communication is, in part, the exchange of truths. It is an empirical fact that in daily conversation we aim at truths, not falsehoods. This fact may lead us to assume that ordinary, assertion-based communication is the only possible communicative system for truth-apt information exchange, or at least has priority over any alternatives. This assumption is underwritten in three traditional doctrines: that assertion is a basic notion, in terms of which we define denial; that to predicate truth of a sentence is to assert the content it expresses; and that one should, in the context of radical interpretation, try to maximize the truth of what foreigners believe or utter. However, I challenge this assumption via a thought experiment: imagine a language game in which everyone aims to exchange only falsehoods. I argue that information exchange is possible in this game, and so truth-guided communication and falsity-guided communication are conceptually on a par. As a consequence, we should reject the three doctrines, based as they are on the conceptual priority of assertion-based communication.
Use of Social Media Platforms for Purchasing Fashion Items: A Comparison of US and Chinese Consumers

This paper develops a conceptual connection between the Revised Technology Acceptance Model and Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions in explicating the adoption by customers of a social media platform in the fashion industry in the context of the US and China. This study shows that the trustworthiness of Facebook is positively related to US customers’ intention to purchase fashion items and the trustworthiness of WeChat is positively related to Chinese customers’ intention to purchase fashion items. Also, US customers’ perceived usefulness is not positively related to the intention of using Facebook to buy fashion items. However, their Chinese counterparts had the opposite result. The findings enhance our understanding of the factors that influence customers’ adoption of social media platforms for purchasing fashion items and provides suggestions for marketing managers as to how they can utilize social media platforms to market fashion items. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible future research in this field.
Religiousness and Adolescent Behaviors: A Comparison of Boys and Girls

Abstract This study examined the relative influence of religiousness on a sub-sample of adolescents (N = 1911) from a nationally representative sample of youth. Outcome measures included delinquency, substance abuse, physical health, mental health, and education. The study controlled for family processes and peer influences, as well as a variety of sociodemographic factors. Parent religiosity and family processes, especially parental styles, are found to influence girls more so than boys, while exposure to peer influences affects both boys and girls on all outcome measures except delinquency. Findings highlight gender related similarities and differences that should be taken into account when providing interventions to adolescents and their families.
930-V 170-m/spl Omega//spl middot/cm/sup 2/ lateral two-zone RESURF MOSFETs in 4H-SiC with NO annealing

The first lateral two-zone reduced surface field MOSFETs in 4H-SiC with NO annealing are reported. Interface properties of 4H-SiC-SiO/sub 2/ are improved, with inversion layer field-effect mobility increased to 25 cm/sup 2//V/spl middot/s, five times higher than that of dry reoxidation process, and with channel resistance significantly reduced. Devices are normally off with low leakage current. Threshold voltage is around 3 V. Blocking voltage of 930 V and specific on-resistance of 170 m/spl Omega//spl middot/cm/sup 2/ were obtained. Large-area devices with multifinger geometry are also demonstrated with scaled-up current. The output characteristics exhibit excellent linear and saturation regions.
Mechanisms of DJ‐1 neuroprotection in a cellular model of Parkinson’s disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction, proteasome inhibition, and alpha-synuclein aggregation are thought to play important roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Rare cases of early-onset PD have been linked to mutations in the gene encoding DJ-1, a protein with antioxidant and chaperone functions. In this study, we examined whether DJ-1 protects against various stresses involved in PD, and we investigated the underlying mechanisms. Expression of wild-type DJ-1 rescued primary dopaminergic neurons from toxicity elicited by rotenone, proteasome inhibitors, and mutant alpha-synuclein. Neurons with reduced levels of endogenous DJ-1 were sensitized to each of these insults, and DJ-1 mutants involved in familial PD exhibited decreased neuroprotective activity. DJ-1 alleviated rotenone toxicity by up-regulating total intracellular glutathione. In contrast, inhibition of alpha-synuclein toxicity by DJ-1 correlated with up-regulation of the stress-inducible form of Hsp70. RNA interference studies revealed that this increase in Hsp70 levels was necessary for DJ-1-mediated suppression of alpha-synuclein aggregation, but not toxicity. Our findings suggest that DJ-1 acts as a versatile pro-survival factor in dopaminergic neurons, activating different protective mechanisms in response to a diverse range of PD-related insults.
Fluorescence and protein structure. XIV. Tyrosine fluorescence in helical muscle proteins.

Abstract 1. 1.|The muscle proteins paramyosin and tropomyosin were chosen for this study of the effect of helical conformation on fluorescence of Tyr residues because of their high helical content and the absence of tryptophan. 2. 2.|Aggregation of the proteins did not affect fluorescence. This suggested Tyr residues were not in the interface between aggregating monomers and probably the aggregation was essentially end-to-end. 3. 3.|Because of the current uncertainty of absolute quantum yields for tyrosine and Tyr residues, fluorescence has been expressed as the ratio, R Tyr , of observed fluorescence relative to that of l -tyrosine at pH 7. In these terms, the fluorescence at pH 7 for paramyosin ( R Tyr = 0.40) and tropomyosin ( R Tyr = 0.26) rose to a common value ( R Tyr = 0.67) at pH 2. Esterification of the carboxylate groups on the proteins demonstrated that the lower fluorescence at pH 7 was from partial quenching by nearby Asp or Glu residues. 4. 4.|Iodination of the protein Tyr residues indicated there were no energy transfers between residues as though the Tyr residues were widely spaced over the surface of these helical rods. 5. 5.|Loss of helical conformation, by thermal denaturation or by trypsin digestion, decreased the fluorescence to levels typical of Tyr residues in randomly coiled polypeptides ( R Tyr = 0.25–0.35). This lowered fluorescence was attributed to quenching by peptide carbonyl groups in the random coil but not in the α-helical conformation. 6. 6.|A classification of Tyr residues that is based on fluorescence has been revised to include these highly fluorescent residues in regions of α-helix.
Self-calibrating through-time spiral GRAPPA for real-time CMR

Background Through-Time non-Cartesian GRAPPA, a novel parallel imaging method for non-Cartesian trajectories, has recently been shown to provide real-time, free-breathing cardiac images with temporal resolutions of less than 35 ms per frame [Seiberlich N, et al. MRM 2011 Dec;66 (6):1682-8]. The drawback to this method is the need for several fully-sampled datasets for calibration stemming from the non-Cartesian nature of the data, which leads to a longer overall scan time. By acquiring interleaved spiral datasets and combining them to form fully-sampled datasets for the generation of the GRAPPA weights, as in TGRAPPA [Breuer FA, et al. MRM 2005 Apr;53(4):9815.], there is no need for additional calibration data. However, this interleaved calibration method poses the risk of increased artifacts if the temporal footprint of the calibration data is too long. The goal of this study is to test the extent to which self-calibrating through-time spiral GRAPPA can be used for real-time free-breathing CMR.
Natural Convection Along a Vertical Wavy Surface With Uniform Heat Flux

Laminar free convection along a semi-infinite vertical wavy surface has been studied by Yao (1983) for the case of uniform surface temperature. This is a model problem for the investigation of heat transfer from roughened surfaces in order to understand heat transfer enhancement. In many applications of practical importance, however, the surface temperature is nonuniform. In this note, the case of uniform surface heat flux rate, which is often approximated in practical applications and is easier to measure in a laboratory, has been investigated. Numerical results have been obtained for a sinusoidal wavy surface. The results show that the Nusselt number varies periodically along the wavy surface. The wavelength of the Nusselt number variation is half of that of the wavy surface, while the amplitude gradually decreases downstream where the boundary layer grows thick. It is hoped that experimental results will become available in the near future to verify the results of this investigation.
Sol infiltration and heat treatment of alumina-chromia plasma-sprayed coatings

Abstract Alumina–chromia coatings deposited on alumina substrates by plasma spraying were subjected to various combinations of thermal and chemical treatments in an attempt to improve their high-temperature stability. The chemical treatment consisted of infiltrating the coatings with a SiO 2 -containing sol. The thermal treatments involved subjecting the coatings to thermal cycles in a furnace prior to and following the infiltration. Observation of the microstructure of these samples revealed that the introduction of silica, which reacted with alumina to produce mullite during heat treatment, reduced cracking within the coating and between the coating and substrate.
Regional cerebral blood flow and CO2 reactivity in fulminant hepatic failure.

Alterations in cerebral hemodynamics are postulated to contribute to brain herniation, a major cause of death in patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy due to fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). In an effort to identify these changes in cerebral hemodynamics, regional and global cerebral blood flow (CBF) and CO2 reactivity were measured using stable xenon-enhanced computed tomography (Xe/CT) in 24 patients within 72 h of onset of severe hepatic encephalopathy. Regional variations in CBF, most notably, a relative decrease in CBF in the anterior circulation and an increase in CBF in the posterior circulation were found. CBF was significantly lower in FHF patients compared with controls, however, these values are well out of the established ischemic range. FHF patients also showed significant impairment in CBF response to hypoventilation, while the CBF response to hyperventilation remained intact. This study suggests that FHF patients demonstrate early changes in both CBF patterns and CO2 reactivity. The r...
Raising the bar for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The editorialist uses the publication of the 2013 USPSTF recommendations on screening for lung cancer as an opportunity to take stock of the Task Force's processes.
Distribution of contact force during impact to the hip

Hip fracture is a common, costly, and debilitating injury occurring primarily in the elderly. Commonly viewed as a consequence of osteoporosis, it is less often appreciated that >90% of hip fractures are caused by falls, and that fracture risk is governed not only by bone fragility, but also by the mechanics of the fall. Our goal is to develop experimental and mathematical models that describe the dynamics of impact to the hip during a fall, and explain the factors that influence hip contact force and fracture risk during a fall. In the current study, we used “pelvis release experiments” to test the hypothesis that, during a fall on the hip, two pathways exist for energy absorption and force generation at contact: a compressive load path directly in line with the hip, and a flexural load path due to deformation of muscles and ligaments peripheral to the hip. We also explored whether trunk position or muscle contraction influence the body's impact response and the magnitude of force applied to the hip during a fall. Our results suggest that only 15% of total impact force is distributed to structures peripheral to the hip and that peak forces directly applied to the hip are well within the fracture range of the elderly femur. We also found that impacting with the trunk upright significantly increases peak force applied to the hip, whereas muscle contraction has little effect. These results should have application in the development of fracture risk indices that incorporate both fall severity and bone fragility, and the design of interventions such as hip pads and energy-absorbing floors that attempt to reduce fracture risk by decreasing in-line stiffness and hip contact force during a fall.
The Effects of Instructional Frame on Female Adolescents’ Evaluations of Larger Sized Female Models in Print Advertising

Despite growing attention to problems associated with girls’ and women's viewing unrealistic portrayals of women in advertising, little research has identified positive consequences of presenting larger sized females in advertisements. The present research examined these positive effects and found that instructions that support the use of larger sized females in ads (relative to a more traditional instructional frame) heightened adolescent girls’ ratings of the larger sized models’ attractiveness, self-attractiveness, and self-esteem without changing girls’ ratings of thinner sized models. General and valenced self-referencing (positive and negative self-thoughts while viewing the ads) were examined as potential mediators of the instructional effects on self-attractiveness and self-esteem. The findings provide evidence that girls’ perceptions can be altered in a positive manner through media images of women.
The effect of ethnicity and sexual preference on prostate-cancer-related quality of life

In general, patients with prostate cancer are able to maintain a relatively high quality of life (QOL), commonly reporting improvements in physical, emotional, and social functioning within 1 year of treatment. However, certain subpopulations of patients are susceptible to significant reductions in QOL during the course of their treatment. Data suggest that ethnic background and sexual preference both have significant effects on QOL for patients with prostate cancer. These parameters are often poorly documented and addressed by medical practitioners. Greater attention is needed to identify patients who are at increased risk of QOL reduction as a result of these factors.