cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Phospholipase Cγ1 Tyrosine Phosphorylation During Phasic Myometrial Contractions

Objective Phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) is expressed in myometrium and is activated by tyrosine phosphorylation. These studies sought to determine the association between PLCγ1 tyrosine phosphorylation and spontaneous uterine contractions. Study design In vitro contraction studies were performed with spontaneously contracting rat uterine strips along with strips that were treated with potassium bisperoxo(1,10 phenanthroline)oxovanadate (bpV(phen), a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. Additional studies were performed with phenylarsine oxide (a PLCγ inhibitor) and other inhibitors. Western blots were performed to determine the phosphotyrosine PLCγ1 levels. Results Spontaneous contractile activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCγ1 (but not PLCγ2) were increased significantly in response to bpV(phen); in contrast, oxytocin and thrombin produced comparable contractile activity but did not alter phosphotyrosine-PLCγ1. Phenylarsine oxide and neomycin significantly decrease bpV(phen)-stimulated contractions and PLCγ1 tyrosine phosphorylation; other inhibitors only suppressed contractions. Conclusion These studies support the hypothesis that spontaneous myometrial contractions are associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCγ1; both of which are further enhanced by the inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity.
Towards rational design of multifunctional theranostic nanoparticles: what barriers do we need to overcome?

“With diagnosis and therapy combined onto a single platform, theranostics enables real-time monitoring of the status of disease treatment and allows for timely adjustment of type and dose of drugs, paving the way towards personalized medicine.”
Parallel Randomized State-Space Search

Model checkers search the space of possible program behaviors to detect errors and to demonstrate their absence. Despite major advances in reduction and optimization techniques, state-space search can still become cost-prohibitive as program size and complexity increase. In this paper, we present a technique for dramatically improving the cost- effectiveness of state-space search techniques for error detection using parallelism. Our approach can be composed with all of the reduction and optimization techniques we are aware of to amplify their benefits. It was developed based on insights gained from performing a large empirical study of the cost-effectiveness of randomization techniques in state-space analysis. We explain those insights and our technique, and then show through a focused empirical study that our technique speeds up analysis by factors ranging from 2 to over 1000 as compared to traditional modes of state-space search, and does so with relatively small numbers of parallel processors.
Clinical Implications of Tolerance to Alcohol in Nondependent Young Drinkers

Background: Ten percent of teenagers and young adults with no alcohol diagnosis and a third of those with alcohol abuse report tolerance to alcohol. However, relatively few data are available on the clinical implications of tolerance in nondependent men and women. Methods: Data were gathered from 649 18-to-22-year-old drinking offspring from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) families. The prevalence and clinical correlates of tolerance were evaluated across subjects with no DSM-IV alcohol abuse and no tolerance, similar individuals with tolerance, subjects with alcohol abuse but no tolerance, and individuals with both alcohol abuse and tolerance. Results: Tolerance was associated with an almost doubling of the number of drinks needed to feel alcohol's effects, and correlated with additional alcohol-related problems. In regression analyses, the most consistent and robust correlates of tolerance were the maximum number of drinks and alcohol problems, and tolerance remained informative after covarying for drinking quantity. Conclusions: Tolerance to alcohol may be a useful concept regarding nondependent drinkers that is not just a proxy for alcohol quantity but also reflects the presence of additional problems.
An Improved Method for The Preparation Of The Phosphoramidites Of Modified 2′-Deoxynucleotides: Incorporation Of 8-Oxo-2′-Deoxy-7H-Guanosine Into Synthetic Oligomers

Abstract 3′ -O-(Diisopropylamino-2-cyanoethoxyphosphinyl)-5′ -0-(4, 4′ -dimethoxytrityl)-N2-isobutyryl-8-oxo-2′-deoxy-7H-guanosine was synthesized and used for the introduction of an 8−0×0−2′-deoxy-7H-guanosine residue into a DNA oligomer by means of automated synthesis. A modification of the preparation of the phosphoramidite markedly improves the coupling efficiency in the oligomer synthesis in this and several other cases that were tested.
Monte Carlo simulation in establishing analytical quality requirements for clinical laboratory tests meeting clinical needs.

Abstract Introduction. Patient outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality, depend on accurate laboratory test results. Computer simulation of the effects of test performance parameters on outcome measures may represent a valuable approach to defining the quality of assay performance that is needed to provide optimal outcomes. Methods. We carried out computer simulations of patients on intensive insulin treatment to determine the effects of glucose meter imprecision and bias on (1) the frequencies of glucose concentrations >160 mg/dL; (2) the frequencies of hypoglycemia ( Results. For both insulin regimens: Mean glucose was inversely related to assay bias; glucose variability increased with negative assay bias and assay imprecision; frequencies of glucose concentrations >160 mg/dL increased with negative assay bias and assay imprecision; and frequencies of hypoglycemia increased with positive assay bias and assay imprecision. Nevertheless, each regimen displayed unique sensitivity to variations in meter imprecision and bias. Conclusions. Errors in glucose measurement exert important regimen-dependent effects on glucose control in intensive IV insulin administration. The results of this proof-of-principle study suggest that simulation of the clinical effects of measurement error is an attractive approach for assessment of assay performance requirements.
A reduced-dimension fMRI shared response model

Multi-subject fMRI data is critical for evaluating the generality and validity of findings across subjects, and its effective utilization helps improve analysis sensitivity. We develop a shared response model for aggregating multi-subject fMRI data that accounts for different functional topographies among anatomically aligned datasets. Our model demonstrates improved sensitivity in identifying a shared response for a variety of datasets and anatomical brain regions of interest. Furthermore, by removing the identified shared response, it allows improved detection of group differences. The ability to identify what is shared and what is not shared opens the model to a wide range of multi-subject fMRI studies.
The Fascination of Infinite Series

A series is obtained from a sequence by adding up its terms one by one. From a finite sequence a1, a2, a3, …, a n we obtain the finite series, or sum, a1 + a2 + a3 + …, + a n . But for an infinite sequence a1, a2, a3, …, a n , …, a problem arises: How should we compute its sum? We cannot, of course, actually add up all its infinitely many terms; but we can, instead, sum up a finite, but ever increasing, number of terms: a1, a1 + a2, a1 + a2 + a3, and so on. In this way we obtain a new sequence, the sequence of partial sums of the original sequence. For example, from the sequence 1, 1/2, 1/3, …, 1/n, … we get the sequence of partial sums 1, 1 + 1/2 = 1.5, 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 = 1.83333 …, and so on. If this sequence of partial sums converges to a limit S, then we say that the infinite series a1 + a2 + a3 + … converges to the sum S. For the sake of brevity, we also use the phrase, “the series has the (infinite) sum S.”
Topical hyperglycemia rapidly suppresses EDRF-mediated vasodilation of normal rat arterioles

Arteriolar dilation to endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) is suppressed early in diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to determine whether acute exposure to a hyperglycemic media can suppress EDRF function of normal arterioles. Dilation of intestinal arterioles to iontophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh) and nitroprusside was measured in normoglycemic rats before and after 1 h of topical exposure to isotonic solutions containing D-glucose concentrations of 200, 300, and 500 mg/100 ml. Exposure to a D-glucose concentration of 200 mg/100 ml had no effect on vasodilation to ACh. D-Glucose concentrations of both 300 and 500 mg/100 ml caused significant suppression of the responses: for example, at the approximate 50% effective dosage (100 nA), the dilatory response was decreased by 60% at a D-glucose concentration of 300 mg/100 ml and 55% at a D-glucose concentration of 500 mg/100 ml. Responses to nitroprusside were not significantly (P 0.05) effect on responses to ACh. Pretreatment with superoxide dismutase, catalase, indomethacin, or meclofenamic acid preserved EDRF-mediated vasodilation during exposure to a D-glucose concentration of 500 mg/100 ml at almost all the ACh dosages tested. These results indicate that oxygen radicals formed in part by increased eicosanoid synthesis during exposure to D-glucose hyperglycemia interfere with the EDRF mechanism before its action on the microvascular smooth muscle.
Recent advances in hexacoordinate silicon with pyridine-containing ligands: Chemistry and emerging applications

Abstract The chemistry of hexacoordinate silicon complexes containing one or more pyridine-like ligands is reviewed. Pyridine-containing ligands are excellent ligands for stabilizing hexacoordinate silicon complexes, and over 100 hexacoordinate silicon complexes containing at least one pyridine-like ligand have been deposited with the Cambridge Structural Database. This review focuses on advances since 2000 and covers complexes with substituted pyridines, pyridine-2-thiolates, oxyquinolates, thioquinolates, iminoquinolates, bipyridines, phenanthrolines, and terpyridines. Emerging applications in fluorescence, high-energy materials, biology, and electrochromism are discussed.
Elastic scattering by planar fractures

Remote sensing of fractures with elastic waves is important in fields ranging from seismology to non-destructive testing. While previous analytic descriptions of scattering mostly concern very large or very small fractures (compared to the dominant wavelength), we present an analytic solution for the scattering of elastic waves from a fracture of arbitrary size. Based on the linear-slip model for a fracture, we derive the scattered amplitude in the frequency domain under the Born approximation for all combinations of incident and scattered wave modes. Our analytic results match laser-based ultrasonic laboratory measurements of a single fracture in clear plastic, allowing us to quantify the compliance of a fracture.
MORPHOLOGY AND COMPOSITION OF ADVANCED CORONARY PLAQUES IN HISTOLOGY PREDICT THE DELINEATION OF THE OF NAPKIN RING SIGN IN CORONARY CT ANGIOGRAPHY

A plaque with a low attenuation core and a high attenuation rim has been termed napkin ring sign (NRS) in coronary CT angiography (CCTA). The NRS has been shown to be a highly specific yet poorly sensitive marker of advanced atherosclerotic lesions. We sought to identify histologic characteristics
Parameters Calculation and Waveforms Analog of Transient Recovery Voltage for Medium-Voltage Network Test System

Transient recovery voltage (TRV) is an important parameter which impacts on circuit-breaker short-circuit breaking capacity. There are definite regulations and requirements in the standards. How to correctly choose TRV test method (principle and circuit),so as to obtain required and predicated TRV waveforms in conformity with the standards,is important work which must be carried out for every large capacity test lab. The principle circuit adopted to calculate TRV was given,and on this basis,low-voltage analog wiring method was recommended for test to get predicated TRV waveforms of first-open-phase and post-open-phase. After actual test,more satisfactory effect is obtained.
Pore structure and gas-water flow law of low permeability gas reservoir core

The problem is not clear that the pore structure and its effect on the gas-water flowing in low permeability gas reservoir core,so the experimental techniques are used such as physical property test,NMR,Mercury penetration,gas drive water,and so on,to research the core’s pore types,pore structure,water’s occurrence modes in the pore throat and the gas-water flow law in cores.The results show that most of the core’s pore is intergranular pore,the radius of pore throat is tiny,valve pressure is big,gradation is bad and the permeability is controlled by the radius of pore throat.When the core is fully saturated by water,there is an actuating pressure for gas flow.When the gas drive pressure is lower than the actuating pressure,then the gas can not flow freely.The water in the core occurrence with two types: movable water and residual water,when the drive pressure is increasing during gas flooding,the water’s occurrence mode will change,part of the water will be driven out,the permeability will be enhanced and the gas flow will increase.So,for low permeability containing water gas layer,it is one of the key factors to decide appropriate producing pressure drop to control the gas-water flow.The result is important for development of low permeability gas reservoir.
The Power of an Undiagnosed Diseases Program in a Clinical Research Enterprise

The NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP), supported by the Office of Rare Diseases Research, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), and the NIH Clinical Center, was established to diagnose patients who have long sought a diagnosis, and to discover new diseases and insights into their physiology, cell biology, and biochemistry. Since its inception in May of 2008, the UDP has reviewed more than 1300 medical records, seen over 250 patients, and made approximately 30 diagnoses. The Program provides hope to a desperate population by offering access to comprehensive and coordinated specialty examinations and state-of-the-art genetic evaluations.
Ridge asymmetry and deep aqueous alteration at the trench observed from Rayleigh wave tomography of the Juan de Fuca plate

Using Rayleigh-wave tomography of noise-removed Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) data from the Cascadia Initiative, we illuminate the structure of the upper mantle beneath the Juan de Fuca plate. Beneath the Juan de Fuca ridge, there is strong asymmetry, with a pronounced low velocity zone in the 25-65 km depth range. Extending to the west from the spreading axis, this anomaly has velocities low enough to indicate the presence of melt. The asymmetry in velocity structure and the much greater abundance of seamounts on the west flank of the ridge suggest that dynamic, buoyant upwelling is important, perhaps triggered by thermal or compositional anomalies beneath Axial Seamount. In contrast, there is no evidence for asymmetry in the axial zone or lower than expected velocities beneath the Gorda ridge. On the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca ridge, the shear velocity in the 25-65 depth range is higher than expected; the lithosphere appears to be colder and thicker than predicted by standard plate cooling models, perhaps caused by the downwelling counterpart of the upwelling on the west side of the ridge. Close to the trench, there is a sharp decrease in shear velocity. We interpret this as aqueous alteration caused by hydrothermal circulation through deep normal faults associated with bending of the plate. Beneath the Astoria and Nitinat fans, where abyssal plain sediment is thickest, the velocity decrease is much smaller, which is consistent with a thick sediment cap that prevents hydrothermal alteration of the plate.
When Interests Converge: An Access-to-Justice Mission for Law Schools

In recent years, law schools have faced a crisis brought on by the external forces of technology, automation, and legal process outsourcing that has translated into poor job prospects for their graduates, and, in turn, a diminution in the number of students interested in attending law schools. Such external phenomena are joined by internal critiques of law schools: that they have failed to educate their students adequately for the practice of law and have adopted dubious strategies without a defining mission, all at a time when the market for legal services seems to be changing, perhaps dramatically. Paradoxically, while graduates face diminished job prospects, there is still a vast justice gap: the inability of millions of Americans to obtain legal assistance when facing a legal problem. There is thus an interest convergence between those who might want access to a lawyer and the law schools that strive to educate the next generation of lawyers and the ones after that. This Article uses this interest convergence — and the late Derrick Bell’s “Interest Convergence Theory” as a lens through which to view it — as an opportunity for law schools to retool their missions to confront the access-to-justice crisis facing many Americans. It argues that law schools should embrace an access-to-justice component to their missions to help increase demand for legal services, re-establish the value of legal assistance to the community, restore the importance of the legal profession in preserving and extending societally important rights and interests, and improve the demand for legal education.
QOS‐Aware Power Management in Data Centers

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Problem Classification Energy Efficiency Power Capping Conclusion References
Toward Emulation-Based Performance Assessment of Constrained Application Protocol in Dynamic Networks

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as the key networking paradigm for supporting the connectivity of massively distributed objects and numerous simultaneous applications. The constrained application protocol (CoAP) is designed to meet the requirements for IoT data transmission among constrained nodes. The lean design of CoAP enables it to additionally meet the needs of the data transmission in dynamic network environments. In this paper, we conduct an emulation-based quantitative performance assessment of CoAP in comparison with HTTP, assessing data transmission based on key characteristics of dynamic network environments and the designed scenarios. We also designed scenarios and evaluate the performance of investigated protocols using real-world IoT datasets. Our experimental results demonstrate that CoAP performs better than HTTP for data transmission in the dynamic network environments with respect to delivery rate, delay, and overhead. In addition, we analyze the impact of features in dynamic network environments on the performance of data transmission protocols with respect to success rate, delay and overhead, as well as discuss some further extensions for future research.
Carlos Jerez Farrán, El expresionismo en Valle-Inclán: una reinterpretación de su visión esperpéntica. Ediciós do Castro, Sada, A Coruña, 1989; 279 pp.

Se reseno el libro: El expresionismo en Valle-Inclan: una reinterpretacion de su vision esperpentica.
Staging of Memory: Monuments, Commemoration, and the Demarcation of Portuguese Space in Colonial Angola

This article demonstrates how Portuguese leaders created historical representations celebrating Portuguese settlement as the supposed beginning of Angolan history. Accounts of Angolan history prese...
Abstract 18697: Should Aggressive Implantation of a Temporary Rvad Be Utilized as Means of Recovery for Rv Function to Allow for Long-Term Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy

Continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is an ideal treatment for end-stage heart failure, but right ventricular dysfunction has classically been a contraindication for long term LVAD...
Charge Transport in Conjugated Polymers with Pendent Stable Radical Groups

Synthesizing a stable radical polymer with a conjugated backbone seems like a natural way to introduce conductivity to radical polymers, which are traditionally synthesized with insulating, nonconjugated backbones. For charge storage applications that take advantage of the redox-active nature of stable radical polymers, enhanced conductivity would improve performance. To explore the interplay between stable radicals and a conjugated backbone, we prepared and studied soluble polythiophene with high regioregularity and various concentrations of pendent radical groups to systematically examine any change in conductivity with radical incorporation. Using electron paramagnetic resonance and electrical conductivity measurements, we show that there is an exponential decrease in conductivity as we increase the percentage of pendent groups attached to repeating units, which changes the conductivity by 6 orders of magnitude between the nonradical control polythiophene material and the material with the highest radi...
Genotype Does Not Correlate with Internal Whole Body Tumor Burden in Neurofibromatosis I (NF1) (P3.149)

Objective: To correlate genotype with internal tumor burden among patients with NF1. Background: NF1 is an autosomal dominant tumor predisposition syndrome associated with mutations in the NF1 gene, and predominately tumors arising from nerve sheaths (neurofibromas). Internal neurofibromas are a common cause of NF1 - associated morbidity. To date, few NF1 genotype-phenotype correlations have been identified. We used whole body MRI (WBMRI) and next generation sequencing (NGS) to correlate genotype with internal tumor burden. Design/Methods: Custom biotinylated RNA baits were used to capture the entire NF1 gene from lymphoblast DNA, and NGS was performed. WBMRI was used to determine the number and volume of internal tumors. Corollary clinical data was collected prospectively. Statistical testing was performed with Wilcoxon, Spearman and Chi Square. Results: Forty-one patients (median age 35, 59% female) with clinically diagnosed NF1 who had WBMRI data and an identified germline NF1 mutation were included in the study. Internal tumors were identified in 28/41 (68%), with a median of 3.5 tumors each and a median total body tumor volume of 62.11cc. In silico analysis predicted 25 of the NF1 mutations were nonsense and 16 were missense, including 8 at splice sites. Neither mutation type nor exon location correlated with prevalence, number, or volume of internal tumors. Exploratory analyses found that the only significant genotype-phenotype correlation was a greater prevalence of cutaneous neurofibromas in patients with nonsense mutations than other mutation types (100% vs 75%, p=0.018). Conclusions: This study showed no correlation between germline NF1 genotype and internal tumor burden. The prevalence of cutaneous neurofibromas was significantly higher with nonsense mutations, which has not been previously reported. This study expands on previous work showing an overall lack of phenotypic predictability based on NF1 genotype. We will expand the cohort in the future to increase statistical power. Additional study of cutaneous neurofibromas with quantitative imaging may be informative. Study Supported by: Department of Defense Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NF0502020) Disclosure: Dr. Jordan has received personal compensation for activities with Guidepoint as a consultant. Dr. Seijo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Walker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Erdin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Merker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cai has nothing to disclose. Dr. Harris has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bredella has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gusella holds stock and/or stock options various pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Plotkin has nothing to disclose.
Losses to internal parasites in swine production.

Experimental infections of pigs with Strongyloides ransomi, Stephanurus dentatus, Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum spp. or Trichuris suis at increasing levels generally decrease daily gain and increase feed to gain ratio linearly. At lower, subclinical levels of infection, the feed to gain ratio typically is increased 3% to 6% by an infection. Based on low-level experimental infections with A. suum, the economic loss to producers in the U.S. from increased feed to gain ratio is estimated at $155 million annually.
Why History Is Important for Environmental Decision Making Today and Tomorrow

Science and technology have made enormous advances since the American Revolution. But we need only think of the Nazi nightmare that overtook Germany, the nation of Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, and of major medical and scientific advances, to recognize that human behavior and political developments do not follow the same laws as science. Nor has the United States just marched forward since its inception, taking advantage of new knowledge and ideas to systematically improve the quality of its public affairs. This is demonstrated by the longstanding internal turmoil that is the subject of this book and which has paralyzed the nation’s ability to achieve solutions to major problems.
Teaching Comparative Corporate Governance: The Significance of 'Soft Law' and International Institutions

Scholars today are inquiring as to what, other than formal legal commands or lawsuits based thereon, influences the behavior of human actors in corporations. "Norms versus corporate law" has become a subject of symposia and other fora of inquiry. In that inquiry, arguably two neglected, overlapping aspects have been "soft law" and the role of international organizations such as the OECD, World Bank, IMF and the World Trade Organization (WTO). International and comparative scholars define soft law to include aspirational codes of conduct for corporate actors, corporate governance codes of best practices, treaty provisions, trade agreement provisions, and the like, all of "which may provide a conceptual framework for decisionmaking" in the corporate setting "but do not seriously constrain [corporate] decisionmakers." Codes of best practices also include a substantial comparative aspect as scholars and teachers compare the Vienot Report in France with the Cadbury Report in the UK, the ALI Corporate Governance Project and General Motors' 29 points in the United States, the Bosch Report in Australia and similar codes around the world. Newer codes of best practices include those in Italy, Korea and Japan. The growth of large multinational corporations and the collective action problem host nation states face in policing multinationals' activities highlight the need for study of soft law, the role of international organizations, and their effects on corporate activities with respect to core worker welfare and safety protections, environmental degradation, and similar subjects. The time may soon be arriving when these subjects have a place in the basic business organizations classes taught in law schools here in the United States as well as elsewhere.
Redox Reactions Catalysed by Metalloenzymes

Although not all enzymatic redox reactions require metal ion participation, every type of biological oxidation and reduction contains some examples which involve metalloenzyme catalysis.The four basic types of redox reactions encountered in biological systems as well as specific exaxiples of metalloenzyme catalysis of each type, are the following.
The influence of hormonal factors and of diet upon hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity.

It is well known that the hepatic utilization of glucose is impaired in alloxan diabetes, and evidence exists which suggests that in diabetes the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate is impaired (1). It has been suggested that the enzyme hexokinase is less active in the diabetic animal (2). The presence in liver of a specific glucose-6-phosphatase has been dem- onstrated by Swanson (3) and by de Duve and coworkers (4, 5). Pre- sumably this enzyme is responsible for contributing free glucose to the blood from the liver glycogen pool and from other precursors of glucose-6- phosphate. Since the net rate of formation of glucose-6-phosphate depends upon the relative velocities of the hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase reactions, it appeared possible that an increased activity of glucoseS- phosphatase in the liver might be responsible for decreased net utilization of glucose by this tissue, even if the hexokinase reaction were functioning normally. In this paper is presented evidence that there is greatly in- creased activity of glucose-6-phosphatase in the livers of alloxan-diabetic rats, and that this increased activity appears to be related rather specifi- cally to the diabetic state.
Much ado about nothing? some comments on B. F. Skinner’s definition of verbal behavior

Some have suggested that the definition of verbal behavior offered by B. F. Skinner (1957) fails to capture the essence of language insofar as it is too broad and not functional. In this paper, I argue that the ambiguities of Skinner's definition are not an indictment of it, and that suggestions to the contrary are problematic because they suffer a critical error of scientific reasoning. Specifically, I argue that (a) no clear definition of verbal behavior is possible because there is no natural distinction between verbal and nonverbal behavior; (b) attempts at an immutable definition are essentialistic; and (c) Skinner's functional taxonomy of language is in no way affected by the particulars of any definition of verbal behavior.
Exploring Ethylene/Polar Vinyl Monomer Copolymerizations Using Ni and Pd α-Diimine Catalysts

ConspectusThe most ubiquitous polymer, polyethylene (PE), is produced either through a radical-initiated process or, more commonly, through a coordination/insertion process employing early transition metal catalysts, particularly titanium- and chromium-based systems. These oxophilic early metal catalysts are not functional-group-tolerant and thus cannot be used to synthesize copolymers of ethylene and polar vinyl monomers such as alkyl acrylates and vinyl acetate. Such PE copolymers have enhanced properties relative to PE and are made through radical polymerization processes, requiring exceptionally high pressures and temperatures. Copolymerizations of polar vinyl monomers with ethylene using more functional group-tolerant late metal catalysts potentially offer an attractive alternative for generating such value-added copolymers since ligand variations may provide more control of polymer microstructures and milder reaction conditions would apply. This Account describes our efforts, particularly through de...
A different kind of dream-based skepticism

Sextus Empiricus offers an underappreciated and under-discussed version of dream-based skepticism. Most philosophers interested in dreams and skepticism focus on the question of how you know you are not currently dreaming. Sextus points out that our waking experiences and dreams often conflict. And, the challenge goes, what reason do you have to trust the one over the other? This question presupposes that dreams and waking experiences are distinguishable. Thus the kinds of responses typically offered against dream-based skepticism do not apply. And if we accept an idea upheld by one camp in the contemporary debate over the epistemology of disagreement, Sextus’ challenge is difficult to answer. A G.E. Moore-inspired response to the problem is also proposed and explored. It is argued that Sextus’ version of the problem reveals a certain limitation in that sort of approach to skeptical problems.
Stability analysis of a thin film on a rotating cylinder with low airflow

This paper studies the operating conditions of a novel pesticide applicator, by analyzing the stability of a thin film on a rotating horizontal cylinder in the presence of low airflow. The analysis shows that the film is destabilized by the airflow, with a few notable further findings. First, when the airflow coincides with the angular velocity at the underside of the cylinder, the film becomes unstable at smaller wind speeds compared to airflow anti-parallel to the angular velocity. Second, in the absence of surface tension, the thin film model does not have a stable stationary state. The solution settles into an oscillatory state instead. Finally, an analytical solution is presented for the special case where the initial condition is a uniform film thickness. When surface tension is included in this analysis, the temporal terms decay when the stability condition is satisfied. Some of the modes decay very slowly, as confirmed by the multiple time scale analysis.
Commitment to technological change, sales force intelligence norms, and salesperson key outcomes

Abstract Despite increasing interest in sales technology investments, companies continue to struggle with getting their salespeople to use these expensive technologies. In this context, two under-researched issues warrant attention. First, although sales technology represents a continuous source of change, little is known about why salespeople commit to technology-induced changes. Second, knowledge on whether sales force intelligence norms play a role into translating use of sales technology to performance gains is remarkably sparse. To address these gaps, this study develops a conceptual framework that explores the linear and non-linear effects of commitment to technological change (i.e., affective, normative, and continuance) on sales technology infusion, and, in turn, on two key outcomes (i.e., customer-oriented selling and sales performance). Our framework also advances knowledge on how sales force intelligence norms (i.e., analytical sales processes and knowledge sharing with customers) moderate the relationships between sales technology infusion and key outcomes. Analysis is done using multilevel structural equation modeling on a sample of 303 salespeople nested within 22 firms. Findings support the view that the three components of commitment are distinct, with some counter-intuitive results. Specifically, affective commitment does not exert a significant positive influence as expected; yet, normative commitment does. In contrast, while lower levels of continuance commitment reduce infusion, higher levels have positive effects, thus depicting a U-shaped effect. Finally, sales technology infusion influences both key outcomes — and findings support the importance of fostering sales force intelligence norms. Implications of the study are discussed.
Structure-dependent ferromagnetism in Au 4 V studied under high pressure

At ambient pressure, ordered ${\mathrm{Au}}_{4}\mathrm{V}$ is metallic and displays ferromagnetism at ${T}_{C}=45\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. The electrical resistivity has been measured as a function of temperature from $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ to $300\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and as a function of pressure up to $30\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ using various high-pressure devices. A kink, which is associated with the reduction of scattering due to the onset of ferromagnetic order, is seen in the electrical resistance as a function of temperature. With applied pressure, this kink is found to broaden and increase in temperature at a rate of approximately $2.7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}∕\mathrm{GPa}$. Above $\ensuremath{\sim}18\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$, the broadening of the kink prohibits accurate determination of ${T}_{C}$; however, upon reducing the pressure, no signatures of ferromagnetism were evident in the electrical resistivity. Both energy-dispersive $(P\ensuremath{\le}61\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa})$ and angle-dispersive $(P\ensuremath{\le}27\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa})$ x-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature show a gradual transition from the body-centered-tetragonal phase of ${\mathrm{Au}}_{4}\mathrm{V}$ to a disordered face-centered-cubic structure. This transition is irreversible and continuous, and the data have been fit to a Birch-Murnaghan equation of state. In order to investigate the origin of the magnetic interactions in ${\mathrm{Au}}_{4}\mathrm{V}$, we have also measured the electrical resistivity of ${\mathrm{Au}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{V}}_{x}$ alloys and determined their Kondo temperatures ${T}_{K}$ for $xl1%$. The pressure dependence of ${T}_{K}$ for $x=0.5%$ was measured up to $2.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$, for which the Kondo temperature increases at a rate of $d{T}_{K}∕dP=6.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}∕\mathrm{GPa}$. Using the volume dependence of the exchange interaction between magnetic vanadium ions, we find that the pressure-induced increase of the Curie temperature in ${\mathrm{Au}}_{4}\mathrm{V}$ can be explained by an increase in the exchange interaction parameter and the number of magnetic nearest neighbors.
Rate of drying influences tolerance of low water contents in the moss Funaria hygrometrica (Funariaceae)

Desiccation tolerance (DT) in poikilohydric organisms is dependent upon four principal sequential factors, (1) the rate of drying (RoD), (2) the water content (WC) of the organism deriving from the equilibrating relative humidity (RHeq), (3) the duration of the desiccation event, and (4) the rate of rehydration (RoR). The first two factors are often combined in experiments as the “intensity” of desiccation, and thus the effect of one on the other is relatively unknown but likely to be important ecologically. We hypothesized that more protracted rates of drying should mitigate damage at lower equilibrating RHs in a known inducibly DT species. Cultured uniclonal shoots of the moss Funaria hygrometrica were dried at different RoDs (time from full turgor to leaf curling, from 0.067 to 120 h) at five different RHs (12, 33, 54, 75 and 93%), allowed to equilibrate at each RH, rehydrated and assessed using chlorophyll fluorescence at 0.5 and 24 h postrehydration. At 24 h postrehydration, shoots of F. hygrometrica subjected to a rapid-dry event ( 54%, recovery was complete. At 0.5 h postrehydration, Fv/Fm levels indicated moderate damage at all RHeqs except 93%, with no mitigation of damage when the rate of drying was extended. Intensity of desiccation is normally construed as the ability to tolerate a combination of rate of drying × equilibrating RH. By varying the rate of drying across a range of RHeqs, F. hygrometrica is found to be able to tolerate all water contents tested, providing the rate of drying is extended to at least 15 h from full turgor to leaf curling. By adopting either the “step-down” approach to drying or the “wet substrate” technique used here, future studies on the desiccation tolerance of poikilohydric organisms can more accurately assess responses to desiccation stress.
Two Novel Myxozoans from Pirate Perch Aphredoderus sayanus (Gilliams, 1824) in the Upper Mississippi River, Including the First North American Species of Hennegoides Lom, Tonguthai, & Dyková, 1991

The pirate perch Aphredoderus sayanus is a relatively small fish species found in rivers throughout much of the eastern United States. Due to their cryptic nature, relatively little is known regarding their parasite fauna. A survey of pirate perch from the upper Mississippi River revealed 2 novel myxozoans. Hennegoides flockae n. sp. was observed in heavily infected gills where the lamellae featured irregular expansion by bulbous myxozoan polysporic plasmodia, typically affecting the middle to distal half of the filaments. When severe, infection of sequential filaments was such that the filaments were fused, forming what appeared as multicystic/lobular parasitic aggregates subdivided by fine epithelial cords. The total myxospore length of Hennegoides flockae was 35.4-46.4 (41.3 ± 3.3) and the spore body, asymmetrically ovoid in valvular view, was 15.4-18.7 (17.0 ± 0.7) × 7.1-8.7 (7.9 ± 0.4). Henneguya marcquenskiae n. sp. was observed in the liver with plasmodia present randomly and infrequently in the hepatocellular parenchyma. The total myxospore length for Henneguya marcquenskiae was 39.5-55.9 (48.4 ± 4.2), with the spore body being lanceolate, 13.9-16.5 (15.4 ± 0.7) × 7.1-9.0 (8.3 ± 0.5). Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA gene placed both Hennegoides flockae and Henneguya marcquenskiae as sisters to each other in a clade containing other Myxozoans known to infect the gills of esocids, percids, and centrarchids. These parasites represent the first reports of Henneguya and Hennegoides from pirate perch, with the latter being the first report of this genus outside of the Asian continent.
Efficacy of a Novel Cholangiogram Simulator for Training Laparoscopic Intraoperative Cholangiography

OBJECTIVE Determine the efficacy of a novel low-cost, reusable simulator for training fundamental skills associated with safe and effective intraoperative cholangiography (IOC). DESIGN The simulator uses a balloon and retention suture tubing (representing the gallbladder, cystic duct, common bile duct, and common hepatic duct) attached to a piece of wood and placed in a laparoscopic trainer (representing the abdominal cavity) covered by a piece of simulated skin to obscure it. Following a tutorial on performing a simulated IOC using this, simulation participants independently completed a video-recorded simulated IOC and a post-training survey about the appearance and perceived usefulness of the IOC simulator as a training tool. Two experienced surgeons assessed participants’ IOC performance using an IOC procedural checklist developed for this purpose. Procedural time (in seconds) was recorded and used as an additional measure of performance. SETTING The OhioHealth Learning Center simulation facility in the Department of Surgery at Riverside Methodist Hospital, a large tertiary care independent medical center that is part of the OhioHealth care system. PARTICIPANTS Eleven attending surgeons and 16 general surgery residents of different levels participated in the simulation. Two experienced surgeons assessed participants’ IOC performance. One participated in the simulation along with the other 10 surgeons; the other did not. RESULTS High-experience participants completed more steps and spent less time than low-experience individuals; however, differences were not statistically significant. There was substantial agreement between the 2 observers regarding participants’ performance. Participants scored the simulator as realistic and useful in teaching relevant steps associated with IOC. CONCLUSIONS Despite differences between high- and low-experience participants in steps completed and time spent, these results did not prove statistically significant. Additional studies to increase sample size are warranted to determine if significant differences exist. However, participants did generally find the simulator to be an effective training tool.
Metropolis Methods and Variants

In this chapter several variations of the original algorithm are discussed and the concepts of reversible jumps and diffusion are covered. Applications include simple image segmentation, furniture arrangement, and people counting.
Incisional hernia after liver transplantation: Risk factors, management strategies and long-term outcomes of a cohort study

Abstract Introduction: Incisional hernias (IH) develop in up to 40% of liver transplant (LT) recipients and can contribute to considerable morbidity. Materials and methods: A single center retrospective review of a prospectively maintained LT database was conducted to identify all patients diagnosed with IH after LT during a 13-year study period (2003–2015). Analyzed data included patient demographics, LT details, incidence and timing of IH, risk factors, management strategies and long-term outcomes. Results: During the 13-year study period, IH was diagnosed in 16.7% (163/976) of LT recipients after a median of 19.6 months (range 6.7–49.5 months) from transplant surgery. Identified risk factors for developing IH included male gender (p Conclusion: IH is a late complication following LT and male gender is a consistent predictive marker. Acute presentation is infrequent and elective repair can be planned in most patients allowing for risk factor optimization to ensure promising long-term outcomes.
Serotonin signaling suppresses the nutrition-responsive induction of an alternate male morph in horn polyphenic beetles.

Environment-responsive development contributes significantly to the phenotypic variation visible to selection and as such possesses the potential to shape evolutionary trajectories. However, evaluation of the contributions of developmental plasticity to evolutionary diversification necessitates an understanding of the developmental mechanisms underpinning plastic trait expression. We investigated the role of serotonin signaling in the regulation and evolution of horn polyphenism in the beetle genus Onthophagus. Specifically, we assessed the role of serotonin in development by determining whether manipulating serotonin biosynthesis during the larval stage alters body size, developmental rate, and the formation of relative adult trait size in traits characterized by minimal (genitalia), moderate (elytra), and pronounced (horns) nutrition-responsive development in O. taurus. Second, we assessed serotonin's role in evolution by replicating a subset of our approaches across four species reflecting ancestral as well as derived conditions. Lastly, we employed immunohistochemical approaches to begin assessing whether serotonin may be acting via the endocrine or nervous system. Our results show that pharmacological manipulation of serotonin signaling affects overall size, developmental rate, and the body size threshold separating alternate male morphs. Threshold body sizes were affected across species, regardless of the severity of horn polyphenism, and independent of the precise morphological location of horns. However, histological assessments suggest it is unlikely serotonin functions as a neurotransmitter and instead may rely on other mechanisms that remain to be identified. We discuss the most important implications of our results for our understanding of the evolution of and through plasticity in horned beetles and beyond.
The Future of Food: Environmental Lessons from E-Commerce

Our food system is experiencing dramatic changes as the expansion of e-commerce, introduction of new products, and innovations in supply chain structures all pose to transform how we buy, sell, and distribute food. However, the environmental impacts of these transformations remain unclear. This feature reviews existing literature on environmental implications of e-commerce, discusses relevant trade-offs, and identifies pressing gaps in research. Some trade-offs discussed are those between centralized and decentralized delivery service types, those unique to a rural landscape, and those within the interplay of transportation and consumer behavior. The impacts of fulfillment centers, of refrigerated logistics, of e-commerce on consumer shopping and food waste habits, and of e-commerce services in rural regions are identified as pressing knowledge gaps.
Mapping Tree Canopy Cover and Canopy Height with L-Band SAR Using LiDAR Data and Random Forests

The aim of this paper is to systematically combine complementary LiDAR and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations to map tree canopy cover in a boreal forest. LiDAR data can provide direct measurements of vegetation structures but are limited by the sparse spatial coverage of observations. SAR systems can perform wall-to-wall high-resolution mapping without weather constraints but the information about vegetation and ground subsurface are mixed in the backscatter data. In this paper, we adopted the Random Forests algorithm to train an upscaling function using tree canopy cover (TCC) and canopy height model (CHM) derived from Goddard's LiDAR, Hyperspectral and Thermal Imager (G-LiHT) point cloud data. The regression model was then applied to the L-band Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) data acquired during the 2017 Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) airborne campaign to map the TCC and CHM over the Delta Junction area in interior Alaska.