cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis: Pramlintide: An Agent for Glycemic Control Plus Weight Control?

63 TWO MAJOR HEALTH RISK FACTORS, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and significant obesity, coexist in patients in every physician’s practice, posing a great dilemma. Weight-control remedies—except perhaps for gastric surgical procedures—are usually very disappointing, and effective treatment of diabetes usually leads to further weight gain, distressing the patient and possibly limiting the medical benefits of improved glycemic control. Treatment with insulin is especially problematic in this way, and as a result this best tested and most reliable treatment for diabetes is often not used by patients with severe, dangerous hyperglycemia. Many studies have documented and quantified the gain of weight that accompanies use of insulin. Nonobese, relatively young adult patients using intensive insulin treatment for type 1 diabetes gained a mean of 3.3 kg from baseline and 2.1 kg more than the conventional insulin treatment group in the first year of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, while improving their glycemic control by about 2% HbA1c.1 Obese type 2 diabetic patients in a substudy of the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), whose body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was 30–31, very similar to that of typical type 2 patients in the United States, had much the same experience.2 After starting insulin, they gained about 2 kg in the first year relative to both baseline and a group treated with diet alone, while HbA1c declined about 0.6%. In both studies, the excess weight gain accompanying insulin treatment continued over time, although at a slower rate. Smaller studies have documented even greater weight gain, in the 4–9-kg range, when insulin is used to reduce HbA1c by more than 2% quite rapidly.3,4 One bright spot in this picture is recent evidence from small trials suggesting that concurrent use of metformin can attenuate the weight gain that otherwise routinely accompanies improvement of glycemic control with insulin.5,6 Ratner and colleagues report findings that suggest a way out of this dilemma. This early trial of the amylin analogue pramlintide shows improved glycemic control for insulin-requiring type 2 diabetic patients and weight loss as well. Some background on the hormone amylin may place this study in perspective.7 This peptide is cosecreted with insulin by the beta-cell but has only recently been studied, in part because of its strong tendency to aggregate into an insoluble complex. A physiologic role for amylin has been sought, with the liver and peripheral tissues thought in the past to be potential sites of action. However, recent evidence points to the central nervous system as the primary site of action, with subsequent effects on gastric emptying, glucagon secretion, and eating behavior. This pattern of effects suggests that secretion of amylin modulates the rate of appearance of glucose into the bloodstream af-
A 6-Yr Climatology of Vertical Mean and Shear Components of Kinetic Energy for the Australian–South Pacific Jet Stream

Abstract The climatology of the kinetic energy associated with the subtropical jet over the Australian–South Pacific region is investigated for a 6-yr period, January 1985–December 1990, using monthly mean data. The total kinetic energy (TKE) is partitioned into vertically averaged mean kinetic energy (KM) and level-by-level departure from the mean, or so-called shear kinetic energy (KS). A comparison of the two components during the annual cycle reveals that KM within the region of the subtropical jet is usually greater than KS. An out-of- phase relationship between the annual cycle of TKE and the annual cycle of the percentage of TKE represented by KS is found. A higher percentage of KS occurs in the summer season, when the jet is weakest. During late summer, KS dominates in the entrance region of the jet over Australia and the western Pacific. This appears to coincide with the annual strengthening of the jet. During winter, when the jet reaches its maximum intensity, KM dominates. It also dominates thr...
Matter, Space, Energy, and Political Economy: The Amazon in the World-System

Many authors have attempted co-incorporate the local into the global. World-systems analysis, though, is rooted in processes of production, and all production remains profoundly local. Understanding the expansion and intensification of the social and material relations of capitalism that have created and sustain the dynamic growth of the world-system from the local to the global requires analysis of material processes of natural and social production in space as differentiated by topography, hydrology, climate, and absolute distance betweenplaces. In this article, I consider some of the spatio-material configurations chat have struc-tured local effects on global formations within a single region, the Amazon Basin. I first detail and criticize the tendency in world system and globalization analysis, and in the modern social sciences generally, to use spatial metaphors without examining how space affects the material processes around which social actors organize economy and policy. I next examine thework of some earlier social scientists who analyzed specific materio-spatial configurations as these structured human social, economic, and political activities and organization, searching for possible theoretical or methodological tools for building from local to global analysis. I then review some recent analyses of spatio-material determinants of social and economic organiza-tion in the Amazon Basin. Finally, I show that the 400-year-long sequence of extractive econ-omies in the Amazon reflected the changing demands of expanded industrial production in the core, and how such processes can best be understood by focusing our analysis on spatio-material configurations of local extraction, transport, and production. The Amazon is but one of the specific environments that have supplied raw materials to changing global markets, but close consideration of how its material and spatial attributes shaped the global economy provides insights into the ways other local systems affect the world-system.
Thermal Conductivity Changes in Titanium-Graphene Composite upon Annealing

Ti-graphene composite films were prepared on polished Ti substrates by deposition of graphene platelets from suspension followed by deposition of Ti by magnetron sputtering. The films were annealed at different temperatures up to 1073 K (800 °C) and different time periods in argon atmosphere. The annealed films were characterized by X-ray diffraction for phase identification, scanning electron microscopy for microstructure, energy-dispersive spectrometry for chemical analysis, atomic force microscopy for surface roughness, and transient thermoreflectance for thermal conductivity and interface thermal conductance. The results showed that the interface between the composite film and Ti substrate remained continuous with the absence of voids. Oxygen concentration in the composite films has increased for higher temperature and time of annealing. TiO2 and TiC phases are formed only in the film annealed at 1073 K (800 °C). The thermal conductivity of the composite film decreased with increasing oxygen concentration. The effective thermal conductance of the film annealed at 1073 K (800 °C) was significantly lower. The interface thermal conductance between the composite film and the Ti substrate is also reduced for higher oxygen concentration. Formation of microscopic TiO2 phase bound by interface boundaries and oxygen incorporation is considered responsible for the lower thermal conductance of the Ti-graphene composite annealed at 1073 K (800 °C).
Limiting Equilibrium of a Plate with Partially Healed Crack

We propose a model of partially healed crack in a solid body. In the region of restoration of the integrity of material, the surface energy is assumed to be different from its value in the intact material. We determine the efficiency of various schemes of healing of the plate weakened by a rectilinear through crack under the mode I and mode II conditions, as well as under the conditions of bending and combined bending with tension. We take into account the effect of crack closure under bending. The problem of interaction of partially healed defects is solved.
Auditor Independence and Fair Value Accounting: An Examination of Non-Audit Fees and Goodwill Impairments

Prior literature’s inability to document an empirical relation between non-audit service fees and compromised auditor independence contradicts the significant and long-standing concerns expressed by regulators and the investing community. In this paper, we examine whether currently permissible non-audit services pose a threat to auditor independence using a measure – goodwill impairments – that reduces many of the potential limitations that could have prevented prior research from documenting evidence to support the proposed negative association. Our results indicate that the non-audit fees a client pays are inversely related to the likelihood of impairment in settings where goodwill is likely to be impaired. Additional examinations suggest that higher levels of non-audit fees are also associated with lower impairment amounts and a longer time lag until impairment occurs. Taken together, our findings suggest that the understanding of how non-audit services impact auditor independence may not be as complete as many believe.
Making Treatment of Special Needs Patients an Important Part of Your Growing Dental Practice

Today many young dentists want to find a way to make their practices satisfying in ways other than the financial rewards of dentistry. Some of these practitioners have gained additional training in diagnosis and treatment of medically and physically compromised patients in hospital-based, general practice residency programs. A hospital affiliation can create a unique niche that will allow dentists to differentiate themselves from other dentists. By welcoming those ongoing relationships for patients with special needs, and having the resources and desire to treat them, dentists will achieve greater visibility and a reputation as caring, capable practitioners in their community.
Histochemical Use of Borohydrides as Aldehyde Blocking Reagents

Complete blocking of the Schiff reaction applied after HIO4 oxidation is attained by 1%, 0.5% or 0.2% NaBH4 in 1% Na2HPO4 with a 1 min exposure, 0.1% NaBH4 requires 2 min. KBH4 was also completely effective in the same solvent at 1, 0.5 and 0.25% in 1 min. The solutions deteriorate on standing, so that 0.5% NaBH4 is effective in 1 min at 7 hr but 5 min is needed at 24 hr and is ineffective at 36 hr; 1% KBH4 requires 4 min at 24 hr when fresh, and showed deterioration in 2–4 days. Saturated (0.4%) isopropanol and 1% pyridine solutions required 10–15 min when fresh and showed deterioration in 2–4 days. No satisfactory results were obtained with 80% or absolute dioxan or with methyl cellosolve in times of an hour or less; even a 24 hr exposure was ineffective with 0.2% in 80% dioxan.
Relationship between pulse pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients

Objective:To explore the relationship between pulse pressure(PP) and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.Methods:A total of 97 hypertensive patients were divided into two groups based on their pulse pressure:PP≤60mmHg and PP60mmHg group.The interventricular septal thickness(IVST),left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVEDd),and left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT) were measured by echocardiography,and left ventricular mass index(LVMI) was calculated.Results:LVMI in group of PP60mmHg was higher than that in group PP≤60mmHg [(135.3±23.5)vs.(115.7±25.2),P0.01].Conclusion:The 24h pulse pressure was closely related with the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.
Facebook usage among those who have received treatment for an eating disorder in a group setting

Objective This study explored Facebook use among individuals with a history of receiving treatment for an eating disorder (ED) in a group setting (e.g., inpatient, residential, outpatient group), focusing primarily on comparisons individuals make about their bodies, eating, or exercise to those of their peers from treatment on Facebook and the relation between these comparisons and ED pathology. Method Individuals (N = 415; mean age 28.15 years ± 8.41; 98.1% female) who self-reported receipt of ED treatment in a group setting were recruited via e-mail and social media to complete an online survey. Results Participants reported having an average of 10–19 Facebook friends from treatment and spending up to 30 min per day interacting on Facebook with individuals from treatment or ED-related organizations. More comparison to treatment peers on Facebook was associated with greater ED psychopathology and ED-related impairment. Conversely, positive interaction with treatment peers on Facebook was associated with lower ED psychopathology and ED-related impairment. Individuals who had been in treatment longer, more times, and more recently had more Facebook friends from treatment and ED-related organizations as well as spent more time in ED groups' pages on Facebook. Few participants (19.5%) reported that a therapist asked about the impact of Facebook on pathology. Discussion Interactions on Facebook could affect patients' recovery and potential for relapse. It may be helpful for treatment providers to discuss Facebook use and its potential benefits and drawbacks with patients preparing for discharge from group treatment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:764–777)
Global Change in Central America, and Global Transitions Towards a Carbon-Free Society Achieved Through International Field Schools? Carbon Dioxide Remains the Most Toxic Gas for Mankind to Be Resolved

The increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, measured over decades at a place as remote as Hawaii, offers us the single, most classic figure that changed agendas on atmosphere, the ocean, biodiversity, people and industrial societies all over the world.
Inference for Censored Data and Survival Analysis

Survival analysis models the survival times of a group of subjects (usually with some kind of medical condition) and generates a survival curve, which shows how many of the subjects are “alive” or survive over time.
Nikolaj Jakovlevič Danilevskij

1843–1847 Biologiestudium an der Universitat von St. Petersburg; 1849 Verhaftung wegen Zugehorigkeit zum revolutionaren Zirkel der ›Petrasevcy‹, trotz Freispruchs Versetzung nach Samarat; Experte fur Fischfang, nahm an zahlreichen einschlagigen Expeditionen teil, war Mitglied der Kaiserlichen Geographischen Gesellschaft und stieg in die obersten Range des Landwirtschaftsministeriums auf (Geheimrat).
Three-dimensional acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging of human prostates in vivo

We are investigating utilizing ARFI imaging to guide prostate needle biopsy. Our previous ex vivo study demonstrated that ARFI imaging using a VF10-5 linear array was able to visualize the internal anatomy and suspicious lesions in the prostate, which may help improve the diagnostic accuracy of prostate needle biopsy. The objective of this study is to implement ARFI techniques on a 3D wobbler rectal probe and image human prostates in vivo. Three patients were imaged. The initial in vivo results are reported.
The Impact of an Emerging Technology on the Early Buyer-Seller Relationship

The purpose of this study is to generate propositions about the developing business-to-business buyer-seller relationship in an emerging technology market. The role of the technology buyer and seller at an evaluative, exploration phase of their nascent relationship has been explored. A conceptual framework of the exploration phase has been developed with descriptive constructs. The study’s methodology focuses on a multiple-site field study of buyer and seller organizations in the health care field. The study results in propositions and new theoretical insights into early relationship development when an emerging technology is present in the marketplace.
Effect of reduction mammoplasty on acute radiation side effects and use of lumpectomy cavity boosts

Abstract Purpose Reduction mammoplasty (RM) during breast-conserving surgery is popular among women with large-volume breasts because it reduces redundant breast folds and may decrease skin-related morbidity from radiation therapy. However, RM may obscure the lumpectomy cavity (LC) and pose challenges to administering an LC boost, potentially affecting local control. We investigated the impact of RM on acute side effects and use of LC boosts. Methods and materials The records of 645 consecutive women treated with whole-breast irradiation at an urban university and 2 community practices between January 2012 and December 2014 were reviewed on an institutional review board–approved study. The primary endpoint was grade ≥3 radiation dermatitis; the secondary endpoint was use of LC boost. Student 2-sample t tests, Pearson χ2 tests, Fisher exact tests, and univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Forty-three (7%) RMs were performed in 650 treated breasts. No significant differences in grade 3 toxicities were identified among RM and non-RM patients. LC boost was delivered to 474 breasts. Fewer (16/43) RM patients received LC boosts compared with non-RM patients (458/607), P = .0001. RM patients were more likely to have neoadjuvant chemotherapy, stage III or multifocal disease, higher body mass index, larger planning treatment volumes, and conventional fractionation (P Conclusions RM was associated with decreased use of LC boost without significant differences in acute toxicities. Further investigation to delineate LCs in patients undergoing RM or identify alternative strategies for delivering LC dose is needed.
Experimental comparison of forces resisting viral DNA packaging and driving DNA ejection

We compare forces resisting DNA packaging and forces driving DNA ejection in bacteriophage phi29 with theoretical predictions. Ejection of DNA from prohead-motor complexes is triggered by heating complexes after in vitro packaging and force is inferred from the suppression of ejection by applied osmotic pressure. Ejection force from $0%$ to $80%$ filling is found to be in quantitative agreement with predictions of a continuum mechanics model that assumes a repulsive DNA-DNA interaction potential based on DNA condensation studies and predicts an inverse-spool conformation. Force resisting DNA packaging from $\ensuremath{\sim}80%$ to $100%$ filling inferred from optical tweezers studies is also consistent with the predictions of this model. The striking agreement with these two different measurements suggests that the overall energetics of DNA packaging is well described by the model. However, since electron microscopy studies of phi29 do not reveal a spool conformation, our findings suggest that the spool model overestimates the role of bending rigidity and underestimates the role of intrastrand repulsion. Below $\ensuremath{\sim}80%$ filling the inferred forces resisting packaging are unexpectedly lower than the inferred ejection forces, suggesting that in this filling range the forces are less accurately determined or strongly temperature dependent.
Event-Centric control for background agents

This paper describes a framework for controlling the varied activities of groups of background characters (representing extras or supernumeraries). Our platform is built upon an event-centric agent control model, which shifts behavior authoring from writing complex reactive agents to authoring particular activities. This approach allows us to achieve diverse, complex, and collaborative activities while the agents themselves stay simple and generic. An event is defined generically on agent roles, and can be dispatched to any set of agents that can fill those roles. This allows us to control macro-level group behavior with a centralized entity called the Group Coordinator that dispatches events to agents based on their situational and locational context (which can be controlled by an author). What results a structure for controlling macroscopic behavior for groups of background agents.
Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Spills in Cold Terrestrial Environments

Petroleum hydrocarbons, mostly fuels, are the principal source of energy in polar regions and as such their transport, storage, and use can lead to the contamination of soil and water. Hydrocarbons are natural, ubiquitous organic compounds that can serve as carbon and energy sources for many different organisms, the most abundant and diverse being the bacteria. Natural seeps in marine and freshwater (e.g., Athabasca watershed) environments, coupled with the presence of biologically produced hydrocarbons, mean that organisms able to metabolize hydrocarbons have access to these substrates almost all the time naturally and, as such, have evolved many different metabolic pathways to accommodate these substrates. Hydrocarbon-contaminated soils in cold environments present numerous challenges related to the physical and chemical properties of the soil, accessibility of the hydrocarbons and other essential nutrients, soil water content, temperature and other parameters inherent in these, as well as limitations associated with site remoteness and infrastructure availability. Although the literature on hydrocarbon biodegradation potential in cold environments is extensive, there remains a limited amount of information on case studies of large-scale bioremediation projects. This chapter presents an overview of the site-specific abiotic and biotic factors that have the most influence on the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated cold environment soils and presents a detailed case study of a successful bioremediation project in the high Arctic.
Renewable natural gas in California: An assessment of the technical and economic potential

Renewable natural gas has the potential to diversify and decarbonize natural gas as a transportation fuel. Biomethane, a subset of renewable natural gas, is produced from a range of waste sources that are distributed across the landscape with uneven access to natural gas infrastructure. Using a spatially explicit techno-economic model of renewable natural gas supply in California, we develop supply curves for producing renewable natural gas and delivering it to California's transportation fuels market in order to estimate the economic potential. The gross potential is 90 bcf per year (94.5 PJ/yr), which is larger than the 17 bcf per year (18 PJ/yr) of natural gas consumed as transportation fuel in California in 2016. Seventy-five percent of the resource is estimated to be economic if the value of existing policy credits are fully capitalized, resulting in 6.9 million Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits. Renewable natural gas provides an economically viable option for methane emission reduction for a quarter of dairy manure in the state. The results suggest that renewable natural gas can play a significant role in meeting low carbon fuel policies in California and that expansion of demand for natural gas in transportation is needed to fully realize this potential.
Newfound sex differences in axonal structure underlie differential outcomes from in vitro traumatic axonal injury

Abstract Since traumatic axonal injury (TAI) is implicated as a prominent pathology of concussion, we examined potential sex differences in axon structure and responses to TAI. Rat and human neurons were used to develop micropatterned axon tracts in vitro that were genetically either male or female. Ultrastructural analysis revealed for the first time that female axons were consistently smaller with fewer microtubules than male axons. Computational modeling of TAI showed that these structural differences place microtubules in female axons at greater risk of failure during trauma under the same applied loads than in male axons. Likewise, in an in vitro model of TAI, dynamic stretch-injury to axon tracts induced greater pathophysiology of female axons than male axons, including more extensive undulation formations resulting from mechanical breaking of microtubules, and greater calcium influx shortly after the same level of injury. At 24 h post-injury, female axons exhibited significantly more swellings and greater loss of calcium signaling function than male axons. Accordingly, sexual dimorphism of axon structure in the brain may also contribute to more extensive axonal pathology in females compared to males exposed to the same mechanical injury.
Automatic real-time CNN-based neonatal brain ventricles segmentation

Quantitative imaging of brain plays an important role in preterm neonates with a very low birth weight due to the increased risk of developing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). In this work, we propose a fully automated method for segmentation of ventricles from two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound (US) scans. The proposed method is based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) that combines the advantages of U-Net and SegNet architectures for ventricles segmentation. Extensive experiments on a dataset consisting of 687 US scans show that the proposed method achieves significant improvements over the state-of-the-art medical image segmentation methods.
Water Governance Tools: The Role of Science and Decision Support Systems in Participatory Management

Participatory water resources management and planning have become a main feature of water governance processes. A review of the evolution of decision support systems for water resources planning and management through today demonstrates that stakeholder participation through science-fed collaborative planning processes is an essential factor for integrative science to be perceived as credible, relevant, transparent, and thus acceptable in the public eye to inform and guide decision making. Two case studies from the American Southwest—the Rio Grande in New Mexico and the San Pedro in Arizona—illustrate how a strong scientific contribution that includes an integrated modeling approach can form the foundation for participatory planning processes and the collaborative development of decision support tools. Based on conflict resolution concepts, this approach will not only lead to agreed-upon management solutions, but also to a well informed and educated stakeholder community in the basin, ensuring a sustainable and resilient water governance system.
On Working Capital as an Investment by the Firm

Working capital is well recognized as an important decision area within the firm. Yet working capital does not seem to occupy a very prominent place within the academic field of finance. While a gap between theory and practice persists in many areas of management decision making, it would seem to be especially so for working capital management.
Energy-Linked Reactions of Plant Mitochondria1

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the energy-linked reactions of plant mitochondria. The basic structure and function of higher plant mitochondria is similar to that of animal mitochondria. However, plant mitochondria show the more or less exceptional characteristics. The inner membrane averages fewer and more random cristae. The outer membrane is perforated. Most clean preparations are exceptionally active in oxidizing substrate acids and NADH. It is not established whether this is an inherent property or an artifact of isolation. Some degree of loose coupling is the rule for these preparations. The b-cytochromes are different and are implicated in inhibitor resistant pathways of electron transport. The presence of cytochrome c 1 is not established, and there may be two cytochrome oxidases. There is rapid spontaneous swelling in salt solutions that does not require respiration. No swelling agents are needed. Contraction can be obtained with the simple addition of an oxidizable substrate as well as with ATP + Mg. Contraction is very closely linked to electron transport and is indifferent to uncoupling agents except as these agents alter respiration. There is as yet not enough evidence from comparative studies to know whether these properties constitute real differences between plant and animal mitochondria. It is quite possible that with suitable experimental procedures the mitochondria may prove to carry out energy-linked reactions by identical pathways
Felodipine Inhibits Intimal Lesion Formation in the Hypercholesterolemic Rabbit: Differential Effects on Endothelial and Monocyte Determinants of Atherogenesis:

The purpose of this study was to determine if the calcium entry antagonist felodipine inhibited intimal lesion formation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, and to determine if this was due to an effe...
Alpharetrovirus Envelope-Receptor Interactions

Infection by all enveloped viruses occurs via the fusion of viral and cellular membranes and delivery of the viral nucleocapsid into the cell cytoplasm, after association of the virus with cognate receptors at the cell surface. This process is mediated by viral fusion proteins anchored in the viral envelope and can be defined based on the requirement for low pH to trigger membrane fusion. In viruses that utilize a pH-dependent entry mechanism, such as influenza virus, viral fusion is triggered by the acidic environment of intracellular organelles after uptake of the virus from the cell surface and trafficking to a low-pH compartment. In contrast, in viruses that utilize a pH-independent entry mechanism, such as most retroviruses, membrane fusion is triggered solely by the interaction of the envelope glycoprotein with cognate receptors, often at the cell surface. However, recent work has indicated that the alpharetrovirus, avian sarcoma and leukosis virus (ASLV), utilizes a novel entry mechanism that combines aspects of both pH-independent and pH-dependent entry. In ASLV infection, the interaction of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) with cognate receptors at the cell surface causes an initial conformational change that primes (activates) Env and renders it sensitive to subsequent low-pH triggering from an intracellular compartment. Thus unlike other pH-dependent viruses, ASLV Env is only sensitive to low-pH triggering following interaction with its cognate receptor. In this manuscript we review current research on ASLV Env-receptor interactions and focus on the specific molecular requirements of both the viral fusion protein and cognate receptors for ASLV entry. In addition, we review data pertaining to the novel two-step entry mechanism of ASLV entry and propose a model by which ASLV Env elicits membrane fusion.
Anti-interleukin (IL)-5 as a steroid-sparing agent in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.

AbstractIntroduction: Anti-interleukin (IL)-5 therapy is a novel drug class clinically effective in patients with diverse eosinophil-related disorders such as allergic eosinophilic asthma, eosinoph...
Leg Length Discrepancy: The Natural History (And What Do We Really Know)

Background:The long-term effects of small limb length discrepancies have been poorly documented in the literature. References to low back pain, hip pathology, knee pathology, and foot problems abound in the popular literature. Health care providers frequently recommend the use of lifts for structura
Lipids of Keratinizing Tissues

Major contributions to our knowledge of the epidermal lipids have been made by G.M. Gray and associates, and this work has been excellently reviewed by Yardley and Summerly (1981) and by Yardley (1983). Readers are referred to these sources for discussions of the lipid class distribution within epidermis as well as the nonpolar lipids and phospholipids. These topics will not be discussed in the present work.
Animal protein-free OptiXcell and shortened equilibration periods can replace egg yolk-based extender and slow cooling for rhinoceros semen cryopreservation.

Abstract OptiXcell (OP) was tested as an animal protein-free alternative to an egg yolk-based extender for rhinoceros semen cryopreservation and shorter chilling/equilibration periods were evaluated. Semen was collected from three rhinoceros species: black (Diceros bicornis; n = 2), white (Ceratotherium simum; n = 2), and greater one-horned (GOH; Rhinoceros unicornis; n = 3). Controls were diluted with equine extender (EQ) or OP and equilibrated for 1 h. Treatments were diluted with extender and cooled for 15 min (fast: FEQ; FOP) or not cooled (immediate: IEQ; IOP), prior to cryopreservation. Motility decreased post-thaw (EQ: 50.7 ± 5.2%; OP: 52.9 ± 3.4%) from fresh (82.9 ± 2.9%), was higher in OP than IOP (38.6 ± 4.9%; P ≤ 0.05) and decreased over time (P ≤ 0.05). Post-thaw acrosomal integrity was lower in EQ, FEQ, and IEQ (56.9 ± 0.7; 56.6 ± 4.5; 54.9 ± 2.9%) than OP, FOP, IOP (71.8 ± 4.7; 71.9 ± 3.8; 69.9 ± 4.5%) and fresh (72.6 ± 1.4%; P ≤ 0.05). Progression and viability were lower in EQ (2.8 ± 0.2; 61.9 ± 7.4%) and OP (3.1 ± 0.2; 53.4 ± 6.9%) than fresh (3.7 ± 0.2; 87.2 ± 1.3%), decreased over time (P ≤ 0.05) but not different among treatments (P > 0.05). Morphology did not differ between fresh (75.0 ± 4.9% normal) and any treatment group (70.0–77.8%) or over time (P > 0.05). OptiXcell is comparable to egg yolk-based EQ when used for rhinoceros semen cryopreservation. Furthermore, chilling/equilibration can be reduced with little impact on sperm characteristics.
Using Masked Raters to Evaluate Social Validity of a Parent-Implemented Communication Intervention

Interventions designed for children with disabilities and their families should be socially valid. Parent-implemented Communication Strategies-Storybook (PiCSS) is an intervention package designed ...
141 Association between firearm laws and homicide among emerging adults

Statement of Purpose To assess the impact of firearm laws on homicides among emerging adults (age 18–20) as they are disproportionately victimized in firearm homicide. Methods/Approach We conducted an interrupted timeseries using negative binomial regression with state and year fixed effects to assess the impact of firearm laws on homicide among those age 18–20 between 1989–2015. Homicide was stratified by firearm and nonfirearm to test for specificity of the laws’ effects. Laws were coded as 0 pre-implementation and 1 for the first full year post-implementation. Models controlled for several state demographic characteristics. Age appropriate sub-populations were used to calculate Incident Rate Ratios (IRR). Results Among emerging adults, handgun purchaser licensing laws (IRR=0.62, 0.50–0.77), large capacity magazine bans (IRR=0.80, 0.69–0.92), and prohibitions for violent misdemeanors (IRR=0.86, 0.76–0.96) were associated with reductions in firearm homicide. Background check alone (IRR=1.12, 1.02–1.24) and shall issue laws without discretion (IRR=1.18, 1.05–1.31) were associated with increases in firearm homicide. Compared to current may issue concealed carry, no issue of permits was also associated with increases in firearm homicide (IRR=1.15, 1.02, 1.29). No policies were associated with changes in nonfirearm homicide. Conclusions Laws requiring background checks are conducted as part of a licensing system, banning ownership among those convicted of a violence misdemeanor beyond domestic violence, and limiting magazine size are associated with reductions in firearm homicide among emerging adults. Laws that make it easier to for civilians to carry guns in public are associated with increases in firearm homicide. Significance and Contributions of Injury and Violence Prevention Science Emerging adults experience disproportionately high rates of firearm homicide. This is the first study to estimate the impact of firearm laws on homicide of emerging adults and offers specific policy solutions to reduce gun violence in this age group.
Lessons from the Coronavirus Pandemic for Environmental Governance

This very short essay distills lessons from the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic for leaders everywhere about how—and how not—to manage complex interjurisdictional challenges, like the environment, which unfold without regard for political boundaries. In a matter of months, COVID-19 has laid bare the interdependence of the world on every front imaginable: global public health, economic growth and development, social and professional networks, transportation and migration, and of course, ecological and environmental systems. No single nation has the coronavirus. No one state is economically disrupted. There is no single ethnic group, occupation, or corner of the world that has been impacted. All of us, in every corner of the world, in every profession, and in every ecosystem are affected. Since the virus was introduced, it has surfed the channels of our interconnectedness, uniting us all in the grip of its devastation. Similarly, unless we can act in unison to contain it, it will continue to surf those channels, exposing our interconnectedness despite all efforts to pretend otherwise. In this way, the virus and our response to it betrays the fundamental problem with which environmental governance has always contended in our interdependent, multijurisdictional world: We cannot do it alone. The major environmental problems with which we wrestle—air and water pollution, biodiversity preservation, ecosystem integrity, climate stability, and all the others—are bigger than we are, and certainly bigger than any one of these jurisdictions. No matter how skilled or well-intended, a single town, city, state, or even nation cannot effectively cope with the critical environmental challenges of our time, because they extend beyond these arbitrary political boundaries. To accomplish our goals, we have to coordinate our efforts.
Impact of the Safe Routes to School Program: Comparative Analysis of Infrastructure and Noninfrastructure Measures in Indiana

AbstractThe Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program apportions funding for safety interventions aimed at encouraging walking and bicycling as viable transportation modes to school. Initially, the SRTS...
Bronchoconstriction: a potential missing link in airway remodelling

In asthma, progressive structural changes of the airway wall are collectively termed airway remodelling. Despite its deleterious effect on lung function, airway remodelling is incompletely understood. As one of the important causes leading to airway remodelling, here we discuss the significance of mechanical forces that are produced in the narrowed airway during asthma exacerbation, as a driving force of airway remodelling. We cover in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo work in this field, and discuss up-to-date literature supporting the idea that bronchoconstriction may be the missing link in a comprehensive understanding of airway remodelling in asthma.
Overcoming the Challenges of Remote Instruction: Using Mobile Technology to Promote Active Learning

During the Spring 2020 semester, many institutions abruptly transitioned their courses from face-to-face instruction to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To address the unique challenges posed by the remote teaching and learning modality, our department used mobile technology to adapt empirically validated instructional strategies for use in our remote courses. At Merrimack College, all faculty and students have iPads and Apple Pencils, and the members of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have incorporated this mobile technology into all of our course offerings. Our continued use of this technology eased the transition for both faculty and students by promoting course continuity and decreasing the cognitive load imposed by the transition. Survey responses suggest that students appreciated the structure provided by scaffolded course materials and synchronous class meetings, which helped keep them engaged in their chemistry courses. Coupling active learning instruction with the Zoom video conferencing platform allowed students to connect with the instructor and other students; this was highly valued by our students. Overall, we can conclude that universal access to technology, creating community using videoconferencing software, and intentional pedagogical choices to incorporate active learning created a positive learning environment for students.
Building solidarity on the margins: Seeking SOGIE rights in ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) declares each person “entitled without discrimination to equal protection of the law”—but clarifies that “regional...
A Rare Presentation of Appendiceal Carcinoma.

Appendiceal cancer is a rare malignancy. Our patient presented initially to her primary care physician due to symptoms of lightheadedness and dizziness and was found to have severe anemia requiring hospital admission. She underwent a colonoscopy and was found to have mucosal ulceration in the appendiceal orifice. She underwent a biopsy of the ulceration, which was remarkable for moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient then underwent a right hemicolectomy. The usual presentation for appendiceal carcinoma is acute appendicitis; however, our patient presented with the microcytic anemia.
AC-Optimal Power Flow Solutions with Security Constraints from Deep Neural Network Models

Abstract In power grid operation, optimal power flow (OPF) problems are solved several times per day to find economically optimal generator setpoints that balance given load demands. Ideally, we seek an optimal solution that is also “N-1 secure”, meaning the system can absorb contingency events such as transmission line or generator failure without loss of service. Current practice is to solve the OPF problem and then check a subset of contingencies against heuristic values, resulting in, at best, suboptimal solutions. Unfortunately, online solution of the OPF problem including the full N-1 contingencies (i.e., two-stage stochastic programming formulation) is intractable for even modest sized electrical grids. To address this challenge, this work presents an efficient method to embed N-1 security constraints into the solution of the OPF by using Neural Network (NN) models to represent the security boundary. Our approach introduces a novel sampling technique, as well as a tuneable parameter to allow operators to balance the conservativeness of the security model within the OPF problem. Our results show that we are able to solve contingency formulations of larger size grids than reported in literature using non-linear programming (NLP) formulations with embedded NN models to local optimality. Solutions found with the NN constraint have marginally increased computational time but are more secure to contingency events.
The Macro Realities of Population Aging: Policy Trends Impacting Aging, Health and Mental Health in the Americas

The Americas are facing a set of demographic challenges arising from increases in longevity and population aging. The challenges range across topical areas, social concerns, and policy dilemmas—from income and retirement security to social networks and family support and to health, long-term care, and mental health needs. This volume examines the myriad issues affecting health and mental health in the Americas but with particular attention to bilateral implications for Mexico and the United States. As such, this volume contributes to our understanding of the many research, practice, clinical, and programmatic concerns for aging populations in both countries and, by extension, the aging of North, South, and Central America.
Using Steady-State Ultrasonic Direct-Part Measurements for Defect Detection in Additively Manufactured Metal Parts

With the increasing availability and implementation of additive manufacturing in a variety of safety-critical implementations, there is a demand for non-destructive in situ quality control processes that ensure part-to-part and build-to-build repeatability. Traditional destructive evaluation methods are not financially sustainable for most additive manufacturing applications due to the long build times and the expense of manufacturing parts specifically for destruction.
Hyaluronan heterogeneity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Primary tumors compared to sites of metastasis.

Abstract Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with poor survival. The dense desmoplastic stroma in PDAC contributes to treatment resistance. Among the components comprising the tumor stroma, hyaluronan (HA) has been demonstrated to play a critical role in tumor progression and survival. Previous preliminary studies have suggested differences in HA expression in primary and metastatic foci of PDAC. However, the effects of treatment and location of HA expression as a biomarker signature remain unknown; this study sought to compare HA expression in primary and metastatic sites of PDAC. Methods Tissue from primary and metastatic PDACs were obtained from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center along with associated clinical data. Tissue slides were stained for H&E, HA, and CD44. Associations between HA levels and the evaluated variables were examined including progression free survival and overall survival. Results HA score was significantly higher in primary PDACs compared to sites of metastases (p = 0.0148). Within the metastases, HA score was significantly higher in liver metastases compared to metastases at other sites (p = 0.0478). In the treatment-naive liver metastasis cohort, patients with HA high status had decreased progression free survival and overall survival compared to patients with HA low status (p = 0.0032 and p = 0.0478, respectively). Conclusions HA score is variable between primary PDAC, PDAC metastatic to the liver, and PDAC metastatic to other sites. Within liver metastases, patients with HA high status had decreased progression free survival and overall survival compared to patients with HA low status. HA levels can serve as a potential biomarker to guide pancreatic cancer treatments and trial design for agents targeting the stroma.
Enriching Conventional Ensemble Learner with Deep Contextual Semantics to Detect Fake News in Urdu

Increased connectivity has contributed greatly in facilitating rapid access to information and reliable communication. However, the uncontrolled information dissemination has also resulted in the s...
Recovery and Storage of Waste Heat

Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, tidal, geo-thermal and ocean thermal energy, represent diffuse energy sources like thermal effluents in industry. The necessity of supplementing renewable energy utilization by storage devices is well recognized, like in the article on Solar Energy Storage in Packed Beds presented by the author in this Volume. The present work describes combined waste heat recovery/energy storage systems to make the utilization of the diffuse thermal effluents efficient and economical.
Modulatory effects of the tumor suppressor p53 in T cell activation and function

Compelling evidence demonstrates that the tumor suppressor p53 plays important roles in regulating physiological functions, such as stem cell state, development, tissue homeostasis, inflammation, metabolism, and aging. Early immunological studies showed that p53 is rapidly activated upon TCR stimulation. Nevertheless, the mechanism that underlies the TCR-mediated p53 activation is unclear. Recently, we reported that p53 negatively regulates Th17 differentiation. Here, we further examined the function of p53 during non-polarizing T cell activation. Upon TCR stimulation (α-CD3+ α-CD28), especially under suboptimal conditions (low level of α-CD3), p53null T cells proliferated more aggressively with a higher effector function than their WT counterparts. To investigate the molecular mechanism by which p53 modulates T helper differentiation, we examined their gene expression via microarray. Among the 45,000 probe sets hybridized, 4025 genes within the Gene Ontology (GO) pathways of immune responses (innate immunity, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 pathways), DNA damage responses, Cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and survival showed significant differences (p