cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
External cadmium and internal calcium block of single calcium channels in smooth muscle cells from rabbit mesenteric artery

The patch clamp technique was used to record unitary currents through single calcium channels from smooth muscle cells of rabbit mesenteric arteries. The effects of external cadmium and cobalt and internal calcium, barium, cadmium, and magnesium on single channel currents were investigated with 80 mM barium as the charge carrier and Bay K 8644 to prolong openings. External cadmium shortened the mean open time of single Ca channels. Cadmium blocking and unblocking rate constants of 16.5 mM-1 ms-1 and 0.6 ms-1, respectively, were determined, corresponding to dissociation constant Kd of 36 microM at -20 mV. These results are very similar to those reported for cardiac muscle Ca channels (Lansman, J. B., P. Hess, and R. W. Tsien. 1986. J. Gen. Physiol. 88:321-347). In contrast, Cd2+ (01-10 mM), when applied to the internal surface of Ca channels in inside-out patches, did not affect the mean open time, mean unitary current, or the variance of the open channel current. Internal calcium induced a flickery block, with a Kd of 5.8 mM. Mean blocking and unblocking rate constants for calcium of 0.56 mM-1 ms-1 and 3.22 ms-1, respectively, were determined. Internal barium (8 mM) reduced the mean unitary current by 36%. We conclude that under our experimental conditions, the Ca channel is not symmetrical with respect to inorganic ion block and that intracellular calcium can modulate Ca channel currents via a low-affinity binding site.
Effects of SCH-23390 on dopamine D1 receptor occupancy and locomotion produced by intraaccumbens cocaine infusion.

KEY WORDS locomotor activity; sniffing; SCH-23390; cocaine; dopamine D1 recep- tors; receptor occupancy; N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquino- line; nucleus accumbens; caudate-putamen; receptor autoradiography; localization ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of both systemic and intraaccumbens administration of SCH-23390 in rats on dopamine D1 receptor occupancy and on locomotor activity produced by intraaccumbens infusion of cocaine. In experiment 1, rats received SCH-23390 (0-1 mg/kg, IP) 15 minutes prior to intraaccumbens infusion of cocaine (0 or 100 µg/side). In experiment 2, rats received coinfusion of SCH-23390 (0-1 µg/side) and cocaine (0 or 100 µg/side) into the nucleus accumbens (NAc). After behavioral testing, receptors occupied by SCH-23390 were quantified by injecting animals with their respective dose of SCH-23390, followed by a systemic injection of the irreversible antagonist N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ). Recep- tors occupied by SCH-23390, and therefore protected from EEDQ-induced inactivation, were quantified from autoradiograms of sections labeled with 3 H-SCH-23390. Systemic administration of SCH-23390 dose-dependently (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) reversed cocaine- induced locomotion and occupied 72-100% of D1-like receptors in the anterior NAc. D1 receptor occupancy following systemic administration of SCH-23390 was evident as an inverted U-shaped, dose-dependent change, with the greatest occupancy observed at the intermediate dose of 0.3 mg/kg. Intraaccumbens infusion of SCH-23390 did not alter cocaine-induced locomotor activity despite occupying 40-60% of D1-like receptors in the anterior NAc core and shell. The findings that systemic, but not intraaccumbens, administration of SCH-23390 potently reversed locomotion produced by intraaccumbens cocaine infusion suggest that stimulation of D1 receptors in regions other than the NAc is involved in locomotion produced by intraaccumbens infusion of cocaine, and that stimulation of D1 receptors in the NAc is not necessary for this behavior. Synapse 30:194-204, 1998. r 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Solution by triple collocation for periodic operation of heat regenerators

Abstract The problem of periodic, countercurrent operation of packed-bed heat regenerators is considered and solved using triple collocation. This novel method uses collocation in two space variables: along the bed length and along the radius of the solid particles, and collocation in time. The method reduces the problem to a solution of a set of linear algebraic equations and bypasses either lengthy integration of open methods or iterative schemes of closed methods of solution both of which have been used previously for problems of this type. It is shown that the accuracy achieved is good. The effect of various system parameters such as Stanton, Biot and Peclet number on exit temperature and regenerator efficiency are examined and discussed.
Beyond Zebra: Preschoolers' Knowledge about Letters.

Children in the United States and in other English-speaking countries often learn a good deal about letters before they begin formal reading instruction. We suggest that one important and previously unrecognized type of knowledge about letters is knowledge of the phonological structure of the letters' names. In two experiments, preschoolers with a mean age of 4;8 judged whether various syllables were letters. The children made significantly more false positive responses to syllables such as /fi/, which have a phonological structure shared by a number of letters, than to syllables such as /fa/ and /if/, which sound less like real letters. This was true even for children who could recite the alphabet without error. Learning the alphabet, we conclude, forms the basis for generalizations about the structure of letter names.
Water dynamics in drip and overhead sprinkler irrigated potato hills and development of dry zones

Irrigation scheduling and nitrogen fertilizer placement and time of application have been studied extensively in an attempt to maximize utilization efficiency of nitrogen by potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants and reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater. Some researchers believe that drip irrigation, as compared to sprinkler irrigation, is more efficient in supplying irrigation water to potato hills. To investigate water distribution and movement through potato hills under drip and sprinkler irrigation time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes were installed into potato hills to monitor water content at 15-min intervals at various positions in the potato hill. On average, water content values within the centre of the potato hill were greater under drip irrigation (average for 1996 and 1997 was 0·104 and 0·110 m3 m−3, respectively) as compared to sprinkler irrigation (average for 1996 and 1997 was 0·085 and 0·066 m3 m−3, respectively) where similar amounts of irrigation water were applied weekly. Water content values in the centre portion of the potato hill, where the greatest densities of roots occur, were greater under drip irrigation than sprinkler irrigation by an average of 0·032 m3 m−3 for values averaged over the two growing seasons. Concurrently, water content values were less in the furrow of drip irrigation than sprinkler irrigation by an average of 0·025 m3 m−3. Decreased water content in the centre portion of the potato hill under sprinkler irrigation became more prominent as the growing season progressed, resulting in hydrophobic soil conditions midway through the growing season. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Efficient Localized Radial Basis Function Meshless Method for Fluid Flow and Conjugate Heat Transfer

A localized radial basis function (RBF) meshless method is developed for coupled viscous fluid flow and convective heat transfer problems. The method is based on new localized radial-basis function (RBF) expansions using Hardy Multiquadrics for the sought-after unknowns. An efficient set of formulae are derived to compute the RBF interpolation in terms of vector products thus providing a substantial computational savings over traditional meshless methods. Moreover, the approach developed in this paper is applicable to explicit or implicit time marching schemes as well as steady-state iterative methods. We apply the method to viscous fluid flow and conjugate heat transfer (CHT) modeling. The incompressible Navier‐Stokes are time marched using a Helmholtz potential decomposition for the velocity field. When CHT is considered, the same RBF expansion is used to solve the heat conduction problem in the solid regions enforcing temperature and heat flux continuity of the solid/fluid interfaces. The computation is accelerated by distributing the load over several processors via a domain decomposition along with an interface interpolation tailored to pass information through each of the domain interfaces to ensure conservation of field variables and derivatives. Numerical results are presented for several cases including channel flow, flow in a channel with a square step obstruction, and a jet flow into a square cavity. Results are compared with commercial computational fluid dynamics code predictions. The proposed localized meshless method approach is shown to produce accurate results while requiring a much-reduced effort in problem preparation in comparison to other traditional numerical methods. DOI: 10.1115/1.2402181
Properties of gastric antrum. III. Selectivity and modification of shunt conductance.

The permselectivity of the paracellular pathway of amphibian (Necturus and bullfrog) antrum was investigated with respect to intracationic selectivity and the K+ and C1- permeability ratio as a function of mucosal pH. The intracationic selectivity sequence was Rb+ > K+ > Cs+ > Na+ > Li+. Both antra showed weak cationic selectivity at pH 7.4, and at pH 4.4 for bullfrog and pH 3.0 for Necturus, the ratio PK+/PCI- was unity. At lower mucosal pH the tissues were anion selective. Treatment of the tissue with a water-soluble carbodiimide enhanced anion selectivity at higher pH; carbenoxolone, a weak acid, resulted in maintained cation selectivity at lower pH. These data sugest that carboxyl groups play a role in determining shunt selectivity; the increase in anion selectivity below pH 2.0 suggests that phosphate or sulfate groups could also be involved.
Mixing Wheat with the Chaff: Creating Useful Test Data for IDS Evaluation

As the use of intrusion detection systems (IDSs) continues to climb and as researchers find more ways to detect attacks amid a vast ocean of data. The problem of testing IDS solutions has reared its ugly bead. Showing that one technique is better than another or training an IDS about normal usage requires test data. As it turns out, collecting or creating such a data set is something of a catch-22. If the data already contains attacks, researchers will train the IDS to see the attacks as normal; the IDS could then fail to register them as malicious events in the future. The most efficient way, however, to determine whether a large data set contains malicious events is to scan it with existing IDS. Thus, any attacks that the existing IDS fails to find are presented to the new IDS as normal data leading to potential false negatives. Clearly, breaking this cycle requires an independent source of verifiable attack-free training data with which to train IDSs.
Towards an integration of scale and complexity in marine ecology

Manipulative field experiments provide a window into the complexity of nature. Yet there is concern that we lack resolution by conducting experiments on a scale that is too small and short to include the relevant complexity of the study system. We addressed this issue by asking how and why the scale (local and global spatial extent, spatial grain, duration) and complexity (number of species, factors, treatment combinations) of experiments performed on marine hard substrata (rocky intertidal, RI; coral reef, CR; rocky subtidal, RS; mangrove root, MR) has changed by assessing 311 total experiments published since 1961 in Ecology and Ecological Monographs and since 1967 in Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. We show that the local spatial extent and all metrics of complexity increased as a positive, log-linear function of time. In contrast, the size of experimental units (spatial grain) decreased with time. Quantile regression analysis revealed that these trends are largely driven by changes ...
Rapid synthesis of redox-active dodecaborane B12(OR)12 clusters under ambient conditions

We have developed a fast and efficient route to obtain perfunctionalized ether-linked alkyl and benzyl derivatives of the closo-[B12(OH)12]2- icosahedral dodecaborate cluster via microwave-assisted synthesis. These icosahedral boron clusters exhibit three-dimensional delocalization of the cage-bonding electrons, tunable photophysical properties, and a high degree of stability in air in both solid and solution states. A series of closo-[B12(OR)12]2-, hypocloso-[B12(OR)12]1- and hypercloso-[B12(OR)12]0 clusters have been prepared with reaction times ranging from hours to several minutes. This method is superior to previously reported protocols since it dramatically decreases the reaction times required and eliminates the need for inert atmosphere conditions. The generality of the new microwave-based method has been further demonstrated through the synthesis of several new derivatives, which feature redox potentials up to 0.6 V more positive than previously known B12(OR)12 cluster compounds. We further show how this method can be applied to a one-pot synthesis of hybrid, vertex-differentiated species B12(OR)11(OR) that was formerly accessible only via multi-step reaction sequence.
Comparison of Saliva PCR Assay versus Rapid Culture for Detection of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

As part of the CMV and Hearing Multicenter Screening (CHIMES) study, 72,239 newborns were screened for cytomegalovirus by rapid culture and real-time PCR of saliva samples. Of the 266 infants with congenital cytomegalovirus infection, discordance between rapid culture and PCR was observed in 14 children, and 13 were identified only by PCR, demonstrating the superiority of the PCR assay.
Correlations between Burden of Pathology Score and Cognitive, Motor, and Psychiatric Measures in Premanifest Huntington's Disease (preHD) (P06.036)

Objective: To examine the relationship between the Huntington9s disease (HD) Burden of Pathology (BOP) Score (Penney et al, 1997) and motor, cognitive, and psychiatric measures in premanifest Huntington9s disease (preHD). Background BOP Score is derived from an equation utilizing CAG repeat length and current age. Some investigators have suggested that BOP scores can be used as an index of disease severity for individuals with preHD (Tabrizi et al, 2009); however, it has never been validated as a measure of disease burden. Despite this, a number of recent studies have begun to use this measure in their inclusion criteria for preHD subjects in clinical trials. Design/Methods: 37 preHD subjects were administered the UHDRS Motor; eight cognitive tests including the MoCA, MMSE, WAIS Digit Span, WASI Matrix, WASI Vocabulary, Stroop, Verbal Fluency, and Symbol Digit; and two psychiatric measures including the Barrett Impulsivity Scale and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, as part of a larger imaging study. Pearson r correlations were used to determine the relationships between BOP scores, in addition to Aylward and Langbehn years-to-onset (YTO) estimates, and these measures. Results: preHD subjects had a mean age of 41.2 years, mean education of 15.5 years, and mean CAG repeat length of 42.3. BOP scores did not correlate well with any of the motor, cognitive, or psychiatric measures. However, the Aylward YTO did significantly correlate with two of the cognitive tests, the MoCA (r=.442, p=.006) and Symbol Digit (r=.369, p=.025) and, to a lesser extent, with the UHDRS Total Motor score (r=-.326, p=.049). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the BOP score may not be as accurate a reflection of disease burden in preHD subjects as previously suggested; in addition, the appropriateness of selecting subjects for clinical trials based on BOP score remains unclear. Supported by: UCSD HDSA COE; CHDI; UCSD ADRC NIH P50 AG 005131. Disclosure: Dr. Gluhm has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goldstein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Majid has nothing to disclose. Dr. Corey-Bloom has received personal compensation for activities with Isis Pharmaceuticals as a consultant. Dr. Corey-Bloom has received research support from Medivation, Pfizer Inc, Elan Corporation, Forest Laboratories, Inc., Teva Neuroscience, NeuroSearch, and CHDI.
The Effect of Rhodium Particle Size on n-BUTANE Hydrogenolysis Activity and Selectivity

Abstract Rh metal was supported on alumina and silica supports and the particle size was varied (from 1 to 5 nm) by changing the metal loading from 0.15 to 7.2 μmoles of Rh/m2 of support. Metal particle sizes were determined by transmission electron microscopy. Hydrogenolysis of n-butane was used as a probe reaction. The ethane selectivity of the highly dispersed Rh was very different from that of the low index single crystal surfaces of Rh. As particle size was increased, the selectivity of the catalysts approached that of Rh (111), and annealing the catalysts at 773 K led to better agreement between the supported Rh and single crystal Rh(111). None of the catalysts after initial H2 reduction resembled the (100) or (110) surfaces in their hydrogenolysis selectivity. However, preoxidation of the Rh catalysts before reaction did cause the selectivity to approach that of the more open Rh single crystal surfaces. The results show that changes in surface structure caused by preoxidation of Rh do not resemble those caused by changing particle size.
Ultrathin conformal multilayer SiNO dielectric cap for capacitance reduction in Cu/low k interconnects

Multi-layer SiNO barrier film with high breakdown and low leakage is developed for Cu low k interconnects and is compared with the SiCN and SiN barrier films used at previous technology nodes. Combining SiCN with multi-layer SiNO barrier film provides robust Cu and O barrier properties at film thickness of ∼10–14 nm. SiNO layers in the bi-layer film help lower the dielectric constant and hence provide capacitance benefit in the integrated structures. The high breakdown SiNO layers provide benefit in the via chamfer region and improves inter-level time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB). Overall, the SiCN/SiNO bilayer dielectric film shows robust device reliability as compared to the state of the art barrier films.
Role of surface modification of the target in pulsed dual-laser ablation

Recently, a unique dual-laser ablation process for the deposition of essentially particulate-free optical films has been demonstrated.1 A temporally synchronized combination excimer (KrF) and CO2 laser pulses eliminated the particulates that exist in films deposited by single-excimer-laser ablation. Successful particulate-free deposition required careful control of CO2-laser fluence and adjustment of the interpulse timing such that the 20-ns KrF-laser pulse arrived at the target on the rising edge of the 120-ns-FWHM CO2-laser pulse.
Molecular Markers in Head and Neck Cytology

A biomarker is an objectively measurable biochemical, molecular, or genetic parameter which can be used not only for discerning the presence and progression of disease but also for addressing early cancer detection, tumor staging, targeting therapies, and post-treatment tumor surveillance. During past several decades, potential biomarkers have been greatly expanded for many tumors with the increased knowledge of molecular mechanisms. In this chapter, we discuss available and potential biomarkers in head and neck cytopathology specimens, which mainly include lymph nodes from head/neck region and salivary glands. The encountered malignancies in head/neck lymph node cytology specimen include lymphomas and metastatic malignancies such as thyroid carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast cancer, and more commonly, head/neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We focus on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and salivary gland malignancies and discuss available or potential biomarkers for these entities.
Evaluation of GRACE Mascon Gravity Solution in Relation to Interannual Oceanic Water Mass Variations

With evidence of an accelerated water cycle over the past few decades, we make inferences on the spatial variability of interannual evaporation and precipitation patterns from 2003 to 2014 gravity anomalies, using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mascon data set. Comparison of the mascon solution with an ensemble harmonic solution is conducted, along with validation over the oceans via sea surface height from multimission altimetry minus Argo floats data/GECCO2 [the GECCO2 ocean synthesis is the German contribution to Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean project ( www.ecco-group.org )] steric sea level. The mascon solution was consistently more accurate than its spherical harmonic counterpart across large spatial and temporal scales, due mainly to the inherent smoothing from the mascon cells. Comparison of GRACE with both GECCO2 + altimetry and Argo + altimetry mass estimates revealed an offset in phase with regard to the annual cycle, but yielded an rmse of only 5.6 mm in the interannual signal after phase correction. This paper furthers evidence of an accelerated water cycle at a rate of 1.5% ± 1.1% at low latitudes, and provides a means of validation for oceanic freshwater budget studies based on salinity measurements.
A systematic review and meta-analysis on the role of exercise or rest in patients with concussion and mild traumatic brain injury

Objective To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the role of exercise or rest in patients with concussion or mild traumatic brain injury. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Medline, PsychInfo, Scopus, Cochrane Controlled Trials Registers and Sport Discus, till March 2016 and hand search of some articles. Study selection Randomised controlled trials (RCTS) and observational studies (OBS) comparing the effect of exercise or rest in patients with concussion, on different outcomes. Participants Children and adults with concussion or mild traumatic brain injury. Intervention Exercise or Rest. Outcomes Post concussive symptoms (PCCS), balance error scoring system (BESS), immediate post concussion assessment and cognitive testing (ImPACT). Main results Our search generated 921 studies. Of these, 5 RCTs and 12 OBS met our inclusion criteria. Methodological quality of most of the studies was poor. Meta-analysis of 6 studies involving more than 556 patients showed statistical significant decrease in PCCS with exercise compared to control, Mean Difference (MD) [95% Confidence Interval (CI)], −14.6 [−17.8, −11.3], p There was not effect of rest on total symptoms in patients with concussion and number of patients with symptoms. Conclusion Our systematic review and meta-analysis showed clear benefits of exercise in PCCS. However, the evidence was based on poor quality studies that vary in duration, frequency and intensity of exercise. A good quality RCT needs to be conducted to evaluate a clear effect of exercise and rest in patients with concussion. Competing interests None.
Design of Suboptimal Controllers for Nonlinear Systems

Abstract A procedure is developed whereby global suboptimal feedback solutions are developed for a class of nonlinear control systems. A recursive design procedure is used for successively improving the performance of a feedback controller until a satisfactory design is achieved. Potential applications of this design technique include the control of robot manipulators vith highly nonlinear dynamics.
Building Bridges: Exploring the Communication Trends and Perceived Sociopolitical Benefits of Adolescents Engaging in Online Social Justice Efforts

The exploration of social networking sites (SNS) offers great potential for understanding novel forms of youth civic engagement within the 21st century. SNS can foster a young person’s social capital by connecting them to others with different backgrounds, thereby exposing them to alternative perspectives and lived experiences within a growingly polarized political environment. This study provides an innovative framework for examining the communication trends and perceived sociopolitical benefits for adolescents engaging diverse groups in a youth-led social-justice-oriented SNS. The author linked three school-based youth participatory action research projects involving 54 high school students through an SNS. Employing a mixed-method approach (i.e., social network analysis, key student interviews), results indicate an increase in communication between students in different schools and an increase in levels of civic participation. In addition, interviewees reported perceived gains in communication, perspect...
A Systems Biology Approach to Assess the Impact of Pesticides on the Nervous System

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the value of systems biology to enhance the understanding of complex biological processes such as neuromodulation or neurotoxicity in the developing brain. Systems biology/toxicology involves the iterative and integrative study of perturbations by chemicals and other stressors of gene and protein expression that are linked firmly to toxicological outcome. Systems biology has been defined as the iterative and integrative study of biological systems as they respond to perturbations. Exposure of the developing mammal to a variety of pesticides, both alone or in combination, may perturb the endogenous neurotransmitter systems or energy metabolism/oxidative stress regulatory systems and result in enhanced neuronal cell death or dysfunction. It is proposed that continuous blockade or stimulation of various neurotransmitter receptor systems in the developing brain by pesticides that mimic or interfere with endogenous signaling pathways, receptors, or ion channels may result in long-lasting cellular dysregulation or neuronal death via apoptosis and/or necrosis. The success of the systems biology approach to solve toxicological problems lies in the establishment of cross-disciplinary teams of scientists including toxicologists, pathologists, molecular biologists, mathematicians, statisticians, computational modelers, and risk assessors. The integration of rapidly growing biological databases, including models of cells, tissues, and organs, with the use of powerful computing systems and algorithms is necessary.
Normal Axillary Lymph Node Variability Between White and Black Women on Breast MRI.

Rationale and Objectives This study aimed to determine if there were differences in the imaging features of normal lymph nodes between white and black women using magnetic resonance imaging. Materials and Methods Following institutional review board approval, we identified white and black women who underwent breast magnetic resonance imaging from November 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 at our institution. To identify normal lymph nodes for measurement, patients with any benign or malignant causes for lymph node enlargement and patients with any subsequent breast cancer in the following 2 years were excluded. Black and white women were age matched at a 1:2 ratio. The largest lymph node in each axilla was measured for the long-axis length and maximal cortical thickness. Comparisons were made between white and black women using a conditional logistic regression to control for matching. Results There were 55 black women and 110 white women for analysis. The mean lymph node long-axis length was 14.7 ± 5.3 mm for black women and 14.4 ± 6.4 mm for white women (P = .678). The mean maximum cortical thickness was 3.3 ± 1.6 mm for black women and 2.6 ± 1.4 mm for Caucasian women (P Conclusions The normal lymph node cortical thickness in black women is significantly greater than in white women, which should be considered when deciding to recommend a lymph node biopsy.
Relating regional characteristics of left atrial shape to presence of scar in patients with atrial fibrillation

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Pre-procedural screening is necessary prior to PVI in order to reduce the likelihood of AF recurrence and improve overall success rate of the procedure. However, current reliable methods to determine AF triggers are invasive. In this paper, we present an approach to relate the regional characteristics of left atrial (LA) shape to existence of low-voltage areas (LVA) which indicate the presence of scar in invasive exams. A cohort of 29 AF patient-specific clinical images were each segmented into 3D surface bodies representing the LA. Iterative closest point based similarity transformation was used to find the best fit sphere to each patient-specific LA and the mean deviation of LA wall to this sphere of best fit was determined using a signed point-to-surface regional distance metric. Regional departure from the best-fit sphere was reduced into a metric of global LA sphericity. Next, the LA was divided into six regions to perform an analysis of regional sphericity. Regional sphericity analysis revealed that sphericity of the inferior-posterior LA region was found to be related to several clinical variables, including a direct correlation with body mass index (BMI) and an inverse correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), which presents a diseased heart that has been asymmetrically inflated. Our observations therefore demonstrate promise in being leveraged as a non-invasive patient selection tool to increase the success rate of PVI procedures.
The day-of-the-week pattern of price clustering in Bitcoin

Following Urquhart (2017) who finds evidence of price clustering in Bitcoin, we answer the question of whether the documented price clustering in Bitcoin is driven by any given day-of-the-week. We ...
Sound Effect and Composite Class: Enriching the Game Breakout

The previous chapter designed and implemented a rudimental version of the game Breakout. This chapter enriches the game by adding more functions, such as, the score system, the counter for the ball-lost, some system level methods, and the like. The more important is that the sound effect is also added. In addition, the group of brick sprites in the game is redesigned as a composite class for further exploring the affects of the redesign on the software structure and the setting of communications among classes. All of these additions also further improve the three-layer game structure.
In defense of living fossils

Lately there has been a wave of criticism of the concept of living fossils. First, recent research has challenged the status of paradigmatic living fossil taxa, such as coelacanths, cycads, and tuataras. Critics have also complained that the living fossil concept is vague and/or ambiguous, and that it is responsible for misconceptions about evolution. This paper defends a particular phylogenetic conception of living fossils, or taxa that (a) exhibit deep prehistoric morphological stability; (b) contain few extant species; and (c) make a high contribution to phylogenetic diversity. The paper shows how this conception of living fossils can make sense of recent research on contested cases. The phylogenetic living fossil concept has both theoretical and practical importance: theoretical, because it picks out an important explanatory target for evolutionary theory; and practical, because it picks out taxa that we might wish to prioritize for conservation. The best way to defend the concept of living fossils is to get clearer about the reasons for defending living fossil taxa.
Arthur B. Pardee: In Memoriam (1921–2019)

![][1] On February 24, 2019, the biomedical research community lost Dr. Arthur B. Pardee, whose numerous and diverse contributions to molecular and cancer biology will never be forgotten. In a field where most of us would be thrilled to make one major contribution, Art Pardee's legacy
tfB quenched and unquenched

Results for ƒ B , ƒ Bs , ƒ D , ƒ Ds , and their ratios are presented. High statistics quenched runs at β = 5.7, 5.85, 6.0, and 6.3, plus a run still in progress at β = 6.52 make possible a preliminary extrapolation to the continuum. The data allows good control of all systematic errors except for quenching, although not all of the error estimates have been finalized. Results from configurations which include effects of dynamical quarks show a significant deviation from the quenched results and make possible a crude estimate of the quenching error.
Big-data analysis unearths the general regulatory regime in normal human genome and cancer

Gene regulation interprets most variations of biological phenotype and remains a crucial topic in biology. Conventionally, manipulating gene sequences like knockout helps to infer gene regulation, but these inferences suffer several pitfalls like transcript compensation1, leading to biased results. An unbiased regulation has rarely been appreciated. Here, we develop a software, FINET2, to infer unbiased regulatory networks from massive data, including all human RNAseq data publicly available from Sequence Read Archive (SRA, 274469 samples) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, 11574 samples), and unearth the general regulatory rules in normal genome and cancer as deposited3. Generally, the genome is positively regulated. Regulators primarily self-regulate their targets in the same annotated category, like processed-pseudogenes regulating processed-pseudogenes. At normal, ribosomal proteins drive the regulatory network, and proteins tightly control the genome and primarily regulate the remote proteins across chromosomes, but rarely regulate local targets (<1M bp), yet cancer noncoding RNAs, especially pseudogenes, strongly activate the cancer genome and induce local targets, including noncoding RNAs and proteins. As a result, the whole regulatory regime switches from a normal remote protein-controlled domain to a cancerous local noncoding RNA-activated niche. This parallels with our recent discovery from clinical data revealing noncoding RNAs as the deadliest drivers for cancer4, instead of proteins as conventionally thought. This refreshes the fundamental basis of cancer research and therapy. Our overall finding provides a systems version of the natural regulatory regime in human genome, which helps to correct the biased notions standing in current literature.
The national MD-PhD program outcomes study: Relationships between medical specialty, training duration, research effort, and career paths

MD-PhD programs were established in the 1950s as a new curriculum for training physician-scientists. Since then, the number of programs has grown considerably; however, concerns about the health of the US physician-scientist workforce have grown, as well. The largest attempt to date to assess whether MD-PhD programs are fulfilling their mission was the national MD-PhD program outcomes study, which was released as an American Association of Medical Colleges report in 2018. That study gathered information on 10,591 graduates of 80 MD-PhD programs over 50 years and concluded that most graduates have followed careers consistent with their training. Here, we provide additional analysis, drawing on survey data provided by 64.1% of alumni (75.9% of alumni with valid email addresses), plus program-supplied current workplace data for survey nonresponders to examine the relationships between medical specialty choices, training duration, research effort, and success in obtaining research funding. The results show that residency choices affect critical aspects of the physician-scientist career path, including where graduates work, how long it takes them to obtain an independent appointment in academia, and the amount of their professional time that is devoted to research. Entrants into MD-PhD programs are older, on average, now than when the programs were first established and are taking longer to graduate and complete postgraduate training. Although we found a positive relationship between professional effort devoted to research and the likelihood of having research funding, we found little evidence that the increase in training duration produces an increase in subsequent research effort. These data should provide both guidance for anyone considering this career path and insights for those who train and hire the next generation of physician-scientists.
A Randomized Trial to Encourage Healthy Eating Through Workplace Delivery of Fresh Food.

Purpose:This study aimed to increase the consumption of home-cooked meals among employees at a large urban worksite through a fully subsidized Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.Design:R...
Pharmacology on Target

Small-molecule inhibitors are a key resource in the cell signaling toolbox. However, because of their global distribution in the cell, they cannot provide a refined understanding of signaling at distinct subcellular locations. Bucko and colleagues have designed a novel tool to localize inhibitors to specific protein scaffolds, opening a new avenue to study localized kinase activity.
Bell, Bohm, and qubit: EPR remixed

This article reviews the predictions of quantum mechanics (QM) for one- and two-particle Stern–Gerlach experiments and then frames Bell's results, which rule out hidden-variable alternatives to QM, as attempts by a skeptical Eve to fool Alice and Bob with (first example) classical probability mixtures of non-entangled quantum states and (second example) a classical hidden-variable theory. With hidden variables, Eve can succeed when Alice and Bob limit themselves to two Stern–Gerlach directions, but always fails for some choices of three directions. For three random directions, hidden-variable theories are impossible (we show) exactly 2/3 of the time. All the calculations in this article are available in Mathematica and Python files in the supplementary material, allowing readers to experiment with their own variants.
From Big State and Small Society, to Small State and Big Society: Reflections on Richard Cornuelle’s Healing America

In sequence, we discuss the claims for state intervention that derive from our moral sense of justice, the arguments for state intervention based on prisoners’ dilemmas and the need for collective action, and the case for state intervention that follows from the broad claims of market failure. We then argue that even if we have good reasons to reject (or at least seriously question) the justificatory arguments for state intervention based on justice, collective action, or market failure, a high probability of state intervention will persist as suggested by public choice arguments regarding the logic of democratic governance. We thus turn to a discussion of what may be necessary to realize a society of free and responsible individuals who participate and can prosper in a market economy based on profit and loss, and who can live and be actively engaged in caring communities. We conclude by returning to Cornuelle’s Healing America and its implications for twenty-first-century political economy.
Fetal Congenital Heart Disease Counseling and Socioeconomic Factors - Is There an Impact?

Background: Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) allows for complex decisions about care to be made in a timely manner and allows parents the opportunity to fully participate in those decisions. Counseling provides information to families regarding diagnosis, prognosis, management and treatment options, however, dynamics may vary from family to family. This study sought to investigate if the characteristics of fetal counseling …
Distinct intramolecular interactions regulate autoinhibition of vinculin binding in αT-catenin and αE-catenin.

α-Catenin binds directly to β-catenin and connects the cadherin–catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton. Tension regulates α-catenin conformation. Actomyosin-generated force stretches the middle (M)-region to relieve autoinhibition and reveal a binding site for the actin-binding protein vinculin. It is not known whether the intramolecular interactions that regulate epithelial (αE)-catenin binding are conserved across the α-catenin family. Here, we describe the biochemical properties of testes (αT)-catenin, an α-catenin isoform critical for cardiac function and how intramolecular interactions regulate vinculin-binding autoinhibition. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that αT-catenin binds the β-catenin–N-cadherin complex with a similar low nanomolar affinity to that of αE-catenin. Limited proteolysis revealed that the αT-catenin M-region adopts a more open conformation than αE-catenin. The αT-catenin M-region binds the vinculin N-terminus with low nanomolar affinity, indicating that the isolated αT-catenin M-region is not autoinhibited and thereby distinct from αE-catenin. However, the αT-catenin head (N- and M-regions) binds vinculin 1000-fold more weakly (low micromolar affinity), indicating that the N-terminus regulates the M-region binding to vinculin. In cells, αT-catenin recruitment of vinculin to cell–cell contacts requires the actin-binding domain and actomyosin-generated tension, indicating that force regulates vinculin binding. Together, our results show that the αT-catenin N-terminus is required to maintain M-region autoinhibition and modulate vinculin binding. We postulate that the unique molecular properties of αT-catenin allow it to function as a scaffold for building specific adhesion complexes.
“If Only We Are Brave Enough to Be It”: Demanding More from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts to Support Women Faculty of Color”

The Black Lives Matter protests, the racial inequality laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol prompted several organizations and academic institution...
Beating the Folklore Algorithm for Dynamic Matching.

The maximum matching problem in dynamic graphs subject to edge updates (insertions and deletions) has received much attention over the last few years; a multitude of approximation/time tradeoffs were obtained, improving upon the folklore algorithm, which maintains a maximal (and hence $2$-approximate) matching in $O(n)$ worst-case update time in $n$-node graphs. We present the first deterministic algorithm which outperforms the folklore algorithm in terms of {\em both} approximation ratio and worst-case update time. Specifically, we give a $(2-\Omega(1))$-approximate algorithm with $O(\sqrt{n}\sqrt[8]{m})=O(n^{3/4})$ worst-case update time in $n$-node, $m$-edge graphs. For sufficiently small constant $\epsilon>0$, no deterministic $(2+\epsilon)$-approximate algorithm with worst-case update time $O(n^{0.99})$ was known. Our second result is the first deterministic $(2+\epsilon)$-approximate (weighted) matching algorithm with $O_\epsilon(1)\cdot O(\sqrt[4]{m}) = O_\epsilon(1)\cdot O(\sqrt{n})$ worst-case update time.
Queerness and Modification in Mainstream and Indie Games: Examining Problems with Queer Representation in Video Games and Exploring Design Solutions

In this paper I address a problem related to video game culture with which modding has often engaged: the way queerness is portrayed in video games. I examine how mainstream games, indie games, and fan-created modifications relate to issues with queerness in video games. My goal is to analyze the ways in which modification can help players explore some of the problems surrounding portrayals of queerness in mainstream games. I also focus on the lessons that game designers and modders can learn from more positive portrayals of queerness in indie games. Overall, I suggest that considerations about a game's mainstream or indie status influence how both developers and players relate to queerness in games and argue that modding is a powerful way for players to engage with and explore issues with queerness found in mainstream games.
Thumb Basilar Joint Injuries

Injuries to the basilar joint of the thumb can be potentially devastating injuries to baseball players and have significant adverse implications for the athlete’s season and career. These injuries are not infrequent in baseball players. The appropriate management of these injuries is crucial for the safe and timely return to baseball activities. This chapter discusses the fractures and dislocations involving the thumb CMC joint, with specific reference to baseball players. The mechanism of injury, diagnosis, treatment, risks and complications, rehabilitation, and return to play parameters are all addressed in this chapter.
Differences in cardiometabolic comorbidities between black and white persons living with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Objective: To determine differences in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension in Black patients compared to White patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design: Cross-sectional database review. Setting: Large academic medical center research records database. Participants: 3,191 patient cases (77% female, 34% Black) identified by MS diagnosis within the medical record. Interventions: Not applicable Main Outcome Measures: Diagnosis codes for type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Body mass index (BMI), race, age, and sex were collected. ANOVA (continuous variables) and X2 analyses (categorical variables) were conducted to determine differences in obesity, diabetes, and hypertension between race and sex. Logistic regression was conducted to determine odds ratios of developing diabetes and hypertension based on race, sex, BMI, and age. Results: Black patients were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes [OR 2.15 (95% CI 1.70, 2.72), p Conclusion: Black patients with MS are significantly more likely to have cardiometabolic conditions than White patients. These conditions have been associated with poorer health outcomes for people with MS, and may have some impact on the differences in MS disease course reported in Black patients.
Quality of Care for Gallstone Pancreatitis-the Impact of the Acute Care Surgery Model and Hospital-Level Operative Resources.

Index cholecystectomy is the standard of care for gallstone pancreatitis. Hospital-level operative resources and implementation of an acute care surgery (ACS) model may impact the ability to perform index cholecystectomy. We aimed to determine the influence of structure and process measures related to operating room access on achieving index cholecystectomy for gallstone pancreatitis. In 2015, we surveyed 2811 US hospitals on ACS practices, including infrastructure for operative access. A total of 1690 hospitals (60%) responded. We anonymously linked survey data to 2015 State Inpatient Databases from 17 states using American Hospital Association identifiers. We identified patients ≥ 18 years who were admitted with gallstone pancreatitis. Patients transferred from another facility were excluded. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses, clustered by hospital and adjusted for patient factors, were performed to examine multiple structure and process variables related to achieving an index cholecystectomy rate of ≥ 75% (high performers). Over the study period, 5656 patients were admitted with gallstone pancreatitis and 70% had an index cholecystectomy. High-performing hospitals achieved an index cholecystectomy rate of 84.1% compared to 58.5% at low-performing hospitals. On multivariable regression analysis, only teaching vs. non-teaching hospital (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.11–7.70) and access to dedicated, daytime operative resources (i.e., block time) vs. no/little access (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.11–3.37) were associated with high-performing hospitals. Access to dedicated, daytime operative resources is associated with high quality of care for gallstone pancreatitis. Health systems should consider the addition of dedicated, daytime operative resources for acute care surgery service lines to improve patient care.