cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Silica-free syntheses of hierarchically ordered macroporous polymer and carbon monoliths with controllable mesoporosity

Hierarchically ordered macroporous polymer and carbon monoliths with walls containing face-centered cubic or 2D-hexagonal mesopores were synthesized via a facile dual-templating technique using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloidal crystals and amphiphilic triblock copolymer surfactants as templates. A nanocasting step using a silica mold was not required. The as-synthesized nanoporous structures contain both ordered macropores and mesopores, originating from the colloidal crystal and surfactants, respectively. The mesostructures could be conveniently controlled by tuning the concentration of the copolymer surfactant. Starting from the PMMA template, only four major processing stages (precursor infiltration, solvent removal, thermal curing and carbonization) were involved to prepare the bimodal porous carbon materials. A two-step thermal curing method was utilized to improve the robustness of the products. On the basis of nanoindentation measurements, the carbon products were mechanically more stable than hierarchically porous carbon monoliths synthesized by nanocasting, and the product with the cubic mesopore structure was even more stable than 3D-ordered macroporous carbon lacking any templated mesopores in the wall skeleton. Compared with conventional nanocasting strategies, the current method avoids the use of hazardous hydrofluoric acid that is required to remove a silica template, and therefore the synthetic procedure is more environmentally benign.
Effect of Different Kinds of Litter, Wire Floors and Dietary Antibiotic Supplements on the Growth and Feed Efficiency of Starting Turkeys

Abstract THE extent to which different kinds of floor litter affect the growth and feed efficiency of starting poults has not been investigated. It has been quite well established, however, that chicks and poults started on raised wire floors in battery brooders will show faster gains and better feed efficiency than birds started in floor pens with conventional litters. Data reported by Wisman et al. (1954), Morrison et al. (1954) and Nelson et al. (1960) very clearly support this fact. It is generally recognized that starting birds maintained in a “dirty” or an “old” environment will show greater response to antibiotics than similar birds maintained in a “clean” or “new” environment. Hill et al. (1953) reported that chick growth response to penicillin was earlier and much greater in old quarters than in the new quarters where chickens had not been previously confined. Lillie et al. (1953) reported data that were practically…
Estimating endogenous treatment effects in retrospective data analysis.

Treatment effect estimation is one of the mainstays of the field of outcomes research. It is, for example, a key component in analyzing the cost-effectiveness of a proposed qualitative intervention. Some outcomes researchers are hesitant to use retrospective data for treatment effect estimation because of the potential endogeneity of the treatment variable. This is unfortunate, given the abundance and other advantages of retrospective data. Others who have used retrospective data have ignored the endogeneity problem, or have not recognized its potential for causing bias in their estimates. In this paper, an econometric method that is unbiased in the presence of endogeneity and therefore broadens the potential for use of retrospective data in the estimation of treatment effects is proposed. This two-stage method is also designed to accommodate nonlinearity in the relationship between the treatment variable and the outcome. An easy to apply GAUSSTM implementation of the estimator is offered.
Implantable Defibrillators and Sudden Cardiac Death

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is among the most common causes of death in developed countries throughout the world. It is estimated that more than 3 million people die yearly from SCD, with a survival rate of less than 1%. In the United States, the Center for Disease Control recently estimated an annual incidence of 450 000 sudden deaths,1 with a survival rate of approximately 5%, although this probably is an overestimation. Although there has been a reduction in total cardiac mortality from 728 115 in 1989 to 719 456 in 1999, the percentage of deaths that are sudden has actually increased from 38% to 47%. The increase was greatest in women older than 65 years of age, from 56.3% to 63.9%. This has resulted primarily from an increase in out-of-hospital sudden deaths. There is a comparable incidence of SCD and survival rate in Western Europe.2 The magnitude of this problem can be understood by noting that SCD accounts for more deaths each year than the total number of deaths from AIDS, breast cancer, lung cancer, and stroke (Figure 1). Unfortunately, it is the first presentation of cardiac disease in 33% to 50% of patients and is 3 times as common in men than in women. Figure 1. Magnitude of the problem of sudden cardiac arrest. Coronary artery disease, with or without myocardial infarction, is by far the most common underlying disease for SCD in the western world, being responsible for approximately 75% of all SCDs.3,4 Cardiomyopathies (dilated and hypertrophic) and primary electrical heart disease account for most of the remainder. The two most important risk factors for SCD (ie, those with highest predictive value) are left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40% and clinical congestive heart failure.3,4 These are followed by significant ventricular arrhythmias (particularly …
Changes in dominant mixing length scales as a driver of subpolar phytoplankton bloom initiation in the North Atlantic

Subpolar phytoplankton blooms have traditionally been attributed to changes in the depth of the ocean's seasonal thermocline: as the upper ocean warms and stratifies in the spring, phytoplankton reside within increasingly shallow depths where they experience higher light levels, and, as a result, begin to bloom. Recent studies have challenged this explanation, proposing instead that bloom initiation is driven either by the onset of positive heat fluxes, decreases in wind strength, decreases in grazing pressure, or by eddy-induced stratification. We compare traditional and recent ideas of bloom initiation and present a new argument that attributes the initiation to a decrease in the dominant mixing length scales in the upper ocean. From an examination of data across the subpolar North Atlantic, we find that decreases in this length scale are a better predictor of bloom initiation than current theories, thus providing a new explanation of bloom dynamics in a one-dimensional framework.
Algebra of Observation

Birkof£-von Neumann's contention') that observational propositions in Quantum Mechanics do not obey the Boolean logic, but the modular logic was suggested by the structure of the Hilbert space, and only indirectly related to the nature of observation in physics. Husimi2 ) was the first to undertake the task of establishing directly experiment:J.l foundation of quantum logic. The present paper has the same aim as Husimi's early paper,') but adopts a different approach. A feature of the present paper is its methodology of extracting an algebraic structure from a pro­ babilistic structure. A concrete observational interpretation is given for the first time to the conjunction of two incompatible propositions. A side benefit of this work is clarification of the origin of the Booleanity of the ordinary logic, which has to be sought outside the implicational lattice.
Conserved linkage within a 4-cm region of mouse chromosome 9 and human chromosome 11

A six-point cross was carried out to determine the gene order and distances among loci on mouse chromosome 9. Our results are consistent with the following arrangement: centromere – Lap-1 – (1.2 ± 0.8) – Es-17 – (3.0 ± 1.0) – Ups – (1.3 ± 0.7) – Alp-1 – (23.1 ± 3.4) – Mod-1 – (10.9 ± 2.6) – Acy-1 . This study provides the first estimate of the distances between Es-17, Ups and Alp-1. Exceptions to the preferred association of alleles of Es-17 and Ups have been found in three feral populations and one inbred strain. Evidence is presented for the homology of this chromosome region with the ESA4 – UPS – APO-AI region on the long arm of human chromosome 11.
Speech Visualization based on Robust Self-organizing Map (RSOM) for the Hearing Impaired

This paper describes a novel speech visualization method that creates a readable pattern based on robust self-organizing map (RSOM). According to SOM, RSOM introduces a time enhanced mechanism to improve system performance. The method remedies the defect that SOM only provides spatial topographic map ignoring temporal factor which is extremely important for speech signal. Firstly, speech signal undergoes a series of preprocessing course. Secondly, we make use of RSOM decreasing the dimension of speech feature vector. Finally, we utilize plot display algorithm to generate a speech plot. The speech feature after dimension decreasing by RSOM is displayed on the CRT by plot patterns and the deaf can utilize their own brain to identify different speech for training their oral ability effectively.
Visualizing the execution of High Performance Fortran (HPF) programs

Although the data placement programming model frees programmers from writing low level communication code, it also makes it harder for them to anticipate the performance of the code they write. In particular, the communication that is required by a given data distribution, and its impact on performance, may not be obvious from the program source. Many existing performance visualization systems could be used in attempts to investigate the performance of data placement programs; however, no published system would provide views that relate communication activity to the abstraction that is the primary focus of data placement programming: data distribution. The paper introduces new high level views of HPF program behavior that show communication activity in the context of the array distribution from which the compiler derived the communication. With these views, programmers can see not only when and where communication takes place, but also what subarrays are moving between which processors by virtue of the communication. These views provide programmers with feedback in terms of the programming model-the programmers' frame of reference. The programming model as the level programmers most readily comprehend, and it is the level at which they must improve program performance by altering data distribution. Thus, these views provide a basis for effective tuning of data placement programs. >
Nerve-Sparing Therapy with Oncolytic Herpes Virus for Cancers with Neural Invasion

Purpose: The invasion of cancer cells along nerves is an ominous pathologic finding associated with poor outcomes for a variety of tumors, including pancreatic and head and neck carcinomas. Peripheral nerves may serve as a conduit for these cancers to track into the central nervous system. Cancer progression within nerves and surgical resection of infiltrated nerves result in a permanent loss of neural function, potentially causing cosmetic and functional morbidity. Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) have utility for gene transfer into nerves and as oncolytic agents. We studied the use of an attenuated HSV, NV1023, as treatment for cancers with neural invasion. Experimental Design and Results: NV1023 injection into the sciatic nerves of nude mice had no toxic effect on nerve function, whereas similar doses of wild-type HSV-1 (F′ strain) caused complete nerve paralysis within 4 days and 100% mortality at day 6. NV1023 showed effective cytotoxicity in vitro on three neurotrophic human carcinoma cell lines, including pancreatic (MiaPaCa2), squamous cell (QLL2), and adenoid cystic (ACC3) carcinomas. A model of neural invasion was established by implanting human carcinoma cells in the sciatic nerves of nude mice. All control group mice developed left hind limb paralysis 5 to 7 weeks after tumor injection, whereas animals treated with NV1023 maintained intact nerve function and showed significant tumor regression ( P Conclusions: These results show that NV1023 oncolytic therapy may effectively treat cancers with neural invasion and preserve neural function. These findings hold significant clinical implications for patients with cancer neural invasion.
Online Advising Pilot at the Community College of Vermont

ABSTRACT/KEYWORDS As more colleges add online courses and fully online programs, the need to offer online supports to students becomes more apparent. The connection to an adviser is critical for all students, but for online students it can serve as their primary connection to the institution (Lorenzetti, 2004). In Fall 2011 a pilot study was conducted at the Community College of Vermont (CCV) to examine online advising through a Moodle course site. Although this pilot study represented a small online advising cohort, 56 of the total 155 online students, it illustrates implications for practice and research. The advising cohort showed a slightly higher retention rate than the overall online population. Based on survey results students reported a strong desire for an adviser who stays with them throughout their educational career at the college. In Fall 2012, CCV institutionalized online advising and began a systematic approach to assisting online students. Five advisors added online students to their work assignments and all CCV advisors were informed of what services CCV would be offering online. When students applied to CCV and selected online (ONL) as a home location, they were contacted via email with an explanation of the online services available to them so that students could make a more informed decision about their home location. In Fall 2012, 286 students selected ONL as their home location and were contacted by staff , 256 students chose to remain online. Keywords: online, advising, community college
Stimulation of pituitary prolactin and TSH release in lactating and proestrous rats

Plasma prolactin and TSH concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in lactating rats after exposure to ether fumes, suckling, treatment with nicotine or injection of synthetic TRH. Both 100 ng and 100 μg of TRH caused a significant elevation in plasma prolactin within 2 min after injection. Prolactin remained elevated for 30 min after administration of 100 μg. The response seen after injection of 100 ng of TRH was similar to the rise in plasma prolactin seen after treatment with nicotine or exposure toether. However, neither nicotine nor ether fumes caused an increase in plasma TSH. Suckling caused a marked increase in circulating levels of both prolactin and TSH but the rise in plasma prolactin preceded the rise in plasma TSH by more than 5 min. In contrast, TRH caused a rapid (within 2 min) in crease in circulating prolactin and TSH. Neither nicotine nor ether altered TSH release in response to TRH and nicotine did not block the rise in plasma prolactin after TRH. In cycling rats, plasma prolacti...
Late-onset Schizophrenia: An Overview

Onset of schizophrenia after the age of 40 has been a controversial topic. We reviewed more than 30 publications (mainly from Europe) on this subject. Many of the studies had methodological shortcomings, including problems in precisely dating the onset of schizophrenia. Nonetheless, it appears that a certain proportion of patients present for the first time with diagnosable schizophrenia after age 40. Late-onset schizophrenia is characterized by paranoid symptomatology, a high female:male ratio, an elevated prevalence of hearing loss and ocular pathology, schizoid or paranoid traits in premorbid personality, a tendency toward chronicity, and symptomatic improvement with neuroleptics. Family studies suggest that the prevalence of schizophrenia in relatives of late-onset schizophrenic probands is higher than that in the general population, but lower than that in relatives of earlier-onset schizophrenic probands. We believe that late-onset schizophrenia is a valid entity (or group of entities). Studies of the course, biological associations, neuropsychological performance, and pharmacological characterization of late-onset schizophrenia are warranted.
Dissolution Testing for Generic Drugs: An FDA Perspective

In vitro dissolution testing is an important tool used for development and approval of generic dosage forms. The objective of this article is to summarize how dissolution testing is used for the approval of safe and effective generic drug products in the United States (US). Dissolution testing is routinely used for stability and quality control purposes for both oral and non-oral dosage forms. The dissolution method should be developed using an appropriate validated method depending on the dosage form. There are several ways in which dissolution testing plays a pivotal role in regulatory decision-making. It may be used to waive in vivo bioequivalence (BE) study requirements, as BE documentation for Scale Up and Post Approval Changes (SUPAC), and to predict the potential for a modified-release (MR) drug product to dose-dump if co-administered with alcoholic beverages. Thus, in vitro dissolution testing plays a major role in FDA’s efforts to reduce the regulatory burden and unnecessary human studies in generic drug development without sacrificing the quality of the drug products.
Ubiquitous RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and gene silencing

The discovery of a novel RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity with a eukaryote-wide distribution raises new questions about the roles and mechanisms of gene silencing by small RNAs.
Hypoxic regulation of endothelial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is induced by hypoxia in endothelial cells (EC). To define the mechanisms by which GAPDH is regulated by hypoxia, EC were expo...
An external focus of attention is a conditio sine qua non for athletes: a response to Carson, Collins, and Toner (2015)

ABSTRACTIn this invited response to a Letter to the Editor by Carson, Collins, and Toner (2015), I comment on various issues raised by the authors. I highlight the broad range of tasks and dependent measures used in studies comparing the effectiveness of external versus internal foci of attention. These studies – many of which involved sport skills – have consistently found performance or learning benefits when an external focus was adopted. There is no convincing evidence that performers’ preferences, or their familiarity with a certain focus, have a moderating effect. Anecdotal evidence reported by coaches who have compared the two types of foci is consistent with research findings. An external focus presumably promotes functional connectivity and contributes to goal-action coupling.
Synergy between Galvanic Protection and Self-Healing Paints.

Painting is a cost-effective technique to delay the onset of corrosion in metals. However, the protection is only temporary, as corrosion begins once the coating becomes scratched. Thus, an increasingly common practice is to add microencapsulated chemical agents to paint in order to confer self-healing capabilities. The additive’s ability to protect the exposed surface from corrosion depends upon (i) how long the chemical agent takes to spread across the exposed metal; (ii) how long the agent takes to form an effective barrier layer; and (iii) what happens to the metal surface before the first two steps are complete. To understand this process, we first synthesized 23 ± 10 μm polyurea microcapsules filled with octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTS), a liquid self-healing agent, and added them to a primer rich in zinc, a cathodic protection agent. In response to coating damage, the microcapsules release OTS into the scratch and initiate the self-healing process. By combining electrochemical impedance spectroscopy...
Wild-type p53 protein is unable to activate the mdm-2 gene during F9 cell differentiation.

In this study, we set out to assess whether the p53 protein affects mdm-2 gene expression as F9 embryonal carcinoma cells differentiate into parietal endoderm cells. It was previously reported that F9 cells possess abundant levels of wild-type p53 and upon induction to differentiate, p53 mRNA and protein levels decrease (Oren et al., 1982; Dony et al., 1985). We demonstrate that while p53 mRNA and protein levels decrease as F9 cells differentiate, mdm-2 mRNA and protein expression remains constitutive. Using RNA primer extension assays, we determined that the mdm-2 mRNA expression is not directed by p53 in either F9 embryonal (undifferentiated) or parietal endoderm (differentiated) cells. However, p53 protein does stimulate mdm-2 mRNA expression in response to u.v. irradiation. The inability of p53 to transactivate mdm-2 in undamaged F9 cells was not the result of latent pools as p53 sequence specific DNA binding activity was observed using electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Our results suggest that, in F9 cells, the p53:Mdm-2 autoregulatory loop is confined to pathways governing DNA damage.
Sleep in Amphibians and Reptiles

Resting states have been identified in amphibians (frogs and toads) and reptiles (lizards, tortoises, and turtles). Resting states in some of these species satisfy behavioral criteria for sleep (an increase in arousal thresholds, stereotyped sleep postures and quiescence, rapid reversibility, homeostatic regulation). They are not accompanied by the neocortical patterns of activation typical of birds and mammals. Moreover, there is no evidence of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in amphibians and the presence of REM sleep in reptiles is controversial. The neurobiological mechanisms governing sleep in amphibians and reptiles are also poorly defined.
An analysis of the ENERGY STAR® program in Alachua County, Florida

Abstract ENERGY STAR® certification, as a voluntary label, represents a residence that is designed and built to use 30% less energy than its counterparts. We examine the effectiveness of this program using monthly residential energy consumption data for residences in Alachua County, Florida between 2000 and 2013. Our sample represents about 25% of the ENERGY STAR® qualified homes in the area. We use panel models and a modified repeat sales approach to estimate energy savings of ENERGY STAR® residences relative to Non-ENERGY STAR® ones, while controlling for the bundle of house attributes, spatial and temporal fixed effects, changes in the Florida State Building Code (FBC), and household changes. Our results indicate that ENERGY STAR® residences have a long term, greater energy efficiency savings over Non-ENERGY STAR® houses. Thus, the ENERGY STAR® residential program can be seen as an environmentally conscious housing practice that addresses economic and environmental dimensions.
AN EXAMINATION OF CLUSTER AND NON-CLUSTER FIRMS’ KNOWLEDGE-BASED ACTIVITIES

This study puts forth the following research questions: (i) Are there any differences between remotes’ and co-locates’ knowledge portfolios, and (ii) if so, are these differences significant? We contend that significant differences occur in how remotes configure their knowledge activities. To search for possible differences, we examined three sources of knowledge-based activities that are associated with remotes and co-locates: university collaborations and innovative activities such as patenting and scanning. Using survey data from a study of 197 U.S. biotechnology firms, this study found that remotes and co-locates have similar portfolio diversity, but remotes sponsor more faculty research, have a lower patent efficiency rate, and do not scan as frequently as co-located firms.
A Review of Chikungunya Virus-induced Arthralgia: Clinical Manifestations, Therapeutics, and Pathogenesis.

Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus that circulates predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions, potentially affecting over 1 billion people. Recently, an outbreak began in the western hemisphere and has resulted in over 1.8 million reported suspected cases. Infection often results in severe fever, rash and debilitating polyarthralgia lasting weeks to months. Additionally, the current literature reports that CHIKV can result in a severe chronic arthralgia and/or arthritis that can last months to years following the initial infection. Objective The purpose of this review is to evaluate the literature and summarize the current state of knowledge regarding CHIKV-associated disease, including clinical presentation, diagnosis, risk factors for development of severe disease, treatment, and pathogenesis in human patients. Additionally, recommendations are presented regarding avenues for clinical research to help further elucidate the pathogenesis of joint disease associated with CHIKV infection. Conclusion While there is an association between initial CHIKV infection and acute disease, a causal relationship with development of chronic arthralgia has not been established at this time. Potential causes of chronic CHIKV-induced arthritis have been postulated, including viral persistence, induction of autoimmune disease, and exacerbation of pre-existing joint disease. While there are numerous reports of chronic CHIKV-associated arthralgia and/or arthritis, there is currently no evidence of a definitive link between initial infection and development of chronic disease. Additional, prospective clinical research on CHIKV-associated disease is necessary to further determine the potential role of virus and development of chronic joint disease.
The BEPS Effect: New International Tax Rules Could Kill US Jobs

It is now the middle of 2015, and the broad outlines of the new BEPS principles are becoming clear. This paper examines these new principles, as laid out by the BEPS project, and analyzes their likely impact on tax revenues and jobs. We find that unless Congress and the Obama Administration act quickly to reform the U.S. corporate tax system, the BEPS principles give multinationals a very strong incentive to move high-paying creative and research jobs from the United States to Europe.
Fully integrated CMOS X-Band power amplifier quad with current reuse and dynamic digital feedback (DDF) capabilities

A 10GHz fully-integrated stacked PA quad with dynamic digital feedback and control loops provides total output power of 200mW at 37% PAE. It utilizes data provided by multiple on-chip sensors to maintain safe operating conditions and regulate the individual power PA power supply voltages and independent power control for each PA. This digitally controlled stacked PA quad with on-chip matching allows higher operation voltages while maintaining current consumption constant, leading to higher overall system efficiency, as ohmic drop losses under large supply-to-breakdown voltage ratios are reduced.
O1-05-05

Background: It is important to predict cognitive decline in elderly individuals who may be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective: To determine the regional patterns of gray and white matter change and metabolic changes in the brain that best predict cognitive decline. Methods: Sixty-two non-demented subjects (74.0 8.5 years old) were assessed with the Mini-mental status exam (MMSE) and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) at baseline and follow-up 1.1 0.2 years later. Of the 62 subjects, 48 scored below (impaired) and 14 scored at or above (controls) the ageand education-adjusted norms on the CVLT. Predictors were structural and diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and single voxel H MRS imaging at baseline and 6 months later. The outcome measure was the 1-year change in a memory composite score derived from immediate recall trials 1-4 of the CVLT. Results: Stepwise linear regression models were used to determine the relationship between baseline MMSE scores and demographic information with subsequent cognitive decline. These models revealed group status (i.e., control vs. impaired; r 0.11, p 0.008) and educational level (r 0.11, p 0.02) to be significant predictors of decline. Imaging variables were then added to the models to determine the predictive “added value” of volumetric MRI, DTI and MRS imaging to cognitive testing. In one model, left temporal white matter (WM) volume (r 0.13, p 0.007), group status (r 0.22, p 0.002), and baseline MMSE (r 0.27, p 0.049) were significant predictors of cognitive decline. Another model revealed fractional anisotopry (FA) of the right posterior cingulum (r 0.21, p 0.007) and sex (r 0.39, p 0.02) to be significant predictors decline. A third model showed change in N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio (r 0.27, p 0.0001) and educational level (r 0.40, p 0. 02) to be significant predictors of decline. Conclusions: Together these results suggest that temporal WM volume, posterior cingulum FA, and change in the posterior cingulate NAA/Cr ratio may add predictive value to neuropsychological testing for predicting cognitive decline.
Home-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services for gay and bisexual men: An opportunity to address barriers to PrEP uptake and persistence

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Despite the promise of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in reducing HIV transmission risk, barriers for uptake and persistence exist. We sought to identify whether GBM in a nationwide cohort who have not yet initiated PrEP (n = 906) would prefer to get PrEP-related care from a primary care provider (PCP) compared to a specialist clinic or provider. We then sought to identify their level of interest and factors associated with preference for using home-based PrEP services (i.e., HB-PrEP), defined to participants as conducting HIV/STI self-testing from home with PrEP prescription mailing after an initial in-person clinic visit. We examined the associations of demographics, sexual HIV transmission risk, concern about frequent medical checkups associated with PrEP, health care access, and PrEP intentions with preferences for healthcare provider type and HB-PrEP. Concern about frequent medical checkups were associated with preferring a PCP for PrEP-related care, but men who perceived a barrier to bringing up the topic of PrEP with a doctor preferred a specialist clinic or provider more than a PCP. HB-PrEP was more appealing for younger men and those engaged in sexual HIV transmission risk, suggesting HB-PrEP could help reach GBM most vulnerable to HIV and in need of PrEP. HB-PrEP expansion has potential to increase PrEP uptake and persistence among GBM, particularly for men with barriers to clinic-based care and higher intentions to initiate PrEP. Clinical guidelines regarding HB-PrEP are needed to expand its use.
Miltefosine inhibits Chikungunya virus replication in human primary dermal fibroblasts.

Background : Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging pathogen that has caused widespread outbreaks affecting millions of people around the globe. Currently, there is no specific therapeutic drug against CHIKV, with symptomatic treatment only to manage the disease. Pi3-akt signaling has been implicated in infection of several viruses including that of CHIKV. Effect of Pi3-akt signaling inhibitors on CHIKV replication was evaluated in this study. Methods : Human primary dermal fibroblast cells were treated with inhibitors of the Pi3-akt signaling pathway. Suppression of CHIKV replication was evaluated as reduction in virus titer in cell supernatants. Effect of miltefosine (MF) on CHIKV replication was evaluated in pre and post treatment regimen. Inhibition of virus replication was determined by cell growth, virus titer and western blot. Results : Inhibition of Akt-phosphorylation significantly inhibited CHIKV replication. No effect on CHIKV replication was observed after treatment with Pi3-kinase and mTOR activation inhibitors. Further, MF, an FDA-approved Akt-inhibitor, inhibited CHIKV replication in pre- and post-infection treatment regimens. Conclusion : Data suggests that Akt-phosphorylation can be an amenable target of therapy against CHIKV infection. This is the first study to show inhibition of CHIKV replication by MF, and presents a case for further development of MF as an anti-CHIKV drug.
The evolving understanding of immunoediting and the clinical impact of immune escape.

The role of the immune system in cancer development has long been considered and studied. One of the originators of the theory of immune system involvement in cancer was Paul Ehrlich who postulated that the immune system can suppress the growth of tumor cells (1). Decades of work trying to verify this hypothesis followed and in the 1950s Burnet and Thomas each contributed to the theory that is now referred to as immunosurveillance (2,3). Essentially, the immune system functions as a sentinel to monitor the body for tumor specific neo-antigens. Once detected, the host immune system then targets nascent cancer cells for destruction.
On the Determinants of Transaction Frequency of Institutional Commercial Timberland Properties in the United States

Using property-level data (1987Q1–2015Q4) from the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries, this study examines the determinants of transaction frequency of institutional commercial timberland properties in the United States. Controlling for both macro- and microlevel factors in a logit regression, the overall financial return of the timberland market, the discrepancy between anticipated sale price and last appraisal value, the superior performance of individual timberland properties over the market average, and geographic locations are found to significantly influence timberland transaction frequency. Aggregate market outlook and growth rate of the national economy are also found to have material impacts on the likelihood of timberland sales.
Martin Camper, Arguing Over Texts: The Rhetoric of Interpretation. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2017. 208 pp. $74 (cloth), $72 (eBook).

The University of Oxford Press has recently published two books on rhetoric, Michel Meyer’s (Chaim Perelman’s successor at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles) What is Rhetoric and Martin Camper’s Ar...
Paddling Against the Tide: Contemporary Challenges in Field Education

In casual conversations among social work field and teaching faculty, topics seem to consistently default to its many challenges. From unprofessional behavior to lack of readiness to unrealistic expectations for placements to poor fit and lack of availability of quality placements, explanations range from the internet, the economy, an over-taxed voluntary workforce of field supervisors, and overextended programs and agencies. This paper seeks to shed light on some of these “water cooler” conversations and examines the truth (and consequences) of these assumptions via an exploration of data and literature, an analysis of recent articles in the Field Educator journal, and the musings of two directors (one field and one program) regarding our ethical obligations to our students and the profession at large. During a 6-year period, articles in the Field Educator clustered around the following topics: field pedagogy/field instructors, innovative approaches to finding/expanding field placements, evaluation and assessment of field, issues in field/gatekeeping, student preparedness and culture/diversity. With social work programs growing at a fast rate and field site agencies often grappling with tightening budgets and an overtaxed workforce, what should social work education be doing to ensure that we are attending to multiple competing factors that have an impact on our pursuit of providing high quality experiences for our students and communities? This paper provides some food for thought, and encourages continued conversation as our profession and our educational programs evolve.
Neutron-proton pairing and double-beta decay in algebraic models

Nuclear models based on Lie algebras provide insight into collective phenomena. Here neutron-proton pairing, which plays an important role in double beta decay, is discussed in two such models, one based on SO(5) and the second on SO(8). The latter model is used to test the accuracy of the Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation and improvements to it.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEANING IN VIOLENCE AND NONVIOLENCE

ABSTRACT This paper takes a systemic approach to explore violence and nonviolence in the context of their meaning to the participants. It reviews the importance of meaning in human behavior generally and relates this model to interpretations of violence and nonviolence. It explores the ways meaning systems serve to define the same behaviors as violence in one context and not in another, and how the effectiveness of nonviolence is diminished by lack of attention to interpretations and subjective reality. It suggests that the symbolic interactionist model as a paradigm is systemically consistent with promoting nonviolence.
The Association between Soft Drink Consumption and Body Fat in Females Age 16 to 24.

American soft drink consumption (SDC) has increased since the 1960’s surpassing all other kinds of beverage consumption. In recent years, the scientific literature has suggested that SDC has been linked to the rising epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents. However, there is lack of information in scientific literature on the effects of SDC on body fat (BF%) in young females. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between SDC and BF% in young women, ages 16–24 years. Sixty-six females were asked to complete a 3-day food record, food frequency questionnaire, and an assessment BF% by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Overall, participants consumed 29.44 ± 44.68 fl oz/day of soft drinks. There were significant positive associations between SDC and BF% (r = 0.24, p < 0.05). Due to the large standard deviation in SDC, secondary analysis compared moderate SDC (MSDC: < 32 fl oz/day) to high SDC (HSDC: ≥ 32 fl oz/day). Results suggested HSCD had significantly greater BF% than MSDC. Therefore, limiting the consumption of soft drinks is suggested in order to maintain a healthy BF%.
Formalization Within the Logic

This chapter presents the recursive definitions to illustrate the use of the logic as a programming language. It is not necessary to be able to prove theorems to formalize problems. It is necessary to have a clear understanding of what formulas in the logic mean—a topic that is often illuminated by the axioms and rules of inference. The chapter presents the formal statement of some familiar mathematical relationship such as associativity, transitivity, etc. It also discusses two commonly occurring formalization problems: nondeterminism and language semantics. It should be noted that the logic can be used to address program correctness problems without necessarily formalizing the language semantics in the logic. A verification condition generator is a program that takes two inputs, a program, and a specification, and generates formulas called verification conditions, that if theorems establish that the program satisfies its specification. The language semantics are embedded in the vcg program, and the logic is used simply to express specifications and the verification conditions.
Synthetic exceptional points and unidirectional zero reflection in non-Hermitian acoustic systems

Exceptional points (EPs) are responsible for a number of interesting phenomena in non-Hermitian wave systems. Here we show, both theoretically and experimentally, that EPs can be synthesized in non-Hermitian acoustic systems with unbalanced loss factors in different sections. Numerical simulations and measurements confirm that unidirectional zero reflection, one of the hallmarks of EPs, can be realized in such a compact system with controlled Willis coupling and loss. When approached from one direction in the parameter space, the material slab mimics a conventional parity-time (PT) symmetric system. Our findings provide an efficient way for advanced engineering of scattering properties of artificial acoustic materials with EP-related physics.
Influence of temperature on the efficacy of foliar insecticide sprays against sugarcane aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) populations in grain sorghum.

The use of foliar insecticide sprays at low temperatures may result in decreased efficacy in grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. Moench, for control of sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner). Sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone were evaluated to determine the impact of temperature on their efficacy against sugarcane aphid in grain sorghum. Sorghum was treated at the soft dough growth stage with sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone, as well as an untreated check. Leaf discs were pulled at various intervals from 0 to 10 d after treatment, placed in water agar plates, infested with aphids, placed in growth chambers at 15.5°C or 29.4°C, and evaluated 48 h after each interval. In 2015, both insecticides resulted in similar levels of sugarcane aphid mortality and efficacy decreased at a similar rate at 15.5°C. At 29.0°C, flupyradifurone resulted in greater mortality of sugarcane aphid than sulfoxaflor as length of time after treatment increased, suggesting that it provides longer residual control than sulfoxaflor. In 2016, both insecticides provided poor control of sugarcane aphid at 15.5°C for all time intervals. At 29.0°C, flupyradifurone provided overall better control than sulfoxaflor. These data suggest that lower temperatures can reduce the efficacy of both sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone. In addition, flupyradifurone appeared to provide longer residual control and overall better control of sugarcane aphid than sulfoxaflor. If lower temperatures occur when sugarcane aphid populations exceed current thresholds, weather forecast should be considered in pest management decision-making process.
Complex Logic Functions from Simple Gates—Part 1

In addition to the simple AND, NAND, OR, and nor gates you are now familiar with, there are several other similar functions which can easily be generated by the proper combination and sequence of the AND, NAND, etc., gates.
Nationality, Gender, and Deployments at the Local Level: Introducing the RADPKO Dataset

This paper introduces the Robust Africa Deployments of Peacekeeping Operations (RADPKO) dataset, a new dataset of geocoded United Nations peacekeeping deployments. Drawing upon primary documents so...
Using Remote Sensing for Modeling and Monitoring Species Distributions

Interpolated climate surfaces have been widely used to predict species distributions and develop environmental niche models. However, the spatial coverage and density of meteorological sites used to develop these surfaces vary among countries and regions, such that the most biodiverse regions often have the most sparsely sampled climatic data. We explore the potential of satellite remote sensing (S-RS) products—which have consistently high spatial and temporal resolution and nearly global coverage—to quantify species-environment relationships that predict species distributions. We propose several new environmental metrics that take advantage of high temporal resolution in S-RS data and compare these approaches to classic climate-only approaches using the live oaks (Quercus section Virentes) as a case study. We show that models perform similarly but for some species, particularly in understudied regions, show less precision in predicting spatial distribution. These results provide evidence supporting efforts to enhance environmental niche models and species distribution models (ENMs/SDMs) with S-RS data and, when combined with other approaches for species detection, will likely enhance our ability to monitor biodiversity globally.
Topical nasal treatment efficacy on adult obstructive sleep apnea severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Nasal obstruction is a common complaint in patients with sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although topical nasal treatments (TNTs) have been shown to reduce nasal resistance and improve nasal obstruction, there is conflicting evidence regarding the role of TNTs in adult OSA. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we aim to evaluate the role of TNTs in adults with OSA. Data sources used included PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central, from January 2001 to July 2019. Methods Inclusion criteria were English-language studies containing original data on TNTs in adults (≥18 years) with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥5). Exclusion criteria were case reports, studies without outcome measures, and concurrent non-TNT treatment for OSA. Two investigators independently reviewed all articles and performed quality assessment using validated tools. Meta-analysis and quality assessment were performed. Results Of the 2180 abstracts identified, 8 studies met inclusion criteria. TNTs included decongestants (4 of 8 studies), corticosteroids (3 of 8), and antihistamines (1 of 8). Outcome measures included AHI (8 of 8), respiratory distress index (RDI; 1 of 8), oxygen-desaturation index (ODI; 3 of 8), minimum SaO2 (MinSaO2 ; 4 of 8), nasal resistance (4 of 8), endoscopic sinus surgery (4 of 8 studies) and standardized rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire scores (1 of 8 studies). Qualitatively, all studies showed trends toward improving objective and subjective measures of OSA, although the significance of these improvements varied across studies. A meta-analysis was performed in 5 studies, but TNTs did not reveal a significant change in AHI (p > 0.05). Conclusion TNTs may improve minimum oxygen saturation, ODI, RDI, and subjective/quality-of-life measures. Allergic patients may have more improvement in OSA measures compared with nonallergic patients. Future studies are indicated to accurately determine the efficacy of TNTs.
Separation of aflatoxin-contaminated kernels from sound kernels by hydrogen peroxide treatment

Blends (0:1, 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1, wt/wt) of aflatoxin-contaminated and sound peanut kernels were submerged for 1, 2, and 3 min in various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide solution. The effectiveness of these treatments in separating aflatoxin-contaminated kernels from sound kernels was determined. Peanuts that floated (floaters) and those that did not (sinkers) were subjected to aflatoxin analysis. Second order polynomial equations were satisfactorily fitted to the experimental data. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 0.075, 0.150, and 0.25% resulted in a reduction in aflatoxin content in the kernels in the sinker fraction by 90% within 1 min, regardless of the initial aflatoxin content. The total aflatoxin content in sinker and floater fractions was approximately the same as that in unfractionated samples, indicating that the low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in treatment solutions did not degrade aflatoxin. Response surface methodology was used to generate contour plots which revealed optimum treatment conditions for giving a maximum yield of the sinker fraction with low aflatoxin content. For peanuts containing 50 ppb aflatoxin, optimum conditions consist of a 0.08% hydrogen peroxide treatment for 0.7 min. This procedure results in a maximum sinker fraction yield of 85.5% of the original lot with a residual aflatoxin content of ≤5 ppb.