cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disjoint Bases for a Countable Family of Rank‐Finite Matroids

Let M = (Mr)r2R be a system of matroids on a set S. For every transfinite sequence f of distinct elements of S, we define a number (f). In (12) we proved that the condition that (f) 0 for every possible choice of f is necessary for M to have a system of mutually disjoint bases. Further, we showed that this condition is sucient if R is countable and Mr is a rank-finite transversal matroid for every r 2 R. In this paper, we prove that our condition is also sucient in the much more general case of countable systems of arbitrary rank-finite matroids.
Variant in sulfonylurea receptor-1 gene is associated with high insulin concentrations in non-diabetic Mexican Americans: SUR-1 gene variant and hyperinsulinemia

The high-affinity sulfonylurea receptor (SUR1) gene regulates insulin secretion and may play a role in type 2 diabetes. A silent variant in exon 31 of SUR1 (AGG-->AGA) was detected by single-strand conformational polymorphism and genotypes were determined for 396 Mexican American subjects (289 non-diabetic). The normal and mutant alleles were designated G and A, respectively. Among non-diabetics, those with the AA genotype had higher fasting insulin values than those with the AG and GG genotypes (113.4 pmol/l for AA vs 82.8 pmol/l for AG/GG, P=0.043). Similar results were observed for 2-h insulin (849.6 pmol/l for AA vs 498.6 pmol/l for AG/GG, P=0.0003) and for the proinsulin to specific insulin ratio (0.068 for AA vs 0.056 for AG/GG, P=0.030). Specific insulin levels also differed significantly across the three genotypic classes (P=0.021). No differences in fasting glucose, body mass index, or waist circumference according to genotype were noted. Two-hour glucose was modestly higher in individuals with the AA genotype. Since we have previously reported linkage between SUR1 and hyperglycemia, the present association between a SUR1 variant and hyperinsulinemia in normal individuals from a high diabetes risk ethnic group raises the possibility of primary insulin hypersecretion as an antecedent of type 2 diabetes in at least some individuals from this population.
Reproduction in the Madagascar leaf‐nosed snake, langaha madagascariensis (Serpentes: Colubridae: Pseudoxyrhophiinae)

Abstract Aspects of reproduction including courtship behaviour, ovipositioning, egg characteristics, and hatchling descriptions are documented for the Madagascar leaf‐nosed snake (Langaha madagascariensis). Courtship behaviour is described from laboratory settings and takes place in vegetation above ground. Oviposition occurred at night time in August and September. Clutch sizes averaged 11 eggs. Fertile eggs measured a mean 22.6 mm long and 12.0 mm wide at oviposition, and 25.6 mm long and 15.4 mm wide one to three days before hatching. Incubation of eggs at 28 °C lasted a mean 65.3 days. Offspring consisted of eight live hatchlings and one dead full‐term baby, yielding of a sex ratio of 7:2 (Male:Female). Sexual dimorphism in both nasal extensions and colour patterns were evident immediately after hatching. Hatchlings weighed a mean 1.40 g, and measured 134.3 mm SVL and 92.9 mm TL. The first ecdysis occurred eight to 12 days after hatching. Hatchlings consumed only arboreal prey items including Anolis s...
Signal transduction in SARS-CoV-infected cells

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly found infectious disease that is caused by a novel human coronavirus, SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Because the mortality rate of SARS patients is very high, understanding the pathological mechanisms of SARS not only in vivo but in vitro is important for the prevention of SARS. Activation of signaling pathways caused by SARS-CoV infection leads to the phosphorylation and activation of downstream molecules. Two conflicting cellular programs, apoptosis to eliminate virus-infected cells and survival to delay apoptosis by producing antiviral cytokines, occur in SARS patients. Recent studies regarding SARS and SARS-CoV have clarified that activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) plays important roles in upregulation of cytokine expression and apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Both Akt and p38 MAPK are keys for determination of cell survival or death in SARS-CoV-infected cells in vitro. Agents being developed to target these signaling cascades may be important for the design of anti-SARS-CoV drugs. This review highlights recent progress regarding SARS-CoV biology, especially signal transduction in SARS-CoV-infected cells.
Impact of epilepsy surgery on seizure control and quality of life: A 26‐year follow‐up study

Summary Purpose: The short-term efficacy and safety of epilepsy surgery relative to medical therapy has been established, but it remains underutilized. There is a lack of data regarding the long-term seizure-control rates and quality of life outcomes after epilepsy surgery. This study represents the longest follow-up study to date, with a mean follow-up duration of 26 years. Methods: We studied the seizure and health-related quality of life outcomes of patients who underwent epilepsy surgery by Dr. Sidney Goldring from 1967 to 1990. Retrospective clinical chart reviews gathered perioperative data and surveys obtained follow-up data. Seizure outcome was evaluated using the Engel classification system. Key Findings: Of 361 patients, 117 (32.4%) completed follow-up interviews. Fifty-six patients (48%) were Engel class I. Mean overall Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) questionnaire score for the cohort was 68.2 ± 16. Eighty percent of patients reported their overall quality of life now as being better than before surgery. Seizure freedom was associated with better quality of life. We did not observe a statistically significant association between postoperative complications and long-term outcome. Patients who underwent temporal lobe resection achieved better seizure outcomes than those who underwent other types of procedures. Astatic seizures and bilateral surgery were associated with a worse Engel class outcome. Significance: Our study demonstrates that the beneficial effects of epilepsy surgery are sustained over decades, and that these beneficial effects are correlated with an improved quality of life. The confirmation of its durability makes us optimistic that the outcomes from modern epilepsy surgery will be even better and that our present enthusiasm for this treatment modality is not misplaced.
Systematic Assessment of Nation-States’ Motivations and Capabilities to Produce Biological Weapons

Remote detection of Biological Weapons (BW) proliferation is important, but challenging. We describe and use a joint socio-cultural influence and capability model to identify nation-states likely to have, or to develop BW. We utilize data about international hostilities and alliances, pharmaceutical capabilities, scientific and trade activities, and expert opinion. Our analysis suggests that Iran, Russia, Israel, China, Egypt, North Korea, India, Pakistan and Taiwan have both the motivation and capability to develop BW. The international community suspects Syria of having BW, but Syria has minimal apparent capability. Finally, Georgia, Sudan, Lebanon and Serbia have significant motivation and some capability.
Enzymatic Digestion of Desiccated Thyroid

In the course of studies on the calorigenic activity of various fractions derived from the enzymatic digestion of desiccated thyroid,1 we have observed that the organic iodine in the gland is rapidly split into acid soluble and acid insoluble iodine fractions. The 2 fractions are separated by adjusting the pH to 5.0.A single large lot of desiccated thyroid was used for these experiments (Lot No. 2∗). The desiccated thyroid was insoluble at pH 5 and contained 2% of the total iodine in the form of “preformed inorganic”iodine as determined by the method of Lawson.2 When like volumes of enzyme digest were precipitated in dilutions of one, 2 and 4 volumes, the ratio of acid soluble iodine to total iodine was not increased, indicating that the acid insoluble iodine fraction has a negligible solubility at pH 5. The iodine soluble at pH 5 consisted of organic iodine digested off in the acid soluble form and a small amount of “preformed inorganic”iodine. It was thus possible to measure the rate of hydrolysis of de...
DOBUTAMINE INDUCED EOSINOPHILIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Eosinophilic myocarditis is a rare cause of cardiomyopathy that can be triggered by a drug reaction. Dobutamine has been identified as a potential offending agent in prior retrospective analysis of heart transplant candidates. A 41-year-old male with dilated cardiomyopathy secondary to viral
Generalized Bases for the Integers

(1964). Generalized Bases for the Integers. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 71, No. 9, pp. 973-980.
Study on Bend Bearing Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Pole after Extended Service

The health status of reinforced concrete poles of 220 kV Xi-nan transmission line in Guangxi Power Grid were tested after their near 50 years operation.The bend bearing capacity of reinforced concrete poles after extended service are researched by bending tests of 3 bodies of circular reinforced concrete poles and 2 samples of steel plate joints.Important parameters such as the whole load-displacement curve,the cracking load,the ultimate load,the cracking shape width and so on were obtained by observing the whole force processes and damage shapes of all samples in tests.The damage mechanism of such poles and calculation methods of bend bearing capacity are analyzed based on tests.Results show that after near 50 years operation,concrete has been carbonated,steel has been corroded,joints of steel plate hoop have been deadly corroded,all failure modes are typical tension failure,and the bend bearing capacity of joints are stronger than that of pole bodies.These results can provide scientific reference for the health status assessment,the security assessment,the remaining life prediction,and the optimization of transmission asset management of reinforced concrete pole after their extended service.
Liftoff Model for MELCOR.

Aerosol particles that deposit on surfaces may be subsequently resuspended by air flowing over the surface. A review of models for this liftoff process is presented and compared to available data. Based on this review, a model that agrees with existing data and is readily computed is presented for incorporation into a system level code such as MELCOR. Liftoff Model for MELCOR July 2015 4 This page is intentionally blank
Sphincteroplasty (not sphincterotomy) in the treatment of biliary tract disease.

Because of the similarity of the names sphincteroplasty and sphincterotomy, these terms have been used indiscriminately and interchangeably in the literature, making accurate evaluations impossible. The author discusses the anatomic considerations involved and defines and discusses these two procedures, along with others used to treat calculous disease of the bile ducts.
Voluntary Disclosure and Option Pricing: The Case of Earnings Guidance and the Variance Risk Premium

I investigate the effect of managerial guidance on the price of option related market protection, i.e., the variance risk premium (VRP). I confirm previous findings that implied variances are lower when firms issue management guidance. Second and more importantly, I document that the VRP is higher when firms provide guidance, and that this increase in the VRP is centered on the earnings announcement date. I additionally find that a higher moment of uncertainty — implied kurtosis levels (i.e., price jump risk) — is higher when firms issue guidance. Additional tests examining characteristics of managerial guidance reveal these findings are strongest for firms issuing sporadic guidance, guidance issued close to earnings announcements, and guidance that is inconsistent with the market’s expectations when issued. Conversely, guidance without these characteristics are not associated with the VRP.
Systems Biology and Epigenetic Mechanisms in Erythropoiesis

Irreversible rapid cellular decisions are often controlled by network motifs known as bistable switches. We identified a cell-cycle regulated bistable switch that controls activation of the erythroid transcriptional program during early S phase of the last generation of erythroid colony-forming-unit progenitors (CFUe). This switch drives a rapid, multi-layered commitment event that activates GATA-1 transcription, renders the cells dependent on erythropoietin, and brings about chromatin reconfiguration at erythroid gene loci. In addition, it triggers an unusual process of genome-wide DNA demethylation, the first known example of such a process in somatic cell development. Approximately 25 to 30 percent of all methylation marks are lost from essentially all genomic elements during erythroid terminal differentiation. The bistable switch activating erythroid transcription consists of two linked double-negative feedback interactions of the erythroid transcriptional repressor PU.1, which antagonizes both S phase progression, and the erythroid master transcriptional regulator GATA-1. During operation of the switch, a rapid S phase-dependent decline in PU.1 activates GATA-1 transcription. The dependence of this switch on S phase progression coincides with a dramatic change in the nature of S phase itself, which becomes shorter and 50 percent faster. The accelerated intra-S phase DNA synthesis rate is essential for the loss of genome-wide DNA methylation, which in turn is required for the rapid induction of erythroid genes. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Use of Ecomaps to Explore Sexual and Gender Diversity in Couples

ABSTRACTAn ecomap, also called ecogram, is a tool that spans multiple disciplines, including social work, nursing, counseling, and other medical and mental health fields. They are a visual depiction of relationships, social networks, and social support (Crawford, Grant, & Crews, 2014). Ecomaps can be especially relevant for couples and families that have multiple layers of sexual and gender diversity, as they are facing homophobia, heterosexism, and cisgenderism. By conducting an ecomap with them, we further understand the strengths and support in their social context. In this article, we will describe this intervention, using an exemplar case.
The Marginal Product of Labor

This technical note explores one of the most important topics for firms and their managers: labor. In particular, how many people should a firm hire, and how much should they be paid? The note uses the example of Wail Al-Hayani, the owner of a kitchen that provides fresh prepared food to quick-service restaurants, to explore hiring decisions and setting wages and salaries—and the marginal values that matter. If Al-Hayani hires more workers, it would mean extra output and revenue, so long as the value of the marginal product of labor exceeds the wage. To maximize profits, a competitive firm should hire workers up to the point where the value of the marginal product of labor equals the wage. Excerpt UVA-GEM-0132 Mar. 19, 2015 The Marginal Product of Labor A principal objective of economic thinking is to inform key decisions made by firms and their managers. One of the most important topics for managers concerns the basic choices about labor: How many people should I hire, and what should I pay them? Naturally, the answer to both questions has quite a lot to do with demand and supply, those staples of economic analysis. At its simplest, economics teaches us that demand in the labor market comes from firms and organizations and supply comes from individuals willing to work. So far, so good. But what matters most about supply and demand? When it comes to hiring decisions and setting wages and salaries, it is the margins that matter. For example, although much of the data around jobs and labor market activity is reported in averages—such as the average output per hour of all workers—these data reflect information on choices that have already been made. What matters in decisions about hiring and pay is not the past, but the future. In other words: What should I choose to do next? For this choice, the father of neoclassical economics, Alfred Marshall, demonstrated that it is the marginal values that matter. In economics, the word marginal means the difference made by one extra unit of something—a key marginal value for the labor market is the value of the extra output that an additional worker would provide. To explore this, consider Wail Al-Hayani, who is the owner of a central kitchen that provides fresh prepared food (excluding meats) to quick-service restaurants. About 60% of the necessary prep work (washing, cleaning, chopping, and storing) takes place in Al-Hayani's kitchen. Once prepped, the items are transported to restaurants around town. This aspect of Al-Hayani's business necessitates that he hire several food prep workers to staff the central kitchen. Only simple and inexpensive kitchen items are necessary for their work. Hiring more workers would mean extra output and revenue, but there are costs associated with adding staff as well. How should Al-Hayani think about the decision of whether or not to hire more workers? The Demand for Labor and Production . . .
Had your imperial army not invaded: Japan's role in the making of modern China

iv CHAPTER 1: FROM DYNASTIC RULE TO COMMUNISM 1 CHAPTER 2: JAPAN’S WEAKENING OF THE GUOMINDANG 16 CHAPTER 3: COMMUNIST EXPANSION BEHIND JAPANESE LINES 35 CHAPTER 4: PEASANT NATIONALISM REVISITED 51 CONCLUSION: THE BIRTH OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC 68
Reaction of ozone with polybenzimidazole (PBI)

Ozone reacted with the polybenzimidazole (PBI) film surface and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) detected a rapid increase in O atom concentration up to a saturation level of 27 ± 1 atomic %....
INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH FOR ENDOVASCULAR MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH CRITICAL LIMB ISCHEMIA

Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), Rutherford Classification (RC) stages 4 to 6, have a substantial risk of limb loss, functional impairment, and mortality. Current guidelines recommend evaluating and managing patients with CLI by an interdisciplinary team. However, such patients are often
Neuromuscular blockade is associated with the attenuation of biomarkers of epithelial and endothelial injury in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is a therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, the mechanism by which NMB may improve outcome for ARDS patients remains unclear. We sought to determine whether NMB attenuates biomarkers of epithelial and endothelial lung injury and systemic inflammation in ARDS patients, and whether the association is dependent on tidal volume size and the initial degree of hypoxemia. We performed a secondary analysis of patients enrolled in the ARDS network low tidal volume ventilation (ARMA) study. Our primary predictor variable was the number of days receiving NMB between study enrollment and day 3. Our primary outcome variables were the change in concentration of biomarkers of epithelial injury (serum surfactant protein-D (SP-D)), endothelial injury (von Willebrand factor (VWF)), and systemic inflammation (interleukin (IL)-8). Multivariable regression analysis was used to compare the change in biomarker concentration controlling for multiple covariates. Patients were stratified by treatment arm (12 versus 6 cm3/kg) and by an initial arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) to fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) (P/F) ratio of 120. A total of 446 (49%) patients had complete SP-D, VWF, and IL-8 measurements on study enrollment and day 3. After adjusting for baseline differences, each day of NMB was associated with a decrease in SP-D (−23.7 ng/ml/day, p = 0.029), VWF (−33.5% of control/day, p = 0.015), and IL-8 (−362.6 pg/ml/day, p = 0.030) in patients with an initial P/F less than or equal to 120 and receiving low tidal volume ventilation. However, patients with a P/F ratio of greater than 120 or receiving high tidal volume ventilation had either no change or an increase in SP-D, WVF, or IL-8 concentrations. NBM is associated with decreased biomarkers of epithelial and endothelial lung injury and systemic inflammation in ARDS patients receiving low tidal volume ventilation and those with a P/F ratio less than or equal to 120.
Can Twitter be used to predict county excessive alcohol consumption rates

Objectives The current study analyzes a large set of Twitter data from 1,384 US counties to determine whether excessive alcohol consumption rates can be predicted by the words being posted from each county. Methods Data from over 138 million county-level tweets were analyzed using predictive modeling, differential language analysis, and mediating language analysis. Results Twitter language data captures cross-sectional patterns of excessive alcohol consumption beyond that of sociodemographic factors (e.g. age, gender, race, income, education), and can be used to accurately predict rates of excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, mediation analysis found that Twitter topics (e.g. ‘ready gettin leave’) can explain much of the variance associated between socioeconomics and excessive alcohol consumption. Conclusions Twitter data can be used to predict public health concerns such as excessive drinking. Using mediation analysis in conjunction with predictive modeling allows for a high portion of the variance associated with socioeconomic status to be explained.
Correction to: Review of Marie Juul Petersen, For Humanity or For the Umma? Aid and Islam in Transnational Muslim NGOs

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in the article title. The article title should have been Review of Marie Juul Petersen, For Humanity or For the Umma? Aid and Islam in Transnational Muslim NGOs.
Mavericks and Narratives

As discussed earlier, the answers to these and many other related questions lie in the transformation of how we think of ourselves and the world we live in. In very broad and sweeping terms, Western philosophy has used the debate between Plato and Aristotle as its crucible. Knowing what and how and what constitutes necessary or sufficient conditions for proof have revolved around the same presuppositions for almost two thousand years.
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography and Albumin Colloid Imaging of the Liver

A single photon emission computed tomography (ECT) system using the GE 400T Anger camera with 37 PM tubes and the SPETS software has been installed in our clinical laboratory. It has been used in the study of liver imaging with Tc-99m albumin colloid and other agents.
A Vibronic Coupling Model for Mixed-Valence Compounds and its Application to Real Systems

A recent vibronic coupling model proposed by Piepho, Krausz and Schatz is described, and detailed derivation is given of the secular equations which permit an exact solution. A variety of applications of the model are then presented. These include the use of model parameters to predict intervalence band contours and vice versa, the prediction of low energy tunneling transitions, and a refinement of the Robin and Day classification scheme. The calculation of magnetic moments and susceptibilities in mixed-valence and spin-crossover systems is also discussed briefly. Finally, the model is used to calculate electron transfer rates. A method is presented which should be valid even when the electronic coupling is strong. Thus transer rates are calculated which have a much greater range of validity than is the case in the usual treatments.
SOME ASYMPTOTIC PROPERTIES OF SOLUTIONS OF THE NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the asymptotic properties of solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations. It focuses on issues concerning rates of decay, in space and time, of nonstationary disturbances in an otherwise steady motion of a viscous incompressible fluid past a finite body bounded by rigid walls. The chapter presents a supposition where the steady motion has the velocity β * V in a fixed direction V at infinity. The disturbances are carried downstream with speed β * > 0 and damped in time as t −1/2 . In this scenario, the steady motions have paraboloidal wake regions in the direction V. The disturbance also possesses a wake region.
Comparative metabolite profiling of a metastatic and primary melanoma cell line using untargeted metabolomics: A case study

Abstract Melanoma accounts for more than 60% of deaths associated with skin cancer, making its early detection through dermatological screening essential for improved treatment outcomes. Early detection and successful treatment of melanoma can dramatically increase the 5-year survival rate from 14 to 98%. To support such efforts, comprehensive identification of metabolite patterns capable of describing cancer progression will help support the foundational knowledge necessary to build early detection platforms for intervention prior to metastasis. Using an UPLC-MS, as part of a cell-based, untargeted metabolomics approach, we profiled the metabolomes of WM-226-4 and WM-115 cells. Derived from the metastatic and the primary sites of the same individual, these two cell lines represent a paired melanoma cancer cell line. Progenesis and MetaboAnalyst, platforms dedicated to metabolomics data analysis, were used to establish a panel of differentially expressed metabolites across these two stages of melanoma. In addition, mummichog was used to identify the affected pathways. A total of 12 differentially expressed metabolites including amino acids, carnitine, acylcarnitine, and a limited set of lipids were identified. The significantly differing metabolites are components of a diverse set of metabolic pathways (e.g., glycerophospholipid metabolism, carnitine shuttle, tryptophan metabolism), that have biological implications for the survival and dissemination of metastatic melanoma cells.
The Assessment of Civic Leadership

How can we measure civic leadership? This was the challenge that faced Ed Smith a few years ago when Longwood College in Virginia revised its mission to make preparation of citizen leaders a centra...
A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide

Photoprotection has become integral in the prevention of keratinocyte cancer and photoaging. Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters such as oxybenzone and octinoxate have become controversial due to their potential impact on the environmental and their potential human health risks. As such, inorganic UV filters, zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2 ), have become paramount in discussions about photoprotection. ZnO and TiO2 are used in sunscreens as nanoparticles, which denotes a size <100 nm. The smaller size of these mineral particles increases their cosmetic acceptability by users as they are much less visible after application. ZnO has a broad UVA-UVB absorption curve, while TiO2 provides better UVB protection. Overall, the human health risks with inorganic filters are extremely low given a lack of percutaneous absorption; however, there is potential risk when exposed via inhalation, prompting recommendations against spray sunscreen products with nanoparticles. At this time, the known risk to the environment is low though the risk stratification may evolve with increasing usage of these filters and higher environmental concentrations. The continued practice of photoprotection is critical. The public should be counseled to seek shade, use photoprotective clothing including hats and glasses in addition to sunscreens on sun-exposed skin. For those concerned about emerging evidence of environmental impact of organic UV filters, based on current evidence, ZnO and TiO2 -containing sunscreens are safe alternatives.
Firearm Removal, Judicial Decision-Making, and Domestic Violence Protection Orders

Firearms in situations of domestic violence (DV) are particularly lethal. Although firearms present a public health concern nationally, some states, such as Arizona, have especially high rates of i...
Shrinkage-induced activation of Na+/H+ exchange: role of cell density and myosin light chain phosphorylation.

Previously, we suggested that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is involved in shrinkage-induced activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger in rat astrocytes. Here we have studied the effects of hyperosmoti...
Pediatrics: Management of the Young Diabetic

(1963). Pediatrics: Management of the Young Diabetic. Hospital Topics: Vol. 41, No. 7, pp. 75-78.
Phase stability analysis for tight porous media by minimization of the Helmholtz free energy

Abstract This paper presents a new method of phase stability analysis in the presence of capillary pressure by minimization of the Helmholtz free energy. The thermodynamic consistency of phase stability is rigorously preserved between the Helmholtz and Gibbs free energy. Case studies demonstrate the main advantages of the new method over the conventional methods using the Gibbs free energy. The effect of capillary pressure on phase stability is inherently considered in the new method using the Helmholtz free energy. The most fundamental reason for various issues associated with using the conventional methods is that the Gibbs free energy in composition space requires a pressure to be specified; i.e., the conventional methods involve two Gibbs free energy surfaces and their relative location changes during the iterative solution with capillary pressure. Case studies further show that there exist indefinite solutions in phase stability analysis with capillary pressure, in which the fluid is unstable, but no two-phase solution exists. Also, it is demonstrated that the shadow-phase region in the presence of capillary pressure can be defined with the Helmholtz free energy, but not with the Gibbs free energy.
Neurotoxicity of isomers of the environmental toxin L-BMAA

Abstract There is evidence that the environmental toxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (L-BMAA) may be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. However, a number of controversies exist regarding L-BMAA, one of which is the possibility that when assaying for L-BMAA, its isomers are being detected instead. There are at least four isomers of BMAA that are known to occur: L-BMAA, β-N-methylamino-D-alanine (D-BMAA), 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB), and N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG). The fact that isomers of BMAA exist in nature also leads to the possibility that they are involved in toxicity. We set out to determine both the potency and the mechanism of toxicity of L-BMAA, D-BMAA, DAB, asnd AEG using primary cortical cultures. The results were surprising with the following order of potency of toxicity: AEG > DAB > D-BMAA > L-BMAA. These results suggest that AEG may be an overlooked neurotoxin. We found that AEG induced toxicity through mGluR5 receptors and induction of oxidative stress. While the potential role of L-BMAA in neurodegenerative diseases has been emphasized, other isomers of L-BMAA, particularly AEG, are actually more potent toxins, and could therefore potentially contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.
Northwestern Medicine Center for Lifestyle Medicine

The Northwestern Center for Lifestyle Medicine was created in 2008 to address the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team-based approach to obesity management within a large healthcare system. Using a medical care model, physicians, advance practice providers, dietitians, and health psychologists collaborate to provide individualized lifestyle management along with pharmacotherapy and bariatric procedures (surgical and nonsurgical) when indicated. This chapter reviews the rationale for establishing a Lifestyle Medicine Center that specializes in obesity care, along with key concepts related to its development and organization.
The Distribution of U.S. Electric Utility Revenue Decoupling Rate Impacts from 2005 to 2017

Abstract Electric utilities have historically relied on volumetric energy rates. Reductions in sales can have an adverse effect on a utility’s ability to sufficiently recover its costs. Decoupling mechanisms, when properly designed, diminish the link between revenues and sales. Analysis of annual rate adjustments from decoupling mechanisms indicate the majority of those adjustments are small. However, once a surcharge is applied there is an 86 percent chance there will be a surcharge in the next year.
Peafowl: in-application CPU scheduling to reduce power consumption of in-memory key-value stores

The traffic load sent to key-value (KV) stores varies over long timescales of hours to short timescales of a few microseconds. Long-term variations present the opportunity to save power during low or medium periods of utilization. Several techniques exist to save power in servers, including feedback-based controllers that right-size the number of allocated CPU cores, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), and c-state (idle-state) mechanisms. In this paper, we demonstrate that existing power saving techniques are not effective for KV stores. This is because the high rate of traffic even under low load prevents the system from entering low power states for extended periods of time. To achieve power savings, we must unbalance the load among the CPU cores so that some of them can enter low power states during periods of low load. We accomplish this by introducing the notion of in-application CPU scheduling. Instead of relying on the kernel to schedule threads, we pin threads to bypass the kernel CPU scheduler and then perform the scheduling within the KV store application. Our design, Peafowl, is a KV store that features an in-application CPU scheduler that monitors the load to learn the workload characteristics and then scales the number of active CPU cores when the load drops, leading to notable power savings during low or medium periods of utilization. Our experiments demonstrate that Peafowl uses up to 40--54% lower power than state of the art approaches such as Rubik and μDPM.
Our Ancestor's Gifts: Interpreting Intergenerational Knowledge about Developing a Teaching Identity.

While the Global North’s academic culture is romanced by generalizability, testimonio offers an enticing way to incorporate diverse knowledge sources into the curricular cannon. Testimonio offers a...
Continuous Approximation Model for Hybrid Flexible Transit Systems with Low Demand Density

Flexible transit systems are a way to address challenges associated with conventional fixed route and fully demand responsive systems. Existing studies indicate that such systems are often planned ...
Experimental conditions for obtaining halo p -wave dimers in quasi-one-dimension

We calculate the binding energy and closed-channel fraction of $p$-wave Feshbach molecules in quasi-one-dimension (quasi-1D) by examining the poles of the $p$-wave $S$ matrix. We show that under the right experimental conditions, the quasi-1D $p$-wave molecule behaves like a halo dimer with a closed-channel fraction approaching 0 at resonance and a binding energy following the universal relation ${E}_{b}\ensuremath{\sim}1/{a}_{1\mathrm{D}}^{2}$, where ${a}_{1\mathrm{D}}$ is the 1D scattering length. We calculate these experimental conditions for both $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ and $^{40}\mathrm{K}$ over a range of transverse confinements. We expect that in this halo dimer regime the three-body loss associated with the $p$-wave Feshbach resonance will be greatly suppressed, potentially allowing for a stable $p$-wave superfluid to be created. For an easy comparison between the three-dimensional and the quasi-1D cases, we provide the same pole analysis of the Feshbach molecules applied to the three-dimensional $p$-wave resonance and show that there is a qualitative difference between the two.
Structural Modeling of the TMPRSS Subfamily of Host Cell Proteases Reveals Potential Binding Sites

The transmembrane protease serine subfamily (TMPRSS) has at least eight members with known protein sequence: TMPRSS2, TMPRRS3, TMPRSS4, TMPRSS5, TMPRSS6, TMPRSS7, TMPRSS9, TMPRSS11, TMPRSS12 and TMPRSS13. A majority of these TMPRSS proteins have key roles in human hemostasis as well as promoting certain pathologies, including several types of cancer. In addition, TMPRSS proteins have been shown to facilitate the entrance of respiratory viruses into human cells, most notably TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4 activate the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Despite the wide range of functions that these proteins have in the human body, none of them have been successfully crystallized. The lack of structural data has significantly hindered any efforts to identify potential drug candidates with high selectivity to these proteins. In this study, we present homology models for all members of the TMPRSS family including any known isoform (the homology model of TMPRSS2 is not included in this study as it has been previously published). The atomic coordinates for all homology models have been refined and equilibrated through molecular dynamic simulations. The structural data revealed potential binding sites for all TMPRSS as well as key amino acids that can be targeted for drug selectivity.
Application of Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction for Pathogen Identification and Antibiotic Use in Children With Respiratory Infections in a PICU.

OBJECTIVES To compare the pathogen identification rate and use of antibiotics before and after the implementation of multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing in children with respiratory infections in a PICU. DESIGN Single-center, pre-post study. SETTING PICU of Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka, Japan. PATIENTS Consecutive children with respiratory infections who were admitted to the PICU between December 2017 and November 2018 (premultiplex polymerase chain reaction period) and between March 2019 and February 2020 (postmultiplex polymerase chain reaction period). INTERVENTIONS Conventional rapid antigen tests and bacterial culture tests were performed throughout the study period. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing using the FilmArray respiratory panel (BioFire Diagnostics, Salt Lake City, UT) was conducted to detect 17 viruses and three bacterial pathogens. During the postmultiplex polymerase chain reaction period, we did not recommend prescribing antibiotics for stable children, depending on the virus species and laboratory test results. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Ninety-six and 85 children were enrolled during the pre- and postmultiplex polymerase chain reaction periods, respectively. Rapid antigen tests identified pathogens in 22% of the children (n = 21) during the premultiplex polymerase chain reaction period, whereas rapid antigen tests and/or multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing identified pathogens in 67% of the children (n = 57) during the postmultiplex polymerase chain reaction period (p < 0.001). The most commonly identified pathogen using multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing was human rhino/enterovirus. Bacterial pathogens were identified in 50% of the children (n = 48) and 60% of the children (n = 51) during the pre- and postmultiplex polymerase chain reaction periods (p = 0.18). There were no differences in antibiotic use (84% vs 75%; p = 0.14), broad-spectrum antibiotic use (33% vs 34%; p = 0.91), or the duration of antibiotic use within 14 days of admission (6.0 vs 7.0 d; p = 0.45) between the pre- and postmultiplex polymerase chain reaction periods. CONCLUSIONS Although the pathogen identification rate, especially for viral pathogens, increased using multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing, antibiotic use did not reduce in children with respiratory infections in the PICU. Definitive identification of bacterial pathogens and implementation of evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship programs employing multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing are warranted.
Improvements in metacognition mediate the effect of metacognitive remediation therapy: A non-randomized controlled study among individuals with first-episode psychosis.

AIM Metacognitive remediation therapy (MCR) has been shown to help individuals with first-episode psychosis experience improvements in cognition, social functioning, vocational/educational functioning and quality of life. The theoretical model underlying MCR has yet to be empirically validated. METHODS Seventy-three individuals with first-episode psychosis completed measures of metacognition and cognition at enrollment and after 6-months of care at a specialized clinical program for individuals with first-episode psychosis. Among this group, we compared changes in these variables between the 21 individuals who opted to participate in MCR and the 52 individuals who did not participate in MCR. RESULTS Improvements in metacognition were moderated by MCR treatment participation. Consistent with the MCR theoretical model of change, increases in metacognition mediated the relationship between treatment and longitudinal changes in cognition. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the benefits of MCR on cognitive functioning may stem, in part, from the ability of MCR to produce improvements in metacognitive functioning.
Protocol for assessing the role of hippocampal perineuronal nets in aversive memories

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are emerging as critical regulators of memory-related neuronal processes. However, their exact contribution depends on type of memory, consolidation stage, or brain region, and remains to be fully investigated. We describe here a protocol to evaluate the importance of PNNs in the dorsal hippocampus in different stages of aversive memories using a mouse model. The protocol provides detailed instructions for surgical implantation of hippocampal cannulas, drug infusion, contextual fear conditioning procedures, and immunohistochemistry for PNN visualization. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Jovasevic et al. (2021).
Endovascular retrieval of an inferior vena cava filter penetrating the false lumen of a chronic aortic dissection, with concomitant iliocaval reconstruction

Inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) placement is indicated in patients with acute venous thromboembolism who cannot be adequately anticoagulated or have failed anticoagulation. Prompt IVCF retrieval decreases the risk of complications associated with longer dwell times including fracture, penetration, and further thromboembolic events. Endovascular IVCF retrieval has been performed despite penetration into adjacent structures including the aorta; however, penetration into the false lumen of an aortic dissection is rarely seen. This case report describes endovascular management of an 11 year old IVCF that caused iliocaval thrombosis and penetrated the false lumen of a chronic type B aortic dissection.
Acute Coronary Syndrome: Current Diagnosis and Management in Women

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the USA. While it is clear that gender-specific differences in presentation, pathophysiology, and outcomes exist among men and women presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), efforts to better understand and to improve recognition and outcomes for women with ACS continue. Past studies have shown differences in age, presentation, comorbidities, extent of disease, management, and outcomes for women presenting with ACS compared with men. This review will highlight these differences and provide current knowledge regarding potential mechanisms underlying the observed differences.
Unusual thermoelectric power of single-crystal La 1.2 Sr 1.8 Mn 2 O 7

Anisotropic resistivity and thermoelectric power of a single crystal of the mixed-valent, bilayered perovskite ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1.8}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ have been measured under hydrostatic pressure $Pl~14 \mathrm{kbar}.$ The transport properties measured parallel to an $a\ensuremath{-}b$ plane can be interpreted with a model of two-manganese Zener polarons, that, on cooling to ${T}_{C},$ progressively condense out into clusters, but are released to form a polaron liquid below a ${T}_{0}l~{T}_{C}.$ Conduction along the $c$ axis can be described by conventional small-polaron transport that is unaltered by clustering in the basal planes.
A likelihood ratio test for genome-wide association under genetic heterogeneity.

Most existing association tests for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) fail to account for genetic heterogeneity. Zhou and Pan proposed a binomial mixture model based association test to account for the possible genetic heterogeneity in case-control studies. The idea is elegant, however, the proposed test requires an EM-type iterative algorithm to identify the penalized maximum likelihood estimates and a permutation method to assess p-values. The intensive computational burden induced by the EM-algorithm and the permutation becomes prohibitive for direct applications to genome-wide association studies. This paper develops a likelihood ratio test (LRT) for genome-wide association studies under genetic heterogeneity based on a more general alternative mixture model. In particular, a closed-form formula for the likelihood ratio test statistic is derived to avoid the EM-type iterative numerical evaluation. Moreover, an explicit asymptotic null distribution is also obtained which avoids using the permutation to obtain p-values. Thus, the proposed LRT is easy to implement for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Furthermore, numerical studies demonstrate that the LRT has power advantages over the commonly used Armitage trend test and other existing association tests under genetic heterogeneity. A breast cancer GWAS data set is used to illustrate the newly proposed LRT.
Emerging Roles for Persons Affected by HIV in Health Care Program Planning and Administration

Abstract Involving HIV-affected consumers in meaningful advisory roles in a health care program, research planning and administration now receives increased attention from funders and program developers. Establishing an advisory board is one common method for obtaining consumer input. While program managers may view an advisory board as cumbersome, benefits can be derived by programs and consumers. The experience of creating an advisory board, staffed by social workers, for a federally funded HIV mental health program in the south Bronx, provides lessons for social workers, program developers and administrators regarding issues such as recruiting an unbiased panel, accommodating non-English speakers, management support of the board, and the coordination of several boards mandated by funders.
Oxidation of Cyclic Ethers by Alkane‐Grown Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5

In this study we investigated the cometabolic oxidation of six cyclic ethers by alkane-grown Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5. These ethers include, among others, tetrahydrofuran (THF), 1,4-dioxane (14D), 1,3-dioxolane (13DO), and tetrahydropyran (THP). Cells grown on propane, n-butane, n-pentane, isobutane, or isopentane oxidized all six ethers. Ether-degrading activity was inhibited by acetylene in alkane-grown cells and was largely absent from cells grown on dextrose-containing media. Propane competitively inhibited THF oxidation. γ-Butyrolactone (γBL) accumulated and was also further oxidized during THF oxidation by propane-grown cells. In contrast, no products were detected during 14D oxidation. Propane-grown cells also rapidly oxidized 3-hydroxytertrahydrofuran and exhibited strong hemiacetal-oxidizing activity in an assay following methyl formate production from mixtures of methanol and formaldehyde. These observations suggest γBL is likely generated during THF oxidation through further oxidation of 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran. Limited growth of strain JOB5 was supported by several cyclic ethers and the corresponding lactones and diols potentially derived from these compounds. However, strain JOB5 grew more readily on 4-hydroxybutyrate, the product of γBL hydrolysis. The ability of strain JOB5 to productively assimilate THF-derived metabolites during growth on n-alkanes was examined in carbon-limited batch cultures. Relative to C-limited growth on n-pentane alone, culture growth increased up to twofold in the presence of THF while no stimulation of growth was observed in comparable experiments conducted with n-pentane and 14D. Our results are discussed in terms of their significance to our understanding of cyclic ether cometabolism and their potential impact on approaches for cyclic ether biodegradation in the environment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.