cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Church, State, and the Dilemma of Conscience

To the members of the [Maryland Constitutional] Convention, as to the voters who adopted our [State] Constitution, belief in God was equated with a belief in moral accountability and the sanctity of an oath. We may assume that there may be permissible differences in the individual's conception of God. But it seems clear that under our Constitution disbelief in a Supreme Being, and the denial of any moral accountability for conduct, not only renders a person incompetent to hold public office, but to give testimony, or serve as a juror. The historical record makes it clear that religious toleration, in which the State has taken pride, was never thought to encompass the ungodly.1
Effect of Temperature and Commodity on Distribution of CCl4-CS2 (80:20) and EDC-CCl4 (75:25) Applied by Gravity Penetration and Closed Recirculation

Gravity penetration and closed recirculation fumigations were conducted in wheat, corn, and sorghum at 45, 65, and 85°F to investigate the effect of temperature and commodity on the distribution of 2 liquid fumigant mixtures. carbon tetrachloride-carbon disulfide (CCI4-CS2, 80:20) and ethylene dichloride-carbon tetrachloride (EDC.CCI4°. 75:25). The fumigations were conducted in 5-ft metal towers each containing 2 bushels of grain. In the gravity fumigations the time required for the passage of a detectable concentration of fumigant through the commodity increased as grain temperatures decreased. Penetration time at each temperature tested was least in com and greatest in sorghum. Concentrations of each component were generally higher in the recirculation fumigations than in the gravity fumigations, particularly at 45°F fumigations. CS2 was less affected by decreased temperatures or changes in commodity than CCl4 or EDC. Comparison of the total component concentrations obtained in each commodity fumigation with the total obtained at each fumigation temperature indicates that the high sorption capacity of sorghum was a more limiting distribution factor than the slower rate of volatilization and penetration resulting from fumigation at 45°F in both gravity and recirculation fumigations.
A New Class Permutation Polynomials Over Finite Fields

Permutation polynomials over finite fields have applications in cryptography,coding theory and combinatorial designs,Permutation polynomials becomes an interesting subject of study.In this paper,using the linearized polynomials,we construct a new class permutation polynomials of the form(x~(p~k) — x +δ)~s + L(x).
Overview of Cryptology and the Army

This first, unnumbered, Manly article gives an overview of the “ears” of the armed services—the wireless interception services and the cipher bureaus. Manly discusses how wireless telegraphy transformed the communications of armies and the subsequent increase in the necessity of message secrecy and hence cryptology. Manly then gives a short history of codes and ciphers and motivates their use during the Great War. Untitled in the Friedman Collection, this article seems to belong at the beginning of the Manly sequence.
Decreased radiation doses to tongue with “stick-out” tongue position over neutral tongue position in head and neck cancer patients who refused or could not tolerate an intraoral device (bite-block, tongue blade, or mouthpiece) due to trismus, gag reflex, or discomfort during intensity-modulated radiation therapy

// Whoon Jong Kil 1 , Christina Kulasekere 1 , Ronald Derrwaldt 1 , Jacob Bugno 1 , Craig Hatch 1 1 Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Correspondence to: Whoon Jong Kil, email: whoonkil@gmail.com Keywords: head and neck cancer, IMRT, tongue position, customized immobilization mask, oral cavity Received: May 09, 2016 Accepted: June 01, 2016 Published: July 16, 2016 ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess changes in oral cavity (OC) shapes and radiation doses to tongue with different tongue positions during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) but who refused or did not tolerate an intraoral device (IOD), such as bite block, tongue blade, or mouthpiece. Results: Tongue volume outside of OC was 7.1 ± 3.8 cm 3 (5.4 ± 2.6% of entire OC and 7.8 ± 3.1% of oral tongue) in IMRT-S. D mean of OC was 34.9 ± 8.0 Gy and 31.4 ± 8.7 Gy with IMRT-N and IMRT-S, respectively ( p < 0.001). OC volume receiving ≥ 36 Gy (V36) was 40.6 ± 16.9% with IMRT-N and 33.0 ± 17.0% with IMRT-S ( p < 0.001). D mean of tongue was 38.1 ± 7.9 Gy and 32.8 ± 8.8 Gy in IMRT-N and IMRT-S, respectively ( p < 0.001). V15, V30, and V45 of tongue were significantly lower in IMRT-S (85.3 ± 15.0%, 50.6 ± 16.2%, 24.3 ± 16.0%, respectively) than IMRT-N (94.4 ± 10.6%, 64.7 ± 16.2%, 34.0 ± 18.6%, respectively) (all p < 0.001). Positional offsets of tongue during the course of IMRT-S was –0.1 ± 0.2 cm, 0.01 ± 0.1 cm, and –0.1 ± 0.2 cm (vertical, longitudinal, and lateral, respectively). Materials and Methods: 13 patients with HNSCC underwent CT-simulations both with a neutral tongue position and a stick-out tongue for IMRT planning (IMRT-N and IMRT-S, respectively). Planning objectives were to deliver 70 Gy, 63 Gy, and 56 Gy in 35 fractions to 95% of PTVs. Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) recommended dose constraints were applied. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation and compared using the student t -test. Conclusions: IMRT-S for patients with HNSCC who refused or could not tolerate an IOD has significant decreased radiation dose to the tongue than IMRT-N, which may potentially reduce RT related toxicity in tongue in selected patients.
Balloon dilation for eustachian tube dysfunction: systematic review.

Background: Eustachian tube dysfunction is a disorder for which there are limited medical and surgical treatments. Recently, eustachian tube balloon dilation has been proposed as a potential solution. Method: A systematic literature review was performed. Abstracts were selected for relevance, and pooled data analysis and qualitative analysis was conducted. Results: Nine prospective studies, describing 713 eustachian tube balloon dilations in 474 patients (aged 18–86 years), were identified. Follow-up duration ranged from 1.5 to 18 months. Ability to perform a Valsalva manoeuvre improved from 20 to 177 out of 245 ears following eustachian tube balloon dilation and, where data were reported in terms of patient numbers, from 15 to 189 out of 210 patients. Tympanograms were classified as type A in 7 out of 141 ears pre-operatively and in 86 out of 141 ears post-operatively. Conclusion: Prospective case series can confirm the safety of eustachian tube balloon dilation. As a potential solution for chronic eustachian tube dysfunction, further investigations are warranted to establish a higher level of evidence of efficacy.
The contemporary spectrum of multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis: A multicenter study

Objective: To characterize patients misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Neurologists at 4 academic MS centers submitted data on patients determined to have been misdiagnosed with MS. Results: Of 110 misdiagnosed patients, 51 (46%) were classified as “definite” and 59 (54%) “probable” misdiagnoses according to study definitions. Alternate diagnoses included migraine alone or in combination with other diagnoses 24 (22%), fibromyalgia 16 (15%), nonspecific or nonlocalizing neurologic symptoms with abnormal MRI 13 (12%), conversion or psychogenic disorders 12 (11%), and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder 7 (6%). Duration of misdiagnosis was 10 years or longer in 36 (33%) and an earlier opportunity to make a correct diagnosis was identified for 79 patients (72%). Seventy-seven (70%) received disease-modifying therapy and 34 (31%) experienced unnecessary morbidity because of misdiagnosis. Four (4%) participated in a research study of an MS therapy. Leading factors contributing to misdiagnosis were consideration of symptoms atypical for demyelinating disease, lack of corroborative objective evidence of a CNS lesion as satisfying criteria for MS attacks, and overreliance on MRI abnormalities in patients with nonspecific neurologic symptoms. Conclusions: Misdiagnosis of MS leads to unnecessary and potentially harmful risks to patients. Misinterpretation and misapplication of MS clinical and radiographic diagnostic criteria are important contemporary contributors to misdiagnosis.
Abstract 150: The Impact of Access to Health Care on CVD Risk Factor Management

Background and Aims: A growing number of Americans have difficulty obtaining health care, which is associated with poorer health outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of access to health care on the management of hypertension and diabetes. Methods: We used data from the 2009 BRFSS. Participants who were aged 18 and older, had complete information on health care access and who lived in a state which used the Diabetes module (40 states) or the Actions to Control High Blood Pressure Module (19 states) were included in the analyses for diabetes and hypertension respectively. Health care access was examined as a score (range 0-3) indicating the number of barriers to health care including lack of health insurance, lack of an usual care provider and having not been able to seek care within the past year due to cost. Logistic regression incorporating the complex survey design was used to examine the independent association of health care access to diabetes and blood pressure management among individuals with self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes and hypertension respectively. Analyses were adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, gender, education, income, BMI, general health status, and time since last physical exam. Results: In this study, an estimated 14.8 million Americans had diabetes and 21.2 million had hypertension. 76% had no barriers to health care access, 15% had 1 barrier, 6% had 2 barriers and 3% had all 3 barriers to health care access. Hypertensive individuals with multiple barriers to health care access were less likely to be on antihypertensive medication and were less likely to eat healthier or exercise to reduce blood pressure as compared to individuals with no barriers to health care (Table). Diabetic Americans with poor access to health care were less likely to be taking insulin, to be checking glucose levels daily, to be checking their feet daily or to receive the recommended health care assessments (Table). Conclusions: Americans with difficulty obtaining health care are less likely to comply with recommendations for hypertension and diabetes management. The management and control of hypertension and diabetes is important to reduce complications.
Monte-Carlo modeling of ion implantation for silicon devices

Monte Carlo simulation of ion implantation in silicon is made with a modified MARLOWE program for boron and arsenic implants which are used to from n-p-n to p-n-p base regions for a bipolar transistor. Enhancements to MARLOWE include electronic energy loss treatments (both local and nonlocal), use of universal interaction potential incorporation of silicon electron density distribution, and postprocessors which allow detailed analyses of the channeling crystallography. Channeling results are presented for a 5-keV boron implant used for forming the base in an n-p-n bipolar device and for a 150-keV arsenic implant used for a p-n-p base. A review of several techniques for modeling implant damage is also presented. >
Sweetness and Fever? Sugar Production, Aedes aegypti, and Dengue Fever in Natal, South Africa, 1926–1927

AbstractIn the late 1970s, James Goodyear offered ‘a new perspective’ on the history of yellow fever in the Caribbean and coastal United States. He argued that sugar processing, shipping, and refining created favourable ecological conditions for yellow fever's vector mosquito – Aedes aegypti – by providing ready sugar for sustenance and plentiful breeding sites. Across 10 examples, Goodyear noted ‘an apparent connection in time and place’ between yellow fever ‘and the presence of sugarcane cultivation, milling, refining, or shipping’. A handful of historians have mentioned or marshalled Goodyear's sugar connection. It appears no one has tested the argument. Nor has it been integrated into the literature on other viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti – like dengue. This essay uses an occurrence of dengue in another sugar region to test Goodyear's thesis. Did the sugar business impact the sprawling dengue epidemic that gripped Durban and the Natal coast in 1926–1927? This question is explored in two ways. Fi...
Influence of patient perceived relationship with pharmacist and physician and its association with beliefs in medicine

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between patients’ perceived relationship with their pharmacist and physicians and its association with their beliefs in medicine. Methods A cross-sectional design was used and 307 self-administered surveys were collected from adults, 45 years and above, in Houston, Texas via convenience sampling. Participants reported their general beliefs in medicine (perceived harm, perceived benefit and perceived medication overuse), perceived patient–pharmacist relationship, and perceived patient–physician relationship using a previously validated instrument adapted for this research. Perceived relationship constructs consisted of three domains each for pharmacist and physicians, namely trust/satisfaction, information sharing and patient involvement in treatment. Key findings The study participants were white (46.25%) females (54.72%) with a mean age of 58 (±13) years. The results indicate that the participants trusted and were satisfied with both their pharmacist and physician. Participants with higher trust/satisfaction with pharmacist consider medications as more beneficial. While participants with higher trust/satisfaction with their physicians were less likely to believe that doctors over-prescribe medicines, which may lead to medication over use. Information sharing by pharmacists was associated with a significant decrease in perception of general benefits of medications. Further participant's involvement in treatment decisions by the physician had a significant association with increased perceptions of benefits of medications. Conclusions Patients trust/satisfaction with their pharmacist leads to the belief that medications are more beneficial while a higher trust/satisfaction with physicians leads to lower beliefs in medicine, especially patients less likely to be adherent with appropriate medications.
Analysts' experience and interpretation of discretionary accruals in predicting future earnings

Abstract Our paper investigates whether analysts' experience mitigates their forecast over-optimism associated with high discretionary accruals. Prior literature shows that analysts' forecast optimism is associated with high total accruals and working capital accruals, and this forecasting inefficiency can be mitigated by analysts' experience. We extend this line of research by first showing that forecast over-optimism is associated with higher discretionary accruals. We then show that analysts' experience with the related industry and their experience of decomposing earnings into cash flows and accruals appear to mitigate analysts' over-optimism related to discretionary accruals while analysts' firm and general experiences do not. Our study provides new evidence on how experience affects analysts' use of discretionary accruals.
Minimally invasive techniques for lumbar decompressions and fusions.

Purpose of review The purpose of this study is to summarize the recent literature investigating the use of minimally invasive (MIS) techniques in the treatment of lumbar degenerative stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and scoliosis.
Problematic alcohol use associates with sodium channel and clathrin linker 1 (SCLT1) in trauma-exposed populations.

Excessive alcohol use is extremely prevalent in the United States, particularly among trauma-exposed individuals. While several studies have examined genetic influences on alcohol use and related problems, this has not been studied in the context of trauma-exposed populations. We report results from a genome-wide association study of alcohol consumption and associated problems as measured by the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) in a trauma-exposed cohort. Results indicate a genome-wide significant association between total AUDIT score and rs1433375 [N = 1036, P = 2.61 × 10-8 (dominant model), P = 7.76 × 10-8 (additive model)], an intergenic single-nucleotide polymorphism located 323 kb upstream of the sodium channel and clathrin linker 1 (SCLT1) at 4q28. rs1433375 was also significant in a meta-analysis of two similar, but independent, cohorts (N = 1394, P = 0.0004), the Marine Resiliency Study and Systems Biology PTSD Biomarkers Consortium. Functional analysis indicated that rs1433375 was associated with SCLT1 gene expression and cortical-cerebellar functional connectivity measured via resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Together, findings suggest a role for sodium channel regulation and cerebellar functioning in alcohol use behavior. Identifying mechanisms underlying risk for problematic alcohol use in trauma-exposed populations is critical for future treatment and prevention efforts.
Structural correlation in water probed by hyper-Rayleigh scattering

Second-harmonic or hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) is sensitive to molecular interactions and correlations, and there is a large coherent HRS contribution for water. This work shows that the distinctive angle and polarization dependence observed for HRS from water is due to the long-range orientation correlation of the molecules. The results of HRS experiments for water are analyzed in combination with a molecular dynamics simulation to determine the molecular hyperpolarizability and the short-range and long-range orientation correlation functions for the molecules. At long range, the longitudinal and transverse dipole-dipole orientation correlation functions are BL(r) = −2BT(r) = a3/r3 with a = 0.166 nm. Molecular correlation at distances r > 100 nm must be included to account for the HRS observations.
Efficient topological distances and comparable metric ranges

Field studies indicate that European starlings in a flock coordinate utilizing a nearest neighbors approach. This model of communication is known in the biological swarm literature as the topological model. Each starling coordinates with a fixed number of nearest neighbors, and this number is referred to as the topological distance. The presented research evaluates the topological model in the context of a swarm robotics task, where a simulated artificial swarm is tasked to search for and go to a goal in the environment. Specifically, experiments are conducted on a high-fidelity, multi-robot simulator to analyze the performance of the tasked swarm as the topological distance is varied. Connections are drawn between the topological model based on starlings and the Delta-disk model, which is widely used in the robotics community to model agent interaction zones. Using graph measures, conditions under which the two models generate comparable networks are presented.
Occurrence, fate, and confounding influence of ghost passive integrated transponder tags in an intensively monitored watershed

Over the last three decades, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags have been widely used to study fish populations. Interpretation of PIT tag detections, however, can be confounded by the prese...
On the Nature of Taxonomy in Psychopathology

To recall thoughts expressed some years ago concerning the character of theory (Millon, 1969), I voiced my chagrin that nature was not made to suit our need for a tidy and well-ordered universe. Quite evidently, the complexity and intricacy of the natural world make it difficult not only to establish clearcut relationships among phenomena, but to find simple ways in which these phenomena can be classified or grouped. In our desire to discover the essential order of nature, we find it necessary to concern ourselves with only a few of the infinite number of elements that could be chosen; in this selection we narrow our choice only to those aspects of nature that we believe best enable us to answer the questions we have posed. Moreover, the elements we choose are labeled, transformed, and reassembled in a variety of ways, but we must bear in mind that these labels and transformations are not “realities.” The various concepts and categories that we construct as scientists are only optional tools to guide our observation and interpretation of the natural world; different concepts and categories may be formulated as alternative approaches to the understanding of the same subject of inquiry. These tools are especially necessary when the terrain we face is as uncharted as the taxonomy of psychopathology, and the materials of which it is composed are as intractable as they are.
Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Hypereosinophilic Syndromes and Mast Cell Disorders: a Comprehensive Review

Hypereosinophilic syndrome and mastocytosis are relatively rare proliferative diseases encountered in the general population. However, allergists frequently consider these disorders in the differential of patients presenting with gastrointestinal, pulmonary, cutaneous, and allergic symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms are some of the most frequent and/or debilitating aspects of both disease states and in many cases lead to poor quality of life and functional limitation for the patient. They are the third most common clinical manifestation in hypereosinophilic syndrome and have been found to be the most distressful aspect of the disorder in those with systemic mastocytosis. Both eosinophils and mast cells play integral parts in normal gut physiology, but when and how exactly their effector functionality translates into clinically significant disease remains unclear, and the available literature regarding their pathophysiology remains sparse. Eosinophils and mast cells even, in fact, may not necessarily function in isolation from each other but can participate in bidirectional crosstalk. Both are affected by similar mediators and can also influence one another in a paracrine fashion. Their interactions include both production of soluble mediators for specific eosinophil and mast cell receptors (for example, eosinophil recruitment and activation by mast cells releasing histamine and eotaxin) as well as direct physical contact. The mechanistic relationship between clonal forms of hypereosinophilia and systemic mastocytosis has also been explored. The nature of gastrointestinal symptomatology in the setting of both hypereosinophilic syndrome and mast cell disease is frequently manifold, heterogeneous, and the lack of better targeted therapy makes diagnosis and management challenging, especially when faced with a substantial differential. Currently, the management of these gastrointestinal symptoms relies on the treatment of the overall disease process. In hypereosinophilia patients, systemic corticosteroids are mainstay, although steroid-sparing agents such as hydroxyurea, IFN-α, methotrexate, cyclosporine, imatinib, and mepolizumab have been utilized with varying success. In mastocytosis patients, anti-mediator therapy with antihistamines and mast cell stabilization with cromolyn sodium can be considered treatments of choice, followed by other therapies yet to be thoroughly studied, including the role of the low-histamine diet, corticosteroids, and treatment of associated IBS symptoms. Given that both eosinophils and mast cells may have joint pathophysiologic roles, they have the potential to be a combined target for therapeutic intervention in disease states exhibiting eosinophil or mast cell involvement.
Aflatoxin B1 formamidopyrimidine adducts in human hepatocarcinogenesis: A preliminary report

The presence of aflatoxin-B1-formamidopyrimidine, a persistent aflatoxin-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) adduct, was investigated in vivo by immunohistochemical analysis in 14 paired hepatocellular carcinoma and nontumorous human liver tissue sections using a monoclonal anti-aflatoxin-B1-formamidopyrimidine antibody. Nuclear and cytoplasmic accumulations of adducts were found in 4 of 14 nontumorous specimens but in none of 14 tumorous tissues and in none of three normal control livers. In vitro adduct formation and cellular DNA was investigated with a modified DNA immunoblot assay. These studies revealed (a) no significant difference in the amount of adduct formed by DNA samples with or without integrated hepatitis B virus DNA, (b) no difference in the amount of adduct formed with DNA from either tumorous or nontumorous tissues from a given individual, and (c) remarkable and reproducible differences in the capacity of DNA from different individuals to form in vitro adducts. Our DNA immunoblot assay will facilitate further studies on the molecular role of aflatoxin-B1-form-amidopyrimidine adducts in human hepatocarcinogenesis.
Molecular design of oligomeric channel proteins.

Channel proteins are fundamental elements of cell function. Higher animals have a variety of channels that are activated by similar stimuli, opening with comparable kinetics, and blocked by the same drugs. Such features suggest a common evolutionary origin. Indeed, voltage-dependent calcium and potassium channels have been described in protozoa (1) and plants (2). Channels are efficacious, facilitating ion transport across the membrane with turnover numbers around 108 per second, yet selective, tightly regulated devices (3). Interpretations of the primary sequences for channel proteins suggest shared structural features. It is conceivable, therefore, that distinct properties, e.g., ionic selectivity and the sites of action of specific drugs and toxins, are contained within functional modules of similar structure that, when associated, form an operative channel protein. Such functional modules may be identifiable in the primary sequence (4–7). Accordingly, we aim to identify the principles that define the biological design of channel proteins and describe a structural motif consistent with functional characteristics of these proteins.
Structural Studies with Coactivators for the Estrogen Receptor

Coactivators play essential roles in nuclear receptor-mediated gene transcription. To date, a variety of coactivators have been identified. They can be scaffolding proteins, chromatin remodelers, posttranslational modification enzymes, or RNA splicing factors. Different coactivators are recruited to a nuclear receptor to form large protein complexes at different stages of transcription, and they often act synergistically. Structural analyses on these coactivators and their complex formation with nuclear receptors provide valuable information on understanding nuclear receptor-mediated gene regulation. Here we review recent structural studies on three well-documented nuclear receptor coactivators: steroid receptor coactivators (SRCs), CBP/p300, and CARM1, and their assembly into active DNA-bound estrogen receptor/coactivator complexes for initiation and for the subsequent step of elongation. This review specifically emphasizes the structural interaction within the estrogen receptor (ER) coactivator complex.
The AOTK System Today

The AO Foundation’s Technische Kommission (TK), or Technical Commission, was one of the organization’s outstanding features that went back to the early days. The AO founders created the TK as the body they thought necessary to connect surgical practice and its instruction with the development of the AO Instrumentarium. Although the roles and the size of the TK evolved, it remained a central element to the AO Foundation and how its surgeon members collaborated.
Impact Assessment of a Cooperative Bus-Holding Transit Signal Priority Strategy

In this study, a cooperative Transit Signal Priority (TSP) strategy utilizing transit vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication is proposed and assessed. The proposed Bus-Holding Transit Signal Priority (BHTSP) is implemented and evaluated for a detailed isolated intersection constructed in VISSIM microsimulation software resembling the intersection of Alumni Mall and Main Street in Blacksburg, VA, USA. The impact of the proposed strategy was assessed for Blacksburg Transit vehicles arriving at the major Squires Eastbound bus stop, using high quality data that includes up-to-date vehicle flows, signal timing, transit schedules, and actual transit arrival, departure and dwell times. An advanced vehicle actuated control logic was implemented using the VISSIM COM Application Programming Interface (API) to emulate communications between transit vehicles and signal controller. When a transit vehicle is approaching the bus stop, the transit vehicle that is dwelling at the stop is forced to hold past its dwell time and wait for the upstream vehicle to arrive and dwell, in order to subsequently generate a priority request that would serve more than one transit vehicle convoying from the stop towards the intersection. This strategy results in an improved TSP performance by reducing the number of priority requests, missed TSP calls, and reducing the adverse effects on non-transit traffic at the main arterial. The proposed BHTSP was further fortified by utilizing V2I communications, the Connected BHTSP (C-BHTSP) strategy has resulted in 61% reduction of transit delay in the network compared to the base scenario, alongside a 38% reduction in early green priority requests, reducing the incurred arterial vehicle delay by 32%, and reducing total additional system stops by 51% compared to conventional TSP strategy.
Disease, Disability, and Frailty with Increasing Age

The world’s population will grow older over the next several decades. The aging of the population will have widespread implications on healthcare systems, social services, and economic growth. Age-associated multimorbidity and disability are placing an increasingly greater burden on individuals, communities, healthcare services, and social services. Understanding the changing demographics of the aging population and its consequences is crucial for the development of interventions to reduce disease burden, disability, and associated costs.
Honor and Terrorism: Cultural Origins of the Severity of Terrorist Attacks

Objective Why are some terrorist attacks so much more devastating than others? Despite the importance of this question, few studies examine the great variance in lethality across terrorist incidents. This article proposes that some cultures witness deadlier terrorism. In particular, it maintains that deadlier terrorism will occur in cultures of honor that socialize individuals to view violence as an acceptable means for upholding a reputation for toughness. Cultures of honor produce terrorists motivated by perceived slight and reputational challenges, which they are compelled to rectify through especially severe acts of violence. Reclaiming one's honor is possible by inflicting maximum damage on the offending person or group. Method This argument is empirically tested in a multilevel statistical analysis of domestic terrorism in the United States from 1970 to 2015. Results Clear evidence emerges that terrorism is deadlier in the U.S. South—the quintessential culture of honor—than in the other regions of the United States. Other variables highlighted in the existing literature, however, receive mixed support. Conclusion The evidence presented in this article indicates that cultural variables help explain variation in terrorist attack lethality. Future research on political violence, including terrorism, would benefit from taking culture into greater consideration.
The dark side of the farce: racism in early cinema, 1894–1915

In its title sequences, the Keystone Comedy Studio referred to its films as a “farce comedy.” Farces are supposed to evoke laughter. Yet, from the very first images projected, dark racist images we...
From gene delivery agents to ionic liquids: The impacts of cation structure and anion identity on liquefaction

Abstract Fundamental to the field of ionic liquids is the understanding that structure begets function. In this work, we reported the development of thioether-based ionic liquids, with enhanced hydrophobicity and low melting point (Tm), via the thiol‒yne reaction. Cationic lipids can simply be converted to macroscopically hydrophobic ionic liquids by replacing their native chloride counteranion with Tf2N. Features that specifically increase or decrease fluidity are identified by juxtaposing the wide-ranging Tm values of these highly lipophilic salts with elements of their cation structures. Most importantly, when these Tm-increasing and -decreasing features are incorporated into the same cation, an “averaged” Tm value is observed. These findings may prove to be elements of the “know-how” needed to design functional ionic liquids that liquefy within relatively predictable temperature ranges.
Kölliker-Fuse/Parabrachial complex mu opioid receptors contribute to fentanyl-induced apnea and respiratory rate depression.

Overdoses caused by the opioid agonist fentanyl have increased exponentially in recent years. Identifying mechanisms to counter progression to fatal respiratory apnea during opioid overdose is desirable, but difficult to study in vivo. The pontine Kolliker-Fuse/Parabrachial complex (KF/PB) provides respiratory drive and contains opioid-sensitive neurons. The contribution of the KF/PB complex to fentanyl-induced apnea was investigated using the in situ arterially perfused preparation of rat. Systemic application of fentanyl resulted in concentration-dependent respiratory disturbances. At low concentrations, respiratory rate slowed and subsequently transitioned to an apneustic-like, 2-phase pattern. Higher concentrations caused prolonged apnea, interrupted by occasional apneustic-like bursts. Application of CTAP, a selective mu opioid receptor antagonist, directly into the KF/PB complex reversed and prevented fentanyl-induced apnea by increasing the frequency of apneustic-like bursting. These results demonstrate that countering opioid effects in the KF/PB complex is sufficient to restore phasic respiratory output at a rate similar to pre-fentanyl conditions, which could be beneficial in opioid overdose.
Inertial Energy Dissipation in Shallow-Water Breaking Waves

We present direct numerical simulations of breaking solitary waves in shallow water to quantify the energy dissipation during the active breaking time. We find that this dissipation can be predicted by an inertial model based on Taylor’s hypothesis as a function of the local wave height, depth and the beach slope. We obtain a relationship that gives the dissipation rate of a breaking wave on a shallow slope as a function of local breaking parameters. Next, we use empirical relations to relate the local wave parameters to the offshore conditions. This enables the energy dissipation to be predicted in terms of the initial conditions. We obtain good collapse of the numerical data with respect to the theoretical scaling.
A 5‐HT 1D ‐Receptor Agonist Protects Dravet Syndrome Mice from Seizure and Early Death

Mutations in the SCN1A gene encoding the Nav1.1 sodium channel cause several forms of epilepsy, the most severe is Dravet syndrome (DS). DS patients are at high risk for sudden death and seizures are often triggered by fever or hyperthermia. To improve understanding of how serotonergic ligands might influence DS in this study, we tested several drugs for their effect on hyperthermia-induced seizure using a mouse model of DS consisting of a heterozygous loss of function of Scn1A. We found that a mixed 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist had no effect while a mixed 5-HT1B/D receptor agonist had a modest effect reducing the severity of seizures. Hypothesizing selective agonists may be more effective, we tested selective 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptor agonists, CP-93129 and GR-46611, respectively. Of these GR-46611 significantly increased the threshold of hyperthermia-induced seizure and lowered seizure severity. Given chronically at 1 mg kg-1 day-1 , GR-46611 also significantly improved survival of DS mice. Thus, 5-HT1D -receptors may represent a meaningful target for pharmacotherapy for DS with potential relevance for related forms of epilepsy, particularly those with a known sensory trigger such as heat.
Testing the Interface Hypothesis: heritage speakers’ perception and production of Spanish subject position with unergative and unaccusative verbs

The Interface Hypothesis proposes that the pragmatic-discursive interface with syntax is more vulnerable to crosslinguistic influence than the syntactic-semantic interface [Tsimpli, Ianthi, and Ant...
Abstract 4699: Decline in Arylsulfatase B (ARSB) increases PD-L1 expression in melanoma, hepatic, prostate, and mononuclear cells

Arylsulfatase B (ARSB; N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase) is the enzyme that removes 4-sulfate groups from chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4S) and dermatan sulfate. In previous work, we have shown decline in ARSB with increasing aggressiveness of melanoma cell lines and in association with more aggressive prostate cancers. As ARSB decreases, chondroitin 4-sulfate increases, leading to increased binding of SHP2 (PTP11; non-receptor tyrosine phosphatase) and reduced binding of galectin-3. Subsequent effects include increase in phospho-ERK1/2 and transcriptional effects, including hypermethylation of the DKK3 promoter and reduced expression of DKK (Dickkopf WNT pathway signaling inhibitor) 3, leading to activation of Wnt signaling. Other transcriptional events following silencing of ARSB include: increased expression of CSPG4 and MMP-2 in melanoma cells; increased expression of versican in prostate epithelial cells; increased expression of Wnt9A in colonic epithelial cells; and increased MITF-mediated expression of GPNMB in hepatic cells. Invasiveness of cultured melanoma cells increased when ARSB was silenced by siRNA. To further address the role of ARSB, metastatic melanoma tissue was obtained from the biorepository of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Expression of CSPG4 and MMP2 was increased in the metastatic tissues and SHP2 activity was reduced. When ARSB was silenced by siRNA in cultured normal melanocytes (PCS 200-013, ATCC), Programmed Death-Ligand (PD-L)1 increased from 78 ± 7 pg/mg protein to 128 ± 11 pg/mg protein (ELISA assay; p Citation Format: Joanne Kramer Tobacman, Sumit Bhattacharyya, Leo Feferman. Decline in Arylsulfatase B (ARSB) increases PD-L1 expression in melanoma, hepatic, prostate, and mononuclear cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4699.
Outcomes of systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt for single ventricular heart with extracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

A few studies have described the outcomes of systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt (SPS) for functional single ventricular heart with extracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). This study aimed to examine the outcomes of SPS with extracardiac TAPVC and identify the predictors of mortality before bidirectional Glenn operation (BDG). Medical records of 41 children with single ventricular heart and extracardiac TAPVC who underwent SPS between 1998 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The median age and body weight at SPS were 36 days and 3.4 kg, respectively. Surgical outcomes and predictors of mortality were investigated. Four operative deaths (10%) and 10 late deaths (27%) occurred before BDG. Of all the children, 19 underwent BDG at a median of 10 months since SPS and eight are waiting for BDG. In the multivariate analysis, preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (p = 0.01) at initial surgery was most predictive of death before BDG. Patients who underwent simultaneous SPS and TAPVC repair were younger, had high preoperative rate of pulmonary venous obstruction, and more deaths before BDG. Survival outcomes of SPS for SVH with extracardiac TAPVC were improved as a whole due to the increase in knowledge and technique of management SPS. However, the patients who have preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) and need SPS and TAPVC repair concomitantly in the early postnatal period have poor outcomes and still challenging. In such a case, staged TAPVC repair and SPS may be beneficial.
Orbital Hemorrhagic Necrosis, Globe Rupture, and Death From Intraorbital Injection of 1% Sodium Deoxycholate in a Murine Model.

Purpose Deoxycholic acid (DCA) 1% is an injectable detergent indicated for submental fat reduction, although clinically it is being injected off-label for orbital fat prolapse. It is known to cause severe inflammation, local nerve dysfunction, and tissue necrosis, all of which could be catastrophic in the orbit and periocular region. This study evaluated the effects of periocular DCA on orbital and ocular adnexal tissues in a murine model. Methods Mice were treated via split-face intraorbital injections, subcutaneous injections, and topical cornea application with DCA versus phosphate-buffered saline. Whole heads were fixed, decalcified, and sectioned for orbital histology after 1-7 days. Matched pairs of human globes and mouse globes were immersed in either phosphate-buffered saline or 1% DCA for 72 hours. Results Six of 11 mice receiving intraorbital DCA injections died within minutes. Surviving mice developed severe orbital inflammatory necrosis. All orbits injected with phosphate-buffered saline were clinically and histologically normal. Six mice were treated with lower concentrations of DCA and all developed variable amounts of orbital inflammation, hemorrhage, and globe necrosis. Mice receiving subcutaneous DCA injection to the lower eyelid showed inflammatory necrosis, edema, and lid malposition. Topical application of DCA to mouse corneas caused no external or histologic changes. Human and mouse globes immersed ex vivo in DCA developed corneal edema and cataract formation without observable scleral changes. Conclusion Intraorbital and periocular injection of DCA can cause devastating complications in a murine model, and significant caution is advised for off-label use in the periocular region.
An Efficient Resource Allocation Scheme With Optimal Node Placement in IoT-Fog-Cloud Architecture

Internet of Everything (IoE) encompasses smart devices, users, applications, and services through the internet with digital features. Fog Computing is a recent emergent that bridges the gap between cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to provide services at the network edge. Communication and deployment of fog nodes in a network rely on the type of application and service request. With the prominent features exhibited by the fog nodes, this manuscript proposes an Efficient Resource Allocation (RA) with Optimal Node Placement (ONP) for delay-controlled communications in the IoE environment. Resource allocation is facilitated by defining a profit function that must be achieved for controlling resource exploitation. The deployment of less density fog nodes will adhere to the available resources and aids service reliability by increasing seamlessness in communication. The nodes’ dual-feature is utilized at resource allocation, such that communication delays and cost less. IoE terminals and fog nodes’ advantages are assimilated to ensure appropriate non-delay tolerant seamless service provided to the encompassed user from the desired platform or infrastructure. The idea of administering fog nodes based on their behavior ensures less complex service provisioning and ease of access.
A Comparative Study of Tilmicosin and Long-acting Oxytetracycline in the Treatment of Calfhood Respiratory Disease

The therapeutic efficacy of two long-acting antibiotics was investigated in the treatment of respiratory disease of young female dairy calves less than 90 days of age.
Mutations in PBP2 from ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae alter the dynamics of the β3–β4 loop to favor a low-affinity drug-binding state

Resistance to the extended-spectrum cephalosporin ceftriaxone in the pathogenic bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae is conferred by mutations in penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2), the lethal target of the antibiotic, but how these mutations exert their effect at the molecular level is unclear. Using solution NMR, X-ray crystallography, and isothermal titration calorimetry, we report that WT PBP2 exchanges dynamically between a low-affinity state with an extended β3–β4 loop conformation and a high-affinity state with an inward β3–β4 loop conformation. Histidine-514, which is located at the boundary of the β4 strand, plays an important role during the exchange between these two conformational states. We also find that mutations present in PBP2 from H041, a ceftriaxone-resistant strain of N. gonorrhoeae, increase resistance to ceftriaxone by destabilizing the inward β3–β4 loop conformation or stabilizing the extended β3–β4 loop conformation to favor the low-affinity drug-binding state. These observations reveal a unique mechanism for ceftriaxone resistance, whereby mutations in PBP2 lower the proportion of target molecules in the high-affinity drug-binding state and thus reduce inhibition at lower drug concentrations.
Isolation and Characterization of RNA Produced in Response to Antigen

We have begun a program to isolate from lymphocytes of mice messenger RNAs specific for the synthesis of antibodies. To do this, specific messenger RNA must be separated from the bulk RNA and must be distinguished from the other messenger RNAs present. The technique of double labeling and methylated albumin-kieselguhr (MAK) column chromatography (Kano-Sueoka and Spiegelman, 1962) have enabled us to approach these problems and we have succeeded in identifying RNAs from mouse spleens elicited specifically by immunization with either of two antigens, namely sheep red blood cells or chicken red blood cells. These RNAs, we believe, may represent messenger RNAs for the synthesis of specific antibodies.
A Kiss and a PRomise.

The discovery eleven years ago that deleterious mutations in the gene encoding the kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R) cause a failure of normal pubertal development in humans (1, 2) has propelled an entire field of neuroendocrine research focused on understanding how the ligand for this receptor, kisspeptin, regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Hypothalamic kisspeptin potently stimulates GnRH secretion and the subsequent release of LH and FSH from the pituitary (3,–10). Kisspeptin neurons act as essential relay points to the GnRH neurons, integrating feedback from steroid hormones (7, 11, 12), circadian inputs (13,–17), and metabolic signals (18,–23).
An Aquatic Microbial Metaproteomics Workflow: From Cells to Tryptic Peptides Suitable for Tandem Mass Spectrometry-based Analysis

Meta-omic technologies such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics can aid in the understanding of microbial community structure and metabolism. Although powerful, metagenomics alone can only elucidate functional potential. On the other hand, metaproteomics enables the description of the expressed in situ metabolism and function of a community. Here we describe a protocol for cell lysis, protein and DNA isolation, as well as peptide digestion and extraction from marine microbial cells collected on a cartridge filter unit (such as the Sterivex filter unit) and preserved in an RNA stabilization solution (like RNAlater). In mass spectrometry-based proteomics studies, the identification of peptides and proteins is performed by comparing peptide tandem mass spectra to a database of translated nucleotide sequences. Including the metagenome of a sample in the search database increases the number of peptides and proteins that can be identified from the mass spectra. Hence, in this protocol DNA is isolated from the same filter, which can be used subsequently for metagenomic analysis.