cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zeolite and mesoporous silica nanomaterials: greener syntheses, environmental applications and biological toxicity

Zeolites and mesoporous silica nanoparticles are silicate or aluminosilicate nanomaterials with well-defined pore networks. Zeolites are widely used in industry for applications such as catalysis, separations and gas adsorption. Mesoporous silica nanomaterials have not been as extensively applied relative to zeolites due to the cost and reduced thermal stability, but are being intensively investigated for potential environmental and biomedical applications. In this article, zeolite and mesoporous silica nanomaterials are reviewed with emphasis on connections to the environment. Specifically, the topics of greener syntheses, environmental applications and biological toxicity will be addressed. Both of these materials are typically synthesized with a template, which is then removed to produce the pore volume. Synthetic strategies for the “greening” of the syntheses of zeolites and mesoporous silica will be discussed. Environmental applications including the adsorption of environmental contaminants and environmental catalysis will also be presented. Finally, the toxicity of zeolite and mesoporous silica nanomaterials will be considered.
A Choice Mind-Set Increases the Acceptance and Maintenance of Wealth Inequality:

Wealth inequality has significant psychological, physiological, societal, and economic costs. In six experiments, we investigated how seemingly innocuous, culturally pervasive ideas can help maintain and further wealth inequality. Specifically, we tested whether the concept of choice, which is deeply valued in American society, leads Americans to act in ways that perpetuate wealth inequality. Thinking in terms of choice, we argue, activates the belief that life outcomes stem from personal agency, not societal factors, and thereby leads people to justify wealth inequality. The results showed that highlighting the concept of choice makes people less disturbed by facts about existing wealth inequality in the United States, more likely to underestimate the role of societal factors in individuals' successes, less likely to support the redistribution of educational resources, and less likely to support raising taxes on the rich-even if doing so would help resolve a budget deficit crisis. These findings indicate that the culturally valued concept of choice contributes to the maintenance of wealth inequality.
Mechanisms of oxidative stress in porcine oocytes and the role of anti-oxidants

The mechanisms of oxidative stress in in vitro maturing porcine oocytes and the effects of anti-oxidant supplementation of the medium in ameliorating these effects were investigated in the present study. In addition to intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations and DNA fragmentation, the present study focused on superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase activity. The anti-oxidants used were N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and its derivative NAC-amide (NACA). The results indicate that when SOD is inhibited, supplementation of the maturarion medium with 1.5 mm NAC or NACA compensates for the decrease in SOD activity by reducing the degree of DNA fragmentation (P < 0.05). When GPx is inhibited, supplementation of the maturarion medium with 1.5 mm NAC alleviates the effects of no GPx activity, as indicated by a decrease in the degree of DNA fragmentation (P < 0.05). When the maturarion medium was supplemented with 1.5 mm NACA, intracellular GSH concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) and SOD and catalase activities increased (P < 0.05) along with the degree of DNA fragmentation. These results indicate that the mechanisms of alleviating oxidative stress in porcine oocytes are very complex and supplementing maturing oocytes with anti-oxidants may enhance enzyme activities and eliminate free radicals.
3 English Houses, Materiality, and Everyday Life

My previous work developed a structural model for understanding English vernacular houses, stressing the way the house reflected wider household values. In this paper, I balance this account by starting with everyday life rather than formal structure. I examine material traces of dwelling within and around the house, rather than the presumed mental template that conditioned its building. I discuss material items that flowed through the house in sometimes unpredictable and alarming ways (for example through witchcraft). These artifacts reflect gendered tensions and anxieties that ran through the rhythms of everyday life, rather than a patriarchal structure that governed them. A focus on dwelling brings into focus how the material form of the house and the social form of the household mutually created each other.
Adenovirus E1A targets p400 to induce the cellular oncoprotein Myc

Adenovirus E1A drives oncogenesis by targeting key regulatory pathways that are critical for cellular growth control. The interaction of E1A with p400 is essential for many E1A activities, but the downstream target of this interaction is unknown. Here, we present evidence that the oncoprotein transcription factor Myc is the target of this interaction. We show that E1A stabilizes Myc protein via p400 and promotes the coassociation of Myc and p400 at Myc target genes, leading to their transcriptional induction. We also show that E1A requires Myc for its ability to activate Myc-dependent gene expression and induce apoptosis, and that forced expression of Myc is sufficient to rescue the activity of an E1A-mutant defective in p400 binding. Together, these findings establish that Myc, via p400, is an essential downstream target of E1A.
A constitutive theory and modeling on deviation of shear band inclination angles in bulk metallic glasses

A constitutive theory for metallic glasses is established that is based mainly on the Drucker-Prager model and a free-volume theory. The primary emphasis of this theory is on volume dilatation and its consequences on mechanical responses in metallic glasses that have been known from studies in both experiments and atomistic simulations. We also implemented the constitutive theory in a finite element modeling scheme and conducted numerical modeling of deformation of a metallic glass under plane-strain tension and compression. In particular, we focused our attention on the deviation of the shear band inclination angle, a commonly observed phenomenon for metallic glasses. We found very good qualitative agreement with available experimental data on shear band inclination angle and stress-strain relation. We also give a detailed discussion on different constitutive models, in particular the Coulomb-Mohr model, in the context of predicting the shear band inclination angle.
Contingent bids in auctions: availability, commitment and pricing of computing as utility

Enabled by advances in grid and network computing architectures for the delivery of on-demand computing services, the vision of an e-services economy in which computing will be as ubiquitous as a utility is becoming a possibility in business computing. Major firms in the computing industry such as IBM, HP, and SUN Microsystems are focusing on agility and flexibility of computing resources and gearing up for their own versions of on-demand computing and IT outsourcing solutions. Successful business advent of these new computing models requires the development of appropriate pricing mechanisms that are consistent with the enabling technologies. Our paper presents preliminary research in this area, and introduces the notion of contingent auctions to address this lacuna. In contingent auctions, users bid for computing resources in an auction, but are relieved from the contract if demand is not realized. We study different mechanisms - ranging from an advance-commit (capacity reservation) to no-commit (pay-as-you-go) - under such demand uncertainty. We show how the different levels of commitment affect prices, revenues and resource utilization. Our initial results show promise and reiterate the need to address the availability-commitment dichotomy in the design of business models for on-demand computing and IT outsourcing.
Embedding critics in design environments

Human understanding in design evolves through a process of critiquing existing knowledge and consequently expanding the store of design knowledge. Critiquing is a dialogue in which the interjection of a reasoned opinion about a product or action triggers further reflection on or changes to the artifact being designed. Our work has focused on applying this successful human critiquing paradigm to human-computer interaction. We argue that computer-based critiquing systems are most effective when they are embedded in domain-oriented design environments, which are knowledge-based computer systems that support designers in specifying a problem and constructing a solution. Embedded critics play a number of important roles in such design environments: (1) they increase the designer's understanding of design situations by pointing out problematic situations early in the design process; (2) they support the integration of problem framing and problem solving by providing a linkage between the design specification and the design construction; and (3) they help designers access relevant information in the large information spaces provided by the design environment. Three embedded critiquing mechanisms—generic, specific, and interpretive critics—are presented, and their complementary roles within the design environment architecture are described.
Complexities of CYP2D6 gene analysis and interpretation.

AbstractCytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) plays an important role in the metabolism and bioactivation of about 25% of clinically used drugs including many antidepressants, antipsychotics and opioids. CYP2D6 activity is highly variably ranging from no activity in so-called poor metabolizers to ultrarapid metabolism at the other end of the extreme of the activity distribution. A large portion of this variability can be explained by the highly polymorphic nature of the CYP2D6 gene locus for which > 100 variants and subvariants identified to date. Allele frequencies vary markedly between ethnic groups; some have exclusively or predominantly only been observed in certain populations. Pharmacogenetic testing holds the promise of individualizing drug therapy by identifying patients with CYP2D6 diplotypes that puts them at an increased risk of experiencing dose-related adverse events or therapeutic failure. Inferring a patient's CYP2D6 metabolic capacity, or phenotype, however, is a challenging task due to the complex...
Automated volumetric segmentation method for growth consistency of nonsolid pulmonary nodules in high-resolution CT

There is widespread clinical interest in the study of pulmonary nodules for early diagnosis of lung cancer. These nodules can be broadly classified into one of three types, solid, nonsolid and part-solid. Solid nodules have been extensively studied, while little research has focused on the characterization of nonsolid and part-solid nodules. Nonsolid nodules have an appearance in high-resolution CT consisting of voxels only slightly more dense than that of the surrounding lung parenchyma. For the solid nodule, robust techniques are available to estimate growth rate and this is commonly used to distinguish benign from malignant. For the nonsolid types, these techniques are less well developed. In this research, we propose an automated volumetric segmentation method for nonsolid nodules that accurately determines a nonsolid nodules growth rate. Our method starts with an initial noise-filtering stage in the parenchyma region. Each voxel is then classified into one of three tissue types; lung parenchyma, nonsolid and solid. Removal of vessel attachments to the lesion is achieved with the use of a filter that focuses on vessel characteristics. Our results indicate that the automated method is more consistent than the radiologist with a median growth consistency of 1.87 compared to 3.12 for the radiologist on a database of 25 cases.
'Raisins are Not Oysters': Horne and the Improper Synthesis of the Public and Wildlife Trusts

Public trust and wildlife trust have historically been viewed as two separate property doctrines, and the synthesis of them would have serious repercussions for private property owners and threatened and endangered wildlife species. A misguided reading of the recent Horne decision from the Supreme Court threatens to do just that. The public trust doctrine is recognized as protecting resources that belong to no individual; more specifically the public trust doctrine has historically been applied to navigable waters and submerged lands. The wildlife trust, while similar, has always been separate and is more narrowly used to convey that wildlife is held in trust by the sovereign state for the people. In the June 2015 Supreme Court case Horne v. Department of Agriculture, Justice Roberts in a short paragraph distinguished a 1929 Supreme Court case about government takings of oysters by stating “raisins are not oysters” which in the eyes of some renewed and expanded the public trust protection to wildlife. But this small paragraph sets up a conflict between protecting species and private property rights and would likely lead to serious negative repercussions. This article examines the public trust and wildlife trusts separately, their development, their histories, relevant caselaw, how they are codified in statutes and acts, and the legacy of the synthesis of the two trusts from Horne in relation to them. This is the first article to analyze how Horne affects the distinction of the wildlife trust from the public trust. Then the article analyzes the negative consequences of synthesizing the public and wildlife trusts, how the wildlife trust protection of species is in conflict with the property rights of land owners, and multiple methods that could be used to protect both property rights and endangered and threatened species.
Laboratory Predictors Of Loss Of High Molecular Weight Multimers In Patients With Cardiovascular Disease-Associated Acquired Von Willebrand Syndrom

Background Association of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) with various cardiovascular (CV) disorders such as cardiac valve disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is well known and documented. The mechanism is thought to be related to shear stress induced loss of high molecular weight multimers (HMWM). The gold standard test to assess for loss of HMWM is von Willebrand protein electrophoresis and then visual assessment of loss of high molecular weight bands. This is both a costly and subjective test. Ratio of von Willebrand factor activity to antigen level is useful in patients with type IIA Von Willebrand Disease caused by loss of HMW multimer, but its sensitivity to detect CV-associated AVWS is unknown. Aim Our aim was to test whether routine VWF laboratory tests could be used to predict which patients with CV conditions are going to have high molecular weight multimer loss. We also aimed to assess whether these tests could be used to predict bleeding risk in patients with CV disorders. Methods We prospectively collected laboratory data of 234 patients with cardiovascular disorders known to be associated with AVWS: aortic stenosis (66), aortic insufficiency(22), aortic and mitral valve prostheses(38), mitral valve regurgitation (51) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(57). All patients had Von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag), Von Willebrand factor activity by latex method (VWF:Ltx), platelet function testing via PFA-100 CADP as well as von Willebrand factor multimers tested. All patients also completed a bleeding questionnaire. We used logistic regression model to calculate the relationship between the VWF:Ltx/VWF:Ag ratio and loss of high molecular weight multimers. Same analysis was performed for PFA-100. We also tested these associations for bleeding risk. Results Mean value for VWF:Ag was 142 IU/dL, VWF:Ltx 121%, PFA-100 151 seconds and 0.86 for the VWF:Ltx/Ag ratio. Over a half of patients (56%) had VWF multimer loss noted on protein electrophoresis testing and a quarter reported bleeding on bleeding questionnaire. The ratio of VWF:Ltx to VWF:Ag had strong correlation with HMW multimer loss (p<0.001) with AUC of 0.77. Correlation with PFA-100 was even stronger with AUC of 0.83. The ratio cut off value of 0.83 had sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 83% in predicting multimer loss. With the cut off of 0.77, specificity reached 95%. With PFA 100 value of 118 seconds, specificity was 76% and sensitivity was 80%. Increasing the cut off to 198 seconds improved the specificity to 95%. The association with bleeding was present for PFA-100 (p=0.01), but did not exist for the Ltx/Ag ratio. Conclusions PFA-100 CADP as well as VWF:Ag and VWF:Ltx can be used to detect acquired Von Willebrand disease in patients with cardiovascular disorders and may decrease the need for costly and time consuming testing of multimers. PFA-100 CADP also correlates with the bleeding risk in these patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Learned Evaluation and Sequential Credit Assignment

The model, as developed so far, is capable of learning arbitrary S-R mappings, provided that it is explicitly taught the correct function. The need for such an omniscient instructor is a common criticism of neural learning “with a teacher”. However, the occasional argument that learning is unnecessary if the correct response is already known, ignores the fact that instruction may occur only after a response is made. The correct response is not known beforehand, but may be at least partially deduced from succeeding state changes. This is the essence of trial-and-error learning, a basic feature of biological behavior. Post-response instruction may completely determine the correct output (as in Aplysia gill withdrawal) or may only evaluate the correctness of the preceding action (sometimes referred to as “learning with a critic” (Widrow et al., 1973; Barto et al., 1981)). A specialized evaluation system is developed in this chapter and used to train the operators.
Extension of PCBoom to Over-The-Top Booms, Ellipsoidal Earch, and Full 3-D Ray Tracing

Current sonic boom programs calculate propagation through a horizontally stratified atmosphere over a flat earth. There has been recent interest in long range sonic boom propagation, both for analysis of boom carpet edges from high altitude flight and for analysis of over-the-top booms. For the long distances involved, the earth's curvature is not necessarily negligible. The sonic boom program PCBoom4 has been extensively modified to accommodate a full three dimensional atmosphere and a non-flat Earth. The ray tracing logic has been extended to allow over-the-top ray paths. Over-the-top booms generally involve a caustic passage. This is accommodated in the n ew code, PCBoom5, which retains the existing primary focal zone capability and other feat ures.
Loss, Noise, Power Dissipation: How They Affect Performance Slow Light Devices

Performance of diverse slow light schemes is analyzed from the vantage point of signal to noise ratio, dynamic range, and power dissipation. Applications that can be most positively affected by using slow light are identified.
Squamosal suture synostosis: a cause of atypical skull asymmetry.

Background: The squamosal suture is markedly different from the major calvarial sutures of the human skull. The unique properties of the suture are a result of the complex developmental biology of the temporal bone and biomechanical force exerted by surrounding structures. The dysmorphic effects of premature fusion of the suture, and possible treatment strategies in cases of synostosis, have received only brief description in the literature. Methods: A retrospective case series was performed. The study included patients evaluated by one of the senior authors (S.P.B., R.R.R., and D.J.S.) between 1993 and 2009. All pertinent patient data including inpatient and outpatient charts, photographic records, and radiographic scans were reviewed. Any management performed under the direction of a craniofacial surgeon was documented—including orthotic helmet therapy and operative management. Results: The study included 14 patients. Synostosis of the squamosal suture was noted to occur either in an isolated fashion or in the setting of other craniofacial malformations. Patients with isolated squamosal synostosis often suffered from a deformity that was mild in severity and tended to improve with time. However, when occurring in the setting of other forms of craniosynostosis, the deformity was often progressive, and transcranial surgery was frequently required. Conclusions: Synostosis of the squamosal suture can result in, or contribute to, significant craniofacial dysmorphism. The optimal form of therapy for this disorder is evolving.
Mechanism of action of leflunomide in rheumatoid arthritis

Leflunomide, a novel drug with proven efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis, is an isoxazol derivative structurally unrelated to other immunomodulatory drugs. Leflunomide is rapidly metabolized to its active form, A77 1726. Two mechanisms of action have been identified for A77 1726: inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) and inhibition of tyrosine kinases. DHODH inhibition occurs at lower concentrations of A77 1726 than that of tyrosine kinases and is currently considered the major mode of action. Stimulated lymphocytes must increase ribonucleotide levels from 8 to 16-fold before proceeding from the G1 into the S phase. Increased levels of ribonucleotides can only be met by de novo ribonucleotide synthesis. At low levels of ribonucleotides, p53, a "sensor" molecule, gets activated and prevents progression through the cell cycle. Therefore, an inhibitor of de novo uridine monophosphate synthesis would predictably arrest stimulated cells at the G1 phase. In support of this mechanism of action, in vitro mitogen stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with A77 1726 undergo arrest at the G1 phase; this inhibition is reversed by uridine.
The influence of age on lung epithelial permeability

Objective The pulmonary clearance rate of aerosolized ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA is a sensitive in- dex for measurement of lung epithelial permeability(LEP).It is well established that LEP increases in some pathological conditions.However,little is known about the influence of age on LEP.Accordingly,the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between age and LEP in healthy nonsmokers.Methods Seventy-nine healthy nonsmokers underwent ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA inhalation imaging and pulmonary clearance index (k)was calculated.The following analyses were done:(1)To compare the difference of k values between aged(≥65 years)and non-aged(65 years).(2)To estimate the best regression model between age and k.Results Except for the upper lung parenchyma,pulmonal7 clearance index in aged people was higher than that in non-aged people(left lung:0.89±0.27,right lung:0.94±0.25 vs left lung:0.63± 0.22,right lung:O.68±0.23,p0.0001).Cubic regression was the best model in description of the re- lationship between k values and age(y = b_0+b_1x+b_2x~2+b_3x~3,y symbolized k values and x symbolized age).Conclusions The data of LEP at different age groups showed negative correlation of LEP and age in non-smokers.This data might play an age-related reference data in investigating senescence and lung dis- ease in non-smokers.
Clinical utility of six methods of predicting phenytoin doses and plasma concentrations

The usefulness of six reported methods of predicting phenytoin doses or plasma concentrations in epileptic patients is compared. Forty adult epileptic outpatients who were taking phenytoin sodium orally were followed prospectively for nine months; 16 met requirements for inclusion in the study. Six methods of predicting phenytoin dosage or plasma concentrations--one equation, two nomograms, and three graphs--were compared to actual phenytoin doses and corresponding steady-state serum levels. Criteria establishing good, high, and low predictions were specified for each method. No method produced consistently accurate results. Good dosage predictions occurred in 42-60% of the predictions with the six methods. Low predictions occurred in 0-50% of the estimates; 8-53% of the predictions were high. It is concluded that certain methods are clinically useful under some conditions if recommended cautions are observed.
Conformance Testing of Balana: An Open Source Implementation of the XACML3.0 Standard

As a new generation access control method, Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) has gained increasing attention. Currently, Balana is the only open-source implementations of XACML 3.0, which is an OASIS standard for specifying ABAC. Considering that XACML is much more complex than traditional access control models, conformance testing of any XACML implementation is an important problem. Using a non-conformance implementation may lead to misunderstanding of access decisions or even security violations. This paper presents an approach to conformance testing of Balana, focusing on the main elements of the XACML3.0 language, such as targets, rules, policies, and policy sets. In particular, we have thoroughly tested the key rule combining algorithms in policies and policy combining algorithms in policy sets. This has revealed several conformance issues.
Characteristics of adult smokers presenting to a mind-body medicine clinic.

Mind–body interventions can improve vulnerabilities that underlie smoking behavior. The characteristics of smokers who use mind–body medicine have not been explored, preventing the development of t...
Operative Strategies for Ulnar Collateral Ligament Insufficiency

The first described medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, popularly referred to as Tommy John surgery, was performed in 1974 by Dr. Frank Jobe. Since the first description, a number of technique and rehabilitation modifications have been described, with notable improvement in outcomes for throwing athletes. As the rate of UCL reconstruction surgery continues to increase across the country, particularly in adolescent baseball players, there has been an increased focus on efforts to reduce UCL injury in this population, including pitch count limits and scheduled time off from throwing for young athletes. When surgery is required, modern techniques utilizing a flexor–pronator splitting approach have provided consistent results, with return to sport rates of 90 % frequently reported, while avoiding ulnar nerve symptoms that plagued early reconstructions. Despite the increased incidence of UCL reconstruction, the rate of revision UCL reconstruction surgery has decreased, likely secondary to improved surgical techniques and rehabilitation protocols. In addition to providing a review of UCL reconstruction outcomes, we provide a description of the docking technique, the authors preferred method of UCL reconstruction.
Standard-based patient-centered personal health record system

Modern healthcare systems are going through paradigm-shift process - from clinician-centered to patient-centered, as it is essential to implement core values of modern healthcare such as continuity of care, evidence-based treatment and more importantly preventing medical mistakes. In order to implement patient-centered healthcare system, it is necessary to collect all the relevant clinical / non-clinical data for each patient and make such data sharable with caregivers at the time of needs. However, such task requires significant personal effort and close coordination among the caregivers, which is difficult to implement properly. In this paper, we are proposing a personal healthcare system and a Raspberry Pi based clinical data measurement module where patients can take full control over their own health data and also facilitate communications among all participants. The storage can be accessible from patients and physicians so both parties can contribute to the clinical information, which allows monitoring and control of personal health. Our system utilizes personal cloud storage where each patient stores his/her data in a standardized format such as SNOMED CT, ICD-10, HL7 CDA [9], etc. and such storage is completely independent from any applications so patients can own their own clinical information regardless of types of medical insurance plan, hospitals, or doctor's office.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder as a 5-HT subsystem-related behavioural disorder

Involvement of the brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmitter system in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was originally suggested on the basis of therapeutic effects found with the semiselective serotonin uptake inhibitor, clomipramine. More recent studies directly comparing clomipramine with non-selective or norepinephrine-selective uptake inhibitors, such as desipramine or nortriptyline, as well as studies with new, more selective serotonin uptake inhibitors, including fluvoxamine and fluoxetine, have supported that hypothesis. Clomipramine's antiobsessional effect has been augmented with the serotonin precursor, L-tryptophan, or with lithium, which has prominent serotonergic effects. Patients whose OCD symptoms improved on clomipramine worsened when the drug was discontinued (regardless of duration of therapy) and improved when clomipramine was reinstituted. OCD symptoms also worsened when metergoline, a 5-HT antagonist, was given to patients who had improved with clomipramine. Metergoline given alone had no effect. Administration of m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP), a 5-HT receptor agonist, to untreated OCD patients increased their anxiety, depression, and dysphoria, and exacerbated their OC symptoms. After 4 months of clomipramine therapy, m-CPP failed to produce the same behavioural effects, suggesting an alteration of a 5-HT subsystem (possibly downregulation of some 5-HT receptors). The data reviewed suggest an important role for an abnormal brain 5-HT subsystem in patients with OCD.
Overlooking the Obvious: Communication of Efficacy by the Mass Media During the Ebola Crisis in Liberia

The role of mass media during a public health crisis is an ineluctable part of providing the public with critical information rapidly, particularly messages about self- and response efficacy. However, little is known about the role local news media play in disseminating efficacy information during infectious disease outbreaks. Here, we use the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia as a case to explore this question. We content analyzed newspaper and radio messages disseminated between March 2014 and March 2015, during the midst of the outbreak. Results show that both radio programs and newspaper articles mentioned over 21 prevention steps at some point, with noticeable differences within which disease prevention messages were communicated most frequently to the public. At least 1 mention of self-efficacy was identified in 31.5% of radio content (n = 127), 23.6% of radio programming (n = 55), and 10.6% of newspaper content (n = 745). Response efficacy, signifying effectiveness of preventive methods, was detected in 25.2% of radio (n = 127), 16.4% of radio programming (n = 55), and 15% of newspaper content (n = 745). This is important as efficacy reporting can impact public readiness to adopt preventative measures and affect beliefs about self- and response efficacy, ultimately decreasing chances of spreading the infection and poorer health outcomes.
Validity of the isotropic thermal conductivity assumption in supercell lattice dynamics

Superlattices and nano phononic crystals have attracted significant attention due to their low thermal conductivities and their potential application as thermoelectric materials. A widely used expression to calculate thermal conductivity, presented by Klemens and expressed in terms of the relaxation time by Callaway and Holland, originates from the Boltzmann transport equation. In its most general form, this expression involves a direct summation of the heat current contributions from individual phonons of all wavevectors and polarizations in the first Brillouin zone. In common practice, the expression is simplified by making an isotropic assumption that converts the summation over wavevector to an integral over wavevector magnitude. The isotropic expression has been applied to superlattices and phononic crystals, but its validity for different supercell sizes has not been studied. In this work, the isotropic and direct summation methods are used to calculate the thermal conductivities of bulk Si, and Si/...
An energy-efficient embedded implementation for target recognition in SAR imageries

This paper presents an energy-efficient deep learning model design, training and implementation method for the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image classification application on a neuromorphic processor. The proposed approach adopts emerging neuromorphic computing models and hardware to achieve significant improvement in computational energy efficiency over deep learning algorithms on conventional embedded processors. A deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) is designed specifically for implementing image classification on the TrueNorth neurosynaptic processor. We have explored the DCNN model design parameters to obtain a comprehensive solution set in the energy-performance trade-off space. Using a SAR image classification dataset, evaluation results show that the proposed design and implementation approach achieves at least 20X reduction in energy-per-image-classification over one of today's most energy-efficient conventional embedded processors. while achieving a classification accuracy of 95% and a processing throughput of 1,000 images per second.
Liberalism beyond toleration: Religious exemptions, civility and the ideological other:

I address the long-standing problem of toleration in diverse liberal societies in light of the progress of same-sex marriage and continued vehement opposition to it from a significant portion of th...
Knocking down raptor in human keratinocytes affects ornithine decarboxylase in a post-transcriptional Manner following ultraviolet B exposure.

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common form of cancer. Ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation has been shown to be a complete carcinogen in the development of NMSC. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is upregulated by UVB. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first enzyme of the polyamine biosynthetic pathway, is also upregulated in response to UVB. However, the interplay between these two pathways after UVB exposure remains unclear. The studies described here compare mRNA stability between normal human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and HaCaT cells with low levels of raptor to investigate whether the induction of ODC by UVB is dependent on mTORC1. We show that the knockdown of mTORC1 activity led to decreased levels of ODC protein both before and after exposure to 20 mJ/cm2 UVB. ODC mRNA was less stable in cells with decreased mTORC1 activity. Polysome profiles revealed that the initiation of ODC mRNA translation did not change in UVB-treated cells. We have shown that the ODC transcript is stabilized by the RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR). To expand these studies, we investigated whether HuR functions to regulate ODC mRNA stability in human keratinocytes exposed to UVB. We show an increased cytoplasmic localization of HuR after UVB exposure in wild-type cells. The ablation of HuR via CRISPR/Cas9 did not alter the stability of the ODC message, suggesting the involvement of other trans-acting factors. These data suggest that in human keratinocytes, ODC mRNA stability is regulated, in part, by an mTORC1-dependent mechanism after UVB exposure.
CHD4-NURD controls spermatogonia survival and differentiation

Abstract Testis development and sustained germ cell production in adults rely on the establishment of spermatogonia stem cells and their proper differentiation into mature gametes. Control of these processes involves not only promoting the expression of genes required for cell survival and differentiation but also repressing other cell fates. This level of transcriptional control requires chromatin-remodeling complexes that restrict or promote transcription machinery. Here, we investigated the roles of the NUcleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase (NURD) complex during spermatogenesis. Our cytological and biochemical analyses revealed differential expression and composition of NURD subunits in gametocytes at different stages of testis development. Germ cell-specific deletion of the NURD catalytic component CHD4, but not CHD3, resulted in male infertility due to failed maintenance of the undifferentiated spermatogonia stem cell population. Genome-wide CHD4 localization and transcriptomic analyses revealed that CHD4 binds the promoters and regulates the expression of genes involved in spermatogonia cell survival, and differentiation. These results uncover the requirements of CHD4 in mammalian gonad development, and point to unique roles for the NURD complex with respect to other chromatin remodelers during gamete development. Significance Statement Gametogenesis is a fundamental developmental program required for sustained fertility and survival of all sexually reproducing species. The developing male gamete undergoes numerous cell divisions and developmental stage transitions that are carefully monitored by epigenetic mechanisms. One prominent mechanism is directed by chromatin remodeling complexes, which modify chromatin structure and thereby control fundamental cellular processes such as gene transcription. In this work, we focused in understanding the role of CHD4 and CHD3 proteins, catalytic subunits of the NURD chromatin-remodeling complex, in mouse gametogenesis. We find that CHD4 has an essential function in gametogenesis, with an absolute requirement for maintenance of and differentiation of spermatogonia populations in the developing testis. This is achieved by CHD4-mediated transcriptional regulation of genes important for spermatogonia survival, and differentiation.
The Relationship Between Severe Injury and Mental Health in a Pediatric Managed-medicaid Population

Purpose: Few studies have investigated the relationship between traumatic injury and mental health in children with low socioeconomic status. Our objective was to compare mental health diagnoses before and after unintentional, non-fatal traumatic injuries in a managed-Medicaid population. Methods: We investigated children ages < 18 years treated for injuries at an American College of Surgeons verified pediatric trauma center between 2005 and 2015. Eligible children were enrolled in the hospital’s managed Medicaid program at the time of hospital admission and for at least one healthcare visit in the preceding year. …
Management of the Unstable Patient During EVTM and REBOA

Most trauma patients who require Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) will be cardiovascularly “unstable”—whatever that means. The term is typically used to describe a physiological state characterized by hypotension, hypoperfusion, and tachycardia, often—but not invariably—brought on by blood loss. REBOA is used as part of a damage control resuscitation approach, when blood loss has reached critical levels, to obtain temporary hemorrhage control, while hemostatic resuscitation is instituted. Understanding the physiological consequences of REBOA, and the relationship between anesthesia and aortic occlusion, is therefore critically important. Experience with the intra-operative and anesthetic management of REBOA patients is still limited. Nevertheless, there are a number of key principles which, if adhered to, will help anesthesiologists and surgeons manage these complex and demanding patients. This chapter discusses a number of issues, including communication, crew resource management, timing of REBOA, circulatory access, induction and maintenance of anesthesia, analgesia, hemostatic resuscitation, afterload reduction, monitoring, electrolyte management, and balloon deflation.
Improving water-splitting efficiency of water electrolysis process via highly conductive nanomaterials at lower voltages

The present study explores the opportunity to enhance the hydrogen production rate (HPR) at lower voltage in water electrolysis process by introducing conductive nanoparticles into electrolyte. The development of sustainable, cost-effective, reliable, clean, efficient, and renewable resources of energy systems is crucial for meeting the increasing energy demand. Among the various technologies developed to produce hydrogen, water electrolysis is the simplest, easy to operate, and ready to use in many industries, but it is still not cost-effective. Three different conductive nanomaterials: graphene nanoflakes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and indium tin oxide, were incorporated into acidic electrolyte solutions of the water-splitting process. Experimental results reveal that among these nanomaterials, the incorporation of MWCNTs and graphene nanoflakes into electrolyte solutions considerably improved HPR. The highest HPR was observed at MWCNTs concentration of between 0.25 and 0.5 wt%. At 0.5 wt% MWCNTs and applied voltage of 4 V, about 170% improvement in the HPR was achieved when compared to base case (without nanoparticles into the electrolyte). An applied voltage of 10 V with the same MWCNTs concentration produced the maximum HPR of 2.7 ml/min. At the same concentration and voltage, the introduction of graphene into the electrolyte produced HPR of 2.5 ml/min. The effects of acid concentration and temperature on the HPR were also investigated. The HPR gradually increased with increasing acid concentrations in the dispersion due to the concentrations of ionic activators, which weakens the strength between oxygen and hydrogen bonds. Higher temperature also ameliorates the HPR because of the reduced bond strength. This approach of using nanomaterials in the electrolysis process could save up to 30% of energy input during this procedure.
Severe Coronavirus Bronchiolitis in the Pre-COVID-19 Era.

* Abbreviations: CI — : confidence interval COVID-19 — : coronavirus disease 2019 Ct — : cycle threshold MARC-30 — : 30th Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration MARC-35 — : 35th Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration RSV — : respiratory syncytial virus SARS-CoV-2 — : severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 The first human coronaviruses, OC43 and 229E, were discovered in the 1960s, but NL63 and HKU1 were discovered in 2004 and 2005, respectively. These 4 endemic coronaviruses cause respiratory illness in hospitalized children,1 as does the newest coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).2–4 Despite many SARS-CoV-2 publications, there remains limited information about viral coinfections and the importance of viral load to acute severity. Given the potential for useful insights into SARS-CoV-2 childhood infections, we analyzed data from 2 prospective multicenter cohorts of children hospitalized with bronchiolitis in the … Address correspondence to Jonathan M. Mansbach, MD, MPH, Boston Children’s Hospital, Main Clinical Building, #9157, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: jonathan.mansbach{at}childrens.harvard.edu
Lower Extremity Muscle Involvement in the Intermediate and Bethlem Myopathy Forms of COL6-Related Dystrophy and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Collagen VI-related dystrophies (COL6-RDs) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cause progressive muscle weakness and disability. COL6-RDs are caused by mutations in the COL6 genes (COL6A1, COL6A2 and COL6A3) encoding the extracellular matrix protein collagen VI, and DMD is caused by mutations in the DMD gene encoding the cytoplasmic protein dystrophin. Both COL6-RDs and DMD are characterized by infiltration of the muscles by fatty and fibrotic tissue. This study examined the effect of disease pathology on skeletal muscles in lower extremity muscles of COL6-RDs using timed functional tests, strength measures and qualitative/ quantitative magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy measures (MRI/MRS) in comparison to unaffected (control) individuals. Patients with COL6-RD were also compared to age and gender matched patients with DMD.Patients with COL6-RD presented with a typical pattern of fatty infiltration of the muscle giving rise to an apparent halo effect around the muscle, while patients with DMD had evidence of fatty infiltration throughout the muscle areas imaged. Quantitatively, fat fraction, and transverse relaxation time (T2) were elevated in both COL6-RD and DMD patients compared to unaffected (control) individuals. Patients with COL6-RD had widespread muscle atrophy, likely contributing to weakness. In contrast, patients with DMD revealed force deficits even in muscle groups with increased contractile areas.
Bicaval vs biatrial anastomosis techniques in orthotopic heart transplantation: An updated analysis of the UNOS database.

BACKGROUND Despite the significant increase in the number of orthotopic heart transplants (OHT) performed yearly using the bicaval anastomosis technique, the impact on long-term outcomes remains a topic of debate. We analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database in search of the latest insight. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of the UNOS database from 2006 to 2016 to identify first-time OHT recipients. Patients were primarily stratified according to anastomosis technique: bicaval vs biatrial. Baseline characteristics and clinical status were recorded. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included need for permanent pacemaker (PPM), and length of hospital stay (LOS). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare survival between the two groups. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to conduct multivariable analysis. Statistical significance established at P < .0001. RESULTS A total of 26 990 patients were identified. Of those who met the inclusion criteria (21 597), 16 573 (77%) underwent bicaval anastomosis. There were no major differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The bicaval anastomosis technique was not associated with increased survival during the study period (hazard ratio: 0.97; P = .3557), but the bicaval group required postoperative PPM less often (2.51% vs 5.79%, P < .0001) and was associated with shorter LOS on multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS The use of either bicaval or biatrial anastomosis during OHT offers comparable survival advantage. Nonetheless, bicaval anastomosis is associated with less need for postoperative PPM and slightly shorter LOS.
Characteristics and effectiveness of alcohol website age gates preventing underage user access

AIMS Examine and evaluate the overall effectiveness of age gates preventing access of underage users to alcohol websites. METHODS Assess the characteristics of digital age gates among the top 25 alcohol brands among American adolescents, including type of age gate employed and resulting actions of repeated access requests indicating the user was under the legal drinking age. RESULTS All official alcohol brand websites examined included an age gate, requiring either entering one's date of birth (DOB, 91%) or clicking a yes/no box indicating they were of legal drinking age (9%). Only one out of every five alcohol websites blocked futures attempts to gain access after entering a response indicating the user was under the legal drinking age. Users were allowed indefinite attempts to enter a DOB that was of legal drinking age, with the majority of websites subsequently granting access even after multiple underage entries. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol website visitors with minimal arithmetic abilities, such as very young youth, are able to employ 'trial and error' to eventually enter an acceptable legal drinking DOB and gain access. Alcohol brand age gates are weak, at best, and likely an inconsequential barrier that someone with limited math abilities can easily overcome.
Effect of Interstage Hydrothermal Treatment on Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge: Speciation Evolution of Phosphorus, Iron, and Sulfur

Anaerobic digestion (AD) with interstage hydrothermal treatment (HT) (i.e., AD–HT–AD) is an emerging technology for energy and nutrient recovery from sewage sludge. Yet, systematic understanding on...