cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluoroquinolones stimulate the DNA cleavage activity of topoisomerase IV by promoting the binding of Mg2 + to the second metal binding site

Abstract Background Fluoroquinolones target bacterial type IIA topoisomerases, DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV (Topo IV). Fluoroquinolones trap a topoisomerase–DNA covalent complex as a topoisomerase–fluoroquinolone–DNA ternary complex and ternary complex formation is critical for their cytotoxicity. A divalent metal ion is required for type IIA topoisomerase-catalyzed strand breakage and religation reactions. Recent studies have suggested that type IIA topoisomerases use two metal ions, one structural and one catalytic, to carry out the strand breakage reaction. Methods We conducted a series of DNA cleavage assays to examine the effects of fluoroquinolones and quinazolinediones on Mg2 +-, Mn2 +-, or Ca2 +-supported DNA cleavage activity of Escherichia coli Topo IV. Results In the absence of any drug, 20–30 mM Mg2 + was required for the maximum levels of the DNA cleavage activity of Topo IV, whereas approximately 1 mM of either Mn2 + or Ca2 + was sufficient to support the maximum levels of the DNA cleavage activity of Topo IV. Fluoroquinolones promoted the Topo IV-catalyzed strand breakage reaction at low Mg2 + concentrations where Topo IV alone could not efficiently cleave DNA. Conclusions and general significance At low Mg2 + concentrations, fluoroquinolones may stimulate the Topo IV-catalyzed strand breakage reaction by promoting Mg2 + binding to metal binding site B through the structural distortion in DNA. As Mg2 + concentration increases, fluoroquinolones may inhibit the religation reaction by either stabilizing Mg2 + at site B or inhibition the binding of Mg2 + to site A. This study provides a molecular basis of how fluoroquinolones stimulate the Topo IV-catalyzed strand breakage reaction by modulating Mg2 + binding.
A theoretical and experimental investigation into the prerotation ofaircraft tires

Excessive tire wear due to the spin-up of tires a t landing has forced NASA to abandon space shuttle landings on the concrete runway at the Kennedy Space Center in favor of the dry lake beds of Edwards Air Force Base. This cxccssive tire w a r , causcd by large landing speeds and tire loads, will likely gct worse with the even heavier and faster aircraft of the next century such as the National Aerospace Plane. This paper investigates the feasibility of using the frcestream air flow around the lowered 1;mding gear of an aircraft to acrodynamically rotate tha t aircraft's tires prior to landing; thus reducing wear on the tires. Wind tunnel expcrimcnts were performcd on a model whcel and the results scaled to predict shuttle wheel performance. The experimentation and aualysis showed that aerodynamic inducement of rotation prior t o landing is a feasible option for the space shuttle and may rcsult in a 50% rcduction of tire wear. Such a reduction would enable the shuttle to resume la,ndings at the Kennedy Space Center. Various references indicate that the prerotation devices might find useful application in commercial aviation through thc reduction of landing gear strut dynamic loads, runway pollution, and tire wear. Finallv. these devices could liavc a rolc in allcviating the AFI
“I Did It All Online:” Transgender identity and the management of everyday life

ABSTRACTInformed by ethnographic work with transgender individuals and communities in the Midwest and San Francisco, this article explores the relationship between technology and transgender identity. It examines the possibilities for self-recognition that transgender audiences had before the era of the internet. Then, through a case study of a transgender person, it engages in a close analysis of what it means to transition gender in online environments. Drawing from Heidegger's (1962. Being and time. New York: Harper Perennial) phenomenology of technology, I argue that technology has become increasingly “ready-to-hand”—available, participatory, and taken-for-granted—for transgender individuals. In particular, the internet has created virtual “counterpublics” (Warner, 2002. Publics and counterpublics. Brooklyn: Zone Books) that furnish feelings of belonging and ideological affiliation, as well as “care structures” (Scannell, 2014. Television and the meaning of live: An enquiry into the human situation. C...
Carbofuran Persistence in Soil and Adult Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysornelidae) Susceptibility: Relationship to the Control of Damage by Larvae

The relationship between control of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte feeding damage and both chemical persistence of carbofuran in soil and adult susceptibility to carbofuran was studied. A significant correlation was found between 50% disappearance time (DT-50%) for carbofuran and the percentage of reduction of feeding damage. Carbofuran persistence curves exhibited either lag or nonlag periods. The nonlag pattern was associated with repeated annual use of carbofuran and low effectiveness. When DT-50% was less than 20 days, control of D. v. virgifera was <50% in most fields. Adults collected from the field plots showed an increase in tolerance to carbofuran from previously reported levels, but there was no correlation between percentage of control and LD50 between 1980 and 1982. Bioassay of adult bettles was not a good indicator for determining if the development of resistance to carbofuran had affected control of larval feeding damage.
A Note on Emergent Folk Cultures and World Culture Change

Transitional society as a type characteristically postpones social decision through the social and personal mechanisms discussed above. This property is the clue to the deep-seated social problems of complex, changing societies-the "problem" societies which seem to weave intricate patterns of irrationality as they submit to change in the very process of denying change. But what can we learn from our general analysis that is of significance for contemporary "problem" societies? First, in the concept of social indecision we possess a tool for understanding the basic obstacles to change and development in modern societies and for predicting the probability of genuine change in specific societies. Second, the analysis of social indecision in the transitional type enables us to explain the difficulties and the limitations of modern planning ventures. To a large extent, social indecision underlies indifference to the need for planning and to particular planning mechanisms. A possible consequence of these insights is, third, a more sociologically relevant approach to social planning in modern transitional societies. The technical perfection of planning programs constitutes a mere theoretical exercise unless social indecision and its bases are recognized by planners. Basic to planning, our analysis suggests, is competent research on the degree of social indecision, its structural components, and the conditions which support its continuation. Thus, a preparatory phase of planning should emphasize the necessity for social decision, the confrontation of a given society with a long-neglected reality: its major problems, its resources, its limitations, its underlying goals and needs. Social planning may then become an evolving, informed strategy for controlling the process of change by selecting acceptable potentialities of development and by guiding transitional society to a more stable equilibrium that can withstand the impact of further, unplanned innovations.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) short protocol, but not hMG alone, rescues the corpus luteum from the preceding cycle*†

Objective To determine whether ovulation induction regimens, particularly the short protocol, has an effect on the corpus luteum (CL) from the previous cycle. Design Infertility patients were followed in an academic research environment. Patients were treated with either the short protocol (GnRH agonist [GnRH-a] and hMG) or hMG alone in a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycle. Setting Infertility center in academic setting. Patients Patients requiring ovulation induction. Interventions The blood samples were drawn on day 2 or 3 as a baseline before initiation of any treatments, generally on day 5 and usually every other day thereafter until ovulation. Serum P, E 2 , and relaxin were determined. Main Outcome Measures Serum P, E 2 , and relaxin. Results Patients receiving hMG alone showed no change in serum P levels in the first few days of treatment whereas most short-protocol patients (18/30; 60%) showed an increase of P within 3days of the initiation of treatment. The increase in P almost always was associated with an increase in relaxin as a marker of the luteal production of this P. Conclusion The short protocol with its flare of gonadotropins is able to stimulate the CL from the previous cycle, resulting in an early increase in P that comes from the CL as indicated by its association with an increased relaxin in the same subjects.
Dingxi area during the rural drinking water safety engineering water quality monitoring analysis

Objective The purpose of strengthening rural drinking water safety engineering evaluation of hygiene and quality of health monitoring, explore the establishment of water-borne diseases,evaluation,prediction system.Methods access to information,on-site view and the investigation,telephone verification to add,etc,fill out a questionnaire formulated by the state unity.Collecting dry season,wet period water samples,testing and general chemical indicators of sensory properties,toxicological indicators,bacteriological indicators and related indicators and disinfection 20.Results The safe drinking water projects in rural areas accounted for 55.56%surface water,groundwater,water engineering for the proportion of 44.45%.Supplying engineering design approach with a larger proportion of ground water,Designed with a smaller proportion of total treatment works,some of the works deal with a larger proportion. Rural drinking water safety project of the city's overall pass rate for the water quality of 50%.Conclusion It is suggested a high degree of emphasis on rural drinking water safety issues:First,to increase awareness of the problem of rural drinking water safety.The second is to effectively raise the masses of peasants drinking water safety awareness,to develop good health habits to prevent the spread of diseases.Third,water quality monitoring is an important means to protect drinking water safety.First,the most rural drinking water project fails to request to undertake alexipharmic handling off-work water,water,water factory residual chlorine index unqualified,existing out-of-specification microbiology indicators.Second,rural drinking water project in water,water treatment process planning design and completion acceptance stage,hygiene,quality evaluation health is not up to standard operation situation of problems began.Third,the supply of rural drinking water project quality health management to be strengthened.Highly suggested rural drinking water safety problems:one is to improve rural drinking water safety awareness of the problem.Two is to enhance the peasants of drinking water safety consciousness,develop good health habits,to prevent the spread of disease.Three is the water quality monitoring is an important means to ensure the safe drinking water.
Nanning Railway area rabies vaccine investigation and analysis

Objective To understand the residents of Nanning Railway case of rabies vaccination.Method Area of Nanning Railway CDC vaccination clinics from 2007 to 2009,rabies vaccination were conducted a survey and analysis.Results In recent years,Nanning Railway area in the number of rabies vaccination is not change,but women vaccinated than male;age distribution of mainly 21 to 50 age group more,about the number of annual vaccination 63.26%- 68.70%,followed by 10 to 20 year age group,accounting for 17.22 to 19.73%,while the children(10 years) and elderly(50 years) were relatively less;injury can be properly disinfected in time,about 65.7%-84.1%.Conclusion The people's basic treatment of rabies,health care protection awareness greatly enhanced.In order to prevent "problems vaccine," lead to undesirable consequences,it is recommended rabies vaccine in the rabies virus after vaccination antibody testing,if the body not to produce a protective antibody against rabies virus,should be re-vaccinated with rabies vaccine or strengthened to ensure the vaccine.
The Unsung Virtues of Ligaments

Ligaments are often overlooked or disdained while attention focuses on muscles, vessels, and nerves. Yet ligaments are often more important than muscles, and in some places where muscles are given the credit, unassuming ligaments carry the entire burden of responsibility. Since their demands are small, we tend to overlook their virtues.
A Room Temperature Ultrasensitive Magnetoelectric Susceptometer for Quantitative Tissue Iron Detection

Iron is a trace mineral that plays a vital role in the human body. However, absorbing and accumulating excessive iron in body organs (iron overload) can damage or even destroy an organ. Even after many decades of research, progress on the development of noninvasive and low-cost tissue iron detection methods is very limited. Here we report a recent advance in a room-temperature ultrasensitive biomagnetic susceptometer for quantitative tissue iron detection. The biomagnetic susceptometer exploits recent advances in the magnetoelectric (ME) composite sensors that exhibit an ultrahigh AC magnetic sensitivity under the presence of a strong DC magnetic field. The first order gradiometer based on piezoelectric and magnetostrictive laminate (ME composite) structure shows an equivalent magnetic noise of 0.99 nT/rt Hz at 1 Hz in the presence of a DC magnetic field of 0.1 Tesla and a great common mode noise rejection ability. A prototype magnetoelectric liver susceptometry has been demonstrated with liver phantoms. The results indicate its output signals to be linearly responsive to iron concentrations from normal iron dose (0.05 mg Fe/g liver phantom) to 5 mg Fe/g liver phantom iron overload (100X overdose). The results here open up many innovative possibilities for compact-size, portable, cost-affordable, and room-temperature operated medical systems for quantitative determinations of tissue iron.
A deep-submicrometer MOSFET model for analog/digital circuit simulations

An accurate drain current model for deep-submicrometers MOSFETs down to the L/sub eff/=0.25 mu m for digital as well as analog applications has been developed. The model is based on the recently improved physical understanding of deep-submicron MOS devices. Care has been taken to retain the basic functional from fully physical models while improving model accuracy and computational efficiency. The ease of parameter extraction was also a major consideration. In addition to the effects commonly included in MOSFET current equation, the inversion-layer capacitance effect, hot-electron-induced output-resistance degradation, and source/drain parasitic resistance effect have been taken into account. >
College Students, Technology, and Time

Time management is important for all undergraduates, and especially nontraditional and commuter students who have considerable responsibilities outside of school and must make time for travel to and from campus. Students use technology to create or extend time, using mobile devices to fit their academic work into times and locations that are most available to them. Urban commuter students can take advantage of time spent on public transportation, though internet access is not always guaranteed. However, digital technology can also constrain time and make it difficult for students to accomplish their schoolwork. The requirement for many students to plan their schedules around the availability of fixed technology in a shared space can waste students’ time, making it more challenging for them to complete their coursework.
Developing a collaboration framework for global health events using technology

Global spreads of epidemics present new opportunities for collaboration because an unprecedented public health event involves various people and organisations. With such a complexity, a system for managing an epidemic outbreak would call for the understanding of related processes and operations before individuals or organisations could collaborate with each other based on their information, knowledge or expertise. However, this much-needed integration for collaboration is lacking in previous research. Hence, based on coordination theory, this research investigated required collaborations across organisations under a public health event. The research unveiled its characteristics by analysing the nature of a pandemic, and captured its complexity by identifying and structuring necessary constituents. It is articulated how such a collaboration can be structured on a conceptual level into a sense-and-respond framework, and operated to satisfy needed responses, thereby facilitating at-stake organisations by better managing public health events. In particular, technology's usage advantage inspired by the framework collaboration are delineated. Additionally, aspects of governance and project management are portrayed, and a case regarding various scenarios of how technologies can be potentially used in line with or integrated in the framework components is elaborated.
Using Stylometry to Attribute Programmers and Writers

In this talk, I will discuss my lab's work in the emerging field of adversarial stylometry and machine learning. Machine learning algorithms are increasingly being used in security and privacy domains, in areas that go beyond intrusion or spam detection. For example, in digital forensics, questions often arise about the authors of documents: their identity, demographic background, and whether they can be linked to other documents. The field of stylometry uses linguistic features and machine learning techniques to answer these questions. We have applied stylometry to difficult domains such as underground hacker forums, open source projects (code), and tweets. I will discuss our Doppelgnger Finder algorithm, which enables us to group Sybil accounts on underground forums and detect blogs from Twitter feeds and reddit comments. In addition, I will discuss our work attributing unknown source code and binaries.
Endotoxemia induces lung-brain coupling and multi-organ injury following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion

Post-ischemic neurodegeneration remains the principal cause of mortality following cardiac resuscitation. Recent studies have implicated gastrointestinal ischemia in the sepsis-like response associated with the post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). However, the extent to which the resulting low-grade endotoxemia present in up to 86% of resuscitated patients affects cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury has not been investigated. Here we report that a single injection of low-dose lipopolysaccharide (50μg/kg, IP) delivered after global cerebral ischemia (GCI) induces blood-brain barrier permeability, microglial activation, cortical injury, and functional decline in vivo, compared to ischemia alone. And while GCI was sufficient to induce neutrophil (PMN) activation and recruitment to the post-ischemic CNS, minimal endotoxemia exhibited synergistic effects on markers of systemic inflammation including PMN priming, lung damage, and PMN burden within the lung and other non-ischemic organs including the kidney and liver. Our findings predict that acute interventions geared towards blocking the effects of serologically occult endotoxemia in survivors of cardiac arrest will limit delayed neurodegeneration, multi-organ dysfunction and potentially other features of PCAS. This work also introduces lung-brain coupling as a novel therapeutic target with broad effects on innate immune priming and post-ischemic neurodegeneration following cardiac arrest and related cerebrovascular conditions.
Bubble morphology in U3Si2 implanted by high-energy Xe ions at 300 °C

Abstract The microstructure modifications of a high-energy Xe implanted U 3 Si 2 , a promising accident tolerant fuel candidate, were characterized and are reported upon. The U 3 Si 2 pellet was irradiated at Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) by an 84 MeV Xe ion beam at 300 °C. The irradiated specimen was then investigated using a series of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. A dense distribution of bubbles were observed near the range of the 84 MeV Xe ions. Xe gas was also found to accumulate at multiple types of sinks, such as dislocations and grain boundaries. Bubbles aggregated at those sinks are slightly larger than intragranular bubbles in lattice. At 300 °C, the gaseous swelling strain is limited as all the bubbles are below 10 nm, implying the promising fission gas behavior of U 3 Si 2 under normal operating conditions in light water reactors (LWRs).
Developmental Neurotoxicology of Antiepileptic Drugs

Abstract Of the more than 30 drugs approved for the treatment of seizure disorders, only 6 medications have been evaluated for their safety in regard to the developing human brain and behavior following human gestational exposure. The clinical research findings for these medications (phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid, lamotrigine, and levetiracetam) when used in the monotherapeutic treatment of pregnant women with seizure disorders are reviewed, and from studies using animal models, information is presented on the nature and origin of the effects on the developing nervous system. This review suggests that valproic acid is the most potent with respect to developmental neurotoxicity and that phenobarbital and carbamazepine are also associated with adverse neurobehavioral teratogenic effects. Limited data on the newest medications, lamotrigine and levetiracetam, suggest relative safety. The neurobehavioral effects appear to be mediated by teratogenic impact upon critical developmental processes of neurogenesis, migration, apoptosis, and synaptogenesis.
Neural Networks and Motor Control

Motor control is accomplished by the cooperative interaction of many brain networks, among which the motor cortex holds a central place. This article reviews some of the structural and functional properties of neurons of the motor cortical network, some principles of connectivity with other motor networks, the handling of spatial information regarding reaching movements, and some ideas on how motor cortical commands could be translated to muscle activations by spinal motor networks. Finally, I review recent neural network modeling studies of motor cortical ensemble operations.
Dynamic Fracture Toughness of SA533 Grade A Class 2 Base Plate and Weldments

Dynamic fracture toughness tests were performed on four base plate heats and six weldments of SA533 Gr A Cl 2 pressure vessel steel. Linear elastic K 1 d results were obtained at low temperatures while J-integral techniques were utilized to evaluate dynamic toughness over the transition and upper shelf temperature ranges. Loading rates in terms of K were on the order of 2 to 4 x 10 4 ksi in./s (2.2 to 4.4 x 10 4 MPa m/s). Charpy and drop weight nil-ductility transition (NDT) tests were performed to permit a comparison of toughness results with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code reference toughness K I R curve. Dynamic instrumented precracked Charpy tests on base plate material were included for a comparison with compact toughness (CT) specimen results. All dynamic fracture-toughness values of SA533 Gr A Cl 2 base, weld, and heat affected zone (HAZ) material exceeded the ASME code reference toughness K I R curve. Fracture-toughness values obtained via small specimen dynamic J I d tests (1.0 in. (2.5 cm) thick CT specimens) compared well with previously developed large specimen K I d values. Dynamic instrumented precracked Charpy toughness values were also comparable at low temperatures but failed to meet minimum J specimen size limitations midway into the transition-temperature range. At this point, Charpy toughness values increased dramatically compared to J I d results meeting a 25 J I d /σ/size criterion and, thus, should not be considered a valid representation of fracture toughness. True upper shelf dynamic fracture-toughness results are also presented. The point of crack initiation (which provides the minimum measured value of J I d ) was identified rather than the typical maximum load point.
Health Policy and Smoking and Tobacco Use

In the 1990s, public and governmental attitudes toward tobacco use are dramatically different in comparison to the attitudes of the 1950s and before. Smoking then was widely perceived as a mark of sophistication and a natural accompaniment of work and play. In the 1990s, smoking is seen as an unhealthful behavior that is increasingly unacceptable in social settings (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 1989). The evidence that smoking poses a serious health risk is relatively recent in origin. Although studies demonstrating health risks associated with smoking date back to the 1920s, tobacco use was not widely accepted as dangerous until publication of the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health (DHHS, 1989). That report stated in unequivocal terms that “cigarette smoking is a health hazard of sufficient importance in the United States to warrant appropriate remedial action” (U.S. Public Health Service, 1964).
Optimal design of a distributed energy resource system that economically reduces carbon emissions

Abstract Distributed energy resources (DER) are commonly associated with reduced CO2e emissions. The decision to design such a system that reduces emissions typically results in increased costs. In order to economically select and operate a DER system that also reduces CO2e emissions, a mixed integer linear program for sizing and dispatching a DER system was developed and used with real data to determine the optimal DER design that reduces emissions at the lowest cost. The optimization program includes a novel formulation of constraints that govern utility natural gas, generator operation, and interaction with fleet vehicles. The results show that the least expensive way of reducing CO2e is through the use of renewable gas in a conventional combined heat and power engine (i.e., a gas turbine), resulting in a cost to reduce emissions of between $120 and $150 per CO2e tonne. Reducing emissions further requires the adoption of higher efficiency generators, or renewable generators, increasing cost of CO2e by up to $475 per tonne. Allowing for electrical export and the offset of grid operations results in the purchase of less energy storage, reducing the cost of CO2e to $190 per tonne under retail electricity rates, or $230 per tonne when the DER operator sends excess renewables back to the utility grid for free. Finally optimization results for this particular case indicate that changes to the transportation system occur last since the marginal costs of changing fleet vehicles is highest versus the CO2e reduction benefit.
Principles of Clinical Research

A general understanding of clinical research is necessary both to thoughtfully read orthopedic literature and to contribute to literature by conducting research. This chapter addresses the different types of clinical research, as well as the definitions of the various levels of evidence. Then, a brief history of regulatory guidelines pertaining to human research is provided, along with an overview of current regulatory mechanisms. Other general considerations such as funding sources and challenges of conducting research are also addressed. Finally, a primer of basic statistical principles and calculations frequently used in clinical research is included at the end of the chapter.
Spring-loaded inverted pendulum goes through two contraction-extension cycles during the single stance phase of walking

Despite the overall complexity of legged locomotion, the motion of the center of mass (COM) itself is relatively simple, and can be qualitatively described by simple mechanical models. The spring-loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP) is one such model, and describes both the COM motion and the ground reaction forces (GRFs) during running. Similarly, walking can be modeled by two SLIP-like legs (double SLIP or DSLIP). However, DSLIP has many limitations and is unlikely to serve as a quantitative model for walking. As a first step to obtaining a quantitative model for walking, we explored the ability of SLIP to model the single stance phase of walking across the entire range of walking speeds. We show that SLIP can be employed to quantitatively model the single stance phase except for two exceptions: first, it predicts larger horizontal GRFs than empirically observed. A new model, angular and radial spring-loaded inverted pendulum (ARSLIP), can overcome this deficit. Second, even the single stance phase has active elements, and therefore a quantitative model of locomotion would require active elements. Surprisingly, the leg spring undergoes a contraction-extension-contraction-extension (CECE) during walking; this cycling is partly responsible for the M-shaped GRFs produced during walking. The CECE cycle also lengthens the stance duration allowing the COM to travel passively for a longer time, and decreases the velocity redirection between the beginning and end of a step. A combination of ARSLIP along with active mechanisms during transition from one step to the next is necessary to describe walking.
Towards a Framework for Transdisciplinary Problem Solving

We live in trying times because of the rapid convergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, brain-like computer chips, bio-engineering, intelligent pharmacology. At the same time, we live with complex societal problems related to issues including global warming, hunger, and aging. The collision of these factors means that we face many serious ethical issues in our daily lives, which often leads to a myopic and self-centered view of the world. Indeed, as we struggle to balance our own dreams and needs, we often forget that we are members of the whole. This article is an attempt to use a transdisciplinary approach to tackle the complex issues in our world by seeking a methodological framework that uses the best aspects from multiple disciplines. The desired end result is a solution that can bridge the profound (higher consciousness) and the practical (innovation) in a way that empowers us to direct our lives in ways that will honor the whole.
Examination of the interaction between method of anesthesia and shunting with carotid endarterectomy

Abstract Background Although the choice of anesthesia during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) does not seem to increase the risk of perioperative stroke, it might affect the outcomes of shunting during CEA. This study aims to evaluate whether the choice of anesthesia modifies the association between shunting and in-hospital stroke/death after CEA. Methods We retrospective reviewed all CEA cases performed between 2003 and 2017 in the Vascular Quality Initiative. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) no shunting during CEA (n = 29,227 [48.4%]), (2) routine shunting (n = 28,673 [47.5%]), and (3) selective shunting based on an intraoperative indication (n = 2499 [4.1%]). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to study the interaction between anesthesia (local anesthesia [LA]/regional anesthesia [RA] vs general anesthesia [GA]) and intraoperative shunting (no shunting vs routine and selective shunting) during CEA in predicting the risk of in-hospital stroke/death after CEA. Results The final cohort included 60,399 patients. The majority of CEA cases (90.2%) were performed under GA. Of the study cohort, 29,227 (48.4%) underwent CEA without shunting, 28,673 patients (47.5%) had routine shunting, and the remaining (n = 2499 [4.1%]) were selectively shunted. The interaction between intraoperative shunting and anesthesia in predicting in-hospital stroke/death was statistically significant (P Conclusions The use of LA/RA is associated with increased odds of stroke/death compared with GA when intraoperative shunting is performed. The effect of anesthesia is more pronounced in patients who develop clamp-related ischemia and undergo selective shunting. More controlled studies are needed to explain these findings and validate them.
Evaluation of phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium content in commercially available foods formulated for healthy cats

Author(s): Summers, Stacie C; Stockman, Jonathan; Larsen, Jennifer A; Zhang, Lei; Rodriguez, Anais Sanchez | Abstract: BackgroundHigh dietary phosphorus (P) and low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (Ca:P) are associated with kidney damage in cats. There are no established guidelines for dietary P maximum for cats.ObjectivesTo quantify crude protein, P, Ca, and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in cat foods and compare among food formats (dry, canned, raw), primary protein ingredients, protein concentrations (low, moderate, high), grain-free versus grain-containing foods, foods intended for adult maintenance versus all life stages, and cost.SamplesEighty-two commercial nonprescription cat foods.MethodsDescriptive study. Mineral concentrations were measured using inductively coupled argon plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Crude protein was measured using the Dumas nitrogen combustion method. Mineral and crude protein concentrations were compared among food categories.ResultsTwenty-seven foods contained ≥3.6 g P/1000 kcal metabolizable energy (ME), of which 7 exceeded 4.8 g/1000 kcal ME. Thirteen foods had low Ca:P ratio (≤1.0). The low-protein diet group had no products ≥3.6 g P/1000 kcal ME, which was significantly different compared to the high-protein diet group (52% of products had ≥3.6 g P/1000 kcal ME; P = .01). No significant differences in P content and Ca:P ratio were found among other diet categories. Canned foods had significantly lower Mg compared to dry (P l .001) and raw (P = .007) foods. Declared minimum P and Ca were significantly lower than analyzed concentrations (P = .0005 and P = .003, respectively).Conclusions and clinical importanceThe high number of foods with high P and low Ca suggest that pet food regulatory reform should be considered.
A Data-Driven Justification for Dedicated Dynamic Pricing for Residences-Based Plug-in Electric Vehicles in Wind Energy-Rich Electricity Grids

Supply curtailment in wind energy-rich electricity grids occurs when electric energy supply exceeds demand. Grid-level energy storage assets with the potential for storing the excess electric energy generated from wind are yet cost-prohibitive and prone to inefficiencies. An alternative for managing this excess energy is the targeted charging of available plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The different power requirements, load duration, and times of usage requires PEVs to be treated differently. Consequently, using a universal pricing mechanism may not lead to the maximum benefit for the utility and the consumers, especially when trying to rely on charging PEVs with wind energy. In this study, we use a data-driven approach to investigate an existing pricing mechanism for a city (Austin, Texas) in a wind energy-rich electricity grid (ERCOT) and with high projections of PEVs. The study provides a general framework for the wind energy-rich utilities to better evaluate their profitability and the benefits of the consumers. In our case study, the results indicate the need for an alternative pricing mechanism (e.g., time-of-use) dedicated to PEVs than the existing choices for maximizing the utility of available energy from wind in the absence of grid-level energy storage.
Public attitudes toward urban foxes and coyotes: the roles of perceived risks and benefits, political ideology, ecological worldview, and attention to local news about urban wildlife

This paper examines public attitudes toward urban red foxes and coyotes in Madison, Wisconsin (US), and the roles that perceived risks and benefits, attention to local news about urban wildlife, po...
Gatekeepers of Engineering Workforce Diversity? The Academic and Employment Returns to Student Participation in Voluntary Cooperative Education Programs

This study examines the effect of participation in cooperative education (co-op) programs on engineering undergraduate students’ academic and employment outcomes, with particular attention to diversity in engineering. Co-ops are partnerships between an academic institution and an employer designed to engage students in early practical work experience through rotations of full-time employment and full-time traditional classroom study. Previous studies highlight the positive academic and employment returns to participating in co-ops. However, among voluntary co-ops, it is unclear to what extent these potential benefits can be attributed to the causal effect of engagement in co-ops versus the selection of higher-performing students. This study addresses this selection issue by using propensity score matching. Data come from 12 cohorts of engineering undergraduate students from a large, research-intensive institution in the Midwest. Results indicate that co-op participants are more likely to graduate in an engineering major and to have higher overall grade point averages compared to their non-co-op peers. On average, co-op participants are also more likely to obtain engineering jobs and to earn higher starting salaries post-graduation than their non-co-op peers. Although Hispanic/Latino students are less likely to participate in co-ops, underrepresented racially minoritized students who complete co-ops are more likely to graduate in engineering and to earn higher starting salaries post-graduation than those who do not participate. Research findings provide support for promoting co-ops as a potential strategy to help improve student academic and employment outcomes with implications for potentially diversifying the engineering workforce downstream.
Pleiotropic effects of mdivi-1 in altering mitochondrial dynamics, respiration, and autophagy in cardiomyocytes

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that constantly undergo fission and fusion events to adapt to changes in the cellular environment. Aberrant mitochondrial fission has been associated with several types of cardiovascular dysfunction; inhibition of pathologically aberrant mitochondrial fission has been shown to be cardioprotective. Pathological fission is mediated by the excessive activation of GTPase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), making it an attractive therapeutic target in numerous cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondrial division inhibitor (mdivi-1) is widely used small molecule reported to inhibit Drp1-dependent fission, elongate mitochondria, and mitigate injury. The purpose of our study was to understand the pleiotropic effects of mdivi-1 on mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial respiration, electron transport activities, and macro-autophagy. In this study, we found that mdivi-1 treatment decreased Drp1 expression, proteolytically cleaved L-OPA1, and altered the expression of OXPHOS complex proteins, resulting in increased superoxide production. The altered expression of OXPHOS complex proteins may be directly associated with decreased Drp1 expression, as Drp1 siRNA knockdown in cardiomyocytes showed similar effects. Results from an autophagy flux assay showed that mdivi-1 induced impaired autophagy flux that could be restored by Atg7 overexpression, suggesting that mdivi-1 mediated inhibition of macro-autophagy in cardiomyocytes. Treatment with mdivi-1 resulted in increased expression of p62, which is required for Atg7 overexpression-induced rescue of mdivi-1-mediated impaired autophagy flux. In addition, mdivi-1-dependent proteolytic processing of L-OPA1 was associated with increased mitochondrial superoxide production and altered expression of mitochondrial serine/proteases. Overall, the novel pleiotropic effect of mdivi-1 in cardiomyocytes included proteolytically cleaved L-OPA1, altered expression of OXPHOS complex proteins, and increased superoxide production, which together resulted in defects in mitochondrial respiration and inhibition of macro-autophagy.
Practical Implementation of Adaptive Threshold Energy Detection using Software Defined Radio

Spectrum awareness is a fundamental characteristic of cognitive radio, and spectrum sensing is the local procedure by which the cognitive radio gains knowledge of spectrum users. Energy detection is the most widely used and widely studied form of spectrum sensing. Much of the information about energy detector performance comes from theory and simulation rather than experimental data. We acknowledge a need for empirical data that can be used to evaluate a hardware energy detector and establish expectations on the differences in performance when comparing a hardware energy detector with simulations. In this article, we build and test a real-time, adaptive threshold energy detector using a USRP software-defined radio (SDR). While several groups have built energy detectors using SDRs, we found that there is still a lack of data on the parameters and performance characteristics of SDR-based energy detectors. Our work covers in detail the construction of the SDR energy detector and includes specific hardware and software parameters as well as several practical considerations. We discuss the procedure used to benchmark the energy detector and include experimental results that show how several implementation parameters affect the detector performance. Our work also explores the use of moving average windows to formulate the detection statistic and focuses on the importance of the length of the window as well as the shape of the window.
Outdoor Residential Water Use Restrictions during Recent Drought Suppressed Disease Vector Abundance in Southern California

The California state government put restrictions on outdoor residential water use, including landscape irrigation, during the 2012-2016 drought. The public health implications of these actions are largely unknown, particularly with respect to mosquito-borne disease transmission. While residential irrigation facilitates persistence of mosquitoes by increasing the availability of standing water, few studies have investigated its effects on vector abundance. In two study sub-regions in the Los Angeles Basin, we examined the effect of outdoor residential water use restrictions on the abundance of the most important regional West Nile virus vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Using spatiotemporal random forest models fit to Cx. abundance during drought and non-drought years, we generated counterfactual estimates of Cx. abundance under a hypothetical drought scenario without water use restrictions. We estimate that Cx. abundance would have been 44% and 39% larger in West Los Angeles and Orange counties, respectively, if outdoor water usage had remained unchanged. Our results suggest that drought, without mandatory water use restrictions, may counterintuitively increase the availability of larval habitats for vectors in naturally dry, highly irrigated settings and such mandatory water use restrictions may constrain Cx. abundance, which could reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease while helping urban utilities maintain adequate water supplies.
Blackstart of Power Grids with Inverter-Based Resources

This paper presents the findings of our investigation into inverter-based resource-(IBR-) driven blackstart of electric grids. Four potential black-start configurations with different setups are presented. To evaluate the technical feasibility of IBR-driven black start in the four configurations, a behavioral model of inverters that mimics current-limited inverter operation is developed using variable resistors in the MATLAB Simulink/Simscape environment. The inverter model is connected to an induction motor through transformers and a transmission line to simulate its startup. Simulation results show that even with the limited current supply capability of inverters because of their physical constraints, IBRs can black-start a motor under certain conditions. Results also show that by using soft-start techniques, such as ramped supply voltage, inrush currents can be reduced, thereby expanding the conditions under which IBRs can provide black-start support. Simulation results with different scenarios lead to discussions and key takeaways that could be valuable for further IBR-driven black-start research.
Speech-Language Profile Groups in School Aged Children with Cerebral Palsy: Nonverbal Cognition, Receptive Language, Speech Intelligibility, and Motor Function.

Purpose: To explore the relationship of intelligibility, receptive language, executive functioning, and motor skills to nonverbal cognitive skills among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in differe...
Inverse modeling framework for characterizing patient-specific microstructural changes in the pulmonary arteries.

Abstract Microstructural changes in the pulmonary arteries associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is not well understood and characterized in humans. To address this issue, we developed and applied a patient-specific inverse finite element (FE) modeling framework to characterize mechanical and structural changes of the micro-constituents in the proximal pulmonary arteries using in-vivo pressure measurements and magnetic resonance images. The framework was applied using data acquired from a pediatric PAH patient and a heart transplant patient with normal pulmonary arterial pressure, which serves as control. Parameters of a constrained mixture model that are associated with the structure and mechanical properties of elastin, collagen fibers and smooth muscle cells were optimized to fit the patient-specific pressure-diameter responses of the main pulmonary artery. Based on the optimized parameters, individual stress and linearized stiffness resultants of the three tissue constituents, as well as their aggregated values, were estimated in the pulmonary artery. Aggregated stress resultant and stiffness are, respectively, 4.6 and 3.4 times higher in the PAH patient than the control subject. Stress and stiffness resultants of each tissue constituent are also higher in the PAH patient. Specifically, the mean stress resultant is highest in elastin (PAH: 69.96, control: 14.42 kPa-mm), followed by those in smooth muscle cell (PAH: 13.95, control: 4.016 kPa-mm) and collagen fibers (PAH: 13.19, control: 2.908 kPa-mm) in both the PAH patient and the control subject. This result implies that elastin may be the key load-bearing constituent in the pulmonary arteries of the PAH patient and the control subject.
A broadband acoustic panel based on double-layer membrane-type metamaterials

Low-frequency noise is a growing problem in large structures of modern transportation technologies. In this study, we report a large-scale acoustic panel made of double-layer membrane-type metamaterials (DMAMs) for broadband noise reduction. A complete theoretical model based on the unit cell is fully developed and extended for finite multi-celled membrane-type acoustic metamaterial (MAMs) array. A large-scale acoustic panel constructed from 8 × 8 DMAM unit cells is proposed. To deal with the global compliance of the large-scale support structure, the double-layer panel frame structure with large bending stiffness is designed to shift the global resonances to higher frequencies and provide an efficient way to well maintain the MAM's performance. Moreover, the double-layer configuration further guarantees ultra high transmission loss within the frequency range of interest. Experiments are carried out to validate the analytical and numerical predictions. Excellent transmission loss ranging from 20 to 59 dB within ten third octave bands (0.32–2.5 kHz) is observed, deeply breaking the mass density law. We believe the proposed design and the associated theoretical model could serve as an efficient tool for designing acoustic metamaterial-based panels and soundproof walls with high noise reduction in low/middle frequency regions.
A simplified method for obtaining aliquots of respiratory air.

(1968). A Simplified Method for Obtaining Aliquots of Respiratory Air. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 824-828.