cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trophic transfer of sediment‐associated polychlorinated biphenyls from meiobenthos to bottom‐feeding fish

Experiments were conducted to examine the dynamics of the sediment-associated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) using a benthic-based trophic transfer model (sediments to benthic copepods to juvenile fish). Field-collected benthic copepods were exposed to sublethal levels of PCB in sediments for 96 h. Accumulation of PCB was measured in the copepods, and these contaminated copepods were fed to the juvenile fish predator Leiostomus xanthurus in uncontaminated sediments. After gut clearance, whole fish were homogenized and examined for PCB accumulation. Similar experiments with L. xanthurus in which meals of uncontaminated copepods were fed in PCB-contaminated sediments were conducted to determine the relative roles of contaminated sediments and contaminated copepod prey ingestion to PCB transfer. Total PCB transfer as well as PCB congener group contributions were examined. A total of 30 congeners were grouped according to log K{sub ow} increments and according to chlorine homologue groups. Copepods exposed to PCB-contaminated sediments to 90 {micro}g/g accumulated PCBs to 326 {micro}g/g dry weight. Accumulation of PCB in fish feeding in contaminated sediments was five times higher than that in fish feeding on contaminated prey in uncontaminated sediments (p = 0.0498). In terms of congener patterns, log K{sub ow} grouping provided clearer discrimination between groups. Congener patternsmore » were similar in PCB stock solution, sediments, and copepods and were different in the two fish treatments. K{sub ow} group relative accumulation patterns in fish were mixed. The chlorine homologue groups revealed that the fish preferentially accumulated the tetrachlorinated congeners relative to copepods and sediments.« less
Design, construction and performance prediction of integrated solar roof collectors using finite element analysis

Abstract An integrated roof solar collector was designed to achieve ease of construction, energy efficiency, functional integration, composite behavior, sustainability, reliability, flexibility, and cost effectiveness. A construction strategy was developed for the collector to ensure quality, ease and repeatability of manufacturing. Three-dimensional (3D) finite element models were then developed to evaluate the thermal performance of the integrated roof solar collector. The models were used to predict the optimum set of variables that can be used in buildings to achieve adequate thermal comfort. Coupled conduction, forced convection, and long wave thermal radiation modes of heat transfer were considered in the developed models. For demonstration purposes, a specific location (Blacksburg, VA) was modeled. Results showed that the integrated roof collector provides acceptable thermal performance by supplying approximately 85% of the building space heating and hot water requirements.
Moral Hazard and the Market for Used Automobiles

I examine a moral hazard problem faced by the owners offleet automobiles. Because fleet vehicles are generally notdriven by their owners, the drivers of these vehicles do not bearall of the costs of either neglecting or abusing the vehicle, causingthese vehicles to depreciate faster than owner-operated vehicles. Empirical estimates show that, after controlling for mileage, fleetvehicles depreciate approximately ten to thirteen percent fasterper-year than owner-driven vehicles. I argue that at least partof this increased depreciation is attributable to moral hazard.
Sprt and cusum results for inverse gaussian processes

The inverse gaussian distribution is a flexible model with applications in generalized linear models and accelerated life testing where early failure times predominate. Recently it has received attention in quality improvement and as a model for which an alternative to the analysis of variance, known as analysis of reciprocals, exists. In reliability testing and acceptance sampling data acquisition is often resource inhibited and may be both costly and time-consuming. In such settings it is desirable to reach a statistically sound decision as quickly as possible. Based on sequential probability ratio tests (SPRT), sequential sampling/ cumulative sum (CUSUM) plans allow for timely, statistically based decisions. SPRT and CUSUM results for the inverse gaussian process mean when the value of the shape parameter of the density is known are presented in this paper.
Get off my lawn: increased aggression in urban song sparrows is related to resource availability

Urban animals often show differences in aggression relative to their rural counterparts, but the ultimate and proximate origins of these differences are poorly understood. Here, we compared urban and rural song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), a species for which higher levels of aggression in urban populations have previously been reported. First, we confirmed elevated territorial aggression levels in urban birds relative to rural birds over multiple years. To begin to identify the environmental variables contributing to these differences, we related aggression to features of the social and physical environment, specifically population density and the availability of suitable nesting vegetation. Population distribution and the availability of suitable nest vegetation were not correlated with territorial aggression levels. Subsequently, we conducted a food supplementation experiment to determine whether potential differences in the relative availability of food between the 2 habitats might drive differences in aggression. Food supplementation increased territorial aggression significantly, particularly in rural birds. Thus, it appears that the availability of food could play a role in determining territorial aggression in song sparrows. The specific combination of these features found in urban areas may cause the increased levels of territorial aggression seen in these populations.
Castor bean lipase: action on its endogenous substrate.

A method is described for obtaining a lipase emulsion from castor beans which rapidly hydrolyzes all of its endogenous substrate at an optimum pH of 4.0 to 4.2. The course of hydrolysis can be described by a first-order reaction; no additives are required for activity and the reaction goes to completion in less than 1 hour. The enzyme emulsion (oil-in-water) is stable for at least 2 weeks in a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer containing added cysteine and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; it is rather heat stable, but the activity is lowered by mechanical shaking. Reagents that react with sulfhydryl groups inactivate the enzyme; the inhibition by mercuric ion and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid can be reversed with an excess of cysteine. The lipase emulsion is not inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate in concentrations lower than 0.01 M, nor by protamine sulfate and heparin in relatively high concentrations. It is inhibited by 0.01 M fluoride.
Accurate Calculation of the Phase Shift Angle of Sinusoidal Signals Using Trapezoidal Rule

In this work, the phase shift angle of a signal is obtained following a procedure that involves carrying out trapezoid rule numerical integration. The two required numerical integrations in this procedure define the tangent function of the phase shift angle. Accurate results (up to the 14th significant figures) are obtained using four equally spaced points (at 0°, 120°, 240° and 360°) on a periodic signal. But the procedure presented here has no limit in the amount of data points that can be used in the numerical integrations. Thus, this procedure can be used to estimate the phase shift angle when data includes noise, using as many points on a period as necessary.
The Impact of Unsuccessful Pirate Attacks on Financial Markets: A Confirmation of Leeson's Reputation-Building Theory

This paper examines the effect of unsuccessful Somali pirate attacks on financial-market returns in the Arabian Peninsula. Specifically, it tests Peter Leeson's (2010a) reputation-building theory of pirate behavior. According to this theory, unsuccessful pirate attacks create the expectation of future pirate attacks, as pirates attempt to maintain and build their reputation for effective piracy. We test this theory empirically by studying the relationship between pirate attacks and financial-market returns in the Arabian Peninsula. The result of our empirical test supports Leeson's theory: unsuccessful pirate attacks are associated with lower financial-market returns, suggesting that market participants expect unsuccessful pirate attacks to be followed by future pirate attacks.
Nerve-mediated motility of ileal segments isolated from NK1 receptor knockout mice

Tachykinins such as substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) acting on neurokinin (NK) receptors modulate the nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) neurotransmission in the gastrointestinal tract of s...
CUTANEOUS RESPONSIVENESS OF LUMBAR SPINAL DORSAL HORN NEURONS IS REDUCED BY GENERAL ANESTHESIA, AN EFFECT DEPENDENT IN PART ON GABAA MECHANISMS

Extracellular activity was recorded from single spinal dorsal horn neurons in both chronic cat and acute rat models. This was done to define the effects of anesthesia on the processing of sensory information elicited by nonnoxious tactile stimulation of peripheral receptive fields (RFs). In the chronic cat model, baseline data were obtained in physiologically intact, awake, drug-free animals before anesthetic administration (halothane 1.0-2.0%). This made it possible to compare and contrast activity of each cell in the drug-free and anesthetized state. Halothane effects were confirmed in the acute rat model (anesthetized, spinally transected, and in some cases decerebrate). In addition, the gamma-aminobutyic acid-A (GABAA)-receptor antagonist picrotoxin (2 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to verify that the observed halothane effect on spinal dorsal horn neurons was mediated by an interaction with GABAA-receptor systems. Halothane effects on three separate measures of response to nonnoxious tactile stimuli were observed in the chronic cat model. Halothane produced a significant, dose-dependent reduction in the low-threshold RF area of the neurons studied. Halothane also caused a significant reduction in neuronal response to RF brushing (dynamic stimulus) and to maintained contact with the RF (static stimulus). A dose dependency was not observed with these latter two effects. Neurons with a predominant rapidly adapting response seemed to be less susceptible to halothane suppression than slowly adapting cells. In the acute rat model an increase in halothane caused a reduction in neuronal response similar to that seen in the cat. The intravenous administration of 2 mg/kg of picrotoxin by itself caused no significant change in RF size or response to brushing. However, the same amount of picrotoxin did cause a 50% reversal of the halothane-induced reduction in RF size without causing a significant change in the halothane effect on response to RF brushing. In contrast to work recently reported in a chronic sheep model, halothane causes a significant reduction in spinal dorsal horn neuronal response to tactile stimulation of peripheral RFs. This effect is caused by, in part, but not exclusively, to GABAA-neurotransmitter systems. However, the relative influence of GABAA systems may vary with the nature of the stimulus.
Growth and Characterization of Zn1-xMnxSe1-ySy Epilayers and Related Heterostructures

We describe the growth of (Zn,Mn)(S,Se) epitaxial layers of high structural quality on (100) GaAs substrates. Double crystal x-ray diffraction (DCXRD) measurements indicate that quaternary epilayers nearly lattice-matched with GaAs are characterized by DCXRD curves with a foil width at half maximum in the range 30 - 60 arc seconds. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy is employed to map the variation of the energy gap of the quartenary alloys over a wide range of alloy compositions. Finally, temperature dependent PL is used to examine the viability of (Zn,Mn)(S,Se) alloys as confining layers for ZnSe and (Zn,Cd)Se quantum wells. While efficient exciton confinement is demonstrated through the observation of robust PL from such quantum wells up to high temperatures, the renormalization of the quartenary band gap by spin fluctuations leads to a rapid decrease in confinement with increase in temperature.
Syntactic Parameters and a Coding Theory Perspective on Entropy and Complexity of Language Families

We present a simple computational approach to assigning a measure of complexity and information/entropy to families of natural languages, based on syntactic parameters and the theory of error correcting codes. We associate to each language a binary string of syntactic parameters and to a language family a binary code, with code words the binary string associated to each language. We then evaluate the code parameters (rate and relative minimum distance) and the position of the parameters with respect to the asymptotic bound of error correcting codes and the Gilbert–Varshamov bound. These bounds are, respectively, related to the Kolmogorov complexity and the Shannon entropy of the code and this gives us a computationally simple way to obtain estimates on the complexity and information, not of individual languages but of language families. This notion of complexity is related, from the linguistic point of view to the degree of variability of syntactic parameter across languages belonging to the same (historical) family.
A prediction model to identify patients without a concerning intraabdominal diagnosis

Abstract Objective Patients with abdominal diagnoses constitute 5% to 10% of all emergency department (ED) presentations. The goal of this study is to identify which of these patients will have a nonconcerning diagnosis based on demographic, physical examination, and basic laboratory testing. Methods Consecutive patients from July 2013 to March 2014 discharged with a gastrointestinal (GI) diagnosis who presented to an urban, university-affiliated ED were identified. The cohort was split into a derivation set and a validation set. Using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis, a risk score was created based on the deviation data and then tested on the validation data. Results There were 8852 patients with a GI diagnosis during the study period. A total of 7747 (87.5%) of them had a nonconcerning diagnosis. The logistic regression model identified 13 variables that predict a concerning GI diagnosis and created a scoring system ranging from 0 to 20. The area under the receiver operating characteristic was 0.81. When dichotomized at greater than or equal to 7 vs less than 7, the risk score has a sensitivity of 91% (95% confidence interval [CI], 88-94), specificity of 46% (95% CI, 44-48), positive predictive value of 17% (95% CI, 15-19) and negative predictive value of 98% (95% CI, 97-99). Conclusion One can determine with a high degree of certainty, based only on an initial evaluation and screening laboratory work (excluding radiology) whether a patient who presents with a GI-related complaint has a nonconcerning diagnosis. This model could be used as a tool to aid in quality assurance when reviewing patients discharged with GI complaints and with future study, as a secondary triage instrument in a crowded ED environment, and aid in resource allocation.
Inhibition of Mitogen- and Antigen-Induced Lymphocyte Blastogenesis by Herpes Simplex Virus

Lymphocytes were separated from peripheral blood of adult human donors by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation and cultured in the presence of nonspecific mitogens (phytohemagglutinin[PHA] and concanavalin A) or specific microbial anatigens (herpes simplex virus [HSV], mumps virus, streptococcal enzymes, and Candida albicans). Exposure of lymphocyte cultures to infectious HSV resulted in almost complete inhibition of blastogenesis ([3/H]thymidine uptake) induced by each of the mitogens and antigens, a finding which suggests that a common mechanism may underlie the inhibitory effect. Several characteristics of the effect of virus on blastogenesis were noted: (1) virus inactivated by heat or ultraviolet irradiation was ineffective; (2) inhibition (is greater than 90%) was greatest in cultures exposed to HSV on or before the addition of PHA; (3) lymphocyte preparations washed free of HSV continued to be refractory to stimulation, an observation indicating that the presence of unabsorbed virions or viral products was not essential; and (4) inhibition was independent of the cell donor's state of humoral immunity to HSV.
Hemoglobin hope: beta136 (H13) Gly leads to Asp in Georgia.

A fast-moving hemoglobin variant was detected in a screen for abnormal hemoglobins. Structural analysis shows that there is a substitution of glycine by aspartic acid at position in 136 in the β chain.
Shared Decision Making to Improve the Emergency Care of Older Adults: A Research Agenda

Older emergency department patients have high rates of serious illness and injury, are at high risk for side effects and adverse events from treatments and diagnostic tests, and in many cases, have nuanced goals of care in which pursuing the most aggressive approach is not desired. Although some forms of shared decision making (SDM) are commonly practiced by emergency physicians caring for older adults, broader use of SDM in this setting is limited by a lack of knowledge of the types of patients and conditions for which SDM is most helpful and the approaches and tools that can best facilitate this process. We describe a research agenda to generate new knowledge to optimize the use of SDM during the emergency care of older adults.
Pediatricians' Attitudes and Beliefs about Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives Influence Counseling.

Abstract Study Objective Adolescents are at high risk for unintended pregnancy. Because of pediatricians' potential role in contraceptive counseling, understanding their attitudes and beliefs and counseling practices about use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC; ie, etonogestrel implant and intrauterine devices [IUDs]) is vital. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures We interviewed primary care pediatricians (N = 23) in a Midwestern city in June-August 2014. We transcribed the interviews, developed a coding schema, and analyzed these qualitative data using a priori and open coding of transcripts. Results Few pediatricians had favorable views on adolescent IUD use and most did not include IUDs in routine contraception counseling. Pediatricians perceived IUDs to impose significant risks for adverse reproductive outcomes and to be poorly tolerated by adolescents. Poor and/or outdated knowledge influenced inaccurate beliefs and unsupportive attitudes. Whereas some pediatricians were advocates for adolescent use of IUDs, many others had concerns that IUDs were not appropriate and not favored by adolescents. In contrast, participants viewed the etonogestrel implant more favorably and often included it in routine counseling. Some pediatricians focused on the familiar and readily available methods (injectable and oral contraceptives) or assumed patients had predetermined expectations for those methods. Time spent counseling on LARC was also perceived as a barrier. Pediatricians described how education and increased familiarity with LARC changed viewpoints. Conclusion A variety of beliefs and attitudes, as well as factors such as time and personal habits, influence pediatricians' contraceptive counseling practices. Until knowledge deficits are addressed, uninformed viewpoints and unfavorable attitudes will limit adolescents' access to LARC, especially IUDs.
GABA Synthesis and Pyridoxine Seizures

A reduction in pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD),which synthesizes GABA, is reported in a 3 month-old infant with seizures responsive to pyridoxine treated at University of California, Davis.
Dynamic Strength and Fragmentation Experiments on Brittle Materials Using Theta-Specimens

Characterization of the strength and fragmentation response of brittle materials poses unique challenges related to specimen gripping and alignment. These challenges are often exacerbated when the characterization is to be conducted at elevated strain rates. Tensile strength of brittle samples are often characterized using the Brazilian disk testing geometry. While this ameliorates issues related to specimen alignment, the stress field in the specimen is not uniform, complicating the analysis of the test results. The theta specimen geometry was designed specifically to provide a uniform state of uniaxial stress in the specimen gage section when the exterior of the sample is subjected to compressive loading. Here we evaluate the use of the theta specimen geometry with a compressive Kolsky bar to measure the dynamic tensile strength and fragmentation response of a brittle polymer, Poly(Methyl methacrylate). Finite element simulations are used to investigate the effect of geometry and loading pulse shape on the ability to establish a state of uniaxial stress in the gage section. Particular attention is given the excitation of lateral vibrations in the gage section, which would perturb the desired uniaxial stress state.
Facile Stem Cell Delivery to Bone Grafts Enabled by Smart Shape Recovery and Stiffening of Degradable Synthetic Periosteal Membranes

Delivering stem/progenitor cells via a degradable synthetic membrane to devitalized allogenic tissue graft surfaces presents a promising allograft-mediated tissue regeneration strategy. However, balancing degradability and bioactivity of the synthetic membrane with physical characteristics demanded for successful clinical translation is challenging. Here, well-integrated composites of hydroxyapatite (HA) and amphiphilic poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PELGA) with tunable degradation rates are designed that stiffen upon hydration and exhibit excellent shape recovery ability at body temperature for efficiently delivering skeletal progenitor cells around bone grafts. Unlike conventional degradable polymers that weaken upon wetting, these amphiphilic composites stiffen upon hydration as a result of enhanced polyethylene glycol (PEG) crystallization. HA-PELGA composite membranes support the attachment, proliferation, and osteogenesis of rat periosteum-derived cells in vitro, as well as the facile transfer of confluent cell sheets of green fluorescent protein-labeled bone marrow stromal cells. With efficient shape memory behaviors around physiological temperature, the composite membranes can be programmed with a permanent tubular configuration, deformed into a flat temporary shape desired for cell seeding/cell sheet transfer, and triggered to wrap around a femoral bone allograft upon 37 °C saline rinse and subsequently stiffen. These properties combined make electrospun HA-PELGA promising smart synthetic periosteal membranes for augmenting allograft healing.
Land-Use Change at Temporary Group-Housing Sites in Post-Katrina Louisiana

AbstractTo shelter the large number of displaced households following Hurricane Katrina (2005), FEMA, in conjunction with local governments, established 110 temporary group-housing sites throughout...
Quantitative phase imaging by pupil modulation different phase contrast (PMDPC) (Conference Presentation)

Differential phase contrast (DPC) is a non-interference quantitative phase imaging method achieved by asymmetric optical systems. Quantitative DPC images are achieved previously with asymmetric illumination systems. However, it works well for on-focus thin samples only. Considering the limitation, we develop a pupil modulation differential phase contrast (PMDPC) imaging method. Instead of modulating the illumination, we use a spatial light modulator (SLM) to modulate a 4f imaging system’s pupil plane. When half of the pupil plane is blocked by the SLM, a phase gradient image forms on the image plane. Using two such phase gradient images captured separately by applying complementary half-circle pupils on SLM, a DPC image can be constructed that carries the sample’s phase information. A quantitative phase image of the sample can be reconstructed after a deconvolution procedure. Further, we are able to combine this quantitative phase with the sample’s intensity image to obtain the complete complex object field which then allows us to post-process the image. We report experimentally that aberrations arising from the optical elements in the system can be corrected by deconvolving the reconstructed image with a pre-calibrated pupil function. We can also digitally extend the depth of field using angular spectrum propagation algorithm. With our PMDPC imaging setup where NA equals to 0.36, a quantitative phase image with periodic resolution of 1.73µm is obtained. The depth of field for a 20x, 0.4NA objective is extended digitally by 20 times to -50~50 micrometers.
Absolute Ultraviolet Irradiance of the Moon from the LASP Lunar Albedo Measurement and Analysis from SOLSTICE (LLAMAS) Project

The Moon has been shown to be an extremely stable radiometric reference for calibration and long-term stability measurements of on-orbit sensors. The majority of the previous work on characterizing the lunar reflectance has been in the visible part of the spectrum using ground-based lunar images. The SOLar-STellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) on the SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) can be used to extend the lunar spectral irradiance dataset to include the 115–300 nm range. SOLSTICE can directly measure both the solar and lunar spectra from orbit, using the same optics and detectors. An observing campaign to map out the reflectance as a function of phase angle began in mid 2006 and continued through 2010. The geometry of SORCE’s orbit is very favorable for lunar observations, and we have measurements spanning a range 0–170 ∘ in phase angle. In addition to Earth Observing Systems using the Moon for calibration, recent planetary missions have also made ultraviolet observations of the Moon during Earth flyby, and these SOLSTICE measurements can be useful in calibrating the absolute responsivity of those instruments as well.
Dynamic Changes in Plant Nuclear Organization in Response to Environmental and Developmental Signals

The functional organization of the plant nuclear pore, nuclear envelope, and nucleoplasm marks dynamically changing environmental cues and developmental programs. ### Glossary NE : nuclear envelope ONM : outer nuclear membrane INM : inner nuclear membrane NPC : nuclear pore complex ETI : effector-triggered immunity SAS : shade avoidance syndrome LINC : linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton * ### Glossary NE : nuclear envelope ONM : outer nuclear membrane INM : inner nuclear membrane NPC : nuclear pore complex ETI : effector-triggered immunity SAS : shade avoidance syndrome LINC : linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton
Abstract 116: Minorities, Women, and Stroke Belters Left Behind in t-PA Use Despite Quality Improvement Efforts

Introduction: We aimed to describe factors associated with IV tPA use over time, including geography, hospital-related factors, and quality improvement efforts. Methods: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) discharges with available hospital identifiers (2005 to 2011) in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) were identified using ICD9 codes 433.X1, 434.X1, and 436. IV tPA use was determined using procedure code 9910 and code V4588 for drip and ship patients; patient/hospital characteristics were obtained from the NIS. Stroke center designation and Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) performance award data were publicly available. Logistic regression using patient characteristics only was followed by the addition of hospital characteristics, then state characteristics (Table). Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% CI were reported. Results: There were 563,087 AIS; median age 74 (IQR 62 – 83), 14.9% Black, and 53.3% female. Overall, 3.76% (n=21,172) received IV tPA. In the fully adjusted model (Table), patients that were Black, Hispanic, or female were less likely to receive IV tPA, while those with private insurance were more likely to receive IV tPA. Each subsequent year, patients were 11% more likely to receive IV tPA (aOR 1.11, 95%CI 1.09-1.13). Patients discharged from designated stroke centers, GWTG hospitals with silver or gold awards, or hospitals that were teaching, large, or urban were more likely to receive IV tPA compared to patients discharged from small, critical access, or rural hospitals. Patients discharged in stroke belt states were less likely to receive IV tPA. Conclusions: Treatment of AIS with tPA is increasing over time. Discharge from GWTG hospitals with performance achievement awards, stroke centers, or teaching, large, or urban hospitals increased this likelihood. Patients who were black, Hispanic, female, or in the stroke belt were less likely to receive tPA. Further efforts are needed to address these performance gaps.
Out of one, many: Exploiting intrinsic motions to explore protein structure spaces

Reconstructing the energy landscape of a protein holds the key to characterizing its structural dynamics and function [1]. While the disparate spatio-temporal scales spanned by the slow dynamics challenge reconstruction in wet and dry laboratories, computational efforts have had recent success on proteins where a wealth of experimentally-known structures can be exploited to extract modes of motion. In [2], the authors propose the SoPriM method that extracts principle components (PCs) and utilizes them as variables of the structure space of interest. Stochastic optimization is employed to sample the structure space and its associated energy landscape in the defined varible space. We refer to this algorithm as SoPriM-PCA and compare it here to SoPriM-NMA, which investigates whether the landscape can be reconstructed with knowledge of modes of motion (normal modes) extracted from one single known structure. Some representative results are shown in Figure 1, where structures obtained by SoPriM-PCA and those obtained by SoPriM-NMA for the H-Ras enzyme are compared via color-coded projections onto the top two variables utilized by each algorithm. The results show that precious information can be obtained on the energy landscape even when one structural model is available. The presented work opens up interesting venues of research on structure-based inference of dynamics. Acknowledgment: This work is supported in part by NSF Grant No. 1421001 to AS and NSF Grant No. 1440581 to AS and EP. Computations were run on ARGO, a research computing cluster provided by the Office of Research Computing at George Mason University, VA (URL: http://orc.gmu.edu).
Cytokine messenger RNA stability is enhanced in tumor cells

Hematopoietic growth factors are produced by a number of human tumors. We extracted RNA from selected human tumor cells known to produce at least one hematopoietic growth factor and found high levels of abnormally stable cytokine messenger (m)RNA. Half-life experiments performed after preventing RNA synthesis by exposing cells to actinomycin D before RNA extraction showed stabilization of cytokine messages in tumor cells in liquid culture as well as in human tumor xenografts grown in mice. Exposure to the phorbol ester phorbol 12- myristate 13-acetate (TPA) caused enhancement of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) message level in lung cancer cells and in control fibroblasts but elevated levels persisted far longer in the tumor cells. In normal cells, an AU-rich sequence in the 3′ untranslated region of cytokine mRNAs confers lability to the message. Although a beta-globin gene expression vector containing this region appears to produce unstable mRNA in lung cancer cells, cytokine mRNAs, which also contain this sequence, are very stable in the tumors we studied. This may indicate that another region of the cytokine mRNA molecule is of greater importance than the AU-rich region in determining mRNA stability in tumor cells.
Current status of chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease.

Combination chemotherapy is curative of advanced Hodgkin’s disease in a large minority of patients. That fact first became evident during long-term follow-up studies of patients treated with MOPP (nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) at the National Cancer Institute, United States (De Vita et al. 1980). The remarkable results obtained with chemotherapy in advanced disease led to a pilot comparative study of MOPP compared with combined modality treatment in early-stage disease (O’Dwyer et al. 1985), and a larger study in which early-stage patients were randomized to receive MOPP or radiotherapy (Longo et al. 1987). The results to date indicate that MOPP is highly effective as initial treatment for early-stage Hodgkin’s disease also.
Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism: The Dialectics of Learning About Africa

Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism, though broadly interrelated with one another, are historically two different political philosophies that define historical and contemporary Africa. Their thoughts have been formulated and promoted by similar intellectual and political constituents but in different periods within the evolution of contemporary Africa. In this research project, I argue that Africa is the continent where the basis of its peoples’ solidarity is the weakest, despite the pragmatism of their collective ethos at the communal and institutional levels such as the family. This factor has had a negative impact on the efforts to consolidate the African education systems and development paradigms. Based on realist historical facts, I also argue that no people, country, or continent has genuinely and sustainably progressed in the contemporary world of nation-states without rooting its dogmas and ultimate principles of development on a consciously chosen philosophy or a political ideology. Thus, as we continue to look for new paradigms of development in Africa in deconstructing the received ones, two of the political philosophies I am studying further are Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism. Using historical-structuralist approaches and neo-constructuralism, my main objectives are to interrogate their practicality and their origins, compare and contrast their claims, definitions of African cultures, African politics (nation-states), the African ways of doing things, and African historical configurations of progress. What kinds of development do their dogmas embody and project? I pay attention to how they define state-society relations. Although this work is essentially a critical reflection, my arguments are shaped by African historical, political, and sociological references.
Reconfigurable free space optical data center network using gimbal-less MEMS retroreflective acquisition and tracking

Robust and agile reconfigurable free space optical communication (FSO) links over dynamic traffic play a key role in next generation flexible wireless datacenter inter-rack networks, in terms of high throughput, dynamic robustness, cable complexity and energy efficiency. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate an agile reconfigurable 10Gbps FSO system incorporated with intelligent beam acquisition and tracking mechanism based on gimbal-less two-axis MEMS micromirror and retro-reflective film optics. Steering latency and alignment accuracy of reconfigurable FSO links are evaluated over various distances and directions, and get enhanced by intelligent adaptive acquisition and tracking schemes. Optical power loss and bit error rate of reconfigurable 10Gbps FSO links with mobility are reported over a distance of 13 m. Results show that it is feasible to use MEMS retroreflective acquisition and tracking system to achieve agile reconfigurable FSO links for flexible wireless datacenter inter-rack networks.
Examining the influence of professional emergency management coordinators driving preparedness and resilience on university campuses.

Objective: To characterize the compliance with disaster management recommendations of ensuring a full-time, dedicated professional is responsible for coordinating disaster management programs. This research targets a subset of institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States at risk of annual hurricane threats or having experienced an active shooter incident near campus. Design: A comprehensive Web-based assessment was conducted to determine the Web presence of emergency management of 265 IHEs with student enrollment greater than 2,000 in coastal states at risk of annual Atlantic Hurricane landfalls. Results were displayed spatially using ArcGIS. Results: Although the Web sites of 91 percent of IHEs with enrollment greater than 20,000 displayed easily accessible information on a dedicated professional leading emergency management, only 42 percent of the Web sites of those IHEs with enrollment between 10,000 and 20,000 did so. As enrollment declined, the compliance rate declined. Compliance rates for IHEs with different enrollments were as follows: 6,001-9,999, 30 percent; 3,001-6,000, 23 percent; 2,000-3,000, 13 percent. Conclusions: A full-time, dedicated professional coordinating emergency preparedness is a best practice as evidenced by various accrediting bodies, but this practice is not mandated for IHEs. Our results suggest that proximity to significant annual hurricane threats does not influence the adoption of this recommendation. Despite IHEs being core stakeholders in assuring disaster resilience, gaps exist in preparedness practice.
Teaching Management in a Recreation Curriculum: Application of Reality-Based Learning

Teaching recreation management to a classroom of students with little or no management experience creates a challenge for instructors of these courses. Reality-based learning is one way to more ful...
Evaluation of criteria for the recognition of Diphyllobothrium species.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the evaluation of criteria for the recognition of Diphyllobothrium species. Reliable data about intraspecific variations are needed before proper assessment the relative stability of size or any other taxonomic character in classification. Not only are data required on the kinds of variants and the frequency with which they occur but to properly evaluate them it should be determined if the characters involved are hereditary or nonhereditary. The dimensional and morphic characters of internal and external characters are probably sufficiently stable to serve as specific diagnostic characters if the material being compared is from the same specific final host of comparable age, sex, and host diet, harboring an equal number of worms of the same postinfection age. While the basis for identification at the species level, regardless of the category definition, is being sought within the context of the anatomical concept, even when the limits of variations have been established, all available criteria should be taken into account.
Metabolism of Elements in Mammals and Vertebrates

A remarkable feature of iron metabolism is that there is no specific excretory mechanism for iron, or if there is one (as yet to be discovered), the excretion rate is very low. Iron will, however, be lost through hemorrhage and other incidents. Organisms use iron very economically. It is essential and required in substantial quantity, but rather hard to obtain. Thus, organisms cannot afford to lose it easily and hence have developed extensive mechanisms to utilize their iron over and over again. Two-thirds of all the iron in mammals is in the form of hemoglobin. The daily iron turnover caused by destruction of red blood cells is equivalent to about 2% of that in all the hemoglobin. However, this iron is reutilized to produce more hemoglobin. The average half-life of hemoglobin iron has been estimated to be about 8 years in an adult human (Finch and Loden, 1959). This is enormously long, compared to, for example, the half-life of calcium in bone, which is also considered to be “long” but estimated to be less than 9 months.
Sociodemographic, neighborhood, psychosocial, and substance use correlates of cocaine use among Black adults: Findings from a pooled analysis of national data.

Abstract Objective Cocaine use (CU) is serious a public health issue affecting U.S. adults, including Blacks. Cocaine-related overdose deaths have also trended upwards among this population. However, there remains a lack of research on correlates of CU among a nationally representative sample of Black adults. Methods The current study examines the prevalence and correlates of past-year CU among Black adults aged 18 and older (N = 9,821). Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015–2016) were used and a weighted logistic regression model was estimated. Results Findings showed 2.4% of Black adults reported past-year CU—significantly higher than rates of CU among other assessed racial groups. Opioid use/misuse, encounters with drug dealers, easier access to cocaine, unemployment, and being 35 or older were associated with increased odds of CU. Greater risk perception of CU and religiosity were associated decreased odds of CU. Conclusion Results identified several correlates associated with past-year CU among Black adults. Findings suggest addressing CU among this population will likely require the development of multilevel prevention and intervention strategies and an increased focus on opioid use/misuse as opioids have been recently implicated in cocaine-related overdose deaths.
QOLP-02. INSURANCE STATUS IMPACTS THE ECONOMIC BURDEN AND SURVIVAL OF GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE

INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma carries a high economic burden for patients and caregivers. We investigated the hospital costs of surgery for newly-diagnosed glioblastoma patients based on insurance status.
Weatherscapes: Alaska's Brooks Range: Fortress of the Arctic

Rising into the frigid air of northern Alaska, situated in its entirety above the Arctic Circle, the virtually uninhabited 700-mile-long Brooks Range is one of the least visited, wildest, most aust...
Treatment of Pectoralis Major Tendon Tears: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Repair Timing and Fixation Methods:

Background:Repair of torn pectoralis major tendons is generally considered superior to nonoperative management, but there is a paucity of comparative data to demonstrate ideal repair timing and fix...
The Association between Parents and Children Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines.

Abstract Purpose To examine the association between parents and children meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines, by gender, among 8–12 year old children with BMI ≥75th percentile Design and methods This was a secondary analysis of baseline data from a school-based healthy weight management intervention in Minnesota for 8–12 year old children. Survey data about PA participation were collected from 2014 through 2018. Analyses entailed descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression controlling for child age, race/ethnicity, BMIz, child's perception of parent support for activity, and number of sports played. Results Children's (n = 132) mean age was 9.32 ± 0.89 years, 49% were female, 63% were members of racial/ethnic minority groups, and 33% met PA Guidelines (≥60 minutes daily). Parents' (n = 132) mean age was 39.11 ± 7.05 years, mean BMI of 30.90 ± 8.44, 94% were female, 42% were members of racial/ethnic minority groups, and 57% met PA Guidelines for Americans (≥150 minutes moderate or >75 minutes vigorous PA weekly). There was no association between parents and children meeting PA guidelines for the total sample (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 0.63–3.24, p = 0.39) or girls (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.18–2.33, p = 0.51). Boys whose parents met PA guidelines had 3.84 times greater odds of meeting PA guidelines (95% CI = 1.28–13.4, p = 0.04). Conclusions PA interventions for boys may benefit from focus on parents' PA. Further research should investigate correlates of girls' PA. Practice implications Pediatric nurses working with children to increase PA should encourage parents' PA. For parents of boys, this may increase the child's PA. Considered broadly, nurses should be aware of gender influences on children's engagement in PA.
The Young and the Prejudiced? Millennial Men, “Dude Bro” Disposition, and LGBTQ Negativity in a US National Sample

The young are often considered to be among the most open-minded age group, especially as compared to older adults. Millennials have been regarded as particularly interested in commitment to social justice and diversity issues, including LGBTQ acceptance. Yet recent political and socio-cultural shifts along with the emergence of “dude bros” (typically young (millennial), straight, White cisgender males of privilege who express masculinity in entitled, obnoxious, and toxic ways) may be related to a trend in decreasing LGBTQ support among millennial men that drastically contradicts previous research that suggests that being “young” and being “woke” are one in the same. Data collected via online panelists in November 2018 are utilized to investigate how being a millennial cisgender man relates to attitudes toward LGBTQ people (lesbian women, gay men, bisexual women, bisexual men, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, queer women, queer men) among a nationally representative sample of US adults aged 18–64 stratified by US Census categories of age, gender, race/ethnicity, and census region (N = 3104). Findings show that being a millennial cis man is robustly related to the stigmatization of LGBTQ people and that overlapping layers of patriarchy, aversion to being “hit on” by other men, and the use of anti-LGBTQ slurs (“fag,” “faggot,” “queer,” “dyke,” “tranny,” “no homo,” and “that is so gay!”) relate to these patterns in diverse ways.
The Origins of the Sovereign Citizen Movement

Antigovernment sentiments have existed for many years. This chapter will discuss the short history and evolution of the antigovernment, sovereign citizen movement. It includes a discussion of groups, with similar ideas.
Does the Bureaucracy Affect Trust in Government? Evidence from Aggregate Public Opinion

Objective This study aims to determine if attitudes toward the bureaucracy affect trust in government. Trust is a topic of interest in several disciplines but theory and empirical work are not well integrated with one another. Methods I extend previous work to create a macro‐level measure of attitudes toward the bureaucracy, bureaucratic approval, and then use time‐series analysis of aggregate public opinion to model trust in government from 1973 to 2018. Results I find that bureaucratic approval does affect trust in government, controlling for other important factors, and that the magnitude of this is comparable to that of congressional approval and consumer sentiment. Conclusion This study provides the first evidence that aggregate attitudes toward the bureaucracy affect trust. Moreover, bureaucratic approval is modestly favorable and has not substantially declined over time like congressional approval. I discuss the implications of the findings of this study for using the bureaucracy to improve trust in government.