cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
N-acetylcysteine attenuates systemic platelet activation and cerebral vessel thrombosis in diabetes.

Abstract Objective We previously demonstrated that diabetes exacerbates stroke-induced brain injury, and that this correlates with brain methylglyoxal (MG)-to-glutathione (GSH) status. Cerebral injury was reversed by N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Here we tested if the pro-thrombotic phenotype seen in the systemic circulation and brain during diabetes was associated with increased MG-glycation of proteins, and if NAC could reverse this. Methods The streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mouse model of type 1 diabetes was used. Thrombus formation in venules and arterioles (pial circulation) was determined by intravital videomicroscopy using the light-dye method. Circulating blood platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLAs) were analyzed by flow cytometry 1 wk before other measurements. GSH and MG levels in platelets were measured by HPLC. MG-modified proteins, glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1), and superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) levels were detected in platelets by western blot at 20 weeks. Proteins involved in coagulation were quantified by ELISA. NAC (2 mM) was given in drinking water for 3 weeks before the terminal experiment. Results Thrombus development was accelerated by diabetes in a time-dependent manner. % PLAs were significantly elevated by diabetes. Plasma activated plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 levels were progressively increased with diabetes duration, with tail bleeding time reduced by 20 wks diabetes. Diabetes lowered platelet GSH levels, GPx-1 and SOD-1 expression. This was associated with higher MG levels, and increased MG-adduct formation in platelets. NAC treatment partly or completely reversed the effects of diabetes. Conclusion Collectively, these results show that the diabetic blood and brain become progressively more susceptible to platelet activation and thrombosis. NAC, given after the establishment of diabetes, may offer protection against the risk for stroke by altering both systemic and vascular prothrombotic responses via enhancing platelet GSH, and GSH-dependent MG elimination, as well as correcting levels of antioxidants such as SOD1 and GPx-1.
Pulmonary Embolism - A Case Report

PE remains a clinically challenging diagnosis, more often missed than found, with no decline in its incidental discovery at autopsy over the past 30 years. Pulmonary embolism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of every dyspnoea event that presents at an emergency department. We describe a case of 68 years old man with symptoms of dyspnoea who later diagnosed as pulmonary embolism. This case report emphasizes early diagnosis and treatment to avoid fatal outcome.University Heart Journal Vol. 12, No. 1, January 2016; 40-44
Comparative evaluations on phenolic antioxidants of nine adulterants and anti-inflammation of four alternatives with their original herb Erycibe schmidtii

Erycibe schmidtii is widely used as folk medicine in China for treatments of various inflammations. Recently, with reduction of its wild sources, various adulterants have been misused as substitutes. To distinguish reliable alternatives from various adulterants, total phenolics and antioxidant activities of E. schmidtii and its nine adulterants, as well as three marker compounds of E. schmidtii defined by Chinese Pharmacopoeia were simultaneously quantified. And HPLC fingerprints of these ten herbs were established. Compared with E. schmidtii (S1), Porana sinensis (S2), Porana sinensis var. delavayi (S3), Celastrus hindsii (S4), and Morinda umbellata (S5) exhibited similar or higher total phenols, flavonoids and tannins along with similar or greater capacities scavenging DPPH˙, ABTS+˙ and AAPH˙, contained similar or higher total amounts of the three marker compounds, and possessed higher similarities in HPLC profiles. The other five adulterants (S6–S10, i.e., Illigera parviflora, Morinda parvifolia, Piper puberulum, Piper kadsura and Iodes seguini in sequence) were identified as absolute fakes, thus were excluded from alternatives of S1. Further anti-inflammatory experiments with LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages cells on NO release and transcriptions of inflammatory factors iNOS, COX-2, IL-6 and IL-1β showed that S2 and S3 possessed higher anti-inflammation activities than and similar mechanisms to those of S1. Taken together, S2 and S3 could be the best potentially alternatives of E. schmidtii among the nine adulterants. S4 and S5 might be also considered as alternatives for they contained similar fundamental compounds and equally impressive anti-inflammatory potential with E. schmidtii concerning iNOS and COX-2.
The impact of young adult colorectal cancer: incidence and trends in Colorado

Aim: Far less is known about colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in individuals under the age of 50. This study examined CRC incidence in order to better understand the changing CRC population. Methods: This study analyzed 39,525 CRC cases from the Colorado Central Cancer Registry from 1992 through 2013. Age-adjusted incidence, observed and relative 5-year survival, and estimated annual percentage change was analyzed. Results: Age-adjusted rates averaging 1.7% per year were observed in the under-50 population, while falling on average 4.3% per year (p < 0.05) in the over-50 population. Average-adjusted incidence rose in males under 50 by 2.7% per year (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The absolute incidence of CRC continues to fall in Colorado, however incidence is rising in individuals under 50, particularly males.
The Neurexin and NCP Gene Families

Publisher Summary The chapter reviews the emerging functions of neurexins and identifies additional members of the neurexin superfamily. The neurexins is a polymorphic family of neuronal-specific, type-I cell surface-membrane proteins that are involved in specifying synaptic specificity and synaptic vesicle docking at the synaptic active zone. In addition, neurexins have been found to interact with a number of unrelated proteins that include synaptotagmin, neurexophilins, neuroligins, and CASK to suggest a role in synaptic function. Some of the conclusions on the functions of the neurexins remain an area of immense interest because of their proposed synaptic functions and their presence in invertebrates. Application of genetic and molecular techniques, particularly gene ablation mutagenesis and homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells, has clearly demonstrated the critical role of some of the neurexin family members in neuronal function. The chapter also discusses the genomic structure of neurexin genes and role of NCP1 at paranodal junctions and domain organization at the node of Ranvier.
Legal Aid and Clinical Legal Education in Europe and the USA: Are They Compatible?

The history of legal aid in the USA differs greatly from that of the Nordic countries. The right to counsel in criminal matters is constitutionally recognised, thus requiring the state to provide funding for legal aid in virtually any criminal proceeding. No such rule applies, however, to civil legal services to the poor, which were established in 1974 through federal legislation to create a national Legal Services Corporation (LSC), and which continues to operate today, totally separate from all criminal legal aid. When Ronald Reagan won the presidency in 1980, his administration attempted to abolish the LSC, arguing that law students and legal clinics could pick up much of the burden of legal services to the poor in civil matters. His efforts provoked backlash from much of the legal community, including the American Bar Association and the growing clinical movement, which had become stronger, more independent, and more supported within law schools before and during the 1980s. This chapter addresses the ways in which the clinical community within US law schools successfully fought to avoid assuming a significant role in the provision of civil legal aid. It also compares resistance in the USA with European efforts to provide significant legal aid through clinics, using Poland’s robust clinical programmes, developed after the fall of the Soviet Union, as an example of such programmes.
Librarians Promoting Changes in the Health Care Delivery System through Systematic Assessment.

ABSTRACTPatient engagement in health care decisions largely depends on a patient’s health literacy and the health literacy attributes of the health care organization. Librarians have an established role in connecting patients with health information in the context of their care. However, librarians can play a larger role in helping to make changes in their organization’s health literacy attributes. This article discusses one medical library’s process of leading systematic assessment of their organization’s health literacy attributes. Included in this discussion is the institutional support, timeline, assessment tool, the results for five areas of health literacy, marketing and the event-planning process to disseminate results. The systematic assessment process described employs the Health Literacy Environment of Hospitals and Health Centers document, which provides assessment tools for Print Communication, Oral Communication, Navigation, Technology, and Policies and Protocols.
Outcome-based ventilation: A framework for assessing performance, health, and energy impacts to inform office building ventilation decisions.

This article presents an outcome-based ventilation (OBV) framework, which combines competing ventilation impacts into a monetized loss function ($/occ/h) used to inform ventilation rate decisions. The OBV framework, developed for U.S. offices, considers six outcomes of increasing ventilation: profitable outcomes realized from improvements in occupant work performance and sick leave absenteeism; health outcomes from occupant exposure to outdoor fine particles and ozone; and energy outcomes from electricity and natural gas usage. We used the literature to set low, medium, and high reference values for OBV loss function parameters, and evaluated the framework and outcome-based ventilation rates using a simulated U.S. office stock dataset and a case study in New York City. With parameters for all outcomes set at medium values derived from literature-based central estimates, higher ventilation rates' profitable benefits dominated negative health and energy impacts, and the OBV framework suggested ventilation should be ≥45 L/s/occ, much higher than the baseline ~8.5 L/s/occ rate prescribed by ASHRAE 62.1. Only when combining very low parameter estimates for profitable impacts with very high ones for health and energy impacts were all outcomes on the same order. Even then, however, outcome-based ventilation rates were often twice the baseline rate or more.
Conversion of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Quality Indicators from ICD‐9‐CM to ICD‐10‐CM/PCS: The Process, Results, and Implications for Users

Objective To convert the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Quality Indicators (QIs) from International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) specifications to ICD, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification and Procedure Classification System (ICD-10-CM/PCS) specifications. Data sources ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS classifications, General Equivalence Maps (GEMs). Study design We convened 77 clinicians and coders to evaluate ICD-10-CM/PCS codes mapped from ICD-9-CM using automated GEMs. We reviewed codes to develop "legacy" specifications resembling those in ICD-9-CM and "enhanced" specifications addressing enhanced capabilities of ICD-10-CM/PCS. Data collection/extraction methods We tabulated the numbers of mapped codes, added nonmapped codes, and deleted mapped codes to achieve the specifications. Principal findings Of 212 clinical concepts (sets of codes) that comprise the QI specifications, we either added nonmapped codes to or deleted mapped codes from 115 (54 percent). The legacy and enhanced specifications differed for 46 sets (22 percent), affecting 67 of the 101 QIs (66 percent). Occasionally, concepts that defied conversion required reformulation of indicators. Conclusions Converting the AHRQ QIs to ICD-10-CM/PCS required a detailed, thorough process beyond automated mapping of codes. Differences between the legacy and enhanced versions of the QIs are frequently minor but sometimes substantive.
Melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers and the immune system.

A connection between tumorigenesis and the immune system has been known to exist since the late 1960s. Two pioneers in this concept were Lewis Thomas and F. Macfarlane Burnett. In 1967 Burnett introduced the concept of immunosurveillance.1 This idea is based on the concept that an intact immune system actively recognizes and rids the body of tumor cells.2,3 This concept raises several questions. If the body is indeed able to eliminate transformed cells, why do some survive, proliferate and even metastisize? Does neoplastic growth result from a breakdown on the part of the immune system or a coup on the part of the tumor cells? What circumstances lead to spontaneous regression vs. metastatic malignancy? Furthermore, if tumor cells originate from cells that were previously seen as “self” what is the significance of autoimmunity and regulation of these “surveillance” mechanisms?
Neurologic complications of renal disease.

Renal failure may be complicated by the development of encephalopathy, epileptic seizures, or peripheral neuropathy. Treatment of renal disease by dialysis may produce a disequilibrium syndrome or, rarely, progressive dementia due to cerebral aluminum toxicity. Transplantation may be followed by stroke, infections characteristic of immunocompromized hosts, or tumors, either primary lymphomas or metastatic tumors from remote primaries. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment have reduced the frequency and severity of these complications of renal failure and its treatment.
Measuring Quality of Life of Apparel Workers in Mumbai, India: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Data on Basic Minimum Needs, Living Wages, and Well-Being

We interviewed 92 tailors and embroiderers about their wages, household income, household expenses, and quality of life. A Basic Minimum Needs Ratio was calculated by dividing average total household income by average expenses for housing, food, transportation, and utilities. The necessary living wage was calculated using a variation of a formula created at the 1998 Living Wage Summit. Open-ended questions provided qualitative data on multiple dimensions of well-being. We assess the contribution of each measure for triangulation of data in reaching valid conclusions about quality of life, business, and labor.
Zoledronic Acid vs Pamidronate for the Prevention of Hypercalcemia of Malignancy or Bone Metastases in Hospital Outpatients: Time Analysis and Economic Implications.

Zoledronic acid, a third-generation bisphosphonate, is one of the most potent agents in its class available for treating patients with hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) and osteolytic metastasis. Pamidronate and zoledronic acid have both shown safety and efficacy beyond 24 months of use and both decrease the risk of bone complications in patients with other cancers and multiple myeloma. Based on the equivalence of these two products, our cancer center evaluated the financial impact and potential reductions in administration time from the shortened zoledronic acid infusion of 15 minutes compared with that of 2 hours for pamidronate. Fifty-three oncology/hematology outpatients, including 28 patients who had previously received pamidronate, received 305 total doses of zoledronic acid 4 mg given as an IV infusion in an 8-month period. Although the acquisition costs of zoledronic acid 4 mg are greater than that for pamidronate 90 mg, we retrospectively identified equivalent reimbursements per dose, as a percentage of cost. The conservation of time and resources for the administration of zoledronic acid offered an opportunity to treat more patients with the existing nursing staff and the opportunity to improve the quality of life for our patients by shortening their time in the clinic.
General Introduction to Geothermal Energy

This chapter describes geothermal energy as a source of renewable energy, its use in the production of heat and electricity, and the main applications and technologies. Geothermal energy is the thermal energy stored underground, including any contained fluid, which is available for extraction and conversion into energy products. Electricity generation, which today produces 73.7 TWh (12.7 GW of capacity) worldwide, usually requires geothermal temperatures of over 100 °C. For heating, geothermal resources that span a wider range of temperatures can be used in various heat applications such as; space and district (and cooling, with the appropriate technology), spas and swimming pools, greenhouses and soil, aquaculture ponds, industrial processes and snow melting. The geothermal heat produced worldwide is 164.6 TWh, with a capacity of 70.9 GW. Geothermal resources are immune from weather and seasonal variations, and can produce a base-load (continuously) or adapt to the energy demand, providing a flexible and “smart” renewable energy source. To guarantee a sustainable use of geothermal energy, the consumption rate should not exceed the generation rate, so that the heat removed from the resource is replaced within a similar time scale, and geothermal plants typically produce energy below a certain level. In addition, any impact on the environment should be controlled, mitigated and managed. Any non-sustainable use of geothermal technologies can create a misperception of geothermal energy and social resistance to geothermal development.
Metal-free class Ie ribonucleotide reductase from pathogens initiates catalysis with a tyrosine-derived dihydroxyphenylalanine radical.

All cells obtain 2′-deoxyribonucleotides for DNA synthesis through the activity of a ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). The class I RNRs found in humans and pathogenic bacteria differ in ( i ) use of Fe(II), Mn(II), or both for activation of the dinuclear-metallocofactor subunit, β; ( ii ) reaction of the reduced dimetal center with dioxygen or superoxide for this activation; ( iii ) requirement (or lack thereof) for a flavoprotein activase, NrdI, to provide the superoxide from O 2 ; and ( iv ) use of either a stable tyrosyl radical or a high-valent dimetal cluster to initiate each turnover by oxidizing a cysteine residue in the α subunit to a radical (Cys•). The use of manganese by bacterial class I, subclass b-d RNRs, which contrasts with the exclusive use of iron by the eukaryotic Ia enzymes, appears to be a countermeasure of certain pathogens against iron deprivation imposed by their hosts. Here, we report a metal-free type of class I RNR (subclass e) from two human pathogens. The Cys• in its α subunit is generated by a stable, tyrosine-derived dihydroxyphenylalanine radical (DOPA•) in β. The three-electron oxidation producing DOPA• occurs in Escherichia coli only if the β is coexpressed with the NrdI activase encoded adjacently in the pathogen genome. The independence of this new RNR from transition metals, or the requirement for a single metal ion only transiently for activation, may afford the pathogens an even more potent countermeasure against transition metal-directed innate immunity.
Doping control analysis of four JWH‐250 metabolites in equine urine by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

JWH-250 is a synthetic cannabinoid. Its use is prohibited in equine sport according to the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) and the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). A doping control method to confirm the presence of four JWH-250 metabolites (JWH-250 4-OH-pentyl, JWH-250 5-OH-pentyl, JWH-250 5-OH-indole, and JWH-250 N-pentanoic acid) in equine urine was developed and validated. Urine samples were treated with acetonitrile and evaporated to concentrate the analytes prior to the analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The chromatographic separation was carried out using a Phenomenex Lux® 3 μm AMP column (150 x 3.0 mm). A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used for detection of the analytes in positive mode electrospray ionization using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The limits of detection, quantification, and confirmation for these metabolites were 25, 50, and 50 pg/mL, respectively. The linear dynamic range of quantification was 50-10000 pg/mL. Enzymatic hydrolysis indicated that JWH-250 4-OH-pentyl, JWH-250 5-OH-pentyl, and JWH-250 5-OH indole are highly conjugated whereas JWH-250 N-pentanoic acid is not conjugated. Relative retention time and product ion intensity ratios were employed as the criteria to confirm the presence of these metabolites in equine urine. The method was successfully applied to post-race urine samples collected from horses suspected of being exposed to JWH-250. All four JWH-250 metabolites were confirmed in these samples, demonstrating the method applicability for equine doping control analysis.
Understanding the leadership perspective in wildland firefighting: gaps and opportunities for growth

This aim of this study was to develop and assess the viability of a leadership scale that measures leadership from the perspective of the leader. A criterion sample was used of firefighters across USA federal land management agencies who are qualified crew bosses. The Supervisor Perceived Leadership Scale (SPLS) consists of perceptions of items that have measured the most essential leadership skills – competent decision making, integrity and personal genuineness from the perspective of the subordinate in the previously developed Crewmember Perceived Leadership Scale (CPLS). Through confirmatory factor analysis, an 18-item, 2-factor structure was supported. However, the items that did not load were highly related and loaded well on the CPLS. The SPLS had a low to moderate relationship with authentic leadership and global competence. The gap between the SPLS and CPLS provides insight about the potential differences between the average fire leader and the exceptional fire leader. These results and implications for future research are discussed.
A Case of Acute Heart Failure due to Immune Checkpoint Blocker Nivolumab.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors can be potentially cardiotoxic. It has not been frequently reported in the literature. Cardiomyopathy with these agents can have early onset and may start with non-specific symptoms like fatigue, weakness before presenting with obvious features of acute heart failure. Rapid progression and fulminant course of this disease necessitate high index of clinical suspicion and early diagnosis. High-dose steroids should be instituted early to blunt the immune response against myocardium. Further bigger studies are needed to fully understand the pathogenesis of this condition. Cardiol Res. 2019;10(2):120-123 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cr838
Layer-dependent spin-orbit torques generated by the centrosymmetric transition metal dichalcogenide β − MoTe 2

Single-crystal materials with sufficiently low crystal symmetry and strong spin-orbit interactions can be used to generate novel forms of spin-orbit torques on adjacent ferromagnets, such as the out-of-plane antidamping torque previously observed in ${\mathrm{WTe}}_{2}/\mathrm{ferromagnet}$ heterostructures. Here, we present measurements of spin-orbit torques produced by the low-symmetry material $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{MoTe}}_{2}$, which, unlike ${\mathrm{WTe}}_{2}$, retains bulk inversion symmetry. We measure spin-orbit torques on $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{MoTe}}_{2}/\mathrm{Permalloy}$ heterostructures using spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance as a function of crystallographic alignment and ${\mathrm{MoTe}}_{2}$ thickness down to the monolayer limit. We observe an out-of-plane antidamping torque with a spin-torque conductivity as strong as 1/3 of that of ${\mathrm{WTe}}_{2}$, demonstrating that the breaking of bulk inversion symmetry in the spin-generation material is not a necessary requirement for producing an out-of-plane antidamping torque. We also measure an unexpected dependence on the thickness of the $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{MoTe}}_{2}$---the out-of-plane antidamping torque is present in ${\mathrm{MoTe}}_{2}/\mathrm{Permalloy}$ heterostructures when the $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{MoTe}}_{2}$ is a monolayer or trilayer thick, but goes to zero for devices with bilayer $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{MoTe}}_{2}$.
Modeling granular material blending in a Tote blender using a finite element method and advection-diffusion equation multi-scale model

Abstract A multi-scale model is presented for predicting the magnitude and rate of powder mixing in a Tote blender. The model combines particle diffusion correlations calibrated from experiments with transient advective flow field information from finite element method simulations. Predictions of the mixing rate from the multi-scale model compare well quantitatively to published experimental data for side-side and top-bottom loading conditions. The multi-scale model, since it does not directly model individual particles, is expected to scale well to systems of industrial interest.
Heteronormativity in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Young People.

Heteronormativity, as defined in queer theory, is the presumption and privileging of heterosexuality. Research on how young people make sense of and narrate heteronormativity in their own lives is ...
Neutrophil elastase contributes to the pathological vascular permeability characteristic of diabetic retinopathy

Levels of neutrophil elastase, a serine protease secreted by neutrophils, are elevated in diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether neutrophil elastase (NE) contributes to the diabetes-induced increase in retinal vascular permeability in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes, and, if so, to investigate the potential role of IL-17 in this process. In vivo, diabetes was induced in neutrophil elastase-deficient (Elane−/−), Il-17a−/− and wild-type mice. After 8 months of diabetes, Elane−/− mice and wild-type age-matched control mice were injected with FITC-BSA. Fluorescence microscopy was used to assess leakage of FITC-BSA from the retinal vasculature into the neural retina. The level of NE in Il-17a−/− diabetic retina and sera were determined by ELISA. In vitro, the effect of NE on the permeability and viability of human retinal endothelial cells and the expression of junction proteins and adhesion molecules were studied. Eight months of diabetes resulted in increased retinal vascular permeability and levels of NE in retina and plasma of wild-type animals. All of these abnormalities were significantly inhibited in mice lacking the elastase. The diabetes-induced increase in NE was inhibited in mice lacking IL-17. In vitro, NE increased retinal endothelial cell permeability, which was partially inhibited by a myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) inhibitor, NF-κB inhibitor, and protease-activated receptor (PAR)2 inhibitor. NE degraded vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin) in a concentration-dependent manner. IL-17 regulates NE expression in diabetes. NE contributes to vascular leakage in diabetic retinopathy, partially through activation of MyD88, NF-κB and PAR2 and degradation of VE-cadherin.
Polymer-inorganic hybrid colloids for ultraviolet-assisted direct ink write of polymer nanocomposites

Abstract Inorganic-polymer hybrid colloids present a modular and tunable route to fabricate polymer nanocomposites from low viscosity precursors; however, their use in additive manufacturing remains limited. This manuscript describes photocurable “hybrid colloids” to enable layered fabrication of elastomeric nanocomposites, i.e., combination of continuous-phase photocrosslinking chemistry with hybrid colloids of water-dispersible silica nanoparticles and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex particles. Varying the relative concentrations of polymeric and inorganic particles afforded precise tuning of filler loading in the final nanocomposite and introduced a bimodal particle size distribution with desirable rheological behavior for extrusion-based additive manufacturing. Specifically, ultraviolet-assisted direct ink write (UV-DIW) processing of the photocurable hybrid colloid pastes generated free-standing green bodies, which contained a combination of SBR and silica nanoparticles. Subsequent drying of the green bodies allowed SBR particle coalescence and penetration through the scaffold and surrounding the silica nanoparticles, which yielded a semi-interpenetrating network (sIPN) nanocomposite. Facile tuning of silica concentrations in the hybrid colloid enabled tuning of both the colloidal ink rheology and mechanical properties of the final sIPN nanocomposites to achieve additive manufacturing of silica-SBR nanocomposites with ultimate tensile strains exceeding 300 % and ultimate tensile strengths above 10 MPa.
Statistics in the Time of Coronavirus: COVID-19-Related Nonresponse in the CPS Household Survey

Documents the extent of survey attrition on the Current Population Survey due to the effects of COVID-19.
Computationally efficient optimization models for preliminary distillation column design and separation energy targeting

Abstract We propose versatile shortcut distillation column and separation energy targeting models that are well-suited for superstructure-based process synthesis. The models are based on a novel reformulation of the Underwood equations to address systems where the components that are present in the feed can vary due to zero flow rates of some components. Also, we propose valid constraints, resulting in a significant enhancement of the computational performance of the models. The proposed distillation column model can automatically identify adequate key components and the energy requirement of a desired separation task, while considering a wide range of types of separations including non-sharp/sloppy splits. Also, the proposed separation energy targeting model can be used to estimate an energy requirement target for the separation of a mixture without finding detail network configurations. Due to their versatility and computational efficiency, the proposed models can be readily used for and expand the scope of superstructure-based process synthesis approaches.
A Robust Control Framework for Human Motion Prediction

Designing human motion predictors which preserve safety while maintaining robot efficiency is an increasingly important challenge for robots operating in close physical proximity to people. One approach is to use robust control predictors that safeguard against every possible future human state, leading to safe but often too conservative robot plans. Alternatively, intent-driven predictors explicitly model how humans make decisions given their intent, leading to efficient robot plans. However, when the intent model is misspecified, the robot might confidently plan unsafe maneuvers. In this letter, we combine ideas from robust control and intent-driven human modelling to formulate a novel human motion predictor which provides robustness against misspecified human models, but reduces the conservatism of traditional worst-case predictors. Our approach predicts the human states by trusting the intent-driven model to decide only which human actions are completely unlikely. We then safeguard against all likely enough actions, much like a robust control predictor. We demonstrate in simulation and hardware how our approach safeguards against misspecified human intent models while not leading to overly conservative robot plans.
REIN the RobuTS: Robust DNN-Based Image Recognition in Autonomous Driving Systems

In recent years, the neural network (NN) has shown its great potential in image recognition tasks of autonomous driving systems, such as traffic sign recognition, pedestrian detection, etc. However, theoretically well-trained NNs usually fail their performance when facing real-world scenarios. For example, adverse real-world conditions, e.g., bad weather and lighting conditions, can introduce different physical variations and cause considerable accuracy degradation. As for now, the generalization capability of NNs is still one of the most critical challenges for the autonomous driving system. To facilitate the robust image recognition tasks, in this work, we build the RobuTS dataset: a comprehensive Robust Traffic Sign Recognition dataset, which includes images with different environmental variations, e.g., rain, fog, darkening, and blurring. Then to enhance the NN’s generalization capability, we propose two generalization-enhanced training schemes: 1) REIN for robust training without data in adverse scenarios and 2) Self-Teaching (ST) for robust training with unlabeled adverse data. The great advantages of such two training schemes are they are data-free ( REIN ) and label-free ( ST ), thus effectively reducing the huge human efforts/cost of on-road driving data collection, as well as the expensive manual data annotation. We conduct extensive experiments to validate our methods’ performance on both classification and detection tasks. For classification tasks, our proposed training algorithms could consistently improve model performance by +15%–25% ( REIN ) and +16%–30% ( ST ) in all adverse scenarios of our RobuTS datasets. For detection tasks, our ST could also improve the detector’s performance by +10.1 mean average precision (mAP) on Foggy-Cityscapes, outperforming previous state-of-the-art works by +2.2 mAP.
Molecular architecture and domain arrangement of the placental malaria protein VAR2CSA suggests a model for carbohydrate binding.

VAR2CSA is the placental-malaria–specific member of the antigenically variant Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family. It is expressed on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum-infected host red blood cells and binds to specific chondroitin-4-sulfate chains of the placental proteoglycan receptor. The functional ∼310 kDa ectodomain of VAR2CSA is a multidomain protein that requires a minimum 12-mer chondroitin-4-sulfate molecule for specific, high affinity receptor binding. However, it is not known how the individual domains are organized and interact to create the receptor-binding surface, limiting efforts to exploit its potential as an effective vaccine or drug target. Using small angle X-ray scattering and single particle reconstruction from negative-stained electron micrographs of the ectodomain and multidomain constructs, we have determined the structural architecture of VAR2CSA. The relative locations of the domains creates two distinct pores that can each accommodate the 12-mer of chondroitin-4-sulfate, suggesting a model for receptor binding. This model has important implications for understanding cytoadherence of infected red blood cells and potentially provides a starting point for developing novel strategies to prevent and/or treat placental malaria.
Generalizing the swampland: Embedding P ( X , φ ) inflationary theories in a curved multifield space

We study the general embedding of a $P(X,\ensuremath{\varphi})$ inflationary theory into a two-field theory with a curved field space metric, which was proposed as a possible way to examine the relation between de Sitter swampland conjecture and $k$-inflation. We show that this embedding method fits into the special type of two-field model in which the heavy field can be integrated out at the full action level. However, this embedding is not exact due to the upper bound of the effective mass of the heavy field. We quantify the deviation between the speed of sound calculated via the $P(X,\ensuremath{\varphi})$ theory and the embedded two-field picture to next leading order terms. We especially focus on the first potential slow-roll parameter defined in the two-field picture and obtain an upper bound on it.
GranatumX: A Community-engaging, Modularized, and Flexible Webtool for Single-cell Data Analysis

Abstract We present GranatumX, a next-generation software environment for single-cell data analysis. GranatumX is inspired by the interactive web tool Granatum. It enables biologists to access the latest single-cell bioinformatics methods in a web-based graphical environment. It also offers software developers the opportunity to rapidly promote their own tools with others in customizable pipelines. The architecture of GranatumX allows for easy inclusion of plugin modules, named Gboxes, that wrap around bioinformatics tools written in various programming languages and on various platforms. GranatumX can be run on the cloud or private servers and generate reproducible results. It is a community-engaging, flexible, and evolving software ecosystem for scRNA-Seq analysis, connecting developers with bench scientists. GranatumX is freely accessible at http://garmiregroup.org/granatumx/app.
Right Ventricular Outflow Tract: Absent Pulmonary Valve Syndrome

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome is a rare congenital heart disease with absent or rudimentary pulmonary valve leaflets, severe pulmonary regurgitation, and dilatation of the main and branch pulmonary arteries leading to airway compression. Neonates with absent pulmonary valve syndrome develop a varying degree of respiratory distress depending on the degree of airway compression with 40% of the neonates exhibiting respiratory distress at birth. The first-line diagnostic imaging modality for absent pulmonary valve syndrome is transthoracic echocardiogram. However, echocardiography has a limited role in evaluating airways. Cardiac CT provides useful information about the airway compression by dilated or aneurysmal pulmonary arteries. Multidetector CT scan obtains isotropic volume data and allows production of high-quality two-dimensional and three-dimensional multiplanar reformatted images showing degree and location of the airway compression. Surgical repair includes patch closure of the ventricular septal defect and right ventricular to pulmonary artery conduit placement with plication of dilated pulmonary arteries.
SNP-Based Genetic Linkage Map of Soybean Using the SoySNP6K Illumina Infinium BeadChip Genotyping Array

This study reports a high density genetic linkage map based on the â€˜Maryland 96-5722â€™ by â€˜Spencerâ€™ recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and constructed exclusively with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The Illumina Infinium SoySNP6K BeadChip genotyping array produced 5,376 SNPs in the mapping population, with a 96.75% success rate. Significant level of goodness-of-fit for each locus was tested based on the observed vs. expected ratio (1:1). Out of 5,376 markers, 1,465 SNPs fit the 1:1 segregation rate having â‰¤20% missing data plus heterozygosity among the RILs. Among this 1,456 just 657 were polymorphic between the parents DNAs tested. These 657 SNPs were mapped using the JoinMap 4.0 software and 550 SNPs were distributed on 16 linkage groups (LGs) among the 20 chromosomes of the soybean genome. The total map length was just 201.57 centiMorgans (cM) with an average marker density of 0.37 cM. This is one of the high density SNP-based genetic linkage maps of soybean that will be used by the scientific community to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) and identify candidate genes for important agronomic traits in soybean.
Setting up a laboratory.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides information on the basic equipment, chemicals, and supplies that should be present in any laboratory undertaking protein purification. It is natural in setting up a laboratory to focus on the large, expensive apparatus, but in practice, available funds should first go to ensuring an adequate supply of supporting materials. A great deal of thought should be given to the planned usage of such equipment to determine the actual needs. In some instances, duplicating a frequently used item may be more advantageous than purchasing a new piece of equipment that will be used infrequently. The most important detection device in the laboratory is the spectrophotometer. It can be used for determining protein concentrations, measuring the growth of bacterial cultures, and for a variety of enzymatic and colorimetric assays. The spectrophotometer should be equipped with both ultraviolet (UV) and visible optics and cover the range from about 200 to 800 nm to be of most use.
Observational evidence of radial mode resonances and of nonspherical symmetry in some variable stars of δ Scuti and related types

(1) For 29 (and possibly 30) multimode radial variables in the Cepheid instability strip I suggest that necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of their multimode excitation may be that the excited periods be close to a direct resonance with each other and that their excitation growth rates be relatively small. (2) Discussion of the observational evidence on nonradial modes observed in δ Scuti and B Cephei stars suggests that radial mode excitation is always dominant when nonspherical perturbations are small or variable and that nonradial modes only appear when figure perturbations are significant, so that one seldom (or perhaps never) observes in these stars the first order m-splitting discussed by Ledoux for the case of slow rotation.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid Methylase Activity in Rat Spleen

Abstract DNA methylase activity was detected in cell-free homogenates of rat spleen nuclei. S-Adenosylmethionine was active as the methyl donor, and the product was identified as 5-methylcytosine in DNA. Unlike bacterial DNA methylases, spleen DNA methylase methylated its own DNA; however, the reaction was stimulated by the addition of salmon sperm DNA. Evidence is presented that this incorporation was not due to synthesis and methylation of DNA by intact cells or bacteria remaining in the cell-free extract. A different enzymatic activity which can be confused with DNA methylase activity is also described.
The Direct Approach

Aromatic compounds can be coupled without having to preactivate the reactants. The method is more efficient and generates less waste than other approaches.
Introduction: The Soul of Creativity: Forging a Moral Rights Law for the United States

This book attempts to open the dialogue on moral rights in the United States by highlighting the problem of safeguarding textual integrity. As such, it treats issues of vital importance to those who use the creative process to reveal themselves to the outside world.
Spectral hole burning of Eu2+ in CaF2.

Spectral hole burning on the $4{f}^{7}(^{8}S_{\frac{7}{2}})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4{f}^{6}5d$ transition of ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{2+}$ is observed to occur by two mechanisms in Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$:${\mathrm{Eu}}^{2+}$. At zero magnetic field, persistent spectral hole burning occurs by two-step photoionization where the hole burning survives cycling to room temperature. The observed hole spectrum is compared with a calculation which considers the small ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{2+}$ ground-state splitting and both the ground- and excited-state hyperfine interactions. In a magnetic field above 1 T, transient spectral hole burning occurs by population redistribution among the ground-state hyperfine levels. Long-lived (minutes) holes are observed for a half integral spin system. The resulting hole spectrum consists of holes, antiholes, and a nuclear spin-flip sideband and can be explained from the hyperfine interactions in the ground and excited states. The dominant hole decay occurs by phonon-induced transitions among hyperfine levels of the ${M}_{S}=\ensuremath{-}\frac{7}{2}$ and ${M}_{S}=\ensuremath{-}\frac{5}{2}$ electron-spin sublevels. Central hole linewidths of 200 MHz are observed at zero magnetic field. Hole linewidths at high magnetic fields are as narrow as 40 MHz but these are inhomogenously broadened by superhyperfine interactions with the $F$ nuclear spins. Estimates of hole-burning quantum efficiency are also obtained.
Flow in a curved pipe with moving boundaries

The unsteady three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations in integral formulation are studied for flow through a curved pipe with moving boundaries. Two different motions, a sinusoidal oscillation of the boundary and a travelling wave through the curved pipe, are investigated. The numerical algorithm utilized is a finite volume, projection algorithm where the pressure correction is obtained from the solution of an auxiliary potential function. Flow variables such as volume flow rates, velocity vector fields, velocity profiles and pressure fields are analyzed.
Medication persistence in older women with osteoporosis: a pilot study

Most osteoporosis patients stop their medications before they should. Side effects are the most common reason patients in this sample stopped their medication before they told their physician. Physicians should use shared decision-making and discuss side effects of osteoporosis medications with their patients and explain the risks of the medications. The aims of this study were to (a) qualitatively examine reasons for medication non-persistence in osteoporosis, and (b) investigate how medication non-persistence in osteoporosis is associated with outcome expectations, self-efficacy, trust in physicians, and health locus of control. Subjects were recruited from online support groups to answer an anonymous online survey. Subjects were eligible if they (a) were female, (b) were at least 40 years of age, (c) self-identify as having osteoporosis, and (d) have taken at least one medication for osteoporosis. During the survey, subjects completed measures of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, trust in physicians generally, health locus of control, and demographic information. Thirty-four subjects completed the online survey and had usable data. Approximately 82 % (n = 28) of subjects reported discontinuing an osteoporosis medication without first consulting a physician. The most common reason patients discontinued an osteoporosis medication was adverse effects. Subjects were more likely to discontinue their medications when they had poorer outcome expectations on average (p = 0.01), had lower trust in physicians on average (p < 0.0001), and had more of a doctors-centered locus of control (p = 0.03). Self-efficacy, age, insurance, status, and other measures of locus of control were not associated with medication non-persistence. Side effects are a significant concern for women with osteoporosis and may be a cause for medication non-persistence.
Army Teams: Who are They and How Do They Function?

The Army Research Institute Field Unit at Fort Benning has initiated a long range research program in the areas of team training and evaluation. The focus is on small (2–11 persons), formally recognized. Army work teams in the combat and combat support branches. The overall research game plan is to concentrate on identifying: (1) What it is that constitutes team, as opposed to individual, performance; (2) Which of these team performance skills can be modified by training and also serve to determine team output; (3) Analytic and assessment techniques for identifying and evaluating these skills; and (4) Team training techniques appropriate for Army conditions. The anticipated final research products include Instructional Systems Development (ISD) techniques and guidance regarding team training program development, team performance assessment techniques, and improvement and/or development of selected team training and assessment programs.The purpose of this presentation is to report on two steps that have be...